Locking hub and wheel assembly
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A locking hub adapted to connect a wheel to an axle;
- the wheel including an opening with at least one retaining ledge 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 at least one attachment slot adapted to lockingly receive the retaining ledge of the wheel in a slide and twist-style locking connection to lock the hub to the wheel.
0 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
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.
-
Citations
65 Claims
-
1. A locking hub adapted to connect a wheel to an axle;
- the wheel including an opening with at least one retaining ledge 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 at least one attachment slot adapted to lockingly receive the retaining ledge of the wheel in a slide and twist-style locking connection to lock the hub to the wheel. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
- the wheel including an opening with at least one retaining ledge extending out into the opening;
-
9. 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 first slot;
a portion of the clip being disposed in the bore and adapted to engage the axle;
the body defining an attachment slot adapted to lockingly receive the retaining ledges of the wheel to lock the hub to the wheel; and
the body defining a catch adjacent the first slot;
the clip engaging the catch to hold the clip to the body.- View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12)
- the wheel including an opening with a pair of retaining ledges extending out into the opening;
-
13. 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 first slot;
a portion of the clip being disposed in the bore and adapted to engage the axle;
the body defining an attachment slot adapted to lockingly receive the retaining ledges of the wheel to lock the hub to the wheel; and
the body defining a pair of opposed catches adjacent the first slot;
the clip resiliently engaging the catches to hold the clip to the body.- View Dependent Claims (14, 15)
- the wheel including an opening with a pair of retaining ledges extending out into the opening;
-
16. 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;
the body defining at least one attachment slot adapted to lockingly receive the retaining ledges of the wheel in a bayonet-style locking connection to lock the hub to the wheel; and
the body including a flange adapted to engage the wheel to prevent the body from passing through the opening of the wheel. - View Dependent Claims (17)
- the wheel including an opening with a pair of retaining ledges extending out into the opening;
-
18. 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 first slot;
a portion of the clip being disposed in the bore and adapted to engage the axle;
the body including a flange adapted to engage the wheel to prevent the body from passing through the opening of the wheel;
the body defining an attachment slot adapted to lockingly receive the retaining ledges of the wheel to lock the hub to the wheel;
the attachment slot being spaced from the flange a distance that is adapted to align the attachment slot with the retaining ledges of the wheel when the flange engages the wheel; and
the body defining a stop wall that extends at least partially across the attachment slot.
- the wheel including an opening with a pair of retaining ledges extending out into the opening;
-
19. 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 first slot;
a portion of the clip being disposed in the bore and adapted to engage the axle;
the body including a flange adapted to engage the wheel to prevent the body from passing through the opening of the wheel;
the body defining an attachment slot adapted to lockingly receive the retaining ledges of the wheel to lock the hub to the wheel;
the attachment slot being spaced from the flange a distance that is adapted to align the attachment slot with the retaining ledges of the wheel when the flange engages the wheel; and
the attachment slot including 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. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21)
- the wheel including an opening with a pair of retaining ledges extending out into the opening;
-
22. 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 first slot;
a portion of the clip being disposed in the bore and adapted to engage the axle;
the body defining an attachment slot adapted to lockingly receive the retaining ledges of the wheel to lock the hub to the wheel; and
the body defining a second slot that intersects the first slot to allow the clip to be removed from the first slot. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24)
- the wheel including an opening with a pair of retaining ledges extending out into the opening;
-
25. 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;
the clip including opposed arms that are disposed across the bore on either side on the longitudinal axis;
the opposed arms adapted to engage the axle; and
the body defining at least one attachment slot adapted to lockingly receive the retaining ledges of the wheel in a bayonet-style locking connection to lock the hub to the wheel.
