Abstract: The invention provides a caster having a wheel and a wheel lock assembly that is configured to lock the wheel against rotation about a first axis. The wheel lock assembly allows the caster to move between a locked configuration, in which the wheel is engaged by a detent of the wheel lock assembly, and an unlocked configuration, in which the detent is spaced from the wheel. In certain embodiments, the caster moves between its locked and unlocked configurations in response to rotation of a rotatable cam. Other embodiments provide a wheel lock assembly including a rotatable track wall, which comprises a generally cylindrical wall configured to rotate about a second axis. In such embodiments, the caster is configured such that the rotatable track wall rotates about the second axis when the caster moves between locked and unlocked configurations.

Abstract: The invention provides a caster including two wheels, a central frame member, and a mount member. The two wheels are mounted on the mount member. The caster has a hybrid bearing arrangement comprising both a rolling bearing and two slide bearings. The rolling bearing is located between the central frame member and the mount member and is configured to enable the caster to roll along a straight line with each of the two wheels rotating in a common direction about a first axis. Each of the two slide bearings is located between the mount member and a tread portion of a respective one of the two wheels. The slide bearings are configured to enable the two wheels to simultaneously rotate in opposite directions when the caster swivels about a second axis orthogonal to the first axis. In some embodiments, the caster is a hubless caster.

Abstract: A bearing pusher assembly for moving product in a channel of a product display apparatus. The product display apparatus can have a tray component and a spring, the bearing pusher assembly to be coupled with the spring and moveable with respect to the tray component. The spring provides a resilience force to the tray component and the bearing pusher assembly upon deformation. The bearing pusher assembly includes a pusher body, an axle coupled to the pusher body, and a ball bearing coupled to the axle and rotatably moveable with respect to the tray component. Also disclosed is a product display apparatus including the bearing pusher assembly.

Abstract: A horn for a shopping cart includes a base plate and a pair of legs extending downwardly away from the base plate and opposed to one another. Each leg includes a first end connected to the base plate, an opposed second end, a central portion positioned between the first end and the second end, a first aperture, and a second aperture, with the first and second apertures being vertically aligned with one another and positioned proximate the second end.

Abstract: Protective systems (1000) for a luggage piece (100) may include a deformable body (1002) and a cover (1004). The cover (1004) may be configured to overlie and to be coupled with the deformable body (1002). The cover (1004) may be more rigid than the deformable body (1002). The deformable body (1002) may include an interior shape (1034) at least partially complementary to a recess (1003) formed in an exterior surface (101) of the luggage piece (100). The deformable body (1002) may be joined to the luggage piece (100) when positioned at least partially in the recess (1003). External impacts exerted on the cover (1004) may be transmitted across the cover (1004) such that the forces associated with such external impacts may be exerted on the deformable body (1002) across a larger surface area than a surface area of the cover (1004) receiving the external impacts and may be at least partially absorbed by the deformable body (1002).

Abstract: A wheel housing (340) for a luggage case may include first and second pieces (342, 344) pivotally joined together. At least one of the first and second pieces (342, 344) supports an axle (346) that supports a wheel (348). The first piece (342) includes a surface that conforms to a first surface portion of the luggage case (100, 300), and the second piece (344) includes a surface that conforms to a second surface portion of the luggage case (100, 300). The wheel housing (340) may advantageously be coupled to a luggage case (100, 300). The first piece of (342) the wheel housing (340) may be operatively coupled to a first support portion of the luggage case (100, 300), and the second piece (344) of the wheel housing (340) may be coupled to a second support portion of the luggage case (100, 300). The first and second support portions of the luggage case (100, 300) may be defined by a single sheet of material in some examples.

Abstract: A castor for a suitcase includes a fixed seat, a wheel support, a hollow axle, two roller modules, and two caps. The fixed seat is mounted on a suitcase. The wheel support is mounted on the fixed seat and provided with two ears each having a transverse axle hole provided with a plurality of locking grooves. The hollow axle extends through the transverse axle hole of each of the two ears. The roller modules are mounted on the hollow axle and arranged between the ears. Each of the caps is provided with a plurality of locking hooks locked into the locking grooves of the transverse axle hole of one of the ears. Thus, when one of the roller modules cannot be rotated, the other one of the roller modules can be rotated freely.

