US3751757A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Swivel castors, particularly for shopping trolleys
Assignee: Tente Rollen GmbH and Co
•
Filing: 1971-06-03
•
Granted: 1973-08-14
•
Expires: 1991-06-03
Abstract
Abstract A swivel castor for use on appliances such as shopping trolleys, which are conveyed on a ribbed or grooved conveyors comprises a castor fork with a running wheel and a tracking wheel arranged for rotation with and on the same axle as the running wheel. The tracking wheel is movable vertically in respect of the running wheel so that when the appliance is placed on the conveyor the tracking wheel can drop into a groove thereof. While the castor is running on a flat floor the tracking wheel hold a locking mechanism in inoperative position. When the tracking wheel drops into a groove the locking mechanism locks the wheel against running movement. The locking mechanism also includes a vertically movable member which follows the downward movement of the tracking wheel to lock the castor against swivelling movement. The latter member may be a pawl which engages ratchet teeth on the backset bearing or in an incision or groove in the castor fork. The vertical movement of the member can be controlled by the periphery of the tracking wheel or by an upper extension of the bearing disc of the tracking wheel.
Inventors
- 👤 H Stosberg
- 👤 H Fleischmann
- 👤 G Reinhards
- 👤 S Engels
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 02:37
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60B; B60B33/00; B60B33/02; B60B33/021; B60B2200/00; B60B2200/40; B60B2200/43; B60B2200/432; B62; B62B; B62B2301/00; B62B2301/04; B62B2301/046; B62B2301/0463
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
175 words
A swivel castor for mobile appliances which are entrained or conveyed on grooved conveyor belts, particularly for shopping trolleys in self-service stores, said castor comprising a swivellable castor fork, an axle held by said fork a running wheel mounted on said axle, a vertically movable tracking wheel mounted freely turnably on said axle parallel to the running wheel to follow said running wheel in continuous contact with the floor, a locking mechanism and means operable on movement of said tracking wheel into a groove of said conveyor belt to cause said locking mechanism to lock the running wheel against running mobility, characterised in that the castor further comprises a vertically movable member controlled by said tracking wheel for also locking said castor fork against swivelling mobility, said locking member being arranged to remain continuously raised during travel of the castor on a level floor, and to follow the movement of the tracking wheel when entering a groove in the conveyor belt to sink into its locking position and thus effect locking of the castor fork.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
175 words
A swivel castor for mobile appliances which are entrained or conveyed on grooved conveyor belts, particularly for shopping trolleys in self-service stores, said castor comprising a swivellable castor fork, an axle held by said fork a running wheel mounted on said axle, a vertically movable tracking wheel mounted freely turnably on said axle parallel to the running wheel to follow said running wheel in continuous contact with the floor, a locking mechanism and means operable on movement of said tracking wheel into a groove of said conveyor belt to cause said locking mechanism to lock the running wheel against running mobility, characterised in that the castor further comprises a vertically movable member controlled by said tracking wheel for also locking said castor fork against swivelling mobility, said locking member being arranged to remain continuously raised during travel of the castor on a level floor, and to follow the movement of the tracking wheel when entering a groove in the conveyor belt to sink into its locking position and thus effect locking of the castor fork.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
26 words
A swivel castor as claimed in claim 1, wherein the vertically movable locking member is controlled and riased by a bearing disc of the tracking wheel.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
27 words
A swivel castor as claimed in claim 2, wherein the bearing disc of the tracking wheel has an upper extension which controls and raises the locking member.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
34 words
A swivel castor as claimed in claim 1, wherein the vertically movable locking member is applied on the wheel periphery of the tracking wheel and is controlled and raised by the said wheel periphery.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
31 words
A swivel castor as claimed in claim 1, wherein the locking member is a pawl which engages in its locking position when the tracking wheel sinks relatively to the running wheel.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
43 words
A swivel castor as claimed in claim 5, wherein the pawl is supported in the hollow of the castor fork, and when the tracking wheel sinks down, said pawl engages fixed teeth on the holding device of the castor back-set or rear bearing.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
27 words
A swivel castor as claimed in claim 6, wherein the pawl is supported by one of its ends on an axle or spindle in the fork hollow.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
27 words
A swivel castor as claimed in cLaim 6, wherein the pawl is a two-armed level which is supported on an axle or spindle in the fork hollow.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
35 words
A swivel castor as claimed in claim 5 wherein the pawl is spring-loaded by a spring which presses the pawl downwards, and the said pawl is raised against the spring pressure by the tracking wheel.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
28 words
A swivel castor as claimed in claim 5 wherein the pawl is applied on the wheel periphery of the tracking wheel and can thus follow its sinking movement.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
28 words
A swivel castor as claimed in claim 10, wherein the pawl is applied by a projection of noise-reducing elastic material on the wheel periphery of the tracking wheel.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
32 words
A swivel castor as claimed in claim 5, wherein the pawl is applied on an upper extension of the bearing disc of the tracking wheel and can thus follow its sinking movement.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
26 words
A swivel castor as claimed in claim 12, wherein the pawl is articulately connected with the upper extension of the bearing disc of the tracking wheel.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
40 words
A swivel castor as claimed in claim 5, wherein the pawl is supported on the fixed holding device of the castor back-set or rear bearing and can catch-engage in an incision or groove or the like in the castor fork.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
57 words
A swivel castor as claimed in claim 14 wherein an upper extension of the bearing disc of the tracking wheel during travel over a level floor closes the locking incision or notch of the swivel castor fork and when the tracking wheel sinks down, frees the fork incision or notch for the catch engagement of the pawl.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
87 words
A swivel castor as claimed in claim 1, wherein there is supported in the swivel castor back-set or rear bearing a vertically displaceable catch pin secured against twisting or rotation with a lower locking disc which during travel over a level floor is held by the tracking wheel continuously in its top dead centre and which when the tracking wheel sinks down sinks down with it and can thereby catch-engage by means of its lower locking disc in ratchet teeth in the hollow of the castor fork.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
42 words
A swivel castor as claimed in claim 16, wherein the vertically displaceable catch pin is applied by its lower end on a bracket of an upper extension of a bearing disc of the tracking wheel and can thus follow its vertical movements.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3305064A
Cited
US3608693A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-08-13 | 1977-02-12 | 1977-08-14 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-08-13 | 1981-02-12 | 1981-08-14 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-08-13 | 1985-02-12 | 1985-08-14 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |