Side and end brake/steer mechanism for stretchers
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A patient support apparatus for transporting a patient along a floor, the apparatus comprising:
- a frame having four corners,a caster coupled to each of the four corners to support the apparatus, each caster having a caster wheel,a brake coupled to at least one of the four casters to engage its caster wheel, anda brake actuator coupled to two of the corners of the frame, the brake actuator being movable relative to the frame between a braking position wherein the brake is caused to engage a wheel on a caster, and a non-braking position wherein the brake is disengaged from the caster wheel, the brake actuator being a rail having a step portion disposed between two connecting portions, and each connecting portion being coupled to a corner.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A stretcher includes a brake mechanism and a steer mechanism operated by side actuator pedals and a brake-actuating bar and a wheel-actuating bar. The brake-actuating bar, wheel-actuating bar, and side actuator pedals are connected such that movement is coordinated.
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Citations
47 Claims
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1. A patient support apparatus for transporting a patient along a floor, the apparatus comprising:
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a frame having four corners, a caster coupled to each of the four corners to support the apparatus, each caster having a caster wheel, a brake coupled to at least one of the four casters to engage its caster wheel, and a brake actuator coupled to two of the corners of the frame, the brake actuator being movable relative to the frame between a braking position wherein the brake is caused to engage a wheel on a caster, and a non-braking position wherein the brake is disengaged from the caster wheel, the brake actuator being a rail having a step portion disposed between two connecting portions, and each connecting portion being coupled to a corner. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A patient support apparatus for transporting a patient along a floor, the apparatus comprising:
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a frame having four corners, a caster coupled to each of the four corners to support the apparatus, each caster having a caster wheel, a steering wheel, a steering wheel support assembly coupled to the frame and configured to support the steering wheel for movement between a raised position and a lowered position in which the steering wheel engages the floor, a brake coupled to at least one of the four casters to engage its caster wheel, a brake actuator coupled to two of the corners of the frame, the brake actuator being movable relative to the frame between a braking position wherein the brake is caused to engage a wheel on a caster, and a non-braking position wherein the brake is disengaged from the caster wheel, an axle extending through the two corners to which the brake actuator is coupled, a link coupling the steering wheel support assembly to the axle, and at least one side pedal coupled to the link, the side pedal pivoting about an axis transverse to the axis defined by the axle. - View Dependent Claims (17)
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18. A patient support apparatus comprising:
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a frame having a length and a width and supported by casters having wheels, a brake coupled to at least one of the casters, a brake actuator coupled to the frame, the brake actuator being configured to move the brake to engage at least one of the caster wheels, the brake actuator having a dimension substantially equal to the width of the frame, and a side actuator pedal located along the length of the frame and between two casters situated along the length of the frame and coupled to the brake and pivotable about an axis disposed parallel to the length of the frame. - View Dependent Claims (19)
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20. A patient support apparatus comprising:
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a frame having a length and a width and supported by casters having wheels, a brake coupled to at least one of the casters, a brake actuator coupled to the frame, the brake actuator being configured to move the brake to engage at least one of the caster wheels, the brake actuator having a dimension substantially equal to the width of the frame, and a side actuator pedal coupled to the brake and pivotable about an axis disposed parallel to the length of the frame, the brake actuator being configured to extend outwardly from two corners of the frame such that it can be actuated by a caretaker standing at one end. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22)
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23. A patient support apparatus comprising:
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a frame having a length and a width and supported by casters having wheels, a brake coupled to at least one of the casters, and a brake actuator coupled to the frame, the brake actuator being configured to move the brake to engage at least one of the caster wheels, the brake actuator having a dimension substantially equal to the width of the frame, the brake actuator being pivotably coupled to two corners of the frame, and the brake actuator being a rail having a step portion disposed between two connecting portions, each connecting portion being coupled to one of the two corners. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25)
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26. A patient support apparatus for transporting a patient along a floor, the apparatus comprising:
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a frame having a longitudinal axis and two longitudinal ends with two corners at each end, a plurality of casters mounted to the frame for engagement with the floor, a steering wheel, a steering wheel support assembly coupled to the frame and configured to support the steering wheel for movement between a raised position and a lowered position in which the steering wheel engages the floor, a brake coupled to at least one of the casters, and means for actuating the brake, the actuating means having a step portion disposed between two connecting portions, each connecting portion being coupled to a corner of one of the longitudinal ends of the frame such that the step portion is disposed substantially orthogonally to the frame longitudinal axis. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
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32. A patient support apparatus for transporting a patient along a floor, the apparatus comprising:
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a frame, a plurality of casters mounted to the frame for engagement with the floor, a brake coupled to at least one of the casters, an axle coupled to the brake for moving the brake between a braking position and a non-braking position, the axle having two end portions, each end portion being coupled to one of the casters, and a brake actuating bar having a step portion disposed between two connecting portions, each connecting portion being directly coupled to the axle near an associated caster, the brake actuating bar being configured to cause the axle to pivot about its axis.
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33. A patient support apparatus for transporting a patient along a floor, the apparatus comprising:
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a frame having a longitudinal axis and two longitudinal ends with two corners at each end, a plurality of casters mounted to the frame at each corner for engagement with the floor, a steering wheel coupled to the frame for movement between a raised position and a lowered position in which the steering wheel engages the floor, and a steering wheel actuating bar coupled to the steering wheel for moving the steering wheel between the raised position and the lowered position, the steering wheel actuating bar having a step portion disposed between two connecting portions, each connecting portion being coupled to a corner of one of the longitudinal ends. - View Dependent Claims (34, 35)
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36. A patient support apparatus for transporting a patient along a floor, the apparatus comprising:
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a frame having a length, a width, lateral sides and longitudinal ends, a plurality of casters coupled to the frame for engagement with the floor, a first actuating member accessible to a caregiver standing adjacent one of the longitudinal ends of the frame, the first actuating member located along one of the longitudinal ends of the frame between the lateral sides and being pivotable about an axis that extends widthwise relative to the frame to brake and unbrake at least one of the casters, and a second actuating member located along one of the lateral sides of the frame between the longitudinal ends and accessible to a caregiver standing adjacent one of the lateral sides of the frame, the second actuating member being pivotable about an axis that extends lengthwise relative to the frame to brake and unbrake at least one of the casters. - View Dependent Claims (37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46)
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47. A patient support apparatus for transporting a patient along a floor, the apparatus comprising:
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a frame having a length, a width, lateral sides and longitudinal ends, a plurality of casters coupled to the frame for engagement with the floor, a steering wheel coupled to the frame for movement between a raised position and a lowered position in which the steering wheel engages the floor, a first actuating member accessible to a caregiver standing adjacent one of the longitudinal ends of the frame, the first actuating member located along one of the longitudinal ends of the frame between the lateral sides and being pivotable about an axis that extends widthwise relative to the frame to raise and lower the steering wheel, and a second actuating member accessible to a caregiver standing adjacent one of the lateral sides of the frame, the second actuating member located along one of the lateral sides of the frame between the longitudinal ends and being pivotable about an axis that extends lengthwise relative to the frame to raise and lower the steering wheel.
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Specification