Who Invented Furniture Casters?

Moving bulky items around the home and in the workplace is always easier thanks to the wheels that are attached to what we are moving around. We often credit the wheel for allowing us to transport furniture and other bulky things faster.

But the wheels are just one aspect. Forks or Rigs are the component that attaches the wheels to the thing we need to move.

To get objects like these moving, casters have to be installed so that wheels can be attached. Although even the basic caster has many parts, all of them work together to provide one purpose: to let us transport bulky items easily.

Patenting of Furniture Casters

Despite being around for quite some time, wheels and casters were not officially used to transport furniture and other heavy objects until the 1870s.

David A. Fisher was the first person who filed a patent for a caster in the year 1876. This gave him full legal rights to his invention.

Before that, Fisher used to work in the furniture industry and had made a clamp that allowed people to connect pieces of wood without the need to stop working.

The next patent that Fisher made allowed people to move heavy furniture with minimal strain. Rather than requiring several individuals to push one heavy object, all they needed was a cart that had a caster so one man could move it easily.

The first casters were very heavy, so the heavy-duty casters were used only at factories during their early years.

By the twenty-first century, the casters we now have are made using a wide range of materials from lightweight plastic to heavier iron varieties.

Common Types of Casters

Now that we know who invented furniture casters, let us take a look at some of the most common options for casters available today.

● Rigid casters: A prevalent type of caster used in the furniture industry is the rigid caster. Rigid casters are attached to a non swiveling fork, allowing them to avoid swiveling independently from the furniture or cart. The back wheels of shopping carts are a great example of rigid casters.

● Swivel casters: Compared to rigid casters, swivel casters are mounted on a movable fork that allows the caster to rotate freely. With swivel casters, we can change the directions of the wheels without having to move the whole vehicle.

● Modern casters: This type of caster can come with locks, brakes, antibacterial material, and even shock absorbents. Modern casters can be found installed under tool trays, office chairs, hospital gurneys, and more.

Conclusion

Since David A. Fisher patented furniture casters, these things have already served in countless applications. Today, we can find casters on beach carts, furniture, grocery vehicles, and more.

Furniture casters are simple devices that are truly genius in terms of the idea behind their operation. Although the modern caster was patented a long time ago, it continues to play a crucial part in everyday life for many people worldwide.

There is no doubt that casters are important for many applications. If you are looking to buy casters, check out our selection of heavy duty casters at LINCO. If you have questions regarding casters, contact us or give us a call at 866-306-9566 for assistance.