Caster for adjustable beds and the like

Claim 2

In a caster having a ground engaging wheel rotatably mounted in a housing and an upstanding spindle for connecting said caster with an article supported by said caster, a wheel brake comprising: a control arm pivotally mounted in said caster housing at a pivot point; said control arm having an interior end with a portion thereof eccentric to said pivot point and extending over the periphery of said wheel, and an exterior end that is U-shaped, with an arcuate center portion thereof extending substantially concentrically about said spindle, whereby downward force on said arm exterior end rotates said interior end into abutment with the periphery of said wheel and securely locks said wheel in place; and a coil spring wound about a terminal segment of said arm exterior end, and having one end thereof connected with said caster housing for resiliently urging said control arm toward and normally retaining the same in a disengaged condition with said wheel.

Claim 3

A caster as set forth in claim 1, including: a washer adapted for slidable mounting on a leg portion of the article, and being abuttingly supported on the U-shaped portion of said control arm.

Claim 4

In a vertically adjustable bed having legs with telescoping feet to raise and lower said bed, a caster, comprising: a caster housing having a ground engaging wheel rotatably mounted therein, and means connecting said caster with one of said telescoping feet; a brake arm pivotally mounted in said caster housing at a pivot point; said brake arm having an interior end with a portion thereof eccentric with said pivot point and extending over the periphery of said wheel, and an exterior end with a portion thereof disposed laterally offset from said pivot point, and extending adjacent an associated one of said legs to which said caster is connected, whereby retraction of the telescoping foot associated with said one leg engages said one leg with said brake arm, applies downward force on said arm exterior end, and rotates said arm interior end into abutment with the periphery of said wheel to securely lock said wheel in place.

Claim 5

In a vertically adjustable bed having legs with telescoping feet to raise and lower said bed, a caster, comprising: a caster housing having a ground engaging wheel rotatably mounted therein, and means connecting said caster with one of said telescoping feet; a brake arm pivotally mounted in said caster housing at a pivot point; said brake arm having an interior end with a portion thereof eccentric with said pivot point and extending over the periphery of said wheel, and an exterior end with a portion thereof disposed laterally offset from said pivot point, and extending adjacent an associated one of said legs to which said caster is connected, whereby retraction of the telescoping foot associated with said one leg engages said one leg with said brake arm, applies downward force on said arm exterior end, and rotates said arm interior end into abutment with the periphery of said wheel to securely lock said wheel in place.

Claim 6

A caster as set forth in claim 3, wherein: said control arm exterior end is U-shaped, with an arcuate center portion thereof extending substantially concentrically about said foot.

Claim 7

An adjustable bed as set forth in claim 4, including: a washer slideably mounted on said telescoping foot and shaped to abuttingly overlie said U-shaped arm portion to insure engagement between said leg and said brake arm.

Claim 8

In a caster having a ground engaging wheel rotatably mounted in a housing, and upstanding means for connecting said caster with a vertically adjustable article supported by said caster, a wheel brake comprising: a control arm pivotally mounted in said caster housing at a pivot point; said control arm having an interior end with a portion thereof eccentric to said pivot point and extending over the periphery of said wheel, and an exterior end with a portion thereof disposed laterally offset from said pivot point and extending adjacent said connecting means, whereby downward force on said arm exterior end rotates said interior end into abutment with the periphery of said wheel and securely locks said wheel in place; a first plate shaped for slideable mounting on a foot portion of the vertically adjustable article, and including means for keying said plate on said foot portion to rotate together; a second plate operably connected with said caster for pivoting therewith, and disposed in line with said first plate; said first and second plates having adjacent faces, with means thereon for locking the same together when converged to prevent relative pivotal motion; one of said plates includes at least one protruding tab, and the other of said plates includes at least one recessed aperture shaped to receive said tab therein and lock said plates together in an engaged position against relative pivotal motion; means for resiliently urging said plates apart to a nonengaged position to permit pivotal motion therebetween; and means for engaging a vertically translating portion of said vertically adjustable article, whereby raising and lowering said article simultaneously diverges and converges said plates between the engaged and nonengaged position.

