Injection-molded wheel having a plurality of recesses in a rim portion

• US 7,481,498 B1
• Filed: 07/05/2006
• Issued: 01/27/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 10/17/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Geo Plastics, Co.
• Original Assignee: Geo Plastics, Co.
• Inventors: Morris, Michael A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Stormer; Russell D
• Application Number:
  US11/481,442
• Time in Patent Office: 937 Days
• Field of Search: 301/5.304, 301/6.7, 301/35.627, 301/64.701, 301/64.704, 301/64.705, 301/64.706 I, 301/64.707, 152/5, 152/7, 152/11, 152/12, 152/323, 152/324, 152/325, 152/326, 152/327, 152/328
• US Class Current: 301/64.707
• CPC Class Codes: B60B 3/001 Lightweight wheels, e.g. for strollers or toys
• CPC Class Codes: B60B 5/02 made of synthetic material
• CPC Class Codes: B65F 1/1473 Receptacles having wheels

Abstract

A wheel when viewed from the outside having the general appearance of a wheel with a tread pattern. The wheel comprising a hub having a central bore dimensioned and configured to receive an axle, a web extending radially from the hub, and an annular rim encircling the web, the rim including a plurality of deep recesses extending in a transverse direction from an inner surface to an outer surface of the rim, each deep recess having a depth substantially equal to a width of the rim. The wheel further includes a plurality of shallow recesses each having a depth less than the deep recesses.

Claims

1. A wheel comprising:

a hub having a central bore dimensioned and configured to receive an axle or an axle sleeve;

a web extending radially from the hub;

an annular rim encircling the web, the rim including a plurality of deep recesses extending in a transverse direction from an inner surface to an outer surface of the rim, each deep recess having a depth substantially equal to a width of the rim; and

a plurality of shallow recesses each having a depth less than the deep recesses, wherein the shallow recesses and deep recesses both extend outwardly through a circumferential plane of the rim.

2. The wheel according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of deep recesses have L-shaped cross-sections.

3. The wheel according to claim 1, wherein the web is monolithically formed with the hub and annular rim.

4. The wheel according to claim 1, wherein outer ends of the plurality of deep recesses are shaped to form a pattern on an outer surface of the wheel.

5. The wheel according to claim 1, wherein the web includes a locator pin on an inside surface.

6. The wheel according to claim 1, wherein the wheel is formed by injection molding.

7. The wheel according to claim 1, wherein each deep recess has a radial upright wall having a raised portion adapted for impact with a ground surface.

8. The wheel according to claim 7 wherein each deep recess further includes a peripheral wall, radial sidewalls and an outer wall, wherein the peripheral wall, radial sidewalls and outer wall are configured to appear as tread knobs on a tire.

9. The wheel according to claim 1, wherein the shallow recesses each have a depth greater than or equal to half the width of the rim.

10. The wheel according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of shallow recesses and the plurality of deep recesses are contiguous and alternating.

11. The wheel according to claim 1, wherein each shallow recess includes an outer wall surface having a raised portion adapted for impact with a ground surface.

12. The wheel according to claim 11 wherein the raised portion and another raised portion are configured to appear as a central raised bead encircling the rim.

13. The wheel according to claim 11, wherein the deep recess includes a peripheral wall, radial sidewalls, and an outer wall, wherein each said shallow recess includes an outer wall inwardly displaced from the outer wall of the deep recess.

14. The wheel according to claim 1, wherein the web is a corrugated member extending continuously around the hub.

15. The wheel according to claim 14 wherein the web includes inner and outer portions parallel to a plane of the wheel and proximate to the inner and outer surfaces of the wheel.

16. The wheel according to claim 15 wherein the hub includes radially extending ribs and wherein each inner portion is substantially centered over respective rib.

17. A wheel comprising:

a hub having a central bore dimensioned and configured to receive an axle or an axle sleeve;

a web extending radially from the hub;

an annular rim encircling the web, the rim including a plurality of deep recesses extending in a transverse direction from an inner surface to an outer surface of the rim, each deep recess having a depth substantially equal to a width of the rim; and

a plurality of shallow recesses each having a depth less than the deep recesses, wherein each of the plurality of deep recesses includes a wide bottom foot portion and adjoining upright leg portion extending radially outward from the foot portion, the leg portion being narrower than the foot portion, wherein each of the plurality of shallow recesses is positioned radially outward of a respective foot portion, the shallow recesses being contiguous to the respective foot portion and a respective leg portion.

18. The wheel according to claim 17 wherein an outermost wall of the leg portions and another outermost wall of the shallow recesses defines a radial outer surface of the wheel.