대표
청구항
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1. A caster device for movably supporting a load, said caster device comprising:a wheel for supporting the load; a wheel support having a first and a second extremity, said first extremity of said wheel support supporting said wheel for rotation of said wheel about an axis of rotation, said second extremity of said wheel support defining an aperture, said wheel support having a first surface and a second surface; a support stem having a first and a second end, said support stem extending through said aperture such that said aperture is disposed between s...
1. A caster device for movably supporting a load, said caster device comprising:a wheel for supporting the load; a wheel support having a first and a second extremity, said first extremity of said wheel support supporting said wheel for rotation of said wheel about an axis of rotation, said second extremity of said wheel support defining an aperture, said wheel support having a first surface and a second surface; a support stem having a first and a second end, said support stem extending through said aperture such that said aperture is disposed between said first and said second end of said support stem, said second end of said support stem being connected to the load for supporting the load; a resilient member disposed between said aperture and said second end of said support stem such that said resilient member resiliently cushions the load relative to said wheel; a bearing race secured to said support stem; a plurality of bearings between said bearing race and said second extremity; and a further plurality of bearings disposed between said resilient member and said second extremity. 2. A caster device as set forth in claim 1, wherein said support stem includes a head disposed adjacent to said first end of said support stem for preventing axial movement of said wheel support relative to said support stem.3. A caster device as set forth in claim 2, wherein said support stem includes a radially extending flange disposed between said first and said second ends of said support stem, said wheel support and said resilient member being disposed between said head and said flange of said support stem.4. A caster device as set forth in claim 1, wherein said resilient member defines a hole for the reception therethrough of said support stem such that said resilient member is anchored to said support stem.5. A caster device for movably supporting a load, said caster device comprising:a wheel for supporting the load; a wheel support having a first and a second extremity, said first extremity of said wheel support supporting said wheel for rotation of said wheel about an axis of rotation, said second extremity of said wheel support defining an aperture, said wheel support having a first surface and a second surface; a support stem having a first and a second end, said support stem extending trough said aperture such that said aperture is disposed between said first and said second end of said support stem, said second end of said support stem being connected to the load for supporting the load; and a resilient member disposed between said aperture and said second end of said support stem such that said resilient member resiliently cushions the load relative to said wheel; wherein an open gap is provided between said resilient member and the load. 6. A caster device as set forth in claim 5, wherein said resilient member is a leaf spring.7. A caster device as set forth in claim 6, wherein said leaf spring is fabricated from a metallic spring sheet pressing.8. A caster device as set forth in claim 5, wherein said wheel is a caster having a first and a second side, said caster defining a bore which extends between said first and said second side of said caster, said caster further including an axle having a first and a second termination, said axle extending through said bore such that said caster is rotatably supported by said axle for rotation thereof about said axis of rotation.9. A caster device as set forth in claim 8, wherein said wheel support is a horn, and said first extremity of said wheel support supporting said first and a second termination of said axle.10. A caster device as set forth in claim 5, wherein said first surface of said second extremity of said wheel support defines an annular depression, said depression being disposed concentrically relative to said aperture, said caster device further including a bearing race positioned relative to said first end of said support stem, said bearing race being disposed concentrically relative to said depression, and a plurality of bearings disposed between said bearing race and said depression so that said bearings are captured between said depression and said bearing race, said depression being disposed between said bearing race and said second extremity of said support stem.11. A caster device as set forth in claim 10, wherein said bearings are ball bearings.12. A caster device as set forth in claim 10, wherein said second surface of said second extremity of said wheel support defines a further annular depression, said further annular depression being disposed concentrically relative to said aperture.13. A caster device as set forth in claim 12, wherein said further annular depression has a greater diameter than a diameter of said annular depression.14. A caster device set forth in claim 13, further including a further plurality of bearings captured between said further annular depression and said resilient member.15. A caster device as set forth in claim 14, wherein said further plurality of bearings are further ball bearings.16. A caster device as set forth in claim 14, wherein said resilient member has a first and a second face, said first face of said resilient member defining an annular recess which cooperates with said further annular depression such that said further plurality of bearing are captured between said further annular depression and said annular recess of said resilient member.17. A caster device for movably supporting a load, said caster device comprising:a wheel for supporting the load; a wheel support having a first and a second extremity, said first extremity of said wheel support supporting said wheel for rotation of said wheel about an axis of rotation, said second extremity of said wheel support defining an aperture, said