Wheels Patents (Class 16/45)
  • Patent number: 5276942
    Abstract: A roller mechanism for supporting an article on a support surface for selective movement thereon. The roller mechanism including a support member rotatably connected to the article to be supported, a bearing for providing antifriction rotation between the support member and the article to be supported, an axle or axles connected to the support member, and a plurality of roller elements mounted about the support member in a generally circular pattern, each roller element being independently rotatable about an axle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 1992
    Date of Patent: January 11, 1994
    Assignee: Shepherd Products U.S., Inc.
    Inventors: Michael H. Estkowski, Christopher F. Estkowski
  • Patent number: 5244531
    Abstract: To fasten a seam of sheet material, a seam roller is positioned over a seam of roofing material having overlapping portions of sheets of roofing material which are forced together as rollers pass over. Each of a plurality of rollers is mounted to rotate around a horizontal roller axis in circumferentially spaced apart relationship with each other at an angle to the radii of their circles of rotation, which circle is in a plane at an angle to the horizontal. With this arrangement, the rollers apply a forward pulling action on the seam roller, and apply a pressure to the sheet material in a sweeping motion that removes air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 1991
    Date of Patent: September 14, 1993
    Assignee: W-W Sales, Incorporated
    Inventor: Phillip W. Wells
  • Patent number: 5233725
    Abstract: Wheel (10) for roller drawer guides, whose body (12) made of a hard plastic of stable shape journaled on a wheel axle has a circumferential groove (18) in its rim, in which there is disposed a tire (20) of resiliently deformable material, preferably elastomeric plastic, anchored in at least one bore or opening (22) in the wheel body and slightly proud of the rim (16) of the wheel. The at least one bore or opening is configured as a through-bore (22) running radially from the bottom of the groove (18) to the surface of the journal bore (14) in the wheel body (12).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 1992
    Date of Patent: August 10, 1993
    Assignee: Mepla-Werke Lautenschlager GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Horst Lautenschlager
  • Patent number: 5163539
    Abstract: An easily detachable and/or assembleable and/or longstandingly endurable luggage roller is provided. The roller includes a top plate mounting, or rotatably mounting, thereunder a hollow mounting medium having two dovetail-shaped wings having a lower width larger than an upper width, a shaft passing through the two wings for rotatably mounting a rolling medium in the hollow mounting medium, and two decorating pieces respectively engaging with two wings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 1992
    Date of Patent: November 17, 1992
    Inventor: Fu-Hsiung Yang
  • Patent number: 5156443
    Abstract: A lubricated roller assembly which can be constructed entirely of non-metallic components. The roller assembly includes a shaft and roller body secured to one another and enclosed by a housing. The roller body is adapted to roll against an inner peripheral surface of the housing. A supply of lubricant sufficient to lubricate the roller body is contained within the housing. A lubricant containment reservoir is formed in either the housing or the shaft such that regardless of the orientation of the roller assembly, lubricant will not reach the interface between the shaft and the housing. The roller body may be provided with a drip edge to further direct lubricant away from the interface between the housing and the shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 1991
    Date of Patent: October 20, 1992
    Inventor: Russell D. Ide
  • Patent number: 5123503
    Abstract: A roller device (7) for equipment such as a ladder (5) has a rigid core (14) with an axle (17), and a surrounding more compressible rubber portion (8,9) circumferentially spaced portions of which are more readily compressible than adjacent portions so that the device will roll easily when not under load, but less easily when under load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 1991
    Date of Patent: June 23, 1992
    Inventor: James B. Clarke
  • Patent number: 5031269
    Abstract: A wheel (10) for rolling drawer guides in furniture construction. A wheel body journaled on a wheel shaft and made from a hard plastic of good stability of shape has a circumferential, groove-like gap opening into the wheel rim, and in it there is disposed a tire of resiliently deformable material, preferably elastomeric plastic, protruding slightly above the rim surface of the wheel body. In at least one of the confronting side surfaces and/or in the circumferential bottom surface of the groove-like gap there is provided at least one, preferably a plurality of indentations in which the material of the tire, converted to fluid from and then to the resiliently deformable state, interlockingly engages. From one of the outer faces of the walls at least one injection hole extends into the groove-like gap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 1990
    Date of Patent: July 16, 1991
    Assignee: Karl Lautenschlager GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Horst Lautenschlager
  • Patent number: 4955099
    Abstract: A movable support which includes a first axle, two stub axles which are in line with one another and which extend in opposing directions from the first axle at right angles thereto, and two hemispherical members which are mounted, with respective convex surfaces outermost, for independent rotation on the respective stub axles, on opposing sides of the first axle. The movable support finds particular application in supporting a cleaning head of a suction type pool cleaner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 1989
    Date of Patent: September 11, 1990
    Assignee: Liberty Pool Products S. A.
