Support arrangement with activation mechanism

• US 9,579,241 B2
• Filed: 10/01/2015
• Issued: 02/28/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 10/12/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Steelcase Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Steelcase Incorporated
• Inventors: Spoor, Travis, Karsten, Gary, Dekker, David John, Simon, Jeffrey David
• Primary Examiner(s): MOMPER, ANNA M
• Application Number:
  US14/872,724
• Publication Number:
  US 20160022513A1
• Time in Patent Office: 516 Days
• Field of Search: 701/92, 701/93, 702/25, 702/28, 745/12, 745/24, 745/39, 560/0, 5 8/61, 188/2.D, 188/2.F
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 1/0287 having brakes, e.g. slowing down and/or holding details of brake actuators on castors B60B33/0078; brakes on hand carts B62B5/04; brakes in general F16D49/00 - F16D65/853
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 1/04 Parts, details or accessories, e.g. head-, foot-, or like rests specially adapted for stretchers
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 5/101 of the parking brake type, e.g. holding the wheelchair
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 5/1037 manipulated by assisting person
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 5/1051 Arrangements for steering
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/0528 Steering or braking devices for castor wheels
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/08 Apparatus for transporting beds
• CPC Class Codes: B60B 33/0078 characterised by details of the wheel braking mechanism
• CPC Class Codes: B60B 33/0092 actuated remotely, e.g. by cable or electrically
• CPC Class Codes: B60B 33/0094 actuated automatically
• 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: B60B 33/028 being actuated automatically
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 11/046 Using cables B60T11/043 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B62B 5/0433 foot operated
• CPC Class Codes: B62B 5/0457 by locking in a braking position
• CPC Class Codes: B62B 9/082 foot operated
• CPC Class Codes: B62B 9/087 by locking in a braking position
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 2125/60 Cables or chains, e.g. Bowden cables
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 65/28 : arranged apart from the brake

Abstract

A support arrangement having an activation mechanism to control the movement of wheels is provided. The support arrangement includes a platform, a chassis attached to the platform, a pair of wheel assemblies movably coupled to the chassis, and the activation mechanism. The pair of wheel assemblies are operable between a first state and a second state. The activation mechanism includes a track having a first stable position and a second stable position spaced along a length of the track, and a pin configured to travel along the track. Wheels are in the first state when the pin is in the first stable position and are in the second state when the pin is in the second stable position.

Claims

1. A medical patient support arrangement, comprising:

a platform configured to support a patient;

a chassis attached to the platform;

at least one wheel assembly movably coupled to the chassis, the at least one wheel assembly operable between a first state and a second state different from the first state; and

an activation mechanism that controls the movement of the at least one wheel assembly with respect to the chassis, the activation mechanism including a track having a first stable position and a second stable position spaced along a length of the track, the activation mechanism further including a pin configured to travel along the track, wherein the at least one wheel assembly is in the first state when the pin is in the first stable position and the at least one wheel assembly is in the second state when the pin is in the second stable position, wherein the first state of the at least one wheel assembly is a raised state and the second state of the at least one wheel assembly is a lowered state, and wherein the movement of the at least one wheel assembly is a vertical movement between the raised and lowered states; and

a movable input member adapted to receive an input from an operator, the input member operably coupled to the activation mechanism to move the pin between the first and second stable positions;

wherein a first input to the input member from the operator moves the pin along the track from the first stable position toward the second stable position;

wherein a second input to the input member from the operator moves the pin along the track from the second stable position toward the first stable position; and

wherein the activation mechanism is configured such that the input member is moved in the same direction for the first input and the second input.

2. The medical patient support arrangement of claim 1, wherein the pin is spring biased into the first stable position.

3. The medical patient support arrangement of claim 2, wherein the pin is spring biased into the second stable position.

4. The medical patient support arrangement of claim 1, wherein the pin travels through a continuous loop.

5. The medical patient support arrangement of claim 4, wherein the track is discontinuous.

6. The medical patient support arrangement of claim 1, further comprising:

a movable input member adapted to receive an input from an operator, the input member operably coupled to the activation mechanism to move the pin between the first and second stable positions.

7. The medical patient support arrangement of claim 6, wherein a first input to the input member from the operator moves the pin along the track from the first stable position toward the second stable position.

