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A wheel assembly having rolling and swiveling capability includes a wheel bracket configured for mounting one or more wheels, a swivel bracket configured for positioning with respect to an object with respect to which the wheel assembly is used, the swivel bracket including a main body and a spindle

A wheel assembly having rolling and swiveling capability includes a wheel bracket configured for mounting one or more wheels, a swivel bracket configured for positioning with respect to an object with respect to which the wheel assembly is used, the swivel bracket including a main body and a spindle extending from one side of the main body of the swivel bracket into a receptacle in the wheel bracket, the spindle and receptacle being tapered at different angles to minimize surface to surface engagement during swiveling, a thrust bearing between the swivel bracket and wheel bracket to transfer force between the brackets while assisting to align the brackets, a retention mechanism at the distal end portion of the spindle configured to retain the spindle in the wheel bracket and aligning the spindle with respect to the wheel bracket while permitting the wheel bracket to swivel about the spindle relative to the swivel bracket.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A wheel assembly, comprising at least two wheels,a wheel bracket configured for mounting two or more wheels with respect thereto,a swivel bracket configured for positioning with respect to an object with respect to which the wheel assembly is used,the swivel bracket including a main body and a sp

1. A wheel assembly, comprising at least two wheels,a wheel bracket configured for mounting two or more wheels with respect thereto,a swivel bracket configured for positioning with respect to an object with respect to which the wheel assembly is used,the swivel bracket including a main body and a spindle extending from one side of the main body of the swivel bracket, the spindle having a proximal end portion and a distal end portion,the proximal end portion relatively proximate the main body of the swivel bracket and the distal end portion being remote from the main body relative to the proximal end portion,the spindle configured to extend into the wheel bracket, anda retention mechanism at the distal end portion of the spindle configured to retain the spindle in the wheel bracket while permitting the wheel bracket to swivel about the spindle relative to the swivel bracket,wherein the spindle extends along a generally linear spindle axis, and wherein two of the wheels are spaced apart along a wheel axis that is generally perpendicular to the spindle axis and that is spaced apart from the spindle axis as not to intersect the spindle axis, and wherein the wheels, respectively, are on opposite sides of the spindle axis, andwherein the spindle extends generally linearly from the main body of the swivel bracket along a generally linear spindle axis, and the retention mechanism is configured to retain the spindle in the wheel bracket while permitting limited movement of the spindle in a direction along the spindle axis. 2. The wheel assembly of claim 1, further comprising a mounting structure for mounting the wheel assembly to an article for support by the wheel assembly. 3. The wheel assembly of claim 2, wherein the mounting structure comprises an adhesive bracket coupled to the swivel bracket, and adhesive attachment coupled to the adhesive bracket and configured to adhere the wheel assembly to an article. 4. The wheel assembly of claim 1, further comprising an axle supported by the wheel bracket, the wheels being mounted on the axle. 5. The wheel assembly of claim 1, wherein the wheel bracket includes a main body and a passage in the main body in which the spindle extends, and wherein the passage has an entrance at one end and has a distal end, and the passage further having a stop configured to cooperate with a retainer of the retention mechanism to retain the spindle in the wheel bracket. 6. The wheel assembly of claim 5, wherein the passage includes a portion that extends through the stop member, wherein the distal end portion of the spindle extends through and beyond the stop member, wherein the stop member has a stop surface at the distal side of the stop relative to the entrance of the passage, and wherein the retainer is configured for attachment to the distal end of the spindle in position for interference with the stop surface to block the spindle from being withdrawn from the passage. 7. The wheel assembly of claim 6, further comprising a mounting structure for mounting the wheel assembly to an article for support by the wheel assembly, and wherein in response to loading of the wheel assembly at the mounting structure urging the swivel bracket toward the wheel bracket, the retainer is urged toward but in spaced relation relative to the stop surface avoiding interference with swiveling of the wheel bracket relative to the swivel bracket. 