US 12,472,772 B1
Self-positioning swivel caster mechanisms
Dragan Pajevic, Arlington, MA (US); and Tim Martin, Andover, MA (US)
Assigned to Amazon Technologies, Inc., Seattle, WA (US)
Filed by Amazon Technologies, Inc., Seattle, WA (US)
Filed on Feb. 11, 2020, as Appl. No. 16/787,930.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/951,589, filed on Dec. 20, 2019.
Int. Cl. B60B 33/00 (2006.01); B60B 33/02 (2006.01); B60P 1/02 (2006.01); B62B 3/00 (2006.01); G05D 1/00 (2006.01)
CPC B60B 33/0068 (2013.01) [B60B 33/0049 (2013.01); B60B 33/0057 (2013.01); B60B 33/025 (2013.01); B60B 33/026 (2013.01); B60P 1/02 (2013.01); B62B 3/002 (2013.01); G05D 1/021 (2013.01); B60B 2200/43 (2013.01); B62B 2301/0465 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A self-positioning swivel caster, comprising:
a lower cam associated with a swivel caster frame having a rotatable caster wheel, the lower cam coupled to and configured to rotate with the swivel caster frame around an axis associated with a shaft that is coupled to a base, wherein a first vertical distance between the lower cam and the base is fixed during rotation of the swivel caster frame around the axis;
an upper cam slidably coupled to the shaft and configured to move vertically toward or away from the lower cam along the axis associated with the shaft, wherein a second vertical distance between the upper cam and the base is variable during vertical movement of the upper cam along the axis; and
a bias element configured to apply a force to bias the upper cam toward the lower cam;
wherein the lower cam and the upper cam define a home position associated with the self-positioning swivel caster.