A caster locking system for a medical transport cart

摘要

A transport cart 10 for attaching to a patient care apparatus 12 having a locking system 38 that converts the forward caster 40 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 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 provides stability in moving the combined apparatus. The locking mechanism 38 may be internal to the caster 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 there between to restrain its ability to pivot. The locking mechanism 38 automatically or manually releases the forward caster 40 to again freely pivot when the transport cart/patient care apparatus are separated.