Miscellaneous hardware (e.g. – bushing – carpet fastener – caster – Casters – Leg elevators
Reexamination Certificate
2002-03-07
2003-07-22
Mah, Chuck Y. (Department: 3676)
Miscellaneous hardware (e.g., bushing, carpet fastener, caster,
Casters
Leg elevators
C016S044000, C016S032000, C016S033000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06594856
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention generally relates to mechanisms that act to support an item while at the same time allowing the item to move across a support surface. In particular, the present invention relates to using a retractable roller mechanism that provides a static support upon the support surface when the item, such as an article of furniture has a relatively high force towards the support surface causing the roller mechanism to retract and when the item has a relatively lower force towards the support surface the roller mechanism automatically separates the static support from the support surface thereby allowing a roller to freely move the item along the support surface.
BACKGROUND OF INVENTION
There has long been a desire to move large, bulky, and unwieldy items easily across a support surface with a minimum of effort while at the same time having the item not be unstable along the support surface during the times when it is desired that the item not to be easily moved across the support surface. This desire to have a roller mechanism or castor mechanism have two position states, being a first or operative position state where the roller serves to allow the item to be easily moved along the support surface and a second or inoperative position state wherein the roller becomes inoperative not allowing the item to be easily moved along the support surface, is well recognized in the prior art.
Previous approaches to this problem have often resulted in complex castor mechanisms that required the item to be lifted in order to actuate the castor into the previously mentioned first or operative position state from the second or inoperative position state or vice versa. The problem with this approach was that it required the item to be lifted, which is unsatisfactory because the desire to avoid lifting the item is the reason for providing roller mechanisms in the first place. Even if a particular item is not all that heavy, the size and bulk of the item usually makes it difficult for a single individual to simultaneously lift the item and operate the roller mechanism to go from the inoperative state to the operative state. In addition most items have multiple roller mechanisms, which require a single individual to lift the item multiple times at different locations. The aforementioned complex caster mechanisms have sometimes included jacks, in which the item can be raised and lowered to effectuate the roller mechanism changing its operating state, however, these mechanisms are still difficult to use for two reasons. First, if the item is located in a confined area or space, the jacking mechanism is difficult to access, and secondly, the location of the jacking mechanism, typically being on the bottom of the item could be difficult for an individual to be able to reach to the jacking mechanism while simultaneously attempting to lift the item. Other approaches to this problem have included using a spherical roller mechanism that fits inside:a mating socket, wherein the socket is retractable into a separate housing to provide both static support on the support surface when the spherical roller and socket assembly are retracted into the housing and when the spherical roller and socket assembly are extended from the housing allowing the item to be moved along the support surface. The problem with the spherical roller is that it operated at a close clearance with the socket assembly and is prone to ingesting foreign material into this close clearance, such as carpet fibers, when the spherical roller was moving across the support surface, which caused a high degree of a frictional resistance to the spherical roller rotating. This resistance to rotation by the spherical roller made it difficult to move the item across the support surface. Another problem with the spherical roller was that it had a small contact area with the support surface which increased the unit loading that the spherical roller placed upon the support surface from the weight of the item, this in turn increased the likelihood of damage to the support surface from the spherical roller and again increased resistance to moving the item across the support surface when the support surface softer such as wood, linoleum, and carpet.
Prior art examples would be U.S. Pat. No. 5,347,680 to Rippe, U.S. Pat. No. 5,001,808 to Chung, and U.S. Pat. No. 4,783,879 to Weaver that utilize mechanisms to manually adjust the roller height to accommodate the aforementioned operative state and inoperative state. Wherein the roller in the operative state allows the item to be moved across the support surface and in the inoperative state the roller is retracted to allow the roller assembly to statically rest upon the support surface. These mechanisms require manual activation to change the roller assembly from either the operative state to the inoperative state or vice versa, with the previously mentioned disadvantages of manual activation being located at the roller assembly adjacent to the support surface.
There remains a need by for a retractable roller mechanism that supports an item while providing the two desired position states of being operative to allow the item to move along a support surface and being inoperative to statically support the item upon the support surface, without the need for an individual to lift the item or operate the mechanism while at the same time being adaptable to varying support surface types, minimizing damage to the support surface, and being a simple to construct.
SUMMARY OF INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved fixed pivotal retractable roller mechanism that can be operated conveniently by the normal forces that are applied to the item on which the roller mechanism is mounted, without the requirement of an individual having to access the roller mechanism itself.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a fixed pivotal retractable roller mechanism wherein the roller is automatically retracted into the housing with the fixed pivotal retractable roller mechanism in an inoperative state by a exerting a force that is greater than the normal weight of the item from the item to the support surface, allowing the item to assume a static or stationary position for the period of time in which the force is continuously applied.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide a fixed pivotal retractable roller mechanism wherein the fixed pivotal retractable roller mechanism is automatically placed into an operative state, and permitting free movement of the item along the support surface when the force from the item to the support surface is equal to the normal weight of the item.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a fixed pivotal retractable roller mechanism of simple non-castor construction that allows only bidirectional movement of the item while the fixed pivotal retractable roller mechanism is in the operative state.
Still yet another object of the present invention to provide a pivotal retractable castor roller mechanism with an option for castor capabilities on a roller pivot.
It is still yet another object of the present invention to provide a pivotal retractable castor roller mechanism with an option for castor capabilities on a roller pivot that is non retractable.
It is yet still another object of the present invention to provide a pivotal retractable castor roller mechanism with an option for castor capabilities on a roller pivot that is retractable into an inoperative position state from an operative position state and vice versa.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a retractable roller mechanism that while in an operative position state has a roller that is adaptable to varying support surface types.
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a retractable roller mechanism that while in an operative state or in inoperative state will result in none or minimal damage to the support surface.
It is further yet another object of the present invention to provide a retrac
Jackson Roger A.
Mah Chuck Y.
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