An Improved Furniture Castor.
Year: 1893

page_text: An Improved Furniture Castor.
EDWIN DEAR 23 Kelvin Road Highbury London, N. Lithographic Printer 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 an improved castor for furniture, and has for its object
to provide a castor which will work more easily than those at present employed, and
will not be so liable to get out of order.
According to my invention I provide a metal or other cup or cup shaped
receptacle fixed to the leg of the table or other article to which it is to be applied,
by any ordinary means such as a sleeve, or screw. Within this cup is placed a ball
of suitable dimensions, almost fitting the interior of the cup, which is inverted when in
proper position, so that it bears upon the ball, the latter thus supporting the weight
of the table or other object. The ball is retained in place by a ring fitted on to
the cup, which is of semicircular form to allow the ball to be put in place, or
removed when the ring is taken off. The ring projects beyond the central line of
the ball and prevents it coming out, at the same time allowing it to revolve freely
in the cup on any side pressure being applied. The ball will thus roll freely on the
floor in any direction, allowing the article to which the castors are attached to be
moved with ease.
In some cases, especially when to be applied to heavy furniture, I insert in the
cup a number of small balls, and then place the larger ball or sphere in place.
fitting the ring as before to retain them. The large ball will thus have a roller
bearing, thereby reducing the friction still further and allowing the castor to run
with perfect ease even when supporting considerable weight.
In order that the invention may be more clearly understood, reference is had to
the accompanying sheet of drawings, in which
Fig. 1 is a vertical section and Fig. 2 a side elevation of the improved castor,
using a single ball and
Fig. 3 is a section of a castor in which the large ball turns in a bearing formed
by a number of small balls.
A is the cup or case of the castor fixed to the leg of the table, or other article by
means of the sleeve a or screw a' as in the castors commonly employed. Within
this case is placed the ball B almost fitting, in the castor shown in Figs. 1 and 2
the cup A, but with sufficient play to allow it to turn freely. This ball is retained
in position by means of the ring C fixed on the edge of the cup by screwing or other
well known means.
According to the arrangement shown in Fig. 3, the cup does not directly bear
upon the ball B, but is supported through an intermediate set of balls place i
around the inner surface of the cup.
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. An improved castor for furniture, comprising a cup fixed to the article of
furniture, a ball within the said cup, and a ring fitted to the cup to retain the ball in
position, substantially as described and shown and for the purposes specified.
2. An improved castor for furniture comprising a cup fixed to the article o;

page_text: furniture, a ball within the said cup, an intermediate set of small balls forming a
bearing, and a ring retaining the balls in position, substantially as and for the
purposes specified.
Dated this 18th day of September 1893.
GEO. H. RAYNER,
37, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agent for the Applicant.