Abstract: A shock absorbing caster including a wheel positioned between a yoke member and a cap member disposed over the yoke member, the cap member being pivotally secured to the yoke member to permit limited rotational movement therebetween. A shock pad of elastomeric material is positioned between the yoke member and the cap member for resiliently cushioning the pivotal rotational movement between the yoke and cap members. A bolt secures the shock pad to the cap member to limit the rotational movement between the yoke and cap members. The rear portion of the shock pad is vertically spaced from the cap member to provide a rear opening to allow cleaning thereof and prevent collection of water therein.

Abstract: A spring member comprises an annular polymeric structure 1 interrupted by gap 3 to define annular structure ends 4 provided with attachment adaptions, external at 8 and internal at 6. Thus wheel 12 journalled at 7 in extension 6 is resiliently mounted by virtue of the elasticity of the annular structure material. Proportions, dimensions and materials can be varied over a wide range of applications. A particularly valuable application of such a C-shape spring is in the provision of a resiliently mounted castor wheel with a resiliently mounted pilot wheel giving easy passage up over a door sill or the like.

Abstract: A wheel bracket assembly includes an upper bracket having two spaced downwardly extending side flanges and a wheel carrying bracket pivotally supported between the upper bracket side flanges for pivotal movement about an axis. The second bracket has a generally horizontal top plate with a transverse, upwardly facing, concave groove and has side flanges which extend downwardly from opposite sides of the top plate and are adapted to pivotally support a wheel therebetween. Pivotal movement of the wheel carrying bracket in one direction is resisted by a resilient element which has one end engaging the top plate at a location within the groove, which extends away from such location approximately along the path of movement of the location about the pivot axis, which tapers in thickness toward such end, which has a semicylindrical head at the opposite end, and which has a transverse groove on each side thereof adjacent the head.

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: The improved shock-absorbing wheel suspension assembly of the present invention comprises a rigid yoke having a generally upstanding neck and a pair of downwardly diverging hollow tubular sleeves connected to the lower end of the neck, both sleeves being directed either rearwardly or forwardly relative to the neck. A pair of flexible resilient lever support arms are provided which have their upper ends extending into the sleeves. Their middle portions are generally parallel to each other and extend downwardly and in the same rearward or forward direction as the sleeves. The lower ends of the arms are angled to approximate each other in an about horizontal plane and are secured in the central hub of a wheel disposed therebetween. Thus, the wheel is disposed rearwardly or forwardly of the yoke and is adapted for rotation on an axle formed by the lower ends of the arms. The neck is connected to an upwardly extending stem, in turn connectable to the underside of the body of a vehicle or the like.

Abstract: A single wheel support for a vehicle-towed trailer. The support includes a swivel plate mounted on the trailer for swiveling about an upright axis. An elongate arm assembly is mounted adjacent one of its ends on the swivel plate for swinging about a horizontal swing axis. The wheel in the support is rotatably mounted on the other end of the assembly rearwardly of the swing axis. The arm assembly is biased in a direction opposing the weight of the trailer by a coiled spring compressibly interposed between the plate and a back region of the arm assembly, and by a coiled spring under tension interposed between the plate and a front region of the assembly.

Abstract: A shock resistant caster assembly having a wheel positioned in a housing formed of at least two sections vertically displaceable with respect to each other, one of the housing sections being coupled to the wheel at its rotational axis. A shock pad of elastomeric material is positioned between the housing sections for resiliently cushioning the vertical displacement between the housing sections.

Abstract: The forward castor wheels for wheelchairs are each provided with shock absorbing leaf springs concealed within the fork frame structure rotatably mounting the wheels. The normal swivel shaft rather than connecting directly to the fork frame passes through an enlarged opening in the upper portion of the frame and terminates in a cross member pivoted to the upper portions of the fork arms so that the fork frame and wheel can execute slight rocking movements relative to the swivel shaft. The leaf springs pass down inside the fork arms, the upper ends of the leaf springs being secured to the cross member and the lower ends bearing against inwardly directed projections on the inside of the fork arms to bias the fork relative to the swivel shaft. The leaf springs will absorb shocks experienced by the castor wheels such as occur when passing over cracks in sidewalks and the like to thereby greatly increase the riding comfort of the wheelchair.

