US 12,083,823 B2
Retractable guard assemblies
Brandon L. Spoelstra, Trabuco Canyon, CA (US)
Assigned to Alcon Inc., Fribourg (CH)
Filed by Alcon Inc., Fribourg (CH)
Filed on Oct. 18, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/489,179.
Application 18/489,179 is a continuation of application No. 17/805,580, filed on Jun. 6, 2022, granted, now 11,820,170.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/217,390, filed on Jul. 1, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2024/0042798 A1, Feb. 8, 2024
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. B60B 33/00 (2006.01); B60B 33/06 (2006.01)
CPC B60B 33/0028 (2013.01) [B60B 33/06 (2013.01); B60B 33/00 (2013.01)] 10 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A retractable guard assembly coupled to a caster of a mobile equipment, comprising:
a housing;
a first guard and a second guard partially disposed in the housing, wherein the first guard and the second guard are independently movably coupled to the housing, and wherein the first guard and the second guard are radially spaced apart about a rotating axis of the caster; and
corresponding one or more biasing elements coupled to each of the first guard and the second guard and to the housing for biasing the first guard and the second guard towards a fully deployed state, wherein:
when the first guard and the second guard are in the fully deployed state, contact between a fixed object and a portion of at least one of the first guard and the second guard disposed outside the housing causes the respective first guard or second guard to transition into a retracted state,
when either of the first guard and the second guard is in the retracted state and when the contact is removed, the corresponding one or more biasing elements cause the respective first guard or second guard to transition into the fully deployed state,
in the fully deployed state, the the first guard and the second guard have a first clearance with the ground,
in the retracted state, the first guard and the second guard have a second clearance with the ground that is larger than the first clearance, and
wherein each of the first guard and the second guard further comprises a body having a first end disposed in the housing and a second end disposed outside the housing,
wherein a distal portion of the second end of the first guard comprises a first rounded corner on an edge outside the housing facing the second guard, and a distal portion of the second end of the second guard comprises a second rounded corner on an edge outside the housing facing the first guard.