Abstract: Luggage cases, especially if they are large and bulky, usually have wheels and glides or legs to hold the case upright when loaded and permit the case to be pulled or wheeled. These same large cases present a large volume--an advantage when actually being used to carry clothing. However, this large volume is a disadvantage during packaging, storage and shipping after manufacture, such as between the factory and the store where it is sold. This large volume is a disadvantage also when the case is being stored by the owner between trips. Shown here is a case (10) with easily removable wheels (11) and feet (13). These external fittings attach to the outside of the luggage shell and have a projection (92) which extends to an aperture (90) in the wall of the case shell to the inside of the case. A manually releasable latch (96), such as a clip, engages and disengages this projection from the inside of the case to mount the wheel and leg to the outside of the case.

Abstract: A front wheel assembly for a stroller includes a frame attaching member and a wheel attaching member. The frame attaching member includes a sleeve adapted to be securely attached to a front leg of a stroller and defining a through hole with upper and lower ends. A pair of diametrically opposed flexible tongues are formed on the upper end of the through hole with their distal ends radially extending over the through hole. The wheel attaching member includes a wheel seat adapted to mount a pair of front wheels of the stroller and a snapping member projecting upwardly from the wheel seat for releasably engaging with the flexible tongues. A number of flanges are formed around an outer periphery of the snapping member and are in rotational contact with the inner periphery of the through hole.

Abstract: A releasable fifth wheel for use with a skateboard having an upwardly sloped tail portion cantilevered out beyond the rear race which includes a caster with swivel connected yoke and stem with the yoke supporting a plastic wheel. The stem includes a manually operable spring biased rod that has an indentation between its ends and co-acts with a ball detent. A pair of threadably engageable shells with flanges at their outer ends are adapted to be received in an opening in the skateboard tail. One of the shells has an internal groove which cooperatively locks the ball detent or releases the ball when the rod is moved longitudinally or rotationally.

Abstract: The support assembly includes an upright member, an exterior support member adjacent to the upright member, the exterior support member being configured for being disposed between the upright member and an outer perimeter of a frame of a holding rack, a caster disposed substantially below the exterior support member, and the caster including an extension received in a hollow tube of an upright member. Another embodiment of the invention includes a holding rack having a frame defining an outer perimeter, and an upright member disposed at the outer perimeter of the frame that is a part of a support assembly, an exterior support member adjacent to the upright member, the exterior support member being configured for being disposed between the upright member and an outer perimeter of a frame of a holding rack. A caster is disposed substantially below the exterior support member, the caster including an extension received in a hollow tube of the upright member.

Abstract: The present invention provides a device for mounting a pair of casters to a tubular segment of a structure of a stroller. The mounting device consists of a first sleeve, a second sleeve and a cushion. Generally, the first sleeve is securely attached to a tubular segment of a structure of a stroller by means of a rivet or the like. The second sleeve pivotally receives the first sleeve, thereby permitting them to rotate relative to each other. The cushion consists of a cap-like element, a spring and a plug. The cap-like element has two slots longitudinally extending therein. The plug has a hole transversely extending therethrough. The cap-like element is securely connected with the second sleeve. The spring is received in the cap-like element. The plug is also received in the cap-like element. A shaft on which a pair of casters rotate is inserted through the slots in the cap-like element and the hole of the plug, whereby the spring is sandwiched-between the top in the cap-like element and the plug.

Abstract: A foldable caster, particularly suited for use with a swimming pool reel support, is foldable approximately 270.degree. between an operative position and a stowed position and is magnetically or otherwise secured in at least the storage position.

Abstract: A wheel assembly for a baby carriage is provided comprising two wheels mounted on opposing ends of a shaft supported by a shaft holder fixed at an end of a supporting rod of a baby carriage. The shaft is coupled to the two wheels and a combining disc is secured to the shaft by small projections inserted within an annular groove formed in the shaft. A cap covers a recessed aperture of each wheel and is pressed inwardly to compress the combining disc for disengagement of the combining disc from the shaft and the wheel from the shaft.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is an adhesive- and fastener-free footing pad including a pad seat located in the bottom of a housing, a protrudent ring corresponding to the circumference of the pad seat forward on the housing and a footing pad. The pad seat has a circular block, the footing pad has a plurality of claw elements each with a reserve hook so that when the footing pad is installed, the reserves hooks are retained by the circular block, and the footing pad is positioned by the protrudent ring to secure the footing pad to the pad seat firmly. Such a design can prevent displacement of the footing pad after its installation, and can withstand a considerable thrust.

