WO2009016339A2

WO2009016339A2 - Braking system

Info

Publication number: WO2009016339A2
Application number: PCT/GB2008/002275
Authority: WO
Inventors: Andrew Gray
Original assignee: Gray Matter (Alpha) Limited
Priority date: 2007-07-27
Filing date: 2008-07-01
Publication date: 2009-02-05
Also published as: GB0714706D0; GB0723290D0; WO2009016339A3

Abstract

A method and apparatus are disclosed for releasably securing a castor of a shopping cart at a desired location. The apparatus comprises a brake foot movable with respect to the castor between engaged and disengaged positions with the brake foot comprising a base portion contactable with a running surface when the brake foot is in an engaged position and at least one side panel extending from the base portion. The apparatus also includes at least one biasing element securable to a fixed location with respect to the shopping cart castor and to the brake foot, which biasing element is operative to bias the brake foot towards the disengaged position.

Description

BRAKING SYSTEM

The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for braking a rolling element. In particular, but not exclusively, the present invention relates to a method and apparatus for braking a wheel of a castor of a type suitable for securing to a shopping cart.

Rolling elements such as wheels or rollers are known as convenient mechanisms by which heavy or unwieldy items may be moved from one location to another. From time to time it is known that it is helpful to be able to prevent movement of the rolling element so as to releasably secure an object to which the rolling element is secured at any given desired location. Many known braking systems used for this purpose are, however, complex and thus costly to produce or may be prone to failure under certain particular circumstances.

One particular application of a braking system is to brake the wheel of a castor of a shopping trolley (sometimes referred to as a shopping cart). Shopping carts are well known for their use at supermarket or hypermarket locations where the trolley provides a typically wire frame container into which a user loads goods prior to purchase. Typically each castor includes a wheel located to rotate about an axle held between forks (sometimes referred to as horns). Typically four castors are used per shopping cart and these tend to be located at lower corner regions of the cart.

Some shopping carts have, in the past, been provided with a rear castor carrying a brake that can be applied by a user to stop the cart from rolling away. This has been particularly important for a trolley that carries two children as they cannot be left in a cart that may get blown by the wind in an outside location. Also, a carer cannot pick up both children at the same time, potentially leading to the risk of injury.

Certain known braking castors for shopping carts are not able to function on an autowalk (sometimes referred to as a travelator or moving walkway) which are becoming more common in supermarket/hypermarket environments. One reason for this is that if a user

, of the cart operates the brake on a travelator then it may jam and an accident may ensue.

Still furthermore, with known braking systems for shopping carts, problems occur when trolley return staff, who collect trolleys from around a car park, use powered trucks to return trolleys to the front of store. Commonly, when shoppers use a shopping cart to transport goods to their vehicle they will park the trolley in predetermined locations and may well apply the brake. This can cause problems as users will then tend to forcibly nest the cart with others in parking bays. This also causes a problem when trolley return staff drive nested carts back to the front of store as those carts having castors with a brake applied are dragged, sometimes over considerable distances. This can inevitably result in damage and increase costs in replacing worn and/or broken castors.

It is an aim of the present invention to at least partly mitigate the above-mentioned problems.

It is an aim of embodiments of the present invention to provide a braking system for a castor of the type which can be secured to a shopping trolley and which can brake a castor sufficiently strongly to prevent movement but which presents^' a braking force which can be overcome if trolleys are dragged with sufficient force. Such is the case when trolleys are returned from a car park location to the front of store.

It is an aim of embodiments of the present invention to provide a braking system in which a braking operation is easily understandable for a user.

It is an aim of embodiments of the present invention to provide a braking system for a castor which is robust and not prone to failure over time.

It is an aim of embodiments of the present invention to provide a braking system for a castor which is relatively efficient to manufacture.

It is an aim of embodiments of the present invention to provide a castor which is safe and secure to use.

According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided apparatus for releasably securing a castor of a shopping cart at a desired location, comprising a brake foot moveable with respect to the castor between engaged and disengaged positions, the brake foot comprising a base portion, contactable with a running surface when the brake foot is in an engaged position and at least one side panel extending from the base portion; and

CONFIRMATION COP¥-- at least one biasing element securable to a fixed location with respect to the shopping cart castor and to the brake foot, which biasing element is operative to bias the brake foot towards the disengaged position.

