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:
Jan. 11, 1994
Filed:
Jun. 22, 1992
Michael H Estkowski, St. Joseph, MI (US);
Christopher F Estkowski, St. Joseph, MI (US);
Shepherd Products U.S., Inc., St. Joseph, MI (US);
Abstract
A roller mechanism for supporting an article on a support surface for selective movement thereon. The roller mechanism including a support member rotatably connected to the article to be supported, a bearing for providing antifriction rotation between the support member and the article to be supported, an axle or axles connected to the support member, and a plurality of roller elements mounted about the support member in a generally circular pattern, each roller element being independently rotatable about an axle. The roller mechanism may be selectively pivotal between a first position in which the support member and axle are inclined at an acute angle to the support surface such that less than all of the roller elements are in engagement with the support surface, whereby the roller mechanism is capable of moving in any direction along the support surface, and a second position in which the support member and the axle are substantially parallel to the support surface such that substantially all of the roller elements are in engagement with the support surface, whereby movement of the roller mechanism in any direction along the support surface is inhibited.