Claim 9

In a caster having a ground engaging wheel rotatably mounted in a housing, and upstanding means for connecting said caster with a vertically adjustable article supported by said caster, a wheel brake comprising: a control arm pivotally mounted in said caster housing at a pivot point; said control arm having an interior end with a portion thereof eccentric to said pivot point and extending over the periphery of said wheel, and an exterior end with a portion thereof disposed laterally offset from said pivot point and extending adjacent said connecting means, whereby downward force on said arm exterior end rotates said interior end into abutment with the periphery of said wheel and securely locks said wheel in place; a first plate shaped for slideable mounting on a foot portion of the vertically adjustable article, and including means for keying said plate on said foot portion to rotate together; a second plate operably connected with said caster for pivoting therewith, and disposed in line with said first plate; said first and second plates having adjacent faces, with means thereon for locking the same together when converged to prevent relative pivotal motion; one of said plates includes at least one protruding tab, and the other of said plates includes at least one recessed aperture shaped to receive said tab therein and lock said plates together in an engaged position against relative pivotal motion; means for resiliently urging said plates apart to a nonengaged position to permit pivotal motion therebetween; and means for engaging a vertically translating portion of said vertically adjustable article, whereby raising and lowering said article simultaneously diverges and converges said plates between the engaged and nonengaged position.

Claim 10

A caster as set forth in claim 6, wherein: said plate locking means comprises at least one protruding tab on one of said faces, and with the other face including at least one recessed aperture shaped to receive and retain said tab therein for positively locking said plates together.

Claim 11

A caster as set forth in claim 7, wherein: said first plate is abuttingly supported on said control arm.

Claim 12

A caster as set forth in claim 7, including: means for resiliently urging said control arm toward and normally retaining the same in a disengaged condition with said wheel.

Claim 13

A caster as set forth in claim 9, wherein: said control arm resilient means is stiffer than said plate resilient means, whereby an initial descent of the bed converges said plates and effects caster swivel locking while permitting caster wheel rotation, and continued bed descent manipulates said control arm and locks said wheel against rotative motion.

Claim 14

In a caster for a vertically adjustable bed, a swivel lock comprising: a first plate adapted for mounting on a leg of the bed, and including means for keying said plate on the bed leg; a second plate operably connected with said caster for pivoting therewith, and disposed in line with said first plate; said first and second plates having adjacent faces with means thereon for locking the same together and preventing relative pivotal motion therebetween when said plates are converged; means for retaining said plates apart in a nonengaged position to permit pivotal motion therebetween; and means for engaging a vertically translating portion of the adjustable bed, whereby raising and lowering the bed simultaneously diverges and converges said plates between the engaged and nonengaged positions.

Claim 15

In a caster for a vertically adjustable bed, a swivel lock comprising: a first plate adapted for mounting on a leg of the bed, and including means for keying said plate on the bed leg; a second plate operably connected with said caster for pivoting therewith, and disposed in line with said first plate; said first and second plates having adjacent faces with means thereon for locking the same together and preventing relative pivotal motion therebetween when said plates are converged; means for retaining said plates apart in a nonengaged position to permit pivotal motion therebetween; and means for engaging a vertically translating portion of the adjustable bed, whereby raising and lowering the bed simultaneously diverges and converges said plates between the engaged and nonengaged positions.

Claim 16

A caster as set forth in claim 11, wherein: said plate locking means comprises at least one protruding tab on one of said faces, and with the other face including at least one recessed aperture shaped to receive and retain said tab therein for positively locking said plates together.

Claim 17

A caster as set forth in claim 12, wherein: said first plate includes means for slideably mounting the same on said leg; and said retaining means comprises a pair of leaf springs.

Claim 18

A caster as set forth in claim 12, wherein: said first plates includes an upper surface adapted to abut a lower end edge of a telescoping bed leg and thereby define said engaging means.

Claim 19

A caster as set forth in claim 12, wherein: said first plate includes a plurality of one of said tab and aperture spaced radially about the margin of said first plate.

Claim 20

An adjustable bed as set forth in claim 15, wherein: said plate locking means comprises at least one protruding tab on one of said faces, and with the other face including at least one recessed aperture shaped to receive and retain said tab therein for positively locking said plates together.

Claim 21

An adjustable bed as set forth in claim 16, wherein said casters include a ground engaging wheel rotatably mounted in a housing, a brake, comprising: a control arm pivotally mounted in said caster housing at a pivot point; said control arm having an interior end with a portion thereof eccentric to said pivot point and extending over the periphery of said wheel, and an exterior end with a portion thereof disposed vertically offset from said pivot point and extending adjacent the associated telescoping one foot, whereby downward force applied by said one foot to said arm exterior end rotates said interior end into abutment with the periphery of said wheel and securely locks said wheel in place.

Claim 22

An adjustable bed as set forth in claim 17, wherein: said control arm includes resilient means normally retaining said control arm in an unlocked position; said first plate is slideably mounted on said one foot; said plate urging means comprises resilient means; and said control arm resilient means is stiffer than said plate resilient means, whereby initial leg retraction engages said plates and causes caster swivel locking while permitting wheel rotation, and continued leg retraction manipulates said control arm and locks said wheel against rotative motion.

Claim 23

In a vertically adjustable bed having legs with telescoping feet to raise and lower said bed, and including casters mounted in said telescoping feet, a caster swivel lock comprising: a first plate keyed on one of said telescoping feet; a second plate operably connected with the caster on said one foot for pivoting therewith, and disposed in line with said first plate; said first and second plates having adjacent faces, with means thereon for locking the same together and preventing relative pivotal motion therebetween when said plates are converged; and means for moving said plates apart to a nonengaged position to permit pivotal motion therebetween, whereby extension and retraction of said telescoping feet both raises and lowers said bed, and simultaneously diverges and converges said pivot locking plates between the engaged and nonengaged positions.

Claim 24

In a vertically adjustable bed having legs with telescoping feet to raise and lower said bed, and including casters mounted in said telescoping feet, a caster swivel lock comprising: a first plate keyed on one of said telescoping feet; a second plate operably connected with the caster on said one foot for pivoting therewith, and disposed in line with said first plate; said first and second plates having adjacent faces, with means thereon for locking the same together and preventing relative pivotal motion therebetween when said plates are converged; and means for moving said plates apart to a nonengaged position to permit pivotal motion therebetween, whereby extension and retraction of said telescoping feet both raises and lowers said bed, and simultaneously diverges and converges said pivot locking plates between the engaged and nonengaged positions.

Claim 25

A caster for vertically adjustable beds and the like, comprising: a housing having a ground engaging wheel rotatably mounted therein; means for mounting said housing in a leg of a vertically adjustable bed and permitting said housing and wheel to swivel therein; a brake arm pivotally mounted in said housing and having one end thereof extending over and selectively abutting the periphery of said wheel, and the other end shaped for abutment with a vertically translating portion of said bed for pivoting said brake arm between locked and unlocked positions; a swivel lock having a first member operably connected with said housing and swiveling therewith, and a second member cooperating with said first member and adapted for connection with the adjustable bed leg; said first and second members having adjacent faces with means for pivotally interlocking the same in an abutting position; one of said first and second members being adapted for engagement with a vertically translating portion of said bed for converging and diverging said members between locked and unlocked positions, whereby both caster swivel and wheel rotation are automatically controlled by adjusting the elevation of the bed.

Claim 26

A caster for vertically adjustable beds and the like, comprising: a housing having a ground engaging wheel rotatably mounted therein; means for mounting said housing in a leg of a vertically adjustable bed and permitting said housing and wheel to swivel therein; a brake arm pivotally mounted in said housing and having one end thereof extending over and selectively abutting the periphery of said wheel, and the other end shaped for abutment with a vertically translating portion of said bed for pivoting said brake arm between locked and unlocked positions; a swivel lock having a first member operably connected with said housing and swiveling therewith, and a second member cooperating with said first member and adapted for connection with the adjustable bed leg; said first and second members having adjacent faces with means for pivotally interlocking the same in an abutting position; one of said first and second members being adapted for engagement with a vertically translating portion of said bed for converging and diverging said members between locked and unlocked positions, whereby both caster swivel and wheel rotation are automatically controlled by adjusting the elevation of the bed.