Abstract: A castor assembly comprising a base plate, a wheel assembly extending from base plate, a vertical support member plate, a vertical retaining member, a retaining bolt, and a horizontal retaining member. The vertical support member has a pair of vertically spaced slots. The horizontal retaining member extends from the retaining bolt and is movable along the retaining bolt in a way that the horizontal retaining member is positionable between an open position, a first closed position wherein the horizontal retaining member is disposed in the first slot to retain an object having a first size in the object receiving space, and a second closed position wherein the horizontal retaining is disposed in the second slot to retain another object having a second size that is different from the first size in the object receiving space.

Abstract: In various embodiments, a caster assembly may include a wheel rotatably coupled to a caster housing and a deflector tab pivotably coupled to the caster housing and offset from an outer wheel circumference for use in moving or traversing obstacles encountered during wheel movement. In some embodiments, the deflector tab may include at least one retaining element configured to hold the deflector tab in a pusher position or allow movement of the deflector tab into a ramp position. In the pusher position, the deflector tab may push a mobile obstacle in front of the wheel motion. In the ramp position, the deflector tab may facilitate moving the wheels over a fixed obstacle.

Abstract: An arrangement for supporting a wheel for rotation about an axis, comprising a wheel carrier part having an at least partially annular carrier formation extending therefrom generally in the direction of the axis, a wheel encircling at least part of the carrier formation and a retaining member releasably engaging the carrier part and affording a bearing surface with which a complementary bearing surface of the wheel co-operates to support the wheel for said rotation.

Abstract: A caster wheel system comprising an axle assembly, wheel fork assembly and pivot block assembly. The axle assembly operationally couples the system to a vehicle, the wheel fork assembly includes a wheel rotatably coupled to a wheel fork member, the pivot block provides a coupling interface between the axle assembly and the wheel fork assembly, the pivot block assembly also has a bumper which acts to inhibit flutter and allow the wheel fork assembly to pivot slightly backwards when sufficient weight is applied to inhibit tipping where only three wheels of a four wheel system contact the ground, thereby allowing all wheels to contact the ground during operation.

Abstract: A self-orienting caster for pieces of furniture and the like, comprising at least one wheel which is supported so that it can rotate about a horizontal axis by a supporting structure which has a vertical cylindrical recess which is open upward and is axially offset with respect to said horizontal axis and constitutes said seat in which a pivot for the pivoting of the caster can rotate, the pivot being insertable in a receptacle of the piece of furniture onto which the caster is to be fitted, the supporting structure comprising two mutually opposite annular flanges, which form respective circular and coaxial holes, a tubular body whose opposite ends are rigidly coupled to the inner edges of the holes and form externally, between the flanges, a rolling track for a supporting bearing for the wheel, respective extensions being monolithically rigidly coupled to the flanges and being mutually associable so as to form the seat which is designed to receive the pivot for the pivoting of the wheel.

Abstract: An electronic device includes a body with a slide member, a supporter connected to the slide member to support the body placed on a plane, and a fastener combining the supporter and the slide member to make the supporter locate at a first position of the slide member. When the body is applied a force, the supporter moves along the slide rod to locate at a second position to adjust an angle between the body and the plane.

Abstract: To provide a game system that makes players' play order comply with a predetermined rule but nevertheless allows, with appropriate measure, any delaying player to join the game, each terminal device constituting the system stores in a storage unit game's stage/delay information regarding all players including players operating other terminal devices, a stage updating unit updates the storage unit based on an operation entry accepted by an operation entry unit from an owner player as a play determining unit determines that the owner player's turn has come, and an operation entry received by an operation receiving unit from any other terminal device, and a delay updating unit updates the storage unit when an abort entry unit accepts an abort entry from the player or an abort notification is received, or updates delay information when stage information is updated.