    Inventor: Carl F. W. Supra
  • Patent number: 4953257
    Abstract: The wheel according to the invention is characterized by the fact that it includes a molded rim inside the bore of which is resiliently engaged a brace molded from a resiliently deformable material and a metallic axis forcibly crimped inside a bore of said brace.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 1989
    Date of Patent: September 4, 1990
    Assignee: Delsey S.A.
    Inventor: Seynhaeve: Andre G.
  • Patent number: 4839938
    Abstract: Furniture is disclosed having concealed wheels which are supported and concealed by exposed and decoratively finished structural members of the furniture. Separate wheel shrouds or other add-on devices for concealing the wheels therefore are not needed. A method of constructing the concealed wheel support also is disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 1987
    Date of Patent: June 20, 1989
    Assignee: Thayer Coggin Incorporated
    Inventors: J. Thayer Coggin, Robert R. Hilton
  • Patent number: 4810158
    Abstract: A kit for enabling one person to easily and efficiently remove a truck cap from over a truck bed. The cap is provided with hold down bolt holes. The lot includes detachable forward rollers for attaching to and detaching from a forward portion of the truck cap, and for rollingly engaging the truck bed and maintaining the truck cap in rolling engagement with the truck bed when the detachably forward rollers are attached to the truck cap and when the truck cap is disposed over the truck bed. The kit also includes detachable rear wheels for attaching to and detaching from a rear portion of the truck cap and for providing the truck cap with rolling mobility upon removal of the truck cap from the truck bed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 1987
    Date of Patent: March 7, 1989
    Inventor: Howard C. Bitzer
  • Patent number: 4793022
    Abstract: A one-piece plastic wheel protector for dual wheel casters that snaps over and locks on the wheels and is easily removed by a breakaway pull tab.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 1987
    Date of Patent: December 27, 1988
    Assignee: Stewart-Warner Corporation
    Inventor: Lidio P. Raffaeli
  • Patent number: 4783880
    Abstract: A caster wheel assembly for replacing a tire on a wheel member having a hub portion, a web portion extending radially outwardly from the hub portion, and a first laterally extending rim portion. A circular member including a web portion removably fastened to the web portion of the wheel member and a second rim portion extending laterally and projecting oppositely relative to the first rim portion, the rims together having a V-shaped tire support surface when viewed in cross section. The tire includes a ring member having an outer and inner surface and a resilient member adhered to the outer surface. The inner surface is V-shaped when viewed in cross section. A fastening mechanism fastens the circular member to the wheel member to clamp and deform the outer surface of the ring in a friction fit against the tire support surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 1987
    Date of Patent: November 15, 1988
    Assignee: Eagle Boring, Inc.
    Inventors: Howard H. Chapman, Robert F. Chapman
  • Patent number: 4735459
    Abstract: A wheel support system for articles of furniture and the like wherein the wheels are adapted to be readily dismantled from their support to thereby permit stacking of the furniture and wherein the wheels are engageable in vertical notches which are offset at the base of the legs of the furniture in such a manner that the wheels engage the lowermost portion of the legs and are rotatable with respect thereto.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 1986
    Date of Patent: April 5, 1988
    Inventor: Henry Massonnet
  • Patent number: 4722115
    Abstract: A multi-ring type leg-wheel comprises a leg-wheel outer ring, a inner ring, and a center cap. The leg-wheel outer ring has a wheel configuration with a shaft support ring located in the middle portion of the leg-wheel outer ring, and there are a plurality of tapered-section hooks equally spaced around the circumference of the shaft support ring. On the outer side of the leg-wheel outer ring, there is cylindrical concaved space. The inner ring has a ring-like configuration; and from the immediate circumference of inner circle of inner ring, there extend a plurality of circumferentially equally spaced cantilever type claws along the axial direction. At the end of each claw, there is a tapered section hook along the claw's width. The center cap has a short barrel shape and it's diameter is equal to the diameter of center hollow space of the inner ring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 1986
    Date of Patent: February 2, 1988
    Inventor: Yu-Sung Yang
  • Patent number: 4559669
    Abstract: A shock resistant caster includes two structures one of which is connectable to a unit to be supported, and the second of which carries a wheel and is connected to the first structure for pivotal movement relative thereto. A cushion formed of elastomeric material is positioned to be compressed upon imposition of a load on the caster, to attain a cushioned support of the load, and may be held in position by a locating pin connected to one of the two relatively movable structures and extending through a passage in the cushion. The wheel preferably has an elastomeric portion formed of a material which is softer than the elastomeric material of the cushion, with the overall effect of the entire assembly being to produce a ride which is soft under low load conditions and becomes progressively stiffer in non-linear fashion as the load increases to optimize the support of the carried unit under all conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1984
    Date of Patent: December 24, 1985
    Assignee: Darnell Corporation, Ltd.
    Inventors: Richard C. Bonzer, Frederick C. Greene
  • Patent number: 4530543
    Abstract: A wheeled support structure for use in a vacuum cleaner or the like. The wheeled support structure includes a wheel mount on the body of the vacuum cleaner defining an outwardly opening recess having an inwardly facing lock surface. The wheel mount further defines a fixed annular bearing surface coaxially of the recess and spaced radially outwardly therefrom for journaling the wheeled support slidably concentrically mounted thereon. The wheel further includes a latch element extending inwardly through the recess and having turned latch shoulders arranged to be disposed inwardly of the lock surface for preventing axially outward removal of the latch element, thereby maintaining the wheel mounting surface slidably mounted on the bearing surface of the vacuum cleaner support wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 1983
    Date of Patent: July 23, 1985
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventor: James W. Keane
  • Patent number: 4530386
    Abstract: A rubber material which is a cured rubber having a hardness of from 30.degree. as measured with an A-type rubber hardness tester to 15.degree. as measured with an F-type rubber hardness tester and an impact resilience of not less than 50%. The material has excellent vibration-proof, sound-proof, shock-absorbing or cushioning properties and is useful as a material for vibration-proof, sound-proof, shock-absorbing and cushioning members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 1983
    Date of Patent: July 23, 1985
    Assignee: Hohyu Rubber Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Akitaro Nakahira
  • Patent number: 4509227
    Abstract: A swivel caster structure having a base arranged for swivel mounting to a mounting portion of a device to be carried thereby. The base rotatively carries a caster wheel. A force transfer element is carried by the base for transmitting an overlying load vertically downwardly directly toward the caster wheel mounting axis. In one form, the force transfer element is a roller having an axis of rotation inclined to the horizontal and defining a peripheral frustoconical surface extending at the same angle to the axis of the roller so as to have rolling line contact with the superjacent housing wall in transferring the load downwardly to the roller. In another form, the force transfer element is a fixed bearing mounted in a suitable recess in the caster base and having a segmentally cylindrical surface having a sliding line contact with the superjacent housing wall. The swivel caster structure is preferably formed of molded synthetic resin having low surface friction for improved swiveling caster operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 1982
