Improvements in Casters or Castors used at the Base or Bases of Furniture and the like
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 31st Dec., 1896
Complete Specification Left, 30th Oct., 1897-Accepted, 4th Dec., 1897
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
"Improvements in Casters or Castors used at the Base or Bases of
Furniture and the like."'
I, WILLIAM ROBERT WELCH BAGG of Burcott Farm Wells Somerset Farmer.
do hereby declare the nature of this Invention to be as follows:-
My Invention relates to improvements in Casters, and has for its object the
making of those devices in such a manner as to materially reduce the friction in
same when the piece of furniture to which my improved casters are attached is
moved.
The consequent result is that such piece of furniture or other object to which my
improved caster is attached is more readily and easily moved from one place to
another.
My Invention has special reference to that class of caster in which a revolving
or moveable ball instead of a wheel is used for rolling over the floor hitherto it has
been found that the methods of arranging the movement of this ball have been
faulty in as much as the said ball jams or becomes fixed in the socket or cup which
retains it in its position and thus the ball becomes fixed and so nullifies the purpose
for which a caster is used.
My Invention has special reference to obviating the fixing or
facilitate the motion of the ball herein before referred to.
I carry out my Invention in manner as follows:-
jamming and to
I form a cylindrical or other suitably shaped base which will hereinafter in
these presents be referred to as the socket.
On a suitable part of the socket a flange or its equivalent is formed through
which holes are formed and by means of screws, nails or it, or their equivalents,
the said base is attached to any suitable position on any required piece of furniture
or any of the other or usual well known and suitable means and appliances for
fastening Castors to furniture may be used.
The socket has formed in it a cylindrical hole of a suitable size for the large
ball that rests on the floor to pass through; this larger ball will be hereinafter
referred to as the Floor Ball.
The Floor Ball projects beyond the socket but is prevented from dropping out
by means of a lip formed on the end of the Cylindrical Hole remote from the flange
herein before described which reduces the diameter of the Cylindrical Hole to less
than the largest diameter of the Floor Ball On the top of the ball or the end
of the socket nearest to the part attached to the furniture there is fitted into
this said end of the cylindrical hole what will hereinafter in these presents be
termed a Plug.
The Plug has formed in it on the side next the Floor Ball a circular groove or
grooves and in such groove or grooves are placed suitable metallic antifriction
balls which are in immediate contact with the Floor Ball.
It will now be readily understood that when the castor is fixed in position on
the furniture and as the Floor Ball moves over the floor it impinges on the anti-
friction balls and revolves in any required direction with ease and certainty and

page_text: the anti-friction balls reduce the friction tending to retard the free movement of
the Floor Ball.
Dated this 30th day of December 1896.
M. LLEWELLIN, CE
15 King Square Bristol
Agent for Applicant.
"Improvements in Casters or Castors used at the Base or Bases of
Furniture and the like."
I, WILLIAM ROBERT WELCH BAGG of Burcott Farm Wells Somerset Farmer 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 :-
My Invention relates to Improvements in Casters, and has for its object the
making of those devices in such a manner as to materially reduce the friction in
same, when the piece of furniture to which my improved Casters are attached
is moved.
The consequent result is that such piece of furniture or other object to which
my improved Caster is attached is more readily and easily moved from one place
to another.
My Invention has special reference to that class of castor in which a revolving
or moveable ball instead of a wheel is used for rolling over the floor, hitherto.
it has been found that the methods of arranging for, the free movement of this
ball have been faulty, in as much as the said ball jams or becomes fixed. in the
socket or cup which retains it in its position and thus the ball becomes fixed
and so nullifies the purpose for which a caster is used.
My Invention has special reference to obviating the fixing or jamming and to
facilitate the motion of the ball herein before referred to.
...I carry out my Invention in manner as follows. *
I form a Cylindrical or other suitably shaped base which will hereinafter in
these presents be referred to as the socket.
On a suitable part of the socket a flange or its equivalent is formed through
which holes are formed and by means of screws, nails, or it or their equivalents,
the said base is attached to any suitable position on any required piece of furni
ture or any of the other or usual & well known and suitable means and appliances
for fastening Castors to furniture may be used.
The socket has formed in it a Cylindrical hole of a suitable size for the large
ball that rests on the floor to pass through, this larger ball will be hereinafter
referred to as the Floor Ball:
The Floor Ball projects beyond the socket but is prevented from dropping out
by means of a lip formed on the end of the Cylindrical Hole remote from the
flange hereinbefore described which reduces the diameter of the Cylindrical Hole
to, less than the largest diameter of the Floor Ball.
. On the top of the ball, or the end of the Socket nearest to the part attached to
the furniture there is fitted into this said end of the Cylindrical hole what will
hereinafter in these presents be termed a Plug.
The Plug has formed in it on the side next the Floor Ball.a ciroular groove or
grooves, and in. such groove or grooves are placed suitable metallic antifriction
balls which are in immediate contact with the Floor Ball...
It will now be readily understood that when the Caster is fixed in position on

page_text: the furniture and as the Floor Ball moves over the floor it inpinges on the anti-
friction balls and revolves in any required direction with ease and certainty and
the anti-friction balls reduce the friction tending to retard the free movement of
the Floor Ball.
In order that my Invention may be more clearly understood I annex hereto
one sheet of explanatory drawings which are to be taken and read as part of
these presents. Like letters refer to like parts in all the figures:
Figure 1. is a sectional elevation of the Caster which is attached to the furni-
ture by means of a flange and screws or their equivalents.
Figure 2. is a sectional elevation of the Caster which can be attached to a
piece of furniture by means of a socket.
A is a ball of steel or other suitable material hereinafter referred to as the
"Floor Ball" and is that part of the Caster that comes in contact with the
floor. G, D, E, is the outside socket of which parts G is the flange, D the vertical
portion, E, E are the lips the distance between the lips E. E being somewhat less
than the largest diameter of the Floor ball A, C is a plug piece fitting in the
inside of the vertical part D, and containing at B a ball race in which Balls B
are placed.
Fis a screw hole in which screws are inserted for attaching flange G to furniture.
H are screws for keeping the plug piece in position.
In Figure 2 as before stated, like letters apply to like parts and the foregoing
description applies with this difference that instead of there being a flange G there
is a socket I into which certain parts of the furniture are stepped. The action of
the hereinbefore described device is as follows ---
The Caster having been fixed in a suitable manner and in an appropriate position
to the furniture or other article it is desired to attach it to as the furniture is moved
the Floor Ball A will revolve and the friction of its motion will be lessened by
reason of one portion of the surface of the floor ball being in contact, with the
balls B which work in the Ball Race B'. Hence the force required to move the
furniture will be lessened on account of the reduced friction resulting from the use
of this device.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said In-
vention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is-
1. I claim the making of thall casters substantially as herein before described and
set forth.
2. I claim in connection with ball castors the placing of balls in contact with a
larger ball substantially in the manner as herein before described and set forth.
3. I claim the making of plug picces in which ball races are formed fitted to
Castors substantially in the manner as herein before described and set forth.
Dated this 29 day of October 1897.
WM. LLEWELLIN, C.E.
15 King Square Bristol,
Agent for Applicant.
WM. LLEWELLIN, C.E.
15 King Square Bristol,
Agent, for Applicant.