Cart braking mechanism

摘要

A braking mechanism (20) for a grocery cart or the like is disclosed as including a braking assembly (50) that is selectively shiftable between braking and non-braking positions and a handle assembly (52) interconnected to the braking assembly (50) for effecting the selective brake assembly shifting. The braking assembly (50) includes a chock element (60) shiftably mounted adjacent at least one of the cart wheels (26) and configured for wedging engagement between the periphery (65) of the wheel (26) and the support surface (66) to impede forward movement of the cart (22). The handle assembly (52) includes a tubular body (112) for fitting over the existing cart handle (28) and a pair of rotor cup assemblies (118, 120) supporting the tubular body (112) on the cart body (24, for selective pivotal movement substantially about the longitudinal axis of the cart handle (28). In operation, the user grasps and pivots the tubular body (112) for corresponding shifting of the braking assembly (50) from the braking position to the non-braking position thereof. Once the tubular body (112) is released by the user, coil spring (192) disposed within at least one of the rotor cups (118, 120) biases the braking assembly (50) toward the braking position thereof.