WO2002024472A1

WO2002024472A1 - Wheel assembly method and apparatus

Info

Publication number: WO2002024472A1
Application number: PCT/US2001/029621
Authority: WO
Original assignee: Meco Corporation
Priority date: 2000-09-21
Filing date: 2001-09-21
Publication date: 2002-03-28
Also published as: AU2001292935A1

Abstract

The invention comprises an insert (10) for retaining a wheel (40) on an axle (30). A clip (20) extends through cutouts (14) in the insert (10) to engage an annular groove (32) in the axle.

Description

TITLE: WHEEL ASSEMBLY METHOD AND APPARATUS

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[01] The present invention is drawn to a simple wheel attachment assembly and method that is useful for quickly attaching wheels in a manner suited to consumer-assembled items such as grills, lawn furniture, lawn mowers, strollers, prams, wagons, tricycles, etc.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[02] Prior art consumer-assembled items having wheels, such as those found on gas grills, etc., suffer from various deficiencies. Typical wheel assemblies provided on grills require tools, such as a hammer to deform an endcap, a wrench or screwdriver to tighten nuts or screws, or pliers to deform a cotter pin. These wheels often include additional parts to cover or hide the attachment means, requiring additional assembly steps and additional cost for the parts.

[03] Other prior art wheel assemblies have been developed to avoid the need for the consumer to use tools, but these generally require special wheels for engaging special axle-engaging endcaps, and therefore cannot use standard wheels.

[04] Whether or not a prior art wheel assembly requires tools or special wheels, an additional problem can arise related to maintaining the position of the wheel in the desired location at the end of an axle.

[05] It would therefore be desirable to provide a simple wheel assembly that uses standard wheels and can be assembled without tools to maintain a desired position on an axle.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[06] The present invention comprises a wheel retention insert that engages a central opening in standard wheels, a retainer-clip, and an axle. The insert has a closed end, a retainer-clip engaging portion adjacent the closed end, a wheel-retention shoulder, an appropriately dimensioned cylindrical sleeve and flexible retention means at an open end of the sleeve. A retainer-clip is positioned in the retainer- clip engaging portion. The open end of the insert is pushed into a central wheel opening such that the insert is secured in the central wheel opening by the wheel- retention shoulder and the flexible retention means to form a wheel assembly. An axle having a circumferential groove adjacent a tapered end portion is then inserted into the open end. The groove is dimensioned to engage the retainer-clip so as to secure the axle to the wheel assembly.

[07] It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a simple wheel attachment assembly that requires only insertion of the axle into the wheel assembly.

[08] It is another object of the invention to provide a simple wheel attachment assembly that can use standard wheels.

[09] It is another object of the invention to provide a simple wheel attachment assembly that assists in maintaining the position of the wheel on an axle without additional parts.

[10] It is another object of the invention to provide a simple wheel attachment assembly that can be assembled and/or disassembled without tools.

[11] It is an object of the invention to provide a simple wheel attachment assembly that is does not require any additional cosmetic parts to conceal attachment hardware.

[12] It is yet another object of the invention to provide a simple wheel attachment assembly that is durable and economical.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[13] Figure 1 illustrates a side view of the wheel retention insert of the present invention.

[14] Figure 2 illustrates an end view of the wheel retention insert of the present invention.

[15] Figure 3 illustrates an axle used with the wheel retention assembly of the present invention.

[16] Figure 4 illustrates the completed grill wheel assembly of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[17] As illustrated in a typical embodiment in figures 1 and 2, the wheel retention insert 10 of the present invention engages a central opening in standard wheels 40 and a retainer-clip 30 so as to form a wheel assembly that is ready for easy assembly to an axle, such as by a consumer. The insert 10 is typically formed of a suitable material such as plastic and has a closed end 12 at a first end. Although shown as hemispherical, this is not meant as a limitation and various other shapes and attractive forms can also be used.

[18] A retainer-clip engaging portion 14 is located adjacent the closed end 12 and preferably will consist of a pair of cut-outs, as illustrated. Other forms are also possible, depending on the type of retainer-clip used. In an alternate embodiment, the retainer-clip portion can be formed integrally with the insert, but will still require a portion 14 for allowing the retainer-clip to engage the axle.

[19] The insert also includes a wheel-retention shoulder 15 for preventing a wheel from moving outward towards the closed end 12. In an alternate embodiment, this shoulder 15 can be formed as a portion of an integral retainer-clip portion. A cylindrical sleeve 16 that is appropriately dimensioned for insertion into a central hole of a wheel 40 extends from the shoulder 15 in a direction opposite from said closed end 12. The sleeve 16 has a hollow interior for accepting an axle from an open end at a second end of the insert 10. Flexible retention means 18 are located at the open end of the sleeve 16. Means 18 will typically be flexible fingers formed by splitting the sleeve 16 and will include a tapered outer edge for easing insertion into the hole and a shoulder portion for preventing the wheel 40 from moving inward in a direction away from the closed end 12 once the insert 10 has been pushed through the central hole in the wheel to form a wheel assembly.

