To Retard Rolling Of Caster Patents (Class 188/1.12)
  • Patent number: 11498531
    Abstract: Some embodiments of the disclosure provide a brake mechanism, a power platform and a karting. The brake mechanism includes a brake assembly. The brake assembly is configured to be mounted on a vehicle frame, the brake assembly includes a brake pad, a position of the brake pad is adjustably configured, such that the brake pad has a first position and a second position. Herein, when the brake pad is located at the first position, the brake pad is configured to be in contact with a tire, and when the brake pad is located at the second position, the brake pad is separated from the tire.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2022
    Assignee: Ninebot (Changzhou) Tech Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Zhicheng Hu, Dekun Kong, Ji Lin
  • Patent number: 11383839
    Abstract: An aircraft galley cart is disclosed. In embodiments, the galley cart includes two adjacent portions (e.g., left and right side) hingedly or slidably connected. The galley cart has a default configuration compatible with galley cart bays of galley structures. The galley cart may be transitioned into a narrow configuration by articulating the left-side portion relative to the right-side portion (e.g., by pivoting or rotating the left-side portion). When in the narrow configuration, the galley cart may be twice as long but half as wide, allowing passenger access through an aisle without removing the galley cart back out of the aisle and disrupting in-seat food and beverage services. The galley cart includes auxiliary casters that deploy during transition to support the main casters in keeping the galley cart balanced and mobile in the narrow configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2022
    Assignee: B/E Aerospace, Inc.
    Inventor: Peter J. L. Burd
  • Patent number: 11370398
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a mover including a plurality of wheels, a body, and a friction braking mechanism. The body has a bottom surface. The body is supported by the plurality of wheels with the bottom surface facing a traveling surface, and travels on the traveling surface by turning the plurality of wheels. The friction braking mechanism applies a brake on the body with at least a portion of the bottom surface or at least a portion of a movable body brought into contact with the traveling surface by switching, while the body is traveling, a state of the movable body from a first state into a second state. The second state is a state where the movable body protrudes from the bottom surface to a different height from in the first state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2022
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Shirouzu, Tohru Nakamura
  • Patent number: 10804732
    Abstract: A power supply device using electromagnetic power generation includes an electric motor, an electromagnet, a winding, a rechargeable unit, and a battery case. The electromagnet is operatively connected to the electric motor so that an activation of the electric motor changes a magnetic field of the electromagnet. The winding is around the electromagnet so that the change of the magnetic field of the electromagnet generates emf in the winding. The rechargeable unit is electrically connected to both the electric motor and the electromagnet so that the emf is stored in the rechargeable unit or supply to an external electric load. The battery case includes an electrical wire electrically connected to the winding.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2020
    Assignees: Black Energy Co., Ltd
    Inventors: Kun-Lung Wu, Hai-Ruo Wu, Chu-Xi Wu
  • Patent number: 10689099
    Abstract: A locking device of an aircraft landing gear for locking the landing gear in a retracted and an extended position. A locking cylinder is arranged on a landing gear leg and a locking bolt is movably arranged in the locking cylinder. In the retracted position and in the extended position of the landing gear the locking bolt serves to fix the landing gear leg.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2020
    Assignee: Liebherr-Aerospace Lindenberg GmbH
    Inventors: Stephan Häufle, Torsten Blöß, Markus Jocham
  • Patent number: 10308216
    Abstract: An immobilizer arrangement for a motor vehicle includes a brake that can be electrically actuated by at least one motor. The motor is controlled by a brake control, and with an immobilizer control that serves for activating and deactivating the immobilizer of the motor vehicle. The immobilizer control is configured to receive an authorization for deactivating the immobilizer from a user identification device. With the brake serving as the immobilizer, at least one current path is provided for actuating the motor, which is coupled to the immobilizer control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2019
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Evgenij Pticyn, Gerwen Simon
  • Patent number: 10293202
    Abstract: An exercise apparatus that includes a handle frame and a base frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2019
    Inventor: Colin Hoobler
  • Patent number: 9962993
    Abstract: A brake mechanism for mobile currency vaults includes a braking gear coupled to a vault wheel to govern rotational movement of the wheel. An interference tab is biased to an interference fit between the gear's teeth to stop rotation of the wheel. Disengaging the gear is controlled near the handles of the vault, which also provide steering control, so that users must actively disengage the interference tab to allow the wheel to rotate. The brake mechanism also has a brake release for locking in a disengaged or engaged position. The brake release spans the mobile currency vault from a front wheel to a rear handle. The brake release also has a control, preferably at a rear end of the vault, requiring activation by a key and an indicator pusher.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2018
