Improvements in Casters by Means of Ball-bearings.
Year: 1895

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Casters by Means of Ball-bearings.
I, JOHN SCOTT, 16 Henniker Road, Stratford, Essex, Engineer, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:—
The invention has for its object improvements in means for the taking off the
friction on the caster, by means of ball-bearings, consisting of a number of balls
working in a circular groove, so that the caster would move very freely, and
would not get fast with any extra weight that might be put upon the furniture.
Likewise it has for its object a direct bearing with the centre pin of the wheel,
the ball bearings overlapping the centre of the wheel, and thus taking all the
strain off the furniture. It has also a plate and socket for fastening the same to
the furniture, the plate with the boss having the object of extra strength when let
into the wood.
The caster is fixed to the furniture by means of a plate through which
3 or 4 screws are screwed up into the furniture. In addition to this, in the centre
of the plate is a boss, round in shape, which must be fitted tightly into a round
hole into the furniture. This prevents the plate from moving, and consequently
takes off the strain upon the screws.
The caster can also be fixed to the furniture by means of a socket, having a
slight oval hole, so that it could not move round after it was fitted to the legs of the
furniture.
.
The middle plate has a circular groove, and the caster has a circular groove.
In these grooves the balls are placed, and the whole is then screwed together, up
into the boss of the fastening plate by means of a set screw or a bolt.
The screw is made to hold the middle plate and the fastening plate tightly
together, and the caster is allowed to work very freely upon the set screw or the
bolt, with sufficient clearance at the bottom of the caster, and the head of the
screw, so that the full weight of the furniture can always be directly upon
the balls.
The same applies to the socket.
These casters could be made of any suitable metals, or any material that might
be required.
The plate, socket, and ball bearings, I claim as my invention, and these I wish
to get protected.
Dated this 16th day of July 1895.
JOHN
SCOTT,
.16 Henniker Road, Stratford, Essex.

page_text: I, JOHN SCOTT, Engineer, 16 Henniker Road, Stratford, in the County of Essex
do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to
be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:
The invention has for its object improvements in means for the taking off the
friction on the caster by means of ball bearings, consisting of a number of balls
working in a circular groove, so that the caster would move very freely and would
not get fast with any extra weight that might be put upon the furniture.
Likewise it has for its object a direct bearing with the centre pin of the wheel,
the ball bearings overlapping the centre pin of the wheel, and thus taking all strain
off the furniture. It has also a plate and socket, for fastening the same to the
furniture, the plate with the boss, having the object of extra strength, when let into
the wood, and causing the caster not to depend entirely upon the screws.
The caster is fixed to the furniture by means of a plate, through which
3 or 4 screws are screwed up into the furniture. In addition to this, in the centre,
of the plate is a boss, round in shape, which must be fitted tightly into a round
hole into the furniture. This prevents the plate from moving, and consequently
takes off the strain upon the screws.
The caster can also be fixed to the furniture by means of a socket, having a
slight oval hole, so that it could not move round after it was fitted to the legs of
the furniture. The middle plate or cover has a circular groove, and the caster
has a circular groove. In these grooves the balls are placed, and the whole is
then screwed together, up into the boss of the fastening plate by means of a
set-screw or bolt.
The screw is made to hold the middle plate or cover, and the fastening plate
tightly together, and the caster is allowed to work very freely upon the bolt or
the set-screw, with sufficient clearance at the bottom of the caster, and the head
of the screw, so that the full weight of the furniture can always be directly upon
the balls. The same applies to the socket.
The drawing represents the caster full size.
Fig. 1 and 2 are outside elevations of the caster.
Fig. 3 is a plan, having the top plate and grooved cover or middle plate removed,
shewing the position of the balls.
Fig. 4 is a sectional elevation, shewing the method of securing the caster to the
furniture, by means of the plate with the boss and the screws.
A shews the fastening plate with the boss B, let up into the leg of the
furniture C. D and D₁ are screws also securing the fastening plate to the leg of
the furniture. E shews the middle plate or cover, which, with the top of the
caster Fis grooved, and in these grooves the balls are placed. The plain part of the
set-screw G being larger than the screwed part, causes the set screw to fasten
the middle plate or cover and the fastening plate tightly together, leaving at the
head of the screw and the bottom of the caster, sufficient clearance for the caster to
turn very freely upon the balls.
Fig. 5 is an inverted plan of the middle plate or cover shewing the grooves.
Fig. 6 is a sectional elevation of a combined socket and middle or cover plate.
Fig. 7 is an inverted plan of the combined socket and middle plate or cover
shewing the grooves.
These casters could be made very cheaply, and in any materials that might be
required.

page_text: Having tried the caster, I know that it is a very great improvement upon any
one yet invented, for by the use of it there is no ruffling of carpets; the furniture
never becomes fast on account of friction upon the caster; and even under the
heaviest pressure, the caster will always act the same.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. The fastening plate with the boss.
fan the halla
Having tried the caster, I know that it is a very great improvement upon any
one yet invented, for by the use of it there is no ruffling of carpets; the furniture
never becomes fast on account of friction upon the caster; and even under the
heaviest pressure, the caster will always act the same.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. The fastening plate with the boss.
2. The middle plate or cover, with the circular greave for the halls
3. The lower casting with circular groove for balls.
4. The set screw that is screwed up in the boss of the fastening plate.
5. The combined socket and middle or cover plate.
Dated this 14th day of October 1895.
JOHN SCOTT,
Applicant.