The invention provides a wheel having a disk-shaped substrate having a first surface, a second surface and a periphery; and a radially extending channel formed within the substrate, wherein the channel has a closed end adapted to encircle an axle and an open end which terminates at the periphery such that the channel extends from the first surface to the second surface. Also provided is a method for installing and uninstalling wheels having the steps of supplying a wheel having a reversibly deformable radially and transversely extending channel having a first width, whereby the channel is adapted to frictionally and slidably receive an axle, urging the axle into the channel and toward the center of the wheel, whereby the channel reversibly expands to a second width to accommodate the axle; and allowing the axle to reside at the center of the wheel while the channel reverts to the first width.

A releasable wheel assembly is presented. The releasable wheel assembly includes a base plate and a bracket coupled to the base plate. The bracket includes multiple bosses and each boss includes a hole. An axle passing through the hole of each boss. The axle includes a circumferential groove adjacent to each end of the axle. Additionally, a brace is coupled to the base plate and the axle.

In order to form a mobile wheel base, a stem caster adapter or a wheel assembly are attached to the bottom of a platform support or a container such as a cardboard carton are provided. The adapter has a body with a cylindrical recess open at the bottom surface adapted to receive and engage the stem of the caster. In the wheel assembly, a wheel or roller is rotatably attached to the bottom of the body. Both the adapter and wheel assembly have a cylindrical member extending from the top surface of the body with oppositely extending protrusions forming a bayonet-type mount. The mount is received within an opening in the bottom of the platform support or container and then rotated to attach the adapter or wheel assembly to the platform support or container.

A sturdy lightweight table support system offers advantages of self-squaring, sturdy design, a low unassembled volume combined with simple parts that enable easy assembly, a system that enables user specification of table size that will result in easily prepared components thus all but eliminating stocks of different sized components, and sturdy lockable height adjustments. The self-squaring is achieved with a corner bracket system that uses a corner bracket that is inset with respect to a cross member within which it is mounted so that bolted assembly will result in a large, even pressure about the butt end of the cross member against the post that is extremely resistive to angular displacement of the cross member with respect to the post in any direction.

An apparatus is for locking a caster wheel in a steering position about a steering axis. The apparatus comprises a base member; a lever arm; and an engagement member. The lever arm is movable with respect to the base member into and between an engaged position in which the engagement member locks the caster wheel in the steering position and a disengaged position in which the caster is steerable out of the steering position.

A steering unit for conveying devices on wheels such as beds, stretchers or trolleys includes a wheel unit and a motor unit. The wheel unit includes a base structure and a wheel mounted on a supporting element to rotate about an axis. The supporting element is mounted on the base structure to rotate about an orientation axis. A transmission includes an inlet unit and outlet shaft. The inlet unit includes an engagement device to reversibly engage the inlet unit on a transmission unit of the motor unit. The outlet shaft is integral with the supporting element and defines the orientation axis. The transmission transforms an inlet motion of the inlet unit into an outlet rotation of the outlet shaft about the orientation axis. A motor includes a complementary engagement device operating with the engagement device for reversibly engaging the inlet unit on the transmission unit.

A selectively operable steering locking mechanism includes front and back pivot locks, each respective one selectively movable between: a locked configuration whereat a respective front, or back, caster of the cart is precluded from pivoting about its vertical axis; and an unlocked configuration whereat the respective front, or back, caster is free to pivot its vertical axis. An interconnection mechanism interconnects the front and back pivot locks for synchronized movement between: a front-locked steering configuration whereat the front and back pivot locks are in the locked and unlocked configurations respectively; and a back-locked steering configuration whereat the front and back pivot locks are in the unlocked and locked configurations respectively. A control mechanism connects to the interconnection mechanism for its selected movement between the front-locked and back-locked steering configurations. A cart provided with the selectively operable steering locking mechanism is also disclosed.

A debris shield for engagement to a caster wheel is provided. The debris shield surrounds an opening in which a well of a caster wheel assembly is positioned. A flexible shield extending from the perimeter edge of the body and having a complimentary shape thereto, sweeps debris out of the path of the wheel rolling on a surface. Front and rear ends of the body are preferably pointed to provide angled portions of the debris shield of the flexible shield. Bristles of the shield may be reinforced by flexible adhesive and or mesh. An optional guard which is engageable to cover the shield around the projection points may be added.

Improvements in a caster wheel tilt bar is disclosed. The caster wheel tilt bar is installable and removeable on a caster and is secured over one side of the caster frame and utilizes the tapered portion of the wheel frame. When the cart frame is rotated the tilt bar comes in contact with the ground. Further rotation lifts the wheel above the ground. The tilt bar can be configured in an arc or can be configured with defined angular steps. The angular steps are generally calculated to create a balance point where the cart can hold with limited rocking. The caster wheel tilt bar can also be painted or powder coated to match the color of the pre-existing caster wheel. Because the rod and shoe can be different components, the shoe or rod can be adjusted to accommodate different casters and/or wheel diameters.

This application describes systems, devices, computer readable media, and methods for the function and operation of robotic carts. A robotic cart may include a base component configured for the receipt of a payload, a battery unit, and a mobility apparatus. The robotic cart may include a handlebar component coupled with the base component. The handlebar unit may include a sensor unit configured to transmit a hand detection message when the handlebar unit is grasped by one or more hands and to transmit a force direction message indicating a two-dimensional direction associated with a directional force applied by one or more hands. The robotic cart may be configured to map the area around it and to autonomously move the robotic cart along a path to perform a task.