Ball wheel
AssigneeTumi, Inc.
InventorPaul Scicluna
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A ball wheel assembly including a wheel ball is provided. The assembly further includes first and second legs. The legs include a mounting portion and a ring-shaped leg cover. The legs are secured together proximate to the mounting portions. The legs further include a leg ball bearing retaining ring and leg ball bearings. The leg ball bearing retaining ring and leg ball bearings are positioned between the leg cover and the wheel ball. The assembly further includes a top housing. The top housing includes a top housing cover, a housing ball bearing retaining ring, and housing ball bearings. The top housing is secured to the legs, and the housing ball bearing retaining ring and housing ball bearings are positioned between the top housing cover and the wheel ball.
Claims25
A ball wheel assembly comprising:
- a wheel ball;
- first and second legs comprising:
- a leg housing having a mounting portion and a ring-shaped leg cover, wherein the legs are secured together proximate to the mounting portions,
- a leg ball bearing retaining ring and leg ball bearings, wherein the leg ball bearing retaining ring and leg ball bearings are positioned between the leg cover and the wheel ball, wherein the leg cover has an inner circumference defining an inner diameter and an outer circumference defining an outer diameter, the inner diameter being between about one-half to about three-quarters the outer diameter, and wherein the leg cover has an inner surface, the inner surface being concave relative to the wheel ball;
- and
- a top housing comprising:
- a top housing cover secured to the legs.
A piece of luggage comprising:
- a luggage body, and
- two ball wheel assemblies, each ball wheel assembly comprising:
- a wheel ball;
- first and second legs comprising:
- a leg housing having a mounting portion and a ring-shaped leg cover, wherein the legs are secured together proximate to the mounting portions,
- a leg ball bearing retaining ring and leg ball bearings, wherein the leg ball bearing retaining ring and leg ball bearings are positioned between the leg cover and the wheel ball, wherein the leg cover has an inner circumference defining an inner diameter and an outer circumference defining an outer diameter, and wherein the leg cover has an inner surface, the inner surface being concave relative to the wheel ball;
- and
- a top housing comprising:
- a top housing cover secured to the legs,
- wherein the two ball wheels are positioned on a surface of the luggage body along a first side.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.