- the wheel including an opening with a pair of retaining ledges extending out into the opening;
-
26. A wheel assembly comprising:
-
a wheel;
an axle;
a locking hub connected to the wheel to 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 retaining ledges being separate and spaced apart;
the locking hub defining a bore that receives a portion of the axle;
the bore having a longitudinal axis;
the body of the locking hub defining a first slot disposed in a reference plane that intersects the longitudinal axis of the bore;
a clip disposed in the first slot;
a portion of the clip being disposed in the bore and adapted to engage the axle; and
the body of the locking hub defining an attachment slot adapted to lockingly receive the retaining ledges of the wheel to lock the hub to the wheel;
the attachment slot having a locking portion disposed substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the bore;
the retaining ledges being disposed in the locking portion of the attachment slot when the retaining ledges are locking received by the attachment slot.- View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29, 30)
-
-
31. A wheel assembly comprising:
-
a wheel;
an axle;
a locking hub connecting 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 of the locking hub defining a first slot disposed in a reference plane that intersects the longitudinal axis of the bore;
a clip disposed in the first slot;
a portion of the clip being disposed in the bore and adapted to engage the axle;
the body of the locking hub defining an attachment slot adapted to lockingly receive the retaining ledges of the wheel to lock the hub to the wheel; and
the body defining a catch adjacent the first slot;
the clip engaging the catch to hold the clip to the body of the locking hub.- View Dependent Claims (32, 33, 34)
-
-
35. A wheel assembly comprising:
-
a wheel;
an axle;
a locking hub connecting 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 of the locking hub defining a first slot disposed in a reference plane that intersects the longitudinal axis of the bore;
a clip disposed in the first slot;
a portion of the clip being disposed in the bore and adapted to engage the axle;
the body of the locking hub defining an attachment slot adapted to lockingly receive the retaining ledges of the wheel to lock the hub to the wheel; and
the body defining a pair of opposed catches adjacent the first slot;
the clip resiliently engaging the catches to hold the clip to the body of the locking hub.- View Dependent Claims (36, 37)
-
-
38. 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 retaining ledges being separate and spaced apart;
the locking hub defining a bore that receives a portion of the axle;
the bore having a longitudinal axis;
the body of the locking hub defining a first slot disposed in a reference plane that intersects the longitudinal axis of the bore;
a clip disposed in the first slot;
a portion of the clip being disposed in the bore and adapted to engage the axle;
the body of the locking hub defining an attachment slot adapted to lockingly receive the retaining ledges of the wheel to lock the hub to the wheel; and
the body including a flange adapted to engage the wheel to prevent the body from passing through the opening of the wheel. - View Dependent Claims (39)
-
-
40. A wheel assembly comprising:
-
a wheel an axle;
a locking hub connecting 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 of the locking hub defining a first slot disposed in a reference plane that intersects the longitudinal axis of the bore;
a clip disposed in the first slot;
a portion of the clip being disposed in the bore and adapted to engage the axle;
the body of the locking hub defining an attachment slot adapted to lockingly receive the retaining ledges of the wheel to lock the hub to the wheel;
the body of the locking hub including a flange adapted to engage the wheel to prevent the body of the locking hub from passing through the opening of the wheel;
the attachment slot being spaced from the flange a distance that is adapted to align the attachment slot with the retaining ledges of the wheel when the flange of the locking hub engages the wheel; and
the body of the locking hub defining a stop wall that at least partially extends across the attachment slot.
-
-
41. A wheel assembly comprising:
-
a wheel;
an axle;
a locking hub connecting 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 of the locking hub defining a first slot disposed in a reference plane that intersects the longitudinal axis of the bore;
a clip disposed in the first slot;
a portion of the clip being disposed in the bore and adapted to engage the axle;
the body of the locking hub defining an attachment slot adapted to lockingly receive the retaining ledges of the wheel to lock the hub to the wheel;
the body of the locking hub including a flange adapted to engage the wheel to prevent the body of the locking hub from passing through the opening of the wheel;
the attachment slot being spaced from the flange a distance that is adapted to align the attachment slot with the retaining ledges of the wheel when the flange of the locking hub engages the wheel; and
the attachment slot including 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. - View Dependent Claims (42, 43)
-
-
44. 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 retaining ledges being separate and spaced apart;
the locking hub defining a bore that receives a portion of the axle;
the bore having a longitudinal axis;
the body of the locking hub defining a first slot disposed in a reference plane that intersects the longitudinal axis of the bore;
a clip disposed in the first slot;
a portion of the clip being disposed in the bore and adapted to engage the axle;
the clip including opposed arms that are disposed across the bore on either side of the longitudinal axis;
the opposed arms adapted to engage the axle; and
the body of the locking hub defining an attachment slot adapted to lockingly receive the retaining ledges of the wheel to lock the hub to the wheel.
