Self-adjusting caster assemblies
AssigneeGatekeeper Systems, Inc.
InventorJohn C. McKay
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A self-leveling caster assembly includes a caster frame and a castor fork which is configured to pivot relative to the caster frame. A spring or other biasing mechanism biases the caster fork away from the caster frame, to maintain contact between the ground and a wheel supported by the caster fork along a travel range of the wheel. Even if a frame supporting the self-leveling caster assembly is bent, pulling the wheel away from the ground, the biased caster fork will maintain contact between the ground and the wheel, allowing continued use of a shopping cart or other wheeled apparatus including the self-leveling caster assembly.
Claims20
A caster assembly, comprising:
- a caster frame;
- a thrust bearing comprising:
- a lower race coupled to or integral with the frame;
- an upper race;
- and
- a bearing axle, the thrust bearing configured to allow rotation of the caster frame about a first axis of rotation aligned with the bearing axle;
- a caster fork pivotally coupled to the caster frame;
- and
- a biasing member extending between a first end in contact with the frame at a first contact point and a second end in contact with the caster fork at a second contact point such that rotation of the caster fork relative to the frame varies a distance between the first contact point of the frame and the second contact point of the caster fork.
A caster assembly, comprising:
- a caster fork comprising first and second caster fork arms extending from either side of a central fork portion, the first and second caster fork arms configured to support a wheel disposed therebetween;
- a caster frame, the caster frame comprising a central frame portion and first and second frame wing portions extending from either side of the central frame portion, the caster fork attached to the caster frame and pivotable about an axis of rotation relative to the caster frame, the first and second frame wing portions located laterally outward of the caster fork arms;
- and
- a biasing member located between the central frame portion and the central fork portion and configured to bias the central fork portion away from the central frame portion.
A wheeled apparatus, comprising:
- an apparatus frame;
- and
- a plurality of wheels supported by the apparatus frame, at least one of the wheels supported by a self-adjusting caster assembly disposed between the frame and the wheel, the self-adjusting caster assembly comprising:
- a caster frame;
- a thrust bearing coupled to the caster frame and configured to allow rotation of the frame about a bearing axle coupled to the apparatus frame;
- a caster fork pivotally coupled to the caster frame;
- and
- a biasing member extending between a first end in contact with the caster frame at a first contact point and a second end in contact with the caster fork at a second contact point, rotation of the caster fork relative to the caster frame varying a distance between the first contact point of the frame and the second contact point of the caster fork.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.