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Embodiments of the present invention provide a hubless caster that is at least as aesthetically pleasing as prior art hubless casters but that is significantly more durable. In one aspect, a hubless caster is provided that includes a frame member having two opposed sides. A generally ring-shaped mou

Embodiments of the present invention provide a hubless caster that is at least as aesthetically pleasing as prior art hubless casters but that is significantly more durable. In one aspect, a hubless caster is provided that includes a frame member having two opposed sides. A generally ring-shaped mount portion projects from at least one of the two opposed sides of the frame member. In some embodiments, the hubless caster has the following three components mounted on the mount portion, in sequence moving radially outwardly from the mount portion: a) an annular backbone member defining an inner bearing race, b) a rolling element, and c) a wheel defining an outer bearing race.

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1. A hubless caster having an open central corridor and comprising, in sequence moving radially outwardly, a generally cylindrical innermost wall configured as a retention wall, a generally cylindrical mount portion, a bearing, and a wheel, the retention wall defining a radially inwardly oriented fa

1. A hubless caster having an open central corridor and comprising, in sequence moving radially outwardly, a generally cylindrical innermost wall configured as a retention wall, a generally cylindrical mount portion, a bearing, and a wheel, the retention wall defining a radially inwardly oriented facing surface, the retention wall being a single integral wall consisting of a single body, the radially inwardly oriented facing surface being exposed to the hubless caster's central corridor, the generally cylindrical mount portion comprising a ring-shaped wall radially inside of which the generally cylindrical innermost wall is nested concentrically, the bearing being mounted on the generally cylindrical mount portion such that the ring-shaped wall is nested concentrically radially inside the bearing, the retention wall preventing the bearing from moving transversely off the mount portion by virtue of having a retainer lip carried directly against a transverse side of the bearing, the retention wall being molded to the generally cylindrical mount portion such that the retainer lip extends around and embraces, by being in contact with, the transverse side of the bearing. 2. The hubless caster of claim 1, wherein the retainer lip embraces, by being in contact with, a stationary annular backbone member of the bearing, the retainer lip and the annular backbone member remaining rotationally stationary during rotation of the wheel. 3. The hubless caster of claim 1, wherein the retention wall comprises a low molding shrink polymer having a shrink factor of less than 1%. 4. The hubless caster of claim 1, wherein the hubless caster comprises a frame member from which the generally cylindrical mount portion projects transversely outwardly, and the bearing is held on the generally cylindrical mount portion by virtue of being sandwiched directly between the central frame member and the retainer lip. 5. The hubless caster of claim 4, wherein the ring-shaped wall of the generally cylindrical mount portion has outwardly flared configuration in that an outer extent of the ring-shaped wall has a larger exterior diameter than does an inner extent of the ring-shaped wall. 6. The hubless caster of claim 1, wherein the hubless caster is equipped with a vertical pin defining a vertical axis about which the hubless caster is configured to swivel. 7. The hubless caster of claim 1, wherein the wheel comprises a plastic wheel portion and a metal race portion, the metal race portion defining an outer race of the bearing. 8. The hubless caster of claim 7, wherein the metal race portion has opposed transverse sides, and the plastic wheel portion is molded over the metal race portion such that the molded plastic wheel portion extends around the metal race so as to embrace both of its transverse sides, thereby locking together the plastic wheel portion and the metal race portion. 9. The hubless caster of claim 1, wherein the wheel comprises a medium durometer plastic having a Shore D durometer of about 55-65. 10. The hubless caster of claim 1, wherein the hubless caster has two opposed generally cylindrical mount portions, two bearings mounted respectively on the two opposed generally cylindrical mount portions, and two wheels, each of the two bearings comprising an annular backbone member and a plurality of ball bearings or roller bearings, the retention wall having two retainer lips and a central span extending between the two retainer lips, each retainer lip flaring radially outward from the central span, the first and second retainer lips being respectively in contact with the two annular backbone members. 11. The hubless caster of claim 1, wherein the hubless caster has a dynamic load rating of greater than 200 pounds. 12. The hubless caster of claim 11, wherein the hubless caster has a profile ratio of less than 0.5. 13. The hubless caster of claim 12, wherein the hubless caster has a weight of less than 0.6 pound. 14. The hubless caster of claim 1, wherein the bearing comprises, moving radially outwardly, an annular backbone member, a rolling element comprising a plurality of ball bearings or roller bearings, and an outer race portion. 15. The hubless caster of claim 14, wherein the bearing is a sealed bearing such that the ball bearings or roller bearings are housed inside a sealed enclosure bounded by the annular backbone member and the outer race portion. 16. A hubless caster having an open central corridor and comprising, in sequence moving radially outwardly, a generally cylindrical retention wall, a generally cylindrical mount portion, a bearing, and a wheel, the retention wall being a single integral wall consisting of a single body, the generally cylindrical mount portion comprising a ring-shaped wall radially inside of which the generally cylindrical retention wall is nested concentrically, the bearing being mounted on the generally cylindrical mount portion such that the ring-shaped wall is nested concentrically radially inside the bearing, the retention wall preventing the bearing from moving transversely off the mount portion by virtue of having a retainer lip carried directly against a transverse side of the bearing, the retention wall being molded to the generally cylindrical mount portion such that the retainer lip extends around and embraces, by being in contact with, the transverse side of the bearing, and wherein the hubless caster comprises a frame member from which the generally cylindrical mount portion projects transversely outwardly, the bearing being held on the generally cylindrical mount portion by virtue of being sandwiched directly between the central frame member and the retainer lip. 17. The hubless caster of claim 16, wherein the hubless caster has two opposed generally cylindrical mount portions, two bearings mounted respectively on the two opposed generally cylindrical mount portions, and two wheels, each of the two bearings comprising an annular backbone member and a plurality of ball bearings or roller bearings, the retention wall having two retainer lips and a central span extending between the two retainer lips, each retainer lip flaring radially outward from the central span, the first and second retainer lips being respectively in contact with the two annular backbone members. 18. The hubless caster of claim 16, wherein the bearing comprises, moving radially outwardly, an annular backbone member, a rolling element comprising a plurality of ball bearings or roller bearings, and an outer race portion, the bearing being a sealed bearing such that the ball bearings or roller bearings are housed inside a sealed enclosure bounded by the annular backbone member and the outer race portion. 19. The hubless caster of claim 16, wherein the hubless caster has a dynamic load rating of greater than 200 pounds, a profile ratio of less than 0.5, and a weight of less than 0.5 pound. 20. The hubless caster of claim 16, wherein the retention wall defines a radially inwardly oriented surface, the radially inwardly oriented surface being a facing surface that is exposed to the hubless caster's central corridor.