Patent US4077086A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4077086A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Retractable castor mechanism
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1977-01-10
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Granted: 1978-03-07
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Expires: 1997-01-10
Abstract
Abstract A retractable castor mechanism for attachment to an article of furniture or other heavy object including a castor shank that is rotatably received by a socket of a retaining member. A mainspring biases the retaining member and the castor downwardly, and a latch pin is engageable with the retaining member to latch the castor against the force of the spring in an inoperative retracted position. The latch is operated by a releasing lever having a foot portion that rests against the floor, so that a slight push of the article across the floor causes the latch pin to disengage the retaining member, allowing the castor to descend to an operative position.
Inventors
- 👤 Michael James Butler
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 14:04
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60B; B60B33/00; B60B33/0078; B60B33/0089
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
214 words
A retractable castor mechanism for mounting on a movable article so that the article can be rolled along a floor comprising: a housing; a retaining member slidably received by said housing for vertical reciprocation therein and including an outer sleeve and an inner socket; a castor having a shank inserted in said socket and movable with said retaining member between an extended operative position and a retracted inoperative position; a spring disposed within said sleeve and biasing said caster toward said operative position; latching means for latching said castor in said inoperative position against the force of said compression spring; said latching means including a latch pin movable into a retaining member engaging position; a releasing lever pivotably mounted on the outside of said housing and connected to said latch pin; said releasing lever having a foot portion positioned with respect to said housing to frictionally engage said floor when said castor is in said inoperative position; and latch spring means for urging said foot portion toward said floor and simultaneously urging said latch pin toward said socket engaging position, whereby said retaining member and said castor can be released by said latch pin to move said castor from said inoperative position to said operative position by moving said article relative to said floor.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
214 words
A retractable castor mechanism for mounting on a movable article so that the article can be rolled along a floor comprising: a housing; a retaining member slidably received by said housing for vertical reciprocation therein and including an outer sleeve and an inner socket; a castor having a shank inserted in said socket and movable with said retaining member between an extended operative position and a retracted inoperative position; a spring disposed within said sleeve and biasing said caster toward said operative position; latching means for latching said castor in said inoperative position against the force of said compression spring; said latching means including a latch pin movable into a retaining member engaging position; a releasing lever pivotably mounted on the outside of said housing and connected to said latch pin; said releasing lever having a foot portion positioned with respect to said housing to frictionally engage said floor when said castor is in said inoperative position; and latch spring means for urging said foot portion toward said floor and simultaneously urging said latch pin toward said socket engaging position, whereby said retaining member and said castor can be released by said latch pin to move said castor from said inoperative position to said operative position by moving said article relative to said floor.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
34 words
The retractable castor mechanism of claim 1 wherein said foot portion includes a movable tip for frictionally engaging said floor and a tip spring engaging said lever and urging said tip against said floor.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
162 words
A retractable castor mechanism for mounting on a movable article so that the article can be rolled along a floor comprising: a housing; a castor movable relative to said housing between an extended operative position and a retracted inoperative position; said castor including a shank received within said housing for substantially vertical reciprocation; resilient means for biasing said castor downwardly toward said operative position; and means for releasably latching said castor in said inoperative position against the force of said resilient means, said latching means comprising a releasing lever movable between a castor latching position and a castor unlatching position and a latch spring biasing said lever toward said castor latching position, said lever having a foot portion oriented with respect to said housing to frictionally engage said floor when said lever is in said castor latching position, whereby said lever can be moved from said castor latching position to said castor unlatching position by moving said article relative to said floor.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
162 words
A retractable castor mechanism for mounting on a movable article so that the article can be rolled along a floor comprising: a housing; a castor movable relative to said housing between an extended operative position and a retracted inoperative position; said castor including a shank received within said housing for substantially vertical reciprocation; resilient means for biasing said castor downwardly toward said operative position; and means for releasably latching said castor in said inoperative position against the force of said resilient means, said latching means comprising a releasing lever movable between a castor latching position and a castor unlatching position and a latch spring biasing said lever toward said castor latching position, said lever having a foot portion oriented with respect to said housing to frictionally engage said floor when said lever is in said castor latching position, whereby said lever can be moved from said castor latching position to said castor unlatching position by moving said article relative to said floor.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