    Date of Patent: April 9, 1985
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventor: James W. Keane
  • Patent number: 4463840
    Abstract: A wheeled suitcase is provided in which each of the wheels (6) comprises a cylindrical running strip (13) integral with a central hub (14) having an external annular rib (15), a support (16) comprising studs (17) spaced at equal distances from a bore (18) coaxial with the hub and each ending in a radial lug (19) under which the rib (15) of the hub fits and a shaft (20) passing through the bore (18) of the support to penetrate inside the hub (14), one of the ends of this shaft bearing a plate (21) applied against the face of the support (16) which is opposite the studs (17) whereas its other end comprises an annular groove (22) cooperating with a complementary annular rib (23) formed inside the hub, means (32) being provided for securing the plate (21) and the support (16) inside the housing (7) formed in the external face of the corresponding shell (1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 1983
    Date of Patent: August 7, 1984
    Assignee: Societe Delsey
    Inventor: Andre G. Seynhaeve
  • Patent number: 4377883
    Abstract: A twin caster assembly, including a shaft member having a center portion and opposite end portions, a body member including an axial opening for receiving and supporting the center portion of the shaft member and with the end portions extending on opposite sides of the body member, a pair of wheels each having a central axial hub including an axial opening for receiving one end portion of the shaft member and the end portions of the shaft member and the axial opening of the wheels including a plurality of mating grooves and ridges each having sloping sides to lock the wheels on the opposite end portions of the shaft member and with the mating grooves and ridges having sufficient clearance for allowing rotation of the wheels on the end portions of the shaft member and with the number of mating grooves and ridges in the range between three (3) and eight (8).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 1981
    Date of Patent: March 29, 1983
    Assignee: Plastiglide Manufacturing Corporation
    Inventor: Henry J. Folson
  • Patent number: 4351084
    Abstract: A soft tread caster that is manufactured by first molding a relatively rigid plastic hub with integral projections about its periphery and thereafter molding a softer plastic tread directly to the hub periphery so that the tread material flows around and under the projections. The projections consist of two adjacent annular rows of integral T-shaped projections on the outer surface of the hub with the rows being staggered to form a plurality of axially extending holes through the projections. When the tread is molded around the hub, tread material flows under the T-shaped projections securely holding the tread to the hub radially and it also flows through the axial holes, thereby locking the tread to the hub laterally.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 1979
    Date of Patent: September 28, 1982
    Assignee: Stewart-Warner Corporation
    Inventor: Frank J. Fontana
  • Patent number: 4321727
    Abstract: A luggage roller featuring a diabolo-shaped wheel, which is preferably detachable from the piece of luggage, i.e. a container, to which it is mounted. The diabolo-shaped wheel is more stable than prior art configurations, because of its greater effective width leading to greater bearing area. The detachable feature of the wheel leads to changeability of the luggage roller wheel when wear occurs, so that the piece of luggage does not have to be discarded when the installed wheel wears down. This detachable feature is typically attained by providing an axle on which the wheel is mounted which is detachable from the container. The axle is generally of one of several alternative configurations in which a threaded connection is provided between portions of the axle assemblage, so that one portion of part of the axle assemblage may be unscrewed from the other portion or part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 1980
    Date of Patent: March 30, 1982
    Inventors: Samuel R. Sheiman, Julius Sheiman
  • Patent number: 4295256
    Abstract: A molded heavy duty wheel and method for making it, comprising a metallic core with a central opening and a circumferential flange, a moldable plastic or rubber material on the interior circumferential portion of the flange, and a tread of moldable plastic or rubber material on the exterior circumferential portion of the flange. The tread portion is bonded to the core to prevent slippage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 1979
    Date of Patent: October 20, 1981
    Inventor: Robert A. Pascal
  • Patent number: 4250593
    Abstract: The caster wheel includes a swivel housing connected to a transportation apparatus such as a shopping cart and supporting a transverse shaft and a downwardly directed braking bracket terminated with a transverse braking shoe. Two separate wheel discs are respectively supported for rotation on the shaft and are slidably interconnected along their periphery by snap-in annular grooves and tongues. Each wheel disc is provided with a radially directed guiding ring which is adapted for engaging a guiding groove on a conveyor belt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 1979
    Date of Patent: February 17, 1981
    Assignee: Albert Schulte Sohne KG
