Abstract: A handcart caster is provided with a bracket and a rolling wheel component disposed on a lower end of the bracket; a radial directional convex part disposed on an upper part of the bracket; a rolling bearing disposed in a cavity of the radial directional convex part, the rolling bearing including an outer ring of a bearing, an inner ring of the bearing, a plurality of steel balls disposed between the outer ring of the bearing and the inner ring of the bearing, and two-layer grooves disposed on surfaces of the outer ring of the bearing and the inner ring of the bearing facing each other wherein the steel balls are disposed in the two-layer grooves, the cage is disposed outside of the steel balls; and convex ridges for fixing the outer ring of the bearing disposed on an inner wall of the radial directional convex part.

Abstract: A pintle assembly for use in conjunction with a caster wheel assembly. The pintle assembly includes an inner tube and sleeve that is overmolded to and round the inner tube. The inner tube may include grooves to aid in securing sleeve. The sleeve includes a tapered annular channel near the top portion of the pintle, such that a slide ring may be inserted into the tapered annular channel to secure the pintle assembly into a mounting tube through frictional engagement of the slip ring with both the over-molded sleeve and the mounting tube.

Abstract: A castor includes a castor body, a first bushing mounted on a top of the castor body, a bearing mounted in the first bushing, a top cover mounted on the top of the castor body to cover the first bushing and the bearing, a second bushing mounted on a bottom of the castor body, and an upright shaft in turn extending through the top cover, the bearing, the castor body and the second bushing. Thus, the distance between the top cover and the second bushing is increased so that the bearing and the castor body can bear a heavier load. In addition, the distance between the top cover and the second bushing is increased so that the upright shaft and the second bushing can bear a greater rotational force.

Abstract: There is provided a caster device including a caster, a crank shaft, a rotating member, a pushing member and a connecting rod. The crank shaft is coaxially coupled to a reciprocatingly rotatable cam element of the caster. The rotating member is rotatably coupled to a movable object. The rotating member has a plurality of pins spaced apart from one another in a circumferential direction. The pushing member is vertically movably coupled to the movable object. The pushing member rotates the rotating member by contact with the pin. The connecting rod and the crank shaft convert a rotation of the rotating member to a reciprocating rotation of the cam element. The caster is set to one of a plurality of operating modes according to the reciprocating rotation of the cam element.

Abstract: An improved hubless castor wheel construction, particularly for a furniture article and the like, comprises a rotary element which is pivotably supported by a support element to be associated with a furniture article, said support element comprising two half-shells which can be coupled to locking means and are designed for defining an upright which can be engaged with connecting means to be connected to the furniture article, and an annular attachment for said rotary element.

Abstract: A wheel structure includes a central sleeve, a central controlling shaft joined to the central shaft, a wheel pivoting on an extension portion of the central shaft, and a braking unit; the central controlling shaft includes a controlling piece, and a connecting part for controlling the controlling piece; a position-limiting element is secured in the central sleeve, which is next to the controlling piece, and has a position-limiting hole having the same outline as the controlling piece; the braking unit is arranged in the central sleeve in a movable manner, and biased upwards by springs; the central controlling shaft is operable to change the wheel into first, second, and third configurations; in the first configuration, the wheel can move and turn left and right freely; in the second one, the wheel can only move in a direct course; in the third one, the wheel is immobile.

Abstract: Disclosed is a lightweight caster assembly and modular shelf system for use on an existing collapsible foldable cart with four wheels.

Abstract: A furniture glide is provided for mounting on a terminal end of a furniture leg. The furniture glide includes a slider having an upper surface and a generally arcuate lower surface for engaging a supporting surface. A generally tubular fastener extends from the upper surface of the slider and is receivable in the terminal end of the furniture leg for frictionally connecting the furniture glide to the furniture leg. A spacing element may be positioned on the upper surface of the slider for spacing the upper surface of the slider from the furniture leg.

