Disclosed is a low profile rolling support assembly useful for supporting loads above a supporting surface where at least one end of the rolling support assembly is positionable beneath a structure having minimal clearance above the supporting surface. The rolling support assembly includes a load be
Disclosed is a low profile rolling support assembly useful for supporting loads above a supporting surface where at least one end of the rolling support assembly is positionable beneath a structure having minimal clearance above the supporting surface. The rolling support assembly includes a load bearing member and a caster assembly containing a wheel where the load bearing member extends laterally away from the caster assembly at substantially the same height or less as the caster assembly.
대표청구항▼
1. A rolling support assembly for an article comprising: a longitudinal load bearing member defining a load bearing member upper extent, a load bearing member lower extent, and a load bearing axis centered between the load bearing member upper and lower extents, wherein the load bearing member is or
1. A rolling support assembly for an article comprising: a longitudinal load bearing member defining a load bearing member upper extent, a load bearing member lower extent, and a load bearing axis centered between the load bearing member upper and lower extents, wherein the load bearing member is oriented substantially parallel to a support surface, wherein the load bearing member upper extent defines a load bearing member height, and wherein the load bearing member is configured to support an article above the support surface, and;a caster assembly supporting the load bearing member and defining a height, wherein the caster assembly has a frame, a hub pivotally mounted to the frame and rotatable around a vertical axis, a wheel pivotally mounted to the hub configured to support the caster assembly above the support surface, and a cover mounted above the wheel, the cover defining an opening;wherein the wheel defines a wheel upper extent and the load bearing axis is below the wheel upper extent;wherein the wheel extends into the opening in the cover;wherein the load bearing member height as it laterally approaches the caster assembly is less than the height of the wheel; andwherein the load bearing member extends laterally from the caster assembly. 2. The rolling support assembly of claim 1 wherein the height of the caster assembly is approximately 2.25 inches or less. 3. The rolling support assembly of claim 1 wherein the load bearing member abuts a side wall of the frame. 4. The rolling support assembly of claim 1 wherein the load bearing member extends laterally away from an outer surface of the frame. 5. The rolling support assembly of claim 1, wherein the wheel is rotatable around an axis of rotation, and wherein the axis of rotation is between the upper and lower extents of the load bearing member. 6. The rolling support assembly of claim 1, wherein the cover is mounted to the hub and rotatable with the hub around the vertical axis. 7. The rolling support assembly of claim 1, wherein the upper extent of the wheel does not extend above the cover. 8. A rolling support assembly for supporting a load above a supporting surface comprising: at least a first load bearing member defining a load bearing member upper extent, a load bearing member lower extent, and a first load bearing axis centered between the first load bearing member upper and lower extents, wherein the first load bearing member is configured to support a load above a support surface, and wherein the load defines a load axis that is perpendicular to the first load bearing axis; anda first caster assembly having a top and a bottom and supporting the first load bearing member, the caster assembly further including a frame, a hub, a wheel, and a cover defining an opening, wherein the hub is pivotally mounted to the frame and rotatable around a support axis parallel to the load axis, wherein the cover is mounted to the hub above the wheel, the wheel extending into the opening, and wherein the wheel has an upper extent and is contained within the caster assembly, pivotally mounted to the hub, and configured to support the caster assembly above the support surface;wherein the first load bearing axis is below the upper extent of the wheel;wherein the wheel is rotatable around an axis of rotation that is between the upper and lower load bearing member extents of the first load bearing member;wherein the first load bearing member extends laterally away from the first caster assembly; andwherein the support axis is offset from the load axis along the first load bearing member. 9. The rolling support assembly of claim 8 wherein the first load bearing axis crosses the caster assembly. 10. The rolling support assembly of claim 8 wherein the first load bearing axis crosses the support axis below the upper extent of the caster assembly. 11. The rolling support assembly of claim 8 wherein the load axis is offset from the support axis by a distance greater than about half the length of the first load bearing member. 12. The rolling support assembly of claim 8 wherein the first load bearing axis is oriented substantially parallel to the supporting surface. 13. The rolling support assembly of claim 8 wherein the first load bearing member abuts a side wall of the first caster assembly. 14. The rolling support assembly of claim 8 wherein the first load bearing member extends laterally away from an outer surface of the first caster assembly. 15. The rolling support assembly of claim 8wherein the load is a patient lift having a support arm supported above the first load bearing member by a mast extending vertically away from the first load bearing member, and;wherein the support arm extends laterally away from the mast and supports a patient load, the patient load defining a lift axis laterally offset toward the support axis. 16. The rolling support assembly of claim 15, comprising: a second load bearing member defining a load bearing member upper extent, a load bearing member lower extent, and a second load bearing axis centered between the second load bearing member upper and lower extents, wherein the second load bearing member is coupled to the first load bearing member by a base, and wherein the load axis intersects and is perpendicular to the second load bearing axis; anda second caster assembly having a top and a bottom and supporting the second load bearing member, the caster assembly further including a frame, a hub, and a wheel, wherein the hub is pivotally mounted to the frame and rotatable around a support axis parallel to the load axis, and wherein the wheel has an upper extent contained within the caster assembly pivotally mounted to the hub, and configured to support the caster assembly above the support surface;wherein the mast is supported above and extends vertically away from the first and second load bearing members;wherein the second load bearing axis is below the upper extent of the wheel;wherein the wheel in the second caster assembly is rotatable around an axis of rotation that is between the upper and lower load bearing member extents of the second load bearing member;wherein the second load bearing member extends laterally away from the second caster assembly; andwherein the first load bearing member and the second load bearing member are separated to define an area to receive an object positioned on the supporting surface between the first and second load bearing members. 17. A rolling support assembly for supporting an article comprising: a load bearing member configured to support an article above a support surface, wherein the load bearing member has an upper extent defining a load bearing member height above the support surface, a lower extent, and a load bearing axis centered between the upper and lower extents, and;a caster assembly supporting the load bearing member, the caster assembly having a height defined by a top and a bottom and further including:a frame defining a central opening within the caster assembly, and an outer surface of the caster assembly;a ball bearing assembly coupled to the frame;a hub positioned within the central opening of the caster assembly coupled to the ball bearing assembly, and rotatable about a vertical axis of rotation;a wheel pivotally mounted to the hub and rotatable about a horizontal axis of rotation, the horizontal axis of rotation positioned between the upper and lower extents of the load bearing member, wherein the wheel has an upper extent defining a height; anda cover defining an opening, the wheel extending into the opening but not above the cover, the cover mounted to the hub and rotatable with the hub about the vertical axis of rotation;wherein the load bearing axis is below the upper extent of the wheel;wherein the load bearing member extends laterally away from the outer surface of the frame, and;wherein the load bearing member height and the height of the caster assembly are substantially the same where the load bearing member approaches the frame. 18. The rolling support assembly of claim 17 wherein the height of the frame is less than the height of the wheel. 19. The rolling support assembly of claim 17 wherein the height of the load bearing member is less than the height of the wheel at the point the load bearing member extends away from the frame. 20. The rolling support assembly of claim 17 wherein the height of the load bearing member is less than or approximately equal to the height of the caster assembly at the point the load bearing member extends away from the caster assembly. 21. The rolling support assembly of claim 17 wherein the ball bearing assembly is a four point angular contact ball bearing assembly. 22. The rolling support assembly of claim 17 wherein the load bearing member abuts a side wall of the caster assembly.
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이 특허에 인용된 특허 (14)
Shorey Thomas H. (Mill Creek WA), Cargo caster bearing assembly.
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