Patent · US Expired

Caster direction-locking mechanism for mobile cart

US4875696A · kind A · utility

54Cited by
5References
21Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateSep 12, 1988
Grant dateOct 24, 1989
Priority date
Expiry dateSep 12, 2008

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
  • CPC primaryB62B5/04
  • WIPO fieldTransport
  • WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

A caster direction-locking mechanism for a mobile cart improves agility and stability of the cart during high speed movement. This cart includes four casters supporting it for rolling movement. Each caster has a wheel rotatable about a horizontal axis and is mounted with the cart for swiveling movement about a generally vertical axis. The caster direction-locking mechanism selectably locks two adjacent casters against such swiveling movement and with the horizontal axes thereof in generally mutually parallel relation. A handle is mounted on the cart for steering it and an actuator is associated with the handle for actuating the caster direction-locking mechanism to selectably lock and unlock the two casters against swiveling movement.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.