    Inventor: Alan Polad
  • Patent number: 9862230
    Abstract: A chair lock system for inhibiting a chair from rolling when the chair is occupied includes a chair. A plurality of wheels is rotatably coupled to the chair and each of the wheels may roll along a support surface. Each of the wheels is positioned on the base. A locking unit is coupled to the chair and the locking unit inhibits the wheels from rolling along the support surface when the chair is sat upon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Inventor: Barbara Dunston
  • Patent number: 9845072
    Abstract: A containment area can be defined by a single cable carrying an asymmetric electromagnetic signal that generates a magnetic field comprising an asymmetric waveform. A single inductor circuit configured to detect a single axis of the magnetic field can detect the asymmetric waveform and determine which direction the inductor is traveling relative to the cable. A human-propelled cart can have a wheel that includes the single inductor circuit and detect whether the cart is being pushed from inside-to-outside the containment area (which may reflect the cart is being stolen or improperly used) or from outside-to-inside (which may reflect the cart is being returned). The cart can include an anti-theft system (e.g., a locking or braking wheel), which can be triggered if the cart is being moved from inside to outside the containment area. The single cable, single inductor system can be less expensive and more efficient than multi-cable, multi-inductor systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2017
    Assignee: Gatekeeper Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Scott J. Carter, James E. Chandler
  • Patent number: 9724255
    Abstract: A first embodiment provides a manually operable castor assembly for a hospital bed, including a wheel unit fittable to a bed frame and provided with a lock actuator. A sensor unit is provided with a trigger element and a sensor element, the trigger element being located on the manually operable brake actuator and the sensor element being located on the wheel unit. Another embodiment provides a manually operable safety side panel assembly including a hinge assembly coupled to the panel element and attachable to a bed frame, and a sensor unit including a trigger element and a sensor element, the trigger element being located on the manually operable actuator and the sensor element being located on a part of the side panel or hinge assembly. Monitoring apparatus monitors the manually operable bed safety device and including a control unit coupled to the sensor unit and an indicator unit controllable by the control unit and operable to give an indication of the state of the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2017
    Assignee: Huntleigh Technology Limited
    Inventors: Stephen Hollyoak, Robert Hugh Jones
  • Patent number: 9676405
    Abstract: A vehicle tracking system includes a wheel containing sensor circuitry capable of sensing various types of conditions, such as wheel rotation, wheel vibration caused by skidding, and specific electromagnetic and/or magnetic signals indicative of particular wheel locations. The sensor circuitry is coupled to an RF transceiver, which may but need not be included within the wheel. The wheel may also include a brake mechanism. In one embodiment, the wheels are placed on shopping carts and are used to collect and monitor shopping cart status and location data via a wireless network. The collected data may be used for various purposes, such as locking the wheel of an exiting cart if the customer has not paid, estimating numbers of queued carts, stopping wheel skid events that occur during mechanized cart retrieval, store planning, and providing location-based messaging to customers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2017
    Assignee: Gatekeeper Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen E. Hannah, Scott J. Carter, Jesse M. James
  • Patent number: 9545938
    Abstract: A stroller with a pivotable front wheel assembly. When folding the stroller, the front wheel assembly may pivot, exposing a flat surface which may be rested on the ground for easier storage of the stroller. A drive rod may drive the front wheel assembly to rotate during folding. A slider may move away from the front wheel assembly during folding, moving a rear tube into place and ultimately causing the drive rod to drive the front wheel assembly to rotate. A lock mechanism may be included to lock the frame into configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2017
    Assignee: UNITRONTECH ZHUHAI CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Xiuping Liu
  • Patent number: 9409443
    Abstract: A wheel braking apparatus includes components that inhibit the rotation of a wheel when a ball bearing is placed in a braking position between a bearing wall of a non-rotating component and a bearing barrier of a hub interface component that is at least resistively connected to a hub of the wheel. In response to a wireless signal, the ball bearing is moved from a non-braking position and allowed to travel to a braking position between a bearing barrier of one side of a bearing groove and the bearing wall of the non-rotating component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2016
    Assignee: Carttronics, LLC.
