Wheel lock for casters
OwnerLouis Wymaninventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The present invention is directed to a simple, inexpensive wheel lock suitable for use with many single or multiple wheel casters. Generally speaking, a known conventional caster has an integrally formed frame including a caster holder that has a curved fender and one or two wheels positioned below the curved fender. A wheel lock according to an embodiment of the present invention is a curved piece of semi-rigid material that fits tightly enough into the space between the fender and the wheel to prevent the wheel from rolling. The wheel lock can be made to have an optional tab on the outer edge that permits easy positioning of the wheel lock and facilitates its removal.
Claims11
A wheel lock for a caster comprising a caster holder provided with a curved fender having a length L, a wheel having a width W positioned below the curved fender of the caster holder, and defining a space having a height H between the curved fender and the wheel, the wheel lock comprising a curved piece of semi-rigid material having an outer edge and an inner edge, a width w that is equal to or less than W, and a length that is equal to or less than L, wherein the wheel lock fits snugly into the space of height H between the curved fender and the wheel thereby preventing the wheel from turning.
A method of making a wheel lock for a caster comprising a caster holder provided with a curved fender having a length L, a wheel having a width W positioned below the curved fender of the caster holder, and defining a space having a height H between the curved fender and the wheel, the method comprising
- selecting a tube of semi-rigid material having a thickness that is about equal to height H of the space between the curved fender and the wheel of the caster, and a circumference that is about equal to or less than the length L of the curved fender,
- slicing the tube longitudinally along its full length to create a slit tube, and
- slicing the slit tube perpendicular to its long axis into pieces having a width that is equal to or less than the width W of the wheel thereby creating the wheel lock.
A method of making a wheel lock for a caster comprising a caster holder provided with a curved fender having a length L, a wheel having a width W positioned below the curved fender of the caster holder, and defining a space having a height H between the curved fender and the wheel, the method comprising
- selecting a curved sheet of semi-rigid material having a thickness that is about equal to height H of the space between the curved fender and the wheel of the caster, and a circumference that is about equal to or less than the length L of the curved fender, and
- slicing the curved sheet of semi-rigid material perpendicular to its long axis into pieces having a width that is equal to or less than the width W of the wheel thereby creating the wheel lock.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.