An adjustable hitch mounted on a self-driving machine and providing a coupling to a trolley. The hitch includes generally two gas struts connected to two parallel arms to bias the hitch in an upward direction pivoting with respect to the driving machine. This enables the hitch to be moved in a vertical direction to facilitate it connecting with the trolley, typically the frame of the trolley, to allow for the hitch to be lowered to engage a frame of the trolley. An engagement assembly, being connected to the lifting arm, wherein it has a face and a jaw that are configured to securely engage with the wheeled equipment.

An electric scooter hitch assembly is configured to be quickly attached to and removed from an electric scooter. The hitch assembly provides a mechanism for selectively securing a carry-on or other towable item to a variety of electric scooters. The hitch assembly is compact and easily transportable thereby making it an ideal solution for a rider to temporarily adapt an electric scooter, including rental electric scooters, to transport towable items such as trailers, luggage, carts, or other suitable items.

A linkage for interconnecting material handling equipment of a convoy is provided. The linkage comprises a rod having first and second opposite ends, a first pivot joint between the first end and the second end, the first pivot joint having a first pivot axis extending transversely to a longitudinal axis of the rod. A biasing member is secured to the rod and deformable upon rotation of the first pivot joint about the first pivot axis. The biasing member resists at least partially to the rotation of the first pivot joint about the first pivot axis. A first coupling and a second coupling are respectively pivotally mounted to the first end and the second end of the rod for rotation about respective pivot axes transverse to both the longitudinal axis of the rod and the first pivot axis.

A dolly for a water vessel is an apparatus that facilitates the transportation of a water vessel on land. The apparatus serves as a universal attachment for water vessels. The apparatus includes left brace assembly, a right brace assembly, a connector bar, a first roller assembly, and a second roller assembly. The left brace assembly and the right brace assembly attach onto a transom of a water vessel. The left brace assembly and the right brace assembly may be adjusted to accommodate transoms of varying heights. The connector bar mounts the left brace assembly with the right brace assembly, thereby positioning the first roller assembly and the second roller assembly. The first roller assembly and the second roller assembly uplift the water vessel and rolls the water vessel across the ground. The apparatus further includes a cradle mechanism which further supports a paddleboard or a kayak.

This disclosure relates to systems and methods of towing, hitching, and connecting devices. In particular, this disclosure relates to tow devices, hitches, and connections for towing item containers behind vehicles, both autonomous and manually guided.

Embodiments relate to a charging dock which allows a mobile robot to self-dock for charging more efficiently and reliably. The charging dock has a pivoting face including a disk fashioned with charging connection points. When a robot encounters the dock, the pivoting face is able to pivot to ensure the charging disk can align with corresponding charging pickup points within the robot's charging receptor. The pivoting face improves efficiency and reliability of the robot's docking procedures.

A dolly for attachment to a vehicle hitch is disclosed. The dolly includes a connection assembly for connecting and disconnecting the dolly to the vehicle hitch. The connection assembly also allows to position the dolly from a ramp position in which the support surface is inclined, to a loading position in which the support surface is raised and parallel to the ground, for loading the object from the dolly to the vehicle. The connection assembly also allows to position the dolly from the loading position to a transport position. In the transport position, the support surface is upright and extends along the rear of the vehicle, for transporting the dolly with the vehicle, once the object has been loaded in the vehicle. A method of operating the dolly is also provided.

A gripping system for an autonomous guided vehicle (AGV) and such AGV are disclosed herein. The gripping system for automated gripping and pulling/pushing a cart comprises a unique gripping end effector ensuring controlled steering of the cart while allowing rolling of the cart relative to the body of the AGV. The end effector comprises means for indication of state of connection between the cart and the gripping system, ensuring a reliable, safe and efficient cart gripping and pulling operation.

A towing system includes a first lifting mechanism comprising a winch, the winch comprising a drum, a strap, and a drive mechanism, the winch configured to connect a first end of a towable object to a driven vehicle, the first lifting mechanism configurable in a first operable configuration, and wherein the drive mechanism rotates the drum and the strap is increasingly spooled around the drum to elevate the first end of the towable object in the first operable configuration; and a second lifting mechanism configurable in a second operable configuration, the second lifting mechanism configured to connect to a second end of the towable object and to elevate the second end relative to a ground surface in the second operable configuration.

A cart adapted to be attached to and carried by a vehicle with a receiver[define receiver to include attachments], comprising: a cart body; a connector attached to the body; four arms, each pivotably attached at a first end to the body; four wheels, each connected to a second end of one of the four arms; four arm actuators, each configured to pivot one of the four arms such that each wheel can be moved closer to or further away from the body; a controller; and at least two motors, each configured to rotate one wheel, each independently controlled by the controller; wherein the connector is adapted to mechanically engage the receiver; whereby the controller can move the cart and control the yaw of the cart by rotating one or more of the wheels; wherein the controller can adjust the height of the cart, the pitch of the cart, and the roll of the cart by pivoting one or more of the four arms; and whereby the cart is hitched to the vehicle such that the weight of the cart is born by the vehicle is disclosed.