Locking hub and wheel assembly

• US 20020038973A1
• Filed: 10/02/2001
• Published: 04/04/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 10/04/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Craig Richard Godwin
• Original Assignee: Craig Richard Godwin
• Inventors: Godwin, Craig Richard
• Granted Patent: US 6,561,593 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 301/111.04
• CPC Class Codes: B60B 37/10 the wheels being individually rotatable around the axles
• CPC Class Codes: B65F 1/1473 Receptacles having wheels

Abstract

A locking hub is adapted to connect a wheel to an axle such that the wheel will rotate on the axle. The wheel includes an opening with a pair of retaining ledges extending out into the opening. The locking hub includes a body defining a bore adapted to receive the axle. The bore has a longitudinal axis. The body defines a first slot disposed in a reference plane that intersects the longitudinal axis of the bore. A clip is disposed in the slot with a portion of the clip disposed in the bore and adapted to engage the axle. The body defines a slot adapted to lockingly receive the retaining ledges of the wheel to lock the hub to the wheel.

Claims

1. A locking hub adapted to connect a wheel to an axle such that the wheel will rotate on the axle;

the wheel including an opening with a pair of retaining ledges extending out into the opening;

the locking hub comprising;

a body defining a bore adapted to receive the axle;

the bore having a longitudinal axis;

the body defining a first slot disposed in a reference plane that intersects the longitudinal axis of the bore;

a clip disposed in the slot;

a portion of the clip being disposed in the bore and adapted to engage the axle; and

the body defining a slot adapted to lockingly receive the retaining ledges of the wheel to lock the hub to the wheel.

2. The locking hub of claim 1, wherein the reference plane being disposed substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the bore.

3. The locking hub of claim 1, wherein the body defines a catch adjacent the first slot;

the clip engaging the catch to hold the clip to the body.

4. The locking hub of claim 3, wherein the clip resiliently engages the catch.

5. The locking hub of claim 1, wherein the body defines a pair of opposed catches adjacent the first slot;

the clip resiliently engaging the catches to hold the clip to the body.

6. The locking hub of claim 1, wherein the body includes a flange adapted to engage the wheel to prevent the body from passing through the opening of the wheel.

7. The locking hub of claim 6, wherein the slot is spaced from the flange a distance that is adapted to align the slot with the ledges when the flange engages the wheel.

8. The locking hub of claim 7, wherein the body defines a stop wall that extends across the slot.

9. The locking hub of claim 7, wherein the slot includes a first portion disposed substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal centerline of the bore and a second portion that extends substantially parallel to the longitudinal centerline of the bore.

10. The locking hub of claim 9, wherein the body defines a stop wall that at least partially extends across the second portion of the slot.

11. The locking hub of claim 10, wherein the body includes a bottom wall that partially defines the second portion of the slot;

the bottom wall having a middle portion that cooperates with the stop wall to lock the wheel in the slot.

12. The locking hub of claim 1, wherein the body defines a second slot that intersects the first slot to allow the clip to be removed from the first slot.

13. The locking hub of claim 12, wherein the second slot is disposed substantially perpendicular to the first slot.

14. The locking hub of claim 13, wherein the second slot does not extend to the bore.

15. The locking hub of claim 1, wherein the clip includes opposed arms that are disposed across the bore on either side of the longitudinal axis;

the opposed arms adapted to engage the axle.

17. The wheel of claim 16, wherein the body defines a catch adjacent the first slot;

the clip engaging the catch to hold the clip to the body.

18. The wheel of claim 17, wherein the clip resiliently engages the catch.

19. The wheel of claim 16, wherein the body defines a pair of opposed catches adjacent the first slot;

the clip resiliently engaging the catches to hold the clip to the body.

20. The wheel of claim 16, wherein the body includes a flange adapted to engage the wheel to prevent the body from passing through the opening of the wheel.

21. The wheel of claim 20, wherein the slot is spaced from the flange a distance that is adapted to align the slot with the ledges when the flange engages the wheel.

22. The wheel of claim 21, wherein the body defines a stop wall that at least partially extends across the slot.

23. The wheel of claim 21, wherein the slot includes a first portion disposed substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal centerline of the bore and a second portion that extends substantially parallel to the longitudinal centerline of the bore.

24. The wheel of claim 23, wherein the body defines a stop wall that extends across the second portion of the slot.

25. The wheel of claim 24, wherein the body includes a bottom wall that partially defines the second portion of the slot;

the bottom wall having a middle portion that cooperates with the stop wall to lock the wheel in the slot.

26. The wheel of claim 16, wherein the clip includes opposed arms that are disposed across the bore on either side of the longitudinal axis;

the opposed arms adapted to engage the axle.

29. The method of claim 28, further comprising the step of inserting a clip into the locking hub before the locking hub is inserted into the wheel.

30. The method of claim 29, wherein step (c) includes the step of engaging the axle with the clip to hold the axle to the locking hub.

31. The method of claim 30, further including the step of resiliently forcing the clip open when the axle is being engaged with the clip.

16. A wheel assembly comprising:

a wheel;

an axle;

a locking hub connected to the wheel to the axle such that the wheel will rotate on the axle;

the wheel defining an opening that receives a portion of the locking hub;

the wheel including a pair of retaining ledges extending out into the opening;

the locking hub defining a bore that receives a portion of the axle;

the bore having a longitudinal axis;

the body defining a first slot disposed in a reference plane that intersects the longitudinal axis of the bore;

a clip disposed in the slot;

a portion of the clip being disposed in the bore and adapted to engage the axle; and

the body defining a slot adapted to lockingly receive the retaining ledges of the wheel to lock the hub to the wheel.

27. A trash container comprising:

a trash container;

a pair of axles connected to the trash container;

a locking hub connected to each axle;

a wheel connected to each locking hub;

the wheel being rotatable with respect to the trash container;

each wheel defining an opening that receives a portion of the locking hub;

each wheel including a pair of retaining ledges extending out into the opening;

each locking hub having a body that defines a bore that receives a portion of one of the axles;

the bore having a longitudinal axis;

the body defining a first slot disposed in a reference plane that intersects the longitudinal axis of the bore;

a clip disposed in the slot;

a portion of the clip being disposed in the bore;

each axle defining a slot;

a portion of each clip being disposed in one of the slots of the axle; and

the body defining a slot adapted to lockingly receive the retaining ledges of the wheel to lock the hub to the wheel.

28. A method of connecting a wheel to an axle with a locking hub comprising the steps of:

(a) inserting a portion of the locking hub into the wheel so that the locking hub is in an unlocked position;

(b) rotating the locking hub to a locked position; and

(c) connecting the locking hub to the axle.