US5040265A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Castors
Assignee: Herok RJK Ltd
•
Filing: 1991-01-14
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Granted: 1991-08-20
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Expires: 2011-01-14
Abstract
Abstract The invention provides a castor wheel assembly 10 in which the swivel or castor axis 16 is locked when the wheel 11 is in the straight ahead position, but unlocked in any other position of motion, locking being caused by forward rotation of the wheel and released by backward rotation both without any braking action on the wheel. A supermarket trolley or similar vehicle equipped with a pair of such castors at the front end and conventional castors at the rear can be steered under normal circumstances by the rear castors but readily adapted to four wheel steering in confined spaced by slight reverse motion to unlock the front wheels' castor action.
Inventors
- 👤 Paul S. France
- 👤 Robert J. Hicks
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 10:03
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60B; B60B33/00; B60B33/0036; B60B33/0039; B60B33/02; B60B33/025; B60B33/028; B60B2200/00; B60B2200/40; B60B2200/43; B60B33/0047; B60B33/0049; B60B33/0057; B60B33/006; B60B33/0065; B60B33/0068; B60B33/0073
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
95 words
A swivel castor assembly comprising: a wheel mounted for rotation on an axle; a yoke in which the axle is mounted horizontally; a swivel axle mounted vertically on the yoke and about which the yoke and wheel can turn; and locking means, for releasably locking the yoke against turning about the swivel axle, the locking means being capable of being actuated, without any braking action on the wheel, a) to lock the yoke by rotation of the wheel about the axle and b) to release the yoke by counterrotation of the wheel about the axle.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
95 words
A swivel castor assembly comprising: a wheel mounted for rotation on an axle; a yoke in which the axle is mounted horizontally; a swivel axle mounted vertically on the yoke and about which the yoke and wheel can turn; and locking means, for releasably locking the yoke against turning about the swivel axle, the locking means being capable of being actuated, without any braking action on the wheel, a) to lock the yoke by rotation of the wheel about the axle and b) to release the yoke by counterrotation of the wheel about the axle.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
17 words
A swivel castor assembly according to claim 1, wherein the locking means is mounted on the yoke.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
18 words
A swivel castor assembly according to claim 1, wherein the locking means is mounted on the wheel axle.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
30 words
A swivel castor assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the locking means is actuated by rotation of the wheel, causing movement of a wheel rim.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
32 words
A swivel castor assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the locking means is actuated by rotation of the wheel by movement of a face of the wheel.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
30 words
A swivel castor assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the locking means is actuated by rotation of the wheel causing movement of the wheel axle.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
24 words
A swivel castor assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the swivel axis does not pass through the wheel axis.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
134 words
A supermarket trolley or similar vehicle mounted on two pairs of castor wheels, at lest one of the pair of wheels mounted at a front end thereof being a swivel castor assembly comprising: a wheel mounted for rotation on an axle; a yoke in which the axle is mounted horizontally; a swivel axle mounted vertically on the yoke and about which the yoke and wheel can turn; and locking means for releasably locking the yoke against turning about the swivel axle, the locking means being capable of being actuated, without any braking action on the wheel, a) to lock the yoke by rotation of the wheel about the axle and b) to release the yoke by counterrotation of the wheel about the axle wherein the swivel axis does not pass through the wheel axis.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
134 words
A supermarket trolley or similar vehicle mounted on two pairs of castor wheels, at lest one of the pair of wheels mounted at a front end thereof being a swivel castor assembly comprising: a wheel mounted for rotation on an axle; a yoke in which the axle is mounted horizontally; a swivel axle mounted vertically on the yoke and about which the yoke and wheel can turn; and locking means for releasably locking the yoke against turning about the swivel axle, the locking means being capable of being actuated, without any braking action on the wheel, a) to lock the yoke by rotation of the wheel about the axle and b) to release the yoke by counterrotation of the wheel about the axle wherein the swivel axis does not pass through the wheel axis.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
19 words
A swivel castor assembly according to claim 4, wherein the swivel axis does not pass through the wheel axis.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
19 words
A swivel castor assembly according to claim 5, wherein the swivel axis does not pass through the wheel axis.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
19 words
A swivel castor assembly according to claim 6, wherein the swivel axis does not pass through the wheel axis.
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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) | 1994-08-19 | 1995-02-18 | 1995-08-20 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1998-08-19 | 1999-02-18 | 1999-08-20 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2002-08-19 | 2003-02-18 | 2003-08-20 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |