A wheel stop device and method for using same is provided. The wheel stop device includes a base connected to a track having a ramp section, peak, and valley section. Further aspects include an upright member with a handle and a foot extension configured to grip a user's foot for holding the wheel stop device steady. The wheel stop device can hold a wheel of a shopping cart or other wheeled object stationary by placing the wheel stop device on the ground, rolling the cart wheel onto the track ramp section, over the peak, and into the valley section, where the engaged wheel will remain stationary until a user pushes and/or pulls it back up the valley section over the peak and off the ramp. The wheel stop device eliminates the risk of a wheeled cart rolling away while a user unloads the cart.

An automated checkout system uses a shopping cart that is automatically charged when stacked into another shopping cart. Each shopping cart has a front charging connector and a rear charging connector. When a first shopping cart is stacked into a second shopping cart, the front charging connector of the first shopping cart connects with the rear charging connector of the second shopping cart. Electrical power can flow to the first shopping cart via the second shopping cart to charge a battery of the first shopping cart. The second shopping cart may be similarly stacked into a third shopping cart, wherein the second shopping cart receives electrical power from the third shopping cart. The second shopping cart may use this electrical power to charge its own battery or may provide some or all of the electrical power to the first shopping cart to charge the first shopping cart's battery.

A shopping cart system includes a shopping cart that includes an input connector that receives, from the power supply device or a previous stage cart, a charging current and a DC voltage of a DC power supply different from a supply power supply of the charging current, a first resistor connected in series to an input line of the DC voltage, and a first output connector that outputs the DC voltage via the first resistor and a part of the charging current received by the input connector. The power supply device includes a second output connector that outputs a charging current and a DC voltage via a second resistor connected in series to an output line of the DC power supply, and an energization control unit that stops the charging current when a current flowing through the second resistor falls below a predetermined value.

A shopping cart system includes a shopping cart that includes an input connector that receives a charging current and a DC voltage of a DC power supply different from a supply power supply of the charging current, a first resistor connected in parallel to an input line of the DC voltage, and a first output connector that outputs, to an input connector of another cart connected to a subsequent stage of the cart, the DC voltage across the first resistor and a part of the charging current received by the input connector. The power supply device includes a second output connector that outputs a charging current and a DC voltage via a second resistor connected in series to an output line of the DC power supply, and an energization control unit that stops the charging current when a voltage across the second resistor exceeds a predetermined value.

A castored base for a medical cart, the base comprising: a central hub body with a plurality of legs extending radially outwardly therefrom wherein each leg comprises a socket or sleeve at an outer end of said each leg for connecting a castor to the socket or sleeve, the central hub body comprising an outer side wall extending between an upper and lower portions of the hub, the outer wall of the hub body comprising first and second leg attachment portions that are positioned at diametrically opposed locations on the outer wall of the hub body and wherein a first pair of legs is attached at the first leg attachment portion and a second pair of legs is attached at the second leg attachment portion; wherein at each of the first and second leg attachment portions, a first leg from a respective pair of legs is attached at a first attachment location on the hub body and a second leg from said respective pair is attached at a second attachment location on the hub body and wherein in-use height of the first attachment location is greater than in-use height of the second attachment location.

A trolley retainer for an aircraft galley, the aircraft galley comprising an aircraft galley structure and a trolley, the trolley retainer comprising: a retainer connector configured to connect the trolley retainer to the aircraft galley structure; a front portion configured to extend across a front of the trolley to retain the trolley in the aircraft galley when the trolley retainer is in a retaining position; and a side portion configured to extend from the retainer connector to the front portion across a side of the trolley when the trolley retainer is in the retaining position.

An automated checkout system uses a shopping cart that is automatically charged when stacked into another shopping cart. Each shopping cart has a front charging connector and a rear charging connector. When a first shopping cart is stacked into a second shopping cart, the front charging connector of the first shopping cart connects with the rear charging connector of the second shopping cart. Electrical power can flow to the first shopping cart via the second shopping cart to charge a battery of the first shopping cart. The second shopping cart may be similarly stacked into a third shopping cart, wherein the second shopping cart receives electrical power from the third shopping cart. The second shopping cart may use this electrical power to charge its own battery or may provide some or all of the electrical power to the first shopping cart to charge the first shopping cart's battery.