Abstract: A wheel assembly designed to be adhesively attached to an article. The assembly includes a mounting plate having an upper surface with an adhesive layer and a peel-away protective cover. The cover is designed to be removed to reveal the underlying adhesive layer. The mounting plate further includes a center portion and side portions which are pivotal relative to each other to enable the mounting plate to be adhesively attached to adjacent surfaces of the article. A pair of legs are formed in one piece with the mounting plate and extend away from the bottom surface. Each of the legs has a front edge and a rear edge. The front and rear edges of the legs are inwardly offset from the front and rear edges of the mounting plate to prevent the mounting plate from separating from the article. The pair of legs and the bottom surface of the mounting plate between the legs define a wheel channel. A relatively rigid insert is located within and conforms substantially to the wheel channel.

Abstract: A system for mounting, removal, and storage of a snowplow includes a caster removably mounted on the rear crossbar of the plow A-frame. The caster shaft is threaded for adjustability of the vertical position of the crossbar. Front wheels are removably mounted on the right and left ends of the plow blade.

Abstract: An improved attachment wheels are to be attached on a frame of a machine which provide equipment to rotate on a surface. By attaching the improved attachment wheels on the frame of the machine to move the machine from one place to another. The improved attachment wheels also can be removed so an operator can use the machine to finish a surface. The improved attachment wheels eliminates the need for laborers to carry the machine from one place to another.

Abstract: Climbing apparatus including a rolling tower support platform, and method and tooling for the same wherein one of two spaced double walls of each of opposed tower rails of a tower ladder is snugly gripped by detents formed on the end portions of spaced rail rungs and the extremities of the rungs are flared, the rails including expanded bottoms for snap lock and threaded lock assembly with unique caster boxes of a caster wheel assembly for the tower rails and a support platform mounted on the rails with slidable carriages having double grip and threaded pin tightening arrangements and also having sockets to receive collapsible hand rail assemblies with unique hinges for gates thereof.

Abstract: This invention relates to a wheel unit for a slidable infant chair. The characteristic of this invention is in that there is a rod cap positioned at the upper part of the wheel unit. The rod cap has a hollow for receiving in a rod. There are two opposite U-shape cut, whose interiors become two elastic fragments, positioned in the upper side wall of the rod cap. The lower side wall of the rod cap is attached by a flanged annulus, which has fine projecting stripes around the side surface and has a splintery upward surface. In assemblage, first, insert a rod into the hollows of a rod supporter and the rod cap so as to assemble them. Then, insert the upper part of the assembled wheel unit into a fixing sleeve under an annular frame of a slidable infant chair, with the condition that the two opposite U-shape fragments spring outward for the wheel unit to be fixed in the fixing sleeve.

Abstract: A wheel assembly and a picnic table with the wheel assembly attached thereto includes a bracket which has an arm portion and a mounting flange portion. The mounting flange portion is inclined at an angle of about 65.degree. with respect to the longitudinal extent of the upper edge of the arm portion. The flange portion is attached to inner face of the leg of the article of furniture such that the wheel which is located at the distal end of the arm portion is in close proximity to the underlying support surface. When attached to the leg of the article of furniture, the wheel is aligned with a side edge of the leg so that it does not form an obstruction which would be encountered by the legs of a person seated on the furniture in use.

