Land vehicles – Wheeled – Stable vehicles – handle-propelled
Reexamination Certificate
1999-07-12
2001-10-02
Mai, Lanna (Department: 3619)
Land vehicles
Wheeled
Stable vehicles, handle-propelled
C188S001120, C188S019000, C188S029000, C005S600000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06296261
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to wheeled bed mechanisms and, more specifically, to a system for controlling the movement, direction and braking of a wheeled bed using a hand operated braking system.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Numerous wheeled bed apparatuses designed to aid in the movement of a hospital bed have been provided in the prior art. For example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,951,258; 3,026,558; 4,776,605 and 5,377,372 are all illustrative of such prior art. While these wheeled beds may be suitable for the purposes for which they were designed, they would not be as suitable for the purposes of the present invention, as hereinafter described.
U.S. Pat. No. 2,951,258
Inventor: H. E. H. Brooks et al.
Issued: Sep. 6, 1960
This United States Patent discloses castors incorporating brakes which are easy to operate and which are efficient in immobilizing the article to which they are attached to.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,026,558
Inventor: K. A. Mulholland
Issued: Mar. 27, 1962
This United States Patent discloses a wheeled assembly which is selectively swivelable or non-swivelable about a substantially vertical axis and provided with torsion suspension apparatus for yieldably supporting a load.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,776,605
Inventor: John E. Hathcock
Issued: Oct. 11, 1988
A wheeled bed apparatus includes a planar supporting surface stretched between a plurality of upper longitudinal and transverse tubular members forming a patient platform. The platform is pivotally affixed to a plurality of vertical tubular support members maintained in an erect use position by a plurality of transverse frame members and diagonal braces. Hand wheels associated with two large supporting wheels permit propulsion of the apparatus by a patient while reposing atop the supporting surface. Coupling elements joining the various tubular members permit collapsing of the apparatus for storage.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,377,372
Inventor: Kenneth O. Rudolf et al.
Issued: Jan. 3, 1995
A castor control mechanism for a hospital bed having a plunger type neutral/brake/steer castor comprises a linkage including a rocker arm pivotally mounted to the base of the bed, a link connected on one end to the rocker arm and being connected on its other end through a cam and follower mechanism to a shaft rotatably mounted to the base and rotatable by a foot pedal. Operation of the foot pedal moves the plunger of the castor via the rocker arm to place the castor in its steer, neutral and brake positions.
SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to wheeled bed mechanisms and, more specifically, to a system for controlling the movement, direction and braking of a wheeled bed using a hand operated braking system.
A primary object of the present invention is to provide a brake assisted steering system for a wheeled bed that will overcome the shortcomings of prior art devices.
A further object of the present invention is to provide a brake assisted steering system for a wheeled bed able to allow for easily maneuvering the wheeled bed from one location to another by a single person.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a brake assisted steering system for a wheeled bed having left and right brakes which operate independently of one another.
A yet further object of the present invention is to provide a brake assisted steering system for a wheeled bed including a cable attached between each of the left and right brakes and a respective brake hand lever for independently operating the left and right brakes.
A still further object of the present invention is to provide a brake assisted steering system for a wheeled bed including left and right hand levers each connected to a respective one of the left and right brakes by the cable, each hand lever is grasped by a user and manually operated to activate operation of a respective one of the left and right brakes.
An even further object of the present invention is to provide a brake assisted steering system for a wheeled bed which is able to facilitate turning of the bed when being moved by activating one of the left and right hand levers causing its respective brake to be activated.
Additional objects of the present invention will appear as the description proceeds.
A brake assisted steering system for use in controlling movement of a bed including a frame and first and second wheels extending from the frame is disclosed by the present invention. The brake assisted steering system includes first and second hand levers and first and second brake mechanisms positioned adjacent the first and second wheels, respectively. The first hand lever being connected to the first brake mechanism by a first cable and the second hand lever being connected to the second brake mechanism by a second cable. The first hand lever is movable between a first position in which a force is not applied to the first brake mechanism and the first wheel is free to rotate and a second depressed position in which a force is applied to the first brake mechanism causing the first brake mechanism to engage the first wheel and slow down or halt rotation of the first wheel. The second hand lever is movable between a first position in which a force is not applied to the second brake mechanism and the second wheel is free to rotate and a second depressed position in which a force is applied to the second brake mechanism causing the second brake mechanism to engage the second wheel and slow down or halt rotation of the second wheel. The first and second wheels are each pivotally connected to the frame.
The present invention overcomes the shortcomings of the prior art by providing a hospital bed having independently operated left and right breaking mechanisms having a cable connected to a hand lever at the rear of the bed whereby when the bed is in motion the attendant can use the inertia of the moving bed to control the movement and direction of the bed by applying the left or right brake at adjustable intensity using the left or right control mechanism located on the hand lever.
The foregoing and other objects and advantages will appear from the description to follow. In the description reference is made to the accompanying drawing, which forms a part hereof, and in which is shown by way of illustration specific embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. These embodiments will be described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention, and it is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and that structural changes may be made without departing from the scope of the invention. In the accompanying drawing, like reference characters designate the same or similar parts throughout the several views.
The following detailed description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense, and the scope of the present invention is best defined by the appended claims.
REFERENCES:
patent: 2951258 (1960-09-01), Brooks et al.
patent: 3026558 (1962-03-01), Mulholland
patent: 3159865 (1964-12-01), Shepherd
patent: 3493085 (1970-02-01), Libhart
patent: 4076266 (1978-02-01), Krausz
patent: 4276962 (1981-07-01), Aulik
patent: 4309791 (1982-01-01), Aulik
patent: 4776605 (1988-10-01), Hathcock
patent: 5303450 (1994-04-01), Lange
patent: 5325938 (1994-07-01), King
patent: 5377372 (1995-01-01), Rudolf et al.
patent: 5450639 (1995-09-01), Weismiller et al.
patent: 5499697 (1996-03-01), Timble et al.
patent: 5531295 (1996-07-01), Kopman et al.
patent: 5735367 (1998-04-01), Brubaker
patent: 5927441 (1999-07-01), Luo
Kroll Michael I.
Mai Lanna
Restifo Jeffrey J.
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