Patent Application
20210086815
The present invention relates to castor equipped carts or platforms; to systems and devices for reducing noise or vibrations created by carts or platforms equipped with castors; and more particularly, more cart suspension devices or systems which reduce noise and vibrations when in use, or to castor equipped carts or platforms having such carts suspensions.
Carts or platforms are well known devices used to move loads that cannot be easily transported by hand. A typical cart or platform includes a generally rectangular, flat, material-supporting surface having two swivel casters positioned at the rear end of the carts or platforms, and two unidirectional, non-swiveling wheels at the front end of the carts or platforms. U.S. Pat. No. 9,650,060 illustrates an example of a platform having a typical supporting surface and use of castors. U.S. Pat. No. 9,840,265 provides an illustrative example of a luggage cart having a supporting surface, movable by a plurality of castors. While such carts are very useful in moving loads, such castor equipped carts or platforms can produce noise as they move. Rolling platforms and carts vibrate when traversing uneven floor surfaces like tile floors or outdoor pavement. This vibration produces a measure of noise as the units pick up the vibration and amplify the sound. Depending on the contents of the cart or platform, the load may further amplify the vibration to a loud noise range.
Therefore, what is needed in the arts is castor equipped carts or platforms with reduced noise and vibration that provide reduction in noise and vibrations inherent in the carts or platforms rolling over uneven surfaces.
The present invention relates to cart suspension devices or systems which reduce noise and vibrations when in use, or to castor equipped carts or platforms having such cart suspension systems or devices. The present invention was developed to reduce the amount of noise created by a caster equipped cart or platform. The cart suspension device or system, or castor equipped carts or platforms having such a cart suspension system or device, utilize a swing arm or a one-piece spring bracket and a shock pneumatic rubber damper to greatly reduce the noise and vibration inherent in carts rolling over uneven surfaces. The caster utilizes a wheel with a bearing around the axle bolt. Without a bearing, the bolt must remain loose enough for the wheel to turn freely. By using a bearing, the axle bolt can be tightened, thus eliminating noise resulting from wheel movement. The caster may also incorporate a low durometer (softer) tire made of polyurethane. The polyurethane tire remains durable, while allowing for a measure of sound and vibration damping. Small magnitude vibration is dampened by the soft durometer tire, while large magnitude vibration is dampened by the swing arm and a shock ball suspension.
The cart suspension device or system, or castor equipped carts or platforms having such a cart suspension system or device are an improvement over current carts using castors rigidly fixed to their tray or platform. Such arrangement allows vibrations induced by an uneven floor surface to be transferred to a load being born by the cart or platform. In the case of a restaurant cart being used to transport dishes and glasses, the vibration is further transferred to loads that can produce high noise levels. The cart suspension device or system, or castor equipped carts or platforms having such a cart suspension system or device is designed to effectively isolate wide ranges of vibration from the contents of a rolling cart or platform. By doing so, the cart suspension device or system, or castor equipped carts or platforms having such a cart suspension system or device effectively reduces the noise generated by those loads as they no longer amplify vibrations produced from rolling over uneven surfaces.
In one embodiment, a castor equipped cart or platform having a soft ride suspension system comprises: one or more load bearing surfaces designed to hold a load; a plurality of wheels; and a ride suspension system configured to reduce noise and vibration from said castor equipped cart or platform when said castor equipped cart or platform is moving or rolling over uneven surfaces.
In another embodiment, a soft ride suspension system for use with a movable structure, such as a castor equipped cart or platform comprises: a spring bracket; and a damping structure; wherein the soft ride suspension system is configured to isolate wide ranges of vibration from contents placed on the cart or platform when moving or rolling, thereby reducing noise generated by the loads as the loads no longer amplify vibrations produced from rolling over uneven surfaces.
Accordingly, it is an objective of the invention to provide cart suspension devices or systems for use with castor equipped carts or platforms.
It is yet another objective of the invention to provide cart suspension devices or systems for use with castor equipped carts or platforms which reduce noise and vibrations when in use.
It is a further objective of the invention to provide castor equipped carts or platforms having cart suspension devices or systems.
It is a still further objective of the invention to provide castor equipped carts or platforms having cart suspension devices or systems which reduce noise and vibrations when in use.
It is a further objective of the invention to teach a device designed to reduce the amount of noise created by a caster equipped cart or platform.
It is yet another objective of the invention to provide a cart suspension device or system which effectively reduces the noise generated by loads carried thereon, as they no longer amplify vibrations produced from rolling over uneven surfaces.
It is a still further objective of the invention to provide a castor equipped cart or platform having a cart suspension system or device which effectively reduces the noise generated by loads carried thereon, as they no longer amplify vibrations produced from rolling over uneven surfaces.
Other objectives and advantages of this invention will become apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with any accompanying drawings wherein are set forth, by way of illustration and example, certain embodiments of this invention. Any drawings contained herein constitute a part of this specification, include exemplary embodiments of the present invention, and illustrate various objects and features thereof.
While the present invention is susceptible of embodiment in various forms, there is shown in the drawings and will hereinafter be described a presently preferred, albeit not limiting, embodiment with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered an exemplification of the present invention and is not intended to limit the invention to the specific embodiments illustrated.
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The intermediate portion 110 is preferably angled relative to the first end portion 106 and the second end portion 108, such as, for example, greater than zero (0) degrees and at or less than ninety (90) degrees. Alternatively, the intermediate portion may be angled at any degree greater than ninety (90) degrees. In either configuration, having the intermediate portion 110 angled provides for the first end portion 106 to be orientated or arranged in a higher position or at a different plane relative to the second end portion 108.
The one-piece spring bracket body 112 preferably comprises a damping structure engaging component or structure 118, preferably located within the second end portion 108. The damping structure engaging component or structure 118 is designed to interact or engage with the damping structure or member 104. As illustrated in
As illustrated in
Extending upwardly and away from the first surface 114 of the one-piece spring bracket 102 is a caster bushing 128. The caster bushing 128 is shown having a generally cylindrical body 130 which terminates in an opening 132. The generally cylindrical body 130 has a hollow interior 133 sized and shaped to receive the castor assembly pin 42 therein. As shown in
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All patents and publications mentioned in this specification are indicative of the levels of those skilled in the art to which the invention pertains. All patents and publications are herein incorporated by reference to the same extent as if each individual publication was specifically and individually indicated to be incorporated by reference.
It is to be understood that while a certain form of the invention is illustrated, it is not to be limited to the specific form or arrangement herein described and shown. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes may be made without departing from the scope of the invention, and the invention is not to be considered limited to what is shown and described in the specification and any drawings/figures included herein.
One skilled in the art will readily appreciate that the present invention is well adapted to carry out the objectives and obtain the ends and advantages mentioned, as well as those inherent therein. The embodiments, methods, procedures and techniques described herein are presently representative of the preferred embodiments, are intended to be exemplary, and are not intended as limitations on the scope. Changes therein and other uses will occur to those skilled in the art which are encompassed within the spirit of the invention and are defined by the scope of the appended claims. Although the invention has been described in connection with specific preferred embodiments, it should be understood that the invention as claimed should not be unduly limited to such specific embodiments. Indeed, various modifications of the described modes for carrying out the invention which are obvious to those skilled in the art are intended to be within the scope of the following claims.