Abstract: A detachable front wheel assembly for a pushcart including a sleeve being engagable onto a front leg of a pushcart. A dovetail slot is formed in the sleeve, and two openings communicate with the dovetail slot. A coupling shaft has a vertical dovetail and a protuberance formed on the vertical dovetail. The coupling shaft is insertable into the sleeve with the vertical dovetail slidably engaged within the dovetail slot of the sleeve. The front leg of the pushcart is insertable through the sleeve and then into the coupling shaft so that the coupling shaft and the front leg can be fixed together. Two guides are formed on the coupling shaft. The protuberance of the coupling shaft is engagable within either opening for determining the relative positions between the coupling shaft and the sleeve. A wheel seat with a front wheel is engagable onto the coupling shaft. An annular notch is formed at an intermediate position of the wheel seat so that the guides are limited and rotatable along the annular notch.

Abstract: Individual caster assemblies are removably mounted to the corners of an ISO container. Each of the caster assemblies includes "L" pins which selectably pass through openings formed in corner brackets of the container for receipt in blind bores formed within a caster assembly. The caster assemblies inlcude means for attaching a tow bar to permit transport of a caster-equipped container.

Abstract: A caster-supporting device for a baby stroller includes a sleeving secured to a stroller body. A connector is inserted into the sleeving and is retained on the sleeving by engaging the window of the sleeving with the resilient retaining member of the connector. The retaining member may be pressed to disengage from the window so as to remove the connector from the sleeving. A rotating body has a fixed circular tube inserted into the annular groove of the connector and carries a caster axle which extends therethrough. A vertical pin extends through the circular tube into the connector. A sliding body can slide on the connector and has two arms which flank the connector. The arms have vertical slide slots in which a horizontal pin slides. The horizontal pin extends through the connector and the upper end portion of the vertical pin so as to retain both the rotating body and the sliding body on the connector.

Abstract: A rolling drawer is disclosed having a drawer-like tray and at least one pair of wheel assemblies mounted on either side of the tray without the use of separate fasteners, tools and the like. The tray has a bottom panel and a pair of upstanding side panels connected to the side edges of the bottom panel. At least one cut-out opening is formed in the bottom panel along each of its side edges, and each side panel has an open ended slot communicating with a respective one of the cut-out openings and projecting upwardly therefrom. Each wheel assembly includes a bracket member having an elongated plate wider than the width dimension of the open ended slots and a pair of oppositely disposed L-shaped mounting lugs on the inner surface of the plate.

Abstract: This invention relates to a detachable castor support for a baby carriage and in particular to one including a body portion having a vertical shaft with a pivot hole and a protuberance, a stand having a rectangular recess having two sides each formed with a semicircular hole at the lower part thereof and an elongated slot at the front part thereof, a U-shaped member extending from the rear part of the stand and having a hole in each vertically extending sidewall of the U-shaped member and a semicircular notch at the bottom thereof, a connector disposed within the stand with its tubular lug engaged with the semicircular notch of the stand and its protuberance fitted into the elongated slot of the stand and a rivet extending through the hole of the U-shaped member and the lower part of the vertical shaft of the body portion whereby the baby carriage can be stowed conveniently and the castor thereof can be easily replaced with a new one once damaged.

Abstract: An improved wheel attachment mechanism for securing wheels to a child vehicle, such as a stroller or a carriage. The mechanism comprises a leg attachment member which is removably securable to a leg of the vehicle. An intermediate housing is removably secured to the leg attachment member and has a support surface for mating frictional engagement with an abutment wall of the leg attachment member to form a swivel joint to permit swivelling of the leg attachment member about a swivel post. The swivel joint is protected by an inverted cup member. A wheel axle housing is also removably secured to a suspension portion of the intermediate housing whereby the entire attachment mechanism may be dimantled by removable fasteners for servicing or repair of the wheel attachment mechanism.

Abstract: A novel caster pad attachable to the bottom of a receptacle and adapted to receive and hold a replaceable caster assembly has a rectangular base with a flange at each of its four edges. A pair of opposite flanges have a hole near each end of the opposite flanges, the holes in one flange being in alignment with the holes in the opposite flange. A U-shaped rod has arms which can enter the holes of one flange and extend out of the holes of the opposite flange so that the plate of a caster assembly can be captured between the base of the caster pad and the arms of the U-shaped rod. Locking devices are applied to the end of one or both arms to lock the U-shaped rod in place with its arms extending through the aligned holes.

