US Patent 7377597 Wheel assembly having wheel-mounting sleeve and retainer

A wheel-mounting sleeve and retainer is described. The wheel-mounting sleeve includes a sleeve body, formed and dimensioned for mounting through a wheel-bearing bore in a wheel and into telescoped relation over an axle having a retaining notch. The wheel-mounting sleeve includes at least one retainer discrete from the sleeve body. The retainer includes monolithic spring and lug portions, and is coupled to the sleeve body such that the lug portion is resiliently positionable through a port in the sleeve body and into the axle bore to a detent position wherein the lug portion engages the retaining notch of the axle to constrain the axle within the axle bore. A method of using the wheel-mounting sleeve and retainer is also described.