Abstract:
A self-contained toy wheel having a rim with a tire which revolves around a weighted, stationary hub assembly. The hub assembly has an off-center weight which keeps the hub assembly at the same orientation at all times regardless of rim position, speed or angle of motion.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   This invention relates generally to toys, and in particular, to a self-contained toy wheel. 
   The object of the present invention is to provide a toy which provides considerable interest and amusement to the user. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention provides a single wheel toy that can be manually propelled. A rim with a tire revolves around a weighted, stationary hub assembly, which facilitates a specific method of play and propulsion. 
   These together with other objects of the invention, along with various features of novelty which characterize the invention, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed hereto and forming a part of this disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and the specific objects attained by its uses, reference should be had to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there is illustrated a preferred embodiment of the invention. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1A  is a side perspective view of a first embodiment of the invention. 
       FIG. 1B  is a front perspective view thereof. 
       FIG. 1C  is a side elevational view thereof. 
       FIG. 2  is an exploded view of the first embodiment without a tire. 
       FIG. 3  is an assembled view of the first embodiment without a tire. 
       FIG. 4  is an assembled view of the first embodiment, partly in section. 
       FIG. 5A  is a side perspective view of a second embodiment of the invention. 
       FIG. 5B  is a front perspective view thereof. 
       FIG. 5C  is a side elevational view thereof. 
       FIG. 6  is an exploded view of the second embodiment without a tire. 
       FIG. 7  is an assembled view of the second embodiment without a tire. 
       FIG. 8  is an assembled view of the second embodiment, partly in section. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION 
   Referring to the drawings in detail wherein like elements are indicated by like numerals, there is shown in  FIGS. 1–4  a first embodiment  1  of the invention and in  FIGS. 5–8  a second embodiment  2  of the invention, both embodiments constructed according to the principles of the present invention. Each toy wheel  1 ,  2  is comprised of a rim assembly  10 ,  20  and a hub assembly  30 ,  40 . Both toy wheel embodiments  1 ,  2  are adapted to having a tire  3  fitted over the rim assemblies  10 ,  20 . 
   Referring more particularly to  FIGS. 1–4 , the first invention embodiment  1  is based upon the use of ball bearings  4 . The toy wheel rim assembly  10  is comprised of two annular rings  11 , each a mirror image of the other. The rings  11  each have a substantial and round central opening  12 , an outer perimeter  13 , an inner perimeter  14  defining the central opening  12 , a flat interior side  15  facing the other ring, and an outer side  16 . Each ring outer side  16  has a curved flange  17  extending out from the inner perimeter  14  and extending a predetermined distance toward a ring central axis. Each ring  11  has three threaded apertures  18  equidistantly formed therein and extending partly above the outer perimeter  13 , each said aperture  18  extending from the outer side  16  through the ring  11  and out through the interior side  15 , each said aperture  18  having a central axis transverse to a ring radial axis. The rings  11  are positioned against each other with the apertures  18  of one ring aligned with the apertures  18  of the other ring. The rim assembly  10  includes three threaded fasteners  19 , each adapted to threadingly engage two adjacent apertures  18  thereby fixedly attaching one ring to the other. A tire  3  may be fitted over the rim assembly joined ring outer perimeters  13 . 
   The toy wheel hub assembly  30  of the first invention embodiment is comprised of two generally flat, round disks  31 , each a mirror image of the other. The disks  31  each have an outer perimeter  32 , a flat interior side  33  facing the other disk, and an outer side  34 . Each disk  31  has three threaded apertures  35  equidistantly formed about the disks, each said aperture  35  extending from the outer side  34  through the disk  31  and out through the interior side  33 , each said aperture  35  having a central axis transverse to a disk radial axis. The disks  31  are positioned against each other with the apertures  35  of one disk aligned with the apertures  35  of the other disk. The hub assembly  30  includes three threaded fasteners  36 , each adapted to threadingly engage two adjacent apertures  35  thereby fixedly attaching one disk to the other. Each disk  31  has a substantial off-center and round opening  37  adjacent the outer perimeter  32 . The disk openings  37  for each disk  31  match and are aligned when the disks  31  are connected to each other. The hub assembly disk opening  37  is adapted to receive and hold a cylindrical weight  38 . Each disk outer perimeter  32  has an eight indentations  39  formed therein, said indentations being positioned equidistantly about the disk outer perimeter  32 . The outer perimeter indentations  39  of one disk  31  are aligned with the outer perimeter indentations of the other disk when the disks are joined together. 