    Inventor: Thomas K. Khuu
  • Patent number: 9266393
    Abstract: A simple operating caster is provided, which is braked by simple operation of brake pedal, and by which shaft and wheel are braked at once, as the equipped push-type brake pedal (12) to solid axle (13) can be installed always to the outside of bogie (11) exposed so that composed for the operation of user anytime, and brake and brake release of pivot (14) and wheel (15) is performed by the brake pedal (12) at once. The brake method is operated by brake pedal (12) and composed of the pivot brake part, and the wheel brake part, which brakes and releases brake of wheel (15), and pivot brake part and wheel brake part above is operated by push-type brake pedal (12) at once, and by which brake and brake release of pivot (14) and wheel (15) is performed at once, and as the pivot brake part and the wheel brake part is composed of each spring to be elastic-supported and buffered.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2016
    Inventor: Shin Dong Yeo
  • Patent number: 9061547
    Abstract: A power-operated caster brake mechanism includes a driving device having a driving motor; a linking mechanism having a shifting member connected to a moving bar of the driving motor, and two rotating members connected to two ends of the shifting member; a caster connected to each rotating member and including a wheel and a brake and direction-lock mechanism, the latter including a brake block located in a wheel support, and a pin connected at an end to the brake block and another end to the rotating member; and a mechanical switch connected to the moving bar. When the driving motor shifts the shifting member, the rotating members rotate the brake blocks to different positions, bringing the casters to a braked, a direction-locked, or a freely swiveling state. In case the driving motor is failed, the casters can still be set to a desired operating state with the mechanical switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2015
    Assignee: CAREMED SUPPLY INC.
    Inventor: Pao Ming Shih
  • Patent number: 9038786
    Abstract: A multifunctional castor with steering, directional and brake functions and is provided with a mounting seat, a rotary seat, an engaging member, a wheel, a brake swing member, a longitudinal rod assembly, an engaging assembly, a transverse rod, a brake pedal and a brake-release pedal. Pressing down or pushing up the brake pedal can activate the steering, direction and brake functions of the castor, and then the steering, direction and brake functions of the castor can be deactivated by controlling the brake-release pedal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Assignee: CATIS PACIFIC MFG. CORP. LTD.
    Inventor: Qing-Song Lin
  • Patent number: 9038785
    Abstract: A castor with separate brake device and brake release device is provided with a shell, a brake piece, a brake unit and a brake-release unit. The brake unit and the brake-release unit are two separate members, while they are interactively linked by a push portion and the notch portion, so as to ensure the accuracy of the brake operation. Whenever the castor is in a brake-activated status or brake-deactivated status, the brake pedal and the brake-release pedal pivot in opposite direction to present different angles, which makes it easier for the user to see the status of the castor (in brake position or non-brake position), and prevents confusion or accidental operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Assignee: CATIS PACIFIC MFG. CORP. LTD.
