Shock and vibration isolating caster suspension

A shock and vibration isolating caster, comprising:

• a circular wheel ring adapted for rolling engagement with a ground or floor surface at its outer periphery;
• a hub radially inside of said wheel ring, said hub being secured to said wheel ring so as to restrain said wheel ring axially and radially relative to said hub;
• a bearing between said wheel ring and said hub so that said wheel ring can rotate relative to said hub about an axis of rotation which is coaxial with said hub, wheel ring and bearing;
• and
• a suspension for said hub, said suspension including:
• a body having a mount for mounting said caster to a structure to be supported at least in part by said caster and at least one support mounting said hub so as to allow limited angular motion of said hub relative to said support about a support axis which is offset from said axis of rotation of said wheel ring relative to said hub;
• and
• at least one elastomeric torsion element positioned radially inward of said bearing, said element having two axially facing, opposed faces, one of said faces being secured against lateral motion relative to said hub and the other of said faces being secured against lateral motion relative to said support, so that said hub can move angularly back and forth relative to said support about said support axis against resistance of said element.