Abstract:
This invention is a castor, including the castor main body, brake system, directional system, release mechanism and a number of positioning elements. One side of the castor main body has a brake system and a directional system, allowing the user to easily carry out braking or release the brakes simply by pressing the brake system or directional system, making the brake flexible platelet move and press against the wheel surface. Also because the fluted disc on the brake system and the brake flexible platelet is combined into one, the fluted disc will, at the same time, move up and engage with the direction change fluted disc, applying the brakes and maintaining direction. By pressing down the directional system the castor can also be set to move in a straight line only.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    This invention is a castor, the brakes and direction of which can be controlled by a single application of downward pressure. 
         [0003]    2. Description of the Prior Art 
         [0004]    Ordinary castors have a braking mechanism to allow position to be fixed.  FIG. 1  shows a commonly-seen castor brake mechanism design. It is made up of the wheel stand  10 , shaft lever  11 , wheel body  12 , a vertical shaft lever  13  which passes through them, brake plate  14  and pressed plate  15 . 
         [0005]    To brake the commonly-seen castor described above as shown in  FIG. 2 , when the pressed plate  15  is pushed down, its brake plate  14  will be pressed down by the external pressure and press against the wheel body  12  and the pressed plate is set in the downward position. Shortcomings are: when the brake is released the user has to bend down and move the pressed plate up, so that brake plate  14  separates from wheel body  12 . This means the castor braking mechanism is very inconvenient to use. Also, the gap between wheel frame  10  and the wheel body  12  is too wide and the castor is often stuck when it becomes entangled with hair. Although the castor does not roll when the brake is applied it can still change direction. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    The main objective of this invention is to provide a castor that allows brakes and turn direction to be simultaneously set or single wheel direction set for straight line movement. 
         [0007]    The objective of this invention is to provide a castor, the brakes of which can be easily applied, direction set or released by a downward pressing movement. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         [0008]    This invention will be better understood by referring to the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
           [0009]      FIG. 1  is a cross-sectional view of a known conventional castor being operated in a way 
           [0010]      FIG. 2  is a cross-sectional view of the known conventional castor being operated in another way; 
           [0011]      FIG. 3  is an exploded perspective view of a castor in the present invention; 
           [0012]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the castor in the present invention; 
           [0013]      FIG. 5  is a composite perspective drawing of the castor in the present invention; 
           [0014]      FIG. 6  is the section view of the braking and positioning effect of the castor in the present invention; 
           [0015]      FIG. 7  is an exploded perspective view of another real embodiment of the castor in the present invention; 
           [0016]      FIG. 8  is a composite perspective view of another real embodiment of the castor in the present invention; 
           [0017]      FIG. 9  is an exploded perspective view of another real embodiment of the castor in the present invention; and 
           [0018]      FIG. 10  is a composite perspective view of another real embodiment of the castor in the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0019]    A preferred embodiment of a castor in the present invention, as shown in  FIGS. 3 to 6 , includes a castor main body  2 , a brake system  3 , a directional system  4 , a release mechanism  5  and a number of positioning elements  6 . 
         [0020]    A castor main body  2  there is a connecting base  20  which is the direction change center. On the bottom of the revolving shaft hole is a direction change engaging fluted disc  200  and positioning trough  201 . The inside of the castor main body  2  has a convex positioning body  21  on the concave face and a number of positioning holes  22 ,  23  and  24 . The front of the castor main body has a concave surface  25  and there are pin joint hole  26 , wheel  27  and cover  270  on the bottom of the concave surface of the castor main body. 
         [0021]    A brake system  3  is on the concave surface of the bottom of castor main body  2 . Brake system  3  includes pressure platelet  30  and brake direction change body. The pressure platelet  30  has a pressure part at the front and, at the other end, has a pin joint hole  301  and an engaging convex body  302 . On the bottom of the pin joint hole  301  there is a cambered surface  3010 . Brake direction change body  31  has a brake pressing part  310 , pin joint hole  311 , convex body  312 , direction change engaging fluted disc  313  and flexible element  314 . 
         [0022]    A directional system  4  is in the concave surface of the bottom of the castor main body. The directional system is made up of a pressure platelet  40  and two directional platelets  41 . The pressure platelet  40  has a pressure part  400 , pin joint hole  401  and engaging convex body  402 . At the bottom of the pin joint hole is a cambered surface  4010 . Directional platelet  41  comprises of two engaging elastic platelets  410 ,  411 . Elastic platelets  410  and  411  have an engaging trough at the front, allowing them to be joined and work at the same time. At the end there are positioning convex bodies  4100 ,  4110  and elastic platelets  4101  and  4111 . Release mechanism  5  is joined to the inside concave face of the castor main body  2  and protrudes beyond the convex face. 
