Abstract: A plastic wheel assembly (122, 222) and wheel mounting sleeve (127, 227) used to releasably secure the wheel (122, 222) onto an axle (123, 223). The wheel mounting sleeve (127, 227) includes an axle stabilizing opening (100, 200) positioned in an end wall (158, 258) of the sleeve which receives an axle outer end or axle stub (199, 299) that supports the axle (123, 223) against lateral loading and stabilizes it to reduce wobble, chatter and vibration. The opening (100, 200) permits visual confirmation of proper section of the axle outer end (199, 299) in the opening (100, 200). A universal axle (223, 223a) is also provided which can be used to couple wheels (122, 222) having shaped axle bores (139, 239) to the axle using wheel mounting sleeves (127, 227), as well as being used to couple wheels (420), having straight or substantially cylindrical bores (439), to the axle using conventional fasteners (450, 461, 470).

Abstract: A wheel-mounting sleeve and retainer is described. The wheel-mounting sleeve includes a sleeve body, formed and dimensioned for mounting through a wheel-bearing bore in a wheel and into telescoped relation over an axle having a retaining notch. The wheel-mounting sleeve includes at least one retainer discrete from the sleeve body. The retainer includes monolithic spring and lug portions, and is coupled to the sleeve body such that the lug portion is resiliently positionable through a port in the sleeve body and into the axle bore to a detente position wherein the lug portion engages the retaining notch of the axle to constrain the axle within the axle bore. A method of using the wheel-mounting sleeve and retainer is also described.

Abstract: A plastic wheel (122, 222) and wheel mounting sleeve (127, 227, 327, 427) used to releasably secure the wheel (122, 222) onto an axle (123, 223). The wheel mounting sleeve (127, 227, 327, 427) preferably includes a resilient, radially displaceable, axially extending, cantilevered finger (146, 246, 346, 446) which includes an axle-engaging lug (155, 255, 355, 455), while a wheel-engaging shoulder is provided on the sleeve by an annular rib (201, 301). The sleeve shoulders latch the sleeve (127, 227, 327, 427) to the axle (123, 223) and the wheel (122, 222) to the sleeve. The sleeve (127, 227, 327, 427) includes an axle stabilizing recess (198, 298, 398, 498) positioned in an end wall (158, 258, 358, 458), which receives an axle stub (199, 299) that supports the axle (123, 223) against lateral loading and stabilizes it to reduce wobble, chatter and vibration.

Abstract: A plastic wheel (122, 222) and wheel mounting sleeve (127, 227, 327, 427) used to releasably secure the wheel (122, 222) onto an axle (123, 223). The wheel mounting sleeve (127, 227, 327, 427) preferably includes a resilient, radially displaceable, axially extending, cantilevered finger (146, 246, 346, 446) which includes an axle-engaging lug (155, 255, 355, 455), while a wheel-engaging shoulder is provided on the sleeve by an annular rib (201, 301). The sleeve shoulders latch the sleeve (127, 227, 327, 427) to the axle (123, 223) and the wheel (122, 222) to the sleeve. The sleeve (127, 227, 327, 427) includes an axle stabilizing recess (198, 298, 398, 498) positioned in an end wall (158, 258, 358, 458), which receives an axle stub (199, 299) that supports the axle (123, 223) against lateral loading and stabilizes it to reduce wobble, chatter and vibration.

Abstract: A plastic wheel (22) and wheel mounting sleeve (27, 27a, 27b, 27c) used to releasably secure the wheel (22) onto an axle (23). The wheel mounting sleeve (27) preferably includes two resilient, radially displaceable, axially extending, cantilevered fingers (46, 47) which are cantilevered from and extend axially in opposite directions on the sleeve (27). An axle-engaging shoulder (42) is provided on a radially inwardly extending lug (55) on one finger (46), while a wheel-engaging shoulder (43) is provided on a radially outwardly extending lug (61) on the other resilient finger (47). The respective shoulders (42, 43) cooperate with oppositely facing shoulders (58, 62) so as to releasably latch the sleeve (27) to the axle (23) and the wheel (22) to the sleeve (27). Assembly can be accomplished without any tools and a screwdriver can be used to disassemble the components.

Abstract: A plastic wheel (22, 122) and wheel mounting sleeve (27, 27a, 127) used to releasably secure the wheel (22, 122) onto an axle (23, 123). The wheel mounting sleeve (27, 27a, 127) preferably includes a resilient, radially displaceable, axially extending, cantilevered finger (46, 146) which includes an axle-engaging lug (55, 155), while a wheel-engaging shoulder is provided on an annular rib 101, 201. The respective sleeve shoulders cooperate with oppositely facing shoulders on the wheel so as to latch the sleeve (27, 127) to the axle (23, 123) and the wheel (22, 122) to the sleeve (27, 127). The sleeve (27, 127) and sleeve-receiving bore (39a, 39b, 139a, 139b) are radially inwardly stepped on the inner side (66, 166) as compared to the outer side (67, 167) of the wheel. Assembly can be accomplished without any tools, and a pointed tool can be used to puncture a skin (195) in a passageway (191) so as to enable release of the sleeve (27, 127) and wheel (22, 122) from the axle (23, 123).