Patent ID: 7770539

Claim:
An exercise wheel for use in the exercise of animals, comprising: a circular tread portion defining a cylindrical structure terminating at a forward peripheral edge by a circular ring, said tread portion including a first covering on which the canine can walk; a back wall oriented generally vertically and being positioned adjacent said tread portion in opposition to said circular ring, said back wall including a second covering to prevent the canine from passing through said back wall while on the tread portion; and a support frame providing a three bearing support of said circular tread portion, including a transverse strut supporting an axial bearing located rearwardly of said back wall for rotatably supporting a central shaft projecting only rearwardly of said back wall and defining an axis of rotation for said exercise wheel and a pair of bearings mounting rollers engaged with said tread portion in a circumferentially spaced relationship beneath said circular ring establishing a longitudinally spaced bearing support to rotatably support said tread portion for rotation about said axis of rotation, said support frame extending around said tread portion with said transverse strut being oriented generally horizontally rearwardly of said back wall.