A system for mounting a stowed component on a self-propelled cart, comprising: the self-propelled cart comprising: a body having a top, bottom, front end, rear end, left side, and right side, and further comprising: a battery compartment, and a platform; a battery housed in the battery compartment; a controller; four arms, each pivotably attached at a first end to the body; four wheels, each connected to a second end of one of the four arms; four arm actuators, each configured to pivot one of the four arms such that each wheel can be moved closer to or further away from the body; and at least two motors, each configured to rotate one wheel and each independently controlled by the controller, whereby the controller can move the cart; at least one sensor for determining the position of the component to be mounted on the cart; wherein the controller can adjust the height of the cart by pivoting one or more of the four arm actuators and control the yaw of the cart by rotating one or more of the wheels; and wherein the cart is configured to approach a location of a component and adjust its orientation to compliment an orientation of the component to thereby facilitate mounting of the component on the cart is disclosed.

A self-docking, motorized cart, comprising: a body comprising a battery compartment and a platform; a battery housed in the battery compartment; a cart docking attachment arm; a controller; four arms, each pivotably attached at a first end to the body; four wheels, each connected to a second end of one of the four arms; four arm actuators, each configured to pivot one of the four arms such that each wheel can be moved closer to or further away from the body; wherein the controller adjusts the height of the cart by pivoting one or more of the four arms; and at least two motors, each configured to rotate one of the four wheels, each independently controlled by the controller, whereby the controller can move the cart and control the yaw of the cart by rotating one or more of the four wheels; whereby the cart can be moved into an appropriate position and orientation for connecting the docking arm attachment to a docking station by the controller selectively pivoting the arms and rotating the wheels; and wherein the docking attachment arm comprises connections for electricity or data is disclosed.

A shopping trolley (10) comprising a basket (12) having first and second side walls (22, 23), first and second end walls (20, 21) and a base wall (18). The basket 12 includes first and second front legs (26, 27) and first and second rear legs (28, 29). The first and second front legs (26, 27) are rotatable from an extended position, in which they extend downwardly from adjacent a front of the basket 12, to a collapsed position, in which they are located adjacent outer sides of the first and second side walls (22, 23). The rear legs (28, 29) are rotatable from an extended position, in which they extend downwardly from adjacent a rear of the basket, to a collapsed position, in they are located adjacent and above upper edges of the first and second side walls (22, 23) of the basket (12).

A garbage can hitch includes a base section, and a grab handle coupled to the base section. An attachment arm is coupled to the base section, and attaches to a garbage can. A receptacle is disposed within the base section, and configured to receive a hitch ball of a vehicle. A semi-cylindrical well is disposed within the base section, and configured to receive a handle bar of the garbage can. A garbage can includes a sidewall. The garbage can may include a built-in hitch attached to the sidewall. The built-in hitch includes a base section and a receptacle disposed within the base section. The receptacle receives a hitch ball of the vehicle. The gravity-enhanced configuration provides downward levered pressure on the hitch ball when the garbage can is towed, such that the hitch is kept securely linked to the hitch ball, even when the vehicle drives over bumpy or gravelly roads.

A convertible, all-terrain gear cart convertible between modes of manual propulsion, trailering, and support by a motor vehicle. A control arm with a trailer hitch connector permits trailering or manual propulsion and is pivotally coupled to a first end of a cargo bin, and a vehicle engaging member to permit support and transport by a motor vehicle projects from the second end of the cargo bin. Detachable, all-terrain wheels with lateral axes of rotation are retained at a mid-portion of the cargo bin. Cargo retention and roll bars are removably coupled to the cargo bin, and a retractable support leg can cooperate with the wheels to stabilize the gear cart. The vehicle engaging member can comprise a receiver with a mitered end forming a shelf that can be rested on a rigid tongue of a trailer hitch adapter to permit levering of the gear cart relative to a vehicle.

A cart has a rectangular forward and rear frame structures both pivoted on a common axle carrying two wheels, lengthwise pieces joining side pieces of the frame structures on both sides, implementing triangular sides for the cart and forming an upper plane, other lengthwise pieces joining a cross pieces of the frame structures to form a support plane parallel to and lesser in width than the upper plane, a central two-inch square metal tubing joined below the forward frame structure from the axle structure to beyond an upper extent of the forward frame structure, a yoke assembly with a single front wheel; and a handle structure joined to the rear frame structure at an upper cross piece. The first and second lengthwise pieces serve as sides to restrain cargo loaded in the cart on the support plane formed by the third and fourth lengthwise pieces.

The present invention relates to a hydraulic lift dolly. The lift dolly is configured and designed to lift or lower a tray or load platform using a built-in hydraulic mechanism. The lift dolly includes a pair of support arms, a pair of actuation triggers, a tray, a pair of wheels or casters and a handle attached to the support arms. Each support arm has a hydraulic cylinder that is connected to a hydraulic source. The pair of hydraulic cylinders lift the tray when the pair of actuation triggers are pressed by an operator to provide hydraulic power to the hydraulic cylinders for lifting the connected tray. The actuation triggers are released when the tray reaches a desired height along the support arms. The hydraulic lift dolly allow users to perform loading and unloading without bending over and lifting heavy and bulky items from the dolly tray.

A loading system for a vehicle includes a buggy for transporting cargo and a mounting assembly for loading the buggy onto the vehicle. A buggy frame has an elongated member. The mounting assembly is configured to be connected to the vehicle and has a sliding rail configured to slidingly receive the elongated member of the buggy frame to allow the buggy to slide along the sliding rail. The sliding rail has a first portion and a second portion extending at an angle relative to the first portion such that, when the mounting assembly is connected to the vehicle, the first portion extends generally horizontally and the second portion extends downwardly from the first portion. The second portion is configured to slide the buggy upwards onto the vehicle. The first portion being configured to slide the buggy generally horizontally into a loaded position on the vehicle.

A system for monitoring and controlling shopping cart usage comprises a wheel assembly that attaches to a shopping cart. In some embodiments the wheel assembly includes a wheel, a brake that can be activated to inhibit rotation of the wheel, a controller that controls the brake, a VLF receiver, and an RF transceiver. The RF transceiver may, for example, operate in a 2.4 GHz frequency band. In some implementations, the RF transceiver may be used to detect entry of the shopping cart into a checkout area of the store, and the VLF receiver may be used to detect that the shopping cart is exiting the store. The controller may activate the brake if the shopping cart attempts to exit the store without first passing through a checkout area.

A system for monitoring and controlling shopping cart usage comprises a wheel assembly that attaches to a shopping cart. In some embodiments the wheel assembly includes a wheel, a brake that can be activated to inhibit rotation of the wheel, a controller that controls the brake, a VLF receiver, and an RF transceiver. The RF transceiver may, for example, operate in a 2.4 GHz frequency band. In some implementations, the RF transceiver may be used to detect entry of the shopping cart into a checkout area of the store, and the VLF receiver may be used to detect that the shopping cart is exiting the store. The controller may activate the brake if the shopping cart attempts to exit the store without first passing through a checkout area.