U.S. patent application number 14/736368 was filed with the patent office on 2015-10-01 for support arrangement with activation mechanism.
The applicant listed for this patent is Steelcase Inc.. Invention is credited to Travis Spoor.
Application Number | 20150272795 14/736368 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 50474396 |
Filed Date | 2015-10-01 |
United States Patent
Application |
20150272795 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Spoor; Travis |
October 1, 2015 |
Support Arrangement with Activation Mechanism
Abstract
A support arrangement having an activation mechanism to control
the movement of wheels is provided. The support arrangement
includes a platform, a chassis attached to the platform, a pair of
wheel assemblies movably coupled to the chassis, and the activation
mechanism. The pair of wheel assemblies are operable between a
first state and a second state. The activation mechanism includes a
track having a first stable position and a second stable position
spaced along a length of the track, and a pin configured to travel
along the track. Wheels are in the first state when the pin is in
the first stable position and are in the second state when the pin
is in the second stable position.
Inventors: |
Spoor; Travis; (Ada,
MI) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Steelcase Inc. |
Grand Rapids |
MI |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
50474396 |
Appl. No.: |
14/736368 |
Filed: |
June 11, 2015 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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13650255 |
Oct 12, 2012 |
9074648 |
|
|
14736368 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
280/47.4 ;
188/1.12 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F16D 65/28 20130101;
B62B 9/082 20130101; B62B 5/0457 20130101; F16D 2125/60 20130101;
A61G 5/101 20130101; B62B 5/0433 20130101; B60B 33/0078 20130101;
A61G 5/1013 20130101; B60T 11/046 20130101; B62B 9/087
20130101 |
International
Class: |
A61G 5/10 20060101
A61G005/10; B60B 33/00 20060101 B60B033/00 |
Claims
1. A medical patient support arrangement, comprising: a platform
configured to support a patient; a chassis attached to the
platform; a pair of wheel assemblies laterally spaced from one
another across a width of the chassis and movably coupled to the
chassis, the pair of wheel assemblies operable between a first
state and a second state different from the first state; and an
activation mechanism that controls the movement of each of the
wheels of the pair of wheels with respect to the chassis, the
activation mechanism including a track having a first stable
position and a second stable position spaced along a length of the
track, the activation mechanism further including a pin configured
to travel along the track, wherein each of the wheels of the pair
of wheels is in the first state when the pin is in the first stable
position and each of the wheels of the pair of wheels is in the
second state when the pin is in the second stable position.
2. The medical patient support arrangement of claim 1, wherein the
movement of the pair of wheels assembly is a rolling movement.
3. The medical patient support arrangement of claim 2, wherein the
first state is a rotationally unlocked state and the second state
is a rotationally locked state.
4. The medical patient support arrangement of claim 1, wherein the
pin is spring biased into the first stable position.
5. The medical patient support arrangement of claim 4, wherein the
pin is spring biased into the second stable position.
6. The medical patient support arrangement of claim 1, wherein the
pin travels through a continuous loop.
7. The medical patient support arrangement of claim 6, wherein the
track is discontinuous.
8. The medical patient support arrangement of claim 1, further
comprising: a movable input member adapted to receive an input from
an operator, the input member operably coupled to the activation
mechanism to move the pin between the first and second stable
positions.
9. The medical patient support arrangement of claim 8, wherein a
first input to the input member from the operator moves the pin
along the track from the first stable position toward the second
stable position.
10. The medical patient support arrangement of claim 9, wherein a
second input to the input member from the operator moves the pin
along the track from the second stable position toward the first
stable position.
11. The medical patient support arrangement of claim 10, wherein
the activation mechanism is configured such the input mechanism is
moved in the same direction for the first input and the second
input.
