Device for mounting a pair of casters to a segment of a structure of a stroller

• US 5,276,941 A
• Filed: 06/03/1992
• Issued: 01/11/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 06/03/1992
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Link Treasure Limited
• Original Assignee: Li C. Chen
• Inventors: Chen, Li C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Sipos, John
• Assistant Examiner(s): Cuda, Carmine
• Application Number:
  US07/892,747
• Time in Patent Office: 587 Days
• Field of Search: 16/47, 16/30, 16/44
• US Class Current: 16/47
• CPC Class Codes: B60B 33/0002 assembling to the object, e.g. furniture
• CPC Class Codes: B60B 33/0042 Double or twin wheels
• CPC Class Codes: B62B 2301/20 Resilient wheel suspension using springs

Abstract

The present invention provides a device for mounting a pair of casters to a tubular segment of a structure of a stroller. The mounting device consists of a first sleeve, a second sleeve and a cushion. Generally, the first sleeve is securely attached to a tubular segment of a structure of a stroller by means of a rivet or the like. The second sleeve pivotally receives the first sleeve, thereby permitting them to rotate relative to each other. The cushion consists of a cap-like element, a spring and a plug. The cap-like element has two slots longitudinally extending therein. The plug has a hole transversely extending therethrough. The cap-like element is securely connected with the second sleeve. The spring is received in the cap-like element. The plug is also received in the cap-like element. A shaft on which a pair of casters rotate is inserted through the slots in the cap-like element and the hole of the plug, whereby the spring is sandwiched-between the top in the cap-like element and the plug.

Claims

1. A device for mounting a pair of casters to a segment of a stroller structure comprising:

a) a first sleeve securely attached to a segment of a stroller structure, the first sleeve including upper and lower annular flanges;

b) a second sleeve for pivotally receiving the first sleeve and for restraining the first sleeve from diverging from the second sleeve, the second sleeve including an upper circular rim and a flexible longitudinal buckle, the upper circular rim supporting the upper annular flange and the flexible buckle detachably locking the lower annular flange, whereby the first sleeve is restrained from diverging from the second sleeve; and

,

c) a cushion respectively connected with said second sleeve and with a shaft on which a pair of casters rotate.

2. A device in accordance with claim 1 wherein (A) said first sleeve comprises two countersinks corresponding to two holes of the segment and (B) a rivet is insertable through said countersinks of said first sleeve and the holes of the segment, thereby securely attaching said first sleeve to the segment.

3. A device in accordance with claim 1 wherein (A) said lower annular flange is tapered downwards to thereby form a conical surface, (B) said flexible buckle has a protrusion transversely extending thereon, (C) said conical surface urges said flexible buckle away therefrom to thereby permit said lower annular flange to pass said protrusion and (D) at the moment when said lower annular flange is below said protrusion, said flexible buckle recovers to it'"'"'s original position where said protrusion is against said lower annular flange, thereby restraining said first sleeve from moving upwards relative to said second sleeve.

4. A device in accordance with claim 1 wherein said cushion comprises:

a cap-like element securely connected with said second sleeve;

a spring received in said cap-like element; and

a plug slidably received in said cap-like element to thereby compress said spring between said cap-like element and said plug;

the shaft attached to said plug, whereby the stroller is cushioned.

5. A device in accordance with claim 4 wherein said cap-like element has two opposite longitudinal slots.

6. A device in accordance with claim 5 wherein said plug has integral slender upper and thick lower sections, said spring encloses said slender upper section and is compressed between said cap-like element and said thick lower section.

7. A device in accordance with claim 6 wherein said plug has a transverse through hole, the shaft extends through said opposite longitudinal slots and said through hole.