Lightweight hollow universal wheel device and method of use thereof

Abstract

The application discloses a light-weight hollow universal wheel device and a use method thereof, and relates to the field of universal wheels.The light-weight hollow universal wheel device and the use method thereof realize the significant light-weight of the overall structure of the universal wheel through the combined application of the hollow rotating wheel and the hollow middle shaft, the weight of the single wheel is greatly reduced, the overall weight of the light products such as the luggage case and the storage cart is effectively reduced, the heavy feeling caused by the traditional solid wheel is eliminated, and the use flexibility and the portable experience are improved.Because the weight of the wheel body is reduced, the load of the locking assembly is also reduced, the user only needs to step on the rotating plate to drive the clamping rod and the clamping groove to realize reliable clamping and locking, the operation is labor-saving and the locking is stable, the problems of the traditional universal wheel, such as the failure to lock or the failure caused by the heavy wheel body and the large locking force, are effectively avoided, and the use safety is significantly enhanced.Meanwhile, the rubber sleeve, the corrugated sleeve and the outer cylinder arranged outside the hollow middle shaft form a multilayer composite damping structure, and the multilayer composite damping structure can effectively absorb the road impact and vibration.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to caster wheel technology, specifically to a lightweight hollow caster wheel device and its usage method. Background Technology

[0002] In existing technologies, lightweight boxes, bags, and racks such as suitcases, storage boxes, mobile tool cabinets, kitchen shelves, balcony flower racks, bedside tables, and camping storage trolleys are generally equipped with swivel casters for easy movement and turnover. However, most mainstream swivel casters on the market are solid wheel structures, with the wheel body made of a combination of metal parts and high-density engineering plastics. Some even have added metal reinforcements to increase load-bearing capacity, resulting in high material usage and cost for the wheel body itself. A single wheel often weighs several hundred grams, and multiple wheels stacked together significantly increase the overall weight, making the product appear bulky and affecting the user experience. At the same time, the heavy weight of the wheel body directly increases the load on the locking mechanism, requiring greater pressing force to lock, which can easily lead to incomplete locking or locking failure, posing a safety hazard. In addition, traditional swivel casters have complex structures, numerous parts, and cumbersome assembly processes, making it difficult to meet the requirements of lightweight products.

[0003] While casters possess inherent advantages such as 360° free reversal and flexible operation, making them suitable for complex working conditions like narrow passages and turns, existing solid wheel structures can no longer simultaneously achieve lightweight, reliability, and low cost. Therefore, there is an urgent need to develop a hollow caster device that is lightweight, has low production costs, requires minimal locking effort, and possesses sufficient load-bearing capacity. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The purpose of this invention is to provide a lightweight hollow caster device and its usage method to solve the problems of complex structure, numerous parts, and cumbersome assembly process of existing casters, which make it difficult to meet the matching requirements of lightweight products.

[0005] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention provides the following technical solution: a lightweight hollow universal wheel device, comprising a wheel plate seat, a wheel frame, a hollow central shaft, a hollow wheel, and a locking assembly;

[0006] The wheel frame is rotatably connected to the bottom of the wheel plate seat, the hollow central shaft is rotatably connected to the middle of the wheel frame, and both ends of the hollow central shaft extend out of the wheel frame. The hollow wheel is rotatably sleeved on the end of the hollow central shaft, and the locking assembly is disposed on the wheel frame.

[0007] Preferably, a wheel plate rivet is connected to the wheel plate seat, the lower end of the wheel plate rivet is inserted into the wheel frame, a positioning rivet is inserted into the wheel frame, and the end of the positioning rivet and the wheel plate rivet are interlocked in the wheel frame.

[0008] Preferably, the hollow central shaft is fitted with rotating sleeves at both ends, and the hollow rotating wheel is engaged with the rotating sleeves. The two ends of the hollow central shaft are turned outwards, and the rotating sleeves and the hollow rotating wheel are engaged by the turned edges.

[0009] Preferably, the hollow wheel is fitted with a wheel sleeve.

[0010] Preferably, a side cover is inserted into the side of the hollow wheel, and a buckle is provided on the side cover, which is fastened to the hollow wheel through the buckle.

[0011] Preferably, the hollow wheel has concentrically arranged rotating grooves and multiple slots arranged in a circular array around the rotating grooves on its side. The slots are connected to the rotating grooves. The locking assembly includes a rotating plate hinged to the wheel frame and a locking rod fixedly installed on the rotating plate. The locking rod is rotatably engaged in the slot.

[0012] Preferably, a rubber sleeve is connected to the outside of the hollow central shaft, a corrugated sleeve with a wave-like arrangement is fitted outside the rubber sleeve, and an outer cylinder is fitted outside the corrugated sleeve, with the outer wall of the outer cylinder abutting against the inner wall of the wheel frame.

