Patent ID: 6098761
Filing Date: 2000-08-08
Classification: B60T,B62B

Abstract:
A locking assembly for a wheeled cart for transportation and storage of cargo, the wheeled cart having a frame with a plurality of wheels mounted to the frame for rolling engagement with a support surface, said locking assembly being in engagement with said frame, said locking assembly being adjustable between an unlocked position to allow rolling movement of the wheeled cart upon the support surface and a locked position for preventing rolling movement of the wheeled cart upon the support surface to allow for easier loading and unloading of cargo and to keep the wheeled cart stationary during storage, said locking assembly comprises:i) a locking assembly in engagement with said frame for adjustable engagement between a locked position for preventing rolling movement and an unlocked position to allow rolling movement upon the support surface, said locking assembly comprises: an adjustment member in engagement with said frame, said adjustment member being selectively adjustable between said locked position and said unlocked position, said adjustment member having a shaft with a knee formed by a bent section of said adjustment member; andii) a locking element integrated with said frame and activated by said adjustment member, said locking element having a friction surface placed in engagement with the support surface by adjusting said adjustment member to said locked position, said friction surface being held at a distance from the support surface by adjusting said adjustment member to said unlocked position to permit rolling of said wheels on the support surface, wherein a flattened outer engagement surface of said adjustment member is substantially tangent to an outer perimeter of an arc of rotation of said knee and said outer engagement surface is at a top of said arc of rotation when said adjustment member is in said unlocked position and said outer engagement surface is at a bottom of said arc of rotation when said adjustment member is in said locked position.