wheel support having a first surface and a second surface; a support stem having a first and a second end, said support stem extending through said aperture such that said aperture is disposed between said first and said second end of said support stem, said second end of said support stem being connected to the load for supporting the load; a resilient member disposed between said aperture and said second end of said support stem such that said resilient member resiliently cushions the load relative to said wheel; and wherein said resilient member defines a hole for the reception therethrough of said support stem such that said resilient member is anchored to said support stem, and said resilient member includes a first arm which extends away from said hole, and a second arm which extends away from said first arm and said hole, said arms cooperating with and resiliently supporting the load. 18. A caster device as set forth in claim 17, wherein said first arm includes a first wing, and a second wing disposed spaced and parallel relative to said first wing, and wherein said second arm includes a first wall, and a second wall disposed spaced and parallel relative to said first wall, said wings and said wails cooperating with the load to provide lateral support for the load.19. An assembly for movably supporting a load, said assembly comprising:a frame; a wheel; a wheel support for supporting said wheel for rotation about an axis; a support stem extending between and connected to said wheel support and said frame; and a spring member disposed about said support stem and between said wheel support and said frame so as to define a gap between said spring member and said frame, such that when a force is applied to said assembly, said spring member is adapted to resiliently move within said gap so as to prevent the other members of said assembly from being damaged on account of the force applied thereto. 20. An assembly as set forth in claim 19, wherein said spring member includes a first arm having a pair of spaced apart tab members, and a second, oppositely extending arm having a second pair of spaced apart tab members, said tab members configured to engage opposite sides of said frame.21. An assembly as set forth in claim 20, wherein said tabs members are configured to remain in engagement with the associated sides of said frame when said assembly is subjected to outside forces.22. An assembly as set forth in claim 19, further comprising a plurality of bearings captured between said wheel support and said spring member to allow said wheel support to rotate with respect to support stem.23. A caster device for movably supporting a load, said caster device comprising:a wheel for supporting the load, said wheel being a caster having a first and a second side, said caster defining a bore which extends between said first and said second sides of said caster; an axle having a first and a second termination, said axle extending through said bore such that said caster is rotatably supported by said axle for rotation thereof about said axis of rotation; a wheel support having a first and a second extremity, said first extremity of said wheel support supporting said wheel for rotation of said wheel about an axis of rotation, said second extremity of said wheel support defining an aperture, said wheel support having a first surface and a second surface, said wheel support being a horn, said first extremity of said wheel support supporting said first and second termination of said axle, a first surface of said second extremity of said wheel support defining an annular depression, said depression being disposed concentrically relative to said aperture, a second surface of said second extremity of said wheel support defining a further annular depression, said further annular depression being disposed concentrically relative to said aperture, said further annular depression having a greater diameter than a diameter of said annular depression; a support stem having a first and a second end, said support stem extending through said aperture such that said aperture is disposed between said first and said second end of said support stem, said second end of said support stem being connected to the load for supporting the load, said support stem including a head disposed adjacent to said first end of said support stem for preventing axial movement of said wheel support relative to said support stem, and said support stem further including a radially extending flange disposed between said first and said second ends of said support stem; a bearing race secured to said first end of said support stem, said bearing race being disposed concentrically relative to said annular depression; a plurality of ball bearings disposed between said bearing race and said depression so that said bearings are captured between said annular depression and said bearing race; a leaf spring fabricated from a metallic spring sheet pressing, said leaf spring being disposed between said aperture and said second end of said support stem, and said leaf spring and a portion of said wheel support being disposed between said head and said flange of said support stem, such that said leaf spring resiliently contacts the load and cushions me load relative to said wheel, said leaf spring having a first and a second face, said leaf spring defining a hole for the reception therethrough of said support stem such that said leaf spring is anchored to said support stem, said leaf spring including a first arm which extends away from said hole, a second arm which extends away from said first arm and said hole, said arms cooperating with and resiliently supporting the load, said first arm including, a first wing and a second wing disposed spaced and parallel relative to said first wing, said second arm including a first wall and a second wall disposed spaced and parallel relative to said first wall, said wings and said walls cooperating with the load to provide lateral support for the load and to prevent said leaf spring from rotating with respect to the load; and a further plurality of ball bearings; wherein said first face of said leaf spring defines an annular recess which cooperates with said further annular depression such that said further plurality of bearings are captured between said further annular depression and said annular recess of said leaf spring.
