Brake assembly and control mechanism for a cart, and method
IPC분류정보
국가/구분
United States(US) Patent
등록
국제특허분류(IPC7판)
B62B-005/04
B62B-005/00
출원번호
US-0704220
(2003-11-06)
등록번호
US-7448476
(2008-11-11)
발명자
/ 주소
Otterson,Dan L.
출원인 / 주소
Smart Carte, Inc.
대리인 / 주소
Merchant & Gould P.C.
인용정보
피인용 횟수 :
11인용 특허 :
17
초록▼
A cart having a frame for conveying cargo. The cart includes at least one brake assembly mounted within the frame of the cart. The brake assembly is configured to provide braking by engaging and disengaging a rear wheel axle. The cart further includes a control mechanism configured to selectively en
A cart having a frame for conveying cargo. The cart includes at least one brake assembly mounted within the frame of the cart. The brake assembly is configured to provide braking by engaging and disengaging a rear wheel axle. The cart further includes a control mechanism configured to selectively engage and disengage the brake assembly by rotation of a cart handle. In addition, the cart includes a brake release device configured to disengage the brake assembly when carts are nested.
대표청구항▼
I claim: 1. A cart for carrying cargo, the cart comprising: a frame having support members that define a cargo carrying region; an axle connected to the frame and configured for rotation about an axis; a brake mechanism mounted to the frame arranged and configured to engage the axle to provide brak
I claim: 1. A cart for carrying cargo, the cart comprising: a frame having support members that define a cargo carrying region; an axle connected to the frame and configured for rotation about an axis; a brake mechanism mounted to the frame arranged and configured to engage the axle to provide braking operation of the cart and to disengage the axle to permit free rotation of the axle; a brake actuation device mounted on the frame and operably connected to the brake mechanism; a wheel mounted to the axle; a brake release device attached to the frame and operably connected to the brake mechanism, the brake release device being configured to pivot from a first position to a second position, wherein the brake release device causes the brake mechanism to disengage the axle to permit rotation of the wheel when the brake release device is moved into the second position; wherein the brake mechanism remains disengaged when the brake release device returns to the first position from the second position, and remains disengaged until the brake actuation device of the cart is actuated. 2. The cart of claim 1, wherein the wheel is longitudinally spaced along the axle from the brake mechanism. 3. The cart of claim 1, wherein the brake mechanism includes a wrap-spring configured to engage and to disengage the axle. 4. The cart of claim 1, wherein the brake actuation device comprises a rotatable handle. 5. The cart of claim 4, further including a brake control arrangement configured to disengage the brake mechanism when the handle of the cart is rotated. 6. The cart of claim 5, wherein the brake control arrangement disengages the brake mechanism when the handle of the cart is rotated in a first direction. 7. The cart of claim 5, wherein the brake control arrangement disengages the brake mechanism when the handle of the cart is rotated in either the first direction or a second opposite direction. 8. The cart of claim 1, wherein the cart is a first cart, and wherein the brake release device of the first cart pivots to the second position when a second cart is nested within the frame of the first cart. 9. The cart of claim 4, wherein the brake mechanism remains disengaged when the brake release device returns to the first position from the second position, and remains disengaged until the handle of the cart is rotated and released. 10. The cart of claim 1, wherein the brake mechanism is engaged when the handle is in a non-rotated position and the brake release device is in the first position. 11. The cart of claim 10, wherein the brake mechanism is disengaged when the handle is rotated or when the brake release device is in the second position. 12. The cart of claim 4, wherein the brake actuation device further includes a brake rod, the brake rod having a first end operably interconnected to the handle and a second end located adjacent to the brake mechanism, the brake rod being positioned within one of the support member of the frame. 13. A brake and control assembly for a cart of the type having a frame, a handle, and a wheel; the brake and control assembly comprising: a brake assembly configured to directly mount to the frame of the cart, the brake assembly comprising a brake mechanism and an axle configured to connect to the wheel of the cart, wherein one end of the axle longitudinally extends from the brake mechanism and the wheel of the cart couples to said one end of the axle and is thereby spaced from the brake mechanism, wherein the brake mechanism is arranged and configured to selectively engage and disengage the axle during braking and non-braking operations of the cart respectively; a brake control arrangement configured to couple to the handle of the cart, the brake control arrangement including an actuation member positioned adjacent to the brake assembly to control the braking and non-braking operation of the cart; and a brake release device configured to disengage the brake assembly independent of the brake control arrangement. 