CASTOR FOR MOVABLE OBJECTS

Abstract

A castor for movable objects, in particular a bed castor, at least includes a running wheel, a fork receiving the same one, a guiding tube which is swiveling with respect to the fork via at least one bearing, a lock provided on the side of the fork as well as a brake system which is rotation-proof and can be operatively connected to the running wheel. The brake system includes an essentially cylindrical fixing element which is profiled on one side and can be operatively connected to a polygonal safety element on the side of the fork for forming the rotation lock.

Claims

1. A castor for movable objects, in particular a bed castor, which at least comprises a running wheel (2), a fork (3) receiving the same one, a guiding tube (5) which is swiveling with respect to the fork (3) via at least one bearing (4), locking means provided on the side of the fork as well as a brake system (7) which is rotation-proof and can be operatively connected to the running wheel (2), wherein the brake system (7) comprises an essentially cylindrical fixing element (8) which is profiled on one side and can be operatively connected to a polygonal safety element (15) on the side of the fork for forming the rotation lock.

2. A castor according to claim 1, wherein the safety element (15) is triangular.

3. A castor according to claim 1, wherein the safety element (15) is quadrangular.

4. A castor according to claim 1, wherein the safety element (15) is designed like a hexagonal nut.

5. A castor according to claim 1, wherein the profile provided on the fixing element (8) essentially corresponds to the outer contour of the safety element (15).

6. A castor according to claim 1, wherein the profile (18) at least partially overlaps the safety element (15) in the installed condition.

7. A castor according to claim 1, wherein the fixing element (8) made of plastic is guided inside a stud (13) which is provided with a cylindrical bore (14), wherein a sliding element is provided between the bore (14) and the outer circumferential surface of the cylindrical fixing element (3).

8. A castor according to claim 7, wherein the sliding element which is designed like a sleeve is made of plastic, in particular of polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE).

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0015] The subject of invention is represented in the drawing by means of an exemplary embodiment and is described as follows.

[0016] In the drawing:

[0017] FIG. 1 shows a schematic diagram of a castor for movable objects,

[0018] FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 show different views of the fork according to FIG. 1 with a represented rotation lock.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0019] FIG. 1 shows a castor 1 according to the invention, the structure of which approximately corresponds to the one of DE 10 2010 035 515 A1.

[0020] The following components are visible: a running wheel 2, a fork 3 receiving the same one, which fork can be swiveled around a vertical axis 6 via a roller bearing 4 with respect to a guiding tube 5. A brake system composed of at least one brake lever 7 and a fixing element 8 positioned inside the guiding tube 5 can be operatively connected to the running wheel 2. In the area of its free end 9 the brake lever 7 can be fixed outside the running wheel 2 on the end portion 10 of the fixing element 10 on the side of the fork. The fixing element 8 can only be displaced in the vertical direction with respect to the stationary guiding tube 5 via an eccentric 11, which is designed like a hexagonal eccentric in this example, as well as via an eccentric pressure piece 11 which is operatively connected to the eccentric, such that the brake lever 7 is either pressed on the running wheel 2 or can be removed from the same one. Herein, the eccentric pressure piece 11 is firmly connected, for example by means of screwing, to the one end of the fixing element 8 and serves as supporting surface for a spring element 12. On the side of the fork, the guiding tube cooperates with a stud 13 which also receives the roller bearing 4. The fixing element 8, which is cylindrical in this example, is guided inside an also cylindrical bore 14 of the stud 13.

[0021] For forming a rotation lock, the following components are given: on the one hand, a safety element 15, which is designed like a hexagonal nut in this example, including an outer contour 16 which is screwed in a rotation-proof manner on the free end 17 of the stud 13. Instead of the hexagonal nut, it is also possible to use a triangular, quadrangular or pentagonal body. If required, an adhesive can also be used here, in order to thus improve the rotation resistance.

[0022] A profile 18 is moulded on the end of the fixing element 8, which end is facing the running wheel 2. The free end portion 19 of the profile 18 overlaps essential surfaces of the hexagonal nut 16 in the axial direction. Departing from the state of the art, an alternative rotation lock having a simple construction is thus provided. If required, the fixing element 3 can also be manufactured as injection moulded part made of plastic.

[0023] Although not represented here, it is imaginable in certain cases to provide a slide bearing between the bore 14 and the fixing element 8. In order to be able to compensate height tolerances, a washer 20 can be provided, in case of need, between the roller bearing 4 and the hexagonal nut 16.

[0024] FIGS. 2 and 3 show different views of the fork 3 including the guiding tube 5 in operative connection with the rotation lock described with respect to FIG. 1. The following components are visible: the free end 17 of the stud, which is not visible here, the hexagonal nut 16 which can be screwed on this free end 17, the cylindrical fixing element 8, the profile 18 as well as the hexagon socket 20 of the profile 18, which can at least partially be slid over the hexagonal nut 16 for forming the rotation lock.

[0025] Tooth elements 21 are furthermore provided on the profile 18, which tooth elements engage into a counter-profile 22 which cooperates with the brake lever 7, wherein the running wheel will be fixed after having actuated the brake.

[0026] Although only a few embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, it is to be understood that many changes and modifications may be made thereunto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

[0027] 1 castor

[0028] 2 cunning wheel

[0029] 3 fork

[0030] 4 roller bearing

[0031] 5 guiding tube

[0032] 6 axis

[0033] 7 brake lever

[0034] 8 fixing element

[0035] 9 free end

[0036] 10 end portion

[0037] 11 eccentric

[0038] 11eccentric pressure piece

[0039] 12 spring element

[0040] 13 stud

[0041] 14 bore

[0042] 15 hexagonal nut (safety element)

[0043] 16 outer contour

[0044] 17 free end

[0045] 18 profile

[0046] 19 end portion+

[0047] 20 washer

[0048] 20hexagon socket

[0049] 21 tooth clement

[0050] 22 counter-profile