According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of releasably securing a castor of a shopping cart at a desired location, comprising the steps of: in a free-wheeling mode of operation, via a biasing element, biasing a brake foot which comprises a base portion contactable with a running surface when the brake foot is in an engaged position and at least one side panel extending from the base portion, towards a disengaged position in which the base portion is away from a running surface; in a brake setting mode of operation, via a foot of a user, urging the base portion of the brake foot towards the running surface to thereby secure the castor by locating the base portion of the brake foot in an engaged position between the castor and the running surface; and in a brake resetting mode of operation, resetting the brake foot to a respective disengaged position by urging the shopping cart to which the castor is secured in a predetermined direction.

Embodiments of the present invention provide a brake for a shopping cart castor that prevents movement of the shopping cart when a brake is applied but which is thrown free by firm pushing or urging of the cart.

Embodiments of the present invention provide a brake assembly provided by a single piece plate folded and punched out which can be originally or retro fitted to an outside of a castor or similar vehicle.

Embodiments of the present invention provide a brake assembly in which the brake foot is formed from two half components.

In embodiments of the present invention a mounting member is mounted on a centre shaft of the castor, wherein the biasing element is attached to the mounting member and the mounting member includes cooperating means operative to prevent rotation of the mounting plate in response to the bias of the biasing element. Embodiments of the present invention provide a brake assembly which uses the same centre bolt as a castor wheel and which is allowed to rotate freely by means of two tube- style spacers. The brake is held in a free running position when the brake is not in operation but is equally held in a braking position when a braking mode of operation is entered.

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described hereinafter, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 illustrates a view of a castor according to one embodiment of the invention in a non-braking mode of operation;

Figure 2 illustrates a view of the castor of Figure 1 in a non-braking mode of operation;

Figure 3 illustrates a view of the castor of Figure 1 in a braking mode of operation;

Figure 4 illustrates a view of the castor of Figure 1 in a braking mode of operation;

Figure 5 illustrates a cross section through a castor generally according to the first embodiment of the invention;

Figure 6 illustrates a shopping cart utilising a braking castor;

Figure 7 illustrates a spring guide applied to a castor of the invention;

Figure 8 illustrates a moulded brake foot;

Figure 9 illustrates a further view of a moulded brake foot;

Figure 10 illustrates a still further view of the moulded brake foot;

Figure 11 illustrates a view of a castor according to another embodiment of the invention in a non-braking mode of operation;

Figure 12 illustrates a view of a castor according to the embodiment Figure 11 in a non- braking mode of operation; Figure 13 illustrates a view of a castor according to the embodiment of Figure 11 in a braking mode of operation;

Figure 14 illustrates a view of a castor according to the embodiment of Figure 11 in a braking mode of operation;

Figure 15 is an exploded view of a castor according to the embodiment of Figure 11 ;

Figure 16 illustrates a view of a castor according to a further embodiment of the invention in a braking mode of operation;

Figure 17 illustrates a view of a castor according to the embodiment Figure 16 also in a braking mode of operation;

Figure 18 illustrates a view of a castor according to the embodiment Figure 16 in a non- braking mode of operation; and

Figure 19 illustrates a view of a castor according to the embodiment Figure 16 also in a non-braking mode of operation.

In the drawings like reference numerals refer to like parts.

Figure 1 illustrates a castor 100 and braking system according to an embodiment of the present invention. The castor 100 includes a set of forks 101 formed as two spaced apart plates 102, 103 including at a top region thereof a connector 104 which can be utilised to secure the castor to an underside of a shopping cart. A wheel 105 is arranged between the forks to rotate about an axis 106. It will be understood that embodiments of the present invention can be applied to castors including more than one wheel element. Also in alternative embodiments of the present invention the connection between the brake foot and castor is not made at the axle.

A brake foot 107 is secured to the axle of the castor by means of a securing bolt 108 and corresponding nut 109. A spacer 110 permits the brake foot 107 to rotate about the axis 106 of the castor. Aptly the spacer at each side is a little wider than the width of the plate from which the brake foot is made. This helps ensure there is free movement. The brake foot 107 includes a pair of spaced apart side panels 111 between which the wheel and castor forks 101 are located. It will be appreciated that the brake foot could, as an alternative, be located within the forks of the castor. The brake foot 107 also includes a cross piece 112 with an upwardly curled lip 113. During use a user can locate their foot on the cross piece 112 and/or lip 113 and urge the brake foot 107 downwardly. By gently pulling the shopping cart or other vehicle to which the castor is secured backwards the brake foot can thus be engaged into a braking mode configuration.

