Protective roll guard for clearing obstacles from caster wheels
AssigneeInnovative Research Labs, Inc.
InventorsBradley J. Tupper, James Benson
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A one-piece roll guard (10) having two half segments (12, 14) connected by an integral hinge (16) for protecting a caster (100) wheel by clearing obstacles away from its rolling path. The two segments of the roll guard (10) are closed and secured together around the caster wheel with a locking tab (18a) and matching locking slot (18b) integrally formed in the two segments. The roll guard is formed with a weighted lower lip (26) to improve stability by lowering the center of gravity of the roll guard (10).
Claims19
A roll guard apparatus for use with a caster wheel to clear obstacles away from a rolling path of the caster wheel along a floor, the apparatus comprising:
- a first sleeve portion positionable to be supported on the floor and to partially encircle the caster wheel, the first sleeve portion having a first lock element integral with the first sleeve portion;
- and
- a second sleeve portion being positionable to be supported on the floor and to partially encircle the caster wheel, the second sleeve portion having a second lock element integral with the second sleeve portion;
- wherein:
- the first sleeve portion and the first lock element are formed as a single unit;
- the second sleeve portion and the second lock element are formed as a single unit;
- and
- the second lock element selectively engages the first lock element to releasably interlock the first and second sleeve portions into a sleeve which completely encircles the caster wheel.
A roll guard apparatus for use with a caster wheel to clear obstacles away from a rolling path of the caster wheel along a floor the apparatus comprising:
- a first sleeve portion positionable to be supported on the floor and to partially encircle the caster wheel, the first sleeve portion having a first lock element integral with the first sleeve portion;
- and
- a second sleeve portion being positionable to be supported on the floor and to partially encircle the caster wheel, the second sleeve portion having a second lock element integral with the second sleeve portion;
- wherein:
- the second lock element selectively engages the first lock element to releasably interlock the first and second sleeve portions into a sleeve which completely encircles the caster wheel;
- and
- the first lock element comprises at least one tab and the second lock element comprises at least one corresponding surface ridge, the tab being insertable past the corresponding surface ridge for selective locking engagement therebetween.
A roll guard apparatus for use with a caster wheel to clear obstacles away from a rolling path of the caster wheel along a floor, the apparatus comprising:
- a first sleeve portion positionable to be supported on the floor and to partially encircle the caster wheel;
- a second sleeve portion being positionable to be supported on the floor and to partially encircle the caster wheel;
- and
- a hinge portion permanently hingedly coupling the first sleeve portion to the second sleeve portion;
- wherein
- the first sleeve portion, the second sleeve portion, and the hinge portion are formed integrally, as a single unit, the hinge portion being disposed between the first and second sleeve portions such that the first and second hinge portions pivot about the hinged portion to open and close around the caster wheel.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.