초록 ▼

A wheel chock assembly is provided having a base member extending axially from a top end to a bottom end, first and second support members whose upper ends are pivotally and slidably engaged with respect to the base member, first and second wheel chocks mounted with respect to the lower ends of the

A wheel chock assembly is provided having a base member extending axially from a top end to a bottom end, first and second support members whose upper ends are pivotally and slidably engaged with respect to the base member, first and second wheel chocks mounted with respect to the lower ends of the support members, and an adjustment mechanism mounted to the base member. The adjustment mechanism is operatively engaged to the support members to achieve axial movement of their upper ends with respect to the base member to extend and retract them within a range that permits the assembly to grip the wheel of a cart between the wheel chocks. Preferably, the adjustment mechanism is a cord secured to the main member of the base member such that pulling the cord upward draws the main member into the handle of the base member, extending the support members outward, while releasing the cord withdraws the main member from the handle, retracting the support members inward. A method is also provided for securing the wheel of a cart.

대표청구항 ▼

The invention claimed is: 1. A wheel chock assembly comprising: a base member having an axis extending from a top end to a bottom end the base member including a main member and a handle, the main member being sized to be received in a bottom opening of the handle and a cord being secured to the ma

The invention claimed is: 1. A wheel chock assembly comprising: a base member having an axis extending from a top end to a bottom end the base member including a main member and a handle, the main member being sized to be received in a bottom opening of the handle and a cord being secured to the main member, upper movement of the cord draws the main member within the handle to extend first and second support members outward and downward movement of the cord withdraws tile main member from the handle to retract the support members inward; said first and second support members, each support member having upper and lower ends the upper ends being pivotally and slidably engaged with respect to the base member, the upper ends of the support members being pivotally secured to a slide-bar, the slide-bar extending through a lower end of the handle between the upper ends of the support members, the lower ends of the support members being secured to first and second inner links having inside and outside ends the inside ends being pivotally secured by a torsion spring; first and second wheel chocks mounted with respect to the respective lower end of the first and second support members; and an adjustment mechanism including said cord mounted with respect to the base member and operatively engaged to the first and second support members for axial movement of the upper ends of the support members with respect to the base member, whereby the first and second support members being extended and retracted between limits to permit a range of spacing between the wheel chocks for the gripping of a wheel on a cart between the wheel chocks. 2. The wheel chock assembly of claim 1 wherein the cord has proximal and distal ends, the proximal end extending outward from the top end and the distal end being secured to an upper portion of the main member. 3. The wheel chock assembly of claim 1 wherein: the base member further includes a plunger and compression spring, the plunger having a bore extending therethrough, the bore being sized to receive the cord; the handle defines a passageway connecting the bottom opening with the top end and includes an aperture communicating with the passageway, the aperture being positioned radial to the passageway and receiving the plunger therein, the spring being positioned radial to the passageway and abutting and being in alignment with the plunger such that the plunger is biased to move outward from the passageway by the compression spring: and the cord extends through the passageway and through the bore, whereby pushing the plunger inward aligns the bore axially with the passageway so as to permit free axial movement of the cord within the passageway and releasing the plunger allows the plunger to retract outward so as to crimp the cord within the aperture to prevent axial movement of the cord, the aperture being sized to snugly receive the plunger and the cord. 4. The wheel chock assembly of claim 1 wherein the main member has a slot having a length, the slot including two longitudinal notches in radial alignment along an upper portion of the main member, each notch being sized to slidably receive the slide-bar, whereby axial movement of the main member in a first direction with respect to the handle results in axial movement of the slide-bar within the slot in an opposite second direction, the axial movement of the slide-bar being limited by the length of the slot. 5. The wheel chock assembly of claim 4 wherein the inside ends of the first and second inner links are pivotally secured by said torsion spring adjacent to the lower portion of the main member and the first and second outside ends being pivotally connected at a point proximal to the respective lower end of the first and second support members, whereby axial movement of the slide-bar in a downward direction forces the inner links outward from the main member to openly extend the support members, the inner links are biased to be drawn inward towards the main member by the torsion spring, and axial movement of the slide-bar in an upward direction draws the inner links inward towards the main member to collapsibly retract the support members. 6. The wheel chock assembly of claim 1 wherein the handle is provided with at least two sections telescopically connected to allow the handle to reversibly expand and collapse axially. 7. The wheel chock assembly of claim 1 wherein the main member and handle are cylindrical in shape, the main member having an outside diameter less than an inside diameter of the handle, the main member being received in the bottom opening of the handle. 8. The wheel chock assembly of claim 1 wherein the support members are bars. 9. The wheel chock assembly of claim 1 wherein each wheel chock is pivotally mounted to said each respective support member the wheel chocks move between open and closed positions. 10. The wheel chock assembly of claim 1 wherein the wheel chocks are cylindrical. 11. A method for securing a wheel of a cart, the method comprising: providing an assembly that is expandable to form a wheel-receiving space defined by wheel chocks, the assembly having a base member with an axis, first and second support members pivotally and slidably engaged with respect to the base member, first and second wheel chocks mounted at the lower ends of the first and second support members, and an adjustment mechanism mounted with respect to the base member and operatively engaged to the support members for axial movement of the support members with respect to the base member, the adjustment mechanism includes a cord and the base member includes a main member and a handle, the main member being sized to be received in a bottom opening of the handle and the cord being secured to the upper portion of the main member; expanding the assembly; adjusting the assembly spacing to firmly grip the wheel of a cart by drawing and withdrawing the cord to expand and retract, respectively, the first and second support members between upper and lower notches of a slot in an upper portion of the main member to grip the wheel of a cart between the wheel chocks; and gripping the wheel of a cart between the wheel chocks. 12. The method of claim 11 wherein drawing the cord to move the main member withen the handle to extend the first and second support members outward, a downward movement of the cord withdraws the main member from the handle to retract the support members inward to allow the wheel chocks to grip the wheel. 13. The method of claim 12 wherein adjusting the assembly spacing to firmly grip the wheel includes placing the wheel between the wheel chocks when the assembly is in the expanded position, lowering the cord causing the support members to pivot inward creating a pinching effect on the wheel between the wheel chocks, thereby securely gripping the wheel between the wheel chocks. 14. The method of claim 12 wherein the handle is provided with at least two sections telescopically connected to allow the handle to reversibly expand and collapse axially. 15. The method of claim 11 further comprising unloading the contents of the cart with the wheel chock assembly firmly gripping the wheel. 16. The method of claim 11 wherein the base member further includes: a plunger and compression spring, the plunger having a bore extending therethrough, the bore being sized to receive the cord; the handle defines a passageway connecting the bottom opening with the top end and includes an aperture communicating with the passageway, the aperture being positioned radial to the passageway and receiving the plunger therein, the spring being positioned radial to the passageway and abutting and being in alignment with the plunger, the plunger is biased to move outward from the passageway by the compression spring; and the cord extends through the passageway and through the bore, pushing the plunger inward aligns the bore axially with the passageway to permit free axial movement of the cord within the passageway and releasing the plunger allows the plunger to retract outward to crimp the cord within the aperture to prevent axial movement of the cord, the aperture being sized to snugly receive the plunger and the cord. 17. The method of claim 11 wherein the cart is a shopping cart.