Abstract: The present invention is a hitch assembly for coupling a powered cart mover to a cart, wherein the cart has one of three different types of hitching elements. The hitch assembly comprises a mount and a foot. The mount secures the assembly to the mover and includes a vertically adjustable portion biased in an upward position via a biasing element. The foot is pivotally coupled to the vertically adjustable portion and includes first, second and third attachment features. Each attachment feature is configured to receive one of the three different types of hitching elements.

Abstract: The present invention is a shopping cart collection device adapted to engage to first and second shopping carts and capable of pulling a first train of shopping carts extending from the first shopping cart and pushing a second train of shopping carts extending from the second shopping cart. The device comprises a motorized unit comprising a drive wheel, a first hitch and a second hitch. The first hitch is proximate a first side of the motorized unit and is adapted to engage the first shopping cart. The second hitch is proximate a second side of the motorized unit opposite the first side and is adapted to engage the second shopping cart.

Abstract: The present invention is a motorized shopping cart retriever that includes a controller that attenuates the power provided to the drive system of the retriever to prevent the retriever from being utilized to move an excessively heavy load of shopping carts. By preventing the retriever and carts from being subjected to overloaded conditions, the operational lives of the retriever and carts are maximized. The retriever is also provided with a burst mode that allows the power provided to the drive system to rapidly increase past the normal attenuated level for a brief period of time in order to reduce the time required to accelerate a retriever loaded with carts to a terminal velocity.

Abstract: The present invention is a motorized shopping cart retriever that includes a controller that attenuates the power provided to the drive system of the retriever to prevent the retriever from being utilized to move an excessively heavy load of shopping carts. By preventing the retriever and carts from being subjected to overloaded conditions, the operational lives of the retriever and carts are maximized. The retriever is also provided with a burst mode that allows the power provided to the drive system to rapidly increase past the normal attenuated level for a brief period of time in order to reduce the time required to accelerate a retriever loaded with carts to a terminal velocity.

Abstract: The present invention is a motorized shopping cart retriever that includes a controller that attenuates the power provided to the drive system of the retriever to prevent the retriever from being utilized to move an excessively heavy load of shopping carts. By preventing the retriever and carts from being subjected to overloaded conditions, the operational lives of the retriever and carts are maximized. The retriever is also provided with a burst mode that allows the power provided to the drive system to rapidly increase past the normal attenuated level for a brief period of time in order to reduce the time required to accelerate a retriever loaded with carts to a terminal velocity.

Abstract: Methods of diagnosing a temperature control unit and methods of performing a diagnostic check on a temperature control unit. The methods generally include monitoring at least one function of the temperature control unit, storing information relating to the at least one monitored function, determining from the information relating to the at least one monitored function whether the unit has a malfunction. Some methods generally include setting a flag to one of a first setting and a second setting, the flag being set to the first setting if the unit has no malfunction and the flag being set to the second setting if the unit has at least one malfunction, and enabling the diagnostic check when the flag is set to the first setting.

Abstract: Methods of diagnosing a temperature control unit and methods of performing a diagnostic check on a temperature control unit. The methods generally include monitoring at least one function of the temperature control unit, storing information relating to the at least one monitored function, determining from the information relating to the at least one monitored function whether the unit has a malfunction. Some methods generally include setting a flag to one of a first setting and a second setting, the flag being set to the first setting if the unit has no malfunction and the flag being set to the second setting if the unit has at least one malfunction, and enabling the diagnostic check when the flag is set to the first setting.