| 摘要 |
<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a medical transport cart in which the conversion of a caster from omni-directional movement to a fixed direction movement could be accomplished automatically. <P>SOLUTION: A forward caster 40 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 40 provides stability in moving the combined apparatus. The locking mechanism 38 may be internal to the caster 40 or may have a pair of pivotable lock arms 42 and 44 that contact the patient care apparatus as the two are brought together and the pivotable lock arms 42 and 44 pivot to a locked position where they sandwich the caster 40 therebetween to restrain its ability to pivot. The locking mechanism 38 automatically or manually releases the forward caster 40 for again freely pivoting when the transport cart/patient care apparatus are separated. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT |
