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A spring loaded caster includes a support plate adapted to be affixed to the underside of an article to be transported. Two caster legs depend downwardly from the support plate. The caster legs are spaced apart and preferably substantially parallel with each other. Each of the caster legs includes a

A spring loaded caster includes a support plate adapted to be affixed to the underside of an article to be transported. Two caster legs depend downwardly from the support plate. The caster legs are spaced apart and preferably substantially parallel with each other. Each of the caster legs includes an elongated slot for receiving an axle. A pair of spring brackets is provided that are of a generally L-shaped or U-shaped configuration and are disposed on an outer surface of a corresponding caster leg. The spring bracket may include wear plates. A spring sleeves is disposed on an underside of one leg of the spring brackets. Additionally, two or more spring block including an axle receiving segment that includes a passage for receiving an axle therethrough are provided. On each spring block, a spring is held in place by a spring pin and is received in a corresponding spring sleeve. A wheel is provided in the space between the caster blade and an axle that holds the various parts components together is threaded through the spring block assemblies, caster legs, and the wheel. In an alternate embodiment, the rigid spring loaded caster is provided which locks the swivel bearing assembly of the first embodiment of the present invention. Instead, the two caster legs depend downwardly from the underside of the support plate. Preferably, in this rigid embodiment, first and second wear plates are provided on the spring brackets.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A pivotable spring loaded caster comprising:a) a support plate; b) a swivel bearing assembly, said swivel bearing assembly being fixedly attached at a top portion to an underside of said support plate; c) two or more caster legs, each of said two or more caster legs depending downwardly from a ro

1. A pivotable spring loaded caster comprising:a) a support plate; b) a swivel bearing assembly, said swivel bearing assembly being fixedly attached at a top portion to an underside of said support plate; c) two or more caster legs, each of said two or more caster legs depending downwardly from a rotatable portion of said swivel bearing assembly, at least two of said two or more caster legs further being spaced apart and substantially parallel with each other, each of said two or more caster legs comprising a slot, each slot having a cross section of a substantially upright oblong shape, each slot further being substantially aligned with at least one other slot of at least one other leg of said two or more caster legs; d) two or more spring brackets, each of said two or more spring brackets comprising a generally L-shaped configuration, a first leg of each of said two or more spring brackets being disposed substantially parallel with said support plate, a second leg of each of said two or more spring brackets being disposed substantially perpendicularly with said support plate, at least two of said two or more spring brackets being attached to an outer surface of a corresponding caster leg, each of said two or more spring brackets being substantially aligned with a corresponding spring bracket; e) two or more spring sleeves, each of said two or more spring sleeves being disposed at an underside of said first leg of one of said two or more spring brackets; f) two or more spring block assemblies, each of said spring block assemblies comprising an axle receiving segment, said axle receiving segment comprising a passage for receiving an axle therethrough, each of said two or more spring block assemblies comprising a spring pin adapted to receive a spring thereon; g) two or more springs, each of said two or more springs being slidably received on one of said spring pins, a bottom portion of each of said two or more springs being supported by said spring block, an upper portion of each of said two or more springs being received within one of said two or more spring sleeves; h) one or more wheels, each of said wheels having an aperture configured to receive an axle; i) an axle, said axle being disposed through said axle receiving segments of each of said spring block assemblies, slidably through said slots of said two or more caster legs, and through said apertures of said one or more wheels.