Wheel assembly

Details Wheel assembly Wheel assembly

2001-06-07

2003-05-13

Morano, S. Joseph (Department: 3617)

Land vehicles: wheels and axles

Wheel

C301S005306, C301S005700

Reexamination Certificate

active

06561591

ABSTRACT:

FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a wheel assembly for bearing the weight of a body, such as a vacuum cleaner, while rolling about on an open surface.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
An upright vacuum cleaner typically has a pair of front wheels and a pair of rear wheels mounted on a front axle and a rear axle, respectively. As the vacuum cleaner is pushed forward and pulled backward, it can be is steered in an arcuate path along the floor. In some cases, the front wheels can swivel to facilitate steering.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides an apparatus including first and second wheel sections configured to mate in axially opposed relationship to define a rotatable wheel body. The wheel body has a peripheral outer surface extending circumferentially about an axis of rotation, and has a bearing cavity centered on the axis. Each of the wheel sections has an axial projection and an axial recess configured to receive the projection on the other wheel section. This limits rotation of the wheel sections relative to each other about the axis when the wheel sections are received in the axially opposed relationship.
In accordance with another feature of the invention, the wheel body further has a cavity and a bore. The cavity is centered on the axis and is configured to receive a bearing. The bore extends axially outward from the cavity to the outer surface. The bearing is receivable within the cavity, and has a bore configured to receive an axle inserted through the bore in the wheel body. The bearing and the wheel body together are configured to define a limited range of rotational movement of the wheel body relative to the bearing.
In accordance with yet another feature of the invention, an apparatus comprises a hubcap having a first outer surface with a spherical contour centered on an axis of rotation. The first outer surface has a first radius of curvature, and has a circular first edge extending circumferentially about the axis. A tread has a second outer surface with a spherical contour that is concentric with the contour of the first outer surface. The second outer surface has a second radius of curvature equal to the first radius of curvature. A circular second edge of the second outer surface extends circumferentially about the axis radially outward of the first circular edge.
In still another feature of the invention, an apparatus comprises a rotatable wheel body with a peripheral outer surface extending circumferentially about an axis of rotation, a bearing cavity centered on the axis, and a bore surface defining a bore extending axially outward from the bearing cavity. A hubcap is configured to have an installed position on the wheel body. The hubcap has ribs. Each rib has an axially extending edge configured to guide the hubcap along while the hubcap is being installed. The ribs may be spaced radially from the surrounding bore surface, or alternatively may be configured to contact the bore surface, when the hubcab is in the installed position.
The invention further provides an apparatus comprising a ball joint that includes a ball rotatably received in a socket. A cylindrical inner surface of the ball is centered on a first axis and defines a bore in the ball. An alignment tool rotates the ball relative to the socket. A tapered tip of the alignment tool is centered on a second axis. The tapered tip is configured to rotate the ball to align the first axis with the second axis when the tapered tip is moved along the second axis into the bore. A body portion of the alignment tool extends from the tapered tip, and is centered on the second axis. The body portion has a cylindrical outer diameter that is sized to enable the body portion to be telescopically received within the cylindrical inner surface and to limit rotation of the ball relative to the body portion when the body portion is received within the bore.
Further in accordance with the invention, the wheel body preferably has a spherical outer surface configured to roll about an open surface. A socket of the wheel body is centered on an axis of rotation and is configured to receive a ball. A bore extends axially outward from the socket and is configured to receive an axle. The bore has a conical beveled surface at an outer end of the bore. The ball is receivable within the socket to form a ball joint. The axle is receivable within the bore and is attachable to the ball. The beveled surface is configured to be pivotally movable into abutting line contact with the axle when the wheel body, the ball and the axle are assembled together.
According to another feature, a wheel of a vacuum cleaner comprises a socket and a ball received within the socket to form a ball joint such that the socket is rotatable about the ball. The wheel further comprises an axle fastened to the ball such that the ball is rotatable about the axle.
Additionally, an apparatus constructed in accordance with the invention may comprise a rotatable wheel body having a socket configured to receive a ball. A first bore extends axially outward from the socket and is configured to receive an axle. The ball is configured to be received within the socket. The ball has a second bore configured to receive the axle. A first abutment shoulder extends radially inward within the second bore. The axle is receivable within the first and second bores. The axle has an end surface and a third bore extending axially inward through the end surface. The third bore is configured to receive a fastener. The fastener is receivable within the third bore for fastening the axle to the ball. The fastener has a head portion that faces both the first abutment shoulder and the end surface of the axle when the axle is fastened to the ball.


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