Improvements in and relating to Ball-bearing Casters.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 13th Mar., 1899-Accepted, 24th June, 1899
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Ball-bearing Casters.
I, JOHN GUINAN, of 1107, Park Avenue, in the City of New York, in the Borough
of Manhattan and State of New York, United States of America, Contractor and
Builder, 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:.
This invention relates to casters of the type comprising a ball held in a socket
or cup and seated against balls which reduce the friction and resistance to a
minimum amount.
The object of the invention is to facilitate the assembling of the parts, to reduce
the cost of manufacture, to hold the balls in proper relation, and to devise a caster
which will roll easily over a carpeted floor and obtain a firm bearing against the
end of the furniture leg or article to which the caster may be applied.
Various other advantages are contemplated, and will suggest themselves as the
nature of the invention is unfolded in the following description.
The improvement consists of the novel features, details of construction and com-
binations of the parts as more particularly described and claimed, and illustrated
in the accompanying drawings, in which:
Figure 1 is a vertical central section of a caster constructed in accordance with
this invention, showing it applied to a furniture leg.
Figure 2 is a side elevation, showing the cup or socket having a stem.
Figure 3 is an end view of the cup or socket, the caster ball being removed.
Figure is a detail view of some of the many forms of plates for confining the
balls or antifriction devices.
Figure 5 is a perspective view of a caster having a plurality of arms, the
alternate arms having their outer ends bent to embrace the sides of the furniture
leg.
Figure 6 is an end view of the cup or socket having arms adjustably connected
therewith.
Figure 7 is a detail section on the line y—y of Figure 6.
Figure 8 is a detail section on the line of Figure 6. Figure 9 is a detail
view of the stem showing more clearly the spring applied thereto.
Figure 10 is a detail section showing the confining plate omitted.
Figure 11 is a view similar to Figure 10 showing a race-way for the balls.
Figure 12 is a view looking into the cup or ball socket showing a circular series
of pockets for the antifriction balls.
Figure 13 is a detail view showing a plate having a race-way in which anti-
friction balls are placed to form a seat for the caster ball.
Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the following description and
indicated in all the views of the drawings by the same reference characters.
The ball cup or socket 1 may be of any size or shape and secured to the furniture
leg 2 or other article in any of the usual ways, either by being let into an opening
in the leg, as shown in Figure 1, or provided with a stem 3 to enter a bore, as
shown in Figure 2. The caster ball 4 is retained in the cup or socket by con-
Го... 02

page_text: tracting an end portion of said socket in the usual manner. Balls or antifriction
devices 5 are interposed between the inner or closed end of the cup or socket and
the caster ball 4, and reduce the friction to the smallest amount possible. Any
desired number of balls 5 may be employed and they may be placed in the cup or
socket so as to play freely therein, or they may be confined by plates 6, which latter
are loosely fitted into the cup or socket and have central openings 7 to receive the
parts 5. The openings 7 may be of circular outline or may have notches 8
extending therefrom, said notches being of wedge form with their smaller ends
communicating with the central opening, thereby retaining the balls 5 in the
notches. There may be any desired number of notches S according to the size of
the caster, as shown most clearly in Figure 4. The inner or smaller ends of the
notches are of less extent than the diameters of the balls 5, thereby preventing
said balls from moving towards the center and becoming displaced after being
properly positioned.
.
When the ball cup or socket is constructed to be let into the end of the leg or
other article 2, it is formed with an off-standing support which may be a flange 9
or arms, the latter being of determinate length or adjustable. A rim 10 projects
beyond the plane of the off-standing flange or arms and is beveled or approximately
chisel-edged, and is adapted to be contracted or inturned, so as to embrace the
easter ball and retain it in position when placed within the cup. In Figure 5 the
arms are divided into two series as shown at 11 and 12, the arms 11 being shorter
than the arms 12 and the latter having their outer ends upturned, as shown at 13,
to embrace the sides of the furniture leg. The arms are alternately disposed,
that is, the short arms 11 are placed intermediate of the spaces formed between
the long arms 12.