69 words
The retractable castor mechanism of claim 3, wherein: said latching means further comprises an opening in said housing, and a latch pin connected to said lever and extending through said opening; and said mechanism further comprises retaining means within said housing for transmitting the force of said resilient means to said castor, said retaining means being engageable by said latch pin to latch said castor in said inoperative position.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
40 words
The retractable castor mechanism of claim 3, wherein said foot portion of said releasing lever includes a movable tip for engaging said floor and means for biasing said tip against said floor when said lever is in said latched position.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
34 words
The retractable castor mechanism of claim 3, further comprising a retaining member including a socket in which said castor is received, said retaining member being slidably received by said housing for vertical reciprocation therein.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
36 words
The retractable castor mechanism of claim 6, wherein said latching means furhther includes a horizontally movable latch pin connected to said lever for engaging said retaining member when said lever is in said castor latching position.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
158 words
A retractable castor mechanism for mounting on a movable article so that the article can be rolled along a floor comprising: a housing; a castor movable relative to said housing between an extended operative position and a retracted inoperative position; sais castor including a shank received within said housing for substantially vertical reciprocation; resilient means for biasing said castor downwardly toward said operative position; and means for releasably latching said castor in said inoperative position against the force of said resilient means, said latching means comprising a releasing lever mounted on said housing having a foot portion positioned with respect to said housing to frictionally engage said floor when said castor is in said inoperative position, said latching means releasing said castor from said inoperative position in response to movement of said releasing lever, whereby said castor can be caused to move from said inoperative position to said operative position by moving said article relative to said floor.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
158 words
A retractable castor mechanism for mounting on a movable article so that the article can be rolled along a floor comprising: a housing; a castor movable relative to said housing between an extended operative position and a retracted inoperative position; sais castor including a shank received within said housing for substantially vertical reciprocation; resilient means for biasing said castor downwardly toward said operative position; and means for releasably latching said castor in said inoperative position against the force of said resilient means, said latching means comprising a releasing lever mounted on said housing having a foot portion positioned with respect to said housing to frictionally engage said floor when said castor is in said inoperative position, said latching means releasing said castor from said inoperative position in response to movement of said releasing lever, whereby said castor can be caused to move from said inoperative position to said operative position by moving said article relative to said floor.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
27 words
The retractable castor mechanism of claim 8, wherein said latching means further includes latch spring means connected to said housing, urging said foot portion against said floor.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
37 words
The retractable castor mechanism of claim 8, wherein said foot portion includes a movable tip and spring means for urging said tip against said floor for frictional engagement therewith when said castor is in said inoperative position.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
106 words
A retractable castor mechanism for mounting on a movable article so that the article can be rolled along a floor comprising: a housing; a castor movable relative to said housing between an extended operative position and a retracted inoperative position; said castor including a shank received within said housing for substantially vertical reciprocation; means for releasably latching said castor in said inoperative position against the force of said resilient means; and a retaining member having a socket within which said shank is rotatably received for vertical reciprocation therewith, said socket being engaged by said resilient means and urged downwardly within said housing by said resilient means.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
106 words
A retractable castor mechanism for mounting on a movable article so that the article can be rolled along a floor comprising: a housing; a castor movable relative to said housing between an extended operative position and a retracted inoperative position; said castor including a shank received within said housing for substantially vertical reciprocation; means for releasably latching said castor in said inoperative position against the force of said resilient means; and a retaining member having a socket within which said shank is rotatably received for vertical reciprocation therewith, said socket being engaged by said resilient means and urged downwardly within said housing by said resilient means.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1981-03-06 | 1981-09-05 | 1982-03-07 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1985-03-06 | 1985-09-05 | 1986-03-07 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1989-03-06 | 1989-09-05 | 1990-03-07 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |