Wheel and hub assemblies removable without tools

• US 9,205,703 B2
• Filed: 02/06/2013
• Issued: 12/08/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 02/07/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Geo Plastics, Co.
• Original Assignee: Geo Plastics, Co.
• Inventors: Morris, Michael Abraham, Palleva, William Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): Kotter, Kip T
• Application Number:
  US13/761,066
• Publication Number:
  US 20130200685A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,035 Days
• Field of Search: 301/111.01, 301/111.03, 301/111.04, 301/111.05, 301/111.07, 301/112, 301/120, 301/121, 301/122, 301/124.2
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60B 19/00 Wheels not otherwise provided for or having characteristics specified in one of the subgroups of this group
• CPC Class Codes: B60B 2200/41 Waste bins
• CPC Class Codes: B60B 2360/32 Plastic compositions
• CPC Class Codes: B60B 2360/322 Comprising polypropylene
• CPC Class Codes: B60B 2360/324 Comprising polyurethane
• CPC Class Codes: B60B 27/02 adapted to be rotatably arranged on axle
• CPC Class Codes: B60B 27/065 characterised by the fixation of the hub to the axle
• CPC Class Codes: B60B 2900/112 Costs
• CPC Class Codes: B60B 2900/113 Production or maintenance time
• CPC Class Codes: B60B 2900/115 Complexity
• CPC Class Codes: B60B 2900/212 Damage
• CPC Class Codes: B60B 2900/30 Increase in
• CPC Class Codes: B60B 2900/331 Safety or security
• CPC Class Codes: B60B 2900/531 User-friendliness
• CPC Class Codes: B60B 2900/572 Visual appearance
• CPC Class Codes: B60B 3/00 Disc wheels, i.e. wheels with load-supporting disc body non- metallic B60B5/00; wheel cover discs B60B7/00 ; disc wheels comprising rail-engaging elements B60B17/0006
• CPC Class Codes: B60B 37/04 the wheels being rigidly attached to solid axles
• CPC Class Codes: B60B 37/10 the wheels being individually rotatable around the axles
• CPC Class Codes: B60B 5/02 made of synthetic material
• CPC Class Codes: B65F 1/1468 Means for facilitating the transport of the receptacle, e.g. wheels, rolls hand-operated refuse vehicles B65F3/005
• CPC Class Codes: B65F 1/1473 : Receptacles having wheels

Abstract

A hub or wheel assembly includes a retaining element, biasing element, and hand-maneuverable release mechanism. The housing includes an axle bore configured to receive an axle and a pin sleeve including a first end in fluid communication with the axle bore, a second end, and a conduit between the first end and the second end. The retaining element is within the conduit and is configured to operatively engage a groove in an axle. The biasing element is within the conduit and is configured to bias the retaining element towards the axle bore. The hand-maneuverable release mechanism is configured to displace the retaining element away from the axle bore.

Claims

1. A wheel assembly comprising:

a wheel including

an axle bore, and

a pin sleeve including

a first end in fluid communication with the axle bore,

a second end, and

a conduit between the first end and the second end;

a retaining member in the conduit and configured to operatively engage a groove in an axle;

a biasing element in the conduit and configured to bias the retaining member towards the axle bore; and

a hand maneuverable release mechanism configured to displace the retaining element away from the axle bore upon radially inward movement of a tab of the hand maneuverable release mechanism, the hand maneuverable release mechanism remaining with the wheel assembly during operation of the wheel assembly.

2. The wheel assembly of claim 1, further comprising a restraining element configured to inhibit the biasing element from exiting the second end of the pin sleeve.

3. The wheel assembly of claim 2, wherein the restraining element comprises a plug mechanically coupled to the second end of the pin sleeve.

4. The wheel assembly of claim 2, wherein the restraining element comprises a deformation in the pin sleeve.

5. The wheel assembly of claim 4, wherein the deformation is proximate to the second end of the pin sleeve.

6. The wheel assembly of claim 4, wherein the deformation extends substantially around a circumference of the pin sleeve.

7. The wheel assembly of claim 4, wherein the deformation comprises one or more protrusions extending into the pin sleeve.