Abstract: A self-orienting caster, constituted by at least one wheel, which can rotate on a shaft driven horizontally through the seat of a support provided with a vertical recess open upward and offset axially with respect to the shaft and in which a caster pivoting pivot rotates that is provided with first and second portions insertable in a seat of a furniture piece, the second portion having an end stem with reduced diameter forming a shoulder, a bush fixed axially on the stem and forming an annular groove for accommodating, without play, an elastic ring that presses by expanding against the wall of the recess.

Abstract: A photonic crystal device having a variable bandgap includes a periodic structural body including a plurality of separate dielectric members arranged at intervals. The dielectric members are formed of a high-dielectric material. A variable-dielectric-constant material whose dielectric constant is varied by an electric field is filled in the spaces between the dielectric members. Electrodes are also provided for applying an electric field to the variable-dielectric-constant material.

Abstract: A wheel of a rack consists of a wheel support, a sleeve inserted into a tube of a rack, a supporting member joined to both the sleeve and a top of the wheel support, and a screw projecting from the supporting member and screwed into the sleeve; a step-shaped portion being formed on top of the supporting member to fit with a cavity on the sleeve bottom; a resilient C-shaped ring being fitted around an annular groove of the sleeve to contact an inner side of the tube; the groove being shaped so that a sideways facing portion thereof tapers off towards a lower end; thus, the ring will move to the bigger upper section of the sideways facing annular portion to be pressed against the inner side of the tube with bigger pressure when a downward force is applied on the sleeve.

Abstract: A caster structure including a seat body, a linking member, a caster seat and a lower bearing cover. The linking member is integrally formed with an upper bearing cover. The seat body is formed with a differential fixing hole and the top of the linking member is formed with a fixing section. The shape of the cross-section of the fixing section is an internal tangential circle of the differential fixing hole. When the fixing section is passed through the fixing hole and compressed and fixedly riveted, the fixing section will form a differential section complementary to the fixing hole. Accordingly, the linking member is firmly connected with the seat body without rotation.

Abstract: A lightweight high capacity industrial caster which has three major parts, an upper assembly, a lower assembly, and a roller assembly. The upper assembly includes an upper plate with a first top surface and first bottom surface, the first bottom surface having a circular upper race groove within the plane of the upper plate, a kingpin having a top end and a bottom end, connected to the upper plate on the top end and extending downwardly away from the first bottom surface, the kingpin centered with respect to the circular upper race groove and an upper race insert carried in the upper race groove. The lower assembly includes a lower plate with a second top surface and second bottom surface, the second top surface having a circular lower race groove within the plane of the lower plate, a hole in the lower plate at the center of the circular lower race groove through which the kingpin extends, a lower race insert carried in the lower race groove, a first set of bearings carried in the lower race insert.

Abstract: A caster with a stem extending upwards from a base and defining a stem axis and wherein the stem has a hole having a circumference defined by an internal threading for fastening to a correspondingly externally threaded fastener; a bearing for interconnecting said base and said stem such that said base is free to rotate about said stem axis; wherein at least a part of the external surface of the upper end of said stem has a shape that inhibits rotation of the stem when inserted into a correspondingly shaped bore hole, wherein said shape is defined by a curved surface or planar surface or a combination thereof; and wherein the curve or planar surface does not intersect the circumference defined by the internal threading.

Abstract: A caster with a stem generally cylindrical over most of its external circumference, but provided with at least one flat face cut through the cylinder external circumference so as to provide the cylinder with a slight "D" shaped cross section. The stem is designed to seat in a corresponding "D" shaped bore hole of a mobile platform, the shapes cooperating to secure the stem against rotation. The stem is internally threaded, and can fit into either cylindrical or "D" shaped bore holes.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a caster includes the step of integrally forming a caster horn having a web portion with a bearing cup and a pair of opposed leg portions. The web portion and the leg portion define a U-shaped, wheel-accomodating space. The bearing cup is disposed on a surface of the web portion opposite from the U-shaped wheel-accommodating space. A first end of a stem is then pressed into a bearing assembly such that the stem is vertically rotatable with respect to the caster horn. The bearing assembly is seated in the bearing cup. The bearing assembly may be secured to the bearing cup by means of a retainer and a plurality of fasteners. The fasteners engage the caster horn, covering the bearing cup while allowing access to a second end of the stem. A wheel is rotatably supported within the U-shaped wheel-accommodating space.

