초록 ▼

A movable patient support includes a frame, a patient support surface supported at the frame, a base supporting the frame and having a plurality of bearing assemblies for moving the base along a floor surface. The support also includes a brake, a brake actuator for actuating the brake of at least on

A movable patient support includes a frame, a patient support surface supported at the frame, a base supporting the frame and having a plurality of bearing assemblies for moving the base along a floor surface. The support also includes a brake, a brake actuator for actuating the brake of at least one bearing assembly, and a brake bar coupled to the brake actuator. The brake bar is movable between a non-braking position and a braking position wherein the actuator causes the brake to move to its braking position. Further, the brake bar extends between the head end and the foot end of the frame and further has a portion extending outwardly from the brake actuator to at least close proximity to the bearing footprint defined by the bearing assemblies but within the frame footprint to thereby provide relatively easy access to the brake bar to an attendant standing adjacent one of the longitudinal sides of the frame.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A movable patient support comprising: a frame having a foot end and a head end and a pair of longitudinal sides extending between said head end and said foot end, and said frame further having a frame footprint;a patient support surface supported at said frame;a base supporting said frame and hav

1. A movable patient support comprising: a frame having a foot end and a head end and a pair of longitudinal sides extending between said head end and said foot end, and said frame further having a frame footprint;a patient support surface supported at said frame;a base supporting said frame and having a plurality of bearing assemblies for moving said base along a floor surface, said bearing assemblies defining a bearing footprint;a brake supported for movement between a non-braking position and a braking position for braking at least one bearing assembly of said bearing assemblies;a brake actuator for actuating said brake of said at least one bearing assembly; anda brake bar coupled to said brake actuator and being movable between a non-braking position and a braking position where said actuator causes said brake to move to said braking position, and said brake bar having a longitudinal portion extending along a substantial portion of the length of said base and between said head end and said foot end, said longitudinal portion extending outwardly from said brake actuator to thereby provide a continuous foot engagable surface extending along a substantial portion of the length of the base to thereby provide relatively easy access to said brake bar to an attendant standing adjacent one of the longitudinal sides of said frame or near one of said ends of said frame. 2. The movable patient support according to claim 1, wherein said brake actuator includes a torsional shaft extending between said foot end and said head end. 3. The movable patient support according to claim 2, wherein said brake bar is coupled to said torsional shaft. 4. The movable patient support according to claim 3, wherein said brake actuator further includes a cam and a linkage coupled to said cam, said linkage being coupled to said torsional shaft, said torsional shaft having a longitudinal axis and being rotated about said longitudinal axis when said brake bar is moved to its braking position, and said rotation of said torsional shaft inducing movement of said linkage to cause said cam to actuate said brake. 5. The movable patient support according to claim 1, wherein said brake comprises a brake ring. 6. The movable patient support according to claim 1, said brake bar comprises a tubular member. 7. The movable patient support according to claim 1, wherein each of said bearing assemblies includes a mounting stem, said patient support further comprising an annular member mounted about one of said stems, and said patient support further comprising a locking arm coupled to said linkage, and said linkage moving said locking arm into engagement with said annular member to thereby arrest swiveling of said at least one bearing assembly when said brake bar is moved to its braking position. 8. The movable patient support according to claim 7, further comprising a spring urging said locking arm into engagement with said annular member when pivoted about said vertical axis toward said annular member. 9. The movable patient support according to claim 1, wherein said longitudinal portion is adjacent or within said bearing footprint. 10. The movable patient support according to claim 1, wherein said brake bar has a pair of connecting portions for connecting to said brake actuator adjacent said head end and adjacent said foot end, and said brake bar having an intermediate portion connecting said connecting portions, said intermediate portion forming said longitudinal portion and extending adjacent one of said longitudinal sides between said connecting portions and being offset inwardly from said one of said longitudinal sides toward said central longitudinal axis of said frame. 11. The movable patient support according to claim 1, wherein said base includes a head end base member and a foot end base member, said actuator extending between said head end base member and said foot end base member. 12. The movable patient support according to claim 11, said base further including a longitudinal member extending between said head end base member and said foot end base member, said longitudinal member, said head end base member, and said foot end base member forming a base frame, and said actuator being at least partially enclosed by said longitudinal member. 13. A movable patient support comprising: a frame having a foot end and a head end and a pair of longitudinal sides extending between said head end and said foot end, and said frame further having a frame footprint:a patient support surface supported at said frame;a base supporting said frame and having a plurality of bearing assemblies for moving said base along a floor surface, said bearing assemblies defining a bearing footprint;a brake supported for movement between a non-braking position and a braking position for braking at least one bearing assembly of said bearing assemblies:a brake actuator for actuating said brake of said at least one bearing assembly: anda brake bar coupled to said brake actuator and being movable between a non-braking position and a braking position where said actuator causes said brake to move to said braking position and said brake bar extending between said head end and said foot end and having a portion extending outwardly from said brake actuator within said frame footprint to thereby provide relatively easy access to said brake bar to an attendant standing adjacent one of the longitudinal sides of said frame each of said bearing assemblies including a mounting stem, said patient support further comprising an annular member mounted about one of said stems, and said patient support further comprising a locking arm coupled to said linkage, and said linkage moving said locking arm into engagement with said annular member to thereby arrest swiveling of said at least one bearing assembly when said brake bar is moved to its braking position, wherein said annular member includes a plurality of upwardly facing notches, said locking arm engaging said annular member at one of said notches to thereby arrest the swiveling of said at least one bearing assembly. 