Caster Assembly Retaining Member Segmentation

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing caster assemblies with hollow configurations face difficulties in assembly due to the need for resilient materials to accommodate deformation of the tubular member and base body, which compromises the strength of the assembly.

Innovation Solution

A caster assembly design featuring a base body with a through hole and positioning slot, a tubular member with lateral connection portions, and a retaining member that engages with a receiving groove to securely position the tubular member, allowing for non-resilient materials and easier assembly, while maintaining stability through a stopping unit and adjustable mechanism.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the tubular member and base body are engaged through recess and ridge engagement, then the tubular member is retained from moving and rotating, but the assembly becomes difficult and requires resilient materials that reduce strength

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveretention of tubular memberVSAvoidstrength of caster assembly

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The retaining member is divided into a positioning portion that fits into the positioning slot and a receiving portion that engages with the receiving groove. This segmentation allows the retention function to be separated from the structural components, enabling the use of non-resilient materials while maintaining reliable retention of the tubular member.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Reliability

If the tubular member and base body are engaged through recess and ridge engagement, then the tubular member is retained, but the assembly process requires forced deformation and becomes difficult

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveretention of tubular memberVSAvoidease of assembly

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The retaining member is pre-installed into the positioning slot before the tubular member is inserted into the base body. This preliminary action ensures that the retention mechanism is already in place, allowing the tubular member to be smoothly assembled without forced deformation, thus improving ease of manufacture while maintaining reliable retention.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Ease of manufacture

If resilient materials are used to allow deformation during assembly, then the tubular member can be inserted smoothly, but the strength of the caster assembly is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of assemblyVSAvoidstrength of caster assembly

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The retaining member acts as an intermediary component between the base body and the tubular member. It provides the necessary retention function through the positioning slot and receiving groove, eliminating the need for resilient materials to enable assembly, thus allowing the use of strong, non-resilient materials throughout the assembly.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS10913312B1Caster assembly

Publication Date: 2021.02.09 TSAI PO CHUAN

AI summary

A caster assembly includes a base body, a tubular member, a retaining member and two wheel units. The base body includes an inner surrounding surface, a through hole surrounded by the inner surrounding surface, and a positioning slot extending along a line tangent to the inner surrounding surface and communicating with the through hole. The tubular member is inserted into the through hole. The retaining member is inserted into the positioning slot to retain the tubular member within the through hole. The wheel units are respectively and rotatably sleeved on two lateral connection portions of the tubular member.