[0013] A method for using a lightweight hollow caster wheel device, comprising the following steps:

[0014] The caster wheels are fixedly installed on the bottom corners of the items to be moved using the wheel base; products that can be fitted include lightweight mobile boxes, cabinets, bags, and racks such as suitcases, storage boxes, mobile tool cabinets, kitchen shelves, balcony flower racks, bedside tables, and camping storage carts; at least two sets of these hollow caster wheels must be fitted to the bottom of the same product.

[0015] When pushing or dragging items normally, rotating the rotating plate causes the lever to disengage from the slot, the locking component is in the unlocked state, the hollow wheel can roll freely, and the wheel frame can rotate 360° in all directions relative to the wheel plate seat; the user can change the direction of travel by applying lateral pushing force, realizing flexible turning and movement in narrow passages and crowded environments;

[0016] When it is necessary to fix the position of an item, step down on the rotating plate of the locking component. The rotating plate drives the locking rod to rotate and engage in the slot, locking the hollow wheel and restricting its rotation to complete the locking.

[0017] When you need to move the item again, step on the rotating plate of the locking component again. The rotating plate will drive the lever to disengage from the slot, and the hollow wheel will return to a rolling state, allowing you to continue moving the item.

[0018] Compared with existing technologies, this invention provides a lightweight hollow omnidirectional wheel device and its usage method. Through the combined application of hollow wheels and a hollow central shaft, the overall structure of the omnidirectional wheel is significantly lightweight, with a substantial reduction in the weight of a single wheel. This effectively reduces the overall weight of lightweight products such as suitcases and storage carts, eliminating the bulkiness of traditional solid wheels and improving usability and portability. Due to the reduced wheel weight, the load on the locking components is also reduced. Users only need to lightly step on the turntable to drive the lever and slot for reliable locking, making operation effortless and locking secure. This effectively avoids the locking problems or failures caused by the weight of the wheels and the high locking force of traditional omnidirectional wheels, significantly enhancing safety. Simultaneously, the rubber sleeve, corrugated sleeve, and outer cylinder on the outside of the hollow central shaft form a multi-layered composite shock-absorbing structure, effectively absorbing road impacts and vibrations, greatly improving pushing comfort and protecting items inside the suitcase. In addition, the foot-operated rotating plate design of the locking component allows both locking and unlocking operations to be completed with the feet, eliminating the need to bend over and making it convenient to use. The overall structure is simple, with fewer parts and high assembly efficiency, which can well adapt to the lightweight matching needs of light products. It combines low cost, high reliability and good user experience, and has significant application and promotion value. Attached Figure Description

[0019] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of this application or the prior art, the drawings used in the embodiments will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments recorded in this invention. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings.

[0020] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the overall structure provided in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0021] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the overall exploded structure provided in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0022] Figure 3 This is a partial cross-sectional structural diagram of the hollow wheel provided in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0023] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the wheel frame structure provided in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0024] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the hollow wheel structure provided in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0025] Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of the cross-sectional structure of the wheel frame provided in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0026] Figure 7 A schematic diagram of a wheel frame structure with a corrugated sleeve provided in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0027] Figure 8 This is a schematic diagram of the corrugated sleeve structure provided in an embodiment of the present invention.

[0028] Explanation of reference numerals in the attached figures:

[0029] 1. Wheel plate seat; 2. Wheel plate rivet; 3. Wheel frame; 4. Positioning rivet; 5. Hollow central shaft; 6. Rotating sleeve; 7. Hollow rotating wheel; 71. Rotating groove; 72. Card slot; 8. Wheel sleeve; 9. Side cover; 10. Rotating plate; 11. Card rod; 12. Corrugated sleeve; 13. Outer cylinder; 14. Rubber sleeve. Detailed Implementation

[0030] To enable those skilled in the art to better understand the technical solution of the present invention, the present invention will be further described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0031] As attached Figure 1 To be continued Figure 8 As shown:

[0032] Example:

[0033] This invention provides a lightweight hollow universal wheel device, including a wheel base 1, a wheel frame 3, a hollow central shaft 5, a hollow wheel 7, and a locking assembly;

[0034] The wheel frame 3 is rotatably connected to the bottom of the wheel plate seat 1. The wheel plate seat 1 is provided with mounting holes for inserting screws to fix it to the item. Wheel plate rivets 2 are connected to the wheel plate seat 1. The lower end of the wheel plate rivets 2 is inserted into the wheel frame 3. A positioning rivet 4 is inserted into the wheel frame 3. The end of the positioning rivet 4 and the wheel plate rivet 2 are interlocked in the wheel frame 3. The wheel frame 3 can rotate 360° on the wheel plate seat 1 through the wheel plate rivets 2. The hollow central shaft 5 is rotatably connected to the middle of the wheel frame 3, and both ends of the hollow central shaft 5 extend out of the wheel frame 3. The hollow rotating wheel 7 is rotatably sleeved on the end of the hollow central shaft 5. The locking assembly is provided on the wheel frame 3.