14. The movable patient support according to claim 13, wherein said locking arm is pivotally mounted relative to said frame about a vertical pivot axis, said linkage pivoting said locking arm about said vertical axis to thereby engage said annular member when said brake bar is moved to its braking position. 15. A movable patient support comprising: a frame;a patient support surface supported at said frame;a base supporting said frame and having a plurality of bearing assemblies for moving said base along a floor surface, said base including a head end base member, a foot end base member, and a longitudinal member extending between said head end base member and said foot end base member, said longitudinal member, said head end base member, and said foot end base member forming a base frame;a brake supported for movement, between a non-braking position and a braking position for braking at least one bearing assembly of said bearing assemblies, each of said bearing assemblies having a mounting stem defining a swivel axis, said mounting stems mounting said brake assemblies to said base:a brake actuator for actuating said brake, and said actuator being at least partially enclosed by said longitudinal member;an annular member mounted about at least one stem of said stems of said bearing assemblies; anda locking arm pivotally mounted at said base and being coupled to said brake actuator, said locking arm being moveable between an unlocked position and a locking position and moving to said locking position where said locking arm is engageable with said annular member to thereby lock said at least one stem from swiveling about said swivel axis when said brake actuator actuates said brake. 16. The movable patient support according to claim 15, wherein said brake comprises a brake for braking each bearing assembly, and said brake actuator actuates at least two of said brakes. 17. A movable patient support comprising: a frame:a patient support surface supported at said frame:a base supporting said frame and having a plurality of bearing assemblies for moving said base along a floor surface, said base including a head end base member, a foot end base member, and a longitudinal member extending between said head end base member and said foot end base member, said longitudinal member, said head end base member, and said foot end base member forming a base frame:a brake supported for movement between a non-braking position and a braking position for braking at least one bearing assembly of said bearing assemblies, each of said bearing assemblies having a mounting stem defining a swivel axis, said mounting stems mounting said brake assemblies to said base:a brake actuator for actuating said brake, and said actuator being at least partially enclosed by said longitudinal member:an annular member mounted about at least one stem of said stems of said bearing assemblies: anda locking member pivotally mounted at said base and being coupled to said brake actuator, said locking arm being moveable between an unlocked position and a locking position and moving to said locking position where said locking arm is engageable with said annular member to thereby lock said at least one stem from swiveling about said swivel axis when said brake actuator actuates said brake, wherein said annular member includes a plurality of notches, said locking arm engaging said annular member at one of said notches to thereby arrest the swiveling of said at least one bearing assembly when said brake actuator actuates said brake. 18. The movable patient support according to claim 17, wherein said locking arm includes a tab, said tab sized to fit into said notches and provide an interference with said annular member at one of said notches. 19. The movable patient support according to claim 17, wherein said locking member pivots about a vertical axis when moved from its unlocked position to its locking position. 20. The movable patient support according to claim 19, further comprising a spring urging said locking arm into engagement with said annular member when pivoted about said vertical axis toward said annular member. 21. A movable patient support comprising: a frame;a patient support surface supported at said frame;a base supporting said frame and having a plurality of bearing assemblies for moving the base along a floor surface, each of said bearing assemblies having a mounting stem defining a swivel axis, said mounting stems mounting said brake assemblies to said base;a brake supported for movement between a non-braking position and a braking position for braking at least one bearing assembly of said bearing assemblies, said brake comprising an annular body extending around said swivel axis, and said annular body having a plurality of annularly spaced ridges having distal edges lying in spaced parallel planes, said ridges for engaging said at least one bearing assembly; anda brake actuator for actuating said brake wherein when said brake actuator is actuated said annular body moves toward said at: least one bearing assembly and engages said bearing assembly with said ridges. 22. The movable patient support according to claim 21, further comprising a brake bar coupled to said brake actuator and being movable between a non-braking position and a braking position wherein said actuator causes said brake to move to its braking position when said brake bar moves to its braking position. 23. The movable patient support according to claim 22, wherein said frame includes a central longitudinal axis, and said brake bar being pivotable about an axis disposed parallel to said central longitudinal axis of the frame. 24. The movable patient support according to claim 23, wherein said frame includes a frame footprint, and said brake bar being within said frame footprint. 25. The movable support according to claim 24, wherein said bearing assemblies define a hearing footprint inward of said frame footprint, said brake bar being located either between said bearing footprint and said frame footprint or within said bearing footprint and said frame footprint. 26. The movable patient support according to claim 21, wherein said distal edges lie on an arc. 27. The movable patient support according to claim 26, wherein said at least one bearing assembly has a wheel with a radius of curvature about its axis of rotation, and said arc having a radius of curvature approximately equal to said radius of curvature of said wheel. 28. A movable patient support comprising: a frame having a foot end and a head end and a pair of longitudinal sides extending between said head end and said foot end, and said frame further having a frame footprint:a patient support surface supported at said frame;a base supporting said frame and having a plurality of bearing assemblies for moving said base along a floor surface said bearing assemblies defining a bearing footprint:a brake supported for movement between a non-braking position and a braking position for braking at least one bearing assembly of said bearing assemblies;a brake actuator for actuating said brake of said at least one bearing assembly: anda brake bar coupled to said brake actuator and being movable between a non-braking position and a braking position where said actuator causes said brake to move to said braking position, and said brake bar extending between said head end and said foot end and having a portion extending outwardly from said brake actuator within said frame footprint to thereby provide relatively easy access to said brake bar to an attendant standing adjacent one of the longitudinal sides of said frame, wherein said brake comprises a brake ring, said brake ring including an annular member with a plurality of concentric ridges, said ridges facing said at least one bearing assembly.