US4854742A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Wheel bearing, in particular for toy vehicles
Assignee: Lego AS
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Filing: 1987-11-25
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Granted: 1989-08-08
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Expires: 2007-11-25
Abstract
Abstract A wheel bearing, in particular for toy vehicles, which are usually subjected to strong overloads, is characterized in that, in the vicinity of each end, the wheel axle (10, not shown in FIG. 2) has both a bearing face (14, 15) with a relatively small radius of curvature and a bearing face (12, 13) with a relatively large radius of curvature substantially corresponding to the radius of the axle. The bearings with the small radius of curvature (14, 15) are elastically resilient, the bearing faces with the relatively small radius of curvature being provided in bearing plates (2, 3) which are connected with a vehicle portion (1) via elastic connecting members (4, 5). When the toy vehicle is overloaded, the axle is supported in the large bearings (12, 13) so that the small bearings (14, 15), having a very small friction under normal operating conditions, are not damaged.
Inventors
- 👤 Erik Bach
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 21:30
CPC Classifications
A; A63; A63H; A63H17/00; A63H17/26; A63H17/262; A63H19/00; A63H19/16; A63H19/22
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 4
Claim 1
Independent Claim
193 words
A wheel bearing, in particular for toy vehicles comprising a bearing bracket for rotatable reception of a plurality of wheel axles, wherein two sets of cooperating bearing faces are provided for each wheel axle, said bearing faces having mutually different radii of curvature, and the axle and the bracket are mutually moveable in a direction transversely to the axle between a position in which the axle is just journalled in bearing faces having a relatively small radius of curvature, and an extreme position in which the axle cooperates with bearing faces having a relatively large radius of curvature, and through-going wheel axles with a pair of wheels in the vicinity of the ends of the axles, characterized in that the outer ends of the wheel axle have a reduced diameter, and that these ends are journalled in a bearing plate secured to the bracket in such manner that a certain elastic travel of said bearing plate is possible, and that the bracket has fixed bearing pedestals opposite the relatively thick portion of the axle, said bearing pedestals limiting the elastic travel area of the axle to define the extreme position of the axle.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
193 words
A wheel bearing, in particular for toy vehicles comprising a bearing bracket for rotatable reception of a plurality of wheel axles, wherein two sets of cooperating bearing faces are provided for each wheel axle, said bearing faces having mutually different radii of curvature, and the axle and the bracket are mutually moveable in a direction transversely to the axle between a position in which the axle is just journalled in bearing faces having a relatively small radius of curvature, and an extreme position in which the axle cooperates with bearing faces having a relatively large radius of curvature, and through-going wheel axles with a pair of wheels in the vicinity of the ends of the axles, characterized in that the outer ends of the wheel axle have a reduced diameter, and that these ends are journalled in a bearing plate secured to the bracket in such manner that a certain elastic travel of said bearing plate is possible, and that the bracket has fixed bearing pedestals opposite the relatively thick portion of the axle, said bearing pedestals limiting the elastic travel area of the axle to define the extreme position of the axle.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
57 words
A wheel bearing according to claim 1, characterized in that each bearing plate is formed with a transversely extending, cylindrical hole in alignment with the associated axle to receive a cylinder-shaped axle end with a relatively small diameter, said bearing plate being secured to the bracket so as to be elastically movable substantially in a vertical direction.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
46 words
A wheel bearing according to claim 1, characterized in that each bearing plate has the shape of a tongue disposed transversely to the associated axle and projecting elastically from the bracket, said tongue having a track to receive an axle end formed with a pointed tip.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1992-08-07 | 1993-02-06 | 1993-08-08 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1996-08-07 | 1997-02-06 | 1997-08-08 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2000-08-07 | 2001-02-06 | 2001-08-08 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |