The present disclosure relates in general to a ball wheel, assembly and method of use for providing omni-directional rolling support to an article of manufacture such as, e.g., mechanics creepers, crates, carts, dollies, stretchers, gurneys, litters, beds, prams, transports, and luggage. One aspect of the present disclosure includes a ball wheel for a ball wheel assembly. The ball wheel comprises a roughly spherical shaped body having a plurality of features on an exterior surface of the body configured to assist the ball wheel in overcoming obstacles/debris in the surrounding environment and being used on uneven surfaces. Another aspect of the present disclosure includes a ball wheel assembly comprising the ball wheel. The ball wheel assembly may include a housing with an interior socket and shock absorber that allows the ball wheel to rotate therein while providing a cushioning effect. A still further aspect of the present disclosure includes a plurality of ball wheel assemblies mounted on an article of manufacture. Yet another aspect of the present disclosure is a method of using the ball wheel assembly on an article of manufacture. An intended purpose of the present disclosure is to provide a ball wheel and assembly for an article of manufacture that is designed to overcome obstacles/debris in the surrounding environment and being used on uneven surfaces via the combination of the cushioning effect of the shock absorber and the plurality of features of the ball wheel.

A shock absorbing component for a luggage wheel is disclosed. In one practice, the component comprises a resilient circular member comprising an outer circumference; a center hole comprising an incompressible sleeve inserted into the center hole and configured to receive a wheel axle; and a plurality of openings radially disposed between the outer circumference and the center hole, the plurality of openings configured to resiliently deform to absorb shock when the circular member is subjected to force along its longitudinal axis. A wheel assembly for an article of luggage and an article of luggage comprising the shock absorbing component are also separately disclosed.

A wheeled luggage case comprises (a) a storage chamber, (b) a cover defining an opening on at least one side of the storage chamber for providing ready access therein and at least two labyrinth axle-free wheels operatively connected to the chamber for towing the case along a ground surface. The labyrinth axle-free wheel comprises an internal rim, an external rim provided with a ground interface, rollers being rotatably disposed within a roller spacer between the internal and external rims in a uniform circumferential manner by means of a spacer and external covers. A labyrinth type dust passage in the wheel is defined by the rims and the external plates mechanically connected to the internal rim.

A wheeled luggage case comprises (a) a storage chamber, (b) a cover defining an opening on at least one side of the storage chamber for providing ready access therein and at least two labyrinth axle-free wheels operatively connected to the chamber for towing the case along a ground surface. The labyrinth axle-free wheel comprises an internal rim, an external rim provided with a ground interface, rollers being rotatably disposed within a roller spacer between the internal and external rims in a uniform circumferential manner by means of a spacer and external covers. A labyrinth type dust passage in the wheel is defined by the rims and the external plates mechanically connected to the internal rim.

A wheel adapter to convert a storage container to a wheeled storage container is provided. The wheel adapter comprises a mounting bracket attachable to the storage container. The mounting bracket comprises a first leg configured to engage a bottom surface of the storage container, and a second leg configured to engage a side surface of the storage container. The second leg comprises a wheel coupling. The wheel adapter also includes a wheel rotatably connected to the wheel coupling. The wheel is constructed and arranged for rotation about an axis to provide rolling support of the storage container on the ground.

A spinner wheel assembly for a luggage case is provided. The wheel assembly may include a housing, a support strut rotatably coupled to the housing about a spinner axis, and a plurality of wheels each rotatably coupled to the support strut about a wheel axis. Each wheel may rotate in a plane positioned at an angle to at least one other wheel. Each wheel may be coupled to the support strut in a spaced relationship thereto.

The present utility model refers to a rolling device and, more particularly, an improved multi-directional ball caster-type device having a better contact angle between the ball and the ground. The contact angle of the present improved device is from 62° to 50°, or less. As the contact angle can be smaller, the object supported on the rolling system can be more sloped, for example, a luggage case, without having friction between the main ball involving structure and the ground.

A multi-wheel system that minimizes wheel interactions with discontinuous and uneven surfaces. The multi-wheel system comprises wheels of varying diameters connecting to a rotating arm configured to raise and lower the wheels in response to obstacles along the rolling surface.

A moving mechanism configured to be assembled to an object to adjust a movement of the object is provided. The moving mechanism includes a bracket, a first wheel, a brake module, a control module, and a sensing module. The bracket is assembled to the object. The first wheel and the brake module are assembled to the bracket. The control module communicates with and drives the brake module. The sensing module communicates with the brake module, and the sensing module is configured to sense an orientation of the object. The control module adjusts a brake force of the brake module on the first wheel based on the orientation of the object.

An article movement system includes an article and at least one ball wheel. The article has first and second article surfaces meeting at a first article edge. The ball wheel is located along the first article edge and includes a ball, a bearing arrangement and a shell. The ball engages a surface underlying the article, the bearing arrangement supports the ball for omni-directional rotational movement, and the shell is located along the first article edge and contains the ball and the bearing arrangement. The shell defines a non-circular ball opening through which a portion of the ball extends to contact the underlying surface. The article, the bearing arrangement and the shell are configured such that the ball wheel is able to support the article for omni-directional rolling motion over the underlying surface with either of the first and article surfaces parallel thereto, and at any orientation therebetween.