초록 ▼

A turn wheel locking device for use with shopping carts having at least one turn wheel. The locking device functions to automatically disable the cart when it is removed from a prescribed area by locking the turn wheel in a turned configuration so that the cart can travel only along a generally circ

A turn wheel locking device for use with shopping carts having at least one turn wheel. The locking device functions to automatically disable the cart when it is removed from a prescribed area by locking the turn wheel in a turned configuration so that the cart can travel only along a generally circular path.

대표청구항 ▼

[ I claim:] [1.] A turn wheel locking apparatus for use with a wheel assembly of a vehicle usable within an area, said wheel assembly comprising a generally vertical shaft interconnected with a wheel, said vehicle having a wheel rotatable about a first generally horizontal axis and also rotatable ab

[ I claim:] [1.] A turn wheel locking apparatus for use with a wheel assembly of a vehicle usable within an area, said wheel assembly comprising a generally vertical shaft interconnected with a wheel, said vehicle having a wheel rotatable about a first generally horizontal axis and also rotatable about a second generally vertical axis, said turn wheel locking apparatus functioning to lock in the wheel against rotation about the second axis, said apparatus comprising:(a) an engaged member connected to said shaft for rotation therewith and being rotatable with the wheel assembly about the second axis, said engaged member comprising a disk-like member having a peripheral surface;(b) engagement means engagable with said surface of said engaged member for engagement therewith to block rotation of said engaged member, said engagement means comprising a cam member engagable with said peripheral surface of said disk-like member; and(c) actuator means associated with said engagement means for moving said engagement means into engagement with said surface of said engaged member, said actuator means comprising a solenoid operably interconnected with said cam member for moving said cam member into engagement with peripheral surface of said disk-like member, said solenoid including:(i) a core connected to said cam member and movable between a first position and a second position; and(ii) a first biasing means for continually urging said core toward said second position; and(d) restraining means for releasably restraining said core in said first position, said restraining means comprising a second solenoid having a core movable from a first position in engagement with said core of said first solenoid into a second position spaced apart from said core of said first solenoid.