Abstract: A roller support assembly is used to support sliding doors, windows or the like. The assembly includes a housing member having spaced apart side walls and interconnecting transverse walls defining a roller receiving zone for receiving and operationally mounting a roller assembly. The roller assembly has a roller body with a rolling peripheral rim and a shaft whereby the roller body is rotatable relative to the shaft having short stub axle parts. The housing side walls including openings that are fully enclosed by the side walls into which the short stub axle parts fit. The housing side walls further include projecting elements extending inwardly from an inner surface of a housing side wall to cooperate with the corresponding roller body side wall surfaces to spay the housing side walls apart as the roller assembly is moved into the roller receiving zone to locate the stub axle parts in the openings.

Abstract: A charm clasp having a torus shape and formed as two pivotally connected arcuate parts which are adapted to encircle and releasably attach to a segment of a necklace formed as a strand of pearls, this clasp including an eyelet for attachment of a charm thereto.

Abstract: A height adjusting device includes an attachment bolt, an adjuster, a female screw portion, and a circular groove. The adjuster includes a flange portion operable from an outside and is fixed to the attachment bolt so as to be rotatable integrally with the attachment bolt. The female screw portion is formed in a piece of furniture. The attachment bolt is screwable into the female screw portion. A circular groove is formed around the female screw portion. The adjuster includes a brake portion protruding from the flange portion in a rotation axis direction of the adjuster. When inserted into the circular groove, the brake portion abuts a wall surface of the circular groove and is at least partially deformed thereby to bias the wall surface, resulting in suppression of rotation of the adjuster.

Abstract: A student desk includes a base that supports a seat and a worksurface. The base includes transverse front and rear base members, with a central base member extending therebetween. A worksurface support and a seat support are mounted to and extend upwardly from the base, and the worksurface and seat are mounted to the worksurface and seat supports, respectively, so as to be adjustable in elevation. Casters are mounted to the front and rear transverse base members to facilitate movement of the desk on a support surface such as a floor. Certain of the casters may be constructed so as to lock in position when the desk is occupied. The seat includes a handle area, so that the desk can be quickly and easily repositioned in a classroom with minimal effort.

Abstract: A caster assembly is provided for supporting an object. The caster assembly includes a generally triangular landing for receiving the object thereon. The landing lies in a first plane. The caster assembly also includes first and second legs that lie in a second plane generally parallel to the first plane. The first and second legs are vertically spaced from the landing and each leg includes an upper surface and a lower surface. A first plurality of wheel assemblies are interconnected to the lower surface of the first leg and a second plurality of wheel assemblies are interconnected to the lower surface of the second leg.

Abstract: A bracket for temporarily attaching wheels and/or casters to objects at a variety of angles includes a horizontal member for supporting an object on an upper surface and for mounting a wheel or caster on a lower surface; and an attached substantially vertical side member for supporting an object along an inner surface wherein joint between said horizontal member and said substantially vertical side member is formed at an angle conforming to object to which bracket attaches and wherein said substantially vertical side member includes a vertical surface on its outer surface for accepting a wheel axle.

Abstract: The present inventions provides a directing device for controlling the orientation of a ball launching device, comprising a first member, a second member pivotally attached to the first member, and a third member disposed substantially parallel to the second member, rotatably connected to the second member and operably configured to receive the ball launching device. The device further includes a first actuator connected to the first and second members and, a second actuator connected to the first and third members. When the first actuator is actuated the second member pivots relative to the first member, and when the second actuator is actuated the third member rotates relative to the second member. This invention also provides an automatic ball throwing device having the directing device of this invention and a method of converting a pitching machine into the same. This invention further provides a hopper for use with the directing device.

Abstract: An independently rotating, split tread wheel assembly includes a pair of disks each having an outer tread formed of rubber or polyurethane compounds and supported on the periphery thereof. Each disk includes a central opening that receives a ball bearing assembly. A pair of hub inserts have central annular surfaces in adjacent relationship. A cylindrical spacer extends about the central annular surfaces and supports the inner races of the bearing assemblies so that the two disks turn independently about the hub inserts on their respective bearing assemblies. A pair of spaced apart caster bracket arms straddle the wheel assembly and impinge on the opposed outer surfaces of the hub inserts. An axle extends through aligned holes in the arms and through central bores in the hub inserts, and is secured thereto.