-
-
45. 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 first slot;
a portion of the clip being disposed in the bore;
each axle defining an axle slot;
a portion of each clip being disposed in one of the axle slots of the axle; and
the body defining an attachment slot adapted to lockingly receive the retaining ledges of the wheel to lock the hub to the wheel;
the attachment slot having a locking portion disposed substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the bore;
the retaining ledges being disposed in the locking portion of the attachment slot when the retaining ledges are locking received by the attachment slot.- View Dependent Claims (46, 47, 48)
the first attachment slot portion being spaced from the flange a distance that is adapted to align the first attachment slot portion with the retaining ledges of the wheel when the flange of the locking hub engages the wheel.
-
-
48. The trash container of claim 46, wherein the body of the locking hub includes a stop disposed across the first attachment slot portion.
-
49. 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 from the unlocked position to a locked position;
(c) connecting the locking hub to the axle; and
(d) inserting a clip into the locking hub before the locking hub is inserted into the wheel;
the clip adapted to connect the locking hub to the axle.- View Dependent Claims (50, 51, 52, 53)
-
-
54. 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 first slot;
a portion of the clip being disposed in the bore and adapted to engage the axle;
the body defining an attachment slot adapted to lockingly receive the retaining ledges of the wheel to lock the hub to the wheel;
the body including a flange adapted to engage the wheel to prevent the body from passing through the opening of the wheel;
the attachment slot being spaced from the flange a distance that is adapted to align the attachment slot with the retaining ledges of the wheel when the flange engages the wheel; and
the body defining a stop that extends at least partially across the attachment slot. - View Dependent Claims (55)
- the wheel including an opening with a pair of retaining ledges extending out into the opening;
-
56. 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 at least one retaining ledge 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;
each axle being connected to one of the locking hubs; and
the body defining an attachment slot adapted to lockingly receive the retaining ledge of the wheel to lock the hub to the wheel;
the attachment slot having at least a circumferential portion;
the body having a stop that extends at least partially across the circumferential portion of the attachment slot;
the body having a bottom wall that defines at least a portion of the circumferential portion of the attachment slot; and
the bottom wall having a middle portion that cooperates with the stop to lock the wheel to the locking hub by trapping the retaining ledge intermediate the stop and the middle portion of the bottom wall. - View Dependent Claims (57, 58)
-
-
59. A wheel assembly comprising:
-
a wheel;
an axle;
a locking hub connecting the wheel to the axle;
the wheel defining an opening that receives a portion of the locking hub;
the wheel including at least one retaining ledge 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 axle being connected to the locking hub;
the locking hub defining an attachment slot that locking receives the retaining ledge of the wheel to lock the locking hub to the wheel;
the attachment slot including 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. - View Dependent Claims (60, 61, 62)
the bottom wall having a middle portion that cooperates with the stop to lock the wheel to the locking hub by trapping the retaining ledge intermediate the stop and the middle portion of the bottom wall.
-
-
63. 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 at least one retaining ledge 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;
each axle being connected to one of the locking hubs; and
the body defining an attachment slot adapted to lockingly receive the retaining ledge of the wheel to lock the hub to the wheel;
the attachment slot having at least a circumferential portion;
the body having a bottom wall that defines at least a portion of the circumferential portion of the attachment slot; and
the bottom wall having a middle portion adapted to lock the wheel to the locking hub. - View Dependent Claims (64, 65)
-
Specification