IPC분류정보
국가/구분 |
United States(US) Patent
등록
|
국제특허분류(IPC7판) |
|
출원번호 |
US-0032272
(2013-09-20)
|
등록번호 |
US-8650710
(2014-02-18)
|
발명자
/ 주소 |
|
출원인 / 주소 |
|
대리인 / 주소 |
|
인용정보 |
피인용 횟수 :
5 인용 특허 :
30 |
초록
▼
A caster wheel assembly includes a vertical axis brake and barrier-traversing member. The caster shaft housing contains a vertically movable element with stator surface adjacent the caster wheel assembly. The barrier-traversing member with barrier contact surface is fastened to the caster wheel asse
A caster wheel assembly includes a vertical axis brake and barrier-traversing member. The caster shaft housing contains a vertically movable element with stator surface adjacent the caster wheel assembly. The barrier-traversing member with barrier contact surface is fastened to the caster wheel assembly. A braking surface member is attached to the barrier-traversing member opposite the barrier contact surface and adjacent the stator surface. In operation, the moving caster wheel assembly first contacts an obstacle with the barrier contact surface of the barrier-traversing member. The obstacle elevates the barrier-traversing member and attached braking surface member into contact with the vertically movable element of the stator surface of the caster shaft housing, thereby restraining rotation of the caster wheel assembly. Further forward movement of the rotation-restrained caster wheel assembly allows the barrier-traversing member to elevate the caster wheel, transfer load to the caster wheel, and thereby more easily traverse the obstacle.
대표청구항
▼
1. A caster wheel assembly having a vertical axis brake and barrier-traversing member comprising: a caster support body having a caster shaft with a vertical shaft axis therein, the caster shaft rotationally engaged within a caster shaft housing having a stationary portion with a vertically movable
1. A caster wheel assembly having a vertical axis brake and barrier-traversing member comprising: a caster support body having a caster shaft with a vertical shaft axis therein, the caster shaft rotationally engaged within a caster shaft housing having a stationary portion with a vertically movable element pivotally attached thereto and held in contact with the stationary portion by a connecting spring member, the vertically movable element having a fixed stator surface opposite the stationary portion of the caster support body;at least one caster wheel mounted on a horizontal axle in the caster support body a selected distance from the vertical shaft axis of the caster shaft, the horizontal axle offset rearward from the vertical shaft axis of the caster shaft;at least one barrier-traversing member flexibly fastened to the caster support body, the at least one barrier-traversing member including a barrier contact surface adjacent to and parallel with the at least one caster wheel, the barrier contact surface extending below the horizontal axle of the at least one caster wheel and forward of the vertical shaft axis of the caster support body; anda braking surface member attached to the at least one barrier-traversing member at an end thereof opposite the barrier contact surface and adjacent the fixed stator surface of the vertically movable element of the caster shaft housing with a gap there between;whereby the moving caster wheel assembly first contacts an obstacle with the barrier contact surface of the at least one barrier-traversing member, thereby elevating the barrier-traversing member and attached braking surface member into contact with the fixed stator surface of the vertically movable element of the caster shaft housing, thereby restraining rotation of the caster wheel assembly and the at least one caster wheel thereof;the at least one barrier-traversing member elevating the rotation-restrained caster wheel assembly onto the obstacle; andthen further forward motion transferring load to said at least one caster wheel, thereby separating the braking surface member and fixed stator surface, and thereby allowing the at least one barrier-traversing member to return to it's starting position. 2. The caster wheel assembly having a vertical axis brake and barrier-traversing member of claim 1, wherein the at least one barrier-traversing member comprises a planar, triangle-shaped section with a barrier contact surface that is curved. 3. The caster wheel assembly having a vertical axis brake and barrier-traversing member of claim 2, wherein the curved barrier contact surface of the planar, triangle-shaped section includes a pivotally adjustable rim portion to vary the curved barrier contact surface elevation thereof. 4. The caster wheel assembly having a vertical axis brake and barrier-traversing member of claim 2, wherein the caster wheel assembly includes two caster wheels each on a horizontal axle with a common axis, the at least one barrier-traversing member positioned between the two caster wheels. 5. The caster wheel assembly having a vertical axis brake and barrier-traversing member of claim 1, wherein the at least one barrier-traversing member is flexibly fastened to the caster support body by a flexure member, thereby biasing the attached braking surface away from the stator surface, providing a gap there between in the absence of an encountered obstacle. 6. The caster wheel assembly having a vertical axis brake and barrier-traversing member of claim 1, wherein the barrier-traversing member is flexibly fastened to the caster support body by a compound hinge assembly, thereby biasing the attached braking surface away from the fixed stator surface, providing a gap there between in the absence of an encountered obstacle. 