Corner caster attachment

Abstract

A caster attachment is provided. The caster attachment includes a body portion having an angled plate attached to a bottom plate. The angled plate and bottom plate fit an outside corner of a case. A fastener receiving portion is affixed to the body portion. The body portion has a hole for receiving a rivet. The fastener receiving portion has a threaded bore. There is a fastener that is attached to a wheel. The fastener is attachable and detachable to the threaded bore.

Claims

1. A caster attachment used for attaching a wheel to a case, the caster attachment comprising: a body portion; the body portion having an angled plate attached to a bottom plate wherein the attached angled plate and bottom plate are oriented to fit an outside corner of the case; a fastener receiving portion; the fastener receiving portion being affixed to the body portion; the body portion having a hole formed therethrough for receiving a rivet; the fastener receiving portion having a threaded bore; a fastener; the fastener being attached to the wheel; the fastener being attachable and detachable to the threaded bore.

2. The caster attachment of claim 1 wherein the threaded bore has a length of at least 0.75 inches.

3. The caster attachment of claim 1 wherein the fastener receiving portion is integrally affixed to the body portion.

4. The caster attachment of claim 1 further comprising: an axis of the threaded bore; the axis of the threaded bore being perpendicular to a plane of the bottom plate; the threaded bore being located outside of a boundary of the bottom plate.

5. The caster attachment of claim 1 further comprising: a stepped section formed into the body portion; the stepped section being engageable with a rib located on the case.

6. The caster attachment of claim 1 further comprising: the body portion being formed with a recess surrounding one end of the hole.

7. The caster attachment of claim 6 further comprising: the rivet passing through the hole; the rivet being attachable to the case; a head of the rivet fitting within the recess substantially flush with an outer boundary of the body portion.

8. The caster attachment of claim 1 further comprising: an outer face of the angled plate; the outer face of the angled plate having a message display area.

9. The caster attachment of claim 1 wherein the body portion and the fastener receiving portion are manufactured from A380 aluminum alloy.

10. The caster attachment of claim 1 wherein the caster attachment being attached to the case provides an appearance of the case being more durable relative to cases without the caster attachment.

11. The caster attachment of claim 1 further comprising an adjustable case dimension via the use of caster wheels of different sizes.

12. The caster attachment of claim 1 wherein the angled plate and bottom plate each have a thickness of at least 0.13 inches.

13. The caster attachment of claim 4 wherein the stepped section has a setoff of at least 0.09 inches.

14. The caster attachment of claim 5 wherein the recess has a depth of at least 0.0625 inches and the recess has a width of at least 0.4375 inches and the hole has a width of at least 0.2031 inches.

15. A caster attachment used for attaching a wheel to a case, the caster attachment comprising: a body portion; the body portion having an angled plate attached to a bottom plate wherein the attached angled plate and bottom plate are oriented to fit an outside corner of the case; a fastener receiving portion; the fastener receiving portion being affixed to the body portion; the body portion having a hole formed therethrough for receiving a rivet; the fastener receiving portion having a threaded bore; a fastener; the fastener being attached to the wheel; the fastener being attachable and detachable to the threaded bore; the threaded bore having a length of at least 0.75 inches; the fastener receiving portion being integrally affixed to the body portion; an axis of the threaded bore; the axis of the threaded bore being perpendicular to a plane of the bottom plate; the threaded bore being located outside of a boundary of the bottom plate; a stepped section formed into the body portion; the stepped section being engageable with a rib located on the case; the body portion being formed with a recess surrounding one end of the hole; the rivet passing through the hole; the rivet being attachable to the case; a head of the rivet fitting within the recess substantially flush with an outer boundary of the body portion; an outer face of the angled plate; the outer face of the angled plate having a message display area; the body portion and the fastener receiving portion are manufactured from A380 aluminum alloy; the angled plate and bottom plate each having a thickness of at least 0.13 inches; the stepped section having a setoff of at least 0.09 inches; the recess having a depth of at least 0.0625 inches and the recess having a width of at least 0.4375 inches and the hole having a width of at least 0.2031 inches.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

[0025] These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with regard to the following description, appended claims, and accompanying drawings where:

[0026] FIG. 1 shows a side view of an embodiment of the present invention without the caster wheel inserted.

[0027] FIG. 2 shows a side view of another side of an embodiment of the present invention without the caster wheel inserted.

