AN IMPROVED CUP-AND-BALL CASTOR
Year: 1869

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to George Perkin, of Derby, in the County of Derby,
for the Invention of "AN IMPROVED CUP-AND-BALL CASTOR."
Scaled the 2nd November 1869, and dated the 20th May 1869.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said George Perkin at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 20th May 1869.
I, GEORGE PERKIN, of Derby, in the County of Derby, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention for "AN IMPROVED CUP-AND-BALL
CASTOR," to be as follows:-
The improvements which constitute this Invention consist, first, in
the mode of forming the ball bearing in the cup; and, secondly, in the
mode of forming and joining the edges of the upper or bearing cup and
lower or ball-securing cup together.
My improvements in the ball-bearing cup consist in forming or fitting
it with an internal and circular step, the "nosing" or projecting edge of
which (slightly rounded) rests upon the ball and forms its bearing when

page_text: the castor is in use. I make the diameter of this circular bearing step
about two thirds (more or less) of that of the diameter of the ball or
globe which forms the runner of the castor. The advantages of this
form of bearing are, that it can be cast solid with the cup in one piece,
adds nothing to its cost, dispenses with all loose parts, and requires no
fitting, all that is necessary being to apply a tool to the "nosing" while
the cup is being "got up" externally in the lathe to clean off and
"turn" the bearing edge or surface to a true circle. The ball or runner
should also be as true and perfect a globe as possible.
My improvement in forming and joining the edges of the upper and
lower cups together consists, first, in making the edges of the upper cup
with a flange in which a rebate is cut, or which may be formed in casting
it; and, secondly, in making the under or sectional cup, which secures
the ball in the upper cup, with a plain or unflanged edge so as to fit the
rebate above mentioned accurately. While the bearing cup is in the
lathe the ball is inserted and the under cup placed and held firmly with
its unflanged edge in the related flange of the upper cup; the outer
edge of this flange is now turned down by a suitable tool or by pressure
upon the side of the under cup which it embraces and thus secures the
two cups together, no screwing, soldering, screw bolts, rivets, or other
fittings or fastenings being required. The rotatory motion is obtained
by pressing the ball against the edge of the circular step or seating let
into a disc or horizontal plate in the upper part of the cup. The object
of the mode of forming the castor herein described is to simplify its
construction, reduce the number of parts, and render the whole capable
of being first moulded and cast in the required form and then fitted,
joined together, and finished while in and by the lathe, and without
removing the bearing cup therefrom.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said George Perkin in the Great Seal Patent Office 30
on the 20th November 1869.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, GEORGE
PERKIN, of Derby, in the County of Derby, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Twentieth day of May, in the year of 35

page_text: our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-nine, in the thirty-
second-year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said George Perkin, Her special licence that
I, the said George Perkin, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or
such others as I, the said George Perkin, my executors, administrators,
and assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others, from time
to time and at all times thereafter during the term therein expressed,
should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend, within the
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and
Isle of Man, an Invention for "AN IMPROVED CUP-AND-BALL CASTOR," upon
the condition (amongst others) that I, the said George Perkin, my
executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under my, or
their, or one of their hands and seals, should particularly describe and
ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the
same was to be performed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great
Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next and immediately
after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said George Perkin, do hereby declare
the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement, that is to say :-
The improvement which constitutes this Invention consists, first, in
the mode of forming the ball bearing in the cup; and, secondly, in the
mode of forming and joining the edges of the upper or bearing cup and
lower or ball-securing cup together.
My improvement in the ball-bearing cup consists in forming it with
an internal and circular step, the nosing or projecting edge of which
slightly rounded rests upon the ball and forms its bearing. I make the
diameter of this circular bearing step about two thirds (more or less) of
that of the diameter of the ball or globe which forms the runner of
the castor. The advantages of this form of bearing are, that it can be
cast solid with the cup in one piece, adds nothing to the cost, dispenses
with all loose parts, and requires no fitting, all that is necessary being to
apply a tool to the nosing while the cup is being "got up" externally
in the lathe to clean off and turn the bearing edge or surface to a truc
circle. The ball or runner should be as true and perfect a globe as
possible.

page_text: then applied externally by means of a hollow cone or other suitable tool,
and the ball is thus secured as required.
I claim as my Invention, and desire to secure by the before-mentioned
in part recited Letters Patent, the improved ball castors formed and
fitted as herein described.
In witness whicrcof, I, the said George Perkin, have hereunto sct
my hand and scal, this Seventeenth day of November, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-nine.
GEORGE PERKIN. (L.S.)