Caster locking mechanism and carriage
US4922574A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Apr 24, 1989 |
| Grant date | May 8, 1990 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Apr 24, 2009 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB60B2200/43
- WIPO fieldTransport
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A wheeled carriage has a chassis with a plurality of swivel casters, and a locking assembly actuated by a foot pedal located along the front of the carriage. Pushing down on the foot pedal rotates a cam that engages a cam follower on a "T" bar frame supporting two locking rings which respectively overlie two of the caster wheels to move the rings into a locking position in engagement with the wheels to lock the wheels and the casters in any position. The cam follower surface includes a ramp portion engageable by the cam for driving the rings to their locking position and a horizontal latch portion engageable by the cam in its "overcenter" position for holding the rings in their locking position. A lifter bar is engageable by the user's foot to rotate the cam back off the follower and permit the rings to resiliently return to their release position. The cam and follower surfaces are so arranged that a limited rotation of the cam through less than about 25 degrees is sufficient to move the assembly between its release and locking configurations so that the locking assembly can be used where only a few inches of clearance beneath the chassis is available.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.