Abstract: A swivel caster assembly has a molded plastic caster horn with an upwardly opening socket receiving a connector stem, the portion thereof above the caster horn having either a plate, a threaded post, or a smooth post with a retaining ring, for connection to an object to be supported by the caster. The caster horn and the received stem portions of the various connectors are the same, so the same horn can receive any type of connector. The horn is shaped to receive locking features for wheel, swivel, both wheel and swivel, or simply a snap-in cover where no locking feature is desired.

Abstract: A plastic caster has two legs for mounting a wheel(s) and a fork assembly with a bearing housing portion formed around a bearing assembly with inner and outer ring-shaped raceways and bearings evenly dispersed in a cage between the inner and outer raceways. A top-plate has an extension which extension engages the inner raceway permitting the top plate and fork assembly to independently rotate about the second axis. A retention plug is mated with an opening in the extension preventing disengagement of the top-plate from the inner raceway thereby securely attaching the top-plate to the inner raceway.

Abstract: The necessity for spontaneously transmitting each individual wager from a remote terminal or terminals to a host computer in a computerized lottery system is completely eliminated. As a result, the total amount of data transmitted between the remote terminals and the host computer is substantially reduced. This reduces the consequent cost of transmission and enhances the number of economically viable transmission alternatives. A total number of sequential plays is conveyed from the remote terminal or terminals to the host computer. Pseudo-random wager numbers and serial numbers associated with each of the plays is reconstructed at the host computer from the total number of sequential plays. The reduced data exchange facilitates novel methods of data transfer, such as satellite packet transmission and cellular service.

Abstract: A portable picnic table comprising a tabletop with a first pair of legs extending downwardly from a first end of the tabletop at an angle and a second pair of legs extending downwardly from a second end of the tabletop at the same angle as the first pair of legs. Structures on the outer side faces near bottom ends of the first pair of legs are for rolling the first pair of legs along the ground, when the second end of the tabletop is lifted up by the hands of a person and then pushed by the hands of the person. Elements on the bottom ends of the second pair of legs are for raising the second pair of legs off the ground when at rest, to compensate for the rolling structures on the first pair of legs, so as to maintain the tabletop in a true horizontal level position.

Abstract: A movable platform or dolly for supporting heavy equipment in which the dolly rolls on tracks. Track sections are located under the dolly and additional sections can be attached to extend the track.

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 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: An adjustable roller assembly for supporting and leveling an appliance including a rail secured to the appliance and having a keyhole opening with a horizontal stationary base frame secured to the rail. A bracket having a bottom end is pivotally secured to the base frame and the top end of the bracket has a threaded nut spaced from the keyhole opening in the rail. A roller is rotatably secured to the bottom end of the bracket and is movable up and down relative to the stationary base frame in response to pivotal movement of the bracket. A horizontally disposed bolt having a head portion, a shank portion, a threaded portion, and an unthreaded terminal end portion is provided with the shank portion passing through the keyhole opening in the rail. The head portion is located on one side of the rail, and the threaded portion on the opposite side of the rail and threadingly engages the nut.

Abstract: A castor body comprises integral upper and lower parts (15,21) which can undergo limited relative vertical movement by flexing of arms (25) and (26) of the body. An axle (11) for wheels of the castor is carried in the lower body part and the upper body part has braking elements (27,28) with which the wheels engage when the upper body part is moved upwardly by a spring (24) acting between the body parts.

Abstract: A gas-insulated transmission line includes a cylindrical outer sheath, an inner conductor within the outer sheath, an insulating gas, and support insulators for insulatably supporting the inner conductor within the outer sheath. The support insulators have a pair of circumferentially spaced apart openings therein, and a wheel assembly is disposed within each of the support insulator openings. Each wheel assembly includes a rotatable wheel which extends outwardly of the support insulator opening and contacts the outer sheath. With such an arrangement, insertion or movement of the inner conductor within the outer sheath is done on wheels instead of with a sliding motion to thereby minimize the generation of conducting contamination particles.