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US3638356A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Wheel for a toy car

Assignee: Mattel Inc
•
Filing: 1970-08-25
•
Granted: 1972-02-01
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Expires: 1990-08-25
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Abstract

Abstract A wheel which simulates a wide track tire with a decorative hub comprising a tire member which can receive a variety of different ''''mag wheels'''' or hubcap members. The tire member is cup shaped, with tapered inner walls for tightly receiving a hubcap member pressed therein. The hubcap member has a tubular portion which receives a protruding hub portion of the tire member as the hubcap member is pressed into place, to prevent tilting of the hubcap member.

Inventors

  • 👤 Harvey W La Branche

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-01 03:46
CPC Classifications
A; A63; A63H; A63H17/00; A63H17/26; A63H17/262

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim 121 words
A low friction wheel assembly for a toy vehicle which rolls at high speed relative to its size, comprising: a tire member having a central bearing hole for receiving a vehicle-supporting axle, and a tire portion with an outer rolling surface integral with the walls of said bearing hole, said tire member having an inner face for facing towards said vehicle and an outer face for facing away from said vehicle, said outer face defining a hubcap-receiving recess; and a hubcap member for reception in said recess of said tire member, said hubcap member having an axially inwardly protruding annular portion of smaller diameter than the outer hubcap diameter for engaging a region of said tire member about said bearing hole.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 121 words
A low friction wheel assembly for a toy vehicle which rolls at high speed relative to its size, comprising: a tire member having a central bearing hole for receiving a vehicle-supporting axle, and a tire portion with an outer rolling surface integral with the walls of said bearing hole, said tire member having an inner face for facing towards said vehicle and an outer face for facing away from said vehicle, said outer face defining a hubcap-receiving recess; and a hubcap member for reception in said recess of said tire member, said hubcap member having an axially inwardly protruding annular portion of smaller diameter than the outer hubcap diameter for engaging a region of said tire member about said bearing hole.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 47 words
The wheel assembly described in claim 1 wherein: said hubcap member includes means for retention in said recess while allowing ejection therefrom under high ejecting forces, and all of said hubcap member lies substantially within the axial boundary defined by said outer face of said tire member.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 32 words
The wheel assembly described in claim 1 wherein: said recess has sloping walls; and said hubcap member has correspondingly sloping walls for providing a snug fit with the walls of said recess.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 141 words
A wheel for a toy vehicle which simulates a wide tread tire, comprising: a tire member having a hub portion with a bearing hole for receiving a vehicle-supporting axle and a radially outer tire surface concentric with said bearing hole for rollably supporting said toy vehicle, said tire member having an inner face for facing towards said vehicle and an outer face for facing away from said vehicle, said outer face defining a hubcap-receiving recess with sloping walls; and a hubcap member having an outer hubcap diameter between the greatest and smallest diameters of said recess in said outer face of said tire member for reception therein to a predetermined depth, said hubcap member having an axially inwardly protruding annular portion of smaller diameter than said outer hubcap diameter for abutting a region of said tire member about said bearing hole.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 141 words
A wheel for a toy vehicle which simulates a wide tread tire, comprising: a tire member having a hub portion with a bearing hole for receiving a vehicle-supporting axle and a radially outer tire surface concentric with said bearing hole for rollably supporting said toy vehicle, said tire member having an inner face for facing towards said vehicle and an outer face for facing away from said vehicle, said outer face defining a hubcap-receiving recess with sloping walls; and a hubcap member having an outer hubcap diameter between the greatest and smallest diameters of said recess in said outer face of said tire member for reception therein to a predetermined depth, said hubcap member having an axially inwardly protruding annular portion of smaller diameter than said outer hubcap diameter for abutting a region of said tire member about said bearing hole.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 47 words
The wheel described in claim 4 wherein: said hub portion of said tire member includes a tapered portion protruding axially outwardly into said recess; and said protruding annular portion of said hubcap member has a central recess with tapered walls for closely receiving said tapered hub portion.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 56 words
The wheel described in claim 4 wherein: said hubcap member has a tapered outer surface for an interference fit with the walls of said recess, and said hubcap member has an axial length small enough so that no part of said hubcap member protrudes axially past said tire member when installed therein in an interference fit.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 105 words
The wheel described in claim 4 wherein: said hub portion of said tire member has a tapered portion protruding axially into said recess; said annular inwardly protruding portion of said hubcap member has a central recess with tapered walls for receiving said tapered hub portion in a substantially interference fit therewith; and the outer surface of said hubcap member is tapered and is located to form a substantially interference fit with the walls of said recess of said tire member as the tapered walls of said annular hubcap portion form a substantially interference fit with the walls of said hub portion of said tire member.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US2566111A Cited
US2878074A Cited
US2978277A Cited
US3400988A Cited
US3510981A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1975-01-31 1975-08-02 1976-02-01 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1979-01-31 1979-08-02 1980-02-01 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1983-01-31 1983-08-02 1984-02-01 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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