Braking system for a grocery cart or the like

Patent 5090517 Issued on February 25, 1992. Estimated Expiration Date:

April 30, 2010. Estimated Expiration Date is calculated based on simple USPTO term provisions. It does not account for terminal disclaimers, term adjustments, failure to pay maintenance fees, or other factors which might affect the term of a patent.

Abstract Claims Description Full Text

Patent References

1171268

2591524

2638183

3029905

Wheelchair anti-rollback mechanism
Patent #: 4538825
Issued on: 09/03/1985
Inventor: Delahoussaye , et al.

Grocery cart Patent #: 4840388
Issued on: 06/20/1989
Inventor: Doughty

Inventor

Doughty, Robert E.

Application

No. 516720 filed on 04/30/1990

US Classes:

188/19, Cart188/29, Top shoes280/33.994Brake or antitheft device

Examiners

Primary: Graham, Matthew C.

Attorney, Agent or Firm

Hovey, Williams, Timmons & Collins

Foreign Patent References

8403073 WO 08/12/1984

International Class

B62B 005/04

Abstract

An apparatus for automatically braking a user-propelled cart such as a grocery cart, luggage cart or the like is provided. The preferred apparatus includes a braking mechanism (40) shiftable between braked and released positions, which brakes at least one support wheel (22) of the cart (12). A shiftable handle (44) is interconnected to the braking mechanism (40) and causes corresponding shifting of the braking mechanism. The braking mechanism (40) and handle (44) are spring biased toward the braked position for automatic braking of the cart when not in use. The braking mechanism includes a brake shoe (78) designed to engage the wheel (22) more tightly in accordance with the amount of forward force applied to the cart (12). In operation, a user pushes generally forwardly on the handle (44) which shifts the interconnected braking mechanism to a released position. When the user releases the handle (44) the spring automatically biases the brake shoe (78) to the braked position. When forward force is applied to the braked cart (12), as by a heavy load or a steep incline, the brake shoe (78) engages the wheel (22) more tightly.