Wheel assembly

• US 9,550,395 B2
• Filed: 06/25/2015
• Issued: 01/24/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 12/02/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Toter, LLC
• Original Assignee: Toter, LLC
• Inventors: Trent, Smith Edward III, Wright, Todd Ernest
• Primary Examiner(s): Walters, John
• Assistant Examiner(s): JOHNS, HILARY LYNN
• Application Number:
  US14/750,548
• Publication Number:
  US 20150306911A1
• Time in Patent Office: 579 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60B 2200/41 Waste bins
• CPC Class Codes: B60B 2200/43 Carts
• CPC Class Codes: B60B 2310/204 by moulding, e.g. injection moulding, i.e. casting of plastics material
• CPC Class Codes: B60B 2900/3312 during regular use
• CPC Class Codes: B60B 37/06 the wheels being integral with, or rigidly attached to, hollow axles
• CPC Class Codes: B60B 37/10 the wheels being individually rotatable around the axles
• CPC Class Codes: B62B 1/10 in which the load is intended to be transferred totally to the wheels
• CPC Class Codes: B65F 1/1473 Receptacles having wheels

Abstract

A wheel assembly is provided which includes a wheel, an axle, and an axle-engaging wheel hub for mounting the wheel to the axle. A wheel assembly is provided which includes a wheel, an axle, and a wheel hub which is adapted for use with a fastener for mounting the wheel to the axle. A wheel assembly is provided which includes a wheel that is adapted to receive either an axle-engaging wheel hub or a wheel hub which is adapted for use with a fastener for mounting the wheel to the axle depending upon the preference of the assembler. Wheeled containers and methods of assembly thereof are also provided for use with such wheel assemblies.

Claims

1. An assembly, comprising:

an axle comprising a notch;

a wheel comprising a bore; and

a hub positionable in the bore, wherein the hub comprises;

a body; and

a cantilevered arm integrally formed with and extending from the body, wherein a portion of the cantilevered arm is structured to snap-fit into the notch in the axle.

2. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the hub comprises an injection-molded hub.

3. The assembly of claim 2, wherein the wheel comprises a blow-molded wheel.

4. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the hub further comprises a rib extending from the body, and wherein the rib is structured to engage the wheel.

5. The assembly of claim 1, further comprising a container.

6. The assembly of claim 5, wherein the container comprises a rotationally-molded container.

7. An assembly, comprising:

an axle;

a wheel, comprising;

an outside surface;

an inside surface; and

a wheel bore extending through the wheel from the outside surface to the inside surface;

a hub positionable in the wheel bore, wherein the hub comprises a hub bore, and wherein the axle is positionable through the hub bore; and

a fastener structured to engage a portion of the axle extending past the outside surface of the wheel.

8. The assembly of claim 7, wherein the hub further comprises a rib extending from the body, wherein the rib is structured to engage the inside surface of the wheel.

9. The assembly of claim 7, wherein the axle comprises a notch, and wherein the fastener comprises a tab structured to engage the notch.

10. The assembly of claim 7, wherein the hub comprises an injection-molded hub.

11. The assembly of claim 10, wherein the wheel comprises a blow-molded wheel.

12. The assembly of claim 7, further comprising a container.

13. The assembly of claim 12, wherein the container comprises a rotationally-molded container.

14. An assembly, comprising:

a wheel, comprising;

an outside surface;

an inside surface; and

a bore extending through the wheel from the outside surface to the inside surface; and

a hub positionable in the bore, wherein the hub comprises an outwardly-protruding rib structured to engage the inside surface of the wheel when the hub is positioned in the bore.

15. The assembly of claim 14, wherein the hub comprises an injection-molded hub.

16. The assembly of claim 14, wherein the wheel comprises a blow-molded wheel.

17. The assembly of claim 14, further comprising a container.

18. A hub for rotatably securing a wheel to an axle, wherein the hub comprises:

an injection-molded body, comprising;

a bore defined through the injection-molded body;

a wheel-engaging rib extending outwardly from the injection-molded body; and

a cantilevered arm integrally formed with and extending from the injection-molded body, wherein a portion of the cantilevered arm extends into the bore.

19. An assembly, comprising:

an axle;

a blow-molded wheel comprising a bore; and

an injection-molded hub positionable in the bore, wherein the injection-molded hub is structured to snap-fittingly engage the axle.

20. The assembly of claim 19, further comprising a container.

21. The assembly of claim 20, further comprising:

a second blow-molded wheel comprising a second bore; and

a second injection-molded hub positionable in the second bore, wherein the second injection-molded hub is structured to snap-fittingly engage the axle.