    Inventor: Qing-Song Lin
  • Patent number: 9016444
    Abstract: The invention relates to an immobilizer for a transport trolley, whereby a magnetic field is used for alternately activating and deactivating said immobilizer. In an embodiment of the invention, the deactivating magnetic field can be weaker than the activating magnetic field.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Inventors: Horst Sonnendorfer, Franz Wieth
  • Publication number: 20150096845
    Abstract: A castor with separate brake device and brake release device is provided with a shell, a brake piece, a brake unit and a brake-release unit. The brake unit and the brake-release unit are two separate members, while they are interactively linked by a push portion and the notch portion, so as to ensure the accuracy of the brake operation. Whenever the castor is in a brake-activated status or brake-deactivated status, the brake pedal and the brake-release pedal pivot in opposite direction to present different angles, which makes it easier for the user to see the status of the castor (in brake position or non-brake position), and prevents confusion or accidental operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 4, 2013
    Publication date: April 9, 2015
    Inventor: QING-SONG LIN
  • Publication number: 20150096846
    Abstract: A multifunctional castor with steering, directional and brake functions and is provided with a mounting seat, a rotary seat, an engaging member, a wheel, a brake swing member, a longitudinal rod assembly, an engaging assembly, a transverse rod, a brake pedal and a brake-release pedal. Pressing down or pushing up the brake pedal can activate the steering, direction and brake functions of the castor, and then the steering, direction and brake functions of the castor can be deactivated by controlling the brake-release pedal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 9, 2013
    Publication date: April 9, 2015
    Inventor: Qing-Song LIN
  • Patent number: 8978835
    Abstract: Apparatus for controlling the rotational speed of a wheel of a skateboard or other similar wheeled device includes a lug adapter projecting away from a wheel axle, a wheel contact member for engaging the wheel face, wheel contact member engagement structure applying a frictional force to the wheel contact member and manually operable control structure to vary the magnitude of the frictional force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Inventor: Jason Mathew Larock
  • Patent number: 8973716
    Abstract: Brake mechanisms for a wheel of non-motorized wheeled vehicle such as, e.g., a shopping cart, are described. In various embodiments, the brake mechanism can provide a variable amount of braking force or torque between zero and an amount sufficient to lock the wheel. In some embodiments, the brake mechanism includes a brake plate that is movable toward and away from a surface of the wheel hub along a direction parallel to the rotation axis of the wheel. The brake plate is configured not to rotate when the wheel and hub are rotating. Frictional engagement between the brake plate and the surface of the wheel hub provides the braking force. The brake plate and/or the surface of the wheel hub can include engagement features such as, e.g., protrusions and slots. In some embodiments, the brake mechanism fits entirely within the wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: Gatekeeper Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: John C. McKay, Stephen E. Hannah
  • Patent number: 8955817
    Abstract: A base anchoring structure fixes a base 3 of an apparatus body 2 to a floor F in position. The base is at a lower part of the apparatus body and has casters C to move the apparatus body along the floor. The base anchoring structure includes linear actuators 4 fixed to the base, to downwardly bias, with a uniform pressure provided by air A supplied to the linear actuators, their respective pistons 5 until lower ends of the pistons reach the floor and stopper units (7, 8, 10) to engage with the downwardly pushed pistons and stably maintain the downwardly pushed state of the pistons. The engagement of the stopper units with the pistons stably maintains the anchored state of the base. The plurality of actuator is easily operated only by supplying air thereto.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2015
    Assignee: Mitaka Kohki Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yusuke Nakata, Masao Doi, Tatsuya Hashimoto
  • Patent number: 8910953
    Abstract: A device (1) for generating tensile force and/or pressing force to thereby actuate at least one brake means (19) so as to brake or lock at least two caster wheels (11) of a mobile appliance includes at least one lever (5, 7) prepared for rotation thereof about a fulcrum (15); and at least one transmission means (9) disposed at the lever (5, 7) for transmitting the tensile force and/or pressing force generated during a rotation of the lever (5, 7) to the brake means (19). In addition, a mobile rack and device thereby equipped are specified.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2014
    Assignee: Fresenius Medical Care Deutschland GmbH
    Inventor: Thomas Faulhaber
  • Publication number: 20140238784
    Abstract: A simple operating caster is provided, which is braked by simple operation of brake pedal, and by which shaft and wheel are braked at once, as the equipped push-type brake pedal (12) to solid axle (13) can be installed always to the outside of bogie (11) exposed so that composed for the operation of user anytime, and brake and brake release of pivot (14) and wheel (15) is performed by the brake pedal (12) at once. The brake method is operated by brake pedal (12) and composed of the pivot brake part, and the wheel brake part, which brakes and releases brake of wheel (15), and pivot brake part and wheel brake part above is operated by push-type brake pedal (12) at once, and by which brake and brake release of pivot (14) and wheel (15) is performed at once, and as the pivot brake part and the wheel brake part is composed of each spring to be elastic-supported and buffered.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 13, 2012
