Blow molded wheel with axle retainer
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A wheel assembly comprising:
- a) a molded plastic wheel adapted to mount to an axle including;
i) a seamless annular body that is integrally molded from a first material exhibiting a first density and that includes a hollow hub having an axle bore and a plurality of hollow spokes that radially extend from the hub to a hollow box defined by planar first and second side wall surfaces and a tread surface that lies parallel to the axle bore, wherein seamless, hollow cavities of the hub, the spokes, and the box communicate with each other, and ii) a discrete annular tread piece having a generally U-shape with first and second side pieces that project to a connecting tread band and separately molded from a second material exhibiting a second density different from the first material and wherein the tread piece is stretch fitted over the box such that the tread band overlies the tread surface and the first and second side pieces abut the first and second side wall surfaces;
wherein the first and second side wall surfaces respectively include first and second raised annular flanges;
wherein peripheral edges of the first and second side pieces abut the first and second flanges;
wherein the tread band has an external surface that includes a plurality of raised lugs;
wherein the tread surface includes a raised annular band and the tread band includes an annular groove; and
wherein the annular groove contains the annular band.
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Abstract
A wheel assembly including a wheel that has a hub and an annular rim. The hub is disposed at or near the center of the rim. The wheel assembly also includes an axle sleeve which is coaxial with the hub. A method of constructing a wheel is also provided. A wheel having a bore is blow molded. The wheel is extracted from a mold. An axle sleeve is fitted the bore in the wheel.
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Citations
14 Claims
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1. A wheel assembly comprising:
a) a molded plastic wheel adapted to mount to an axle including;
i) a seamless annular body that is integrally molded from a first material exhibiting a first density and that includes a hollow hub having an axle bore and a plurality of hollow spokes that radially extend from the hub to a hollow box defined by planar first and second side wall surfaces and a tread surface that lies parallel to the axle bore, wherein seamless, hollow cavities of the hub, the spokes, and the box communicate with each other, and ii) a discrete annular tread piece having a generally U-shape with first and second side pieces that project to a connecting tread band and separately molded from a second material exhibiting a second density different from the first material and wherein the tread piece is stretch fitted over the box such that the tread band overlies the tread surface and the first and second side pieces abut the first and second side wall surfaces;
wherein the first and second side wall surfaces respectively include first and second raised annular flanges;
wherein peripheral edges of the first and second side pieces abut the first and second flanges;
wherein the tread band has an external surface that includes a plurality of raised lugs;
wherein the tread surface includes a raised annular band and the tread band includes an annular groove; and
wherein the annular groove contains the annular band.
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2. A wheel assembly comprising:
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a) a warm blow molded wheel having a bore; and
b) a retainer assembly including an axle sleeve fitted into the bore in the warm wheel, a second sleeve that extends transverse to the axle sleeve, a locking mechanism, and an aperture in the retainer assembly communicating with the locking mechanism, wherein the axle sleeve is operationally connected to the wheel, and wherein the aperture in the retainer assembly is flashed over during molding to prevent casual access to the locking mechanism. - View Dependent Claims (3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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Specification