A wheel assembly includes a wheel having an axle, and a constant force mechanism coupled to the wheel. The constant force mechanism includes a horizontal support, a horizontal carriage associated with the horizontal support, a vertical support oriented perpendicular with respect to the horizontal support, a vertical carriage associated with the vertical support, and a rigid arm that is pivotally coupled with the horizontal carriage, the vertical carriage, and the axle. The rigid arm is coupled with the vertical carriage at a point intermediate where the rigid arm is coupled with the horizontal carriage and the axle. The horizontal carriage is capable of being urged along the horizontal support, and the vertical carriage is capable of being urged along the vertical support.

A child stroller comprises a wheel assembly that includes a wheel disposed on a wheel mount, a wheel bushing including a bore, a pivot pin including an upper end, the pivot pin extending from an upper portion of the wheel mount and into the bore of the wheel bushing, and a force finger disposed in an upper end of the bore and at least partially surrounding and frictionally engaging the upper end of the pivot pin.

The invention concerns a rolling device for a device to enable moving the device along a surface. The rolling device comprises a housing arranged for attachment to the device and a wheel support assembly arranged in the housing for carrying a wheel. The wheel support assembly comprises a wheel carrying member arranged for connection with the wheel, and a retainer element arranged for connection with the housing. The wheel carrying member comprises a deflective rib with an protrusion for releasable engagement with a groove of the retainer element to select the release or attachment between the wheel carrying member and the retainer element.

A self-leveling caster assembly includes a caster frame and a castor fork which is configured to pivot relative to the caster frame. A spring or other biasing mechanism biases the caster fork away from the caster frame, to maintain contact between the ground and a wheel supported by the caster fork along a travel range of the wheel. Even if a frame supporting the self-leveling caster assembly is bent, pulling the wheel away from the ground, the biased caster fork will maintain contact between the ground and the wheel, allowing continued use of a shopping cart or other wheeled apparatus including the self-leveling caster assembly.

Mobile folding restaurant booth style benches are provided, which may be arranged in opposed pairs to form restaurant style booths. An individual bench incorporates a mechanism for shifting the weight of the bench between a mobile base, which may be supported by swivel casters, and a stationary base, which may be supported by non-slip feet, actuated by pivoting a bench seat down from a folded storage position to an unfolded seating position. The weight shifting mechanism may include an engagement member, which is initially spaced apart from an actuator at a folded angle of the seat, and which contacts and begins transmitting force and movement to the actuator at a partially unfolded angle of the seat. Preferably, the bench further includes a biasing component that biases the stationary base upward relative to the mobile base.

A shock absorbing caster system includes an inner-bearing, a flexible-hub, and outer-rim, and a cylindrical disc. The inner-bearing is configured as a roller-bearing and fixed to the flexible-hub. The inner-bearing is further surrounded by the outer-rim. The inner-bearing is fixed to the flexible-hub and to the outer-rim by a bonding process. The cylindrical disc is configured as a tire and further circumferentially affixed to the other-rim. The shock absorbing caster is useful for providing a caster wheel having a flexible hub with shock absorbing properties for use with luggage and other suitable applications.

A mobile robot configured to drive on a surface with irregularities, comprising: a chassis having a front end facing a forward direction of travel, a back end, a first side, and a second side. There is a first drive wheel rigidly affixed to the chassis proximate the first side and interconnected to a motor to propel it. There is a second drive wheel rigidly affixed to the chassis proximate the second side and interconnected to a motor to propel it. A first caster assembly is rigidly affixed to the chassis proximate the front end and includes a first caster wheel configured to rotate about a first swivel axis. A second caster assembly is rigidly affixed to the chassis proximate the back end and includes a second caster wheel configured to rotate about a second swivel axis and it includes a compliant member to absorb the irregularities.

There is provided a spring-powered drive apparatus including a casing (102), an output shaft (103) mounted on the casing (102) in a relatively rotatable manner, a one way clutch (112) externally fitted on the output shaft (103) in the casing (102) and, a spiral spring (105, 107) housed in the casing and wound by turning of the output shaft (103) in the direction in which the one way clutch (112) transmits torque. Thus, there can be provided a compact spring-powered drive apparatus and a self-propelled caster that can be applied to a work cart or the like.

A wheel assembly includes a constant force mechanism and a wheel coupled to the constant force mechanism. The wheel is displaceable in at least one dimension, and the constant force mechanism imparts a substantially constant force on the wheel in the dimension. In one aspect, the wheel is displaceable in a first regime and a second regime. For a wheel displacement in the first regime, the constant force mechanism imparts a substantially constant force on the wheel, and for a wheel displacement in the second regime, the constant force mechanism imparts a variable force on the wheel. The variable force can be linear or non-linear to the magnitude of the displacement in the second regime and is equal to or greater than the substantially constant force.

A caster with an elastic member that absorbs impact forces during use. The elastic member can be placed between first and second portions pivotable with respect to each other about a pin. The elastic member can absorb impact forces between the first and second portions when in use. The elastic member can further include grooves that allow portions of the elastic member adjacent the grooves to flow into the grooves during impact, further absorbing impact forces.