8. The wheel assembly of claim 1, further comprising a thrust bearing between the wheel bracket and the swivel bracket configured to facilitate swiveling of the wheel bracket relative to the spindle and swivel bracket when the wheel bracket and swivel bracket are urged toward each other in response to loading of the wheel assembly. 9. A wheel assembly, comprising at least one wheel,a wheel bracket configured for mounting one or more wheels with respect thereto,a swivel bracket configured for positioning with respect to an object with respect to which the wheel assembly is used,the swivel bracket including a main body and a spindle extending from one side of the main body of the swivel bracket, the spindle having a proximal end portion and a distal end portion,the proximal end portion relatively proximate the main body of the swivel bracket and the distal end portion being remote from the main body relative to the proximal end portion,the spindle configured to extend into the wheel bracket, anda retention mechanism at the distal end portion of the spindle configured to retain the spindle in the wheel bracket while permitting the wheel bracket to swivel about the spindle relative to the swivel bracket,further comprising a thrust bearing between the wheel bracket and the swivel bracket configured to facilitate swiveling of the wheel bracket relative to the spindle and swivel bracket when the wheel bracket and swivel bracket are urged toward each other in response to loading of the wheel assembly, andwherein the wheel bracket includes a main body and a passage having an entrance end and a distal end, the spindle extending in the passage from the entrance end toward the distal end of the passage, and the thrust bearing comprises a smooth surface of the wheel bracket main body about the entrance end and a smooth surface of the swivel bracket about the spindle, and wherein the respective smooth surfaces face each other. 10. The wheel assembly of claim 9, further comprising a surface surrounding at least part of the thrust bearing to block contaminant from entering the thrust bearing. 11. The wheel assembly of claim 9, the passage further having a stop configured to cooperate with a retainer of said retention mechanism to retain the spindle in the wheel bracket, wherein the passage includes a portion that extends through the stop and the spindle is rotatable in the portion, wherein the distal end of the spindle extends through and beyond the stop, wherein the stop has a stop surface at the distal side of the stop relative to the entrance of the passage, and wherein the retainer is configured for attachment to the distal end of the spindle in position for interference with the stop surface to block the spindle from being withdrawn from the passage while permitting limited movement of the spindle in a direction along an axis of the spindle. 12. The wheel assembly of claim 11, wherein the retainer is configured to retain the spindle bracket and wheel bracket together with the respective smooth surfaces aligned with each other to provide a thrust bearing function. 13. A wheel assembly, comprising at least one wheel,a wheel bracket configured for mounting one or more wheels with respect thereto,a swivel bracket configured for positioning with respect to an object with respect to which the wheel assembly is used,the swivel bracket including a main body and a spindle extending from one side of the main body of the swivel bracket, the spindle having a proximal end portion and a distal end portion,the proximal end portion relatively proximate the main body of the swivel bracket and the distal end portion being remote from the main body relative to the proximal end portion,the spindle configured to extend into the wheel bracket, anda retention mechanism at the distal end portion of the spindle configured to retain the spindle in the wheel bracket while permitting the wheel bracket to swivel about the spindle relative to the swivel bracket,the spindle having at least a portion that is generally tapering truncated conical shape, andthe wheel bracket having a receptacle that is of gradually tapering truncated conical shape different from that of the spindle, and is configured to receive at least part of the spindle,whereby with the spindle inserted in the receptacle corresponding portions of the spindle and receptacle are in closer fitting relation relatively near the proximal end portion of the spindle than corresponding other parts of the spindle and receptacle that are relatively near the distal end of the respective tapered portions thereof. 14. A wheel assembly, comprising at least one wheel,a wheel bracket configured for mounting one or more wheels with respect thereto,a swivel bracket configured for positioning with respect to an object with respect to which the wheel assembly is used,the swivel bracket including a main body and a spindle extending from one side of the main body of the swivel bracket, the spindle having a proximal end portion and a distal end portion,the proximal end portion relatively proximate the main body of the swivel bracket and the distal end portion being remote from the main body relative to the proximal end portion,the spindle configured to extend into the wheel bracket, anda retention mechanism at the distal end portion of the spindle configured to retain the spindle in the wheel bracket while permitting the wheel bracket to swivel about the spindle relative to the swivel bracket,wherein the wheel bracket includes a receptacle configured to receive therein at least part of the spindle, wherein at least part of the spindle that is in the receptacle is of truncated conical tapered configuration and at least part of the receptacle is of truncated conical configuration, and further comprising a thrust bearing and a stop that are cooperative with the wheel bracket and swivel bracket to limit relative movement of the wheel bracket and spindle bracket to maintain spaced relation between the respective truncated conical tapered portions of the spindle and receptacle. 15. A swivelable wheel assembly, comprising at least one wheel,a wheel bracket configured to support at least one wheel,a swivel bracket configured to support the wheel bracket,the swivel bracket including a base and an elongate spindle extending from the base, the elongate spindle having a generally circular cross section portion at least part of which is tapered from a relatively wider cross section toward a relatively narrower cross section remote from the base,the wheel bracket including a body having an elongate receptacle space therein to receive at least part of the elongate spindle, the receptacle space having a generally circular cross section portion at least part of which is tapered from a relatively wider cross section at the entrance to the elongate receptacle space where the elongate spindle is received in the elongate receptacle space toward the interior of the elongate receptacle away from the entrance,the angle of taper of the elongate spindle being sharper than the angle of taper of the elongate receptacle space as to tend to minimize surface contact between the tapered part of the elongate spindle and a wall of the elongate receptacle space adjacent the tapered part of the elongate spindle inserted in the elongate receptacle space,a retainer configured to retain the elongate spindle in the elongate receptacle space, andwherein a wall portion of the elongate spindle and a wall portion of the base of the swivel bracket engage each other. 16. The swivelable wheel assembly of claim 15, wherein the wheel bracket and swivel bracket have respective surfaces that are cooperative as a thrust bearing to distribute force between the wheel bracket and swivel bracket in response to force urging them together. 17. The swivelable wheel assembly of claim 15, wherein the at least one wheel comprises a pair of wheels supported by the wheel bracket, and further comprising a mounting assembly configured to attach the wheel assembly to an article for support by the swivelable wheel assembly and the wheels thereof, and wherein in response force of an article against the mounting assembly the swivel bracket and wheel bracket are urged together, and wherein the wheel bracket is rotatable relative to the swivel bracket about a swivel axis, and the pair of wheels are rotatable about a wheel axis that is perpendicular to the swivel axis, and wherein the wheel axis is spaced from in offset relation to the swivel axis so as not to intersect the swivel axis at the swivelable wheel assembly. 18. The swivelable wheel assembly of claim 17, wherein part of the spindle and part of receptacle engage at the entrance and there is no substantial surface to surface engagement of the tapered part of the spindle and the wall of the tapered receptacle spindle in use of the swivelable wheel assemble supporting an article via wheels of the swivelable wheel assembly. 19. A swivelable wheel assembly, including at least one wheel, a swivel bracket having a support base and an extending spindle, the spindle having a generally round cross section and a portion that is tapered from a relatively wider cross section toward a relatively narrower cross section from an area nearer the support base toward an area nearer the distal end of the spindle, and a wheel bracket having a receptacle extending in a direction and having an open area to receive at least part of the spindle, the open area of the receptacle that receives the spindle having a generally round cross section that is tapered from a relatively wider cross section near an entrance to receive the spindle into the open area toward a relatively narrower cross section portion, and wherein the swivel bracket and the wheel bracket are swivelable with respect to each other with the spindle in the receptacle, a retainer configured to retain the elongate spindle in the elongate receptacle space while permitting limited axial movement of the spindle and receptacle with respect to each other to tend to avoid surface to surface engagement of respective surfaces of the spindle and receptacle.