IMPROVEMENTS IN CASTERS OR ROLLER DEVICES FOR TABLES, CHAIRS, AND OTHER FURNITURE."
Year: 1878

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Gordon Donaldson Peters at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 17th June 1878.
GORDON DONALDSON PETERS, of Bunhill Row, in the County of Middlesex.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN CASTERS OR ROLLER DEVICES FOR TABLES, CHAIRS, AND
OTHER FURNITURE."
This Invention relates to improvements in casters or roller devices for use upon
articles of furniture, by means of which casters the movement across the floor of an
article provided therewith is facilitated.
In carrying the said Invention into practice I provide a sphere or ball of glass or
other hard material having a smooth even surface, and I fit the same into a holding
or supporting device, which is constructed as follows, that is to say :-I provide a
socket of brass or other suitable metal to receive the end of the leg of the article of
furniture which is to be fitted with the roller device, and extending downward
from the lower part of the said socket, and cast with the same. I provide curved
pieces or claws, within which the aforesaid ball or sphere is placed in such a manner
that it lies loosely in the space so formed, the said pieces or claws extending far
enough down and around the sides of the sphere to prevent the same from dropping
out, but not so far as to touch the floor with which the sphere only is in contact.
Upon the inner side of each of the said claws and near the top thereof I cast a
small projection, which projections are designed to forin small bearing surfaces for
the ball when the weight of the furniture is upon it. These projectious are so con-
structed that the point of contact between them and the ball is very small, so that
friction is avoided as far as possible.
When the article of furniture fitted with rollers constructed as above described is
moved across the floor the ball or sphere is supported towards its upper part against
one or more of the said projections, and lower down by the lower part of one or
more of the claws, according to the direction in which the furniture is being moved,
the ball or sphere revolving during the time the furniture is in movement.
As the said ball rests loosely within the claws it is never when in motion in
contact with all the bearing pieces or projections at the same time, for the reason
that the pressure exerted on one side by the act of moving the article of furniture
[Price 2d.1

page_text: causes the said ball to recede from the direction in which the furniture moves, and
to take its support upon the opposite side.
In some instances, instead of a socket to receive the end of the leg of the article
of furniture, I may use a projecting stem or pin, which is designed to pass up into
the said leg for the purpose of securing the device to the article of furniture to
which it is to be applied, the claws and balls extending from the lower end of the
said stem.
I prefer to use four claws within which to place the ball, but any other suitable
number may be used without departing from the principle of the said Invention.
The ball is so fitted within the claws that it may be readily detached therefrom
or inserted within the same at the bottom to facilitate the operation of fastening
the holding device to the furniture. The holding device may be firmly secured to
the furniture by means of screws.

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Gordon Donaldson Peters at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 17th June 1878.
GORDON DONALDSON PETERS, of Bunbill Row, in the County of Middlesex.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN CASTERS OR ROLLER DEVICES FOR TABLES, CHAIRS, AND
OTHER FURNITURE."
This Invention relates to improvements in casters or roller devices for use upon
articles of furniture, by means of which casters the movement across the floor of an
article provided therewith is facilitated.
In carrying the said Invention into practice I provide a sphere or ball of glass or
other hard material having a smooth even surface, and I fit the same into a holding
or supporting device, which is constructed as follows, that is to say I provide a
socket of brass or other suitable metal to receive the end of the leg of the article of
furniture which is to be fitted with the roller device, and extending downward
from the lower part of the said socket, and cast with the same. I provide curved
pieces or claws, within which the aforesaid ball or sphere is placed in such a manner
that it lies loosely in the space so formed, the said pieces or claws extending far
cuough down and around the sides of the sphere to prevent the same from dropping
out, but not so far as to touch the floor with which the sphere only is in contact.
Upon the inner side of each of the said claws and near the top thereof I cast a
small projection, which projections are designed to form small bearing surfaces for
the ball when the weight of the furniture is upon it. These projections are so con-
structed that the point of contact between them and the ball is very small, so that
friction is avoided as far as possible.
When the article of furniture fitted with rollers constructed as above described is
moved across the floor the ball or sphere is supported towards its upper part agaiust
one or more of the said projections, and lower down by the lower part of one or
nore of the claws, according to the direction in which the furniture is being moved,
the ball or sphere revolving during the time the furniture is in movement.
As the said ball rests loosely within the claws it is never when in motion in
contact with all the bearing pieces or projectious at the same time, for the reason
that the pressure exerted on one side by the act of moving the article of furniture
[Price 2d 1

page_text: causes the said ball to recede from the direction in which the furniture moves, and
to take its support upon the opposite side.
In some instances, instead of a socket to receive the end of the leg of the article
of furniture, I may use a projecting stem or pin, which is designed to pass up into
the said leg for the purpose of securing the device to the articlo of furniture to
which it is to be applied, the claws and balls extending from the lower end of the
said stem.
I prefer to use four claws within which to place the ball, but any other suitable
number may be used without departing from the principle of the said Invention.
The ball is so fitted within the claws that it may be readily detached therefrom
or inserted within the same at the bottom to facilitate the operation of fastening
the holding-device to the furniture. The holding device may be firmly secured to
the furniture by means of screws.