Castor assembly for modular dolly & kit

Abstract

A castor assembly structured for use in combination with or independently of a dolly assembly or other support platform, which may include substantially equivalently structured struts, wherein the castor assembly includes a one piece base comprising a housing and a head integrally connected to the housing and extending radially outward from one end thereof. The housing includes an open interior and a open end structured to movably retain a surface engaging roller ball therein. A retaining portion may be formed on said base in cooperative relation with said head so as to secure a support platform to the base when in a first operative position. A second operative position comprises said head disposed in engagable and at least partially supporting relation to an object while the base is not secured to or used in combination with a dolly or other support platform.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A modular dolly assembly capable of being assembled and disassembled without the use of tools, said dolly assembly comprising:
 a support platform comprising a plurality of elongated struts movably and removably interconnected in an operative orientation,   all of said plurality of struts of said support platform having a substantially equivalent structure and being capable of assuming a reversed orientation,   said reversed orientation comprising either of two opposite surfaces of said plurality of struts of said support platform being disposed in an outer position or in an under position, when interconnected to one another in said operative orientation, and   said operative orientation comprising at least one connector assembly cooperatively structured with said plurality of struts to interconnect said plurality of struts in said operative orientation, without the use of tools.   
     
     
         2 . The modular dolly assembly as recited in  claim 1  wherein said substantially equivalent structure comprises each of said plurality of struts of said support platform being substantially equally dimensioned and configured. 
     
     
         3 . The modular dolly assembly as recited in  claim 2  wherein said substantially equivalent structure further comprises any one of said plurality of struts of said support platform being replaceable by any other one of said plurality of struts of said support platform when interconnected to one another in said operative orientation. 
     
     
         4 . The modular dolly assembly as recited in  claim 1  wherein said substantially equivalent structure further comprises each of said plurality of struts of said support platform being replaceable by any other one of said plurality of struts of said support platform, when said plurality of struts of said support platform are interconnected to one another in said operative orientation. 
     
     
         5 . The modular dolly assembly as recited in  claim 1  wherein each of said plurality of struts of said support platform further comprises a plurality of holes extending there-through, said one connector assembly extending through aligned ones of said plurality of holes of at least two of said plurality of struts in interconnecting relation thereto. 
     
     
         6 . The modular dolly assembly as recited in  claim 5  wherein said one connector assembly comprises a retainer portion disposed in retaining relation to peripheries of said aligned ones of said plurality of holes in said struts. 
     
     
         7 . The modular dolly assembly as recited in  claim 6  wherein said retaining portion comprises a recess formed in said at least one connector assembly, said recess dimensioned to receive said peripheries of said aligned ones of said plurality of holes therein. 
     
     
         8 . The modular dolly assembly is recited in  claim 7  wherein said at least one connector assembly further comprises a castor assembly. 
     
     
         9 . The modular dolly assembly as recited in  claim 1  wherein said at least one connector assembly further comprises a castor assembly; said castor assembly including a retaining portion disposed in retaining relation to peripheries of aligned holes in correspondingly positioned ones of said plurality of struts. 
     
     
         10 . The modular dolly assembly as recited in  claim 9  wherein said retaining portion comprises a recess formed on an exterior of said castor assembly, said recess dimensioned to receive said peripheries of said aligned ones of said holes therein. 
     
     
         11 . The modular dolly assembly as recited in  claim 9  wherein said castor assembly comprises a base including said retaining portion disposed on an exterior thereof; said retaining portion disposed and structured for removable, retaining engagement with peripheries of aligned holes of correspondingly positioned ones of said plurality of struts. 
     
     
         12 . The modular dolly assembly as recited in  claim 11  wherein said base comprises a one-piece construction including a head and a housing fixedly connected to one another; and further comprises a rollerball movably disposed within an open interior of said housing of said base; and further wherein said head of said housing extends radially outward there-from, beyond an exterior of said housing. 
     
     
         13 . The modular dolly assembly as recited in  claim 9  wherein said retaining relation of said retaining portion to peripheries of said aligned holes comprises a press-fit connection of said retaining portion with said peripheries. 
     
     
         14 . The modular dolly assembly as recited in  claim 13  wherein said press-fit connection comprises a frictional connection. 
     
     
         15 . A modular dolly assembly capable of being assembled and disassembled without the use of tools, said dolly assembly comprising:
 a support platform comprising a plurality of elongated struts,   at least one castor assembly removably and movably interconnecting said plurality of struts in an operative orientation, independent of the use of tools,   all of said plurality of struts of said support platform having a substantially equivalent structure,   said substantially equivalent structure comprising all of said plurality of struts of said support platform being substantially equally dimensioned and configured,   said equivalent structure further comprising all of said plurality of struts of said support platform being capable of being disposed in a reversed orientation, when interconnected in said operative orientation,   said reversed orientation comprising either of two opposite services of said plurality of struts of said support platform being disposable in an outer position or and under position, when interconnected in said operative orientation, and   said substantially equivalent structure further comprising any one of said plurality of struts of said support platform being replaceable by any other one of said plurality of struts of said support platform in said operative orientation.   
     
     
         16 . The modular dolly assembly as recited in  claim 15  wherein each of said plurality of struts comprises a plurality of holes, said at least one castor assembly disposed through aligned ones of said plurality of holes of at least two of said plurality of struts and into interconnecting relation with said corresponding ones of said plurality of struts. 
     
     
         17 . The modular dolly assembly as recited in  claim 16  further comprising a plurality of castor assemblies each disposed through different aligned ones of said plurality of holes of correspondingly positioned ones of said plurality of struts. 
     
     
         18 . The modular dolly assembly is recited in  claim 15  wherein said at least one castor assembly includes a retaining portion comprising at least one recess formed on an exterior surface of said housing, said one recess dimensioned to receive and removably retain at least one of said plurality of struts therein. 
     
     
         19 . The modular dolly assembly as recited in  claim 18  wherein said recess is cooperatively dimensioned with said peripheries of said aligned holes to establish a press-fit connection of said recess with said peripheries. 
     
     
         20 . The modular dolly assembly as recited in  claim 19  wherein said press-fit connection comprises a frictional connection. 
     
     
         21 . The modular dolly assembly as recited in  claim 18  wherein said recess is cooperatively dimensioned with said peripheries of said aligned holes to establish a snap-fit connection of said recess with said peripheries.