An articulating carriage for moving an object across a surface having a non-planar obstruction to allow movement of the object over the obstruction. The articulating carriage has a walking beam assembly that pivotally supports a pedestal to dispose a support surface thereof above the walking beam assembly. The walking beam assembly has a base plate, wheeled casters and a pair of spaced apart hangers having articulation openings. The walking beam pivots relative to the pedestal. In one embodiment, the pedestal is pivotally mounted on the walking beam assembly. In another embodiment, a pair of walking beam assemblies are connected with a crosstube that pivotally supports the pedestal. In another embodiment, a major crosstube assembly connects a pair of crosstubes to define a carriage having four walking beams. In yet another embodiment, a compound crosstube assembly connects pairs of major crosstube assemblies to define a carriage having eight walking beams.

A caster wheel assembly includes a wheel mounted for rotation about a horizontal axis within a wheel carriage such that the wheel rotates about the horizontal axis with respect to the wheel carriage. The wheel carriage is positioned within a retention ring such that the wheel carriage can rotate about the vertical axis with respect to the retention ring. The wheel carriage also has an opening on the bottom surface such that the wheel can make contact with the ground. The horizontal axis about which the wheel rotates is offset from the vertical axis about which the wheel carriage rotates. An outer carriage may be included such that the outer carriage is positioned within the retention ring and the wheel carriage is positioned within the outer carriage. The outer carriage would be able to rotate about the vertical axis with respect to both the retention ring and the wheel carriage.

The present invention discloses a flatbed trolley with casters capable of not folding when a handle rotates, which comprises a bearing frame (1), a handle (2), rotary frames (3), wheel carriers (4), and casters (5). The handle (2) is fixed at an upper portion of the bearing frame (1) via a connecting structure. The connecting structure comprises a left joint (14), a right joint (15), a left gear seat (12), a right gear seat (13), and a handle locking mechanism. The handle locking mechanism comprises a cross bar (7), locking blocks (8), connecting bars (9), switches (10), and a spring (11). The cross bar (7) is a hollow tube with an end being supported on the left gear seat (12) and the other end being supported on the right gear seat (13). An end of the cross bar (7) is provided with the locking block (8), wherein the locking block (8) is slidable along an extension direction of the cross bar (7). An end of the locking block (8) is connected to an end of the connecting bar (9), and the other end of the locking block is capable of inserting into the left joint (14) and the left gear seat (12) to lock them. The connecting bar (9) is installed within a hollow part of the cross bar (7), and the other end of the connecting bar is connected to the switch (10). Similarly, the other end of the cross bar (7) has a same structure. The spring (11) is provided between two switches (10), which thereby enables the casters be capable of not folding when the handle rotates.

A bushing guided caster assembly for a hybrid material ladder. The caster assembly has an outer housing in which an inner tubular slide slides within the outer housing on bushings. A caster is attached to the inner slide. A gas spring is formed in the inner tubular slide such that the inner slide slides up within the housing as an increasing force is applied downwardly on the housing until the inner tubular slide has traveled a preselected distance until the fixed ladder feet contact the floor or surface upon which the ladder is supported.

A height adjustable support comprising a three-sided support channel, a cylindrical support post positioned within the support channel and at least one saddle brace positioned within the support channel and to partially surround the cylindrical support post. In the present invention, the downward force resulting from the weight of the equipment results in static friction between the saddle brace and the cylindrical support post that is sufficient to hold the equipment surface at a desired height. The height adjustable support may be implemented into hygienically designed food processing equipment to eliminate undesirable bacteria harboring surfaces and to improve height adjustability of the equipment.

A wheel assembly for installation on a shopping cart to retro-fit the shopping cart for facilitating self-checkout. The wheel assembly may include a support structure and a wheel rotatably supported on the support structure. The wheel assembly may further include a rechargeable battery supported by the support structure and a charging module supported on the support structure. In addition, the wheel assembly may include a force-detection module configured to provide a signal related to an item event in which an item is deposited within the shopping cart. Still further, the wheel assembly may include a processing and communications unit configured to receive the signal from the force-detection module. The processing and communications unit may transmit the signal to a device that is separate from the wheel assembly.

A caster assembly for a mobile apparatus (e.g., robot incorporating multiple caster assemblies) includes a hoof member to configured to inhibit tipping of the mobile apparatus. A hoof member or a wheel of a caster assembly may be spring biased to permit a hoof to contact a travel surface on which the wheel is supported responsive to imposition of a downward vertical force on a stem of the assembly. A method of inhibiting tipping of such a mobile apparatus when transiting an area including a travel surface bounded by a ledge is further provided. To reduce shaking or spillage of cargo, transit risk areas may be mapped, and transit speed of a mobile robot may be reduced in or near transit risk areas.

A caster including a plurality of rollers and a base including a plurality of openings through which the plurality of rollers protrude. The caster further includes a retainer disposed over the base and the plurality of rollers. The retainer is configured to maintain the position of the rollers protruding through the openings. The caster has at least one attachment surface that includes a double-sided adhesive. The attachment surface thereby adheres the caster to an object to be moved. The ratio of a width of the caster to a height of the castor is greater than 2:1.

A height adjustable support comprising a threaded support channel a cylindrical support post, positioned within the support channel and at least one saddle brace positioned within the support channel and to partially surround the cylindrical support post. In the present invention, the downward force resulting from the weight of the equipment results in static friction between the saddle brace and the cylindrical support post that is sufficient to hold the equipment surface at a desired height. The height adjustable support may be implemented into hygienically designed food processing equipment to eliminate undesirable bacteria harboring surfaces and to improve height adjustability of the equipment.

A height adjustable support comprising a three-sided support channel, a cylindrical support post positioned within the support channel and at least one saddle brace positioned within the support channel and to partially surround the cylindrical support post. In the present invention, the downward force resulting from the weight of the equipment results in static friction between the saddle brace and the cylindrical support post that is sufficient to hold the equipment surface at a desired height. The height adjustable support may be implemented into hygienically designed food processing equipment to eliminate undesirable bacteria harboring surfaces and to improve height adjustability of the equipment.