As illustrated in Figure 1 a biasing means extends between the brake foot 107and a part of the fork 101. In the particular embodiment as illustrated in Figure 1 , the biasing means comprises an expansion spring 116 which is secured at a first end to a punched out region 114 on one of the side panels of the brake foot 107. This end of the spring 116 can of course be secured to the brake foot 107 by any other suitable mechanism. A further end of the spring 116 is hooked around an edge region 115 of the castor fork. It will be appreciated that rather than hooking the spring end around the edge surface of the castor 101 a small hole could alternatively be drilled through the castor 101 and the end of the spring 116 secured through the hole. It will also be appreciated that according to further embodiments of the present invention, other types of biasing mechanisms other than the spring 116 could be utilised.

Figure 2 illustrates the castor of Figure 1 from a further side view. The side plate 111 , shown more clearly in Figure 2, includes a further punched out region 200 which includes a central bent bar 201 , bent inwardly which is urged against a surface 202 of the castor fork when the brake foot is in a non-braking mode of operation. This prevents the brake foot from being urged too far in a rotational direction illustrated by direction A in Figure 2 by the biasing spring.

The underside of the brake foot is formed by inwardly turned ears 203, 204. When the brake is in a braking mode of operation the lower surfaces of the brake foot which form a braking surface engage with a running surface to place the ears between the running surface and the wheel thereby to prevent movement of the castor.

Figure 3 illustrates the castor in a braking mode of operation. In the braking mode of operation the brake foot 107 is urged downwardly to locate the brake foot between the wheel 105 and a running surface. This is achieved by a user locating a foot on the cross piece 112 and then rocking the castor on the curved surface 300 of the brake foot 107. As the brake foot is deployed the biasing effect of the spring 116 is overcome by the force exerted by the user. In this braking situation the castor will effectively lock the shopping cart or other vehicle to which it is secured at a predetermined location.

The biasing spring 116 may advantageously be configured so that as the brake foot 107 approaches the braking position the biasing spring biases the brake foot into the braking position. This helps to prevent the brake unintentionally entering a non-braking mode of operation. Selecting the distance x shown in Figure 3 between a point below the axle and a tooth 301 on the lower end of the curved region 300 makes the brake harder or easier to release. If the distance x is longer, releasing is more difficult.

Figure 4 illustrates a reverse view of the braking mode of operation shown in Figure 3.

Figure 5 illustrates a cut away view of a castor 100 with the brake foot 107 in a non- braking mode of operation. In this mode of operation the brake foot 107 is displaced from the running surface 500 and the spring 116 acts to bias the brake foot towards this position, so that movement of the castor and the vehicle to which the castor is secured is not hindered by the brake foot 107.

Figure 6 illustrates a shopping cart 600 having a handle 601 and a wire grid basket 602. At lower corner regions of the basket, four castors are located. A braking castor is located at a rear region although it will be appreciated that more than one braking castor may be applied to any shopping cart and that a brake castor may not necessarily be located at the rear of the shopping cart.

Figure 7 illustrates an alternative braking system for a castor 100 of a shopping trolley. In many respects the braking system is similar to that described previously however the embodiment illustrated with respect to Figure 7 includes a brake guide 700 which includes a guide wall 701 extending outwardly from a side panel 111. The' guide wall 701 thus extends outwardly from the page as shown in Figure 7. The guide 700 may enclose the spring or may aptly be formed as a plate 701 or line of partial plate elements extending outwardly from the side panel. The spring 116 is hooked around the edge region 115 of the castor fork at one end. A remaining end is secured to the guide 700. The guide plate 701 helps maintain a desired direction for the spring during use and helps prevent it being located too close to the bolt subsequent to a braking mode of operation. The spring guide thus protects the spring in free running and directs it to stay higher up the castor thus producing a better angle to pull the brake into its return position when it is pushed.

Embodiments of the present invention can include a brake foot manufactured from steel. Aptly alternative embodiments may be manufactured from a plastic moulding or other such rigid material.

Figure 8 illustrates an embodiment of the present invention illustrating that the brake casing/foot may be manufactured from a plastic or other such rigid material moulding. The brake foot 800 includes a pair of spaced apart panels 811 between which the wheel and castor forks of a castor can be located. The brake foot 800 also includes a cross piece 812 with an upwardly turned lip 813. During use a user can locate their foot on the cross piece 812 and/or lip 813 and urge the foot brake 800 downwardly.

