Patent Application
20050015928
This invention generally relates to an improved system for mounting wheels to an object for greater portability, and more specifically, to apparatus and assemblies for more convenient mounting and ease of removal of casters from furniture, and other articles of manufacture.
The need for a quick and convenient removable connection of a wheel from an object, such as a piece of furniture, is a well known problem. Heretofore, others have tried to address this problem by means of engaging a wheel to a bracket affixed to the object. U.S. Pat. No. 4,817,237 (Murphy), for example, discloses a bracket for engaging a caster plate and caster wheel to luggage. In order to slidably engage the caster plate into the bracket an abutment of a cantilevered arm is required to be depressed sufficiently by applying finger pressure to allow the caster plate to slide lengthwise into a channel. Likewise, the abutment must first be depressed by applying finger pressure to allow removal of the caster plate from the bracket. While the device is generally useful, the need to place the fingers in the path of a sliding caster plate to exert pressure against a stop during the instillation and removal processes is not only inconvenient, but also presents a risk of injury to the finger(s) which may be lacerated in the process. This can occur, for example, when the caster plate is slid into the channels to engage with the stop when needed to be held down in a depressed position using the fingers. Accordingly, while the '237 patent suggests the application of finger pressure in the installation and removal processes, actual performance of these manipulative steps without the aid of a hand tool may result in injury.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,843,678 (Park) discloses a caster bracket with four perpendicular flanges. A “U” shaped bar is threaded through holes in the four flanges after a caster plate is inserted proximate the caster bracket. Nuts are then applied to the threaded ends of the bar to hold the bar in place. This invention requires a wrench to apply the nuts, and the nuts and bar are separate pieces.
Clearly, then, there is a need for an improved system for mounting casters and caster assemblies having a minimal number of component parts that enables casters and other types of wheels to be easily and quickly affixed to an object, and also to be readily disengaged manually, safely and conveniently without actually requiring tools in the process.
Generally, the present invention comprises an apparatus for attaching a caster to an object, wherein the caster can be readily and safely disengaged from its mounting bracket (and re-engaged) all without the aid of hand tools. More specifically, the apparatus comprises a caster bracket having flange means for forming a plurality of channels, preferably a bracket plate seated and affixed to the interior surface of the caster bracket, wherein the caster plate of a caster assembly can be introduced between the flange means and readily guided in place by the channels of the caster bracket and securely locked in place. One of the flanges of the caster bracket may function as a stop for the caster plate. The caster bracket also comprises a flexible member for engaging and securely retaining in place the caster plate of a caster assembly. The flexible member is operatively arranged to substantially immobilize the caster plate when the flexible member engages an edge of or a slot in the caster plate, securely locking the caster plate and caster wheel in place. The flexible member further comprises a tab operatively arranged to disengage the flexible member from the edge or slot in the caster plate when the tab is deflected. Preferably, the tab of the flexible member is adapted for direct manual operation by application of hand and/or finger pressure, so as to safely eliminate the requirement for tools. That is, the caster plate and caster wheel may be conveniently and safely released from the caster bracket by merely applying hand/finger pressure to the tab without injury occurring by extending the length of the tab, so when installing a caster or when removing a caster from the caster bracket hands and fingers are out of harms way. This may be achieved, for example, by extending the tab beyond a perimeter of the caster bracket. The tab extension also imparts leverage for releasing the caster plate of a caster assembly making full depression of the tab an easier, more convenient task to perform, allowing disengagement of the caster plate and wheel assembly from the bracket by hand without tools, i.e., by direct manual deflection of the tab. While the tab extension allows the application of greater force for depression of the tab the bracket plate protects the action of the flexible member from shear and/or possible loss of spring action.
Accordingly, it is a principal object of the present invention to provide a durable apparatus/hardware device for attaching a wheeled element, such as a caster to a surface of an object.
It is yet a further object of the invention to provide a device that allows quick and convenient attachment and disengagement of a caster plate and wheel assembly from a caster bracket mounted to the base of objects, such as furniture, for greater portability.
It is yet a further object of the invention to provide a hardware kit comprising all the essential components for achieving portability of an object, including the device for attaching a wheeled element to the surface of an object. Such hardware kits may also include a wheeled element, such as a caster.
These and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become readily apparent to those having ordinary skill in the art with reading the following detailed description of the invention in view of the drawings and claims.
The nature and mode of operation of the present invention will now be more fully described in the following detailed description of the invention taken with the accompanying drawing figures, in which:
It should be appreciated that in the detailed description of the invention which follows, like reference numbers on different drawing views are intended to identify identical structural elements of the invention in the respective views. The accompanying drawings illustrate wheels of the present invention. However, the particular wheel illustrated is merely representative of one type of caster which can be affixed to the base of a piece of furniture by means of the mounting apparatus of the invention. Accordingly, it will be readily apparent to one skilled in the art that the present invention can be used for mounting a wide range of wheel elements or casters of virtually any design or end-use application to various objects to achieve desired portability, such as cabinets, luggage, pianos, fixtures, dollies, trucks, hand carts, machinery, to name but a few. And, these variations and modifications are intended to be within the spirit and broad scope of the invention as claimed.
One aspect of the invention is shown by
Accordingly, the caster mounting assembly 10 of this invention is a universal device allowing flexibility in the installation, removal and replacement of virtually any caster-wheel/caster plate assembly with only hand/finger pressure, and without requiring fastening tools and hardware, such as bolts for securing caster plate 42 to the caster mounting assembly 10.
Features of the present invention enable wheels to be efficiently and easily attached to and removed from furniture 46.
Preferably, caster bracket 12 comprises a bracket plate 34 (
While fasteners 32 or other equivalent means, including weldment(s) may be used for affixing the flexible member 26 to caster bracket 12 in a cantilevered fashion, it will be understood the invention contemplates embodiments wherein the flexible member 26 is integral with the caster bracket 12. Fasteners 32 can be inserted through apertures 20 and 24 to attach flexible member 26 to caster bracket 12. In a preferred embodiment, fasteners 32 are rivets. However, it should be readily apparent to one skilled in the art that other fasteners are possible, and these modifications are intended to be within the spirit and broad scope of the invention, as claimed. Dual flanges 16 form channels 18 (shown in
In a preferred embodiment, caster plate 42 is inserted into channels 18 until the caster plate abuts end member 14, a flange or end elevation which performs as a stop. Locking surface 28 of flexible member 26 then engages with the trailing edge of the caster plate 42 securely locking the plate in-place. It should be readily apparent to one skilled in the art that alternative embodiments, such as omitting end member 14 are possible, and these modifications are intended to be within the spirit and broad scope of the invention as claimed.
In a preferred embodiment, flexible member 26 is made of spring steel. However, other materials known in the art may be used, and these modifications are intended to be within the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed.
Thus, it is seen that the objects of the present invention are efficiently obtained, although modifications and changes to the invention should be readily apparent to those having ordinary skill in the art, and these modifications are intended to be within the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed.
