초록 ▼

A retractable caster assembly incorporating a strut lock formed of a sleeve mounted on the strut for sliding movement thereon, between closed position removed from the pivot axis and not interfering with the folding of the strut, and operative position seated over the pivot axis to hold the strut me

A retractable caster assembly incorporating a strut lock formed of a sleeve mounted on the strut for sliding movement thereon, between closed position removed from the pivot axis and not interfering with the folding of the strut, and operative position seated over the pivot axis to hold the strut members in aligned, operative position and prevent their pivoting with respect to each other. Sleeve control means are mechanically associated with the sleeve automatically to move the sleeve to closed position when the wheel is being retracted and to operative position when the wheel is moved to operative position.

대표청구항 ▼

In a retractable caster assembly comprising: (a) a frame having a planar base and sides circumscribing the base to form a cavity having an opening, the frame to be secured to the bottom of an object; (b) a rigid flap secured to the frame by a hinge to swing about an axis between an operative positio

In a retractable caster assembly comprising: (a) a frame having a planar base and sides circumscribing the base to form a cavity having an opening, the frame to be secured to the bottom of an object; (b) a rigid flap secured to the frame by a hinge to swing about an axis between an operative position perpendicular to the base and a retracted position parallel to but spaced from the base and covering at least a portion of the opening to the cavity; (c) a wheel rotatably supported by a wheel support assembly secured to the flap, a portion of the wheel extending beyond the lower edge of the flap when in operative position; (d) an articulated strut secured to and extending between a portion of the frame and the wheel support assembly and comprising a pair of elongated members, the members pivotable with respect to each other in one direction about a pivot axis between a linearly aligned, operative position and a folded, retracted position, the strut folding when the wheel is in retracted position so that the wheel, wheel support means and strut are fitted within the cavity between the base and the flap in retracted position; (e) a strut lock means associated with the assembly for releasably locking the strut in operative position, the strut when locked in operative position to rigidly support the wheel and flap for load bearing purposes; and (f) the wheel support assembly comprising a wheel mount, the wheel being releasably secured to the wheel mount for rotation about an axle secured to the wheel mount and passing through the wheel; the improvement characterized in that the strut lock means comprises a sleeve mounted on the strut for sliding movement thereon, between closed position removed from the pivot axis and not interfering with the folding of the strut, and operative position seated over the pivot axis to hold the strut members in aligned, operative position and prevent their pivoting with respect to each other; and sleeve control means mechanically associated with the sleeve automatically to move the sleeve to closed position once retraction of the wheel has been commenced and to operative position when the wheel is moved to operative position, the sleeve control means comprising an elongated finger, a portion of which is pivotally secured to the frame within the cavity and another portion of which is pivotally secured to the sleeve.