[0035] The hollow central shaft 5 is fitted with rotating sleeves 6 at both ends, and the hollow rotating wheel 7 is snapped onto the rotating sleeves 6. The two ends of the hollow central shaft 5 are turned outwards, and the rotating sleeves 6 and the hollow rotating wheel 7 are snapped onto each other by the turned edges.

[0036] The hollow wheel 7 is fitted with a wheel sleeve 8, which can be made of soft plastic or rubber to reduce the impact on the hollow wheel 7.

[0037] A side cover 9 is inserted into the side of the hollow rotating wheel 7. The side cover 9 is provided with a buckle and is fastened to the hollow rotating wheel 7 through the buckle.

[0038] The hollow wheel 7 has concentrically arranged rotating grooves 71 and multiple slots 72 arranged in a circular array around the rotating grooves 71 on its side. The slots 72 communicate with the rotating grooves 71. The locking assembly includes a rotating plate 10 hinged to the wheel frame 3 and a locking rod 11 fixedly installed on the rotating plate 10. The locking rod 11 is rotatably engaged in the slots 72. When the locking rod 11 is not engaged in the slots 72, the locking rod 11 can rotate in the rotating grooves 71 without affecting the rotation of the hollow wheel 7. When a user steps on the rotating plate 10, it can drive the locking rod 11 to rotate. The rotating locking rod 11 slides from the rotating grooves 71 into the slots 72. The slots 72 and the rotating grooves 71 cooperate to restrict the rotation of the hollow wheel 7, thereby stopping the rotation of the hollow wheel 7.

[0039] The hollow central shaft 5 is externally connected to a rubber sleeve 14. A corrugated sleeve 12 with a wave-like arrangement is fitted outside the rubber sleeve 14. An outer cylinder 13 is fitted outside the corrugated sleeve 12. The outer wall of the outer cylinder 13 abuts against the inner wall of the wheel frame 3. When the bumps experienced by the hollow wheel 7 are transmitted to the hollow central shaft 5, the hollow central shaft 5 can drive the rubber sleeve 14 to compress the corrugated sleeve 12, causing the corrugated sleeve 12 to deform under force. The deformed corrugated sleeve 12 adheres to the rubber sleeve 14 and slides against it, consuming the elastic potential energy of the corrugated sleeve 12 and consuming the kinetic energy transmitted from the hollow central shaft 5 to the wheel frame 3. This can effectively protect the items installed on the wheel plate seat 1 and reduce the bumps experienced by the items.

[0040] As can be seen from the above, the combined application of hollow swivel wheels 7 and hollow central shaft 5 achieves significant weight reduction in the overall structure of the omnidirectional wheel, greatly reducing the weight of a single wheel and effectively lightening the overall weight of lightweight products such as suitcases and storage carts. This eliminates the bulkiness of traditional solid wheels and improves usability and portability. Due to the reduced wheel weight, the load on the locking components is also reduced. Users only need to lightly step on the rotating plate 10 to drive the lever 11 and the slot 72 to reliably engage and lock, making operation effortless and locking secure. This effectively avoids the locking problems or failures caused by the weight and locking force of traditional omnidirectional wheels, significantly enhancing safety. Simultaneously, the rubber sleeve 14, corrugated sleeve 12, and outer cylinder 13 on the outside of the hollow central shaft 5 form a multi-layered composite shock absorption structure, effectively absorbing road impacts and vibrations, greatly improving pushing comfort and protecting items inside the suitcase. In addition, the foot-operated rotating plate 10 design of the locking component allows both locking and unlocking operations to be completed by foot, eliminating the need to bend over and making it convenient to use. The overall structure is simple, with fewer parts and high assembly efficiency, which can well adapt to the lightweight matching needs of light products. It combines low cost, high reliability and good user experience, and has significant application and promotion value.

[0041] A method for using a lightweight hollow caster wheel device, comprising the following steps:

[0042] The caster wheels are fixedly installed at the bottom corner of the item to be moved via the wheel plate seat 1; products that can be assembled include lightweight mobile boxes, cabinets, racks, kitchen shelves, balcony flower racks, bedside tables, camping storage carts, etc.; at least two sets of these hollow caster wheels are installed at the bottom of the same product.