Abstract: A caster assembly comprising an outer part for attachment of the assembly to a structure to be mobilized, said outer part having spaced parallel side walls, an inner part having spaced parallel side walls nested within the outer part with its side walls spaced from and parallel to the side walls of the outer part, wheel supporting legs to which a wheel is journaled, pins rotatably supporting the wheel supporting legs between the side walls of the inner and outer parts and elastically resilient members connecting the wheel supporting legs to the spaced parallel walls of the inner and outer parts in areas centered about the axes of the pins, said elastically resilient members being elastically deformable in torsion.

Abstract: This specification discloses a resilient wheel suspension wherein a wheel is rotationally mounted upon an axle and the axle is resiliently suspended with respect to a mounting plate. The resilient suspension includes an elastomer disk which is coupled along one major surface to the axle and along the other major surface to the mounting plate. Lateral movement of the axle causes a shear to be applied in the elastomer disk. The suspension can have nonlinear characteristics by having a plurality of elastomer disks and metal disks with central openings for passing the axle and successively coupled to adjacent disks between a coupling to the axle and a coupling to the mounting plate. The size of the opening diameter increases in successive disks going from the disk adjacent to the axle to the disk adjacent to the mounting plate.

Abstract: A spring loaded, adjustable caster is disclosed which is used in combination with a rolling ladder. The adjustable caster comprises a wheel, a wheel mount for mounting the wheel, a longitudinal adjustable shank including a connecting rod having a threaded bore and a threaded shaft disposed in screwthreaded engagement with each other, whereby the length of the longitudinal adjustable shank may be varied. A jam nut is disposed in threadingly fitted engagement on the threaded shaft intermediate to the connecting rod and the wheel mount, whereby the jam nut may be rotated into a biasing relationship to the connecting rod. The caster further includes a sleeve adapted for sliding support of the connecting rod and with a spring disposed within the sleeve to provide a compressed relationship between the sleeve and the connecting rod. The sleeve is then mounted on a rolling ladder.

Abstract: A safety stand for a trailer including a portable pedestal supported by a plurality of spring biased casters and have a top wall for supporting the nose of the trailer and provided with a recess for receiving the king-pin of the trailer.

Abstract: A spring compressing tool including a plate having three spaced holes therein. A center hole is provided to allow access to the locking nut of the caster assembly and two other holes in the plate are in alignment with two already available holes in the caster flange. Two elongated threaded studs extend through the aligned holes in the plate and flange elements with nuts engaging the threaded portions above the plate and below the flange holding the spring compressed and the outer and inner cylinders in a fixed relative position while the locking nut of the caster is removed. Loosening of the nuts on the elongated studs allows the outer cylinder to move upward causing the pressure on the caster spring to be relived gradually until the spring is fully expanded and can be safely removed. The spring is replaced in the caster assembly by reversing the procedure outlined.

Abstract: A device for controlling the movement of a door has a pinion rotatably connected to the door, a rack meshingly engaging with the pinion and connected to a spring device for storing a force therein when the door is moved from its neutral position, and an engaging member resiliently engaging with the rack to restrain the movement of the door when the door is moved a predetermined amount from the neutral position.

Abstract: A retractable castor mechanism for attachment to an article of furniture or other heavy object including a castor shank that is rotatably received by a socket of a retaining member. A mainspring biases the retaining member and the castor downwardly, and a latch pin is engageable with the retaining member to latch the castor against the force of the spring in an inoperative retracted position. The latch is operated by a releasing lever having a foot portion that rests against the floor, so that a slight push of the article across the floor causes the latch pin to disengage the retaining member, allowing the castor to descend to an operative position.