[20] A retainer-clip 20 is positioned in the retainer-clip engaging portion 14. This is preferably done prior to pushing insert 10 into a wheel 40 and prior to delivery to a consumer so as to reduce the assembly steps done by the consumer. The open end of the insert 10 is then pushed into a central wheel opening such that the insert 10 is secured in the central wheel opening by the wheel-retention shoulder 15 and the flexible retention means 10 to form a wheel assembly. In a preferred embodiment, a portion 19 can be formed to extend from an inside of closed end 12 so as to engage a hooked portion of retainer-clip 14 to prevent the retainer clip 14 from accidentally falling out.

[21] As illustrated in figure 3, an axle 30 having a circumferential groove 32 adjacent a tapered end portion 34 is then inserted into the open end. The groove 32 is dimensioned to engage the retainer-clip 20 so as to secure the axle 30 to the wheel assembly to complete assembly, as illustrated in figure 4.

[22] Although disclosed above with reference to a particular embodiment, one of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that numerous modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention. For example, materials such as metals and composites can also be used for the insert and many other types of retainer-clips, such e-rings, can also be used.

Claims

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

[cl] A wheel retention insert, comprising:

a closed end having an outside and an inside portion;

a retainer-clip engaging portion adjacent the inner portion of said closed end;

a wheel retention shoulder adjacent said retainer-clip engaging portion on a side opposite said closed end; and

a cylindrical sleeve dimensioned to fit within a central hole of a wheel, said sleeve extending from said wheel retention shoulder on a side opposite said closed end, said sleeve including flexible retention means at an open end opposite said closed end;

wherein said insert has a hollow cylindrical portion extending from said open end, through said sleeve, shoulder, and retainer-clip engaging portion and terminating within said closed end.

[c2] The wheel retention insert of claim [cl], wherein said insert is plastic.

[c3] The wheel retention insert of claim [cl], wherein said flexible retention means further comprises flexible fingers formed by split portions in the open end of the sleeve, each of said fingers further including a tapered outer edge for easing insertion into the hole and a shoulder portion for preventing the wheel from moving in a direction away from the closed end.

[c4] The wheel retention insert of claim [cl], wherein said closed end further comprises a portion extending from the inside of the closed end and dimensioned so as to engage a hooked portion of a retainer-clip.

[c5] A wheel assembly, comprising:

a wheel having a central hole;

a wheel retention insert, comprising: a closed end having an outside and an inside portion;

a retainer-clip engaging portion adjacent the inner portion of said closed end;

a cylindrical sleeve dimensioned to fit within said central hole of said wheel, said sleeve extending from said wheel retention shoulder on a side opposite said closed end, said sleeve including flexible retention means at an open end opposite said closed end; wherein said insert has a hollow cylindrical portion extending from said open end, through said sleeve, shoulder, and retainer-clip engaging portion and terminating within said closed end;

a retainer-clip positioned in said retainer-clip engaging portion of said insert; and

an axle dimensioned to fit said hollow cylindrical portion of said insert, said axel having a tapered end and a circumferential groove dimensioned to accept said retainer-clip adjacent said tapered end.

[c6] The wheel assembly of claim [c5], wherein said insert is plastic.

[c7] The wheel assembly of claim [c5], wherein said flexible retention means of said insert further comprises flexible fingers formed by split portions in the open end of the sleeve, each of said fingers further including a tapered outer edge for easing insertion into the hole and a shoulder portion for preventing the wheel from moving in a direction away from the closed end.

[c8] The wheel assembly of claim [c5], wherein said closed end of said insert further comprises a portion extending from the inside of the closed end and dimensioned so as to engage a hooked portion of a retainer-clip.

[c9] The wheel assembly of claim [c5], wherein said wheel is a standardly available wheel.

[cl 0] A method of assembling a wheel to an axle, comprising: providing the insert of claim [cl];

inserting a retainer-clip into the retainer-clip engaging portion of said insert;

inserting the insert into a central hole of said wheel such that the insert is retained on said wheel by said shoulder and said flexible retention means; and

inserting an axle into the open end of said insert until it is retained by said retaining-clip, said axle being dimensioned to fit said hollow cylindrical portion of said insert, said axel being formed with a tapered end and a circumferential groove dimensioned to accept said retainer-clip adjacent said tapered end.

[el l] The method of claim [cl 0] further comprising providing said flexible retention means of said insert by forming split portions in the open end of the sleeve and forming a shoulder portion and a tapered outer edge on each of said fingers.

[cl2] The method of claim [clO] further comprising forming a portion extending from the inside of the closed end and engaging a hooked portion of a retainer- clip with said portion.

[cl3] The method of claim [clO] wherein said wheel is selected from standardly available wheels.

[cl4] The method of claim [clO] wherein the step of inserting the axle is the only step performed by a consumer.

[cl 5] The method of claim [clO] wherein the steps of inserting the insert and inserting the axle are the only steps performed by a consumer.

[c 16] The method of claim [c 10] wherein all the steps except providing the insert are performed by a consumer.