초록 ▼

A patient support platform or mobile support cart is provided. The mobile support cart includes a transmission system that allows the patient and/or medical staff member to choose a stop, walk or roll mode. In the stop mode, the castor wheels are prevented from rolling across the floor by a braking

A patient support platform or mobile support cart is provided. The mobile support cart includes a transmission system that allows the patient and/or medical staff member to choose a stop, walk or roll mode. In the stop mode, the castor wheels are prevented from rolling across the floor by a braking mechanism. In the walking mode, the transmission causes a tracking wheel to engage the floor for providing tracked or guided motion to the mobile support cart. In a roll mode, the tracking wheel is raised and is disengaged from the floor, and the castor wheels are free to rotate. The platform is capable of supporting devices that may be attached or associated with a patient throughout their stay at a healthcare facility. The braking mechanism can include a cable and an associated brake arm, with the cable positioned to allow braking without inhibiting the ability of the castor wheel to swivel with respect to a castor mounting plate.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A support cart for traversing an underlying surface, comprising: a frame;a plurality of castor wheels interconnected to the frame;a braking mechanism interconnected to at least one of the castor wheels, wherein the braking mechanism includes: a wheel mount interconnected to the support cart;a pla

1. A support cart for traversing an underlying surface, comprising: a frame;a plurality of castor wheels interconnected to the frame;a braking mechanism interconnected to at least one of the castor wheels, wherein the braking mechanism includes: a wheel mount interconnected to the support cart;a plate member interconnected to the wheel mount, the plate member including a swiveled attachment to the wheel mount and at least a first hole aligned with an axis of rotation of the wheel mount, wherein the plate member includes a plurality of mounting points, at least some of the plurality of mounting points defining an area through which the axis of rotation passes;a brake arm pivotally connected to the wheel mount, the brake arm having a first end and a second end, the first end adapted for engaging a wheel carried by the wheel mount, the first end including a contact area;a spring disposed between the second end of the brake arm and the plate member, the spring causing the brake arm to be normally in a position wherein the first end of the brake arm is disengaged from the castor wheel;a brake cable having a first end and a second end, the first end connected to the second end of the brake arm, the first end having a first portion extending from the second end of the brake arm through the first hole in the plate member, the first portion of the brake cable being substantially aligned with the axis of rotation of the wheel mount;wherein a tensioning of the cable causes the brake arm to pivot, causing the contact area at the first end of the brake arm to engage the castor wheel, causing a braking action on the castor wheel; anda transmission system interconnected to said frame, the transmission system providing a number of user selectable modes, the user selectable modes comprising at least a stop mode, and a roll mode, wherein in the stop mode each braking mechanism is engaged, and in the roll mode each braking mechanism is disengaged. 2. The support cart of claim 1, further comprising: a plurality of braking mechanisms;a single selector mechanism for selectively choosing at least the stop and roll modes;wherein the single selection mechanism includes a control arm associated with a short lever and a long lever, the short lever being interconnected to a plurality of brake cables, wherein each one of the plurality of brake cables is associated with one of the braking mechanisms, and the long lever being interconnected to a lift cable, the control arm being movable between three positions, wherein:in a first position, the short lever is engaged and the long lever is not engaged, wherein engaging the short lever causes a tensioning of each brake cable which causes a engagement of each braking mechanism;in a second position, the short lever is not engaged and the long lever is not engaged; andin a third position, the short lever is not engaged and the long lever is engaged, wherein engaging the short lever causes a tensioning of a lift cable interconnected to a tracking wheel. 3. The support cart of claim 2, wherein the control arm includes a guide wheel provided in association with a curved guidance member having a number of detents disposed along an edge thereof, wherein the first, second and third positions are defined by an engagement of the guide wheel with a particular detent. 4. The support cart of claim 2, wherein the control arm includes a first handle at a rear portion of said frame and a second handle at a front portion of said frame, said first and second handle for selectively adjusting a setting of the transmission system. 5. The support cart of claim 1, wherein the frame includes an upper platform and a lower platform. 6. The support cart of claim 5, further comprising: a power supply provided in association with a power outlet box, the power supply being mounted on the lower platform and the power outlet box being connected to the frame proximate to the upper platform. 7. The support cart of claim 5, wherein the upper platform includes a recessed side cut adapted to cradle an upper portion of a cylindrical object when the cylindrical object is placed on the lower platform. 8. The support cart of claim 5, wherein the upper platform includes an IV pole receiver hole. 9. The support of cart of claim 5, wherein the upper platform and the lower platform are interconnected by first and second planar support members, the first and second planar support members defining a plurality of storage spaces. 10. The support cart of claim 1, further comprising: a power supply interconnected to the frame. 11. The support cart of claim 1, wherein the braking mechanism further includes: an insert member disposed between the brake cable and the plate member, the insert member being operable to maintain the alignment of the brake cable. 12. A method of controlling a personal support cart, comprising: moving a single selector mechanism into a first position to thereby place the support cart in a stop mode, wherein in the stop mode a plurality of braking mechanisms are engaged;moving the single selector mechanism into a second position to thereby place the support cart in a roll mode, wherein in the roll mode the braking mechanisms are disengaged;wherein each of the braking mechanisms is connected to a castor wheel, wherein engaging the braking mechanisms includes, for each braking mechanism: tensioning a cable, a first portion of the cable being disposed in substantial coaxial alignment with an axis of rotation of a wheel mount, the wheel mount having a swiveled attachment to a plate member adapted for connecting the castor wheel to the personal support cart, the plate member having at least a first hole aligned with the axis of rotation of the wheel mount, and wherein the first portion of the cable extends through the first hole in the plate member to a brake arm, the cable being interconnected to the brake arm, the brake arm having a first end and a second end, the first end being adapted for engagement with the castor wheel, the cable being attached to the second end;as a result of the tensioning of the cable, rotating the brake arm about a pivoted attachment to the wheel mount; andas a result of rotating the brake arm, bringing the first end of the brake arm into engagement with the castor wheel causing a braking action on the castor wheel, wherein the single selector mechanism includes a control arm associated with a short lever and a long lever, the short lever being interconnected to a plurality of brake cables and the long lever being interconnected to a lift cable, the control arm being movable between three positions, whereinin a first control arm position, the short lever is engaged and the long lever is not engaged, wherein engaging the short lever causes a tensioning of each brake cable which causes a engagement of each braking mechanism;in a second control arm position, the short lever is not engaged and the long lever is not engaged; andin a third control arm position, the short lever is not engaged and the long lever is engaged, wherein engaging the short lever causes a tensioning of the lift cable. 13. The method of claim 12, wherein the control arm includes a guide wheel provided in association with a curved guidance member having a number of detents disposed along an edge thereof, wherein the first position, the second position and the third positions are defined by an engagement of the guide wheel with a particular detent. 14. The method of claim 12, further comprising: setting the control arm in the first, second and third positions using at least one of a first handle included in the control arm at a rear portion of said frame and a second handle included in the control arm at a front portion of said frame.