WHEEL AND TIRE ASSEMBLY FOR TOY VEHICLES

• US 3,730,594 A
• Filed: 04/26/1971
• Issued: 05/01/1973
• Est. Priority Date: 04/26/1971
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Theodore H. Zbikowski
• Original Assignee: Theodore H. Zbikowski
• Inventors: Zbikowski, Theodore H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Johnson, Richard J.
• Application Number:
  US05/137,493
• Time in Patent Office: 736 Days
• Field of Search: 152/379,380 301/63PW 46/221
• US Class Current: 301/64.701
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 17/262 Chassis; Wheel mountings; Wheels; Axles; Suspensions; Fitting body portions to chassis

Abstract

A wheel and tire assembly for toy vehicles wherein a generally cylindrical wheel of rigid material has a reduced portion projecting concentrically from the outer side thereof and a peripheral groove adjacent the inner side thereof and a tire of resilient material encircling the wheel and having an outer side wall tightly encircling the reduced portion and an annular bead on the inner side of the tire seated in said peripheral groove to prohibit outward axial removal of the tire from the wheel.

Claims

1. In a wheel and tire assembly for a miniature toy vehicle, a wheel of rigid material having a cylindrical peripheral surface connecting inner and outer sides of the wheel, the wheel being provided with a continuous groove around said peripheral surface opening toward the inner side thereof and having a diametrically reduced hub portion on the outer side thereof concentric with said peripheral surface and projecting axially outwardly therebeyond, and being provided with radially extending shoulder means spaced axially inwardly from the outer edge of said hub portion an annular tire of resilient material having an interior cylindrical surface adapted to conform to and fit snugly around the peripheral surface of the wheel, said tire having an annular side wall on one side, engaging the outer side of the wheel and having an inner periphery tightly encircling said hub portion and abutting said shoulder means to retain the tire against axially inward movement on said wheel and an inwardly directed annular bead on the other side seated in said groove in the wheel to retain the tire against outward axial movement from the wheel but to permit axial inward movement of said tire onto said wheel, the radial dimension of said side wall being substantially greater than that of the bead whereby to simulate a tire sidewall.

2. The subject matter of claim 1 wherein a plurality of circumferentially spaced gussets integrally connect the side wall to said interior cylindrical surface of the tire.

3. The subject matter of claim 1 wherein the wheel is provided with a plurality of uniform circumferentially spaced segments having outer edges beveled from said peripheral surface toward said reduced portion to aid in assembling the wheel and tire by inserting the wheel axially outward through the bead distending the same and through the tire until the bead seats in the groove.

4. In a wheel and tire assembly for a miniature toy vehicle, a. a wheel having a tubular center spindle with a hub on its outer end and an inwardly opening socket in its other end for reception of an axle, b. an axially elongated wheel ring concentrically encircling the spindle in spaced relation thereto, c. a radially extenDing plate interconnecting the axially medial portions of the spindle and ring leaving open space on both sides thereof, d. a wheel rim having a cylindrical peripheral surface concentrically encircling the wheel ring in spaced relation thereto, e. a wheel wall interconnecting the axially inner end portions of the rim and the ring leaving open space on the outer side thereof, f. said wheel ring extending axially outward beyond the wheel rim, g. said wheel rim having a continuous groove extending therearound and opening through said peripheral surface, and h. a tire mounted in encircling relation on the rim and having an annular outer side wall encircling the wheel ring and an annular inner bead seated in said continuous groove.