Wheels for non-motorized vehicles

Abstract

A wheel for a non-motorized vehicle (e.g., a shopping cart) can include a housing assembly and a tread assembly. The housing assembly can be configured to sealingly house electronics or other components. The tread assembly can removably mate with the housing assembly such that the electronics or other components remain closed and/or sealed within the housing assembly when the tread assembly is mated or unmated with the housing assembly.

1 . A method of replacing a worn or damaged tread assembly of a wheel for a non-motor-propelled vehicle, the wheel configured to rotate about an axial axis, the method comprising:
 obtaining a replacement tread assembly;   decoupling the worn or damaged tread assembly from a hub of the wheel, wherein decoupling the worn or damaged tread assembly from the hub comprises:
 unsecuring a plurality of fasteners; 
 removing the plurality of fasteners from the hub via a first axial side of the hub; and 
 removing the worn or damaged tread assembly from the hub via a second axial side of the hub; and 
   coupling the hub and the replacement tread assembly, wherein coupling the hub and the replacement tread assembly comprises:
 installing the replacement tread assembly onto the hub via the second axial side of the hub; 
 installing the plurality of fasteners into the hub via the first axial side of the hub; and 
 securing the plurality of fasteners. 
   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein coupling the hub and the replacement tread assembly further comprises threadably engaging the plurality of fasteners with a frame of the tread assembly. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein:
 installing the plurality of fasteners into the hub via the first axial side of the hub comprises passing a working end of each of the fasteners through a corresponding through hole in the hub; and   the method further comprises receiving the working end of the fasteners in a corresponding blind hole in the tread assembly.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the wheel further comprises a cover sealingly coupled with the hub, the cover located on the second axial side of the hub. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the method does not include decoupling the cover from the hub. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein coupling the hub and the replacement tread assembly comprises:
 circumferentially aligning a projection of the hub with a correspondingly shaped recess of the tread assembly, the projection comprising a radially distal portion having a first circumferential width and a radially proximal portion having a second circumferential width that is less than the first circumferential width; and   receiving the projection in the recess.   
     
     
         7 . A method of manufacturing a wheel for a non-motorized vehicle, the wheel configured to rotate about an axial axis, the method comprising:
 placing an electronic component in a cavity in a hub body;   engaging a cover with the hub body;   sealing the electronic component in the cavity in the hub body;   inserting, from a first axial side of the wheel, a first plurality of fasteners through the cover and into the hub body;   receiving the hub body in a frame, the frame comprising an outer tread portion; and   inserting, from a second axial side of the wheel, a second plurality of fasteners through the hub body and into the frame.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein inserting, from a second axial side of the wheel, the second plurality of fasteners through the hub body and into the frame comprises:
 inserting each of the second plurality of fasteners along a direction generally parallel with the axial axis;   engaging a head end of each of the second plurality of fasteners with the hub body; and   positioning a working end of each of the second plurality of fasteners in a blind hole in the frame.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 7 , further comprising:
 circumferentially aligning a projection of the hub body with a recess of the frame; and   receiving the projection in the recess.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein receiving the hub body in the frame comprises inserting the hub body into the frame along a direction generally parallel with the axial axis. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein inserting, from a second axial side of the wheel, the second plurality of fasteners through the hub body and into the frame comprises:
 rotating the fasteners with a screwdriver.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the replacement tread assembly further comprises a frame including one or more tread securement features configured to inhibit axial movement of the frame relative to the hub, and wherein coupling the hub and the replacement tread assembly comprises:
 engaging the one or more tread securement features with a frame engagement feature of the hub.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the frame comprises a radially extending spacer portion, and the method comprises:
 receiving the tread portion onto spacer portion of the frame.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein placing the electronic component in the cavity in the hub body comprises:
 placing a brake or a transceiver in the cavity in the hub body.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the transceiver is configured to transmit and receive radio frequency signals at a frequency of at least approximately 2.4 GHz.