Bearing and support

• US 4,356,902 A
• Filed: 03/28/1980
• Issued: 11/02/1982
• Est. Priority Date: 10/17/1977
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Raymond J. Murphy
• Original Assignee: Raymond J. Murphy
• Inventors: Murphy, Raymond J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Reeves, Robert B.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Church, Gene A.
• Application Number:
  US06/135,196
• Time in Patent Office: 949 Days
• Field of Search: 193/35 R, 193/35 MD, 193/37, 104/135, 104/134, 104/1, 295/1, 295/44, 308/15, 308/16, 308/20, 16/98, 16/108, 16/47, 16/88, 198/472, 198/779
• US Class Current: 193/35.00R
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/0173 Means for preventing injuries
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/0192 Specific means for adjusting dimensions
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/163 holding means therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/1635 Hand or arm, e.g. handle
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/1642 Holding means therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/1652 Harness
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 3/008 using suspension devices for supporting the body in an upright walking or standing position, e.g. harnesses
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2005/163 Free-fall jumping on elastic cords, e.g. Bungee jumping
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/023 Wound springs
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/0552 Elastic ropes or bands
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2210/50 Size reducing arrangements for stowing or transport
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2244/08 Jumping, vaulting
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2244/12 Acrobats
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 4/00 Balance beams
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 5/11 Trampolines
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 5/16 Training devices for jumping; Devices for balloon-jumping; Jumping aids A63B25/02, A63B25/10 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/0064 Attachments on the trainee preventing falling
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 7/00 Freely-suspended gymnastic apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 13/006 Guiding rollers, wheels or the like, formed by or on the outer element of a single bearing or bearing unit, e.g. two adjacent bearings, whose ratio of length to diameter is generally less than one
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 19/507 with rolling elements journaled in one of the moving parts, e.g. stationary rollers to support a rotating part
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 2316/30 : Articles for sports, games and amusement, e.g. roller skates, toys
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 29/005 : Guide rails or tracks for a linear bearing, i.e. adapted for movement of a carriage or bearing body there along
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 29/045 : having rolling elements journaled in one of the moving parts

Abstract

In a bearing and support for use either as a bearing, per se, or as a bearinged support for other items and incorporating the bearing of this invention; the bearing includes at least a pair of rotatable members that rotate or counter-rotate about a common axis, a shaft supporting the rotatable members for rotation about its common axis; roller, ball, sleeve, or other forms of bearing disposed between the rotatable members and the shaft to facilitate the rotation of the members therearound; a structural member incorporating a series of keepers upon its upper and lower edges and which retain races or tracks, and being disposed for having one of the rotatable members associated thereon to provide a bearing suspended support for holding other items, or the body of a person. The bearinged support may be of a circular or of a nonannular design, to carry both radial and thrust loads, thereby increasing its various uses, which include, among other concepts, the application of the support for use in conjunction with gymnastic equipment, such as to provide safety during usage of the horizontal bar, balance beam, the trampoline, or even during tumbling, and in addition, the support has usage for facilitating the plight of the invalid. Furthermore, the invention can be used as a bearing to support both radial and thrust loads, can be used in cams, machinery, dollies, manufacturing transfer machines, conveyors, and safety equipment, among other items. A crossarm for movement along a track provides the overhead structure for holding the bearinged support at a variable or fixed disposition therebelow, as during use of the support for one of the aforesaid purposes. The structural member and its races of the support are separable, being held together by means of an adjustable bridging member, thereby advancing the state of the art by allowing the opening up of the bearing races and wrapping the assembly around the shaft, body or load, and by use of the adjustable bridge draw the assembly and load into continuous contact through a tightening and locking the bridge.

Claims

1. A dolly for use in transferring material upon a surface, said dolly including a frame member, a series of bearings rotatively disposed with respect to the frame member, said frame member surrounding the periphery of said bearings, each bearing comprising a pair of rotatable members, said pair of members being rotatable about a common axis, a shaft having the said members rotatably mounted thereon and providing the common axis about which said members rotate, one member capable of simultaneously rotating in an opposite direction from the other member, a bearing means arranged intermediate the rotatable members and their shaft to facilitate the turning of said members therearound, the shaft of each bearing being secured to the frame member, the shafts of each bearing member being angularly disposed with respect to each other and the said frame member, the angular disposition of said shafts providing for the higher locating of one rotatable member with respect to the other rotatable member mounted upon the same shaft, whereby one rotatable member of each bearing being provided for movement upon the surface while the other rotatable member of each bearing being arranged for providing movement of materials disposed thereupon.

2. The invention of claim 1 including a detention means useful for holding any material or item upon the dolly being located approximate one side edge of the said frame member, said detention means including a locking means operatively associated therewith and disposed for securing the said supportive material upon the dolly during its usage.