   A ball bearing  4  is placed into each hub assembly indentation  39 . The hub assembly  30  is positioned within the rim assembly central opening  12 . The rim assembly central opening curved flanges  17  hold the hub assembly  30  within the rim assembly central opening  12  and trap the ball bearings  4 . The ball bearings  4  rotate within the hub assembly indentations  39  and against the inner perimeters  14  of the rim assembly rings  11  with little friction. The hub assembly weight  38  keeps the hub assembly  30  at the same orientation at all times regardless of rim assembly  10  speed or angle of motion. 
   Referring more particularly to  FIGS. 5–8 , the second invention embodiment  2  is based upon the use of roller bearings  5 . The toy wheel rim assembly  20  is comprised of two annular outer rings  21 , each a mirror image of the other. The outer rings  21  each have a substantial and round central opening  22 , an outer perimeter  23 , an inner perimeter  24  defining the central opening  22 , a flat interior side  25  facing the other outer ring, and an outer side  26 . Each outer ring inner side  26  has a eight slots  27  formed therein radially extending from the inner perimeter  24  a predetermined distance toward the outer perimeter  23 , said slots  27  being positioned equidistantly about the outer ring inner side  26 . The slots  27  of one outer ring  21  are aligned with the slots of the other outer ring when the outer rings are joined together. Each outer ring  21  has three threaded apertures  28  equidistantly formed therein and extending partly above the outer perimeter  23 , each said aperture  28  extending from the outer side  26  through the outer ring  21  and out through the interior side  25 , each said aperture  28  having a central axis transverse to an outer ring radial axis. The outer rings  21  are positioned against each other with the apertures  28  of one outer ring aligned with the apertures  28  of the other outer ring. The rim assembly  20  includes three threaded fasteners  29 , each adapted to threadingly engage two adjacent apertures  28  thereby fixedly attaching one outer ring to the other. A tire  3  may be fitted over the rim assembly joined outer ring outer perimeters  23 . 
   The toy wheel hub assembly  40  of the second invention embodiment is comprised of two inner rings  41 , each a mirror image of the other. Each inner ring  41  has an outer perimeter  42 , an inner perimeter  43 , an interior side  44  facing the other inner ring, and an outer side  45 . Each interior side  44  has an annular groove  46  formed therein adjacent the outer perimeter  42 . Each inner ring  41  has three threaded aperture rings  47  equidistantly formed about the rings attached to the inner ring inner perimeter  43 , each said aperture  47  having a central axis transverse to an inner ring radial axis. The inner rings  41  are positioned against each other with the apertures  47  of one inner ring aligned with the apertures  47  of the other inner ring. The hub assembly  40  includes three threaded fasteners  48 , each adapted to threadingly engage two adjacent apertures  47  thereby fixedly attaching one inner ring to the other. Each inner ring  41  has a substantial holding ring  49  off-center and attached to a portion of the inner ring inner perimeter  43 . The holding rings  49  for each inner ring  41  match and are aligned when the inner rings  41  are connected to each other. The hub assembly holding rings  49  are adapted to receive and hold a cylindrical weight  38 . 
   The hub assembly  40  is positioned within the rim assembly central opening  22 . The hub assembly  40  is further comprised of eight roller bearings  5  each comprised of a roller disk  6  and a central shaft  7  extending centrally from each side of the roller disk. The roller disks  6  are placed into the hub assembly annular groove  46 , wherein each roller bearing central shaft  7  engages a set of rim assembly slots  27 . The roller bearings  5  rotate within the hub assembly annular groove  46  and are held in place by the roller bearing shaft  7  engagement with the rim assembly slots  27 . The hub assembly weight  38  keeps the hub assembly  40  at the same orientation at all times regardless of rim assembly  20  speed or angle of motion. 
   It is understood that the above-described embodiment is merely illustrative of the application. Other embodiments may be readily devised by those skilled in the art which will embody the principles of the invention and fall within the spirit and scope thereof. For example more or less ball bearings and/or roller bearings may be used. More or less threaded apertures may be used for joining rings and disks. In the hub assemblies more than one opening and/or holding ring may be used, along with additional weights. In addition to weights, decorative displays may be used. Tires of various styles may be used, e.g., all-terrain, smooth, etc. The rim assemblies may also be stylized with commercial themes, fantasy themes, robotic, wings, etc. Several wheels may be joined together or to a common structure.