Caster and dolly wheel attachments for cylindrical tanks
First Claim
1. A combination caster assembly and tank wherein the caster assembly snap fits onto the tank, the combination comprising:
- at least one caster assembly comprising a housing comprising an outer shell connected to at least one caster wheel, the outer shell also being connected to an outer wall, the outer wall extending downward from the outer shell before terminating at a u-shaped lower edge connected to and disposed between the outer wall and an upwardly extending inner wall, the outer wall being connected to an inwardly extending ledge disposed above the u-shaped lower edge and which extends towards the inner wall, the outer wall, u-shaped lower edge, inner wall and ledge of the caster housing defining a female receiving area, a tank comprising an outer wall that extends downwardly and terminates at a radially outwardly extending lower bead, the lower bead being disposed between and connected to the outer wall of the tank and an upwardly extending inner wall of the tank, the bead of the tank snap fitting into the female receiving area of the caster housing.
8 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Caster wheel assemblies that may be snap-fitted onto a cylindrical tank or drum are shown and described. Also dolly-wheel assemblies that include an axle supported by two wheels are also disclosed which may be snap-fitted onto a cylindrical tank or drum. The caster wheel assemblies and dolly wheel assemblies disclosed herein may be easily mounted onto a tank or drum without the need for a separate supporting platform. A flexible nature of the caster wheel assemblies and wheel-dolly assemblies enables them to be snap-fitted onto tanks of varying diameters.
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Citations
30 Claims
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1. A combination caster assembly and tank wherein the caster assembly snap fits onto the tank, the combination comprising:
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at least one caster assembly comprising a housing comprising an outer shell connected to at least one caster wheel, the outer shell also being connected to an outer wall, the outer wall extending downward from the outer shell before terminating at a u-shaped lower edge connected to and disposed between the outer wall and an upwardly extending inner wall, the outer wall being connected to an inwardly extending ledge disposed above the u-shaped lower edge and which extends towards the inner wall, the outer wall, u-shaped lower edge, inner wall and ledge of the caster housing defining a female receiving area, a tank comprising an outer wall that extends downwardly and terminates at a radially outwardly extending lower bead, the lower bead being disposed between and connected to the outer wall of the tank and an upwardly extending inner wall of the tank, the bead of the tank snap fitting into the female receiving area of the caster housing. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 12, 13)
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9. The combination of claim 9 wherein the tank is connected to at least three caster assemblies.
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10. The combination of claim I wherein the tank is also connected a wheel dolly assembly that comprises:
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a wheel dolly assembly comprising a housing comprising an outer shell connected to an axel disposed between and connected to a pair of wheel, the outer shell of the wheel dolly housing also being connected to a first outer wall, the first outer wall of the wheel dolly housing extending downward from the outer shell of the wheel dolly housing before terminating at a first u-shaped lower edge connected to and disposed between the first outer wall of the wheel dolly housing and a first upwardly extending inner wall, the first outer wall of the wheel dolly housing being connected to a first inwardly extending ledge disposed above the first u-shaped lower edge of the wheel dolly housing and which extends towards the first inner wall of the wheel dolly housing, the first outer wall, first u-shaped lower edge, first inner wall and first ledge of the wheel dolly housing defining a first female receiving area of the wheel dolly housing, the bead of the tank snap fitting into the first female receiving area of the wheel dolly housing. - View Dependent Claims (11, 14)
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15. A caster assembly for snap-fitting onto a tank, the caster assembly comprising:
a housing comprising an outer shell connected to at least one caster wheel, the outer shell also being connected to an outer wall, the outer wall extending downward from the outer shell before terminating at a u-shaped lower edge connected to and disposed between the outer wall and an upwardly extending inner wall, the outer wall being connected to an inwardly extending ledge disposed above the u-shaped lower edge and which extends towards the inner wall, the outer wall, u-shaped lower edge, inner wall and ledge of the caster housing defining a female receiving area. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18)
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19. A vacuum cleaner comprising:
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a cylindrical tank comprising an outer wall that extends downwardly and terminates at a radially outwardly extending lower bead, the lower bead being disposed between and connected to the outer wall of the tank and an upwardly extending inner wall of the tank, a plurality of caster assemblies, each caster assembly comprising a housing comprising an outer shell connected to at least one caster wheel, the outer shell also being connected to an outer wall, the outer wall of the caster housing extending downward from the outer shell before terminating at a u-shaped lower edge connected to and disposed between the outer wall of the caster housing and an upwardly extending inner wall, the outer wall of the caster housing being connected to an inwardly extending ledge disposed above the u-shaped lower edge and which extends towards the inner wall of the caster housing, the outer wall, u-shaped lower edge, inner wall and ledge of the caster housing defining a female receiving area, the bead of the tank snap fitting into the female receiving area of each caster housing with the caster assemblies spaced apart around the lower bead of the tank. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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30. A vacuum cleaner comprising:
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a cylindrical tank comprising an outer wall that extends downwardly and terminates at a radially outwardly extending lower bead, the lower bead being disposed between and connected to the outer wall of the tank and an upwardly extending inner wall of the tank, at least one caster assembly comprising a housing comprising an outer shell connected to at least one caster wheel, the outer shell also being connected to an outer wall, the outer wall extending downward from the outer shell before terminating at a u-shaped lower edge connected to and disposed between the outer wall and an upwardly extending inner wall, the outer wall being connected to an inwardly extending ledge disposed above the u-shaped lower edge and which extends towards the inner wall, the outer wall, u-shaped lower edge, inner wall and ledge of the caster housing defining a female receiving area, a wheel dolly assembly comprising a housing comprising an outer shell connected to an axel disposed between and connected to a pair of wheel, the outer shell of the wheel dolly housing also being connected to a first outer wall, the first outer wall of the wheel dolly housing extending downward from the outer shell of the wheel dolly housing before terminating at a first u-shaped lower edge connected to and disposed between the first outer wall of the wheel dolly housing and a first upwardly extending inner wall, the first outer wall of the wheel dolly housing being connected to a first inwardly extending ledge disposed above the first u-shaped lower edge of the wheel dolly housing and which extends towards the first inner wall of the wheel dolly housing, the first outer wall, first u-shaped lower edge, first inner wall and first ledge of the wheel dolly housing defining a first female receiving area of the wheel dolly housing, the bead of the tank snap-fitting into the female receiving areas of the at least one caster assembly and wheel dolly assembly.
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Specification