Abstract: A bracket is provided for connection to the top plate of a wheeled caster, that top plate being generally rectangular and having lateral width W.sub.1 and longitudinal length L.sub.1 dimension. The bracket defines a mounting plate having an upper surface; the bracket includes a longitudinally elongated cantilevered arm of lateral width W.sub.2 and longitudinal length L.sub.2 where L.sub.2 >W.sub.

Abstract: An expander device for anchoring in a hole to secure a castor to a part which forms the hole, comprises a conical expander engaged in a sleeve having a conical interior. The expander and the sleeve are mouldings of reinforced plastics material. The expander is screwed onto a coaxial bolt with a 3-start thread. The sleeve is axially slotted from either end, the slots from one end being angularly spaced from one another by 90.degree. as are the other slots with which they are assymetrical so that alternate major and minor sleeve portions are formed between adjacent slots. Deformation takes place predominantly in the minor portions as the sleeve is expanded by axial movement of the conical expander into the internal taper of the sleeve which is caused by rotation of the bolt.

Abstract: A baby carriage has lateral walls along its seat section. These lateral or side walls are divided into first and second side wall panels (50, 51) which are normally contiguous with each other to extend longitudinally of the baby carriage when the carriage is unfolded. The first and second panels are turnably interconnected by a pivot shaft (13) positioned between the upper and lower edges of the side walls so that the panels of a pair are displaceable relative to each other axially of the pivot shaft when the panels are rotated. When the first and second panels are turned around the axis of the pivot shaft, they partly overlap each other while they are guided by spirally inclined surfaces (81, 88) formed around the pivot shaft and inclined surfaces (82, 90) formed on end edges of the side wall panels for folding these panels simultaneously with the folding of the baby carriage.

Abstract: A wheel support system for articles of furniture and the like wherein the wheels are adapted to be readily dismantled from their support to thereby permit stacking of the furniture and wherein the wheels are engageable in vertical notches which are offset at the base of the legs of the furniture in such a manner that the wheels engage the lowermost portion of the legs and are rotatable with respect thereto.

Abstract: An apparatus for securing an adjusting screw having a nut thereon to an hollow leg of a scaffolding frame to prevent loss of the adjusting screw when the scaffolding frame is tilted or raised. The apparatus includes a swivel that allows turning of the handle nut while the adjusting screw remains secured to the leg of the scaffolding frame.

Abstract: An assembly for detachably mounting a caster wheel to the underside of a structure such as a chair or cabinet. The assembly includes a mounting bracket which is secured to the structure and has transverse mounting slots formed in a parallel, spaced apart arrangement therein. A caster plate having a caster wheel mounted thereto is detachably secured to the bracket by depending flange members which cooperate with the mounting slots of the bracket. A mounting bolt is utilized to prevent subsequent detachment of the caster plate from the bracket once assembly is completed. The mounting bracket forms a channel and may extend along the entire width or length of the structure such that more than one caster can be mounted to the bracket.

Abstract: Casters are detachably mounted upon the underside of the molded plastic frame of a dolly by the use of a single bolt. The caster is provided with a flat, horizontally disposed mounting plate which underlies and bears against a horizontal surface on the bottom of the frame enclosed within a peripheral sidewall integral with and projecting downwardly from the frame. The mounting plate can be vertically moved into face-to-face engagement with the horizontal surface on the frame when in a first angular orientation and then rotated about a vertical axis to a second angular orientation in which webs on the sidewall spaced below the horizontal surface underlie portions of the plate to retain it against vertical separation from the frame. A single bolt detachably retains the plate against rotation from this last position.

Abstract: The assembly comprises a flat pallet of extended surface area and a plurality of knock-off caster devices of improved type releasably secured to the pallet. Each caster device includes upper and lower horizontal plates joined at one end by a vertical web to form a sleeve in which an edge or end of the pallet is releasably secured by anchoring spikes, nuts or the like. A caster bracket is secured to the underside of the lower plate and a rotatable caster depends therefrom. A flange, detent or the like is provided to facilitate knock-off of the caster device from the pallet when the device is no longer needed. Preferably, the caster device is adjustable in plate length, sleeve height and/or caster position. The device may include a type which has a pair of casters, brackets and sleeves on opposite ends of the lower plate, which is adjustable to span the pallet. In a second type, the lower plate spans the pallet and has an upturned end abutting the pallet end and bearing a flange.

