# US 10,118,440 B1 · Suspension caster with brake lever and wheel fork and yoke portion having common pivot axis > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,118,440 B1 - Document ID: US10118440B1 - Status: Granted - Kind: B1 - Application number: 15/619,647 - Filed: 2017-06-12 - Granted: 2018-11-06 - Earliest claimed: 2017-06-12 - Assignees: Colson Caster Group, LLC - Applicants: Colson Caster Group, LLC - Inventors: Charles Schenk; Michael Freshour, II - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10118440B1 ## CPC - B60B 33/0081: {acting on tyre tread} - B60B 33/0078: {characterised by details of the wheel braking mechanism} - B60B 33/0047: {characterised by details of the rolling axle} - B60B 33/006: {characterised by details of the swivel mechanism} - B60B 33/045: {mounted resiliently, by means of dampers} - B60B: VEHICLE WHEELS (making wheels or wheel parts by rolling B21H1/00, by forging, hammering or pressing B21K1/28); CASTORS; AXLES FOR WHEELS OR CASTORS; INCREASING WHEEL ADHESION ## Abstract A caster has a yoke portion and wheel forks pivotally connected to the yoke portion at a pivot connection. The pivot connection defines a pivot axis. A wheel is rotatably connected to the wheel fork at a wheel axis. A brake lever is operatively connected to the pivot connection to pivot about the pivot axis. The brake lever moves a brake pad between an engaged position and a disengaged position as the brake lever is pivoted about the pivot axis. In the engaged position, brake pad is pressed against the wheel with a cam operatively connected to the brake lever, and wherein the disengaged position, the cam cooperates with the brake pad in a manner such that the brake pad releases from the wheel. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A caster comprising: a yoke portion being adapted and configured to be operatively attached to an object; a wheel fork pivotally connected to the yoke portion at a pivot connection, the pivot connection defining a pivot axis; a wheel rotatably connected to the wheel fork at a wheel axis; a brake lever operatively connected to the pivot connection and adapted and configured to pivot about the pivot axis with a cam operatively connected to the brake lever; a brake pad non-rotatably mounted to the wheel fork via at least one mechanical fastener; wherein the cam of the brake lever moves the brake pad between an engaged position and a disengaged position as the brake lever is pivoted about the pivot axis, wherein in the engaged position, the brake pad is pressed against the wheel by engagement with the cam, and wherein in the disengaged position, the cam is spaced apart from the brake pad in a manner such that the brake pad releases from the wheel. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The caster of claim 1 wherein the brake pad is releasably mounted to the wheel fork for adjustment and replacement. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The caster of claim 2 wherein the brake pad is resilient. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The caster of claim 1 wherein the cam is pivotally connected to the pivot connection and the brake lever is mounted to the cam. ### Claim 5 A caster comprising: a yoke portion being adapted and configured to be operatively attached to an object; wheel forks pivotally connected to the yoke portion at a pivot connection, the pivot connection defining a pivot axis; a wheel rotatably connected to the wheel forks at a wheel axis; a brake lever operatively connected to the pivot connection and adapted and configured to pivot about the pivot axis with a cam operatively connected to the brake lever; a brake pad disposed between the wheel forks, the brake pad non-rotatably mounted to the wheel forks via at least one mechanical fastener; wherein the cam moves the brake pad between an engaged position wherein the brake pad is pressed against the wheel to limit rotation of the wheel about the wheel axis and a disengaged position wherein the brake pad is spaced away from the wheel to allow rotation of the wheel about the wheel axis, the brake pad being moved to the engaged position by engagement with the cam and the disengaged position by the cam being spaced apart from the brake pad. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The caster of claim 5 wherein the brake pad is releasably mounted to at least one of the wheel forks for adjustment and replacement. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The caster of claim 5 wherein the cam is pivotally connected to the pivot connection and the brake lever is mounted to the cam. ### Claim 8 (depends on 5) The caster of claim 5 wherein the cam is disposed between the wheel forks. ### Claim 9 (depends on 5) The caster of claim 5 wherein the wheel forks are disposed between bifurcations of the yoke portion. ### Claim 10 (depends on 5) The caster of claim 5 wherein the brake lever has an actuator portion outboard of the wheel forks. ### Claim 11 (depends on 5) The caster of claim 5 wherein the brake lever has an actuator portion extending toward the wheel axis. ### Claim 12 A caster comprising: a yoke portion being adapted and configured to be operatively attached to an object; wheel forks pivotally connected to the yoke portion at a pivot connection, the pivot connection defining a pivot axis; a wheel rotatably connected to the wheel forks at a wheel axis; a brake lever having a brake lever pivot axis coaxial with the pivot axis of the pivot connection of the yoke portion and wheel forks, the brake lever being adapted and configured to pivot about the brake lever pivot axis; a cam operatively connected to brake lever and movable together with the brake lever to pivot about the brake lever pivot axis; a brake pad non-rotatably mounted to the wheel forks via at least one mechanical fastener; wherein the brake pad is movable between an engaged position and a disengaged position, wherein in moving from the disengaged position to the engaged position, the cam engages the brake pad to move the brake pad into engagement against the wheel to limit rotation of the wheel about the wheel axis, and wherein in moving from the engaged position to the disengaged position, the cam is spaced apart from the brake pad to move to a position where the brake pad is spaced away from the wheel to allow rotation of the wheel about the wheel axis. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The caster of claim 12 wherein the brake pad is releasably mounted to at least one of the wheel forks for adjustment and replacement. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The caster of claim 12 wherein the brake lever is operatively connected to the pivot connection of the yoke portion and wheel forks. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The caster of claim 14 wherein the cam is pivotally connected to the pivot connection. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The caster of claim 15 wherein the brake lever is mounted to the cam. ### Claim 17 (depends on 12) The caster of claim 12 wherein the brake lever has an actuator portion extending toward the wheel axis. ### Claim 18 (depends on 12) The caster of claim 12 wherein the brake lever has an actuator portion outboard of the wheel forks.