         [0023]    A release mechanism  5  has a pressure part  50 , pin joint hole  51 , engaging part  52  and  53  and flexible platelet  54  and a number of positioning elements  6 . 
         [0024]    When assembling as shown in  FIG. 3 , first place the castor main body  2  upside down, then join the release mechanism  5  to the positioning hole  24  on the castor main body  2 &#39;s concave surface, then place pressure platelet  30  of brake system  3  and pressure part  40  of the directional system  4  flat, on the release mechanism  5  and use positioning element  6  to join it to positioning hole  23  on the castor main body  2 . Then, the pin joint hole  311  of brake directional change body  31  engages with the engaging trough of the engaging elastic platelets  410  and  411  of direction change system  4 , fixing flexible element  314  on the positioning convex body  21 . Then attach the joined-together brake direction change body  31  and directional platelet  41  to the concave surface of the castor main body, positioning engaging fluted disc  313  of the brake direction change body  31  above the direction change engaging fluted disc  200  of castor main body  2  and place convex body  312  on the bottom of the brake direction change body on the elastic element  314  above the convex body, so that the direction change body  31  and the castor main body  2  have an elastic effect between them. Pass positioning element  6  through positioning hole  22  and attach to the pin joint hole  311  of the brake direction change body  31 . Finally, attach the wheel  27  to the bottom of castor main body  2  by putting positioning element  6  through pin joint hole  26  and, after passing through connecting base  20 , use positioning element  6  to attach cover  270  and the assembly process is complete. 
         [0025]    When wanting to stop the wheel and change direction, it is necessary to press down the pressure part  300  of the brake system  3  which will make the cambered surface  3010  of pressure platelet  30  move the brake system direction change body  31 . At this time, the brake pressing part  310  of the brake direction change body  31  will be pushed by the curved face  3010  and force the pressing face against the surface of the wheel  27 . The other end of the direction change body  31  will, at the same time, be pushed up by the pin join hole  301 &#39;s cambered surface  3010 , causing the direction change engaging fluted disc  313  and direction change engaging fluted disc  200  to lock together. This allows the brake to be applied on wheel  27  and direction to be set at the same time. 
         [0026]    When you want to release the brake on wheel  27  and change direction, the pressure part  50  of the release mechanism  5  has to be pressed down. This will cause the engaging convex body  302  on the front of the pressure platelet  30  of brake system  3  to separate from the engaging part  52  of release mechanism  5  and, under the elastic effect of the brake direction change body  31 , it will move upwards. At this time brake direction change body  31  will be subject to the elastic effect of elastic element  314  and will separate from the direction change engaging fluted disc  200 . Release mechanism  5  will also be affected by elastic platelet  54  and return to its original position, while pressure platelet  30  will return to a horizontal position. This allows wheel  27  braking and direction change to be easily carried out. 
         [0027]    When you want to set direction, its necessary to press down the pressure part  400  of directional system  4 , upon which time the cambered surface  4010  of pressure platelet will exert downward pressure on positioning platelet  41 , and positioning platelet  41  will be affected by cambered surface  4010  of the pin joint hole and the convex bodies  4100  and  4110  at the front will rise up and insert into the positioning troughs  201  of the connecting base  20  at the bottom of castor main body  2 .At this time the direction of wheel  27  is fixed and can only go straight. 
         [0028]    When releasing the set direction, it is necessary to press down the pressure part  50  of the release mechanism. At this time, the engaging convex body  402  of the front of the pressure platelet on directional system  4  will separate from the engaging part  53  of release mechanism  5 . Positioning platelet  41  will be affected by elastic platelet  4101  and  4111  and spring out of the positioning trough, at the same time, pressure platelet  40  will spring back to its original horizontal position. Thus, the direction setting of wheel  27  is released. 
         [0029]    As shown in  FIGS. 7-8 , another real embodiment of this invention is comprised: castor main body  2 , brake system  3 , release mechanism  5  and several positioning elements  6 . 
         [0030]    The castor main boy  2  there is the direction change center&#39;s revolving connecting base  20 , under which there is direction change engaging fluted disc  200 , and inside castor main body  2  on the concave surface there is a positioning convex body  21  and positioning holes  22 , 23  and  24 , and the front of the castor main body there is a convex surface  25  and under the castor main body convex surface there is a pin joint hole  26 , wheel  27  and cover  270 . 
         [0031]    The brake system  3  is inside the concave surface of the bottom of castor main body  2  and includes pressure platelet  30  and brake direction change body  31  and other parts. On the front of the pressure platelet  30  is the pressure part  300 . The other end has a pin joint hole  301  and engaging convex body  302 . Under the pin joint hole is a cambered surface  3010 . The brake direction change body  31  comprises of a brake pressing part  310 , pin joint hole  311 , convex body  312 , direction change engaging fluted disc  313  and elastic element  314 . 