    Publication date: August 28, 2014
    Inventor: Shin Dong Yeo
  • Publication number: 20140237721
    Abstract: A patient support apparatus includes a patient support surface, a manually operable brake operatively associated with the patient support surface, a manual brake activation handle or pedal for manually operating the manually operable brake, and an electrically powered actuator. The actuator is mechanically coupled to the manually operable brake and to the manual brake activation handle or pedal, and actuates the manually operable brake and moves the manual brake activation handle or pedal from a first position to a second portion in response to a signal at the patient support apparatus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 18, 2014
    Publication date: August 28, 2014
    Applicant: Stryker Corporation
    Inventors: Guy Lemire, Jean-Paul Dionne, Marco Morin, Richard Pare, Pascal Castonguay, Luc Petitpas, David Kim Soui Wan Fong
  • Patent number: 8789662
    Abstract: A wheeled carriage for supporting a patient has a wheeled base having frame members supporting a plurality of caster wheel assemblies and a braking system. A moveable brake lock assembly, a brake lock actuator, and a swivel lock receiver are operatively connected to one of the caster wheel assemblies to define a locking caster wheel assembly. The brake lock assembly comprises an actuating member, a swivel lock member, and a brake member that are interconnected as a unit for simultaneous movement. The brake lock actuator is operable to selectively move the brake lock assembly into an engaged position via engagement with the actuating member such that the swivel lock member engages the swivel lock receiver and the brake member contacts a wheel of the locking caster wheel assembly thereby preventing rotation and swiveling of the wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2014
    Assignee: Stryker Corporation
    Inventors: William D. Childs, Steven L. Birman, William V. Bleeker, Jr., Richard L. McDaniel, Dickson J. Brubaker, Anish Paul
  • Patent number: 8783420
    Abstract: A luggage brake device includes a wheel and a control unit. The wheel includes positioning teeth, an engaging member, engaging teeth, a link axle, a link plate, a control wire. The control unit is disposed on a luggage body. The control unit includes a knob, a press button, a gear, a release block and a driving block connected with the control wire. Through the knob, the press button and the driving block of the control unit, the control wire is activated to link the engaging member with the engaging teeth to engage with the positioning teeth of the wheel so that the wheel is positioned. The present invention can be operated conveniently.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2014
    Inventor: Wei Hung Lai
  • Patent number: 8776314
    Abstract: The invention relates to a roller (1), preferably comprising two wheels (2) and a locking device, an activating part (10) being able to act on the locking device for releasing or locking in a position that corresponds to a directional lock and/or in a position that corresponds to a total lock, and the activating part (10) being movable by a drive, a linear movement of a transmission part (7) that is generated by the drive being transmitted via spring force to the activating part (10) in order to move the activating part, and the activating part (10), in any case in a position corresponding to the total lock or in any case in a position corresponding to the direction lock, being in addition movable relative to the stationary transmission part, against a spring supported on the transmission part, into a release position by means of an actuating handle (11) that is movable independently of the drive and preferably by hand so as to override the total lock or the directional lock.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: TENTE GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Guenther Hofrichter, Karl-Heinz Plautz, Georg Hein
  • Patent number: 8714314
    Abstract: A locking mechanism of a drawbar braking castor includes an abutting base, an actuating space, a pressing member, a transverse sliding seat, a round ear ring, an embedded locking frame, a first resetting assembly, a spacing base, a flexible inhaul cable, a variable driving member and a second resetting assembly. When the transverse sliding seat is pressed downwards by the extensible drawbar, the embedded locking frame is pulled to move via the flexible inhaul cable, such that the locating flange of the gear ring could be interlocked by the embedded portion. Hence, the locking mechanism of the drawbar braking castor could be adapted to various mobile drawbar carriers with a spacing between the castors and extensible drawbars, significantly improving applicability of the products.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2014
    Inventor: Shou-Mao Chen
  • Publication number: 20140102834
    Abstract: A braking mechanism operably engaging at least one wheel where the mechanism is capable of transitioning the at least one wheel between unlocked and locked states is provided. The braking mechanism includes a flipper and a cam. The flipper is adapted to move in X, Y and Z-directions and includes a discontinuous track having an open slot portion and a surface path portion. The open slot portion includes a home position and an engaged position. The cam includes a pin which cooperatively moves along the discontinuous track. When the at least one wheel is in an unlocked state, the pin is in the home position and when the at least one wheel is in a locked state, the pin is in the engaged position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 12, 2012
    Publication date: April 17, 2014
    Applicant: Steelcase Inc.