[0043] When pushing or dragging items normally, rotating the rotating plate 10 causes the locking rod 11 to disengage from the locking slot 72, the locking component is in the unlocked state, the hollow rotating wheel 7 can roll freely, and the wheel frame 3 can rotate 360° in all directions relative to the wheel plate seat 1; the user can change the direction of travel by applying lateral pushing force, so as to flexibly turn and move in narrow passages and crowded environments.

[0044] When it is necessary to fix the position of an item, step down on the rotating plate 10 of the locking component. The rotating plate 10 drives the locking rod 11 to rotate and engage in the slot 72, locking the hollow wheel 7 and restricting the rotation of the hollow wheel 7 to complete the locking.

[0045] When the item needs to be moved again, step on the rotating plate 10 of the locking component again. The rotating plate 10 drives the lever 11 to disengage from the slot 72, and the hollow wheel 7 returns to a rolling state, so that the item can be moved again.

[0046] The foregoing has only described certain exemplary embodiments of the present invention by way of illustration. Undoubtedly, those skilled in the art can modify the described embodiments in various ways without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Therefore, the foregoing drawings and descriptions are illustrative in nature and should not be construed as limiting the scope of protection of the claims of the present invention.

Claims

1. A lightweight hollow caster wheel device, characterized in that, It includes a wheel plate seat (1), a wheel frame (3), a hollow central shaft (5), a hollow rotating wheel (7), and a locking assembly; The wheel frame (3) is rotatably connected to the bottom of the wheel plate seat (1), the hollow central shaft (5) is rotatably connected to the middle of the wheel frame (3), and the two ends of the hollow central shaft (5) extend out of the wheel frame (3), the hollow wheel (7) is rotatably sleeved on the end of the hollow central shaft (5), and the locking assembly is set on the wheel frame (3).

2. The lightweight hollow caster wheel device according to claim 1, characterized in that, Wheel plate rivets (2) are connected to the wheel plate seat (1). The lower end of the wheel plate rivet (2) is inserted into the wheel frame (3). A positioning rivet (4) is inserted into the wheel frame (3). The end of the positioning rivet (4) and the wheel plate rivet (2) are interlocked in the wheel frame (3).

3. The lightweight hollow caster wheel device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The hollow central shaft (5) is fitted with rotating sleeves (6) at both ends, and the hollow rotating wheel (7) is engaged on the rotating sleeves (6). The hollow central shaft (5) is set with outward flanges at both ends, and the rotating sleeves (6) and the hollow rotating wheel (7) are engaged by the flanges.

4. A lightweight hollow caster wheel device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The hollow wheel (7) is fitted with a wheel sleeve (8).

5. A lightweight hollow caster wheel device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The hollow wheel (7) has a side cover (9) inserted into its side. The side cover (9) has a buckle and is fastened to the hollow wheel (7) by means of the buckle.

6. A lightweight hollow caster wheel device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The hollow wheel (7) has concentrically arranged rotating grooves (71) and multiple slots (72) arranged in a circular array around the rotating grooves (71) on its side. The slots (72) are connected to the rotating grooves (71). The locking assembly includes a rotating plate (10) hinged to the wheel frame (3) and a locking rod (11) fixedly installed on the rotating plate (10). The locking rod (11) is rotatably engaged in the slots (72).

7. A lightweight hollow caster wheel device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The hollow central shaft (5) is connected to a rubber sleeve (14), and a corrugated sleeve (12) with a wave-like arrangement is fitted on the outside of the rubber sleeve (14). An outer cylinder (13) is fitted on the outside of the corrugated sleeve (12), and the outer wall of the outer cylinder (13) abuts against the inner wall of the wheel frame (3).

8. A method of using a lightweight hollow caster wheel device, characterized in that, The method applied to the lightweight hollow caster wheel device as described in any one of claims 1-7 includes the following steps: The universal wheel device is fixedly installed at the bottom corner of the item to be moved by means of the wheel plate seat (1); at least two sets or more of this hollow universal wheel device are installed on the bottom of the same product; When pushing or dragging items normally, rotating the rotating plate (10) causes the locking rod (11) to disengage from the slot (72), the locking component is in the unlocked state, the hollow wheel (7) can roll freely, and the wheel frame (3) rotates 360° relative to the wheel plate seat (1); the user can change the direction of travel by applying lateral thrust, and realize flexible turning and movement in narrow passages and crowded environments; When it is necessary to fix the position of an item, step down on the rotating plate (10) of the locking assembly to drive the rotating plate (10) to rotate the locking rod (11) and engage it in the slot (72), thereby locking the hollow rotating wheel (7) and restricting the rotation of the hollow rotating wheel (7) to complete the locking. When it is necessary to move the item again, step on the rotating plate (10) of the locking component again to drive the rotating plate (10) to drive the lever (11) to disengage from the slot (72), and the hollow wheel (7) will return to a rolling state, so that the item can continue to be transferred.

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