Abstract: An auxiliary mobility guide adapted to be mounted on the tip end of a cane for a sightloss person is disclosed. The mobility guide includes a frame with at least one C bracket, each C bracket having two horizontal legs connected by a vertical leg. An arm projects upwardly from the top of the vertical leg, thereby forming an inclined plane approximately equal to that plane at which sightloss users place a guide cane with respect to the ground. A bracket mounted on the arm's upper side is adapted to adjustably overfit the tip end of a cane. One freely swiveling and rollable wheel assembly is adapted to be received and retained by each C bracket. The assembly's wheel fits freely below the frame's lower horizontal leg.

Abstract: A caster which includes a neck at its top portion and a support at its lower portion to which a wheel is rotatably connected. About the neck are a ball bearing retaining plate and a top plate above and releasably secured to the ball bearing retaining plate. Within the plates and about the neck is a completely enclosed raceway which encapsulates thrust ball bearings. The top plate can readily be removed from the ball bearing plate to permit inspection, cleaning, modification, repair and replacement of components of the casters.

Abstract: A device for mounting a wheel to a vehicle having a housing for an axle, the device including a shaft, the shaft having a first end insertable into the housing and comprising a device for frictionally engaging an inner wall of the housing, a second end of the shaft comprising a support for mounting a wheel thereon. In one preferred embodiment, the frictional engaging device is threadably received on the first end of the shaft for expanding into contact with the inner wall of the housing in response to rotation of the shaft in a first direction and for contracting in response to rotation of the shaft in a second direction. In an alternate embodiment, the device comprises a disk mounted on the end of the shaft and adapted to come into frictional engagement with the inner wall of the housing by the weight of the vehicle.

Abstract: Front wheel assemblies for use with wheelchairs of the type having a main frame and large diameter rear wheels and a seat structure thereon. The front wheel assemblies are highly effective in that they permit a quick release of the front wheel for easy and quick removal of the front wheel and easy and quick replacement of a front wheel. The front wheel assemblies are designed so that the trailing angle of the front wheel relative to the ground or supporting surface can be varied and further, a locking mechanism is provided for temporarily locking the front wheels in a selected position.

Abstract: A detachable luggage-supporting, ground-engaging convertible accessory unit comprises a base member and at least one slide member which is guided for sliding movement on the base member. The base member is secured to a piece of luggage. A caster roller device is mounted on one slide member to form a caster roller assembly. A runner skid is connected to another slide member to form a skid-type runner assembly. A cantilever leaf spring on the base member snappingly engages each slide member for interconnecting the base member and the respective slide member with snap-type action. An access opening is formed on each slide member to expose the spring to permit a disassembly tool to remove the slide member from the base member, to thereby effect the rapid interchange of one caster roller assembly for another, or for the skid-type runner assembly. The slide member covers the spring except at the access opening so that the members are not readily detachable during luggage transport.

Abstract: A set of four corner members adapted to receive the four corners of a piece of stiff-sided luggage which lie in a single plane, each of the members being interconnected with its adjacent corner member by elongated elastic members which hold the corner members in position with respect to the luggage and with respect to each corner member.

Abstract: A wheel mechanism for mounting beneath a container to allow the container to be moved comprises a ground-engaging device such as a wheel or roller assembly swivelably connected to a locking and locating device. The locking and locating device may include a rod and lug or two plates which engage in the bottom of the container to lock the wheel mechanism beneath the container.

Abstract: A luggage case is disclosed that includes a roller assembly that is detachably secured to a section of the luggage case, wherein a roller engages a surface to enable the luggage case to be conveniently rolled thereover. The roller assembly is mounted such that it cannot be accidentally dislodged, even when the roller abruptly contacts an obstruction such as a rut, rock or curb.