    Inventor: Travis Spoor
  • Publication number: 20140083803
    Abstract: A central control braking system includes: a pedestal; at least one caster mounted at a bottom portion of the pedestal; a brake transmission shaft for controlling the caster; a plate girder movably connected to the pedestal; a pedal fixed to the plate girder; and a reversing rotary assembly connecting the plate girder and the brake transmission shaft, wherein the reversing rotary assembly enables the brake transmission shaft to rotate in reverse under the control of the pedal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 27, 2013
    Publication date: March 27, 2014
    Inventors: Xugui Chen, Min Hu, Mingzhao Zhou
  • Patent number: 8640832
    Abstract: A central control braking system includes: a pedestal; at least one caster mounted at a bottom portion of the pedestal; a brake transmission shaft for controlling the caster; a plate girder movably connected to the pedestal; a pedal fixed to the plate girder; and a reversing rotary assembly connecting the plate girder and the brake transmission shaft, wherein the reversing rotary assembly enables the brake transmission shaft to rotate in reverse under the control of the pedal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2014
    Assignee: Shenzhen Mindray Bio-Medical Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Xugui Chen, Min Hu, Mingzhao Zhou
  • Patent number: 8629765
    Abstract: To generally prevent people from being able to take out and move shopping carts from shopping cart parking areas at times when the store is not open, the blocking devices on the shopping carts are activated when the shopping carts are parked in shopping cart parking areas when the store is not open.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2014
    Inventors: Horst Sonnendorfer, Franz Wieth
  • Patent number: 8602176
    Abstract: A wheel braking apparatus includes components that inhibit the rotation of a wheel when a ball bearing is placed in a braking position between a bearing wall of a non-rotating component and a bearing barrier of a hub interface component that is at least resistively connected to a hub of the wheel. In response to a wireless signal, the ball bearing is moved from a non-braking position and allowed to travel to a braking position between a bearing barrier of one side of a bearing groove and the bearing wall of the non-rotating component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2013
    Assignee: Carttronics, LLC
    Inventor: Thomas K Khuu
  • Patent number: 8567010
    Abstract: A wheel construction including a locking device, characterized in that said wheel construction comprises a box-like body of a substantially prismatic configuration and opened at least at a bottom portion thereof, in said box-like body being snap arranged a fork element cooperating with a lever element for locking a rotary movement of a wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2013
    Assignee: O.G.T.M. Officine Meccaniche S.R.L.
    Inventor: Ruggero Trivini
  • Patent number: 8567570
    Abstract: A brake assembly for use with a portable generator includes a frame, a shaft, a brake surface, and an actuator. The frame is designed to be attached to the portable generator. The shaft is supported by the frame, and the brake surface is connected to an end of the shaft. The actuator includes a foot pedal, a cam, and a pivot, where the pivot is coupled to both the foot pedal and the cam and provides for rotation of the foot pedal and the cam about a portion of the frame. The cam of the actuator translates the shaft between a released position and a braked position during operation of the brake assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2013
    Assignee: Briggs & Stratton Corporation
    Inventors: Richard A. Junk, Ryan S. Jaskowiak, Gregory G. Wesolowski
  • Patent number: 8540059
    Abstract: A brake mechanism includes a first wheel base, a second wheel base, a linkage part, a passive brake device and an active brake device. The first wheel base and the second wheel base are installed on two feet of a stroller, respectively. A first wheel set and a second wheel set of the stroller are pivotally connected to the first wheel base and the second wheel base, respectively. The passive brake device and the active brake device are connected to a first end and a second end of the linkage part, respectively. The active brake device includes a first engaging part and a driving part. The driving part is rotatably disposed on the second wheel base. When the driving part rotates between a locking position and a releasing position, the driving part drives the first engaging part and drives the passive brake device to move via the linkage part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2013
    Assignee: Wonderland Nurserygoods Company Limited
    Inventors: Fang-Ming Li, Hai-Bo Zeng
  • Patent number: 8528704
    Abstract: A pedal (10) is formed from a single molding and includes first and second arms (12, 14), each provided with an over molded marker (16, 18). The pedal (10) has two fittings (20, 22) for coupling with a brake actuator rod (24) and a coupling member (26) respectively. A castor (40) includes a wheel (42) which can rotate about a bushing (44) and a coupling shaft (46). Within the shaft (46) there is provided a brake mechanism for locking the wheel (42). A base frame (80) for a bed includes longitudinal and transverse struts (52, 54) arranged in a rectangular form, with four castors (40) and four associated pedal assemblies (10). Two actuator rods (24) are provided, one for each pair of opposing pedal assemblies (10), while two connecting elements (26) are provided, one for each pair of side-by-side pedal assemblies (10). All the pedals and thus all the brake mechanisms are coupled to one another through the two actuator rods (24) and two coupling elements (26).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2013
    Assignee: Huntleigh Technology Limited
    Inventors: Stephen Hayes, Stephen Hollyoak
  • Patent number: 8522397
    Abstract: A castor includes a support shaft, a stop ring secured on the support shaft and having a first locking portion, a castor body rotatably mounted on the support shaft, two rollers rotatably mounted on the castor body and each having a second locking portion, a locking module movably mounted on the castor body and movable to engage the first locking portion of the stop ring and the second locking portion of each of the rollers, and a control wire movably mounted on the support shaft and connected with the locking module. Thus, when the castor is locked, each of the rollers is locked by the locking module, and the castor body is locked by the stop ring, so that the castor will stop rotating when being braked to provide a double-braking effect.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2013
    Inventor: Po-Chuan Tsai
  • Patent number: 8499413
    Abstract: A castor includes a castor body, an operation unit, a locking unit, and two rollers. The operation unit includes a pressing plate and a rotation member. The locking unit includes a locking module, a stop ring, a locating member, and an upper positioning plate. The locking module has a locking member and a braking member. When the driving portion of the rotation member presses the first ramp of the pressing plate, the locating member is locked in the locking hole of the upper positioning plate. When the driving portion presses the second ramp of the pressing plate, the first engaging portion of the locking member engages the first locking portion of the stop ring, while the second engaging portion of the braking member engages the second locking portion of each of the rollers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2013
    Inventor: Po-Chuan Tsai
  • Patent number: 8464843
    Abstract: The invention relates a lockable caster wheel. The lockable caster wheel can be widely used in shopping carts, luggage carts, strollers, turnover carts, stretcher cars and many other trolleys. The controlling mechanism of the lockable caster wheel comprises a controller which comprises a signal receiving device and a locking device which is controlled by the controller. The locking mechanism further comprises a revolving damper which comprises a shell having a restricting structure and a damping wheel located inside the shell. The shell, through its restricting structure, separates from or connects with the locking device to form unlocked or locked states. The damping wheel connects with the wheel assembly. The caster wheel uses a damper. Beyond the allowed area of use, the trolleys can be slowly pushed for a few of meters because of the damper effect, but it will not suddenly stop completely. Therefore it will not present danger to the users.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2013
    Assignee: Rocateq International B.V.
    Inventors: Ying Qiu, Liming Fang, Jinyuan Xu, Jie Ma
  • Patent number: 8452508
    Abstract: An assembly controls brakes on beds for use in healthcare facilities. The bed comprises at least one caster device supporting a base frame in relation to a supporting surface. The caster device has a caster brake. A brake control assembly is operatively engageable with the caster brake to engage the caster brake. The brake control assembly comprises a sensor for sensing a status condition of the caster brake. A controller is connected to the sensor. The controller causes engagement of the caster brake when the sensor senses the status condition for a predetermined period of time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2013
    Assignee: Linet spol. s.r.o.
