Caster mechanism for carriage

A caster mechanism adapted of use with a carriage having a plurality of wheels and a foot rod coupled to each wheel, said caster mechanism comprising:

• a stopper mechanism fixedly secured to each foot rod of said carriage;
• and
• a wheel support mechanism rotatably positioned below said stopper mechanism, said wheel support mechanism including an engagement bracket extending parallel to said stopper mechanism, said engagement bracket having an arm plate and an engagement fitting portion formed at a first end of said arm plate,
• wherein said stopper mechanism comprises a base plate, an actuating lever coupled to a first end of said base plate and adapted to turn upwardly and downwardly about an end thereof, and an engagement member adapted to turn up and down in operative association with said actuating lever and positioned below said first end of said base plate, said engagement member and said engagement fitting portion simultaneously being engaged or disengaged together,
• said caster mechanism further comprising an engaging rod extending transversely across said engagement member, and an engagement pawl formed at a base end of said actuating lever and extending therefrom, said engagement pawl engaging or disengaging said engaging rod.

A caster mechanism adapted for use with a carriage having a plurality of wheels and a foot rod coupled to each wheel, said caster mechanism comprising:

• a stopper mechanism fixedly secured to each foot rod of said carriage;
• and
• a wheel support mechanism rotatably positioned below said stopper mechanism, said wheel support mechanism including an engagement bracket extending parallel to said stopper mechanism, said engagement bracket having an arm plate and an engagement fitting portion formed at a first end of said arm plate,
• wherein said stopper mechanism comprises a base plate, an actuating lever coupled to a first end of said base plate and adapted to turn upwardly and downwardly about an end thereof, and an engagement member adapted to turn up and down in operative association with said actuating lever and positioned below said first end of said base plate, said engagement member and said engagement fitting portion simultaneously being engaged or disengaged together, and
• wherein said actuating lever includes a fitting projection, said actuating lever being rotatable, said stopper mechanism including fitting holes for engagement with said fitting projection of said actuating level, wherein said fitting holes are positioned on said stopper mechanism based on a locus of movement of said actuating lever.

A caster mechanism adapted for use with a carriage having a plurality of wheels and a foot rod coupled to each wheel, said caster mechanism comprising:

• a stopper mechanism fixedly secured to each foot rod of said carriage;
• and
• a wheel support mechanism rotatably positioned below said stopper mechanism, said wheel support mechanism including an engagement bracket extending parallel to said stopper mechanism, said engagement bracket having an arm plate and an engagement fitting portion formed at a first end of said arm plate,
• wherein said stopper mechanism comprises a base plate, an actuating lever coupled to a first end of said base plate and adapted to turn upwardly and downwardly about an end thereof, and an engagement member adapted to turn up and down in operative association with said actuating lever and positioned below said first end of said base plate, said engagement member and said engagement fitting portion simultaneously being engaged or disengaged together, and
• wherein said wheel support mechanism includes a support body integrated with said engagement bracket and having arm plates formed at an end of said support body, a pedestal pivotally held by said rm plates, and shock absorbing means interposed between said support body and said pedestal for absorbing vibration caused by movement of said carriage.

A caster mechanism adapted for use with a carriage having a plurality of wheels and foot rods connected to each of said wheels, said caster mechanism comprising:

• stopper means fixedly secured to each foot rod of said carriage for restricting the turning movement of a wheel of said carriage associated therewith;
• and
• wheel support means rotatably positioned below said stopper means for supporting each of said wheels, said wheel support means including an engagement bracket having an arm plate and an engagement fitting portion formed integrally with said arm plate,
• wherein said stopper means comprises an actuating lever adapted to turn upwardly and downwardly, and an engagement member adapted to turn up and down in operative association with said actuating lever and positioned below said actuating lever to selectively engage said engagement fitting portion, said engagement member and said engagement fitting portion either being engaged or disengaged together such that said wheel is selectively fixed in a predetermined orientation or steerable,
• said caster mechanism further comprising a rod positioned on said engagement member;
• and
• means for selectively engaging and disengaging said rod, said engaging means being formed on said actuating lever.