Patent ID: 7628410

Claim:
A wheel support mechanism for supporting at least a first wheel and a second wheel of a rolling vehicle, said wheel support mechanism comprising: an elongated base portion defining a support surface; a first wheel lock assembly disposed adjacent said support surface, said first wheel lock assembly being configured to engage said first wheel, and to thereby maintain an axis of rotation of said first wheel in a first substantially fixed position relative to said base portion; a second wheel lock assembly disposed adjacent said support surface, said second wheel lock assembly being configured to receive a second wheel associated with said rolling vehicle and to thereby maintain an axis of rotation of said second wheel in a second substantially fixed position relative to said base portion; and a plurality of wheels that are attached adjacent said base portion, said plurality of wheels being configured to facilitate rolling movement of said wheel support mechanism along a first path, wherein: said first wheel lock assembly is configured to maintain an axis of rotation of said first wheel in said first substantially fixed position relative to said base portion while: (A) said first wheel is oriented to roll along a second path that is substantially perpendicular to said first path, and (B) said wheel support mechanism rolls along said first path; and said second wheel lock assembly is configured to maintain an axis of rotation of said second wheel in said second substantially fixed position relative to said base portion while: (A) said second wheel is oriented to roll along a third path that is substantially perpendicular to said first path, and (B) said wheel support mechanism rolls along said first path; said first wheel lock assembly is configured to maintain said axis of rotation of said first wheel in said first substantially fixed position relative to said base portion by providing at least one physical barrier adjacent both a leading surface and a trailing surface of said first wheel; and said second wheel lock assembly is configured to maintain said axis of rotation of said second wheel in said second substantially fixed position relative to said base portion by providing at least one physical barrier adjacent both a leading surface and a trailing surface of said second wheel.