Braking shell for shopping cart security device

Abstract

A braking member for rotatable mounting on a wheel axle of a hand-driven wheeled vehicle such as a shopping cart has a first part having an opening for mounting on a wheel axle, and a second part releasably secured to the first part and having a braking surface adapted to engage the ground when the braking member is in an operative position. When the braking member becomes worn, the entire member does not have to be removed from the wheel or caster, but instead the second part is released from the first part while the first part remains on the wheel. The second part can only be released using a special tool which is provided to store personnel.

1 . A braking system for use with a wheel, wherein the wheel is mounted for rotation on an axel of a land vehicle to move the vehicle over the ground, the system comprising: 
 a first part mounted on the axel of the vehicle for rotation of the wheel relative to the first part;    a second part engaged with the first part;    a skid plate mounted on the second part for combination with the first part to create a braking shell; and    a locking mechanism mounted on the vehicle for holding the braking shell in a first position, wherein the wheel is in contact with the ground for movement of the vehicle, and for alternatively locking the braking shell in a second position, wherein the skid plate contacts the ground to lift the wheel from the ground and inhibit movement of the vehicle.    
   
   
       2 . A system as recited in  claim 1  wherein the first part is formed with a recess, and the system further comprises: 
 a biasing means for urging the braking shell from the first position into the second position;    a pawl controlled by the locking mechanism for engagement of the pawl with the recess of the first part to hold the braking shell in its first position; and    a means for activating the locking mechanism to selectively disengage the pawl from the recess of the first part for movement of the braking shell into its second position.    
   
   
       3 . A system as recited in  claim 2  wherein the second part is formed with a recess, and further wherein the pawl engages with the recess of the second part to lock the braking shell in its second position.  
   
   
       4 . A system as recited in  claim 2  wherein the biasing means is a spring.  
   
   
       5 . A system as recited in  claim 1  further comprising a tool for selectively disengaging the second part and skid plate from the first part for replacement of the skid plate.  
   
   
       6 . A system as recited in  claim 5  wherein the tool is a pincers having a smooth concave jaw and a serrated jaw for gripping a portion of the second part therebetween during disengagement of the second part from the first part.  
   
   
       7 . A system as recited in  claim 1  wherein the skid plate is made of metal.  
   
   
       8 . A system for inhibiting the movement of a wheeled vehicle which comprises: 
 a means mounted on the vehicle for selectively lifting a wheel of the vehicle from the ground to prevent contact of the lifted wheel with the ground; and    a skid plate selectively engaged with the lifting means, wherein the skid plate is positioned to contact the ground, in lieu of the lifted wheel, to inhibit movement of the vehicle.    
   
   
       9 . A system as recited in  claim 8  wherein the lifting means is mounted on an axel of the vehicle for rotation of the wheel relative to the lifting means.  
   
   
       10 . A system as recited in  claim 9  wherein the lifting means, in combination with the skid plate, creates a braking shell.  
   
   
       11 . A system as recited in  claim 10  further comprising a locking mechanism mounted on the vehicle for holding the braking shell in a first position, wherein the wheel is in contact with the ground for movement of the vehicle, and for alternatively locking the braking shell in a second position, wherein the skid plate contacts the ground to lift the wheel from the ground and inhibit movement of the vehicle.  
   
   
       12 . A system as recited in  claim 11  wherein the lifting means is formed with a recess, and the system further comprises: 
 a biasing means for urging the braking shell from the first position into the second position;    a pawl controlled by the locking mechanism for engagement of the pawl with the recess of the lifting means to hold the braking shell in its first position; and    a means for activating the locking mechanism to selectively disengage the pawl from the recess of the lifting means for movement of the braking shell into its second position.    
   
   
       13 . A system as recited in  claim 12  wherein the biasing means is a spring.  
   
   
       14 . A system as recited in  claim 8  further comprising a tool for selectively disengaging the skid plate from the lifting means for replacement of the skid plate.  
   
   
       15 . A system as recited in  claim 14  wherein the tool is a pincers having a smooth concave jaw and a serrated jaw for gripping a portion of the skid plate therebetween during disengagement of the skid plate from the lifting means.  
   
   
       16 . A method for manufacturing a system for use with a wheel, wherein the wheel is mounted for rotation on an axel of a land vehicle to move the vehicle over the ground, the method comprising the steps of: 
 mounting a first part on the axel of the vehicle for rotation of the wheel relative to the first part;    engaging a second part with the first part, wherein the second part includes a skid plate mounted thereon for combination with the first part to create a braking shell; and    providing a locking mechanism mounted on the vehicle to engage with the first part for holding the braking shell in a first position, wherein the wheel is in contact with the ground for movement of the vehicle, and to separately engage with the second part for holding the braking shell in a second position, wherein the skid plate contacts the ground to lift the wheel from the ground and inhibit movement of the vehicle.    
   
   
       17 . A method as recited in  claim 16  further comprising the steps of: 
 forming the first part and the second part with a respective recess;    connecting a biasing means between the vehicle and the braking shell for urging the braking shell from the first position into the second position; and    incorporating a pawl with the locking mechanism for control of the pawl to selectively, engage the pawl with the recess of the first part to hold the braking shell in its first position, to disengage the pawl from the recess of the first part for movement of the braking shell into its second position, and to reengage the pawl with the recess of the second part to lock the braking shell in its second position.    
   
   
       18 . A method as recited in  claim 17  wherein the biasing means is a spring.  
   
   
       19 . A method as recited in  claim 17  further comprising the steps of: 
 providing a tool for selectively disengaging the second part and skid plate from the first part for replacement of the skid plate, wherein the tool is a pincers having a smooth concave jaw and a serrated jaw; and    gripping a portion of the second part between the jaws of the tool for disengagement of the second part from the first part.    
   
   
       20 . A method as recited in  claim 16  wherein the skid plate is made of metal.