Ball support assembly

A ball support assembly adapted for use as part of a cargo handling system, said assembly comprising:

• a. a base member comprising:
• 1. an upper base portion having upper peripheral side wall means defining an upper chamber,
• 2. a lower base portion having a lower peripheral side wall means defining a lower chamber,
• 3. a bottom base portion,
• b. a mounting member means mounted within said base member for limited up and down movement between an upper normal position and a lower depressed position, said mounting member means comprising:
• 1. an upper ball retaining portion positioned in said upper chamber and having side wall means and bottom wall means defining a ball receiving recess,
• 2. a lower connecting portion connected to and extending downwardly from the ball retaining portion,
• 3. said connecting portion having an operative connection with said bottom base portion to limit upward movement of said mounting member means beyond said upper normal position and yet to permit downward movement to said depressed position,
• c. said mounting member means and said base member having cooperating stop means to limit any downward movement of the mounting member means beyond the depressed position,
• d. a ball member rotatably mounted in said recess and positioned to provide a rotatable ball support surface,
• e. compression spring means positioned in the lower chamber of the lower base portion of the base member in a manner to press downwardly against said bottom base portion and upwardly against said mounting member means in a manner to resiliently hold the mounting member means at the upper normal position and to yieldingly resist downward movement of the mounting member means due to loads imposed on the ball support surface,
• f. said assembly being characterized in that an upward force exerted by said spring means against said mounting member means is, with said mounting member means in the normal position, and with no substantial downward load being exerted on the ball member, resisted at least primarily by said connecting portion reacting substantially in tension between said bottom base portion and said upper ball retaining portion of the mounting member means.