[0028] FIG. 3 shows a side cutaway view of a side of an embodiment of the present invention without the caster wheel inserted.

[0029] FIG. 4 shows a side cutaway view of another side of an embodiment of the present invention without the caster wheel inserted.

[0030] FIG. 5 shows a top view of an embodiment of the present invention without the caster wheel inserted.

[0031] FIG. 6 shows a bottom view of an embodiment of the present invention without the caster wheel inserted.

[0032] FIG. 7 shows a perspective view of an embodiment of the present invention.

[0033] FIG. 8 shows a side view of a side of an embodiment of the present invention with a caster wheel inserted.

[0034] FIG. 9 shows a perspective view of an embodiment of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION

Overview.

[0035] The present invention provides a caster attachment used for attaching a wheel to a case. As shown in FIG. 1 through FIG. 6, the caster attachment 20 comprises a body portion 1. The body portion having an angled plate 11 attached to a bottom plate 7 wherein the attached angled plate 11 and bottom plate 7 are oriented to fit an outside corner of the case. Shown is a fastener receiving portion 2. The fastener receiving portion 2 being affixed to the body portion 1, in this instance via a weld 9. The body portion 1 having a hole 10 formed therethrough for receiving a rivet (not shown), rivets being commonly known. The fastener receiving portion 2 having a threaded bore 13.

[0036] The present invention shown has a threaded bore 13. The holes have a recess 6 at one end. The plates can have rounded corners 5.

[0037] As show in FIG. 7, a perspective view of an embodiment of the present invention comprises a fastener 74. The fastener 74 being attached to the wheel 73. The fastener 74 being attachable and detachable to the threaded bore 77. The threaded bore 77 being formed into the fastener receiving portion 72. The fastener receiving portion is connected to the body portion 75. As is shown, the body portion has holes 76 with recesses 104 and a stepped section 71.

[0038] The embodiment has a bottom plate 79 which is attached to an angled plate 78 which are oriented to form a space 103 for receiving a case corner.

[0039] As shown in FIG. 8, a side view of a side of an embodiment of the present invention with a caster wheel inserted comprises a caster attachment 89. The caster attachment has a body portion 86. The body portion 86 has a stepped section 85. A wheel 81, commonly known, is connected to a fastener 80 which may be attached and detached to a fastener receiving portion 82 by being rotated in or out of a threaded bore 88.

[0040] The fastener receiving portion 82 is integrally attached to the body portion 86, we envision this being at manufacture, as can be seen at 87.

[0041] In the shown embodiment, the body portion 86 has holes 100 therethrough which are for passing a rivet 101 or rivets, the head of the rivet fits in a recess 84 and is substantially flush with the outer boundary of the body portion 86. This flushness of the rivet heads prevents snagging of articles. This can be achieved by the heads being somewhat flush or being rounded for instance.

[0042] The body portion 86 of the caster attachment 89 has a messaging area 83 located on the body portion's outer boundary or face. In this instance, the message in the messaging area 83 is an embossed logo.

[0043] As shown in FIG. 9, a perspective view of an embodiment of the present invention comprises a case 90. The bottom of the case 91 is set onto a pair of the inventive caster attachments 92. Rivets 95 secure the caster attachment 92 to the case 90. The case 90 has a rib 98 as part of its design. There is a stepped section 97 of the caster attachment 92, in this example with rounded corners, that engages the rib 98. Wheels 93 are attached to the caster attachment 92 via a fastener which is threaded into a threaded bore 94. Notably, the threaded bore 94 lies outside of the perimeter of the caster attachment's body portion 102 as shown at 96.

[0044] Although the present invention has been described in considerable detail with the reference to certain preferred versions thereof, other versions are possible. For instance, the attachment can be made to work with cases having no ribbing. Too, we envision an embodiment where the panel sizes are minimal thus allowing a flatter design which may not extend above the sides of a case and engage any ribs. Therefore, the spirit and scope of the appended claims should not be limited to the description of the preferred versions contained herein.

[0045] Any element in a claim that does not explicitly state “means for” performing a specified function, or “step for” performing a specific function, is not to be interpreted as a “means” or “step” clause as specified in 35 U.S.C. § 112, ¶ 6. In particular, the use of “step of” in the claims herein is not intended to invoke the provisions of 35 U.S.C. § 112, ¶ 6.