Wheel

• US 6,910,742 B2
• Filed: 08/12/2002
• Issued: 06/28/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 06/19/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Mergon International
• Original Assignee: Menza Limited
• Inventors: Beirne, Patrick, Mullen, Thomas, Flood, Nicholas
• Primary Examiner(s): Stormer, Russell D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Bellinger, Jason R.
• Application Number:
  US10/216,244
• Publication Number:
  US 20030234572A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,051 Days
• Field of Search: 301/111.01, 301/111.03, 301/112, 301/119, 301/121, 301/122, 301/111.04, 301/111.07
• US Class Current: 301/119
• CPC Class Codes: B60B 37/10 the wheels being individually rotatable around the axles

Abstract

A journal for coupling a wheel to an axle has a main tubular body portion with a reception space for the axle and a separate locking element. The locking element is mounted in a cradle for pivotal movement about a pivot axis from a release position in which the axle is removable from the reception space to a position in which the axle is secured in position is the reception space. A biasing member such as a magnet, a spring or a tube of resilient material biases the locking element into the secured position.

Claims

1. A journal for coupling a wheel to an axle, the journal being configured to be mounted in a bore of the wheel, the journal having a reception space for receiving the axle, the journal comprising:

a locking element pivotable about a pivot axis substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the reception space between a release position in which the axle is removable from the reception space and a secured position in which the axle is secured in position in the reception space.

2. The journal as claimed in claim 1, wherein the pivot axis is radially offset from the longitudinal axis of the reception space.

3. The journal as claimed in claim 1, wherein the journal comprises a main body portion, the locking element being separate from the main body portion.

4. The journal as claimed in claim 3, wherein the locking element is mounted to the main body portion.

5. The journal as claimed in claim 4, wherein the locking element comprises a pivot extension for locating in a co-operating pivot receiver of the main body portion.

6. The journal as claimed in claim 5, wherein the locking element comprises a pair of oppositely directed pivot extensions for locating in a pair of co-operating pivot receivers of the main body portion.

7. The journal as claimed in claim 5, wherein the pivot extension is locatable in the pivot receiver in a snap-fit manner.

8. The journal as claimed in claim 1, wherein the journal comprises means to bias the locking element towards the secured position.

9. The journal as claimed in claim 8, wherein the biasing means repels the locking element to bias the locking element towards the secured position.

10. The journal as claimed in claim 8, wherein the biasing means attracts the locking element to bias the locking element towards the secured position.

11. The journal as claimed in claim 8, wherein the biasing means comprises a resilient member.

12. The journal as claimed in claim 11, wherein the resilient member is tubular.

13. The journal as claimed in claim 11, wherein the resilient member is of a plastic for grammatical clarity material.

14. The journal as claimed in claim 11, wherein the resilient member comprises a coiled spring.

15. The journal as claimed in claim 11, wherein the biasing means comprises a magnet.

16. The journal as claimed in claim 1, wherein the locking element comprises a locking arm and an actuating arm.

17. The journal as claimed in claim 16, wherein the pivot axis is located at the junction of the locking arm and the actuating arm.

18. The journal as claimed in claim 16, wherein the actuating arm is pivotable to pivot the locking arm between the secured position and the release position.

19. The journal as claimed in claim 16, wherein the actuating arm is biased to bias the locking arm towards the secured position.

20. The journal as claimed in claim 1, wherein the journal comprises an accessway through which access may be gained to move the locking element between the secured position and the release position.

21. The journal as claimed in claim 1, wherein the locking element comprises an engagement formation for moving the locking element between the secured position and the release position.

22. The journal as claimed in claim 21, wherein the engagement formation comprises a recess.

23. The journal as claimed in claim 1, wherein the journal comprises means to secure the journal in position in the bore of the wheel.

24. The journal as claimed in claim 23, wherein the securing means comprises a lip engagable with a shoulder defined on the wheel.

25. The journal as claimed in claim 24 wherein the lip is engagable with the shoulder defined by an open mouth of the bore.

26. The journal as claimed in claim 24, wherein the lip is engagable with the shoulder defined within the bore.

27. The journal as claimed in claim 24, wherein the lip is engagable with the shoulder which extends circumferentially around the bore.

28. The journal as claimed in claim 24, wherein the journal comprises a lip at each end of the journal.

29. The journal as claimed in claim 24, wherein the lip is movable between a release position in which the journal is removable from the bore and a secured position in which the journal is secured in position in the bore.

30. The journal as claimed in claim 29, wherein the lip is biased towards the secured position.

31. The journal as claimed in claim 24, wherein the lip is provided in the form of at least one protrusion at an end of at least one cantilever arm.

32. A wheel assembly comprising:

a wheel, and a journal for coupling the wheel to an axle;

the journal being configured to be mounted in a bore of the wheel;

the journal having a reception space for receiving the axle; and

the journal comprising a locking element pivotable about a pivot axis substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the reception space between a release position in which the axle is removable from the reception space and a secured position in which the axle is secured in position in the reception space.

33. The wheel assembly as claimed in claim 32, wherein the wheel has an outer rim and an inner hub with a central bore.

34. The wheel assembly as claimed in claim 32, wherein the wheel is of molded plastic.

35. An axle assembly comprising

an axle, and a journal for coupling the axle to a wheel;

the journal being configured to be mounted in a bore of the wheel;

the journal having a reception space for receiving the axle; and

the journal comprising a locking element pivotable about a pivot axis substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the reception space between a release position in which the axle is removable from the reception space and a secured position in which the axle is secured in position in the reception space.

36. The axle assembly as claimed in claim 35, wherein the axle comprises a recess for receiving the locking element in the secured position.

37. The axle assembly as claimed in claim 36, wherein the recess comprises a groove in an outer surface of the axle.

38. The axle assembly as claimed in claim 37, wherein the groove extends radially inwardly of the outer surface.

39. The axle assembly as claimed in claim 37, wherein the groove extends circumferentially around the axle.

40. An assembly comprising:

a wheel, an axle, and a journal for coupling the wheel to the axle;

the journal being configured to be mounted in a bore of the wheel;

the journal having a reception space for receiving the axle; and

the journal comprising a locking element pivotable about a pivot axis substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the reception space between a release position in which the axle is removable from the reception space and a secured position in which the axle is secured in position in the reception space.

41. A bin or trash cart comprising:

an assembly of a wheel, an axle, and a journal for coupling the wheel to the axle;

the journal being configured to be mounted in a bore of the wheel;

the journal having a reception space for receiving the axle; and

the journal comprising a locking element pivotable about a pivot axis substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the reception space between a release position in which the axle is removable from the reception space and a second position in which the axle is secured in position in the reception space.