Wheel assembly for mounting to an axle of a wheeled product

• US 7,445,297 B2
• Filed: 01/19/2006
• Issued: 11/04/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 01/19/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IPL Plastics, Inc.
• Original Assignee: IPL Incorporated (IPL Plastics, Inc.)
• Inventors: Nolet, Roch, Mercier, Laurier
• Primary Examiner(s): Bellinger; Jason R
• Application Number:
  US11/334,878
• Publication Number:
  US 20070164601A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,020 Days
• Field of Search: 301/111.01, 301/112, 301118-119, 301121-122, 301/111.04, 301/111.07
• US Class Current: 301/111.04
• CPC Class Codes: B60B 3/001 Lightweight wheels, e.g. for strollers or toys
• CPC Class Codes: B60B 3/142 by central locking nut
• CPC Class Codes: B60B 37/10 the wheels being individually rotatable around the axles

Abstract

A wheel assembly for mounting to an axle of a wheeled product includes a wheel having an opening and a locking element which is insertable in the opening to secure the wheel to the axle. The locking element has a portion engaging the wheel and a second flexible portion for releasably engaging the axle. The locking element is so constructed as to allow a tool to be inserted therethrough for releasing engagement between the wheel assembly from the axle.

Claims

1. A wheel assembly for mounting to an axle of a wheeled product, comprising:

a wheel having an axially extending opening; and

a locking element insertable in said opening;

said locking element having a pair of extensions, the extensions having;

a first engagement, mounted on said extensions, which releasingly engages said wheel in said opening by flexing radially of edges of said opening; and

a detent second engagement, mounted on said extensions, said detent second engagement being flexible to enable said detent second engagement to releasingly engage said axle.

2. A wheel assembly as defined in claim 1, wherein said locking element has a front wall;

said pair of extensions extend substantially axially inward from said front wall;

said front wall having an access to enable a tool to release said detent second engagement from said axle.

3. A wheel assembly as defined in claim 2, wherein said first engagement comprises a pair of flexible outer arms mounted on said extensions extending substantially axially inward from said front wall.

4. A wheel assembly as defined in claim 3, wherein said detent second engagement comprises a pair of flexible inner arms mounted on said extensions which extend substantially axially toward said front wall.

5. A wheel assembly as defined in claim 4, wherein said opening of said wheel is a central bore.

6. A wheel assembly as defined in claim 2, wherein said access comprises a pair of holes through said front wall allowing said tool to be inserted through said front wall for contactingly disengaging said detent second engagement from an annular groove on said axle.

7. A wheel assembly as defined in claim 2, wherein said access comprises an opening through said front wall.

8. A wheel assembly as defined in claim 7, wherein said detent engagement is shaped to fit into an annular groove on said axle.

9. A locking element for locking a wheel to an axle, comprising:

a front wall and a pair of extensions, each one of said extensions comprising an outer arm portion and an inner arm portion, each one of said arm portions having a first end opposite a second end;

said outer arm portion and said inner arm portion being flexibly mounted to a respective extension, by said first end, said second opposite end being free and extending generally axially towards said front wall;

upon insertion of the locking element in an opening of the wheel, said outer arm portions being configured to flex radially inward of opposite edges of said opening as the outer arm portions contact said edges of said opening of the wheel, and said inner arms being configured to flex radially outward away from the axle of the wheel as the inner arms contact the axle of the wheel; and

once the locking element is inserted in the opening of the wheel, said outer arm portions being configured to flex radially outward from the interior of the opening to engage areas of the wheel adjacent the opening, and said inner arms being configured to flex radially inward towards the axle of the wheel and engaging into an annular groove of the axle.

10. A locking element as recited in claim 9, wherein said inner arms disengage from said annular groove of the axle upon action of a tool, said outer arms then disengaging from said wheel.