Patent attributes
A dual-stage caster is disclosed. The caster includes a horn assembly and an arm assembly pivotally coupled to the horn assembly. The caster further includes a wheel rotatably mounted to the arm assembly and a mounting plate mounted to the horn assembly and configured be mounted to a transport vehicle. When the wheel is moved along a support surface, the arm assembly is in a neutral position and the wheel is in the up position. When the wheel moves into a depression in the support surface, the wheel stage spring moves the wheel from the up position to the down position and the arm assembly remains in the neutral position. When the wheel moves over a raised portion in the support surface, the arm assembly pivots relative to the horn assembly so as to compress the main stage spring. The caster may be a swivel caster or a rigid caster.
