Patent ID: 8424158

Claim:
A caster assembly comprising: an attachment means for attaching the caster assembly to a base of an object; a caster yoke coupled to the attachment means, wherein the caster yoke is operable to swivel relative to the attachment means, and wherein the caster yoke is coupled to a wheel operable to rotate freely about a wheel axle; a first swivel brake coupled to the caster yoke; a second swivel brake coupled to the caster yoke; a wheel brake coupled to the caster yoke; and a cam assembly operable in at least three states, wherein the cam assembly is coupled to the caster yoke, the cam assembly comprising: an actuating means for operating the cam assembly, a cam in mechanical communication with the actuating means, wherein the actuating means positions the cam to force the cam assembly into each of the at least three states, and wherein the cam rotates about a cam axle and the cam is segmented into a plurality of longitudinal portions, the longitudinal portions comprising: a swivel cam portion for engaging the swivel lever mechanism; and a brake cam portion for engaging the brake lever mechanism; a swivel lever mechanism in mechanical communication with the cam, and a brake lever mechanism in mechanical communication with the cam; wherein when the cam assembly is in a first state, the wheel is operable to rotate freely about the wheel axis and the caster yoke is operable to swivel freely relative to the attachment means; wherein when the cam assembly is in a second state, the cam disposes the swivel lever mechanism such that the first swivel brake is engaged to lock the caster yoke in a predetermined orientation relative to the attachment means while the wheel is allowed to rotate freely; and wherein when the cam assembly is in a third state, the cam disposes the brake lever mechanism such that, simultaneously, the wheel brake is engaged to stop the wheel from rotating freely about the wheel axis and the second swivel brake is engaged to stop the caster yoke from swivelling relative to the attachment means.