The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
May. 19, 1987
Filed:
Dec. 16, 1985
Robert S Toms, Jr, Warrenville, IL (US);
Miner Enterprises, Inc., Geneva, IL (US);
Abstract
A wheel assembly, and a method and apparatus for fabricating the same, are disclosed. The wheel assembly includes an annular bearing hub and an annular tread layer of thermoplastic elastomeric material, such as a copolyester polymer elastomer material, about the bearing hub. The tread layer has an initial free radial thickness. The material is such that upon being radially compressed at least thirty percent of its initial radial thickness the material will retain a substantial portion of the thickness reduction after being compressed. The method and apparatus include applying a radial force by means of a cone-shaped wedge member from within the tread layer while the outer periphery of the tread layer is radially contained, the radially applied force being sufficient to compress the tread layer at least thirty percent of its initial radial thickness. The bearing hub is moved axially into the compressed annular tread layer immediately behind the cone-shaped wedge member.