A wheel assembly comprising a shaft configured for rotatable connection to an object to be rendered mobile for rotation around a first axis, a hub rotatably connected to the shaft for rotation around a second axis, and two hemispherical members rotatably connected to the hub for rotation around a third axis. The shaft comprises at least one angled portion to define the first axis while the non-angled portion defines the second axis.

A dual-state caster apparatus having a caster head with a state-change pivot configured to change the steering axis of the caster apparatus. A braking system with a brake control cable is incorporated into the caster apparatus wherein the state-change pivot and the braking system are configured to allow a wheel to swivel without interference with the brake control cable.

The shopping cart security system is configured for use with a hand propelled vehicle known as a shopping cart. The shopping cart security system is a wheeled structure that allows the hand propelled vehicle to roll over a supporting surface. The shopping cart security system: a) determines the GPS coordinates of the shopping cart security system; b) compares the GPS coordinates of the shopping cart security system with a previously determined set of GPS coordinates that determine an operating perimeter for the shopping cart security system; and, c) disables the rotation of the wheeled structure that forms the shopping cart security system when the shopping cart security system is determined to be outside of the region bounded by the previously determined operating perimeter.

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 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.

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 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 dual-state caster apparatus having a caster head with a state-change pivot configured to change the steering axis of the caster apparatus. A braking system with a brake control cable is incorporated into the caster apparatus wherein the state-change pivot and the braking system are configured to allow a wheel to swivel without interference with the brake control cable.