Assemblies removable without tools

• US 9,724,964 B2
• Filed: 12/01/2015
• Issued: 08/08/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 02/07/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Geo Plastics, Co.
• Original Assignee: Geo Plastics, Co.
• Inventors: Palleva, William Michael, Morris, Michael Abraham
• Primary Examiner(s): Kotter, Kip T
• Application Number:
  US14/956,069
• Publication Number:
  US 20160082773A1
• Time in Patent Office: 616 Days
• 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. An assembly comprising:

a housing including;

a first sleeve including a bore configured to receive a device comprising a groove; and

a second sleeve including a first end, a second end, and a conduit between the first end and the second end, the first end in fluid communication with the bore;

a retaining element in the conduit, the retaining element configured to operatively engage the groove;

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

a hand-maneuverable release mechanism configured to displace the retaining element away from the bore, the release mechanism including;

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

a lifter at least partially and non-removably in the second sleeve, the lifter configured to interact with the retaining element, the lifter connected to the tab, wherein movement of the tab is configured to cause movement of the lifter; and

a connector coupled to the tab and coupled to the lifter, the retaining element including a lip configured to interact with the release mechanism, the connector substantially orthogonal to at least one of the tab and the lifter; and

a restraining element configured to inhibit at least one of the retaining element and the biasing element from exiting the second end of the second sleeve.

2. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the release mechanism is configured to displace the retaining element upon manipulation of the tab away from the bore.

3. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the release mechanism is configured to displace the retaining element upon manipulation of the tab towards the bore.

4. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the restraining element comprises a deformation in the second sleeve.

5. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the housing includes a bearing surface configured to increase leverage of the release mechanism.

6. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the release mechanism is on a same side of the assembly as the bore.

7. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the housing includes a tool passageway on an opposite side of the assembly from the release mechanism.

8. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the housing includes a spacer configured to space the assembly from a body of a conveyance.

9. A wheel comprising the assembly of claim 1.

10. A wheel assembly comprising:

a wheel comprising the assembly of claim 1, the wheel comprising plastic; and

tread mechanically coupled to the wheel, the tread comprising at least one of thermoplastic elastomer and thermoplastic urethane.

11. An assembly comprising:

a first sleeve comprising a bore,

a second sleeve including;

a first end in fluid communication with the 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;

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

a hand maneuverable release mechanism configured to displace the retaining member away from the bore upon movement of a tab of the hand maneuverable release mechanism towards the bore, the hand maneuverable release mechanism remaining with the assembly during operation of the assembly.

12. The assembly of claim 11, further comprising a restraining element configured to inhibit the biasing element from exiting the second end of the second sleeve.

13. The assembly of claim 12, wherein the restraining element comprises a deformation in the second sleeve.

14. The assembly of claim 11, 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.

15. A wheel comprising the assembly of claim 11.

16. A wheel assembly comprising:

a wheel comprising the assembly of claim 12, the wheel comprising plastic; and

tread mechanically coupled to the wheel, the tread comprising at least one of thermoplastic elastomer and thermoplastic urethane.

17. An assembly comprising:

a housing including;

a first sleeve including a bore configured to receive a device comprising a groove; and

a second sleeve including a first end, a second end, and a conduit between the first end and the second end, the first end in fluid communication with the bore, the second sleeve including a shoulder proximate to the first end;

a retaining element in the conduit, the retaining element including a lip, the retaining element configured to operatively engage the groove;

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

a hand-maneuverable release mechanism configured to displace the retaining element away from the bore, the release mechanism including;

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

a lifter at least partially and non-removably within the second sleeve, the lifter configured to interact with the lip of the retaining element, the lifter connected to the tab, the lifter spacing the retaining element from the shoulder, wherein movement of the tab is configured to cause movement of the lifter; and

a connector coupled to the tab and coupled to the lifter.

18. The assembly of claim 17, further comprising a restraining element configured to inhibit at least one of the retaining element and the biasing element from exiting the second end of the second sleeve.

19. The assembly of claim 18, wherein the restraining element comprises a deformation in the second sleeve.

20. A wheel comprising the assembly of claim 17.