A brake guide 820 is located on one side panel of the brake foot. The brake guide 820 provides a tunnel element housing the spring in use. An end of the spring can extend through a slit 821 so as to be secured to the forks of the castor. The brake guide helps locate the biasing spring during use so that the brake can be set or released successfully when desired.

Figure 9 illustrates a further view of the brake foot 800 and illustrates how a base portion formed as a moulded plate 850 is utilised as a ground engaging surface. In a braking mode of operation this plate is located between the wheel and ground to brake the castor.

Figure 10 illustrates a further view of the brake foot illustrated in Figures 8 and 9 and illustrates how reinforcement struts 870 can be moulded to strengthen and support the side walls 811.

Figures 11 and 12 illustrate a view of another embodiment of a castor braking arrangement in a non-braking mode of operation and Figures 13 and 14 show the castor braking arrangement of this embodiment in a braking mode of operation. Figure 15 is an exploded view of the castor braking arrangement of Figures 11 to 14. The castor braking arrangement of Figures 11 to 15 is especially suitable for application to a range of different castors which may have, for example, different widths of the wheel and consequently a different distance between the respective forks. The castor braking arrangement of this embodiment is configured to accommodate such differences.

Referring now to Figures 11 to 15, the castor 150 is similar to the castor 100 of Figure 1. Castor 150 includes a set of forks 151 formed as two spaced apart plates 152, 153 including at a top region thereof a connector 154 which can be utilised to secure the castor to an underside of a shopping cart. A wheel 155 is arranged between the forks to rotate about an axis 156. It will be understood that embodiments of the present invention can be applied to castors including more than one wheel element, as will be described below. Also in alternative embodiments of the present invention the connection between the brake foot and castor is not made at the axle.

A brake foot 157 is secured to the axle of the castor by means of a securing bolt 158 and corresponding nut 159. Spacers 160 permit the brake foot 157 to rotate about the axis 156 of the castor. Conveniently the spacer at each side is a little wider than the width of the plate from which the brake foot is made. This helps ensure there is free movement. A biasing means, typically a spring 166, acts between the brake foot 157 and the forks 151 at least primarily to urge the brake foot 157 into a non braking configuration, by rotation of the brake foot 157 about the axis of bolt 158.

The brake foot 157 comprises a pair of half-components 157A and 157B respectively defining a pair of spaced apart side panels 161 A and 161 B between which the wheel and castor forks 151 are located. Half component 157B is provided with at least one male projection 167B and half component 157A is provided with a corresponding number of projections 167A which define female receiving slots. The female receiving slots are configured to receive the respective male projections of half component 157B. Thus when assembled, the half components 157A, 157B provide a brake foot 157 which is generally functionally equivalent to brake foot 107 of the first embodiment.

The brake foot 157 includes a cross piece 162 with an upwardly curled lip 163. The cross piece ^τ162 and lip 163 are similar in function to cross piece 112 and lip 113 of the first embodiment. During use a user can locate their foot on the cross piece 162 and/or lip 163 and urge the brake foot 157 downwardly whilst gently pulling backwards the shopping cart or other vehicle to which the castor is secured. The brake foot 157 is thereby engaged into a braking mode or configuration.

CONFIRMATION <COPY In preferred variations, the brake foot 157 is provided with a plurality of pads 170 which contact the running surface (the ground) when the brake foot 157 is in its braking position. The pads may have a ground contacting surface formed from rubber, rubber composite or similar high friction material and are conveniently provided with securing clips 170A which co-operate with corresponding features of the half components 157A, 157B to retain the clips 170A in position.

The construction illustrated in Figures 11 to 15 is particularly advantageous in accommodating castors of different sizes. For example the width of castors from different manufacturers may vary by as much as 10mm, or more. By forming the brake foot 157 as two half components the spacing between the half components 157A and 157B can be adjusted in accordance with the particular width of the castor. In fact, the arrangement according to this embodiment of the invention can be seen as self- adjusting in that the spacing of the half components 157A, 157B is automatically defined as the nut 159 is secured and tightened on bolt 158. There is thus no requirement for additional spacers or the like to accommodate different widths of castor.

