Abstract: A wheel trap assembly for receiving and retaining a wheel of a wheeled support structure is advantageously provided. The wheel trap assembly generally includes a frame and a wheel receiving structure that is pivotably supported within the frame, a wheel received upon the wheel receiving structure being shifted, with pivoting of the wheel receiving structure with respect to the frame, to a wheel landing surface supported by the frame.

Abstract: A wheel trap assembly for receiving and retaining a wheel of a wheeled support structure is advantageously provided. The wheel trap assembly generally includes a frame and a wheel receiving structure that is pivotably supported within said frame, a wheel received upon the wheel receiving structure being shifted, with pivoting of the wheel receiving structure with respect to the frame, to a wheel landing surface supported by the frame.

Abstract: A self-propelled transport aid for wheeled structures is advantageously provided. The transport aid generally includes a chassis, a lift assembly operatively supported thereby, and preferably a wheel capturing apparatus operatively united with the lift assembly. The wheel capturing apparatus has a first configuration for receipt of a wheel upon a wheel landing of the apparatus, and a second configuration for retention of the wheel received upon the wheel landing in the first configuration, wherein the first configuration of the wheel capturing apparatus is associated with a down position thereof. Alternate means for receiving and retaining a portion of a wheeled structure are further disclosed.

Abstract: A cart pulling system for pulling a line of nested carts including a reelable retaining cord mechanism and a hitch to engage the line of nested carts. The reelable retaining cord mechanism is a dual spindle system which is attached to a motorized cart-puller. Attached to the spindles is a retaining cord which extends around and engages the line of nested carts. The retaining cord is preferably slidable with respect to the nested carts to prevent the line of nested carts from binding when they turn. A hitch is also attached to the motorized cart-puller and has a set of stationary jaws and set of movable jaws which slidably engage the line of nested carts.

Abstract: Sheet material useful to form a coded retroreflective mark comprises a retroreflective base sheet and a cover film adhered over the base sheet and precut to form a plurality of removable sections. The cut sections are arranged in a predetermined pattern such that removal of different sections to expose the retroreflective sheeting under the sections provides different codes that may be read and distinguished by photoscanning equipment.

Abstract: A device including two heads which may be positioned at an applying station to apply parallel lengths of elastic reflex-light reflective strip material in an unstretched condition around the circular outer surface of a tire casing rotated past the station. Each head includes a vacuum column which supports a supply length of the strip material adjacent the applying station so that the strip material at the applying station will be under essentially no tension; and a tape drive mechanism which removes and drives away a protective liner from the strip material, drives the strip material toward the vacuum column at a variable rate to maintain a supply length of the strip material in the vacuum column and has a novel self adjusting feature that insures equal driving rates for the strip material and liner.