Three-piece swivel caster having a force transfer roller
US4509227A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Sep 30, 1982 |
| Grant date | Apr 9, 1985 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Sep 30, 2002 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10S16/40
- WIPO fieldTransport
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A swivel caster structure having a base arranged for swivel mounting to a mounting portion of a device to be carried thereby. The base rotatively carries a caster wheel. A force transfer element is carried by the base for transmitting an overlying load vertically downwardly directly toward the caster wheel mounting axis. In one form, the force transfer element is a roller having an axis of rotation inclined to the horizontal and defining a peripheral frustoconical surface extending at the same angle to the axis of the roller so as to have rolling line contact with the superjacent housing wall in transferring the load downwardly to the roller. In another form, the force transfer element is a fixed bearing mounted in a suitable recess in the caster base and having a segmentally cylindrical surface having a sliding line contact with the superjacent housing wall. The swivel caster structure is preferably formed of molded synthetic resin having low surface friction for improved swiveling caster operation.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.