IMPROVEMENTS IN CASTORS FOR FURNITURE OR OTHER MOVEABLE. ARTICLES
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to George Dean, of Kydlestone Road, Derby, for the In-
vention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN CASTORS FOR FURNITURE OR OTHER MOVEABLE.
ARTICLES."
Sealed the 14th March 1879, and dated the 16th September 1878.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said George Dean at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 16th September 1878.
GEORGE DEAN, of Kydlestone Road, Derby.
FURNITURE OR OTHER MOVEABLE ARTICLES."
66
'IMPROVEMENTS IN CASTORS FOR'
This Invention has reference to an improved construction of castors or the rolling
terminals which are fitted to the legs of articles of furniture that require to be
moved readily from place to place, as is the case with couches, easy chairs, and other
generally similar articles of domestic comfort.
Under one modification or system of arrangement the improved construction con-
sists, in place of using the pulley or the single rolling ball that at present forms the
terminal of the castors in ordinary use, an arrangement of duplex, triple, or other
suitable number of balls arranged in a socket which is secured in the ordinary way'
to the legs of the article of furniture. This arrangement of the convex surfaces
produces an easy and smooth rolling motion of the furniture to which these castors
may be applied, and it may be moved in any direction with equal facility and
ease.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said George Dean in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 15th March
1879.
GEORGE DEAN, of Kydlestone Road, Derby.
FURNITURE OR OTHER MOVEABLE ARTICLES."
"IMPROVEMENTS IN CASTORS FOR
My Invention consists of an improved arrangement of a "direct-bearing castor"
to be fitted to the legs of articles of furniture that require to be moved from place
to place. In the Drawing accompanying this Specification Figures 1 and 2 represent
an elevation in section and a plan of one form of my improved castor. The upper
portion A consists of the usual ring socket, which is screwed to the leg in the
ordinary way, and this part is attached by a screw to the lower socket B, in which
the ball C is retained. The ball is held loosely by the margin of the socket, which
extends a little below the central periphery of the ball C. And in order to obtain
a smooth and perfectly free motion of the ball in whatever direction the furniture
may be moved, a steel disc d is arranged immediately above the ball C. In this
instance the disc D is made with a small central cone or nipple, as shown at E.
The outer surface of this part is rounded off and polished, and when in action the
ball C just touches the cone with the minimum amount of contact. An india-rubber
cushion F is placed in the socket as shown, and this forms an elastic spring, which
adjusts itself to any weight that may be placed on the castor, and this part may be
made of any other suitable flexible material. The balls for these castors may be
made of ivory, hard wood, metal, earthenware, or other suitable material, but I have
found in practice that the harder varieties of marble are well adapted for the
purpose.
In the arrangement shown in Figures 3, 4, and 5 the conical disc D is replaced
by a steel ring or perforated disc G, above which is placed the ring of rubber or
other flexible material F, as shown in the Figures. The 'steel ring may be made
either of round wire or it may be chamfered off as shown in Figure 5, with the
view of obtaining a perfectly smooth seat for the ball combined with the least
possible amount of friction and perfect non-liability to uneven wear, or of jamming
in the seat. The same general arrangement of the several parts is also carried out
in constructing what are known as "plate rim or cabriole castors," the horizontal
surface plate of which is securely fastened by internal screws to the leg of the piece
of furniture.
Having now described and ascertained the nature of my said Invention, and in
what manner the same is or may be carried into practical effect, I wish it to be
understood that what I consider to be new and useful under the herein-before in
part recited Letters Patent, and therefore claim, is,-
First. The particular arrangement, construction, and combination of the several
parts forming my improved "direct bearing castor."
Secondly. The combination of the metallic or other disc and cone, or as a sub-
stitute therefor the metal or other ring, together with the india-rubber cushion or
other suitable flexible material, for the purpose of obtaining a direct bearing action
baving a minimum of friction, substantially as herein-before described, and shown
in the accompanying Drawings:
In witness whereof, I, the said George Dean, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Fifteenth day of March, in the year of our Lord One.
thousand eight hundred and seventy-nine.