A caster wheel assembly includes a wheel mounted for rotation about a horizontal axis within a wheel carriage such that the wheel rotates about the horizontal axis with respect to the wheel carriage. The wheel carriage is positioned within a retention ring such that the wheel carriage can rotate about the vertical axis with respect to the retention ring. The wheel carriage also has an opening on the bottom surface such that the wheel can make contact with the ground. The horizontal axis about which the wheel rotates is offset from the vertical axis about which the wheel carriage rotates. An outer carriage may be included such that the outer carriage is positioned within the retention ring and the wheel carriage is positioned within the outer carriage. The outer carriage would be able to rotate about the vertical axis with respect to both the retention ring and the wheel carriage.

A pallet moving system includes a pallet dolly puller, and a pallet dolly with a guiding structure thereon permitting and facilitating the blind engagement and disengagement of the dolly puller to the pallet. The dolly puller includes caster wheels, a handle, and at least one projecting portion configured to mateably couple with recessed portions on the underside of the pallet dolly in order that the pallet dolly may be moved and readily re-positioned even in confined spaces.

A method of assembling a wheeled package includes providing a package having an exterior surface with at least one cavity, and inserting a retractable caster assembly at least partially into the cavity. The retractable caster assembly includes a frame and a caster wheel assembly with a wheel and two guide members configured to be movable along slots within the frame so that: when the caster wheel assembly is at a first end of the slots the wheel is in a retracted position substantially within the cavity; and when the caster wheel assembly is at a second end of the slots the wheel is in an extended position extending from the cavity.

Multi-wheel casters designed to traverse various obstacles are described herein. The multi-wheel casters can be used in various applications to transport various loads from a first location to a second location. The multi-wheel casters can be rotatable about a king pin to provide maneuverability or can be fixed about a king pin to provide beneficial straight-line transportation. A combination of identical and different casters can be used to create different load transportation platforms.

A height adjustable support comprising a three-sided support channel, a cylindrical support post positioned within the support channel and at least one saddle brace positioned within the support channel and to partially surround the cylindrical support post. In the present invention, the downward force resulting from the weight of the equipment results in static friction between the saddle brace and the cylindrical support post that is sufficient to hold the equipment surface at a desired height. The height adjustable support may be implemented into hygienically designed food processing equipment to eliminate undesirable bacteria harboring surfaces and to improve height adjustability of the equipment.

A hospital bed obstacle detection device and related method for detecting an obstacle between first and second components of a hospital bed is provided.

A method of assembling a wheeled package includes providing a package having an exterior surface with at least one cavity, and inserting a retractable caster assembly at least partially into the cavity. The retractable caster assembly includes a frame and a caster wheel assembly with a wheel and two guide members configured to be movable along slots within the frame so that: when the caster wheel assembly is at a first end of the slots the wheel is in a retracted position substantially within the cavity; and when the caster wheel assembly is at a second end of the slots the wheel is in an extended position extending from the cavity.

A caster including a plurality of rollers and a base including a plurality of openings through which the plurality of rollers protrude. The caster further includes a retainer disposed over the base and the plurality of rollers. The retainer is configured to maintain the position of the rollers protruding through the openings. The caster has at least one attachment surface that includes a double-sided adhesive. The attachment surface thereby adheres the caster to an object to be moved. The ratio of a width of the caster to a height of the castor is greater than 2:1.

A suspension mechanism for installation on a rigid caster, one on each caster fork leg, includes a pivot arm and an abutment arm pivotally secured to the fork leg, with the abutment arm between the pivot arm and the fork leg. An elastically compressible spring is sandwiched between the pivot arm and the abutment arm. The wheel axle is coupled to and between the pivot arms. Impacts experienced by the wheel are cushioned by the spring as they are transferred to the abutment arm fork leg. The mechanism is installed by uncoupling the wheel axle from the fork legs, pivotably securing the pivot and abutment arms to the fork legs with the abutment arms extending between the pivot arms and the fork legs, sandwiching a spring between the pivot arms and the abutment arms; and, coupling the wheel axle to the pivot arms for rotatably securing the wheel thereto.

A height adjustable support comprising a threaded support channel a cylindrical support post, positioned within the support channel and at least one saddle brace positioned within the support channel and to partially surround the cylindrical support post. In the present invention, the downward force resulting from the weight of the equipment results in static friction between the saddle brace and the cylindrical support post that is sufficient to hold the equipment surface at a desired height. The height adjustable support may be implemented into hygienically designed food processing equipment to eliminate undesirable bacteria harboring surfaces and to improve height adjustability of the equipment.