Abstract: A support assembly for luggage comprises a base plate adapted to be attac to a suitcase, for example, and a support unit, including a caster or runner, that is removably attached to the base plate. The base plate has opposed channels along its longitudinal edges into which the support unit is inserted longitudinally. A stop at the trailing end of the support unit limits insertion of the support unit into the channels, and a latch at the leading end of the support unit prevents unintentional withdrawal of the support unit from the channels.

Abstract: A caster pad permanently attachable to the underside of a receptacle to permit a caster to be quickly mounted to the receptacle by insertion into the caster pad and to be quickly removed from the receptacle by releasing it from the caster pad. In one embodiment, the caster pad employs no specialized parts but instead is formed from a single piece of sheet metal to which standard bolts are affixed for locking the caster into the caster pad. In addition to the bolts, the caster pad consists of a unitary piece of metal whose edges are bent out of the plane of its flat central portion to form flanges which help to retain the caster and which include threaded holes for attaching the bolts.

Abstract: A bracket has symmetrical halves having indentations formed therein for accommodating the runner of a sled. The halves have transverse bores formed therethrough for accommodating a bolt for affixing them to each other on opposite sides of the runner. The lower parts of the halves are spaced from each other for rotatably accommodating a roller therebetween.

Abstract: A wheel connection to a receptacle having a bottom wall and a bead projecting downwardly below the level of said bottom wall, comprises:(a) a wheel carrier adapted to extend at the outer side of the bead,(b) means on the carrier including an L-shaped bracket having a vertical leg, and an adjustable threaded fastener, for releasably retaining the bead between the vertical leg and the carrier, the bracket having an upper horizontal leg to extend in supporting relation directly beneath the receptacle bottom wall, and(c) the carrier defining a laterally presented shoulder for engagement with the outer side of the receptacle at a location above the level of the bracket and bead.

Abstract: A wheel assembly is detachably connected to a mounting plate assembly that s attached to a corner of a luggage case. One assembly has a latch member resiliently urged into overlying relationship with an aperture that receives a tab on the other assembly, such tab having a cam surface that engages and displaces the latch member as the assemblies are being brought together, and a notch within which the latch member snaps after the assemblies are brought together thereby detachably retaining the one assembly to the other. An extension on the latch member is manually accessible allowing it to be manually displaced out of the notch to detach the assemblies.

Abstract: Support accessories for luggage which make possible the alternative use of conventional supporting cleats and rollers, depending upon the desires of the user. Retainers of molded plastic are affixed to the luggage for interchangeably accommodating plates bearing feet or bumpers, if a conventional bearing support is desired, or optionally plates of the same dimensions bearing wheeled rollers, if luggage having a rolling capability is desired. The base plates of the retainers are provided with integrally molded projections and a medial recess therebetween to retain the detachable plates more securely while in operation and to facilitate the detachment thereof when a change is to be made.

Abstract: A castor for an article of furniture which comprises a connecting member connected to the article and having a cylindrical portion at the lower side thereof, a wheel having a pair of shafts projecting from both sides thereof, a main body having a generally tubular portion fitted rotatably to the cylindrical portion of the connecting member and an arc-shaped wheel-accommodating-and-bearing portion connected to the tubular portion and having arc-shaped side walls which receive the shafts of the wheel and having at the lower sides thereof resilient portions for preventing slip-off of the wheel.

Abstract: The runner of a luggage case or the like provides a stud having shoulders engageable by a spring clip or slidable bolt member in a caster for enabling attachment of the caster to the runner.

Abstract: A detachable luggage caster roller unit comprising a caster roller which is swivelly supported by a base plate and a separate seat adapted to be secured to a bottom or lateral end of the luggage to receive and anchor the base plate of the caster roller. The seat for anchoring the caster roller comprises a substantially rectangular plate of a predetermined thickness having a cavity with two symmetrical grooves adapted to embrace the opposite sides of the base plate. The cavity at its bottom is provided with two symmetrical slits to form a resilient tongue with a weir positioned in an outer end thereof and adapted to prevent the base plate of the caster roller unit from slipping out the seat.