In designing a shopping cart or trolley a designer seeks, for reasons of stability, to space the castors as far apart as possible. It is, however, important to ensure that, when two or more trolleys are tightly nested (when not in use), no part of a first trolley interferes with the movement of a castor of a second trolley. In practice, this means that no part of the first trolley may contact a castor of a second trolley. Such contact is known as "castor clash". In order to minimise the possibility of castor clash, an embodiment of the invention provides a void 168 in the portion of the brake foot 157 which contacts the running surface (e.g. the ground) in use. The void is such that the ground facing surface 169 of the brake foot 157 (that is, ground facing when in the braking configuration) is divided into two portions 169A, 169B separated by the void 168. Thus when the brake foot 157 is arranged in its non-braking configuration in which the ground facing portions 169A, 169B are held in a nominally vertical position by spring 166, a nominally horizontal plane which passes through the axis 156 of bolt 158 also passes through the void 168. In preferred embodiments, said plane at least approximately bisects the void 168. A further advantage in constructing a brake foot 157 comprising half components 157A and 157B is that the provision of a void 168 is facilitated. In the alternative, where the brake foot 107 is unitary, the void could be stamped, or cut from the blank before the brake foot is formed into its final shape. A further embodiment of the invention provides an adjustable stop means 250.

Adjustable stop means 250 functions in a similar way to stop 200-201 of the first embodiment in that it co-operates with an edge portion 150A of fork or horn 150 to prevent excessive rotation of the brake foot 157 under the action of spring 166 when the brake foot 157 is in the non-braking configuration. The stop means 250 may, or course, be substituted for the stop 200-201 in the first embodiment. Stop means 250 comprises a body portion 251 from which extend a projecting stop finger 252 and a fastening lug

,253. Finger 252 and lug 253 extend axially parallel and are separated by a predetermined distance. Side panel 161 B defines a pair of through holes 254A and 254B which are so sized and spaced apart that finger 252 can pass through a first of said holes and lug 253 can be retained in the second of said holes 254A, 254B. Also, the positioning of the lug 253 and the finger 252 can be reversed at a user's choice so that finger 252 passes through the second of said holes and lug 253 is retained in the first of said holes 254A, 254B. The axial length of finger 252 is such that when it extends through the selected hole 254A or 254B the finger projects beyond the side panel 161 B. The finger 252 is thus brought into contact with an edge of the fork 150 as the brake foot 157 is caused to rotate away from its braking configuration under the action of the spring 166. A user can select in which of the holes 254A, 254B the finger 252 is accommodated in accordance with the particular shape of the fork 151 to which the brake foot 157 is applied. Thus, variations in the shape of the brake foot 157 between different manufacturers can be accommodated. It will be readily appreciated that the side panel 161 B can be provided with more than two holes 254 in which the stop means 250 can be retained, to provide additional choice in the location of the stop means 250 to better accommodate forks 151 of different shapes. Fastening lug 253 is preferably a "sprung lug" or the like which must be resiliently deformed on entry to, or on removal from, the selected hole 254A or 254B, thereby to assist in retaining the fastening lug 253 in its hole..

A further embodiment of the invention can be seen in particular in Figures 11 , 13 and 15. In this embodiment, the braking system of the invention further includes a mounting plate or member 350 to which one part of the biasing means is attached. In particular, one end of spring 166 is attached to mounting plate 350 at a suitable mounting formation 351 , the other end being attached, as described above to brake foot 157. Mounting plate 350 includes a through hole 352 which accommodates bolt 158 so that mounting plate 350 can be secured on bolt 158 between plate 152 of fork 151 and half component 157A of brake foot 157. It is noted that mounting formation 351 is arranged distal from the bolt 158 when the plate 350 is mounted on the bolt in use. Thus, spring 166 will normally urge the plate 350 to rotate about bolt 158 in an anti-clockwise (counterclockwise) direction (as depicted in figures 11 , 13 and 15). To prevent or limit such rotation, the mounting plate 350 is provided with a projecting stop or lug 353 which projects generally axially parallel to bolt 158. Projecting stop 353 contacts an edge of plate 152 of fork 151 thereby to prevent rotation of the mounting plate 350 about bolt 158. Mounting plate 350 thus provides an effectively fixed mounting location for spring 166 (or other suitable biasing means). Provision of mounting plate 350 provides a secure mounting location for spring 166 which requires no modification of the forks 151. The mounting plate 350 may also be usefully used with the unitary brake foot 107 of the first embodiment of the invention.

Figures 16 to 19 illustrate the application of the braking system of the invention to a castor 290 which includes a pair or wheels 295 mounted on the same axle. The brake foot is essentially the same as brake foot 157 but is used in a somewhat expanded configuration to accommodate the greater width of castor 290.

Embodiments of the present invention have been described with respect to the use of two spaced apart side panels of the brake foot. It will be appreciated that alternatively a single side panel could be utilised on one side of the castor forks.