Claim 27

In combination, a vertically adjustable bed or the like, and a caster therefor, comprising: a housing having a ground engaging wheel rotatably mounted therein; means for mounting said housing in a leg of said vertically adjustable bed and permitting said housing and wheel to swivel therein; a brake arm pivotally mounted in said housing and having one end thereof extending over and selectively abutting the periphery of said wheel, and the other end selectively abutting a vertically translating portion of said bed and pivoting said brake arm between locked and unlocked positions; a swivel lock having a first member operably connected with said housing and swiveling therewith, and a second member cooperating with said first member and connected with said bed leg; said first and second members having adjacent faces with means for pivotally interlocking the same in an abutting position; one of said first and second members selectively abutting a vertically translating portion of said bed and converging and diverging said members between locked and unlocked position, whereby both caster swivel and wheel rotation are automatically controlled by adjusting the elevation of said bed.

Claim 28

In combination, a vertically adjustable bed or the like, and a caster therefor, comprising: a housing having a ground engaging wheel rotatably mounted therein; means for mounting said housing in a leg of said vertically adjustable bed and permitting said housing and wheel to swivel therein; a brake arm pivotally mounted in said housing and having one end thereof extending over and selectively abutting the periphery of said wheel, and the other end selectively abutting a vertically translating portion of said bed and pivoting said brake arm between locked and unlocked positions; a swivel lock having a first member operably connected with said housing and swiveling therewith, and a second member cooperating with said first member and connected with said bed leg; said first and second members having adjacent faces with means for pivotally interlocking the same in an abutting position; one of said first and second members selectively abutting a vertically translating portion of said bed and converging and diverging said members between locked and unlocked position, whereby both caster swivel and wheel rotation are automatically controlled by adjusting the elevation of said bed.

Claim 29

A caster for vertically adjustable beds and the like, comprising: a caster housing; a ground engaging wheel rotatably mounted in said caster housing; a spindle mounted on and upstanding from said caster housing, and being shaped for connecting said caster with a bed; a wheel brake, comprising a control arm pivotally mounted in said caster housing at a pivot point; said control arm having an interior end with a portion thereof eccentric to said pivot point and extending over the periphery of said wheel, and an exterior end that is generally U-shaped, with an arcuate center portion thereof extending substantially concentrically about said spindle and laterally offset from said pivot point for engaging a vertically translating portion of the bed, whereby downward adjustment of the bed applies downward force to said arm exterior end and thereby rotates said interior end into abutment with the periphery of said wheel and securely locks said wheel in place.

Claim 30

A caster for vertically adjustable beds and the like, comprising: a caster housing; a ground engaging wheel rotatably mounted in said caster housing; a spindle mounted on and upstanding from said caster housing, and being shaped for connecting said caster with a bed; a wheel brake, comprising a control arm pivotally mounted in said caster housing at a pivot point; said control arm having an interior end with a portion thereof eccentric to said pivot point and extending over the periphery of said wheel, and an exterior end that is generally U-shaped, with an arcuate center portion thereof extending substantially concentrically about said spindle and laterally offset from said pivot point for engaging a vertically translating portion of the bed, whereby downward adjustment of the bed applies downward force to said arm exterior end and thereby rotates said interior end into abutment with the periphery of said wheel and securely locks said wheel in place.

Claim 31

A caster as set forth in claim 22, including: means for resiliently urging said control arm toward and normally retaining the same in a disengaged condition with said wheel.

Claim 32

A caster as set forth in claim 23, wherein: said resilient means comprises a coil spring wound about a terminal segment of said arm exterior end, and having one end thereof connected with said caster housing.

Claim 33

A caster as set forth in claim 22 or 24, including: a washer adapted for slideable mounting on a leg portion of the article, and being abuttingly supported on the U-shaped portion of said control arm.