         [0032]    The release mechanism  5  is joined to the concave surface  25  of the castor main body, and the release mechanism has a pressure part  50 , pin join hole  51 , engaging part  53 , elastic platelet  54  and a number of positioning elements  6 . 
         [0033]    When braking and direction change is required, all that is needed is to press down the pressure part  300  of brake system  3  and the cambered surface  3010  of pressure platelet will move the brake direction change body At this time the brake pressing face  310  of the direction change body  31  will be pressed down against the wheel  27  surface. The other end of brake direction change body  31  will be affected by the cambered surface  3010  of the pin joint hole  301 , causing the direction change engaging fluted disc  313  and the direction change fluted disc  200  to fit together. This way, wheel  27  braking and direction change and setting can be easily achieved. 
         [0034]    When releasing wheel  2  brakes and direction change, all that is needed is to press down the pressure part  50  of release mechanism  5 , at this time the engaging convex body  302  at the front a the front of pressure platelet  30  of the brake system will separate from the engaging part  53  of the release mechanism  5  and will subject to the elastic effect of brake direction change body  31 , spring up, at this time, brake direction change body  31  also is subject to the elastic effect of elastic element  314  and separates from the direction change engaging fluted disc  200  and release mechanism  5  is subject to elastic platelet  54 &#39;s effect and will spring back to its original position. Pressure platelet  30  will also spring back to a horizontal position. This way wheel  27  brakes and direction change can be easily released. 
         [0035]    As shown in  FIGS. 9-10 , another real embodiment of this invention is comprised: a castor main body  2  directional system  7 , release mechanism  5  and a number of positioning elements  6 . 
         [0036]    A castor main body  2  there is a revolving shaft hole  20  which is the direction change center and under the revolving connecting base  20  is a direction change engaging fluted disc  200  and positioning trough  201 . The concave face on the inside of the castor main body has a positioning convex body and positioning holes  22 ,  23  and  24 . At the front of castor main body  2  there is a concave surface  25 . Under the concave surface of the castor main body  2  there is a pin joint hole, wheel  27  and cover  270 . 
         [0037]    The directional system  7  is in the concave face of the bottom of the castor main body and is made up of a pressing platelet  70  and positioning platelet  71 . Pressure platelet  70  has a pressure part  700 , a pin joint hole  701  and engaging convex body  702 . Under pin joint hole  701  is a curved faced body  7010 , and the positioning platelet  71  is made by inserting the engaging elastic platelets  710  and  711  into each other. At the front of engaging elastic platelets  710  and  711  there is a trough allowing them to be joined together and move at the same time. At the end are positioning convex bodies  7100  and  7110  and elastic platelets  7101  and  7111 . Release mechanism  5  is joined to the concave surface inside castor main body  2  and protrudes beyond the concave surface  25 . On release mechanism  5  there is a pressure part  50 , pin joint hole  51 , engaging part  53 , elastic platelet  54  and a number of positioning elements. 
         [0038]    When direction setting is required, all that is needed is that pressure part  700  of the directional system  7  is pressed down, at which time the cambered surface  7010  under the pressure platelet  70  will exert downward force on positioning platelet  71 , the positioning platelet  71  will be pushed by the cambered surface  7010  of pin joint hole  701  and the front positioning convex bodies  7100  and  7110  will rise up and fit into the positioning trough  201  of connecting base  20  under the castor main body  2 . At this time, wheel  27 &#39;s connecting base  20  is engaged in position and can only move straight forward. 
         [0039]    When releasing the direction setting, all that is needed is to press down pressure part  50  of the release mechanism  5 . At this time, the engaging convex body  702  on the front on the pressure platelet  70  of the directional system  7  will separate from the engaging part  53  of the release mechanism, and the Positioning platelet  71  will be subject to the elastic force of elastic platelet  7101 ,  7111  and will spring out of the positioning trough  201 . At the same time pressure platelet  70  will spring back to its original horizontal position. At this time the direction setting of wheel  27  has been released. 
         [0040]    The above explanation shows that this invention has the following advantages: 
         [0041]    1. This invention&#39;s brake system  3  and directional system are combined, making use easier. 
         [0042]    2. By pressing down the brakes can be easily completed, making use extremely simple and easy. 
         [0043]    3. When the brakes are applied the direction change can also be fixed, allowing two objectives to be achieves. 
         [0044]    4. The interaction of pressure part  50  and pin joint hole  51  allow castor direction fixing or release to be achieved, making use very simple. 
         [0045]    5. The operating sound of brake system  3  and directional system  4  is small. This makes the invention suited for use on patient beds and medical establishment and other places where quiet is needed where the invention has advantages over existing products 
         [0046]    While the preferred embodiment of the invention has been described above, it will be recognized and understood that various modifications may be made therein and the appended claims are intended to cover all such modifications that may fall within the spirit and scope of the invention.