Furniture Caster with Sliding Lever Locking Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing casters for furniture lack a cost-effective and industrially scalable design that allows for easy assembly and automatic locking mechanism, which is essential for preventing accidental movement of hospital equipment and other furniture.
Innovation Solution
A caster design featuring a casing with two wheels, a pivot, and a locking mechanism comprising female notches, a lever, a male lug, elastic means, and a traction link, where the lever is designed as a drawer that slides within a cylindrical cavity, allowing for automatic locking and voluntary unlocking.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a traditional locking mechanism with multiple separate components (lever, male lug, female notches, traction link, elastic means) is used, then the locking function is achieved, but the device complexity and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The lever and male lug are merged into a single integral component. The lever body directly forms the male lug protrusion at its end, eliminating the need for separate securing means between these two elements. This merging reduces the number of parts while maintaining the locking function through the interaction between the lever's male lug and the wheel's female notches.
Solution Approach 2:
The lever serves multiple functions: it acts as the locking element with the male lug, provides the rotational movement to engage/disengage locks, serves as the mounting point for the elastic means, and incorporates the traction link attachment point. This multi-functionality reduces the overall component count while achieving the same locking reliability.
2Reliability
If a complex locking mechanism with multiple separate components is used, then the locking function is achieved, but the assembly difficulty and production cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The lever and male lug are merged into a single integral component that can be manufactured as one piece through casting or molding. This eliminates the need for separate assembly steps to secure the male lug to the lever, significantly simplifying the manufacturing process and reducing assembly complexity while maintaining the locking function.
Solution Approach 2:
The lever is pre-configured with the male lug and the attachment point for the traction link during manufacturing. The elastic means is pre-installed to provide the locking force. This preliminary preparation of the locking mechanism allows for quick installation as a complete unit, improving ease of manufacture and assembly.
3Ease of operation
If the lever is mounted to rotate on the housing, then the locking-unlocking function is achieved, but the assembly complexity and production cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The lever and male lug are merged into a single component that rotates as one unit on the housing. This eliminates the need for separate mounting mechanisms for the male lug, reducing structural complexity while maintaining the rotational locking-unlocking operation. The single lever assembly can be mounted as one piece with a simpler bearing or pivot point.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The design enables automatic locking without external action and easy assembly, reducing production costs and complexity while ensuring secure and controlled movement of furniture.
Implementation Method 1
elastic means for tending to constantly bring said lever into its second position
Data Source
Figure 1~3
AI summary
The castor comprises a housing 10, two wheels 11, 12 which are mounted on a rotation shaft 14 of axis 15, a pivot 20 of axis 21 orthogonal to the axis 15, female notches 301, 302, 303,... produced on at least one of the two faces 305, 306 of the wheels 11, 12, a lever 310, a male pin that complements the female notches and is produced on the lever 310, the lever 310 being able to adopt two positions: a first position in which the male pin 321, 322 does not collaborate with any of the female notches, and a second position in which the male pin is positioned in one of the female notches, a pull link 340 connected to the lever 310, a cavity 400 produced in the housing 10 comprising an opening 401 and such that the shaft 14 passes through it, the lever also consisting of a slide 500 able to slide translationally in the cavity 400 between the two positions thereof in a direction perpendicular to the first axis 15. Application to castors for furniture or the like, notably in a hospital environment, for example for trolley, wheeled walking frame, case, etc.