    Inventors: Zbynek Frolik, Ladislav Schejbal, Vladimir Kolar
  • Patent number: 8418314
    Abstract: A wheel assembly includes a base frame having a chamber and a stem in the chamber, a mounting frame for mounting, a wheel pivotally mounted in the base frame, and a wheel lock structure consisting of a holder frame, a lift frame, a crank arm, a control knob and a compression spring and operable to lock/unlock the wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2013
    Inventor: Wei-Hung Lai
  • Patent number: 8397345
    Abstract: The invention relates to a castor having a brake device with a housing (10) with a substantially vertically aligned receiving opening (12) for a runner pin (14) for connecting the castor to an object to be supported by the castor, and having an axle bolt (16) which extends through the housing transversely with respect to the receiving opening and which bears at least one wheel (18, 18?), with the brake device having a brake slide (20) which can be moved by an actuating lever (22) from the outside from a free-running position into a braked position. To provide inter alia a locking facility independently of the rotational position of the wheel, it is proposed according to the invention that the brake slide (20) bears an elastic brake lining (36) which faces toward a braking section (32) of the at least one wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2013
    Assignee: Gross + Froelich GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Ralph Von Bordelius, Hans-Wilhelm Rottenau
  • Patent number: 8393053
    Abstract: A self-orienting caster for pieces of furniture and the like, comprising at least one wheel which is supported so that it can rotate about a horizontal axis by a supporting structure which has a vertical cylindrical recess which is open upward and is axially offset with respect to said horizontal axis and constitutes said seat in which a pivot for the pivoting of the caster can rotate, the pivot being insertable in a receptacle of the piece of furniture onto which the caster is to be fitted, the supporting structure comprising two mutually opposite annular flanges, which form respective circular and coaxial holes, a tubular body whose opposite ends are rigidly coupled to the inner edges of the holes and form externally, between the flanges, a rolling track for a supporting bearing for the wheel, respective extensions being monolithically rigidly coupled to the flanges and being mutually associable so as to form the seat which is designed to receive the pivot for the pivoting of the wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2013
    Assignee: Emilsider Meccanica S.p.A.
    Inventor: Francescantonio Melara
  • Patent number: 8365354
    Abstract: A castor includes a wheel frame, a roller, an elastic locating plate, a mandrel, a locating disk, a braking disk, a mounting tube, an elastic member, a control bar, two screw members, an adjusting member, and a connecting unit. Thus, the distance between the braking disk and the roller can be adjusted easily and quickly according to the user's requirement, thereby facilitating the user braking the roller. In addition, when the wall thickness of the roller is reduced due to rubbing or wearing, the distance between the braking disk and the roller can be adjusted to fit the wall thickness of the roller, thereby keeping the braking effect of the braking disk to the optimum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2013
    Assignee: Der Sheng Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Tso-Yu Fan
  • Patent number: 8353389
    Abstract: A vehicle wheel assembly includes a fixed body member, a rotatably mounted wheel and a braking assembly that is operated by a solenoid or motor powered by a support power supply. The wheel assembly acts as a power generator to recharge the support power supply, one of the body member and the wheel being provided with a stator and the other being provided with a plurality of permanent magnets which are of alternating polarity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2013
    Assignee: Radlok S.A.R.L.
    Inventor: Andrew Gray
  • Patent number: 8316999
    Abstract: A brake assembly for a stroller has a wheel rotatable about a wheel axis and a plurality of pockets on the wheel spaced from and circumferentially around the wheel axis. A brake lever has an actuator arm and a link arm fixedly connected to one another and is movable between a braking orientation and a released orientation. A boss is driven by the link arm between a braking position and a released position corresponding respectively to the braking and released orientations of the brake lever. A biasing mechanism is configured to bias and retain the boss into engagement with one of the plurality of pockets when the brake lever is moved to the braking orientation and to bias and retain the boss out of engagement with the plurality of pockets when the brake lever is moved to the released position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2012
    Assignee: Graco Children's Products Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew L. Solinski, Todd D. Sorzano, Robert T. Pike, Michael A. Dotsey