Year: 1897

page_text: We, FREDERICK HOSKINS of the Firm of Hoskins and Sewell Limited, of Bordesley,
in the City of Birmingham Manufacturer, and ALFRED LAWRENCE, of 20 Claremont
Road, Sparkbrook, Birmingham aforesaid, Fitter, do hereby declare the nature of
this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to bedstead and furniture castors, and consists, in the one
part, in a detachable castor, in another part in an improved method of attaching the
same to the pillar or leg of an article of furniture, and in a further part, in an
improved method of mounting the castor.
In carrying out the invention as applied to a bedstead castor, the foot of the pillar
carries or is fitted with a plug or pummel having a central and hollow stalk or sleeve
directed upwards from it, the inside top of which sleeve has a depending pivot, cone,
spike or peg adapted to take within a coned, cupped or equivalent sinking formed in
the upper end of a peg or stem directed from the top side of, and carried by the body
of the horn between the arms of which the castor bowl is mounted. Surrounding a
contracted or reduced part of the peg or stem, at its junction with the top of the
horn, is a swivelling or rotating screw nut, adapted to engage within the screwed
entrance to the hollow sleeve when rotated by a spanner or turn, and through which
rotating nut, the connection of the horn part of the castor with the foot end of a
bedstead pillar is made. When the one part has been attached to the other in this
manner, then the peg or stem carrying the castor bowl and horn may freely rotate
within the hollow stalk or sleeve, with the conical pivot or peg in the crown of the
said sleeve turning within the cupped or coned upper termination of the said stem.
In applying our invention to furniture castors, the sleeve, which may be made
from drawn metal and has a closed top formed into a conoidal or other pivot, against
which the socket terminating the peg or stem proceeding from the top of the horn
takes its bearing and rotates within the said sleeve as a centre. The lower end of
the sleeve is encircled by a plate against the middle of the underside of which a
bulbous bearing of the stem comes, whilst the bottom end of the furniture leg rests
on the top of the same and is secured there, either by small screws, or by penetrating
spikes formed or provided thereon entering into the wood.
of June 1907

page_text: H
We, FREDERICK HOSKINS of the Firm of Hoskins and Sewell Limited of Bordesley,
in the City of Birmingham, Manufacturer, and ALFRED LAWRENCE of 20 Claremont
Road, Sparkbrook, Birmingham aforesaid, Fitter, 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 bedstead and furniture castors, and consists, in the one
part, in a detachable castor, in another part in an improved method of attaching the
same to the pillar or leg of an article of furniture, and in a further part, in an
improved method of mounting the castor.
Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings represents, in vertical section, a castor,
constructed and applied to the leg of a bedstead according to one form of our
invention.
Figure 2 is a vertical section of the foot end of the leg, with the pummel and
central sleeve.
Figure 3 is an elevation (with the upper end in section) of the castor, with its stem
and securing collar.
The same letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several figures of
the drawing.
The foot a', of the pillar of a bedstead or like article of furniture carries or is fitted
with a plug or pummel b, having a central and hollow stalk or sleeve ¹, directed
upwards from it, the inside top 62, of which sleeve is closed by a second plug b³, and
has a pivot, cone, spike or peg b, depending from it, adapted to take within a coned,
cupped or equivalent sinking c¹, formed in the upper end c², of a peg or stem c,
directed from the top side of, and carried by, the body d', of the horn d, between
the arms d², of which the castor bowl e, is mounted. Surrounding a contracted or
reduced part c³, of the peg or stem, at its junction with the top of the horn, is a
swivelling or rotating screw nut f, adapted to engage within the screwed entrance b³,
to the hollow sleeve when rotated by a spanner or turn, engaging with gaps f¹, in its
collar f, and through which rotating nut, the connection of the horn part of the
castor with the foot end of a bedstead pillar is made. When the one part has been
attached to the other in this manner, then the peg or stem carrying the castor bowl
and horn freely rotates within the hollow stalk or sleeve, with its cupped or cone-
sunken upper end turning freely upon the conical pivot or peg in the crown of the
said sleeve, a slight clearance being left between the shouldered part c³, of the stem
and the upper end, of the securing nut, to admit of the said stem having the required
play and freedom of vertical movement necessary to take the coned seating in its
upper end against the pivot b', after the screwing full home of the nut, through
the axial hole, in which, the reduced part c³, of the stem is capable of sliding.
Figure 4 represents another form of our invention, applied to the leg or pillar of a
bedstead which only differs from the previous arrangement in the shape of the
pummel b, the parts being marked with the same letters of reference as Figures 1
and 2.
Figure 5 represents our invention as applied to a furniture castor.
In this arrangement, the sleeve b', which may be made from drawn metal and is
driven into a hole a², made in the wooden leg a, of the article of furniture, has its
top closed by the conoidal or other pivot b', against which the socket or conoidal
sinking c¹, terminating the peg or stein c, proceeding from the top of the horn d,
takes its bearing and rotates within the said sleeve as a centre. The lower end of

