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US 7,150,070 B2Granted
Hubless caster
OwnerWilliam J. Donakowskiinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A hubless caster assembly includes a caster body and at least one wheel, the wheel comprising a toroidal member having a bearing race, and a complementary bearing race supported by the caster body. Bearing elements in the races support the wheel in free rotation. The caster body may comprise a ring body having an axial opening, whereby the caster assembly has a large central aperture extending entirely therethrough. A centering ring may be secured in the axial opening with the complementary bearing race formed therein. A hub cap with visual treatment may be secured over the central aperture.
Claims12
A hubless caster assembly, including:
- a body frame comprised of a generally planar member having a large diameter central bore extending therethrough, and a rod portion extending integrally and within the plane of said planar member,
- a pair of centering rings, each having an neck portion and a flange annular portion extending from an outer annular edge of said neck portion;
- each neck portion of said centering rings being secured in a respective end of said large diameter central bore of said body frame;
- a pair of toroidal wheels, each having an inner annular surface extending concentrically about the neck portion of a respective centering ring and spaced apart therefrom;
- a pair of bearing races, each formed in a respective one of said inner annular surfaces of said wheels;
- and,
- a plurality of bearings disposed in said bearing races and engaged in rolling contact with each of said neck portions and the respective inner annular surface to support said wheels in independent, freely rotating fashion about said central bore.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.