Combination thrust and radial bearing

Claim 2

A combination thrust and radial bearing comprising: an outer housing member having a first longitudinally extending portion and a first radially outwardly extending portion at one end thereof; an inner housing member having a second longitudinally extending portion and a second radially outwardly extending portion at one end thereof, said inner housing member spacedly mating with said outer housing member with said second longitudinally extending portion being positioned concentrically within and spaced from said first longitudinally extending portion and said second radially outwardly extending portion being longitudinally spaced from said first radially outwardly extending portion; a bearing insert made from synthetic resin, said insert having a third longitudinally extending portion and a third radially outwardly extending portion, said third longitudinally extending portion being positioned between said first and second longitudinally extending portions and said third radially outwardly extending portion being positioned between said first and second radially outwardly extending portions, with at least one load supporting radially extending circumferential rib formed on one surface of said longitudinally extending portion and at least one load supporting longitudinally extending rib formed on one surface of said third radially outwardly extending portion, such that all thrust and radial loads on said bearing are borne by said ribs; and means for maintaining said inner and outer housing members in position with said insert therebetween.

Claim 3

The combination thrust and radial bearing according to claim 1, further comprising a thrust washer positioned between said third radially outwardly extending portion and one of said first and second radially outwardly extending portions.

Claim 4

The combination thrust and radial bearing according to claim 1, wherein said radially extending circumferential rib is formed on the surface of said third longitudinally extending portion adjacent said first longitudinally extending portion.

Claim 5

The combination thrust and radial bearing according to claim 1, wherein said longitudinally extending rib is formed on the surface of said third radially outwardly extending portion adjacent said first radially outwardly extending portion.

Claim 6

The combination thrust and radial bearing according to claim 1, wherein said longitudinally extending rib is formed on the surface of said third radially outwardly extending portion adjacent said second radially outwardly extending portion.

Claim 7

The combination thrust and radial bearing according to claim 1, further comprising a thrust washer positioned between the surface of said third radially outwardly extending portion having said longitudinally extending rib formed thereon and one of said first and second radially outwardly extending portions.

Claim 8

The combination thrust and radial bearing according to claim 1, wherein said third longitudinally extending portion and said third radially outwardly extending portion are formed as an integral one-piece unit.

Claim 9

The combination thrust and radial bearing according to claim 1, wherein said third longitudinally extending portion and said third radially outwardly extending portion are formed separately.

Claim 10

A caster comprising the combination thrust and radial bearing of claim 1 and further comprising a wheel-carrying member connected to said bearing and a wheel rotatably mounted on said wheel-carrying member.

Claim 11

A combination thruSt and radial bearing comprising: an outer housing member having a first longitudinally extending portion and a first radially outwardly extending portion at one end thereof; an inner housing member having a second longitudinally extending portion and a second radially outwardly extending portion at one end thereof, said inner housing member spacedly mating with said outer housing member with said second longitudinally extending portion being positioned concentrically within and spaced from said first longitudinally extending portion and said second radially outwardly extending portion being longitudinally spaced from said first radially outwardly extending portion; a bearing insert made from synthetic resin, said insert having a third longitudinally extending portion and a third radially outwardly extending portion, said third longitudinally extending portion being positioned between said first and second longitudinally extending portions and having a plurality of radially extending ribs formed on one surface thereof, and said third radially outwardly extending portion being positioned between said first and second radially outwardly extending portions and having a plurality of longitudinally extending ribs formed on one surface thereof; a thrust washer positioned between said third radially outwardly extending portion and one of said first and second radially outwardly extending portions; and means for maintaining said inner and outer housing members in position with said insert therebetween, said maintaining means including, a centering member extending across and positioned at the end of said second longitudinally extending portion adjacent said second radially outwardly extending portion, a fastener receiving means attached to said outer housing member at the end thereof opposite said first radially outwardly extending portion, and a fastener extending through said centering member and received by said receiving means.

Claim 12

A combination thruSt and radial bearing comprising: an outer housing member having a first longitudinally extending portion and a first radially outwardly extending portion at one end thereof; an inner housing member having a second longitudinally extending portion and a second radially outwardly extending portion at one end thereof, said inner housing member spacedly mating with said outer housing member with said second longitudinally extending portion being positioned concentrically within and spaced from said first longitudinally extending portion and said second radially outwardly extending portion being longitudinally spaced from said first radially outwardly extending portion; a bearing insert made from synthetic resin, said insert having a third longitudinally extending portion and a third radially outwardly extending portion, said third longitudinally extending portion being positioned between said first and second longitudinally extending portions and having a plurality of radially extending ribs formed on one surface thereof, and said third radially outwardly extending portion being positioned between said first and second radially outwardly extending portions and having a plurality of longitudinally extending ribs formed on one surface thereof; a thrust washer positioned between said third radially outwardly extending portion and one of said first and second radially outwardly extending portions; and means for maintaining said inner and outer housing members in position with said insert therebetween, said maintaining means including, a centering member extending across and positioned at the end of said second longitudinally extending portion adjacent said second radially outwardly extending portion, a fastener receiving means attached to said outer housing member at the end thereof opposite said first radially outwardly extending portion, and a fastener extending through said centering member and received by said receiving means.