The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Apr. 09, 1985
Filed:
Sep. 30, 1982
James W Keane, Ramsey County, MN (US);
Whirlpool Corporation, Benton Harbor, MI (US);
Abstract
A swivel caster structure having a base arranged for swivel mounting to a mounting portion of a device to be carried thereby. The base rotatively carries a caster wheel. A force transfer element is carried by the base for transmitting an overlying load vertically downwardly directly toward the caster wheel mounting axis. In one form, the force transfer element is a roller having an axis of rotation inclined to the horizontal and defining a peripheral frustoconical surface extending at the same angle to the axis of the roller so as to have rolling line contact with the superjacent housing wall in transferring the load downwardly to the roller. In another form, the force transfer element is a fixed bearing mounted in a suitable recess in the caster base and having a segmentally cylindrical surface having a sliding line contact with the superjacent housing wall. The swivel caster structure is preferably formed of molded synthetic resin having low surface friction for improved swiveling caster operation.