Non-slip wheel for a child's toy

• US 20040002283A1
• Filed: 04/23/2003
• Published: 01/01/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 06/27/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Little Tikes Company The
• Original Assignee: Little Tikes Company The
• Inventors: Walraven, Thomas M., Herbert, David J.
• Granted Patent: US 7,032,980 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 446/269
• CPC Class Codes: A47D 13/04 Apparatus for helping babies to walk; Baby walkers or strollers

Abstract

A wheel for a child'"'"'s toy formed from a first and second section. The first section is made from a material having a Shore A durometer of 100 or less. The second section is disposed within the first section. The second section is made from a rigid material and provides structural support for the wheel.

Claims

1. A wheel for a child'"'"'s toy, the wheel comprising:

a first section, the first section being made from a material having a Shore A durometer of 100 or less; and

a second section disposed within the first section, the second section being made from a rigid material, wherein the second section provides structural support for the first section.

2. The wheel of claim 1, wherein the first section is made from a low density polyethylene.

3. The wheel of claim 1, wherein the first section is made from a SANTOPRENE elastomer.

4. The wheel of claim 1, wherein the first section is made from ULTRATHENE ethylene vinyl acetate copolymer.

5. The wheel of claim 1, wherein the first section is made from Exxon Escorene LD1 206.

6. The wheel of claim 1, wherein the first section is made from Dupont Elvax 750.

7. The wheel of claim 1, wherein the first section has an inside first diameter and the second section has an outside second diameter, wherein the ratio of the second diameter to the first diameter is greater than 0.90.

8. The wheel of claim 1, wherein the first section includes an annular contact surface and the second section includes an annular support surface, wherein the annular support surface carries and supports the annular contact surface.

9. The wheel of claim 8, wherein the first section has a groove formed in an inside surface of the annular contact surface and the second section has a flange extending from an outer surface of the annular support surface, the flange is disposed in the groove when the second section is positioned in the first section.

10. The wheel of claim 1, wherein the second section is retained within the first section by friction.

11. The wheel of claim 1, wherein the second section is retained in the first section by an adhesive.

12. The wheel of claim 1, wherein the second section includes a hub with an opening for receiving an axle and a plurality of ribs extending from the hub for providing support to the wheel.

13. The wheel of claim 1, wherein the first section includes a plurality of openings around a center of the first section and the second section includes a plurality of lugs extending from the second section and being aligned with the openings when the second section is positioned within the first section.

14. The wheel of claim 13, wherein the lugs are cylindrical with a closed end that is angled towards a center of the second section.