Non-motorized vehicle wheel replacement treads and methods
AssigneeGatekeeper Systems, Inc.
InventorsStephen E. Hannah, John C. McKay
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A wheel for a non-motorized vehicle (e.g., a shopping cart) can include a housing assembly and a tread assembly. The housing assembly can be configured to sealingly house electronics or other components. The tread assembly can removably mate with the housing assembly such that the electronics or other components remain closed and/or sealed within the housing assembly when the tread assembly is mated or unmated with the housing assembly.
Claims24
A wheel for a human-propelled cart, the wheel comprising:
- a housing assembly comprising a hub and a cover,
- the hub having an inner cavity and comprising a frame engaging surface
- having a second mating feature, the inner cavity configured to receive an electrical component,
- the cover configured to be sealed with the hub, thereby inhibiting access into the inner cavity;
- a tread assembly configured to axially receive a portion of the housing assembly, the tread assembly comprising a frame and a tread,
- the frame comprising a tread engaging surface and a hub engaging surface, the hub engaging surface having a first mating feature and being configured to releasably couple with the frame engaging surface of the hub,
- the tread disposed radially outward of the frame, the tread configured to engage a surface on which the wheel is configured to roll;
- and
- a fastener configured to engage the second mating feature of the frame engaging surface and the first mating feature of the hub engaging surface;
- wherein the tread assembly is configured to removably couple with the housing assembly such that the tread assembly can be axially separated from the housing assembly without unsealing the cover and the hub, thereby facilitating repair or replacement of the tread assembly while maintaining the seal of the cover and the hub, and
- wherein, when the hub engaging surface of the frame is coupled with the frame engaging surface of the hub, the first mating feature and the second mating feature are circumferentially aligned such that the fastener can axially engage the first mating feature and the second mating feature.
A method of assembling a shopping cart wheel, the method comprising:
- forming a housing assembly, wherein forming the housing assembly comprises:
- providing a hub having a central cavity, the hub comprising a second mating feature;
- and
- axially joining a cover with the hub, the cover configured to form a seal between the cover and the hub, thereby inhibiting access by contaminants into the cavity;
- forming a tread assembly, wherein forming the tread assembly comprises:
- providing an annular frame comprising an inner surface and outer surface, the inner surface and the outer surface each comprising recesses, the inner surface further comprising a first mating feature;
- disposing a tread around at least the outer surface of the frame;
- and
- engaging the tread with the recesses on the inner surface and the outer surface of the frame, thereby securing the tread with the frame;
- aligning the second mating feature of the hub with the first mating feature of the frame;
- receiving the housing assembly into the tread assembly;
- and
- securing the housing assembly with the tread assembly.
A method of repairing a wheel of a shopping cart, the wheel comprising a housing assembly and a tread assembly coupled with a plurality of fasteners located around an outer circumferential region of the wheel, the housing assembly coupled with the shopping cart via a caster assembly, the housing assembly comprising a central sealed chamber that includes an electrical component, the method comprising:
- removing the wheel from the caster assembly;
- loosening the fasteners such that the housing assembly and the tread assembly can be separated;
- separating the tread axially from the housing assembly without opening the central sealed chamber of the housing assembly;
- aligning first flanges of a replacement tread assembly with first recesses of the housing assembly;
- aligning second recesses of the replacement tread assembly with second flanges of the housing assembly;
- axially sliding the replacement tread assembly onto the housing assembly;
- securing the fasteners such that the fasteners couple the replacement tread assembly and the housing assembly;
- and
- coupling the housing with the caster assembly.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.