US1849570A - Furniture caster - Google Patents

Description

March 15, 1932. T P. DUNCAN. JR

FURNITURE CASTER Filed Sept. 27. 1950 gwuentoz T, RD u n aaIzJ" Patented Mar. 15, 1932 UNITED STATES THOMAS P. DUNCAN, JR., OF NEWPCRT NEWS, VIRGINIA FURNITURE (EASTER Application filed September 27, 1930. SeriaLNo; 484,903.

This invention relates to improvements in furniture casters.

The primary object of the present invention is to provide a furniture caster having a fibrous floor engaging tuft, with improved means for securing the tuft to a carrying body whereby the cutting of the strands of material of which the tuft is made up is prevented both when the carrying body is closed about the tuft and when it is secured in position upon the bottom of the leg of an article of furniture.

Another object of the invention is to provide a furniture caster which may be readily applied and which will offer a noise-proof support.

The invention will be best understood from a consideration of the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings forming part of this specification, with the understanding, however, that the invention is not confined to any strict conformity with the showing of the drawings but may be changed or modified so long as such changes or modifications mark no material departure from the salient features of the invention as expressed in the appended claim.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a view in side elevation of the caster embodying the present invention showing the same applied.

Figure 2 is a View showing the carrying member for the tufted portion of the caster in cross-section, with the adjacent portion of the supporting furniture leg in section also.

Figure 3 is a view in top plan of the caster per se.

Referring more particularly to the drawings wherein like numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views, the numeral 1 indicates the lower portion of the leg of an article of furniture showing the present improved caster, which is indicated generally by the numeral 2, applied thereto.

In the present caster there is provided a tuft of fibrous material which is indicated by the numeral 3, this material being provided in the form of a short rope about one end of which a carrying member 4 is secured. The carrying member 4: is formed of relatively heavy metal and is, of annular design, as shown in Figure 3. V This carrying body 4 is ofsubstantially U-shaped cross-sectional design, as shown in Figure 2, having therefore the inner and outer walls 5 and 6, the rounded connecting portion 7 being directed downwardly in the completed caster.

This annular body 4 is split as indicated 59 at 8 so that in the making of the caster it may be opened up slightly to permit of the insertion of one end of the fabric body 3 after which it is closed so as to tightly grip the same, the inner side of the inner wall 5 of the body encircling and firmly holding the body of fibrous material 3. The upper end of the body 3 is allowed to project slightly beyond the top edges of the walls of the caster so that when the caster is placed in position, as shown in Figure 2, this projecting portion will be brought into firm contact with the lower surface of the leg of the article of furniture and gripped firmly between it and the top edge of the wall 5. The top edge of the outer wall 6 of the carrying body has formed integral therewith a number of spurs 9 which may be driven into the body carrying the caster in the manner shown.

From the foregoing description it will bereadily seen that in a caster constructed in accordance with the present invention the fibres making up the tuft 3 will be gripped by a relatively broad surface so that none thereof will be cut and therefore the tuft will not shed any of its fibres. It will also be seen, as has been previously described, that when the caster is applied the fibres, being firmly compressed between the top edge of the wall portion 5 of the carrying body and the leg 1 to which the caster is attached, will be found firmly secured against escape. Then the caster is in use the tuft will spread out in the manner shown in Figure 1 so as to provide a broad soft supporting surface which will carry the article to which it is attached in such a manner that it may be moved about without noise and without damage to polished floor surfaces.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

A caster of the character described, comprising an annular body of substantially U- shaped cross sectional design forming relatively Wide inner and outer portions connected by a rounded intermediate portion, spur members formed integral with and extending from the free edge of the outer portion, and a rope like body of fibrous material extended at one end through and tightly secured in said inner portion, the outer end of the body being frayed out to form a supporting tuft overlying the rounded intermediate portion and the inner end of the body being spread to overlie the free edge of the inner portion.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aflix my signature.

THOMAS P. DUNCAN, JR.

Images