Patent ID: 7121990

Claim:
A running wheel apparatus, comprising: a bearing bracket, configured to mount to a platen and to pivot about an axis of rotation; a running wheel, configured to mount to the bearing bracket, comprising: a wheel body having an outer face, an inner face, a running surface, and an axis or rotation, and wherein the axis of rotation of the wheel body is substantially perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the bearing bracket; an axle stub, configured to connect the running wheel to the bearing bracket; an elastomerically deformable membrane region integrally connecting the axle stub and the outer face of the wheel body, wherein the elastomerically deformable membrane region allows buckling and flexing to adjust to angular changes between the axle stub and the running wheel; a distance sleeve, coupled between the bearing bracket and the wheel body, wherein the axle stub passes through the distance sleeve; a bearing, supported by the distance sleeve and located in a cavity of the running wheel formed by the wheel body and the elastomerically deformable membrane; and a fixing element configured to secure the bearing to the distance sleeve.