8. The medical patient support arrangement of claim 7, wherein a second input to the input member from the operator moves the pin along the track from the second stable position toward the first stable position.

9. The medical patient support arrangement of claim 1, wherein the track is continuous.

10. The medical patient support arrangement of claim 1, further comprising:

a pair of forward support wheels; and

a pair of rearward support wheels; and

wherein the at least one wheel assembly is located between the forward support wheels and the rearward support wheels.

11. The medical patient support arrangement of claim 1, wherein the at least one wheel assembly is coupled to the chassis to prevent swiveling of the wheel assembly with respect to the chassis.

12. The medical patient support arrangement of claim 1, wherein the medical support arrangement comprises a chair.

13. A medical patient support arrangement, comprising:

a platform configured to support a patient;

a chassis attached to the platform;

at least one wheel assembly movably coupled to the chassis, the at least one wheel assembly operable between a first state and a second state different from the first state; and

an activation mechanism that controls the movement of the at least one wheel assembly with respect to the chassis, the activation mechanism including a track having a first stable position and a second stable position spaced along a length of the track, the activation mechanism further including a pin configured to travel along the track, wherein the at least one wheel assembly is in the first state when the pin is in the first stable position and the at least one wheel assembly is in the second state when the pin is in the second stable position; and

a movable input member adapted to receive an input from an operator, the input member operably coupled to the activation mechanism to move the pin between the first and second stable positions;

wherein a first input to the input member from the operator moves the pin along the track from the first stable position toward the second stable position;

wherein a second input to the input member from the operator moves the pin along the track from the second stable position toward the first stable position; and

wherein the activation mechanism is configured such that the input member is moved in the same direction for the first input and the second input.

14. A medical patient support arrangement, comprising:

a platform configured to support a patient;

a chassis attached to the platform;

at least one wheel assembly movably coupled to the chassis, the at least one wheel assembly operable between a first state and a second state different from the first state;

an activation mechanism that controls the movement of the at least one wheel assembly with respect to the chassis, the activation mechanism including a track having a first stable position and a second stable position spaced along a length of the track, the activation mechanism further including a pin configured to travel along the track, wherein the at least one wheel assembly is in the first state when the pin is in the first stable position the at least one wheel assembly is in the second state when the pin is in the second stable position, wherein the first state of the at least one wheel assembly is a raised state and the second state of the at least one wheel assembly is a lowered state, and wherein the movement of the at least one wheel assembly is a vertical movement between the raised and lowered states; and

a movable foot pedal adapted to receive an input from an operator, the foot pedal operably coupled to the activation mechanism to move the pin between the first and second stable positions, wherein the foot pedal partially extends from beneath the chassis and is substantially parallel with a floor surface when the pin is in the first stable position;

wherein a first input to the foot pedal from the operator moves the pin along the track from the first stable position toward the second stable position;

wherein a second input to the foot pedal from the operator moves the pin along the track from the second stable position toward the first stable position; and

wherein the foot pedal is configured such that the foot pedal is moved in the same direction for the first input and the second input.

15. The medical patient support arrangement of claim 14, wherein the foot pedal forms an acute angle with a floor surface when the pin is in the second stable position.

16. The medical patient support arrangement of claim 14, wherein the at least one wheel assembly includes a pair of wheel assemblies, and wherein the foot pedal is positioned laterally between the pair of wheel assemblies.

17. The medical patient support arrangement of claim 14, wherein the medical patient support arrangement comprises a chair.

18. The medical patient support arrangement of claim 14, wherein the pin is spring biased into the first stable position.

19. The medical patient support arrangement of claim 18, wherein the pin is spring biased into the second stable position.

20. The medical patient support arrangement of claim 14, wherein the pin travels through a continuous loop.

21. The medical patient support arrangement of claim 20, wherein the track is continuous.

22. The medical patient support arrangement of claim 14, further comprising:

a pair of forward support wheels; and

a pair of rearward support wheels; and

wherein the at least one wheel assembly is located between the forward support wheels and the rearward support wheels.

23. The medical patient support arrangement of claim 14, wherein the at least one wheel assembly is coupled to the chassis to prevent swiveling of the wheel assembly with respect to the chassis.