Patent US3948538A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3948538A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Self equalizing ball caster lift mat
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1975-06-16
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Granted: 1976-04-06
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Expires: 1995-06-16
Abstract
Abstract The self equalizing ball caster lift mat of the present invention includes a load support sub-assembly and a caster sub-assembly interconnected by a pressure member. The load support sub-assembly is a flat plate adapted for insertion under a load and for bearing the weight of a load. The caster sub-assembly comprises an alignment plate having a plurality of transverse bores therethrough arranged in an array. A ball caster is mounted for reciprocating movement in each of the bores.
Inventors
- 👤 Harry Hovila
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 11:07
CPC Classifications
B; B62; B62B; B62B5/00; B62B5/0083; B60; B60B; B60B33/00; B60B33/04; B60B33/045; B60B33/08; B60V; B60V3/00; B60V3/02; B60V3/025; B62B2203/00; B62B2203/10
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
229 words
An apparatus for supporting a load for traverse across a generally planar supporting surface comprising: a frame member having an upper portion and a lower portion, said frame member including a supporting surface on the upper portion thereof for contacting the underside of a load to be supported, said frame member including a bottom portion, a flexible, fluid impervious member and attachment means for attaching said flexible member to the bottom portion of said frame member, said flexible member and said frame member being so constructed so as to form a fluid chamber and to present a surface portion of said flexible member spaced from and in a generally parallel relationship to said supporting surface, a plurality of roller means, each of said roller means having a body and roller member for contacting and rolling over said supporting surface, said roller member being mounted on said body for rolling movement, retention means associated with said plurality of roller means for mounting and orienting said roller means for independent, relative movement toward and away from said frame member in a direction transverse to said supporting surface, the body of each of said roller means coacting with said surface portion of said flexible member so that fluid pressure present in said chamber is transmitted to said roller means to bias the movement of said roller means away from said frame member.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
229 words
An apparatus for supporting a load for traverse across a generally planar supporting surface comprising: a frame member having an upper portion and a lower portion, said frame member including a supporting surface on the upper portion thereof for contacting the underside of a load to be supported, said frame member including a bottom portion, a flexible, fluid impervious member and attachment means for attaching said flexible member to the bottom portion of said frame member, said flexible member and said frame member being so constructed so as to form a fluid chamber and to present a surface portion of said flexible member spaced from and in a generally parallel relationship to said supporting surface, a plurality of roller means, each of said roller means having a body and roller member for contacting and rolling over said supporting surface, said roller member being mounted on said body for rolling movement, retention means associated with said plurality of roller means for mounting and orienting said roller means for independent, relative movement toward and away from said frame member in a direction transverse to said supporting surface, the body of each of said roller means coacting with said surface portion of said flexible member so that fluid pressure present in said chamber is transmitted to said roller means to bias the movement of said roller means away from said frame member.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
26 words
The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising means associated with said fluid chamber for admitting a fluid to and exhausting a fluid from said fluid chamber.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
54 words
The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said flexible member comprises: a flexible, substantially inelastic diaphragm having a periphery and a central portion, said attachment means affixing the periphery of said diaphragm to said frame member so as to allow the central portion of said diaphragm to flex and move relative to said frame member.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus of claim 3 wherein each of said roller members being affixed to the central portion of said diaphragm.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
12 words
The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said roller members comprise ball casters.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
23 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said roller members are affixed at predetermined spaced locations to said surface portion of said flexible member.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
52 words
The apparatus of claim 5 wherein each of said ball casters further comprises an attachment bolt affixed to the body portion thereof, said bolt extending through an aperture in said flexible member, and a fastening member engaging said bolt to secure said diaphragm between said nut and the body of said caster.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
64 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said retention means comprises a plate having a plurality of bores therethrough, said plate being oriented in generally parallel relationship to the supporting surface of said frame member, said bores being oriented generally perpendicularly to said surface, and wherein each of said roller means includes a cylindrically shaped portion mounted for reciprocating movement in one of said bores.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said plate is affixed to said frame member.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
38 words
The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said plate is positioned between said flexible member and said supporting surface, and wherein each of said roller means have retaining means thereon for affixing said roller means to said flexible member.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
38 words
The apparatus of claim 8 further comprising: linkage means coupling said retention means to said frame member, said retention means thereby being mounted for movement relative to said frame member in a direction transverse to said supporting surface.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
42 words
The apparatus of claim 11 wherein said linkage means comprises a pivotally interconnected two bar linkage, one bar of said linkage being pivotally attached to said retention means and the other bar of each linkage being pivotally attached to said frame member.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
243 words
An apparatus for supporting a load for traverse across a supporting surface comprising: frame means having an upper portion for carrying a load and a lower portion, diaphragm means secured to the lower portion of said frame means, said diaphragm and the lower portion of said frame means co-defining an expansible fluid chamber capable of confining a compressible fluid, said diaphragm means having a generally planar, central portion that is moveable relative to the upper portion of said frame means to expand and contract said fluid chamber, said diaphragm means being flexible in a direction generally transverse to said generally planar central portion, a plurality of roller means for supporting said frame means, said diaphragm means, and said load, each of said roller means including a body and a rolling member secured for rolling movement to said body, retention means associated with said frame means and said diaphragm means for mounting said plurality of roller means for independent relative movement toward and away from said frame means in a direction generally parallel to the direction of movement of said central portion of said diaphragm means, said alignment means positioning the bodies of said plurality of roller means contiguous to the central portion of the diaphragm means so that, as the fluid pressure in said fluid chamber is increased, said diaphragm means bears upon the bodies of said roller means to bias the movement of said roller means relatively away from said frame means.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
243 words
An apparatus for supporting a load for traverse across a supporting surface comprising: frame means having an upper portion for carrying a load and a lower portion, diaphragm means secured to the lower portion of said frame means, said diaphragm and the lower portion of said frame means co-defining an expansible fluid chamber capable of confining a compressible fluid, said diaphragm means having a generally planar, central portion that is moveable relative to the upper portion of said frame means to expand and contract said fluid chamber, said diaphragm means being flexible in a direction generally transverse to said generally planar central portion, a plurality of roller means for supporting said frame means, said diaphragm means, and said load, each of said roller means including a body and a rolling member secured for rolling movement to said body, retention means associated with said frame means and said diaphragm means for mounting said plurality of roller means for independent relative movement toward and away from said frame means in a direction generally parallel to the direction of movement of said central portion of said diaphragm means, said alignment means positioning the bodies of said plurality of roller means contiguous to the central portion of the diaphragm means so that, as the fluid pressure in said fluid chamber is increased, said diaphragm means bears upon the bodies of said roller means to bias the movement of said roller means relatively away from said frame means.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus of claim 13 wherein said diaphragm means is positioned between said retention means and said frame means.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
36 words
The apparatus of claim 13 wherein said retention means is affixed to the upper portion of said frame means and positioned within said chamber between the upper portion of said frame means and said diaphragm means.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
17 words
The apparatus of claim 13 wherein said roller means are each independently affixed to said diaphragm means.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1979-04-06 | 1979-10-06 | 1980-04-06 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1983-04-06 | 1983-10-06 | 1984-04-06 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1987-04-06 | 1987-10-06 | 1988-04-06 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |