Brake mechanism for a non-motorized wheeled vehicle
First Claim
1. A brake assembly for a wheel of a non-motorized wheeled vehicle, the brake assembly comprising:
- a wheel hub comprising a side wall, the wheel hub having a hub axis that is substantially perpendicular to the side wall, the side wall comprising a plurality of first engagement features spaced transversely from the hub axis;
a brake plate having a plate axis that is substantially perpendicular to the brake plate, the brake plate comprising a plurality of second engagement features spaced transversely from the plate axis;
an axle that couples the brake plate to the wheel hub such that the plate axis is substantially collinear with the hub axis, the axle configured to allow relative rotation between the wheel hub and the brake plate, the brake plate axially movable relative to the axle between a first position and a second position, the first position spaced a first distance along the hub axis from the side wall and the second position spaced a second distance along the hub axis from the side wall, the second distance less than the first distance;
a drive mechanism configured to move the brake plate between the first position and the second position, the drive mechanism comprising a rotatable drive gear, the drive gear comprising a drive feature configured to mate with a complementary drive feature on the brake plate such that rotation of the drive gear in a first direction causes the brake plate to move from the first position to the second position and rotation of the drive gear in a second direction opposite to the first direction causes the brake plate to move from the second position to the first position; and
a spring configured to urge the brake plate into engagement with the drive gear such that the drive feature of the drive gear mates with the corresponding drive feature of the brake plate,wherein the plurality of second engagement features are configured to engage the plurality of first engagement features when the brake plate is in the second position but not when the brake plate is in the first position.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Brake mechanisms for a wheel of non-motorized wheeled vehicle such as, e.g., a shopping cart, are described. In various embodiments, the brake mechanism can provide a variable amount of braking force or torque between zero and an amount sufficient to lock the wheel. In some embodiments, the brake mechanism includes a brake plate that is movable toward and away from a surface of the wheel hub along a direction parallel to the rotation axis of the wheel. The brake plate is configured not to rotate when the wheel and hub are rotating. Frictional engagement between the brake plate and the surface of the wheel hub provides the braking force. The brake plate and/or the surface of the wheel hub can include engagement features such as, e.g., protrusions and slots. In some embodiments, the brake mechanism fits entirely within the wheel.
116 Citations
33 Claims
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1. A brake assembly for a wheel of a non-motorized wheeled vehicle, the brake assembly comprising:
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a wheel hub comprising a side wall, the wheel hub having a hub axis that is substantially perpendicular to the side wall, the side wall comprising a plurality of first engagement features spaced transversely from the hub axis; a brake plate having a plate axis that is substantially perpendicular to the brake plate, the brake plate comprising a plurality of second engagement features spaced transversely from the plate axis; an axle that couples the brake plate to the wheel hub such that the plate axis is substantially collinear with the hub axis, the axle configured to allow relative rotation between the wheel hub and the brake plate, the brake plate axially movable relative to the axle between a first position and a second position, the first position spaced a first distance along the hub axis from the side wall and the second position spaced a second distance along the hub axis from the side wall, the second distance less than the first distance; a drive mechanism configured to move the brake plate between the first position and the second position, the drive mechanism comprising a rotatable drive gear, the drive gear comprising a drive feature configured to mate with a complementary drive feature on the brake plate such that rotation of the drive gear in a first direction causes the brake plate to move from the first position to the second position and rotation of the drive gear in a second direction opposite to the first direction causes the brake plate to move from the second position to the first position; and a spring configured to urge the brake plate into engagement with the drive gear such that the drive feature of the drive gear mates with the corresponding drive feature of the brake plate, wherein the plurality of second engagement features are configured to engage the plurality of first engagement features when the brake plate is in the second position but not when the brake plate is in the first position. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A wheel for a human-propelled wheeled cart, the wheel rotatable about a wheel rotation axis, the wheel comprising:
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a wheel hub comprising a cavity and a tire engagement surface configured to accept a tire; and a brake configured to inhibit rotation of the wheel about the wheel rotation axis, the brake disposed in the wheel hub of the human-propelled wheeled cart, the brake comprising; an engagement surface configured to rotate about the wheel rotation axis when the wheel rotates, the engagement surface disposed within the cavity of the wheel hub; a brake surface configured not to rotate about the wheel rotation axis when the wheel rotates, the brake surface movable toward and away from the engagement surface in a direction substantially parallel to the wheel rotation axis; and a brake actuator disposed within the cavity of the wheel hub, the brake actuator configured to move the brake surface between a first position and a second position relative to the engagement surface along the direction, the brake surface disposed within the cavity of the wheel hub when in the first position and when in the second position, wherein when the brake surface is in the first position the engagement surface and the brake surface are not in contact, and when the brake surface is in the second position at least a portion of the engagement surface and the brake surface are in contact, thereby inhibiting rotation of the wheel, the brake actuator comprising a rotatable drive gear such that rotation of the drive gear in a first direction causes the brake surface to move from the first position to the second position and rotation of the drive gear in a second direction opposite to the first direction causes the brake surface to move from the second position to the first position, wherein the engagement surface comprises a plurality of first features spaced transversely from the wheel rotation axis, and the brake surface comprises a plurality of second features spaced transversely from the wheel rotation axis, at least one of the plurality of first features configured to engage at least one of the plurality of second features when the brake surface is in the second position. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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29. A brake assembly for a wheel of a non-motorized wheeled vehicle, the brake assembly comprising:
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a wheel hub comprising a side wall, the wheel hub having a hub axis that is substantially perpendicular to the side wall, the side wall comprising a plurality of first engagement features spaced transversely from the hub axis; a brake plate having a plate axis that is substantially perpendicular to the brake plate, the brake plate comprising a plurality of second engagement features spaced transversely from the plate axis, wherein the brake plate comprises a disc and one or more inserts coupled to the disc, the disc formed from a polymer and the one or more inserts formed from a metal, wherein at least one of the plurality of second engagement features is formed in at least one of the one or more inserts; an axle that couples the brake plate to the wheel hub such that the plate axis is substantially collinear with the hub axis, the axle configured to allow relative rotation between the wheel hub and the brake plate, the brake plate axially movable relative to the axle between a first position and a second position, the first position spaced a first distance along the hub axis from the side wall and the second position spaced a second distance along the hub axis from the side wall, the second distance less than the first distance; and a drive mechanism configured to move the brake plate between the first position and the second position, the drive mechanism comprising a rotatable drive gear, the drive gear comprising a drive feature configured to mate with a complementary drive feature on the brake plate such that rotation of the drive gear in a first direction causes the brake plate to move from the first position to the second position and rotation of the drive gear in a second direction opposite to the first direction causes the brake plate to move from the second position to the first position, wherein the plurality of second engagement features are configured to engage the plurality of first engagement features when the brake plate is in the second position but not when the brake plate is in the first position. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31, 32, 33)
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Specification