Caster Wheel

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2018319213-A1
Application number	US-201815952931-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Apr 13, 2018
Priority date	May 8, 2017
Publication date	Nov 8, 2018
Grant date	—

Abstract

Disclosed are systems and methods for reducing friction on a brake arm of a caster wheel brake. A washer can be positioned between the brake arm and the support arm to reduce friction in this area. Lubricant can also be provided between the brake arm and the support arm, and also between the brake arm and the brake cam, to reduce the friction in these areas. The presently disclosed embodiments therefore allow less force to actuate the brake arm as compared to prior art caster wheels.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A caster wheel comprising:
a base; a swivel coupled to the base; a support arm coupled to the swivel at a first support end of the support arm, the support arm having a second support end opposite the first support end; a wheel rotatable coupled to the support arm at the second support end, the wheel having a hole at a radial center of the wheel; an axle extending through the hole of the wheel and coupling to the support arm; a brake arm rotatably disposed about the axle; and a washer disposed between the brake arm and the support arm.

2 . The caster wheel of claim 1 , wherein the brake arm includes a first side and a second side opposite the first side, and further comprising lubricant provided on the first and second sides of the brake arm.

3 . The caster wheel of claim 1 , wherein the axle includes an axle head at a first axle end, threads at a second axle end opposite the first axle end, and a shaft extending between the first and second axle ends.

4 . The caster wheel of claim 1 , wherein the swivel is adapted to operate in a fixed mode, wherein the wheel is aligned in a predetermined position, and a swivel mode, wherein the wheel is rotatable about an axis perpendicular to the base.

5 . The caster wheel of claim 4 , further comprising a pin that is selectively insertable into the swivel to cause the caster wheel to operate in the fixed or swivel mode.

6 . The caster wheel of claim 1 , wherein the brake arm includes a lever and a handle extending from the lever, the lever receiving the axle.

7 . The caster wheel of claim 1 , wherein the swivel includes a swivel bracket having opposing first and second swivel bracket sides, and further comprising a support pin extending from the first swivel bracket side to the second swivel bracket side.

8 . The caster wheel of claim 7 , the support pin coupling the support arm to the swivel.

9 . A method of lubricating a caster wheel comprising:
providing the caster wheel having a base, a wheel rotatable coupled to the base by a support arm, a brake having a brake arm rotatably disposed about an axle with first and second axle ends, a head being located at the first axle end, and a nut being threadably coupled to threads at the second axle end; loosening the nut without removing the nut from the axle; applying lubricant to the brake between the brake arm and the support arm; providing lubricant to the brake between the brake arm and a brake cam; and tightening the nut.

Assignees

• Snap On Tools Corp

Inventors

• Doerflinger David A
• Sharp William T

Classifications

• B60B33/0078 Primary

  characterised by details of the wheel braking mechanism · CPC title

• B60B2900/1212

  due to friction · CPC title

• B60B33/025

  by using form-fit, e.g. front teeth · CPC title

• B60B33/0084 Primary

  acting on axle end · CPC title

• B60B2900/561

  Lubrication · CPC title