page_text: the sleeve b¹, is screwed at 65, and receives the screwed-on securing nut f, which lies
in an enlargement a³, of the hole a², in the leg and is secured in place after being
screwed home, by the small wood screws g.
Figure 6 represents another form of our invention as applied to a furniture castor.
Figure 7 is a section, of Figure 6, upon the dotted line x.
In this arrangement, the sleeve carrying the pivot is dispensed with and the
pivot 6, is let into the wood at the suminit of the hole a2, and is there secured and
prevented from rotating by the small ribs 65: c is the stalk proceeding from the
horn d, and c² is a reduced part, having threaded thereon a bearing plate h, and a
conical socket f, adapted to fit upon the coned lower end of the leg and be there
secured by the small screws g. The said stem has sufficient vertical play through
the said bearing plate and socket to admit of its cone-sunken upper end c¹, taking a
proper bearing on the pivot 64, after the bowl has been secured.
Figure 8 represents a modification of the last arrangement, in which the stem of
the castor is retained within the hole in the leg by an attached foot end plate.
a is the furniture leg, «² the hole therein, the pivot and 65 the small ribs thereon,
c is the stalk, c¹ is coned sinking bearing upon said pivot and c² the reduced part
having a free sliding movement through the hole e¹, of the foot end plate e, which is
attached or secured by the small screws g.
In all the arrangements described, instead of the top end of the stalk having a
conoidal sinking receiving a pivot depending from the crown of the hole or sleeve,
the former may have a conical end seating within a corresponding or like shaped
recess in the said crown part of the latter.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is
First. A bedstead or furniture castor, comprising a stalk or stem carried by the horn
and directed up a hole or sleeve made or let within the foot end of the leg of a
bedstead or article of furniture and with the upper end of the said stem contacting
with a conoidal or equivalent bearing at the crown of the sleeve or hole, substantially
as herein described and set forth.
Secondly. A bedstead or furniture castor, comprising a vertical and rotating stem,
proceeding from the horn of the bowl, and pivotally supporting at its upper end, the
leg of a bedstead or article of furniture, and with the said stein connected to the
said leg by a securing nut or collar, wherethrough the said stem passes and has
vertical play, substantially as, and for the purpose as, described and set forth.
Thirdly. In bedstead or furniture castors, fitting the interior of the leg with a
sleeve having at its inside crown a conical bearing seating itself upon a like conical
bearing in a stem or pivot made fast to the horn of the castor, substantially as
described and set forth.
Fourthly. In bedstead and furniture castors, ensuring the contacting of the bearing
surfaces of the castor pivot and leg respectively, when secured in position and to one
another by an affixing or attachment nut, collar or equivalent, by providing the said
stem or pivot with stops of a greater distance apart than the depth of the nut or
collar itself, so as to of admit the said stem having a vertical sliding movement,
substantially as described and set forth.
Fifthly. The improvements in bedstead and furniture castors, and in the means for
applying or securing the same in position, substantially as described and set forth.
Dated this 2nd day of Sentombar 1807
FREDERICK HOSKINS.
ALFRED LAWRENCE.
By Henry Skerrett,
DL DD