Abstract:
This invention relates generally to wheeled luggage, and particularly to wheeled luggage with one or more controlled wheels for improved tracking and steering control of the luggage case when it is in motion. The invention provides a support structure for a luggage case comprising a plurality of spaced parallel wheels and at least one biasing element that is operable up to a certain torque to releasably restrain the angular movement at least one wheel to at least one angular position with respect to the base. Conveniently, the at least one angular position corresponds to a desired direction of travel.
Abstract:
A transport cart for attaching to a patient care apparatus having a locking system that converts the forward caster of the transport cart from an omni-directional pivotable caster to a fixed directional device by restraining its pivoting about a vertical axis. The forward caster is located at about the center of the footprint of the combined transport cart/patient care apparatus and the fixed directional movement of the forward caster provides stability in moving the combined apparatus. The locking mechanism may be internal to the caster or may have a pair of pivotable lock arms that contact the patient care apparatus as the two are brought together and the pivotable lock arms pivot to a locked position where they sandwich the caster therebetween to restrain its ability to pivot. The locking mechanism automatically or manually releases the forward caster to again freely pivot when the transport cart/patient care apparatus are separated.
Abstract:
A transport cart for attaching to a patient care apparatus having a locking system that converts the forward caster of the transport cart from an omni-directional pivotable caster to a fixed directional device by restraining its pivoting about a vertical axis. The forward caster is located at about the center of the footprint of the combined transport cart/patient care apparatus and the fixed directional movement of the forward caster provides stability in moving the combined apparatus. The locking mechanism may be internal to the caster or may have a pair of pivotable lock arms that contact the patient care apparatus as the two are brought together and the pivotable lock arms pivot to a locked position where they sandwich the caster therebetween to restrain its ability to pivot. The locking mechanism automatically or manually releases the forward caster to again freely pivot when the transport cart/patient care apparatus are separated.
Abstract:
Disclosed is a brake caster with stroke adjustment mechanism, including a retainer, a king pin, a catch spring, a catch/release button, a plunger block, and a brake pad. The upper part of the king pin is fitted with the spring coil; the catch/release button is fitted with the catch spring; and a threaded polygonal lock nut is placed over the catch/release button in the hollow space of the plunger block, which has the brake pad installed on the bottom end; the plunger block being coupled with the catch/release button is slipped onto the king pin lengthwise along the threads. By twisting the plunger block in and out around the neck of the plunger block, the stroke distance can be adjusted according to different levels of rubber on the wheel, so that the service life of the caster can be effectively prolonged without numerous replacements of the wheels.
Abstract:
A high-load, high-performance, twin-wheeled central-braking caster for a bed is provided having two wheels each comprised of an aluminum core disc and an annular cylindrical flange. The inside of the flanges are covered with elastomeric material in order to serve as brake drums for the wheels. The caster has a central braking mechanism comprising a spring-loaded double-armed brake lever mounted on a pivot pin to guide the brake lever so that it pivots exclusively about a horizontal axis perpendicular to the direction of the wheels' forward rolling movement. The central braking mechanism further comprises a pivot block with an aperture for receiving the pivot pin for mounting the brake lever. The braking mechanism further comprises two compression springs having sufficient spring force to bias the double-armed brake lever away from the wheel. Recesses are provided in the pivot block for anchoring an end of each of the compression springs, the opposite ends of the compression springs being disposed to provide a pushing force against a saddle portion of the double-armed brake lever in order to bias the brake arm away from the brake drum. Flattened teeth are provided on each arm of the brake lever to grab the elastomeric material on the inside surface of the corresponding wheel's annular flange in order to inhibit wheel rotation.
Abstract:
A wheelchair with adjustable swivel castors is described. The wheelchair includes a mechanism to limit the swivel range of the castors. The swivel range may be limited manually or automatically as a function of the terrain or the speed of the chair.
Abstract:
A wheel brake is disclosed to communicate with at least one wheel of a wheeled article (e.g., a wagon) to prevent the wheel from rotating and the wheeled article from rolling away. A toothed locking gear is attached to a hub of the wheel so that the wheel and the locking gear rotate together. A brake pedal of the wheel brake is pivotally connected to the wagon at a wheel bracket thereof to be rotatable in response to a pushing force applied thereto towards and into locking engagement with the locking gear. A coupler (e.g., a locking pin) of the brake pedal is received between a successive pair of teeth of the toothed locking gear, such that the locking gear and the wheel to which the locking gear is attached are unable to rotate, whereby the wheeled article is held in place.
Abstract:
A caster locking mechanism includes a foot movable between retracted and extended positions, a lock bar movable from an unlocked to a locked position, a release bar movable from an initial to a release position, and a lock and release assembly. The lock and release assembly includes a guide plate defining a slot, a rocker coupled to the lock bar and including a protrusion slidably disposed within the slot, and a release member coupled to the release bar and including a protrusion slidably disposed within the slot. Moving the lock bar to the locked position slides the protrusion of the rocker through the slot to extend the foot. Moving the release bar to the release position urges the protrusion of the release member through the and into contact with the protrusion of the rocker to urge the protrusion of the rocker back, thereby retracting the foot.
Abstract:
A caster locking mechanism includes a foot movable between retracted and extended positions, a lock bar movable from an unlocked to a locked position, a release bar movable from an initial to a release position, and a lock and release assembly. The lock and release assembly includes a guide plate defining a slot, a rocker coupled to the lock bar and including a protrusion slidably disposed within the slot, and a release member coupled to the release bar and including a protrusion slidably disposed within the slot. Moving the lock bar to the locked position slides the protrusion of the rocker through the slot to extend the foot. Moving the release bar to the release position urges the protrusion of the release member through the and into contact with the protrusion of the rocker to urge the protrusion of the rocker back, thereby retracting the foot.
Abstract:
This stroller chassis comprises a frame (10) and at least one wheel (20) resting on the ground, which are connected to each other by a mechanical hinge assembly (40) defining a pivoting axis (Z40-Z40), which extends perpendicularly to the wheel rolling axis on the ground (Y20-Y20) and about which pivoting axis the frame and the wheel pivot with respect to each other, and also comprising at least one bearing (42) for guiding the frame and the wheel in free rotation about said axis with respect to each other. To improve the comfort and safety of the stroller chassis in a simple and effective manner, the hinge assembly comprises in addition: two plates (43, 44), each including an annular body (45, 46) which is centered substantially with respect to the pivoting axis (Z40-Z40) and which is arranged externally around the bearing(s) (42), said two annular bodies being connected rotatably about the pivoting axis (Z40-Z40) to the frame (10) and the wheel (20) respectively and defining respective substantially planar surfaces (47, 48) on one (45A, 46A) of the axial end surfaces thereof, said planar surfaces being mutually adjoining along an adjoining plane (P), which is transverse to the pivoting axis, cooperating with one another by means of sliding and frictional contact; and resilient means (49) for pressing the respective annular bodies (45, 46) of the plates (43, 44) against each other and thus maintaining the planar surfaces (47, 48) applied against each other in the direction of the pivoting axis (Z40-Z40).