US 5,507,069 A · Articulated caster

Abstract

An articulated caster is described which provides a base having more than two casters attached thereto and disposed radially away from the approximate geometric center of the base. A pivot arm includes a pivot housing for receiving and maintaining a pivot ball therein. The pivot housing and pivot ball respectively each are provided with a pivot housing hole and a pivot ball hole which align together when the pivot ball is correctly disposed within the pivot housing. The pivot arm is pivotally attached to the base about a point that is disposed within the pivot ball by a shaft passing through the pivot ball hole, the pivot housing hole, and a pair of holes formed in opposing side walls of the base. According to a preferred modification, an angled slot is provided that is disposed in at least one side of the pivot housing having a width approximately equal to the diameter of the pivot ball hole. The angled slot is preferably disposed so that the bottom thereof is generally in closer proximity to a front of the base than is the top of the angled slot. The shaft passes through and cooperates with the angled slot so that the side to side pivotal motion of the pivot arm with respect to the front of the base is limited to the motion by the shaft within the area as defined by the angled slot.

Claims21

Dependent claims

An articulated caster, comprising:

(a) a base;
(b) more than two casters attached to said base disposed radially from the approximate geometric center of said base, said more than two casters adapted for contact with a surface;
and
(c) a pivot arm having an upper and a lower end, said upper end including means for attaching said pivot arm to an object and said lower end including means pivotally attaching said pivot arm to said base for limited pivotal motion about a point;
wherein said means pivotally attaching includes:
a pair of holes formed in opposing side walls of said base;
a pivot housing attached to said lower end of said pivot arm, said pivot housing including opposing housing side walls and providing an opening on each of said opposing housing side walls that are horizontally aligned with respect to each other;
said pivot housing adapted to receive and to retain a pivot ball therein, said pivot ball adapted for pivotal motion within said pivot housing and including a pivot ball hole therein wherein said hole cooperates with said opening on each of said opposing housing side walls of said pivot housing to provide an overall opening passing through said pivot housing and said pivot ball;
and
a pivot shaft, said pivot shaft passing through said opening of said pivot housing, said pivot ball hole of said pivot ball, and said pair of holes formed in said opposing side walls of said base.

7 more elements

An articulated caster, comprising:

(a) a base having a base front and a base rear, said base rear being disposed on an opposite end of said base with respect to said base front;
(b) more than two casters attached to said base disposed radially from the approximate geometric center of said base, said more than two casters adapted for contact with a surface;
(c) a recess area formed in said base, said recess area including a pair of holes formed in opposing sides thereof;
(d) a pivot arm having an upper and a lower end, said upper end including means for attaching said pivot arm to an object, said lower end including a pivot housing, said pivot housing including opposing housing sides and providing an opening on each of said opposing housing sides, said pivot housing adapted to receive and to retain a pivot ball therein, said pivot ball disposed for pivotal motion within said pivot housing and including a pivot ball hole therein wherein said pivot ball hole cooperates with said opening on each of said opposing housing sides of said pivot housing to provide an overall opening passing through said pivot housing and said pivot ball;
(e) an angled slot formed in at least one of said opposing housing sides, said angled slot being disposed at an angle that is offset from vertical with respect to said surface;
and
(f) a pivot shaft, said pivot shaft passing through said pivot housing, said pivot ball, said slot, and said pair of holes formed in opposing sides of said recess area;
whereby said pivot arm is pivotally attached about said pivot ball to said base and is capable of pivotal motion within an area as defined by said recess area and said angled slot.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Articulated caster

Life of this patent

Articulated caster

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims21