Omnidirectional spherical roller caster

Abstract

A caster capable of omnidirectional transport having a spherical roller freely mounted within a housing having a concave spherical cavity. A plurality of cylindrical bores is disposed perpendicular to the inner concave surface in equilateral geometric configuration, axially converging toward the center of the cavity. A plurality of small internal caster assemblies, mounted for free independent rotation about the convergent axis, extend from within the bores to contact the spherical roller, thereby creating a loading surface capable of providing omnidirectional rotation. The spherical roller interfaces between the loading surface of the cavity and a surface onto which the entire caster assembly is imparted omnidirectional movement.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A caster comprising: 
 a sphere;    a housing defining (i) an imaginary hemispherical cavity, having a radius between its pole point and center, juxtaposed relative to substantially half the sphere, and (ii) at least three imaginary bores in substantially equilateral geometrical configuration within the imaginary hemispherical cavity and about its pole, each imaginary bore having an axis that both converges towards the center of the sphere and that is at an acute angle to the radius of the imaginary hemispherical cavity, and;    an assembly extending from within each bore to contact the surface of the sphere, each assembly including 
 an annular bearing mounted to the housing centrally about the axis of the bore for free independent rotation about the axis of the bore,  
 a shaft mounted internally within the annular bearing at a positional offset from the axis of the bore, and  
 a wheel rotatably supported by the shaft and contacting the sphere for the support thereof;  
   wherein the collective shaft-mounted wheels of the collective shafts of the collective caster assemblies create a loading surface permitting omnidirectional rotation of the contacted sphere;    wherein the offset of the shafts and of the wheels that are supported by the shafts from the converging axis of the imaginary bores make that such force moment as is developed upon changing rotational direction of the sphere causes rotation of the annular bearing of one or more of the assemblies, facilitating that the change in rotational direction transpire smoothly.    
     
     
         2 . The caster according to  claim 1   wherein the acute angle is 60 degrees or less.    
     
     
         3 . The caster according to  claim 1 , wherein the sphere roller is contained within the housing cavity by a removable annular retainer.  
     
     
         4 . The caster according to  claim 1 , wherein the caster assembly of the internal caster has splines on its annular outer surface, and is press-fitted into a matching splined bore, thereby securing the caster within the bore while allowing free rotational movement.  
     
     
         5 . The caster according to  claim 1 , wherein the sphere is comprised of a homogeneous material, with a texture and resiliency depending on the particular need for durability, friction or softness.  
     
     
         6 . The caster according to  claim 1 , wherein the sphere is comprised of a heterogeneous material, having a hard core with a resilient surface.  
     
     
         7 . An omnidirectional skateboard, comprising: 
 a. an integral, elongated, structurally rigid, single-piece platform for supporting a user, the platform having 
 i a flat central portion with a longitudinal axis,  
 bilateral upwardly-inclining extensions from the central portion, and  
 ii fore and aft upwardly-angled extensions;  
   b. at least one spherical roller assembly longitudinally spaced and centrally attached to the underside of the flat central portion of the platform, each assembly having 
 i. a housing, comprising 
 (1) at least one downwardly-open spherical cavity defined by at least three shallow cylindrical bores in the inner, upper surface of the housing defining the spherical cavity, positioned to form an equilateral geometrical configuration with the axis of each bore aligned to the center nucleus of the spherical roller,  
 
 ii. a plurality of proportionately small internal caster assemblies fitted within the bores, extending in a spherical geometrical relationship axially aligned to the center of the cavity, each assembly having, 
 (1) an annular bearing,  
 (2) a shaft transversely mounted within and offset from the center of the bearing, the longitudinal axis of which is transverse to the rotation of the bearing,  
 (3) a wheel, rotatably supported by the shaft,  
 wherein a loading surface is created that is capable of imparting omnidirectional rotation when in contact with a surface,  
 
   c. a large spherical roller freely mounted within the spherical cavity of the housing, rollably communicating with the wheel,    thereby interfacing between the loading surface of the spherical cavity and a surface onto which the roller apparatus is imparted omnidirectional movement;    d. means for containing the spherical roller within the housing, such that a portion of the spherical roller protrudes from the housing, thereby allowing contact between the spherical roller and the surface, and    e. means for opening the housing to permit repairs and cleaning of the omnidirectional apparatus;    f. a plurality of equally spaced, longitudinally aligned fixed-wheel assemblies attached to the underside of each of the upwardly inclined wings of the platform structure, each fixed wheel assembly mounted on a shaft means fixedly oriented transversely to the central longitudinal axis of the platform, the fixed-wheel mounting means being configured to maintain the fixed-wheels mounted thereon in axial alignment relative to the platform structure.    
     
     
         8 . A platform permitting unbiased omnidirectional movement of materials over its surface, comprising: 
 an integral, dimensional, structurally rigid platform;    a plurality of housings attached to a plane, each housing having at least one concave spherical cavity, each cavity having an annular opening to the exterior of the housing disposed opposite the attachment;    a plurality of cylindrical bores equilaterally disposed on the concave inner surface of the housing opposite to the annular opening, each bore aligned to the center of the cavity;    a spherical roller;    a smaller internal caster assembly fitted into each cylindrical bore, the caster assembly containing 
 an annular bearing fitted within the cylindrical bore,  
 a shaft rotatably mounted within a void space defined by the annular bearing, with a longitudinal axis of rotation transverse to the axis of rotation of the bearing,  
 a wheel rotatably supported by the shaft for rollably interfacing between the inner surface of the cavity and the spherical roller, thereby providing a loading surface,  
   wherein the spherical roller concomitantly rollably interfaces between the bearing assemblies and a surface with which the spherical roller communicates, allowing omnidirectional movement;    means for retaining the spherical roller within the housing, such that a portion of the spherical roller protrudes from the housing, thereby allowing contact between the spherical roller and a surface; and    means for opening the housing, for performing repairs and cleaning the contents thereof    
     
     
         9 . The platform according to  claim 8 , wherein the plurality of internal caster assemblies are disposed in equilateral geometric configurations about the spherical roller, forming load-supporting surfaces axially aligned to the spherical roller's center nucleus, thereby capable of imparting uninfluenced omnidirectional rotation to the spherical roller.  
     
     
         10 . The platform according to  claim 8 , wherein the spherical roller is retained within the housing by a removable annular retainer, wherein only a portion of the spherical roller extends beyond the annular retainer.  
     
     
         11 . The platform according to  claim 8 , wherein the spherical roller is comprised of a homogeneous material depending on the nature of the surface contacted and therefore the requirement for particular durability, friction or softness.  
     
     
         12 . The platform according to  claim 8 , wherein the spherical roller is comprised of a heterogeneous material, having a hardened core with a resilient surface.