14. The brake and control assembly of claim 13, wherein the brake mechanism compresses radially towards the axle during braking operation of the cart. 15. The brake and control assembly of claim 13, wherein the brake assembly further comprises a wheel bearing that permits free rotation of the axle when the brake mechanism is operatively disengaged from the axle. 16. A method of operating a cart having a frame, an axle mounted to the frame, a brake mechanism mounted to the frame and operably connected to the axle, a brake actuator mounted to the frame and operably connected to the brake mechanism such that the brake actuator is biased to engage the brake mechanism, a brake release device mounted to the frame and operably connected to the brake mechanism, and a wheel cantilevered on the axle and thereby spaced from the brake mechanism, the method comprising: enabling unnested movement of the cart relative to a second cart by disengaging the brake mechanism by moving the brake actuator from a first position of the brake actuator to a second position of the brake actuator and maintaining the brake actuator in the second position of the brake actuator, wherein disengaging the brake mechanism permits free rotation of the axle; enabling braking of the cart by reengaging the brake mechanism by moving the brake actuator from the second position of the brake actuator to the first position of the brake actuator, wherein the brake mechanism contacts the axle to provide braking operation of the cart; and enabling nested movement of the cart relative to the second cart by disengaging the brake mechanism by moving the brake release device from a first position of the brake release device to a second position of the brake release device, wherein movement of the brake release device from the second position of the brake release device to the first position of the brake release device upon unnesting of the cart from the second cart does not reengage the brake mechanism. 17. The method of claim 16 wherein the brake actuator comprises a rotatable handle, wherein rotating and releasing the handle disengages and engages the brake mechanism respectively. 18. The method of claim 16, further including enabling braking of the cart after moving the brake release device from the first release position to the second release position by moving the brake actuator. 19. A cart for carrying cargo, the cart comprising: a frame having support members that define a cargo carrying region; a brake actuation device connected to the frame; a brake assembly mounted to the frame, the brake assembly being configured to be engaged by movement of the brake actuation device from a first position to a second position and disengaged by movement of the brake actuation device from the second position back to the first position; and a brake release device attached to the frame, the brake release device configured to disengage the brake assembly to permit transport of the cart when the brake release device is moved from an original position to another position, the brake release device including a retainer arrangement configured to maintain disengagement of the brake assembly when the brake release device is moved back to the original position. 20. The cart of claim 19, wherein the cart is a first cart, and wherein the brake release device of the first cart is actuated when a second cart is nested within the frame of the first cart. 21. The cart of claim 19, wherein the first cart includes stops positioned to limit a depth to which the second cart nests within the first cart. 22. The cart of claim 19, wherein the wheel and the brake mechanism are arranged and configured such that the wheel is configured to fit within a guiding wheel slot of a cart retention station with the brake mechanism being external of the guiding wheel slot. 23. The cart of claim 19, wherein the brake mechanism is arranged and configured to engage the axle by wrapping down on the axle to provide braking operation of the cart and to disengage the axle to permit free rotation of the axle. 24. The cart of claim 19, wherein the retainer arrangement is configured to maintain disengagement of the brake assembly until the brake actuation device is actuated. 25. A method of transporting carts, including at least a first cart and a second cart, each cart including a brake assembly, a brake actuation device, and a brake release device, the brake actuation device arranged and configured to engage and disengage the brake assembly, the method comprising actuating the brake release device of the first cart by nesting the second cart within the first cart; disengaging the brake assembly of the first cart by actuating the brake release device of the first cart, wherein unnesting the second cart from the first cart causes deactuation of the brake release device of the first cart, but does not cause reengagement of the brake assembly of the first cart; and transporting the first and second nested carts. 26. The method of claim 25, wherein the brake actuation device comprises a rotatable handle configured to disengage and engage the brake assembly.
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이 특허에 인용된 특허 (17)
Haley ; Frederick, Automatic brake for wheeled carriages.
Upshaw Clarence W. (Tuttle OK) Begley Russell D. (Oklahoma City OK) Reinbold James F. (Norman OK), Combination nesting stop and stabilizer bracket for shopping carts.
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