Improvements in Castors.
Year: 1898

page_text: Improvements in Castors.
I, GEORGE MASON, of 56, Belgrave Road, Edgbaston, in the City of Birming-
ham, Works Manager, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
1
This invention relates to improvements in castors, and refers more particularly
to improved means whereby such castors may be secured to the article of
furniture &c.
According to this my invention broadly, I provide upon the stem or peg of
the castor, a revolvable tube having spring-like barbs or projections upon its
surface which, when the castor is in position upon the furniture, shall retain
it in its position, by reason of such barbs thrusting themselves outwards into
the sides of the hole in the furniture. This tube is further split in its length
and left somewhat open, so that by making the hole in the furniture (which
is to receive it) a little smaller in diameter, by forcing the castor into its
position, the tube is contracted, and thus fits tightly in the hole. Hence when
placed in wood or other shrinkable substance, should the hole become somewhat
larger, the expanding action of the tube will follow, and still maintain its firm
position.
In some cases the revolvable tube may act internally, that is, to externally
embrace a projecting peg upon the leg &c. of the furniture in which case the
upper part of the castor is made socketwise to receive such revolvable tube.
In some cases I may make metallic sockets suitable to receive castors made
according to this my invention and first attach such sockets to the furniture, by,
casting them therein, or otherwise attaching them thereto.
The shape of the barbs may be made more or less pointed, or rounded, so that
if desired, they shall be sufficient to press into the sides to hold the castor, but
yet the castor may be withdrawn, with some little force, particularly when in
hard wood.
Doted this 6th don of A 1000

page_text: what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement:-
This invention relates to improvements in castors, and refers more particularly
to improved means whereby such castors may be secured to the article of
furniture &c.
According to this my invention broadly, I provide upon the stem or peg of
the castor, a revolvable tube having spring-like barbs or projections upon its
surface which, when the castor is in position upon the furniture, shall retain
it in its position, by reason of such barbs thrusting themselves outwards into
the sides of the hole in the furniture. This tube is further split in its length
and left somewhat open, so that by making the hole in the furniture (which
is to receive it) a little smaller in diameter, by forcing the castor into its
position, the tube is contracted, and thus fits tightly in the hole. Hence when
placed in wood or other shrinkable substance, should the hole become somewhat
larger, the expanding action of the tube will follow, and still maintain its firm
position.
In some cases I may make metallic sockets suitable to receive castors made
according to this my invention and first attach such sockets to the furniture, by
casting them therein, or otherwise attaching them thereto.
The shape of the barbs may be made more or less pointed, or rounded, so that
if desired, they shall be sufficient to press into the sides to hold the castor, but
yet the castor may he withdrawn, with some little force, particularly when in
hard wood.
In order to more clearly explain this my invention, I have appended hereunto
an illustrative drawing upon which are figures and numbers of reference.
Fig. 1, is a part sectional view of a castor and its attachments made according
to this my invention.
Fig. 2, is a detached view of the revolvable tube, showing the split therein.
Fig. 3, is a similar side view of the tube showing front view of the slitted
projections.
Fig. 4, is a similar view of the tube with modified shape of projections, in
the form of beads.
Figs. 5 & 6, illustrate the combination with the revolvable tube and its
teeth &c of a socket which is first secured in the furniture, Fig. 5, showing its
application to wooden furniture, and Fig. 6, showing its application to metal
furniture, such as bedsteads &c.
9, is the castor having the spindle 10, and collar 11. 12 is the tube which is
revolvable upon spindle 10, and has split 13. 14 are projections formed by
slitting the metal and pushing their points slightly outwards. This tube is
placed upon the spindle 10, as seen in Figs. 1 and 5, and firmly secured thereto
by washer 15 and rivet 16. 17, 18, and 19, represent different leg ends of
furniture to which the castor is attached. 14" (see Fig. 4) are modified forms
of projections, being punched outwards in the shape of half beads. 20, is a
socket which in some cases is used in combination with the castor and its tube 12.
In this socket is formed internal grooves 21. which shall coincide' in 'position
with the projections 14 or 14° upon the tube 12.
In applying this my improved castor to metallic bedsteads this socket is cast
in the chill foot 19, to facilitate which, the cap 22. is placed over the top to
prevent the molten metal flowing into the interior. I may also use such socket
with advantage in other than metal furniture, particularly where the wood &c.
is very soft.
In cases where the socket 20, is not used, I provide a plate 23, which is
rigidly secured to the spindle 10, but where such socket is used as in Fig. 5.
the plate 23, is carried upon the said socket, so that it may form additional
means (to its frictional insertion) of security to the leg by pins or screws 24.

page_text: Where such socket is cast in the metal leg 19, such plate 23, may be smaller
forming only sufficient bearing surface for the collar 11.
As will be readily seen the castor may be used with or without the socket,
according to the character of the material of the leg of the furniture.
When pushed up into position the projections 14, 14", are sprung into the leg
itself (Fig. 1) or into the grooves 21, as the case may be, which effectually
prevents the castor falling away, but the tube itself affords a firm support to
the spindle 10.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:-
1. The combination in a castor having the spindle 10, of the revolvable tube 12,
having split 13, with projections 14, 14" all substantially as set forth and shown,
and for the purposes specified.
2. The combination in a castor having the spindle 10, tube 12, with split 13,
and projections 14, 14, of the socket 20, having internal grooves 21, with or
without plate 23, all substantially as set forth and shown and for the purposes
specified.
Dated this 7th day of January 1899
CHARLES T. POWELL,
Applicant's Agent,
158, Edmund Street, Birmingham.