Caster for adjustable beds and the like

In a caster having a ground engaging wheel rotatably mounted in a housing, and upstanding means for connecting said caster with a vertically adjustable article supported by said caster, a wheel brake comprising:

• a control arm pivotally mounted in said caster housing at a pivot point;
• said control arm having an interior end with a portion thereof eccentric to said pivot point and extending over the periphery of said wheel, and an exterior end with a portion thereof disposed laterally offset from said pivot point and extending adjacent said connecting means, whereby downward force on said arm exterior end rotates said interior end into abutment with the periphery of said wheel and securely locks said wheel in place;
• a first plate shaped for slideable mounting on a foot portion of the vertically adjustable article, and including means for keying said plate on said foot portion to rotate together;
• a second plate operably connected with said caster for pivoting therewith, and disposed in line with said first plate;
• said first and second plates having adjacent faces, with means thereon for locking the same together when converged to prevent relative pivotal motion;
• one of said plates includes at least one protruding tab, and the other of said plates includes at least one recessed aperture shaped to receive said tab therein and lock said plates together in an engaged position against relative pivotal motion;
• means for resiliently urging said plates apart to a nonengaged position to permit pivotal motion therebetween;
• and
• means for engaging a vertically translating portion of said vertically adjustable article, whereby raising and lowering said article simultaneously diverges and converges said plates between the engaged and nonengaged position.

In a caster for a vertically adjustable bed, a swivel lock comprising:

• a first plate adapted for mounting on a leg of the bed, and including means for keying said plate on the bed leg;
• a second plate operably connected with said caster for pivoting therewith, and disposed in line with said first plate;
• said first and second plates having adjacent faces with means thereon for locking the same together and preventing relative pivotal motion therebetween when said plates are converged;
• means for retaining said plates apart in a nonengaged position to permit pivotal motion therebetween;
• and
• means for engaging a vertically translating portion of the adjustable bed, whereby raising and lowering the bed simultaneously diverges and converges said plates between the engaged and nonengaged positions.

In a vertically adjustable bed having legs with telescoping feet to raise and lower said bed, and including casters mounted in said telescoping feet, a caster swivel lock comprising:

• a first plate keyed on one of said telescoping feet;
• a second plate operably connected with the caster on said one foot for pivoting therewith, and disposed in line with said first plate;
• said first and second plates having adjacent faces, with means thereon for locking the same together and preventing relative pivotal motion therebetween when said plates are converged;
• and
• means for moving said plates apart to a nonengaged position to permit pivotal motion therebetween, whereby extension and retraction of said telescoping feet both raises and lowers said bed, and simultaneously diverges and converges said pivot locking plates between the engaged and nonengaged positions.

A caster for vertically adjustable beds and the like, comprising:

• a housing having a ground engaging wheel rotatably mounted therein;
• means for mounting said housing in a leg of a vertically adjustable bed and permitting said housing and wheel to swivel therein;
• a brake arm pivotally mounted in said housing and having one end thereof extending over and selectively abutting the periphery of said wheel, and the other end shaped for abutment with a vertically translating portion of said bed for pivoting said brake arm between locked and unlocked positions;
• a swivel lock having a first member operably connected with said housing and swiveling therewith, and a second member cooperating with said first member and adapted for connection with the adjustable bed leg;
• said first and second members having adjacent faces with means for pivotally interlocking the same in an abutting position;
• one of said first and second members being adapted for engagement with a vertically translating portion of said bed for converging and diverging said members between locked and unlocked positions, whereby both caster swivel and wheel rotation are automatically controlled by adjusting the elevation of the bed.

In combination, a vertically adjustable bed or the like, and a caster therefor, comprising:

• a housing having a ground engaging wheel rotatably mounted therein;
• means for mounting said housing in a leg of said vertically adjustable bed and permitting said housing and wheel to swivel therein;
• a brake arm pivotally mounted in said housing and having one end thereof extending over and selectively abutting the periphery of said wheel, and the other end selectively abutting a vertically translating portion of said bed and pivoting said brake arm between locked and unlocked positions;
• a swivel lock having a first member operably connected with said housing and swiveling therewith, and a second member cooperating with said first member and connected with said bed leg;
• said first and second members having adjacent faces with means for pivotally interlocking the same in an abutting position;
• one of said first and second members selectively abutting a vertically translating portion of said bed and converging and diverging said members between locked and unlocked position, whereby both caster swivel and wheel rotation are automatically controlled by adjusting the elevation of said bed.

A caster for vertically adjustable beds and the like, comprising:

• a caster housing;
• a ground engaging wheel rotatably mounted in said caster housing;
• a spindle mounted on and upstanding from said caster housing, and being shaped for connecting said caster with a bed;
• a wheel brake, comprising a control arm pivotally mounted in said caster housing at a pivot point;
• said control arm having an interior end with a portion thereof eccentric to said pivot point and extending over the periphery of said wheel, and an exterior end that is generally U-shaped, with an arcuate center portion thereof extending substantially concentrically about said spindle and laterally offset from said pivot point for engaging a vertically translating portion of the bed, whereby downward adjustment of the bed applies downward force to said arm exterior end and thereby rotates said interior end into abutment with the periphery of said wheel and securely locks said wheel in place.