Abstract: An all-plastic, swivel caster assembly has horn and stem molded as a homogeneous unit of plastic. A wheel of molded plastic or plastic-rubber combination, supports the assembly. In one version, the horn sidewalls have fingers forming keyhole-shaped slots receiving grooved end portions of a plastic axle borne by the wheel. The axle retaining fingers normally secure the axle in the horn, but are sufficiently resilient to enable intentional removal of the wheel and axle assembly from the horn without tools, for cleaning. In another version, the horn sidewalls have apertures receiving a plastic axle which has a head on one end and a circumferential groove at the other end. An axle cap located at the outside face of one horn sidewall has a slot received on the axle groove, and retains the axle in assembly. The cap has a detent boss received in a detent recess in the horn sidewall to keep the cap, and thereby the axle, in place.

Abstract: A mannequin having a plurality of body sections with each of the body sections being shaped in the form of a mannequin shape of a portion of an individual's body, and a plurality of hinge assemblies for interconnecting the body sections to form a mannequin shape of at least a portion of an individual. Each of the hinge assemblies is adjustable for adjusting the force required to hingedly move one of the body sections relative to the other body section connected thereto. In one embodiment, the hinge assemblies also include a portion for rotating one body section relative to the other body section connected thereto.

Abstract: A caster includes a U-shaped caster horn having a top web portion and two contiguous downwardly-extending leg portions to define a unitary, U-shaped member providing a wheel accommodating space. A wheel is rotatably supported in the space such that the caster horn partially covers the wheel, The caster horn features a fouling-resistant bearing cup integrally formed thereon for receiving and retaining a bearing assembly, which secures one end of an structure-supporting stem. A swivel cap with a hole formed in the center thereof is placed over the cup while allowing an opposite end of the stem to protrude therethrough. A brake mechanism supported by the caster horn may be operated to inhibit or prevent rotation of the wheel.

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 wheel caster frame for use in a wet/dry utility vacuum cleaner drum is disclosed. The wheel caster frame is an integral one-piece molded body which is constructed for complementary mounting relative to the bottom and curved outer side walls of the drum, for close fitting and underlying support of the caster wheel frame relative to the drum. The caster wheel frame further includes an upper wall surface having a pair of concentric cylindrical wall sections extending generally vertically upwardly therefrom for releasably receiving and storing vacuum cleaner wands and tubular attachments proximate to the wet/dry utility vacuum cleaner drum.

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 caster pintle as disclosed having a resilient high tensile strength metal core encapsulated in a molded plastic body having a groove containing a resiliently collapsible friction ring and means for centering the ring in the groove prior to assembly of the pintle with a complementary socket.

Abstract: A caster pintle as disclosed having a resilient high tensile strength metal core encapsulated in a molded plastic body having a groove containing a resiliently collapsible friction ring and ribs for centering the ring in the groove prior to assembly of the pintle with a complementary socket.

Abstract: A dual wheel caster assembly consisting of an arcuate central horn carrying an axle with projections on either side of the horn that rotatably receive wheels. The axle has recesses that receive annular projections on the wheels for the purpose of retaining the wheels in position.A vertical opening in the horn receives a vertical pintle having a portion projecting upwardly from the horn adapted to be received in an associated piece of furniture. This pintle has two spaced thrust surfaces, a lower one adapted to directly engage the plastic horn and the other one adapted to engage a one piece plastic bearing.The two thrust surfaces are spaced such that the lower thrust surface initially carries most of the load until a certain amount of wear causes the load to be distributed between the two thrust surfaces from the associated piece of furniture.