Patent ID: 6473935
Filing Date: 2002-11-05
Classification: B60B,Y10T

Abstract:
A retractable roller mechanism that statically supports an item upon a support surface in an inoperative state and supports the item to roll along the support surface in an operative state, comprising:(a) a housing having a symmetrically located axis; (b) a wheel frame that is slidably engaged with said housing for reciprocation movement parallel to the housing axis, said reciprocation movement is relative to said housing, said frame having an inoperative position state wherein said frame is retracted such that said housing rests on and statically contacts the support surface and an operative position state wherein said frame is extended from the inoperative position state; (c) a spring disposed between said housing and said frame to bias said frame toward the operative position state; (d) an axle supported by said frame; and (e) a non castor wheel rotatably mounted about said axle in said frame disposed to only roll bi-directionally along the support surface when said frame is in the operative position state such that said housing is not in contact with the support surface, said wheel having a rotational axis coincident with said axle, said rotational axis perpendicular to and intersecting the housing axis.