초록 ▼

A hubless caster assembly includes a caster body and at least one wheel, the wheel comprising a toroidal member having a bearing race, and a complementary bearing race supported by the caster body. Bearing elements in the races support the wheel in free rotation. The caster body may comprise a ring

A hubless caster assembly includes a caster body and at least one wheel, the wheel comprising a toroidal member having a bearing race, and a complementary bearing race supported by the caster body. Bearing elements in the races support the wheel in free rotation. The caster body may comprise a ring body having an axial opening, whereby the caster assembly has a large central aperture extending entirely therethrough. A centering ring may be secured in the axial opening with the complementary bearing race formed therein. A hub cap with visual treatment may be secured over the central aperture.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A caster assembly, including:a caster body; a wheel including an outer toroidal member having a large opening extending centrally through said outer toroidal member, said outer toroidal member including a first bearing race extending annularly therein; said caster body including a ring body havin

1. A caster assembly, including:a caster body; a wheel including an outer toroidal member having a large opening extending centrally through said outer toroidal member, said outer toroidal member including a first bearing race extending annularly therein; said caster body including a ring body having an axial opening extending therethrough; bearing means joined to said ring body to support said wheel, said bearing means including a second bearing race disposed in confronting, complementary relationship to said first bearing race, and a plurality of bearing elements retained in said first and second bearing races to directly support said outer toroidal member in freely rotating fashion; said large central opening and said axial opening being co-extensive and devoid of any structural member extending therein. 2. The caster assembly of claim 1, further including means for securing said caster assembly to an end use object.3. The caster assembly of claim 2, wherein said means for securing includes a kingpin extending from said caster body.4. The caster assembly of claim 2, wherein said means for securing includes a mounting bracket extending from said caster body.5. The caster assembly of claim 1, wherein said bearing means includes a centering ring secured in said axial opening.6. The caster assembly of claim 5, wherein said wheel includes an inner annular surface, and said first bearing race is formed in said inner annular surface.7. The caster assembly of claim 6, wherein said centering ring includes an outer annular surface, and said second bearing race is disposed in said outer annular surface of said centering ring.8. The caster assembly of claim 7, wherein said centering ring is disposed concentrically within said axial opening and within said central opening of said wheel.9. The caster assembly of claim 1, wherein said axial opening and said central opening comprise an aperture defining a wide unobstructed sight line extending through said caster assembly.10. The caster assembly of claim 9, further including a hub cap secured in said aperture.11. The caster assembly of claim 10, further including surface treatment means on said hub cap to complement visually an end use object to which said caster assembly is connected.12. The caster assembly of claim 1, wherein said bearing elements include a plurality of balls.13. The caster assembly of claim 12, wherein said bearing elements includes a plurality of bearing spacers interspersed between said balls.14. The caster assembly of claim 1, wherein said bearing elements includes a plurality of rollers.15. The caster assembly of claim 14, wherein said bearing means includes a plurality of bearing pins arrayed about said second bearing race, each of said bearing pins supporting one of said bearing rollers for rotation about an axis substantially parallel to the axis of said axial opening.16. The caster assembly of claim 1, wherein said bearing means includes a tubular member secured in said axial opening, said tubular member having at least one end extending outwardly from said ring body.17. The caster assembly of claim 16, wherein said second bearing race is disposed in said one end of said tubular member.18. The caster assembly of claim 17, further including a retaining ring secured to said one end of said tubular member.19. The caster assembly of claim 1, wherein said ring body includes an outer annular surface, and said second bearing race is disposed in said outer annular surface of said ring body.20. A caster assembly, including:a caster body; a pair of wheels, each including an outer toroidal member having a large opening extending centrally through said outer toroidal member, said outer toroidal members including a pair of first bearing races, each extending annularly in one of said outer toroidal members; said caster body including a pair of ring bodies having axial openings co-extending therethrough; bearing means joined to said ring bodies to support said wheels, said bearing means including a pair of second bearing races, each disposed in confronting, complementary relationship to one of said first bearing races, and a plurality of bearing elements retained in said first and second bearing races to directly support said outer toroidal members in freely rotating fashion; said large central openings of said outer toroidal members and said axial openings of said ring bodies being co-extensive and devoid of any structural member extending therein. 21. The caster assembly of claim 20, further including means for securing said caster assembly to an end use object.22. The caster assembly of claim 21, wherein said means for securing includes a kingpin extending from said caster body.23. The caster assembly of claim 21, wherein said means for securing includes a mounting bracket extending from said caster body.24. The caster assembly of claim 20, wherein said bearing means includes a pair of centering rings secured in said axial opening.25. The caster assembly of claim 24, wherein each of said wheels includes an inner annular surface, and each of said first bearing races is formed in one of said inner annular surfaces.26. The caster assembly of claim 25, wherein each of said centering rings includes an outer annular surface, and each of said second bearing races is disposed in said outer annular surface of one of said centering rings.27. The caster assembly of claim 26, wherein said centering rings are disposed concentrically within said axial opening and within said central openings of said wheels.28. The caster assembly of claim 20, wherein said axial openings and said central openings comprise an aperture defining a wide unobstructed sight line extending through said caster assembly.29. The caster assembly of claim 28, further including at least one hub cap secured in said aperture.30. The caster assembly of claim 29, further including surface treatment means on said hub cap to visually complement an end use object to which said caster assembly is connected.31. The caster assembly of claim 20, wherein said bearing elements include a plurality of balls.32. The caster assembly of claim 31, wherein said bearing elements includes a plurality of bearing spacers interspersed between said balls.33. The caster assembly of claim 20, wherein said bearing elements includes a plurality of rollers.34. The caster assembly of claim 33, wherein said bearing means includes a plurality of bearing pins arrayed about each of said second bearing races, each of said bearing pins supporting one of said bearing rollers for rotation about an axis substantially parallel to the axis of said axial opening.35. The caster assembly of claim 20, wherein said bearing means includes a tubular member secured in said axial opening, said tubular member having opposed ends extending axially outwardly from said ring body.36. The caster assembly of claim 35, wherein each of said second bearing races is disposed in one of said opposed ends of said tubular member.37. The caster assembly of claim 36, further including a retaining ring secured to said one end of said tubular member.38. The caster assembly of claim 20, wherein said pair of wheels each rotate independently with respect to the other.39. The caster assembly of claim 1, wherein said wheel includes a neck portion adapted to be received in said annular surface of said axial opening, said first bearing race formed in an outer annular surface of said neck portion.40. The caster assembly of claim 39, wherein said wheel includes a neck portion adapted to be received in said inner annular surface of said axial opening, said first bearing race formed in an outer annular surface of said neck portion.41. The caster assembly of claim 39, further including a pair of said wheels, each wheel including a neck portion adapted to be received in said inner annular surface of said axial opening, said first bearing race formed in an outer annular surface of said neck portion of each of said wheels.42. The caster assembly of claim 41, wherein said neck portions of said pair of wheels are joined for rotation in common within said second bearing race.43. The caster assembly of claim 14, wherein said bearing elements include a plurality of spacers interposed between said rollers.44. The caster assembly of claim 33, wherein said bearing elements include a plurality of spacers interposed between said rollers.