The disclosure addresses a series of interactions between wheels and a number of different replaceable tire segments to cover the wheels. The disclosure teaches more than one way to engage the one or more tire segments to wheels and to form seams between ends of the one or more tire segments. The tire segments may be removed and replaced so that the wheels and wheel bearing may be used longer than the useful life of the tire segments.

A self-leveling caster assembly includes a caster frame and a castor fork which is configured to pivot relative to the caster frame. A spring or other biasing mechanism biases the caster fork away from the caster frame, to maintain contact between the ground and a wheel supported by the caster fork along a travel range of the wheel. Even if a frame supporting the self-leveling caster assembly is bent, pulling the wheel away from the ground, the biased caster fork will maintain contact between the ground and the wheel, allowing continued use of a shopping cart or other wheeled apparatus including the self-leveling caster assembly.

A shopping cart foot wheel capable of warning the abrasion status of the braking block comprising an escalator wheel assembly; the escalator wheel assembly comprises an escalator wheel core and escalator wheel discs; the escalator wheel discs are located on the two sides of the escalator wheel core, and are coaxially arranged with the escalator wheel core; the escalator wheel assembly further comprises an escalator wheel support, wherein the escalator wheel support is provided with an escalator wheel axle; locking nuts are simultaneously arranged at the two ends of the escalator wheel axle; the escalator wheel core is connected with the escalator wheel axle in a sleeved mode.

The disclosure addresses a series of interactions between wheel rims and a number of different replaceable tire segments to cover the wheel rims. The disclosure teaches more than one way to engage the one or more tire segments to wheel rims and to form seams between ends of the one or more tire segments. The tire segments may be removed and replaced so that the wheel rim and wheel bearing may be used longer than the useful life of the tire segments.

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.

A shopping cart wheel includes a braking apparatus, and electronics that control the braking apparatus in response to wireless signals. The wireless signals include low frequency electromagnetic signals within a low frequency band and high frequency signals within a high frequency band. The braking apparatus includes a moveable interposer and an interposer controller where the moveable interposer is moved between braking and non-breaking positions at least partially with magnetic force.

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 shopping cart wheel includes a braking apparatus, clutch mechanism and electronics that control the braking apparatus in response to wireless signals. The wireless signals include low frequency electromagnetic signals within a low frequency band and high frequency signals within a high frequency band.