8. The wheel assembly of claim 4, wherein the deformation comprises a plurality of legs extending into the conduit.

9. The wheel assembly of claim 8, wherein the plurality of legs comprises four legs that are spaced by about 90°

around a circumference of the pin sleeve.

10. The wheel assembly of claim 1, further comprising tread mechanically coupled to the wheel.

11. The wheel assembly of claim 10, wherein the wheel comprises plastic and the tread comprises at least one of thermoplastic elastomer and thermoplastic urethane.

12. The wheel assembly of claim 10, wherein the tread has a smooth surface.

13. The wheel assembly of claim 1, wherein the hand maneuverable release mechanism comprises:

a tab configured to be manipulated by a hand of a user; and

a lifter coupled to the tab, at least a portion of the lifter in the pin sleeve, the lifter configured to interact with the retaining element.

14. A method of making a wheel assembly, the method comprising:

inserting a part of a hand maneuverable release mechanism in a side of a pin sleeve of a wheel of the wheel assembly;

inserting a retaining element in an end of the pin sleeve, the hand maneuverable release mechanism configured to displace the retaining element upon radially inward movement of a tab of the hand maneuverable release mechanism;

inserting a biasing element in the end of the pin sleeve;

deforming the end of the pin sleeve, wherein during deforming the end of the pin sleeve the wheel assembly includes, in the pin sleeve, the retaining element, the biasing element, and a the part of the hand-maneuverable release mechanism, the wheel including an axle bore in fluid communication with another end of the pin sleeve and a conduit extending between the end and the another end, wherein after deforming the end of the pin sleeve the biasing element is inhibited from exiting the end of the pin sleeve.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising inserting a portion of the hand-maneuverable release mechanism in the pin sleeve through an orifice in the pin sleeve prior to deforming the end of the pin sleeve.

16. The method of claim 14, further comprising inserting a portion of the hand-maneuverable release mechanism in the pin sleeve, wherein inserting the portion comprises:

inserting the portion of the hand-maneuverable release mechanism through a channel in the pin sleeve; and

rotating the hand-maneuverable release mechanism.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein deforming the end of the pin sleeve comprises deforming substantially around a circumference of the pin sleeve.

18. The method of claim 14, wherein deforming the end of the pin sleeve comprises forming one or more protrusions extending into the pin sleeve.

19. The method of claim 14, wherein deforming the end of the pin sleeve comprises forming a plurality of legs extending into the conduit.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein forming the plurality of legs comprises spacing the legs by about 90°

around a circumference of the pin sleeve.

21. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

forming the wheel in a first shot of a molding process; and

mechanically coupling a tread to the wheel in a second shot of the molding process.

22. The method of claim 14, wherein the part of the hand maneuverable release mechanism comprises a lifter, the lifter coupled to the tab.

23. A method of making a wheel assembly, the method comprising:

occluding a pin sleeve of a wheel, wherein during occluding the pin sleeve the wheel assembly includes, in the pin sleeve, a retaining element, a biasing element, and a part of a hand-maneuverable release mechanism, the hand-maneuverable release mechanism configured to displace the retaining element away from the axle bore upon radially inward movement of another part of the hand maneuverable release mechanism, the wheel including an axle bore in fluid communication with a first end of the pin sleeve and a conduit extending between the first end and the second end, wherein after occluding the pin sleeve the biasing element is inhibited from exiting the second end of the pin sleeve.

24. The method claim of claim 23, wherein occluding the pin sleeve comprises deforming the pin sleeve.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein deforming the pin sleeve comprises forming a deformation proximate to the second end of the pin sleeve.

26. The method claim of claim 23, wherein occluding the pin sleeve comprises mechanically coupling a plug to the end of the pin sleeve.

27. The method of claim 23, further comprising:

forming the wheel in a first shot of a molding process; and

mechanically coupling a tread to the wheel in a second shot of the molding process.

28. The method of claim 23, wherein the hand maneuverable release mechanism comprises:

a tab manipulatable by a user, the tab comprising the another part; and

a lifter coupled to the tab, the lifter comprising the part.