A wheel caster comprising a roller, and a two piece socket, wherein the two piece socket comprises a top housing, having a concave cavity to accept the roller in a freely rotatable configuration, a stem, to be inserted inside a leg of an object, and a bottom housing comprising an opening to allow a portion of the roller to extend below the bottom housing allowing the roller to contact a surface.

An article movement system includes an article and at least one ball wheel. The article has first and second article surfaces meeting at a first article edge. The ball wheel is located along the first article edge and includes a ball, a bearing arrangement and a shell. The ball engages a surface underlying the article, the bearing arrangement supports the ball for omni-directional rotational movement, and the shell is located along the first article edge and contains the ball and the bearing arrangement. The shell defines a non-circular ball opening through which a portion of the ball extends to contact the underlying surface. The article, the bearing arrangement and the shell are configured such that the ball wheel is able to support the article for omni-directional rolling motion over the underlying surface with either of the first and article surfaces parallel thereto, and at any orientation therebetween.

An article movement system includes an article and at least one ball wheel. The article has first and second article surfaces meeting at a first article edge. The ball wheel is located along the first article edge and includes a ball, a bearing arrangement and a shell. The ball engages a surface underlying the article, the bearing arrangement supports the ball for omni-directional rotational movement, and the shell is located along the first article edge and contains the ball and the bearing arrangement. The shell defines a non-circular ball opening through which a portion of the ball extends to contact the underlying surface. The article, the bearing arrangement and the shell are configured such that the ball wheel is able to support the article for omni-directional rolling motion over the underlying surface with either of the first and article surfaces parallel thereto, and at any orientation therebetween.

The present utility model refers to a rolling device and, more particularly, an improved multi-directional ball caster-type device having an increased slope, which means a smaller angular slope level, or a more acute inclination angle between the central vertical axis of the device and the surface upon which it rolls. The slope, or inclination angle of the present improved device is from 62 to 50, or less. As the inclinations angle can be more acute, the object supported on the rolling system, e.g. a luggage case, can be more sloped without having friction between the main ball involving structure and the ground.

The present utility model refers to a rolling device and, more particularly, an improved multi-directional ball caster-type device having an increased slope, which means a smaller angular slope level, or a more acute inclination angle between the central vertical axis of the device and the surface upon which it rolls. The slope, or inclination angle of the present improved device is from 62 to 50, or less. As the inclinations angle can be more acute, the object supported on the rolling system, e.g. a luggage case, can be more sloped without having friction between the main ball involving structure and the ground.

A rolling device for a device that is to be moved along a surface is described. The rolling device comprises a cylinder with an opening at one end and a piston that is arranged reciprocally movably in the cylinder such that the piston can be moved between an upper position in the cylinder and a lower position in the cylinder. The piston comprises a rolling element that is arranged in a first end portion of the piston that faces the cylinder opening and that rolls on the surface when the device is to be moved. The rolling device further comprises an actuator system for movement of the piston between the upper position and the lower position in the cylinder.

A rolling device for a device that is to be moved along a surface is described. The rolling device comprises a cylinder with an opening at one end and a piston that is arranged reciprocally movably in the cylinder such that the piston can be moved between an upper position in the cylinder and a lower position in the cylinder. The piston comprises a rolling element that is arranged in a first end portion of the piston that faces the cylinder opening and that rolls on the surface when the device is to be moved. The rolling device further comprises an actuator system for movement of the piston between the upper position and the lower position in the cylinder.

A caster apparatus is provided. In one embodiment, there is provided a caster apparatus including a caster wheel and a first driving wheel disposed on a first side of the caster wheel. The first driving wheel is configured to be driven by a first motor. A second driving wheel is disposed on a second side opposite to the first side of the caster wheel. The second driving wheel is configured to be driven by a second motor different from the first motor. A first actuator is configured to move the first driving wheel in a vertical direction to a ground according to a curvature of the ground. A second actuator is configured to move the second driving wheel in a vertical direction to the ground according to a curvature of the ground, wherein the first and second driving wheels are configured to steer the caster wheel.

A caster apparatus is provided. In one embodiment, there is provided a caster apparatus including a caster wheel and a first driving wheel disposed on a first side of the caster wheel. The first driving wheel is configured to be driven by a first motor. A second driving wheel is disposed on a second side opposite to the first side of the caster wheel. The second driving wheel is configured to be driven by a second motor different from the first motor. A first actuator is configured to move the first driving wheel in a vertical direction to a ground according to a curvature of the ground. A second actuator is configured to move the second driving wheel in a vertical direction to the ground according to a curvature of the ground, wherein the first and second driving wheels are configured to steer the caster wheel.

A caster configured to be attached to an object and provide for rolling movement of the object. The caster may include a main wheel and multiple support members that contact against and support the main wheel. One or more support members include a first sphere that may contact against a top of the main wheel. One or more support members include a second sphere that may contact against the main wheel along lateral sides of the main wheel and offset from the top.