Security apparatus and method for shopping carts and the like

• US 6,125,972 A
• Filed: 02/20/1998
• Issued: 10/03/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 04/17/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Carttronics LLC (Gatekeeper Systems, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Carttronics LLC (Gatekeeper Systems, Inc.)
• Inventors: Bailey, Thomas K., Witham, Philip J., Giuntoli, David M., French, John R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Schwartz, Christopher P.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Lipka, Pamela J.
• Application Number:
  US09/026,652
• Time in Patent Office: 956 Days
• Field of Search: 188/1.12, 188/4 B, 188/4 R, 188/5, 188/6, 188/7, 188/19, 188/31, 188/60, 188/62, 188/69, 188/161, 188/167, 188/111, 188/110, 280/33.994, 16/35 R
• US Class Current: 188/1.12
• CPC Class Codes: B62B 5/0423 braking or blocking when leaving a particular area
• CPC Class Codes: B62B 5/049 locking against movement by contacting the floor or a wall

Abstract

A security apparatus for a shopping cart or other wheeled vehicle having a plurality of casters has a braking member rotatably mounted on a wheel axle of one of the wheels. The braking member is movable between a raised position spaced above the ground surface and an operative position contacting the ground surface, and has a portion projecting radially outwardly from the outer peripheral rim of the wheel at least in the operative position so as to separate the wheel from the ground and impede movement of the vehicle. A locking device releasably locks the braking member in the raised position, and is released by a trigger device in response to a signal from a signal system extending around an area in which carts are to be retained, at which point the braking member rotates into the operative position, stopping normal movement of the cart.

Claims

1. A security apparatus for a wheeled vehicle having a plurality of wheels, comprising:

a braking member for rotatably mounting on a wheel axle for movement between a raised position spaced above the ground surface and an operative position contacting the ground surface, the braking member having a portion projecting radially outwardly from the outer peripheral rim of the wheel at least in said operative position so as to separate the wheel from the ground and impede movement of a vehicle;

a locking assembly including a latch device for releasably locking the braking member in the raised position;

a trigger device for automatically releasing the latch device in response to a trigger signal from a signal system extending around an area in which carts are to be retained, whereby the braking member can rotate into the operative position; and

a receiver circuit for detecting the trigger signal and operating the trigger device, in response to the trigger signal in order to release the latch device.

2. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the braking member has first and second spaced formations for engaging said latching device in the retracted position and the operative position, respectively.

3. The apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein the latching device comprises a retractable lock member and biasing means for biasing the lock member into an operative position extending into engagement with one of said two formations, and the trigger device comprises means for retracting the latching device away from the first formation when actuated.

4. The apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein said formations comprise openings.

5. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, including a biasing device for biasing the braking member into the operative position.

6. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the trigger device comprises an electromechanical actuator for engaging and disengaging the latching device to operate the braking member.

7. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the receiver circuit includes a motor for driving the latching device to release the braking member.

8. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the latch device comprises a first latch member for releasably locking the braking member in the raised position and a second latch member for releasably locking the braking member in the operative position.

9. The apparatus as claimed in claim 8, wherein each latch member is movable between a first, retracted position released from the braking member and a second, operative position engaging the braking member, each latch member having a biasing device urging the latch member towards the operative position, the trigger device including a cam member movable between a first position and a second position, movement of said cam member from said first position to said second position urging said first latch member into a retracted position to release said braking member, and movement of said cam member from said second position to said first position urging said second latch member into a retracted position and simultaneously releasing said first latch member, the trigger device acting to move said cam member from said first position to said second position in response to said trigger signal from said signal system, and said receiver circuit responding to a second signal from a transmitter to move said cam member from said second position to said first position to release the braking member from the operative position.

10. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the latch device comprises a first latch member movable between an advanced position engaging the braking member to hold the braking member in the raised position and a retracted position releasing the braking member for movement into the operative position, the locking assembly further including a biasing member urging the first latch member towards the braking member as the braking member is biased toward the operative position, the trigger device including a cam member movable between first and second positions to engage the first latch member and move it from the advanced position to the retracted position in response to said signal.

11. The apparatus as claimed in claim 10, wherein the receiver circuit includes a power source, a drive motor for moving the cam member, a controller for switching on the drive motor for a predetermined period on receipt of the signal, and a limit switch for switching off the motor when the cam member has moved to the second position.

12. The apparatus as claimed in claim 11, wherein the receiver circuit further includes means for switching the circuit into a low power, inactive mode when no movement of the vehicle is detected and switching the circuit into an active mode when the cart is active or when a signal is detected.

13. The apparatus as claimed in claim 11, wherein the locking assembly includes a second latch member movable between a retracted position and an advanced position in latching engagement with the braking member in the operative position, and a biasing member urging the second latch member towards the operative position, the cam member engaging the second latch member to move it from the advanced position to the retracted position on movement of the cam member from the second position to the first position, the receiver circuit being responsive to a second signal from a transmitter unit to switch on the motor for a predetermined period, and switching the motor off when the cam member is returned to the first position.

14. The apparatus as claimed in claim 11, including a moisture-proof housing enclosing the receiver circuit, the cam member being rotatable, and the motor having a rotatable drive shaft extending out of the housing and connected to the cam member.

15. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the latch device comprises first and second latch members each movable between a retracted position and an advanced position engaging the braking member, the locking assembly further comprising a cam controlling movement of the latch members between the retracted and advanced positions, the receiver circuit including a drive motor for moving the cam in response to the trigger signal to retract the first latch member and allow the second latch member to move into an advanced position locking the braking member when it reaches the operative position, the receiver circuit being responsive to a release signal different from the cart locking signal to actuate the motor to move the cam to retract the second latch member and allow the first latch member to move into the advanced position locking the braking member when it reaches the raised position.

16. A security apparatus for a wheeled vehicle having a plurality of wheels, comprising:

a braking member for rotatable mounting on a wheel axle for movement between a raised position spaced above the ground surface and an operative position contacting the ground surface, the braking member having a portion projecting radially outwardly from the outer peripheral rim of the wheel at least in said operative position so as to separate the wheel from the ground and impede movement of a vehicle;

a locking assembly including a latch device for releasably locking the braking member in the raised position;

a trigger device for releasing the latch device in response to a trigger signal from a signal system extending around an area in which carts are to be retained, whereby the braking member can rotate into the operative position; and

the braking member comprising a hollow shell enclosing at least a sector of the wheel.

17. The apparatus as claimed in claim 16, wherein the shell has an outer arcuate wall for extending around part of the outer periphery of a wheel, and parallel side walls for extending over part of the inner and outer faces of the wheel, whereby the wheel is partially enclosed within the shell.

18. A security apparatus for a wheeled vehicle having a plurality of wheels, comprising:

a braking member for rotatable mounting on a wheel axle for movement between a raised position spaced above the ground surface and an operative position contacting the around surface, the braking member having a portion projecting radially outwardly from the outer peripheral rim of the wheel at least in said operative position so as to separate the wheel from the ground and impede movement of a vehicle;

a locking assembly including a latch device for releasably locking the braking member in the raised position;

a trigger device for releasing the latch device in response to a trigger signal from a signal system extending around an area in which carts are to be retained, whereby the braking member can rotate into the operative position; and

a housing for securing to a caster, the latching and trigger devices being mounted in the housing adjacent said braking member.

19. A combined vehicle caster and security assembly, comprising:

a wheel supporting yoke;

a wheel axle secured to the yoke;

a wheel rotatably mounted on the axle, the wheel having an outer peripheral surface for rolling along a around surface;

a braking member rotatably mounted on the axle for movement between a raised position spaced above the ground surface and an operative position contacting the ground surface, the braking member having a portion projecting radially outwardly from the outer peripheral rim of the wheel at least in said operative position so as to separate the wheel from the surface and impede motion of the vehicle;

a locking device movable between an advanced position locking the braking member in the raised position, and an inoperative position releasing the braking member;

an actuator for moving the locking device into the inoperative position in response to movement of the wheel outside a predetermined area, whereby the braking member moves into the operative position to prevent normal operation of the vehicle; and

a receiver circuit for controlling operation of the actuator, the receiver circuit including a receiver for detecting two different signals, one of the signals comprising an actuate signal and the other signal comprising a reset signal, and a controller responsive to said actuate signal to operate the actuator to move the locking device into the inoperative position to release the braking member for movement into the operative position, and responsive to said reset signal to release the locking device for movement into the advanced position when the braking member is returned to the raised position.

20. The assembly as claimed in claim 19, including a biasing device for biasing said locking device into said advanced position in the raised and operative positions of said braking member, whereby said locking device locks said braking member in both said raised position and said operative position.

21. The assembly as claimed in claim 20, wherein said braking member has at least two spaced openings for receiving said locking device in said raised and operative positions, respectively.

22. The assembly as claimed in claim 19, including a pawl member and biasing means for biasing said pawl member against said braking member, the braking member having a series of spaced openings, said pawl member having a ratcheting engagement in said openings to permit rotation of said braking member in a first direction between said raised and operative positions, and preventing rotation of said braking member back out of said operative position.

23. The apparatus as claimed in claim 19, wherein the braking member comprises a hollow shell enclosing at least a sector of the wheel.

24. The apparatus as claimed in claim 23, wherein the sector has an angle in the range from 20°

to 210°

.

25. The apparatus as claimed in claim 24, wherein the sector angle enclosed by the shell is approximately 160°

.

26. The apparatus as claimed in claim 19, wherein said yoke comprises a housing enclosing at least part of said wheel and braking member in said raised position, said locking device and actuator being fully enclosed in said housing.

27. The assembly as claimed in claim 19, wherein the locking device includes first and second latch members each movable between an advanced position and an inoperative position, the first latch member in the advanced position releasably locking the braking member in the raised position and the second latch member in the advanced position releasably locking the braking member in the operative position, the controller being responsive to the actuate signal to move the first latch member into the inoperative position to release the braking member to move into the operative position and to release the second latch member for movement into the advanced position when the braking member reaches the operative position, and being responsive to the reset signal to move the second latch member into the inoperative position to release the braking member for movement back into the raised position, and to release the first latch member for movement into the advanced position locking the braking member in the raised position.

28. The assembly as claimed in claim 27, wherein the braking member has a first opening aligned with said first latch member in the raised position and a second opening aligned with said second latch member in the operative position.

29. A vehicle security system, comprising:

a plurality of vehicles each having a plurality of caster wheels;

a locking apparatus secured on at least one caster wheel of each vehicle including a braking member movable between an inoperative position in which the wheel is free to rotate and an operative position preventing normal operation of the vehicle along a ground surface, a latching device for releasably locking the braking member in the inoperative and operative positions, respectively, and a controller for controlling actuation of the latching device;

a perimeter antenna for surrounding an area in which shopping carts are to be retained, the perimeter antenna emitting a continuous brake actuate signal; and

at least one transmitter unit separate from the perimeter antenna for emitting a brake release signal different from the brake actuate signal;

the locking apparatus including a receiver for receiving the brake actuate and brake release signals, the controller being connected to the receiver and operating the latching device to release the braking member from the inoperative position and allow it to move into the operative position on detection of a brake actuate signal, and to release the braking member from the operative position and allow it to be moved into the inoperative position on detection of brake release signal.

30. The system as claimed in claim 29, wherein the controller includes a motion sensor, the controller having a low power, inactive mode and a higher power, active mode, and being switched into the low power mode when no movement of shopping cart is detected for a predetermined time period, and switching into the higher power, active mode when movement of the cart is detected or when a signal is detected.

31. A vehicle security system, comprising:

a plurality of vehicles each having a plurality of caster wheels;

a locking apparatus secured on at least one caster wheel of each vehicle including a braking member movable between an inoperative position in which the wheel is free to rotate and an operative position preventing normal operation of the vehicle along a ground surface, a latching device for releasably locking the braking member in the inoperative and operative positions, respectively, and a controller for controlling actuation of the latching device;

a perimeter antenna for surrounding an area in which shopping carts are to be retained, the perimeter antenna emitting a continuous brake actuate signal;

at least one transmitter unit for emitting a brake release signal different from the brake actuate signal;

the locking apparatus including a receiver for receiving the brake actuate and brake release signals, the controller being connected to the receiver and operating the latching device to release the braking member from the inoperative position and allow it to move into the operative position on detection of a brake actuate signal, and to release the braking member from the operative position and allow it to be moved into the inoperative position on detection of brake release signal; and

the caster wheel including a wheel axle and a wheel rotatably mounted on the axle, the braking member being rotatably mounted on the axle independently of the wheel for rotation between the inoperative and operative positions, the braking member being raised above a ground surface on which the cart rests when in the inoperative position, and contacting the ground surface in the operative position, the braking member having a portion projecting radially outwardly from the wheel to contact the ground in the operative position whereby the wheel is separated from the ground surface and motion of the vehicle is impeded.

32. The assembly as claimed in claim 31, wherein the latching device includes first and second latch members each movable between an advanced position and an inoperative position, the first latch member in the advanced position releasably locking the braking member in the raised, inoperative position and the second latch member in the advanced position releasably locking the braking member in the operative position, the controller being responsive to the actuate signal to move the first latch member into the inoperative position to release the braking member to move into the operative position and to release the second latch member for movement into the advanced position when the braking member reaches the operative position, and being responsive to the reset signal to move the second latch member into the inoperative position to release the braking member for movement back into the raised position, and to release the first latch member for movement into the advanced position locking the braking member in the raised position.

33. The assembly as claimed in claim 32, wherein the first and second latch members operate alternately, whereby the first latch member is in the advanced position when the second latch member is in the inoperative position, and vice versa.

34. A method of impeding movement of a wheeled vehicle outside a predetermined area, comprising the steps of:

transmitting a trigger signal from a perimeter antenna extending around the perimeter of an area to be protected;

providing a braking member on a wheel of a vehicle to be used within the protected area, the braking member being movable between a raised position raised above a ground surface and an operative position contacting the ground surface so as to separate the wheel from the ground and impede movement of the vehicle;

releasably latching the braking member in the raised position;

detecting the trigger signal if the vehicle is moved to a location adjacent the perimeter antenna;

switching a trigger circuit into a high power mode on detection of the trigger signal;

operating the trigger circuit to actuate an actuator to release the latch on detection of the trigger signal, whereby the braking member can rotate into the operative position; and

switching the trigger circuit back into a low power mode.

35. The method as claimed in claim 34, including the steps of:

releasably latching the braking member in the operative position;

detecting a release signal from a hand held transmitter;

switching the trigger circuit from the low power mode to the high power mode on detection of the release signal;

operating the trigger circuit to actuate the actuator to release the braking member on detection of the release signal, whereby the braking member can be returned to the raised position; and

switching the trigger circuit back into a low power mode.

36. The method as claimed in claim 35, wherein the trigger circuit is maintained in the high power mode for a predetermined time interval sufficient to release the latch.

37. The method as claimed in claim 36, wherein the time interval is approximately one second.