Braking system for patient support

• US 8,452,508 B2
• Filed: 05/17/2010
• Issued: 05/28/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 11/10/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Linet spol. s r.o.
• Original Assignee: Linet spol. s r.o.
• Inventors: Frolik, Zbynek, Schejbal, Ladislav, Kolar, Vladimir
• Primary Examiner(s): FREJD, RUSSELL WARREN
• Application Number:
  US12/781,604
• Publication Number:
  US 20110120815A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,107 Days
• Field of Search: 701/1, 701/70, 701/116, 307/10.8, 188/1.12, 180/19.1, 280/47.34, 5 8/61
• US Class Current: 701/70
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 2203/36 for motion
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/018 Control or drive mechanisms
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/05 Parts, details or accessories of beds devices for prevention against falling out A47C21/08, A47D7/00 ; mattresses A47C27/00
• CPC Class Codes: B60B 33/0005 characterised by mounting method
• CPC Class Codes: B60B 33/0021 in the form of a mounting pin
• CPC Class Codes: B60B 33/0039 Single wheels
• CPC Class Codes: B60B 33/0049 the rolling axle being horizontal
• CPC Class Codes: B60B 33/0057 the rolling axle being offset from swivel axis
• CPC Class Codes: B60B 33/0068 the swivel axis being vertical
• CPC Class Codes: B60B 33/0073 the swivel axis being symmetrical to wheel or wheels
• CPC Class Codes: B60B 33/0081 acting on tire tread
• CPC Class Codes: B60B 33/0092 actuated remotely, e.g. by cable or electrically
• CPC Class Codes: B60B 33/021 combined with braking of castor wheel
• CPC Class Codes: B60B 33/025 by using form-fit, e.g. front teeth
• CPC Class Codes: B60B 33/026 being actuated remotely, e.g. by cable or electrically
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 1/04 acting directly on tread
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 7/12 for automatic initiation; for initiation not subject to will of driver or passenger limiting speed of vehicles other than rail vehicles B60K31/00

Abstract

An assembly controls brakes on beds for use in healthcare facilities. The bed comprises at least one caster device supporting a base frame in relation to a supporting surface. The caster device has a caster brake. A brake control assembly is operatively engageable with the caster brake to engage the caster brake. The brake control assembly comprises a sensor for sensing a status condition of the caster brake. A controller is connected to the sensor. The controller causes engagement of the caster brake when the sensor senses the status condition for a predetermined period of time.

Claims

1. A hospital bed comprising:

a base frame;

at least one caster device supporting the base frame in relation to a supporting surface, the at least one caster device having a caster brake;

a brake control assembly operatively engageable to the caster brake for applying the caster brake, the brake control assembly comprising;

a sensor for sensing a status condition of the caster brake;

a controller connected to the sensor, the controller causing the brake control assembly to apply the caster brake when the sensor senses the status condition for a predetermined period of time.

2. The hospital bed of claim 1, further comprising a linkage rod, wherein one of the brake control assembly and the linkage rod comprises an engagement piece and the other one of the linkage rod and brake control assembly comprises a protrusion that is engageable with the engagement piece so as to cause displacement of the linkage rod to apply the caster brake.

3. The hospital bed of claim 2, further comprising an actuatable shaft for displacing the engagement piece, wherein the displacement of the engagement piece is dependent upon actuation of the shaft.

4. The hospital bed of claim 3, wherein the actuatable shaft is a rotatable screw, and wherein displacement of the engagement member is determined by a control device selected from the group comprising a limit switch, a sensor, and a Hall probe.

5. The hospital bed of claim 1, wherein the sensor comprises a magnetic sensor for sensing a magnet, one of the sensor and the magnet being fixed in relation to a linkage rod, the status condition occurring when the sensor senses the magnet.

6. The hospital bed of claim 1, wherein the status condition is selected from the group comprising a detection of power to the hospital bed, the caster braked being applied, the caster brake being released.

7. A hospital bed comprising:

a base frame;

a plurality of caster devices supporting the base frame in relation to a supporting surface, at least one of the plurality of caster devices having a caster brake;

a brake system comprising a linkage rod operatively connected to a control shaft for applying the caster brake; and

a brake control assembly comprising;

an engagement piece operatively engageable with the linkage rod;

a sensor for sensing a status condition of the caster brake;

a controller connected to the sensor for signaling the controller when the sensor senses the status condition, the controller controlling the engagement piece to displace the linkage rod to apply the caster brake when the sensor senses the status condition for a predetermined period of time.

8. The hospital bed of claim 7, further comprising a protrusion that is fixed in relation to the linkage rod, wherein the engagement piece engages the protrusion to displace the linkage rod to apply the caster brake.

9. The hospital bed of claim 8, further comprising a screw rotatable in a first direction by a motor for displacing the engagement piece, wherein the displacement of the engagement piece is dependent upon a number of screw rotations.

10. The hospital bed of claim 9, the number of screw rotations is measured by a Hall probe and counted by a counter, which is reset by a micro switch.

11. The hospital bed of claim 10, wherein the screw is rotatable in a second direction opposite the first direction by the motor to move the engagement piece out of engagement with the protrusion to a parked position to allow the caster brake to be manually released.

12. The hospital bed of claim 7, wherein the sensor comprises a magnetic sensor for sensing a magnet, one of the sensor and the magnet being fixed in relation to the linkage rod, the status condition occurring when the sensor senses the magnet.

13. The hospital bed of claim 7, wherein the status condition is selected from the group comprising a detection of power to the hospital bed, the caster braked being applied, the caster brake being released.

14. A bed comprising:

a base frame;

at least one caster device supporting the base frame for movement in relation to a supporting surface;

a caster brake system comprising;

a linkage rod displaceable to a braked position wherein a brake of the at least one caster device is applied to effect a braking action on a wheel of the at least one caster device, and

a brake control assembly comprising;

an actuator configured to be supported in relation to the base frame;

an engagement piece supported in relation to the actuator for movement by the actuator, the engagement piece being engageable with the linkage rod to displace the linkage rod to effect the braking action;

a sensor for sensing a status condition;

a controller for controlling the operation of the actuator in response to the status condition occurring for a predetermined period of time, wherein the actuator moves the engagement piece into engagement with the linkage rod to displace the linkage rod to effect the braking action.

15. The hospital bed of claim 14, further comprising a protrusion that is fixed in relation to the linkage rod, wherein the engagement piece engages the protrusion to displace the linkage rod to apply the caster brake.

16. The hospital bed of claim 15, wherein the actuator comprises a screw rotatable in a first direction by a motor for displacing the engagement piece, wherein displacement of the engagement piece is dependent upon a number of screw rotations.

17. The hospital bed of claim 16, wherein the number of screw rotations is measured by a Hall probe and counted by a counter, which is reset by a micro switch.

18. The hospital bed of claim 17, wherein the screw is rotatable in a second direction opposite the first direction by the motor for displacing the engagement piece out of engagement with the protrusion to a parked position.

19. The hospital bed of claim 14, wherein the sensor is a magnetic sensor for sensing a magnet, one of the sensor and the magnet being fixed in relation to the linkage rod, the status condition occurring when the sensor senses the magnet.

20. The hospital bed of claim 14, wherein the status condition is selected from the group comprising a detection of power to the hospital bed, the caster braked being applied, the caster brake being released.