12. A medical patient support arrangement, comprising: a platform
configured to support a patient; a chassis attached to the
platform; a pair of wheel assemblies laterally spaced from one
another across a width of the chassis and movably coupled to the
chassis, the pair of wheel assemblies operable between a first
state and a second state different from the first state; an
activation mechanism that controls the movement of each of the
wheels of the pair of wheels with respect to the chassis, the
activation mechanism including a track having a first stable
position and a second stable position spaced along a length of the
track, the activation mechanism further including a pin configured
to travel along the track, wherein each of the wheels of the pair
of wheels is in the first state when the pin is in the first stable
position and each of the wheels of the pair of wheels is in the
second state when the pin is in the second stable position; and a
movable foot pedal adapted to receive an input from an operator,
the foot pedal operably coupled to the activation mechanism to move
the pin between the first and second stable positions, wherein the
foot pedal partially extends from beneath the chassis and is
substantially parallel with a floor surface when the pin is in the
first stable position.
13. The medical patient support arrangement of claim 12, wherein
the foot pedal forms an acute angle with a floor surface when the
pin is in the second stable position.
14. The medical patient support arrangement of claim 12, wherein
the foot pedal is one of a pair of foot pedals, and wherein the
pair of foot pedals are laterally spaced from one another across
the width of the chassis.
15. The medical patient support arrangement of claim 1, wherein the
medical patient support arrangement comprises a chair.
16. A medical patient support arrangement, comprising: a platform
configured to support a patient; a chassis attached to the
platform; one or more wheel assemblies coupled to the chassis and
operable between a locked state where a wheel of the one or more
wheel assemblies is locked from rotation, and an unlocked state
where the wheel is free to rotate; and an activation mechanism that
controls the operation of the one or more wheel assemblies, the
activation mechanism including a track having a first stable
position and a second stable position spaced along a length of the
track, the activation mechanism further including a pin configured
to travel along the track, wherein each of the wheel is in the
unlocked state when the pin is in the first stable position and the
wheel is in the locked state when the pin is in the second stable
position.
17. The medical patient support arrangement of claim 16, wherein
the pin is spring biased into the first stable position.
18. The medical patient support arrangement of claim 17, wherein
the pin is spring biased into the second stable position.
19. The medical patient support arrangement of claim 16, wherein
the pin travels through a continuous loop.
20. The medical patient support arrangement of claim 19, wherein
the track is discontinuous.
21. The medical patient support arrangement of claim 16, further
comprising: a movable input member adapted to receive an input from
an operator, the input member operably coupled to the activation
mechanism to move the pin between the first and second stable
positions.
22. The medical patient support arrangement of claim 21, wherein a
first input to the input member from the operator moves the pin
along the track from the first stable position toward the second
stable position.
23. The medical patient support arrangement of claim 22, wherein a
second input to the input member from the operator moves the pin
along the track from the second stable position toward the first
stable position.
24. The medical patient support arrangement of claim 23, wherein
the activation mechanism is configured such the input mechanism is
moved in the same direction for the first input and the second
input.
25. The medical patient support arrangement of claim 21, wherein
the input member is a foot pedal.
26. The medical patient support arrangement of claim 25, wherein
the foot pedal partially extends from beneath the chassis.
27. The medical patient support arrangement of claim 26, wherein
the foot pedal is substantially parallel with a floor surface when
the pin is in the first stable position.
28. The medical patient support arrangement of claim 27, wherein
the foot pedal forms an acute angle with a floor surface when the
pin is in the second stable position.
29. The medical patient support arrangement of claim 25, wherein
the foot pedal is one of a pair of foot pedals, and wherein the
pair of foot pedal are laterally spaced from one another across the
a width of the chassis.
30. The medical patient support arrangement of claim 16, wherein
the medical patient support arrangement comprises a chair.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a continuation of pending U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 13/650,255, which was filed on Oct. 12, 2012
and entitled Braking Mechanism, the entire disclosure of which is
hereby incorporated herein by reference.
STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT
[0002] Not applicable.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] The present invention relates to a brake activation
mechanism, more particularly, to a brake activation mechanism for
movable furniture, such as chairs, beds, tables and the like.
Although the following discussion relates to movable chairs, the
present invention extends to all pieces of movable furniture on
wheels.