Throughout the description and claims of this specification, the words "comprise" and "contain" and variations of the words, for example "comprising" and "comprises", means "including but not limited to", and is not intended to (and does not) exclude other moieties, additives, components, integers or steps.

Throughout the description and claims of this specification, the singular encompasses the plural unless the context otherwise requires. In particular, where the indefinite article is used, the specification is to be understood as contemplating plurality as well as singularity, unless the context requires otherwise.

Features, integers, characteristics, compounds, chemical moieties or groups described in conjunction with a particular aspect, embodiment or example of the invention are to be understood to be applicable to any other aspect, embodiment or example described herein unless incompatible therewith.

Claims

1. Apparatus for releasably securing a castor of a shopping cart at a desired location, comprising: a brake foot moveable with respect to the castor between engaged and disengaged positions, the brake foot comprising a base portion, contactable with a running surface when the brake foot is in an engaged position and at least one side panel extending from the base portion; and at least one biasing element securable to a fixed location with respect to the shopping cart castor and to the brake foot, which biasing element is operative to bias the brake foot towards the disengaged position.

2. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the biasing means is further operative to bias the brake foot towards the engaged position as the brake foot, in use, approaches the engaged position.

3. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein: the at least one side panel comprises a pair of substantially parallel spaced apart side panels and the brake foot further comprises a projecting lip extending between the side panels and configured and located for contacting by a user's foot for urging the brake foot towards its engaged position .

4. The apparatus as claimed in claim 3 further comprising a brake plate portion comprising a web of material extending between end edge parts of the side panels and from which brake plate portion the projecting lip extends.

5. The apparatus as claimed in claim 3 or 4 wherein said base portion comprises two inwardly or outwardly turned ears of the side panels.

6. The apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim wherein said brake foot is pivotably connectable to a centre shaft of the castor.

7. The apparatus as claimed in claim 6 further comprising a mounting member mounted on a centre shaft of the castor, wherein the biasing element is attached to the mounting member and the mounting member includes cooperating means operative to prevent rotation of the mounting plate in response to the bias of the biasing element.

8. The apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein said biasing element comprises an expansion spring.

9. The apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim wherein said brake foot is integrally formed.

10. The apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, further comprising at least one spacer element locatable through a respective eye in the side panel.

11. The apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, further comprising a brake guide configured to maintain a desired positional relationship between the biasing means and the castor and/or brake foot in use.

12. The apparatus as claimed in any preceding claims wherein said brake foot comprises a punched out and folded portion arranged to mount, retain or hold an end of the biasing element.

13. The apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim wherein said brake foot is a moulded structure.

14. The apparatus as claimed in claim 13 wherein the base portion comprises a moulded plate portion.

15. The apparatus as claimed in the brake foot comprises first and second half components and means for joining the half components together.

16. The apparatus as claimed in claim 15 wherein the respective half components comprise at least one projecting male member and at least one corresponding female slot in which the male member is received for securing the half components together.

17. The apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the base portion of the brake foot comprises two spaced apart ground contacting portions separated by a void.

18. A castor comprising the apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 17.

19. The castor as claimed in claim 18 wherein the brake foot can be thrown free of a running surface when a trolley to which the castor is secured is firmly urged in a predetermined direction.

20. The castor as claimed in claim 18 to 19, further comprising at least one wheel member arranged to rotate about a centre shaft of the castor and a connector arranged to connect the castor to a shopping cart.

21. A shopping cart or trolley comprising at least one castor as claimed in any one of claims 18 to 20.

22. A method of releasably securing a castor of a shopping cart at a desired location, comprising the steps of: in a free-wheeling mode of operation, via a biasing element, biasing a brake foot which comprises a base portion contactable with a running surface when the brake foot is in an engaged position and at least one side panel extending from the base portion, towards a disengaged position in which the base portion is away from a running surface; in a brake setting mode of operation, via a foot of a user, urging the base portion of the brake foot towards the running surface to thereby secure the castor by locating the base portion of the brake foot in an engaged position between the castor and the running surface; and in a brake resetting mode of operation, resetting the brake foot to a respective disengaged position by urging the shopping cart to which the castor is secured in a predetermined direction.

23. The method as claimed in claim 22, further comprising the steps of: pivoting the brake foot about a shaft of the castor during brake setting or brake resetting.

24. Apparatus constructed and arranged substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

25. A method substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.