7. The caster wheel assembly having a vertical axis brake and barrier-traversing member of claim 1, wherein the barrier-traversing member comprises a linear actuation element and the barrier contact surface comprises at least one wheel on a second horizontal axle forward of the at least one caster wheel and attached to the linear actuation element at an end thereof opposite the braking surface member. 8. The caster wheel assembly having a vertical axis brake and barrier-traversing member of claim 7, wherein the linear actuation element includes a dovetail extension and locking mechanism providing selectively variable length thereto. 9. The caster wheel assembly having a vertical axis brake and barrier-traversing member of claim 7, further including a wheelramp support connected between the horizontal axle of the at least one caster wheel and the second horizontal axle of the at least one wheel of the barrier-traversing member. 10. The caster wheel assembly having a vertical axis brake and barrier-traversing member of claim 9, further including a wheelramp belt member encircling the at least one caster wheel and encircling the at least one wheel of the barrier-traversing member, the wheelramp belt member comprising a portion of the barrier contact surface and assisting elevation of the at least one caster wheel over an obstacle. 11. The caster wheel assembly having a vertical axis brake and barrier-traversing member of claim 1, wherein the fixed stator surface extends radially outward on a surface of the vertically movable element of the caster shaft housing and surrounds the caster shaft engaged there within. 12. The caster wheel assembly having a vertical axis brake and barrier-traversing member of claim 1, wherein the rotationally-fixed stator surface of the vertically movable element contains constant cross section radial grooves therein and the braking surface member contains at least one gear tooth member for engaging a groove of the fixed stator surface of the vertically movable element. 13. The caster wheel assembly having a vertical axis brake and barrier-traversing member of claim 1, further including a cable mount and housing secured to the caster shaft housing, the cable mount and housing containing a user-movable pin therein penetrating the caster shaft housing to selectively contact the vertically movable element, thereby moving the vertically movable element into contact with the braking surface member. 14. A caster wheel assembly having a vertical axis brake and barrier-traversing member comprising: a caster support body having a caster shaft with a vertical shaft axis therein, the caster shaft rotationally engaged within a caster shaft housing having a stationary portion with a vertically movable element pivotally attached thereto and held in contact with the stationary portion by a connecting spring member, the vertically movable element having a fixed stator surface adjacent the caster support body;at least one caster wheel mounted on a horizontal axle in the caster support body a selected distance from the vertical shaft axis of the caster shaft, the horizontal axle offset rearward from the vertical shaft axis of the caster shaft;at least one barrier-traversing member flexibly fastened to the caster support body, the at least one barrier-traversing member comprising a planar, triangle-shaped section with a barrier contact surface that is curved and positioned adjacent to and parallel with the at least one caster wheel, the barrier contact surface extending below the horizontal axle of the at least one caster wheel and forward of the vertical shaft axis of the caster support body; anda braking surface member attached to the barrier-traversing member at an end thereof opposite the barrier contact surface and adjacent the fixed stator surface of the vertically movable element of the caster shaft housing with a gap there between;whereby the moving caster wheel assembly first contacts an obstacle with the barrier contact surface of the at least one barrier-traversing member, thereby elevating the barrier-traversing member and attached braking surface member into contact with the fixed stator surface of the vertically movable element of the caster shaft housing, thereby restraining rotation of the caster wheel assembly and the at least one caster wheel thereof;the at least one barrier-traversing member elevating the rotation-restrained caster wheel assembly onto the obstacle; andthen further forward motion transferring load to said at least one caster wheel, thereby separating the braking surface member and fixed stator surface, and thereby allowing the at least one barrier-traversing member to return to it's starting position. 15. The caster wheel assembly having a vertical axis brake and barrier-traversing member of claim 14, wherein the curved barrier contact surface of the planar, triangle-shaped section further includes a pivotally adjustable rim portion to vary the curved barrier contact surface elevation thereof. 16. The caster wheel assembly having a vertical axis brake and barrier-traversing member of claim 14, wherein the caster wheel assembly includes a plurality of caster wheels each on a horizontal axle with a common axis, at least one said barrier-traversing member positioned between at least one pair of adjacent caster wheels. 17. The caster wheel assembly having a vertical axis brake and barrier-traversing member of claim 14, wherein the at least one barrier-traversing member is flexibly fastened to the caster support body by a flexure member, thereby biasing the attached braking surface away from the fixed stator surface, providing a gap there between in the absence of an encountered obstacle. 