Abstract: A castor control unit for a swivel castor has a plurality of selectable modes of operation. The modes of operation include at least a free mode, in which the castor (14) can freely swivel about a swivel axis (26) and a wheel or wheels (30,32) of the castor can rotate about a rolling axis (28), and a direction lock mode, in which the castor is locked against swivelling about the swivel axis and the wheel or wheels of the castor can rotate about the rolling axis. The castor control unit (70) comprises a measuring means (154) for measuring motion, a processing means (150) that deduces, from the measured motion, whether there is a need to engage or disengage the direction lock mode, and an actuating means (120a) for actuating the castor to engage or disengage the direction-lock mode of operation. The actuating means is controllable by a control signal, and the control signal is determined, at least in part, from the deduction of whether there is a need to engage or disengage the direction lock mode.

Abstract: A swivel castor assembly, includes a body having at least one rotatable wheel engageable with a floor or ground surface below the body, a brake actuable to brake or prevent rotation of the wheel, and an element for mounting the body such that it is able to swivel about a generally upright axis. A head is adapted to be mounted to prevent or restrict its rotation about the upright axis. A brake activator is mounted to the head for movement between a braking position in which it activates the brake, a neutral position in which the brake is inactive and the body is not prevented from swivelling about the upright axis, and a direction-lock position in which the body may be swivelled to one of plural selectable orientations with respect to the head at each of which the body is locked against swivelling but the brake is inactive.

Abstract: A castor wheel assembly on the underside of a shopping trolley comprises a wheel mounted to a wheel mount and rotatable about its rotational axis. A locking device including an engagement element and an actuator element is operatively coupled to the wheel mount for releasably engaging a locking element of the wheel mount to restrict swivelling of the wheel about a swivel axis of the wheel mount. The wheel is freely rotatable about the swivel axis when reversely rotated. Reverse rotation of the wheel urges the actuator element into pressing engagement with the wheel, driving the coupling portion of the engagement element away from the periphery of the wheel for disengagement of the engagement element from the locking element. Engagement of the engagement element and the locking element is only effected when the wheel is forwardly rotated to reduce the pressing engagement.

Abstract: A swivel castor assembly, includes a body having at least one rotatable wheel engageable with a floor or ground surface below the body, a brake actuable to brake or prevent rotation of the wheel, and an element for mounting the body such that it is able to swivel about a generally upright axis. A head is adapted to be mounted to prevent or restrict its rotation about the upright axis. A brake activator is mounted to the head for movement between a braking position in which it activates the brake, a neutral position in which the brake is inactive and the body is not prevented from swivelling about the upright axis, and a direction-lock position in which the body may be swivelled to one of plural selectable orientations with respect to the head at each of which the body is locked against swivelling but the brake is inactive.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to a castor wheel assembly 1 fitted onto the underside of the frame of a shopping trolley. The wheel assembly 1 comprises a wheel 2 mounted to a wheel mount 4 and rotatable about its rotational axis 6. Locking means in the form of an engagement element 8 and an actuator element 10 is operatively coupled to the wheel mount 4 for releasably engaging a locking element 12 of the wheel mount 4 to restrict swivelling of the wheel 2 about a swivel axis S of the wheel mount 4. The wheel 2 is substantially freely rotatable about the swivel axis S when the wheel 2 is rotated in the reverse direction. Rotation of the wheel 2 in the reverse direction urges the actuator element into pressing engagement with the wheel driving the coupling portion of the engagement element away from the peripheral surface of the wheel for disengagement of the engagement element from the locking element.