Improvements in Castors and Protectors for Furniture and other- Objects.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 19th Oct., 1896-Accepted, 21st Nov., 1896
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Castors and Protectors for Furniture and other-
Objects.
I, CHRISTIAN PHILIPP HERDT, of 75 Möhrfelderstrasse, Frankfort on the
Main, in the German Empire, Manufacturer, 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, reference being had
to the accompanying drawings and to the letters and figures marked thereon, that
is to say:
My invention relates to improvements in castors and protectors for furniture,.
and other objects, and is designed, on the one hand, to deaden the noise when
moving furniture, or other objects and, on the other hand, to protect the carpet or
floor. This arrangement is suitable, not only for furniture, in its narrow sense,
but also for small machines, such as are used in houses, as for instance, sewing
machines, type writers, and the like.
The invention consists essentially in providing that part of the leg which touches
the ground with a rubber covering, roller, or ball.
In the accompanying drawings, which illustrate different forms of the
invention,
Figs. 1 and 2 show an arrangement in which, in a cup or socket b, secured to the
leg a, a solid rubber ball c is placed in such a manner that while it cannot fall out.
of the cup, which embraces more than one half of it, it still retains its complete
movability.
Fig. 3 represents an analogous ball roller for heavy furniture, in which the ball
is mounted on an axle ffixed securely in a fork b, or its equivalent. Instead,
however, of employing a solid rubber ball, a ball of metal, or wood, may be used,
and provided with a rubber covering.
The arrangement shewn in Figs. 1 and 2, is specially suitable for light furniture,.
more particularly for chairs. If the latter have any weight on them the ball
becomes flattened against the floor, or carpet, as seen in Fig. 2, and the upper part
of the ball lies close against the inner wall of the cup or socket, in consequence of
which the chair possesses complete stability. As the chair is relieved of the weight
the ball resumes its original form in consequence of its elasticity, and the chair can
be pushed about easily without making an unpleasant noise, or damaging the floor,
or carpet.
In Figs. 4 and 5, the new arrangement is represented in its simplest form, viz. as
a protector; that is to say in Fig. 4 as a simple recessed disc l, which is fixed to
the leg of the chair by means of a screw d on which a washers is placed, while in
Fig. 5 it consists of a cap of rubber, leather, or such like material, l, with an
internal ridge or projection v running round it. This cap is simply slipped over
the end of the chair leg, when the ridge enters a groove formed round the latter
for its reception. Lastly, Figs. 6 and 7 shew a wheel or bowl castor such as is
used for heavy furniture; bedsteads, pianos, and so forth. The metal wheel or
bowl is provided with a rubber ring r which acts as a noise-deadener in the same
manner as does the rubber covering of the above mentioned ball, or as the rubber
disc or cap.

page_text: 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. A castor, or protector, for the legs of furniture, and other objects, designed
to act as a noise-deadener and floor or carpet-protector, and consisting of a ball of
rubber, or of other material covered with rubber,, and fixed freely in a cup or
socket embracing more than one half of it, or on an axle securely held in a fork, or
its equivalent, substantially as described.
2. The modified forms of castor or protector, consisting of a disc or cap of
rubber, leather, or similar material, fixed in a suitable manner to the end of the
leg of the article of furniture, or other object, as represented in Figs. 4 and 5; or
of a castor of ordinary kind having its wheel or bowl provided with a rubber ring,
as shewn in Fig. 6, all substantially as described.
Dated this 19th day of October 1896.
ERNEST DE PASS,
Chartered Patent Agent,
78, Fleet Street, London, and 5ª Market Street, Nottingham,
Agent for the Applicant.