Patent ID: 8517411

Claim:
A trolley comprising a retractable wheel assembly movable between stored and in-use positions, the wheel assembly comprising: an assembly support; at least one wheel arm operably-connected to a wheel hub, in use the wheel hub receiving a wheel; at least one control arm operably-connected to the wheel hub, for affecting the orientation of the wheel hub with respect to the wheel arm as the retractable wheel assembly is moved between the stored position and the in-use position; at least one drive spindle rotatably connected to the assembly support on a first axis and operably connected to the at least one wheel arm and at least one control arm, for providing rotation of the at least one wheel arm and at least one control arm about the first axis between the stored position and the in-use position; and drive means connected to the assembly support and operably connected to the at least one drive spindle; wherein the at least one wheel arm is also pivotally-connected to the at least one drive spindle about a second axis to provide for pivotal movement of the at least one wheel arm about the second axis, such that both a rotational movement of the at least one wheel arm about the first axis and a pivotal movement of the at least one wheel arm about the second axis result in movement of the retractable wheel assembly between the stored position and the in-use position.