Wheel construction for vacuum cleaner
First Claim
1. A wheel assembly for a vacuum cleaner, said wheel assembly comprising:
- an axle, said axle being generally cylindrical and having an axial centerline, an inward end, and an outward end, said inward end being fixedly attached to said vacuum cleaner, said outward end having a locking projection extending generally radially outwardly from said axial centerline, said locking projection having a locking surface, said locking surface lying in a plane which is substantially perpendicular to said axial centerline;
a collar, said collar being generally cylindrical and having a collar bore therethrough, said collar also having inward and outward ends, said inward end comprising a collar flange; and
,a wheel, said wheel having a wheel bore extending therethrough, said wheel also having inward and outward surfaces;
when assembled, said axle fitting concentrically within said collar bore and said collar fitting concentrically within said wheel bore, said locking surface of said locking projection fitting over said outward end of said collar and said outward surface of said wheel and extending radially beyond the collar bore and wheel bore to secure said wheel assembly together.
2 Assignments
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Accused Products
Abstract
A wheel assembly for a vacuum cleaner includes an axle, a collar, and a wheel. The axle is cylindrical and has inward and outward ends. The inward end is attached to a housing of an associated vacuum cleaner and the outward end has locking projections extending radially outwardly from an axial centerline. The collar has an outward end which includes collar gaps. When the axle is fitted within the collar, the locking projections fit into the collar gaps preventing rotational movement between the collar and the axle. The wheel has a wheel bore therethrough. When the wheel is fitted over the collar and axle, so that the collar and axle fit within the wheel bore, the locking projections snap radially outwardly against an outer surface of the wheel, thereby holding the wheel, collar, and axle together and permitting rotational movement between the wheel and the collar.
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Citations
13 Claims
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1. A wheel assembly for a vacuum cleaner, said wheel assembly comprising:
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an axle, said axle being generally cylindrical and having an axial centerline, an inward end, and an outward end, said inward end being fixedly attached to said vacuum cleaner, said outward end having a locking projection extending generally radially outwardly from said axial centerline, said locking projection having a locking surface, said locking surface lying in a plane which is substantially perpendicular to said axial centerline; a collar, said collar being generally cylindrical and having a collar bore therethrough, said collar also having inward and outward ends, said inward end comprising a collar flange; and
,a wheel, said wheel having a wheel bore extending therethrough, said wheel also having inward and outward surfaces; when assembled, said axle fitting concentrically within said collar bore and said collar fitting concentrically within said wheel bore, said locking surface of said locking projection fitting over said outward end of said collar and said outward surface of said wheel and extending radially beyond the collar bore and wheel bore to secure said wheel assembly together. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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Specification