US863530A - Caster. - Google Patents

Description

PATENTED AUG. 13,1907. F. L. 'GEORGI. OASTER APPLIOATIdN FILED MAR. 25, 1907.

, WITNESSES lNl ENTOR Alzomeys FREDRIGK L. GEORGI, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

CASTER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 13, 1907.

Application filed March 25,1907. Serial No. 364,358.

' of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook, State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Casters; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in casters, and it has particular reference to a caster carried upon a leg section, the latter being adjustably secured to an article of furniture.

In connection with a device ofthe above type, the invention aims as a primary object to provide means whereby an article of furniture, such as a desk or a table, may be supported with its casters off the floor, in order that it may be steadier in use, and whereby, when it is desired to move such article of furniture, the leg section carrying the caster may be moved with relation to the stationary supporting section until the caster engages the floor and the stationary section gradually raised therefrom. In addition to this use, the invention may serve various other manifest purposes, such for instance as adjusting the article of furniture to a level plane by properly positioning the sections of a desired leg or legs.

The invention aims as a further object to provide a device of the above type embodying a novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts, the details of which will appear in the course of the following description, in which reference is had to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, wherein,

Figure 1 is a plan view of a device constructed in accordance with the present invention, the alternative position of the adjustably movable section being shown in dotted lines. Fig. 2 is a side elevation thereof, and Fig. 3 is a central longitudinal section thereof.

Referring specifically to the drawings, wherein like characters of reference designate similar parts, the numeral 1 designates a stationary part of the article of furniture, from which the leg section 2 is adjustably suspended. The part 1 may be the solid stock of such article or a fixed leg section, but for convenience of description, it will hereinafter be referred to as a leg. A plate 3 is fixed longitudinally to the lower portion of the part 1 by screws 4. The plate 3 has openings 5 threaded therethrough at determinate intervals for the reception of screws 6 which are threaded a short distance into the leg section 1. The screws 6 are projected through short length longitudinal slots 7 provided therefor in the section 2, washers 7 being interposed between said section and the heads of said screws. The section 2 at its lower end carries a caster 8 of conventional form, and at its upper end is coneavely curved, as at 9. The section 2 on its inner surface adjacent the section 1 is provided adjacent the lower end thereof with a longitudinal recess 10 communicating with the lowermost slot 7 and within which is disposed a retractile coil-spring 11, one end of said spring being fixed to the material of the leg 2 at the lower end of said recess and the other end of said spring being bent upon itself, as at 12, and looped loosely about the lowermost screw 6. A cam lever 13 is pivoted, as at 14, eccentrically of its working portion 15 to the plate 3.directly above the upper end of the leg 2 and the curved surface of said working portion 15 is designed to engage the curved surface 9 of the upper end of the leg 2.

The manner of use will be readily apparent from the foregoing description.

The spring 11 normally sustains the section 2 in a position whereby its caster 8 is away from the floor, the article of furniture being directly supported upon the section 1, the lower end of which rests upon the floor. Should it be desired, for any of the purposes above enumerated, to move the section 2 with relation to the section 1, the cam lever 13 is swung upwardly from the dotted position of Fig. 1, whereby its working portion 15 will engage the surface 9 at the greatest distance from the pivot 14. The working portion 15 thus acts as a follower for depressing the section 2 against the tension of the spring 11. In either the raised or lowered position of the cam lever 13, the spring 11 exerts its force along a dead central line, so that accidental displacement of said lever from the position to which it is moved is impossible.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that simple and efficient means are provided for accomplishing the objects of the invention, but while the elements herein shown and described are well adapted to serve the purposes set forth, it is obvious that various minor changes may be made in the proportions, shape and arrangement of the several parts without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

' What is claimed, is

l. A device of the type set forth comprising the combination with an article of furniture, of a leg section carrying a caster at its lower end and having longitudinal slots arranged one above the other, screws loosely projected through said slots and threaded into a stationary part of said article, a retractile coil spring having its upper end loosely engaged with one of said screws and its lower end fixed to said leg section, and a cam lever eccentrically pivoted upon said stationary part and adapted for engagement with the upper end of said leg section.

2. A device of the type set forth comprising the combination with an article of furniture, of a leg section fixed thereto, a longitudinal metallic plate carried by said fixed leg section, an adjustably movable leg section carrying a caster at its lower end and having longitudinal slots arranged one above the other, screws loosely projected through said slots and threaded into said plate, said movable leg section having a longitudinal recess in its inner face extending on both sides of one of said screws, :1 retractile coil spring disposed in said recess and having its lower end fixed to the material at the base of said recess and having its upper end loosely surrounding said screw, and a cam lever having its working portion eccentrically pivoted to said plate and designed for engagement with the upper end of said movable section as a follower.

3 A device of the type set forth, comprising the combination with an article of furniture, of a leg section,carrying a caster at its lower end and having longitudinal slots arranged one above the other, screws loosely projected through said slots and threaded into a stationary part of said article, said leg sections being formed at its lower end with a recess in its inner face, a retractile coil spring disposed in said recess, and having its lower end fixed to the material at the base of said recess and its upper end engaged with the lowermost of said screws, and means for lowering said leg section against the tension of said spring.

In testimony whereof, I aflix my signature, in presence of two witnesses.

FREDRICK L. GEORGI.

Witnesses E. H. ALLEN, JOSEPH A. .ToLm.

Images