Spring retracting caster

A retracting caster assembly comprising:

• a frame;
• a lever pivotally connected to a front end of the frame, the lever having a first relatively long section extending generally rearwardly and downwardly from a pivot point of the lever to the frame, and a second relatively short section extending generally upwardly and forwardly from the pivot point, the first section extending along substantially the entire length of the frame;
• a spring connected to an end of the second section biasing the second section toward the frame;
• a wheel connected to an end of the first section;
• and
• means connected to an axle of the wheel and mounted on the frame for manually moving the lever to overcome the bias of the spring.

A retracting caster assembly comprising:

• a frame;
• a lever pivotally connected to the frame;
• a roller connected to a first end of the lever;
• means connected to the lever for biasing the lever to a first position with the roller in an extended position;
• means connected to an axle of the roller and to the frame for manually moving the lever from its first position to a second position with the roller in a retracted position;
• and
• means for automatically moving the lever from its first position to its second position upon a predetermined vertical force being applied to the frame, the means for automatically moving comprising the lever, the frame, and the means for biasing, the means for automatically moving automatically decreasing the force required to move the lever from its first position to its second position during movement of the lever from its first position to its second position.