US3608693A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Rollers, particularly for shopping trolleys
Assignee: Tente Rollen GmbH and Co
•
Filing: 1969-04-10
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Granted: 1971-09-28
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Expires: 1989-04-10
Abstract
Abstract A roller for a shopping trolley comprises a wheel held rotatably in a fork and having at one side a sensing member which travels over the ground surface with the wheel. When the wheel runs onto a ribbed or grooved surface the sensing member is urged down into a groove, by gravity or by a spring, and in so doing locks the wheel against rotation. The locking of the wheel may be effected by a lug which either enters an aperture in a hub rim of the wheel or engages teeth on the hub. In an alternative the wheel is formed by two wheel discs with a sensing disc situated between them. The sensing disc has a locking cam which can engage a bore in a nonrotatable bearing sleeve of the wheel discs.
Inventors
- 👤 Herbert Stosberg
- 👤 Horst Fleishmann
- 👤 Gunter Reinhards
- 👤 Engel Siegfried
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 09:05
CPC Classifications
B; B62; B62B; B62B5/00; B62B5/04; B62B5/0404; B62B5/0428; B60; B60B; B60B33/00; B60B33/02; B60B33/021; B60B2200/00; B60B2200/40; B60B2200/43; B60B2200/432; B60B2900/00; B60B2900/20; B60B2900/211; B60B2900/50; B60B2900/511; B60B2900/5112; B60B2900/70; B60B2900/721; B62B5/049
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
199 words
A roller assembly, preferably a caster, for the entrainment or conveyance of movable appliances on ribbed or grooved conveyor tracks, in particular for shopping trolleys in self-service stores, which roller comprises a housing structure with at least one load-bearing running wheel rotatable on an axis in said housing structure to bear the load resting on the roller, securing means able to lock said load-bearing running wheel in relation to said housing structure against turning, which roller assembly comprises at least one sensing member operatively connected with said load-bearing running wheel through said securing means which is vertically movable in relation to said running wheel and which is downwardly biased to be constantly in contact with the supporting surface upon which the roller is supported, means to allow said sensing member to sink below the lowermost periphery of said load-bearing running wheel, and, if the roller contacts a groove of said conveyor track, for lowering such into said groove, and engaging means responsive to said vertical movement of said sensing member and, responsive to said lowering of said member, to actuate said securing means to stop said load-bearing running wheel from turning upon meeting the surface of said conveyor track.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
199 words
A roller assembly, preferably a caster, for the entrainment or conveyance of movable appliances on ribbed or grooved conveyor tracks, in particular for shopping trolleys in self-service stores, which roller comprises a housing structure with at least one load-bearing running wheel rotatable on an axis in said housing structure to bear the load resting on the roller, securing means able to lock said load-bearing running wheel in relation to said housing structure against turning, which roller assembly comprises at least one sensing member operatively connected with said load-bearing running wheel through said securing means which is vertically movable in relation to said running wheel and which is downwardly biased to be constantly in contact with the supporting surface upon which the roller is supported, means to allow said sensing member to sink below the lowermost periphery of said load-bearing running wheel, and, if the roller contacts a groove of said conveyor track, for lowering such into said groove, and engaging means responsive to said vertical movement of said sensing member and, responsive to said lowering of said member, to actuate said securing means to stop said load-bearing running wheel from turning upon meeting the surface of said conveyor track.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
49 words
A roller, preferably a caster, as claimed in claim 1, wherein the sensing member is arranged laterally to the running wheel. 3 A roller, preferably a caster, as claimed in claim 1, wherein there are two running wheels and wherein the sensing member is arranged between the two wheels.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
30 words
A roller, preferably a caster, as claimed in claim 1, a form supporting said running wheel and wherein said sensing member is arranged vertically movable on the running wheel fork.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
34 words
A roller, preferably a caster, as claimed in claim 1, including an axle upon which said running wheel is mounted and wherein said sensing member is arranged vertically movable on said running wheel axle.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
44 words
A roller, preferably a caster, as claimed in claim 1, wherein the sensing member has, as a means to lock such against rotation thereof, a check member cooperating with a running wheel fork, or cooperating with a check member of said running wheel fork.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
41 words
A roller, preferably a caster, as claimed in claim 1, wherein the sensing member has a catch lug or the like, which, during said lowering of the sensing member, engages in an apertured rim or in teeth on the running wheel.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
43 words
A roller, preferably a caster, as claimed in claim 1, wherein the sensing member has a ground-sensing element comprising a small wheel travelling in contact with the supporting surface, which small wheel is arranged to lower into the groove of the conveyor track.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
59 words
A roller, preferably a caster as claimed in claim 5, characterized in that the sensing member consists of a vertically movable follower disc having a locking cam, which cam, when the disc lowers into the groove of the conveyor track, in turn engages lockingly in a bore or slot of the running wheel axle and locks such against rotation.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
23 words
A roller, preferably a caster, as claimed in claim 9, characterized in that the follower disc is constantly pressed downward by a spring.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
35 words
A roller as claimed in claim 1 including means for forcing said sensing member into constant contact with said supporting surface which forcing means lowers said sensing member into the groove of said conveyor track.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
24 words
A roller as claimed in claim 11 wherein said means for maintaining said sensing member in contact with said surface is a compression spring.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
23 words
A roLler as claimed in claim 11 wherein said means for maintaining said sensing member in contact with said surface is a deadweight.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
62 words
A roller as claimed in claim 5 wherein said sensing member consists of a vertically movable follower disc having a locking cam, which cam, when the disc lowers into the groove of the conveyor track, in turn engages lockingly in a bore or slot of a bearing sleeve for an axle of said running wheel whereby locking the running wheel against rotation.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3090470A
Cited
US3305064A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-09-27 | 1975-03-29 | 1975-09-28 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-09-27 | 1979-03-29 | 1979-09-28 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-09-27 | 1983-03-29 | 1983-09-28 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |