Treaded wheel

Abstract

A wheel comprising: an inner hub including a first side, a second side being generally parallel to and opposite of the first side, an axle shaft emanating up from the second side, a plurality of inner spokes emanating up from the second side and outward from the axle shaft and engaging an inner circumferential member; an outer hub engaged to the inner circumferential member, a plurality of outer spokes emanating from the inner circumferential member, the outer spokes being engaged to the inner circumferential member at a proximal end of the spokes and engaged to an inner surface of an over mold substrate at a distal end of the spokes, the over mold substrate also having an outer surface being generally parallel to and opposite of the inner surface; and a over mold tread chemically bonded to the outer surface of the over mold substrate.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A wheel comprising:
 an inner hub including:
 a first side; 
 a second side being generally parallel to and opposite of said first side; 
 an axle shaft emanating up from said second side; 
 a plurality of inner spokes emanating up from said second side and outward from said axle shaft and engaging an inner circumferential member; 
   an outer hub engaged to the inner circumferential member, said outer hub including:
 a first side; 
 a second side being generally parallel to and opposite of said first side; 
 a plurality of outer spokes emanating from the inner circumferential member;
 said outer spokes being engaged to said inner circumferential member at a proximal end of said spokes; and 
 said outer spokes being engaged to an inner surface of an over mold substrate at a distal end of said spokes; 
 said over mold substrate also having an outer surface being generally parallel to and opposite of said inner surface; and 
 
   an over mold tread chemically bonded to the outer surface of said over mold substrate, said over mold tread comprising a mixture of a rubber, a polymer and a recycled polymer.   
     
     
         2 . The wheel of  claim 1  wherein the inner hub and the outer hub are made by an injection molding process. 
     
     
         3 . The wheel of  claim 1  wherein the inner hub and the outer hub are comprised of the same materials. 
     
     
         4 . The wheel of  claim 1  wherein the inner hub and the outer hub are comprised of a material selected from the group including polyethylene, polypropylene, acrylonitrile butadiene styrene, high density polyethylene, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         5 . The wheel of  claim 1  wherein the over mold tread is comprised of a material selected from the group including a thermoplastic elastomer, a thermoplastic urethane, a natural rubber, a synthetic rubber, a polymer, a copolymer, a polyolefin, or a combination thereof;
 wherein at least one material is a recycled material. 
 
     
     
         6 . The wheel of  claim 1  wherein the over mold tread is a material which is different that the inner hub and the outer hub. 
     
     
         7 . The wheel of  claim 1  wherein said wheel being able to pass ASTM 24530. 
     
     
         8 . The wheel of  claim 1  wherein said spokes being generally narrower at its proximal end where it engages said outer surface of said inner circumferential member of said inner hub and gradually becoming broader as it traverses toward its distal end where it engages said inner surface of said over mold substrate. 
     
     
         9 . The wheel of  claim 8  wherein said spokes being either substantially straight or curved as they traverse from their proximal ends to their distal ends. 
     
     
         10 . A method for manufacturing a wheel comprising the steps of:
 loading primary pellets into a primary hopper on a primary injection molding machine;   conveying said primary pellets from said primary hopper to a primary injection barrel;   heating said primary pellets within said primary injection barrel to form a primary melted material;   conveying said primary melted material to a primary injection cylinder;   injecting said melted material into a primary injection mold forming a plastic hub including:
 an inner hub including:
 a first side; 
 a second side being generally parallel to and opposite of said first side; 
 an axle shaft emanating up from said second side; and 
 a plurality of inner spokes emanating up from said second side and outward from said axle shaft and engaging an inner circumferential member; 
 
 an outer hub engaged to the inner circumferential member, said outer hub including:
 a first side; 
 a second side being generally parallel to and opposite of said first side; 
 a plurality of spokes emanating from the inner circumferential member
 said spokes being engaged to said inner circumferential member at a proximal end of said spokes; and 
 said spokes being engaged to an inner surface of an over mold substrate at a distal end of said spokes; 
 said over mold substrate also having an outer surface being generally parallel to and opposite of said inner surface; 
 
 
   removing said plastic hub from said primary injection mold;   inserting said plastic hub into a secondary injection mold which is operatively associated with a secondary injection molding machine;   loading secondary pellets into a secondary hopper on said secondary injection molding machine;   conveying said secondary pellets from said secondary hopper to a secondary injection barrel;   heating said secondary pellets within said secondary injection barrel to form a secondary melted material;   conveying said secondary melted material to a secondary injection cylinder; and   injecting said secondary melted material into a secondary injection mold forming an over mold tread which is chemically bonded to the outer surface of said circumferential member, said over mold tread comprising a mixture of a rubber, a polymer and a recycled polymer.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10  wherein the inner hub and the outer hub are comprised of the same materials. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10  wherein the inner hub and the outer hub are comprised of a material selected from the group including polyethylene, polypropylene, acrylonitrile butadiene styrene, high density polyethylene, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 10  wherein the over mold tread is comprised of a material selected from the group including a thermoplastic elastomer, a thermoplastic urethane, a natural rubber, a synthetic rubber, a polymer, a copolymer, a polyolefin, or a combination thereof;
 wherein at least one material is a recycled material. 
 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 10  wherein the over mold tread is a material which is different that the inner hub and the outer hub. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 10  wherein said wheel being able to pass ASTM 24530. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 10  wherein said outer spokes being generally narrower at its proximal end where it engages said inner circumferential member of said inner hub and gradually becoming broader as it traverses toward its distal end where it engages said inner surface of said over mold substrate. 
     
     
         17 . The wheel of  claim 16  wherein said spokes being either substantially straight or curved as they traverse from their proximal ends to their distal ends.