Wheel of traveling structure

• US 6,757,936 B2
• Filed: 08/16/2002
• Issued: 07/06/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 08/24/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Kyosha Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Kyosha Company Limited
• Inventors: Asai, Shinichi, Yamaguchi, Shinji
• Primary Examiner(s): Browne, Lynne H.
• Assistant Examiner(s): BOSWELL, CHRISTOPHER J
• Application Number:
  US10/219,946
• Publication Number:
  US 20030037410A1
• Time in Patent Office: 690 Days
• Field of Search: 16/45--48
• US Class Current: 16/47
• CPC Class Codes: B60B 19/003 Multidirectional wheels
• CPC Class Codes: B60B 33/0028 Construction of wheels; methods of assembling on axle
• CPC Class Codes: B60B 33/0039 Single wheels
• CPC Class Codes: B60B 33/0049 the rolling axle being horizontal

Abstract

Problems in a conventional wheel of a traveling structure are solved, which in a traveling toy, the lateral movement cannot be performed reducing a game fascinating aspect and it is difficult to differentiate the toy from other traveling toys, and when a field is furrowed with a cultivator, upon completion of the furrowing at the field end, the cultivator has to be revolved at the field end to form the next furrow, so that an additional field area is required or when the additional area is not available, a field portion is generated where the furrow cannot be formed. A wheel for a traveling structure comprises an auxiliary-wheel carrier that rotates when the traveling structure proceeds straight and revolves, and a plurality of auxiliary wheels attached to the auxiliary-wheel carrier rotatably in a direction perpendicular to the rotational direction of the auxiliary-wheel carrier, part of the auxiliary wheels being exposed from the external peripheral surface of the auxiliary-wheel carrier.

Claims

1. A wheel for a traveling structure comprising:

a pair of substantially hemispherical auxiliary-wheel carriers that rotate in a rotational direction when the traveling structure proceeds along a traveling surface in a generally straight direction; and

a plurality of auxiliary wheels attached to the auxiliary-wheel carrier at circumferentially spaced apart locations so as to be freely rotatable in a direction perpendicular to the rotational direction of the auxiliary-wheel carrier, wherein

said auxiliary wheel carriers have a plurality of grooves formed in a radial direction and bearings formed on both sides of the grooves; and

wherein

said auxiliary wheels are in the form of circular discs having opposed planar faces; and

wherein

each of said circular discs protrudes outwardly from an external peripheral surface of the auxiliary-wheel carrier so that portions of said planar faces are exposed to thereby allow said circular discs to bite into said traveling surface; and

wherein

said auxiliary wheels include shafts journaled on the bearings to allow said auxiliary wheels to be freely rotatable and to mount the auxiliary wheels to the auxiliary wheel carriers in such a manner that part of the auxiliary wheels is exposed from the grooves.

2. A wheel for a traveling structure as in claim 1, wherein said plurality of auxiliary wheels are arranged in at least a double-column arrangement relative to the auxiliary-wheel carrier in a direction perpendicular to the rotational direction of the auxiliary-wheel carrier, a part of the auxiliary wheels being exposed from the external peripheral surface of the auxiliary-wheel carrier.

3. A wheel for a traveling structure as in claim 1, comprising caps for covering both sides of the auxiliary-wheel carriers.

4. A wheel according to claim 2, wherein the auxiliary wheels arranged in the double-column are staggered relative to each other.

5. A traveling toy which comprises a wheel as in any one of claims 1, 2, 3 and 4.

6. A utility vehicle which comprises a wheel as in any one of claims 1, 2, 3 and 4.