    Inventor: Herbert Sachser
  • Patent number: 4196502
    Abstract: A roller structure for supporting a boat on a trailer bed and having a pair of annular hubs in the form of a funnel-like insert member to mount the roller. Each insert member has an inner shaft engaging section and an outer roller engaging sections whereby the sections are axially offset from one another relative to the axis of rotation of the roller. The pair of insert members are snugged against the roller for support thereof in either of two alternative mirror image configurations. In one configuration the inner section pof the insert members are spaced apart and are remote of one another and the roller provides for generally non-gimbaling rotation on a supporting shaft. In the other configuration the inner sections are adjacent and substantially in abutment, and the roller achieves a gimbaling rotation on the shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 1979
    Date of Patent: April 8, 1980
    Inventor: Lawrence N. Johnson
  • Patent number: 4085479
    Abstract: A spring compressing tool including a plate having three spaced holes therein. A center hole is provided to allow access to the locking nut of the caster assembly and two other holes in the plate are in alignment with two already available holes in the caster flange. Two elongated threaded studs extend through the aligned holes in the plate and flange elements with nuts engaging the threaded portions above the plate and below the flange holding the spring compressed and the outer and inner cylinders in a fixed relative position while the locking nut of the caster is removed. Loosening of the nuts on the elongated studs allows the outer cylinder to move upward causing the pressure on the caster spring to be relived gradually until the spring is fully expanded and can be safely removed. The spring is replaced in the caster assembly by reversing the procedure outlined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 1977
    Date of Patent: April 25, 1978
    Inventor: Rodney L. Barney
  • Patent number: 4067083
    Abstract: A composite caster comprised of an insert made from a thermo-plastic material, such as nylon, having certain characteristics and a tread portion made from a second type of plastic material, such as urethane, having different characteristics, with the tread portion molded directly onto the insert to provide an integrated whole, with the insert formed with rim elements having positive interlocking relationships with the molded on tread portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 1976
    Date of Patent: January 10, 1978
    Assignee: Shepherd Products U.S. Inc.
    Inventor: Frederick C. Greene
  • Patent number: 3997938
    Abstract: A caster has a horn of semi-circular configuration about an axle receiving apertured boss, a web extending radially outwardly from the boss to a semi-cylindrical flange and a pair of wheels, one on each side of the horn, the tread of the wheels being flush with the outer cylindrical surface of the flange. Hub shields are mounted on the wheels in such manner as to avoid load transmission to the shields, yet accommodating a variety of appearance features, ease of installation and reliable retention of the shields in place of the wheels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 1975
    Date of Patent: December 21, 1976
    Assignee: Bliss & Laughlin Ind., Inc.
    Inventors: Lon W. Pinaire, Robert H. Godwin, John M. Freeman
  • Patent number: 3981042
    Abstract: An improved castor for use with pile carpet can be built so as to include a plurality of separate wheels located on a sleeve which in turn is rotatably mounted on an axle. Holders are provided to secure the wheels in place on the sleeve in side-by-side relationship so that normally the wheels will rotate together as a unit and so that the wheels are capable of rotating independently of one another. The wheels are provided with non-pointed bosses extending from their peripheries which are intended to engage a pile carpet so as to avoid crushing of the piles of the carpet. The structure is intended to distribute weight on the castor over a reasonably large area of the carpet and is intended to facilitate the castor being turned or rotated during use without the movement of the castor detrimentally affecting the carpet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 1975
    Date of Patent: September 21, 1976
    Inventor: Vernon J. Carrier
  • Patent number: 3977040
    Abstract: A castor for an article of furniture which comprises a connecting member connected to the article and having a cylindrical portion at the lower side thereof, a wheel having a pair of shafts projecting from both sides thereof, a main body having a generally tubular portion fitted rotatably to the cylindrical portion of the connecting member and an arc-shaped wheel-accommodating-and-bearing portion connected to the tubular portion and having arc-shaped side walls which receive the shafts of the wheel and having at the lower sides thereof resilient portions for preventing slip-off of the wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 1975
    Date of Patent: August 31, 1976
    Assignee: Sugatsune Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Michio Sugasawara
  • Patent number: D309254
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 1987
    Date of Patent: July 17, 1990
    Assignee: Oscar Investments Pty. Limited
    Inventor: Henry B. O. Guile