In Figure 6 and the corresponding detail views thereof, the arms are extensible,
and consist of bracket lugs 14 formed with the ball cup or socket 1, and slotted
plates 15, the latter being adjustable in and out with reference to the bracket
lugs 14. There may be any desired number of bracket lugs, three being shown,
and they are formed with recesses 16 in their outer ends to receive the plates 15:
The side walls of the recesses 16 are under-cut so as to overlap the beveled edges
of the plates 15 and retain the latter in position against outward displacement:
The recesses 16 are of a depth corresponding to the thickness of the plates 15;
whereby the latter come flush with the ends of the bracket lugs, thereby preventing
projecting corners. The plates 15 are provided with openings 17 to receive screws
or like fastenings for positive attachment of the caster with the furniture leg,
and are held in an adjusted position by clamp screws 18 passing through
the slots 19 and entering threaded openings of the bracket lugs. Upon loosening
the clamp screws 18 the plates 15 may be moved in or out as required, and when
adjusted the clamp screws are tightened and secure the plates in their adjusted
position.
In the form of caster having the stem 3, the latter is grooved longitudinally;
forming a seat to receive a spring 20. This spring has its end portions bowed,
and is secured at a medial point of the stem by having portions of the latter dis-
placed by a suitable tool and overlapping the spring, as shown at 21. The spring
bears against the wall of the bore formed in the leg or article of furniture, and holds
the caster in place when lifting the furniture.
It is contemplated to omit the plate 6 in some forms of the invention, and to
place the balls 5 loosely in the cup or socket, said balls being spread by the caster
ball when introduced into the pocket and assuming a circular form. An annular
groove 22 may be provided in the inner side of the closed end of the cup to form a
race-way for the balls. This groove 22 may be pressed or cut in the end of the cup,
or formed therein in any desired way. By having the race-way 22 formed in the
heavy or solid end of the cup, it is best adapted to take up the thrust of the caster
ball 4 against the anti-friction balls 5, thereby relieving the sides of the cup 1
from outward thrust.
A circular plate 24 may be provided and interposed between the end of the cup

page_text: and the ball caster. This plate has an annular groove in which the anti-friction
balls forming a seat for the caster ball are placed. When it is not required to
use a great number of anti-friction balls, as is the case where a continuous circle of
them is provided, a circular series of pockets 23 is formed in the end of the ball
cup or socket, and these pockets may be spaced any desired distance.
From the foregoing it is obvious that various changes in the form, proportions
and minor details of construction may be resorted to, without departing from the
nature of the invention.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim, is:
1
1. In a furniture caster, a ball cup or socket having its inner end closed and
having a caster ball applied to its outer or lower end, and balls interposed
between the caster ball and the inner end of the ball cup or socket, in combination
with a plate removably fitted within the ball cup and having a central opening
for receiving the anti-friction balls, substantially as set forth.
2. In a caster, a ball or cup socket having its inner end closed and having a
caster ball applied to its outer or lower end, and a series of balls interposed
between the inner end of the cup and the caster ball; in combination with a plate
removably fitted within the cup and having a central opening, and a series of
notches leading from the central opening to receive the individual balls and hold
them separated, substantially as described.
3. In a caster, the combination with a ball cup or socket having a caster ball, and
anti-friction balls forming a seat for the caster ball; of a plate having a central
opening and a series of notches leading from said opening, said notches being of
wedge form and having their inner ends contracted, substantially as and for the
purpose set forth.
4. In a caster, a ball cup or socket having an off-standing support at its lower
end to obtain a bearing against the lower end of the furniture leg, and having a
pendent rim projecting below the plane of said off-standing support and adapted
to be contracted or inturned to retain the caster ball in position, substantially as set
forth.
5. In a caster, a ball cup or socket having a series of off-standing arms in the
same plane and adapted to obtain a bearing against the lower end of a furniture
leg, substantially as set forth.
6. In a caster, a ball cup or socket having a series of off-standing adjustable
arms, substantially as specified.
7. In a caster, a ball cup or socket having bracket lugs, in combination with
plates adjustably connected to said bracket lugs, and means for securing the plates
to the bracket lugs in an adjusted position, substantially as described.
.
S. In a caster, the combination with the ball cup or socket having bracket. lugs
recessed in their outer ends, of slotted plates slidably fitted in the recesses of the
bracket lugs, and means for securing the plates in an adjusted position, sub-
stantially as set forth.
Dated this 19th day of Marah 1800
JENSEN & SON,
77, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Patent Agents.