Improvements in Furniture Casters.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 16th Oct., 1889-Accepted, 16th Nov., 1889
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Furniture Casters.
A communication from abroad by LEWIS GWINNER, of Hamilton, Butler County,
State of Ohio, United States of America, Manufacturer.
I, WILLIAM PHILLIPS THOMPSON F.C.S. M.I.M.E. of the Agency for Foreign
Patent Solicitors 6, Lord Street, Liverpool & 6, Bank Street, Manchester both in
the County of Lancaster & 323 High Holborn in the County of Middlesex, Civil
Engineer, 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 reference to furniture casters of that class in which two floor
wheels are employed, the stem of the caster being articulated to the housings so as to
be capable of oscillation as the furniture is moved over uneven floors.
The improvements will be readily understood from the following description taken
in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which→
Figure 1 is a side elevation of a caster illustrating the said improvements, the
nearest floor wheel being omitted and the axle being shown in vertical section.
Figure 2 a similar view, the housing appearing in vertical section, in a plane
midway between the two floor wheels.
Figure 3 is a rear view of the same the rear of the caster being to the left of
Figures 1 and 2.
Figure 4 a perspective view of the housings and axle, and
Figure a perspective view of a portion of the stem and of the keeper.
In the drawings A indicates the stem of the caster, the same being intended to
attach to furniture in any of the usual manners by any of the usual ineans. B, a
circular plate secured to the stem and intended to serve as an attaching means, in
case such method of attachment is desired; and also as a track for an anti-friction
roller in the housing in case such roller be employed; Can upwardly facing
shoulder on the stem, the stem presenting a cylindrical journal above the shoulder D,
a neck at the top of the stem above the cylindrical journal just referred to, this neck
being formed by a slight reduction in diameter of same, E, the housing presenting a
vertical flat face toward the stem: F the axle passing horizontally through the
housing and carried thereby; G an anti-friction roller journalled in notches in the
top of the housing and bearing with its periphery against the under side of the plate;
His a rigid forward horizontal projection from the front of the housing and provided
with a foot-step bearing in which rests the lower end of the stem, the lower end of
the stem being rounded so as to be capable of side oscillation in the foot-step
bearing; J, the keeper for the stem, in the forin of a block, having a bearing fitting
the stem journal, the rear of the block coming against or near the vertical face of the
housing referred to; K, an upwardly open hook projecting from the rear of the
keeper into a mortise in the housing and engaging beneath the axle, where the axle
crosses that mortise; L, a gap or opening at one side of the keeper block, this gap
being of such width as to admit the neck D of the stem, but not to admit the journal
of the stem; M, the two floor wheels, and N the mortise through the housing for
he reception of the hook K, the hook being free from all side contact in the
nortise.
In putting the caster together, the neck of the stem is passed sidewise through the
gap in the keeper and the stem is then raised until the stem journal engages
he bearing of said keeper. The stem is then free to rotate in the keeper, but is
ncapable of displacement therefrom by any upward or side motion. The antifriction
oller, if one is employed, is now dropped into its bearings, and the stem and keeper
laced in position upon the bousing, the hook of the keeper entering the mortise of
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page_text: the housing and the foot of the stem setting into the footstep bearing. A wheel is
now placed on the axle. The axle pushed through the housing, and the other wheel
applied and the axle riveted. The caster is then complete, and the parts incapable of
accidental disconnection. The keeper and its hook are free from heavy strains, their
duty being merely to prevent displacement of parts.
Referring to Figure 5. it will at once be apparent that if the stem has no plate, as
will be the case with stem attaching casters, the neck D, and gap L, will not be
required as the stem may be passed upward into the keeper bearing.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, as communicated to me by
my foreign correspondent, I declare that what I claim is,
1. A furniture caster having in combination a housing with a vertical forward face,
a rigid forward projection provided with a footstep bearing and a mortise, an axle
carried by said housing and crossing said mortise, two floor wheels upon said axle, a
stem provided with a journal, an upwardly facing shoulder and a foot engaging said
footstep bearing and fitted for attachment for furniture, and a keeper provided with a
bearing engaging the journal of said stem and with a hook reaching rearwardly into
the mortise of the housing, and engaging the axle where it crosses the mortise,
substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
2. A furniture caster having, in combination, a stem provided with a journal, a
neck, an upwardly facing shoulder, and a rounded foot fitted for attachment to
furniture, a housing having a rigid bearing for the foot of the stem and a mortise, an
axle carried by said housing, two floor wheels upon said axle, and a keeper provided
with a bearing engaging said stem journal and with a gap in said bearing, arranged
to permit the passage of the neck of the stem and with a projecting hook adapted to
engage beneath the axle, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
Dated this 15th dass of Oatalion 1880
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Agents for the Applicant.