18. The caster wheel assembly having a vertical axis brake and barrier-traversing member of claim 14, wherein the fixed stator surface extends radially outward on a surface of the vertically movable element of the caster shaft housing and surrounds the caster shaft engaged there within. 19. The caster wheel assembly having a vertical axis brake and barrier-traversing member of claim 14, wherein the fixed stator surface of the vertically movable element contains constant cross section radial grooves therein and the braking surface member contains at least one gear tooth member for engaging a groove of the fixed stator surface of the vertically movable element. 20. The caster wheel assembly having a vertical axis brake and barrier-traversing member of claim 14, further including a cable mount and housing secured to the caster shaft housing, the cable mount and housing containing a user-movable pin therein penetrating the caster shaft housing to selectively contact the vertically movable element, thereby moving the vertically movable element into contact with the braking surface member. 21. A caster wheel assembly having a vertical axis brake and barrier-traversing member comprising: a caster support body having a caster shaft with a vertical shaft axis therein, the caster shaft rotationally engaged within a caster shaft housing having a stationary portion with a vertically movable element pivotally attached thereto and held in contact with the stationary portion by a connecting spring member, the vertically movable element having a fixed stator surface opposite the stationary portion of the caster support body;at least one caster wheel mounted on a horizontal axle in the caster support body a selected distance from the vertical shaft axis of the caster shaft, the horizontal axle offset rearward from the vertical shaft axis of the caster support body;at least one barrier-traversing member flexibly fastened to the caster support body, the at least one barrier-traversing member including a barrier contact surface adjacent to and parallel with the at least one caster wheel, the barrier contact surface extending below the axle of the at least one caster wheel and forward of the vertical shaft axis of the caster shaft, the barrier-traversing member comprising a linear actuation element and the barrier contact surface comprising at least one wheel on a second horizontal axle forward of at least one the caster wheel and attached to the linear actuation element at an end thereof adjacent the at least one caster wheel; anda braking surface member attached to the barrier-traversing member at an end thereof opposite the barrier contact surface and adjacent the fixed stator surface of the vertically movable element of the caster shaft housing with a gap there between;whereby the moving caster wheel assembly first contacts an obstacle with the barrier contact surface of the at least one barrier-traversing member, thereby elevating the barrier-traversing member and attached braking surface member into contact with the vertically movable element of the fixed stator surface of the caster shaft housing, thereby restraining rotation of the caster wheel assembly and the at least one caster wheel thereof;the at least one barrier-traversing member elevating the rotation-restrained caster wheel assembly onto the obstacle; andthen further forward motion transferring load to said at least one caster wheel, thereby separating the braking surface member and fixed stator surface, and thereby allowing the at least one barrier-traversing member to return to it's starting position. 22. The caster wheel assembly having a vertical axis brake and barrier-traversing member of claim 21, wherein the linear actuation element includes a dovetail extension and locking mechanism providing selectively variable length thereto. 23. The caster wheel assembly having a vertical axis brake and barrier-traversing member of claim 21, further including a wheelramp support member connected between the horizontal axle of the at least one caster wheel and the second horizontal axle of the at least one wheel of the barrier-traversing member. 24. The caster wheel assembly having a vertical axis brake and barrier-traversing member of claim 23, further including a wheelramp belt member encircling the at least one caster wheel and encircling the at least one wheel of the barrier-traversing member, the wheelramp belt member comprising a portion of the barrier contact surface and assisting elevation of the at least one caster wheel onto an obstacle. 25. The caster wheel assembly having a vertical axis brake and barrier-traversing member of claim 21, wherein the fixed stator surface extends radially outward on a surface of the vertically movable element of the caster shaft housing and surrounds the caster shaft engaged there within. 26. The caster wheel assembly having a vertical axis brake and barrier-traversing member of claim 21, wherein the fixed stator surface of the vertically movable element contains constant cross section radial grooves on the lower or perimeter surface thereof and the braking surface member contains at least one gear tooth member for engaging a groove of the horizontally-fixed stator surface of the vertically movable element. 27. The caster wheel assembly having a vertical axis brake and barrier-traversing member of claim 21, further including a cable mount and housing secured to the caster shaft housing, the cable mount and housing containing a user-movable pin therein penetrating the caster shaft housing to selectively contact the vertically movable element, thereby moving the vertically movable element into contact with the braking surface member.
※ AI-Helper는 부적절한 답변을 할 수 있습니다.