[0004] Wheels are used on movable furniture, such as chairs, to
allow for easy movement of the chair even while a person is seated
in it. It is often desired to lock the wheels to secure the movable
furniture when it is not being moved by a user. For example, a
chair is equipped with caster wheels to allow a healthcare
professional or other caretaker to easily move furniture, but
locked casters are desired when a person is getting in and out of
the chair or when the chair and person are not attended by a
healthcare professional or other caretaker. Accordingly, pieces of
movable furniture with casters may also include a braking
mechanism. Users of the movable chairs, beds, and tables require a
fast and simple way to activate and deactivate these caster
brakes.
[0005] For example in healthcare, caretakers have faced a number
challenges when dealing with movable furniture. One of those
challenges has been the need to bend down to activate and
deactivate the braking mechanism, and not having a stable hold on
the chair, bed, or table while doing so. This is inconvenient for
both caretakers and patients alike.
[0006] Caretakers often are not able to activate and deactivate the
braking mechanism on both sides of the piece of furniture. This is
inconvenient for the caretakers, and can create difficulties when
transferring patients in and out of a movable chair because the
activation device may be between the chair and another piece of
furniture or too close to a wall, and therefore not accessible.
Furthermore, braking mechanisms having one lever to activate the
caster brakes and another lever to deactivate the caster brakes are
cumbersome and confusing to users, especially in emergency
situations.
[0007] Thus, a brake activation mechanism that allows a user to
maintain a hold on a piece of movable furniture during activation
and to access an activation/deactivation pedal from both sides of
the furniture is activated is desired.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0008] In one embodiment of the present invention, a braking
mechanism operably engages at least one wheel and can transition
the at least one wheel between unlocked and locked states. The
braking mechanism includes a flipper and a cam. The flipper
includes a discontinuous track having an open slot portion and a
surface path portion. The open slot portion includes a home
position and an engaged position. The cam includes a pin which
cooperatively moves along the discontinuous track. In the unlocked
state, the pin is located in the home position. As the at least one
wheel transitions from the unlocked state to the locked state, the
pin moves along the open slot portion from the home position to the
engaged position. As the at least one wheel transitions from the
locked state to the unlocked state, the pin moves along the open
slot portion and then along the surface path portion from the
engaged position to the home position.
[0009] In another embodiment of the present invention, a braking
mechanism includes at least one pedal, a connecting rod, a flipper,
a cam, a cable junction and cables. The at least one pedal is fixed
to an end of the connecting rod. The flipper is movable in X, Y and
Z-directions and includes a discontinuous track. The cam is
attached to the connecting rod and includes a pin cooperatively
movable within the discontinuous track. The cable junction is
attached to the connecting rod. Each cable includes one end
attached to the cable junction and a second end engaging a
brake.
[0010] In yet another embodiment of the present invention, a
supporting platform includes a chassis, a plurality of wheels
attached to an underside of the chassis, and a mechanism
operatively connected to the plurality of wheels. Each wheel
includes a brake and the mechanism is capable of transitioning the
wheels between locked and unlocked states. The mechanism includes a
connecting rod, an activation subassembly and a cable junction
attached to the connecting rod, and a pedal fixed to a connecting
rod end. The activation subassembly includes a plate fixed to the
chassis, a flipper having a discontinuous track, a spring biased
rod pivotally connecting the plate and flipper, and a cam fixed to
the connecting rod. The cam includes a pin which cooperatively
travels within the discontinuous track.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0011] The foregoing and other items and advantages of the present
invention will be appreciated more fully from the following
figures, where like reference characters designate like features in
which:
[0012] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the braking activation
mechanism in one embodiment of the invention, the brake activation
mechanism including a cable junction and an activation
subassembly;
[0013] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the braking activation
mechanism of FIG. 1 attached to a movable chassis;
[0014] FIG. 3 is a top perspective view of the cable junction of
the braking activation mechanism of FIG. 1;
[0015] FIG. 4 is a side view of the cable junction of FIG. 3 when
the braking activation mechanism is in an unlocked state;
[0016] FIG. 5 is a side view of the cable junction of FIG. 3 when
the braking activation mechanism is in a locked state;
[0017] FIG. 6 is a side perspective view of a portion of FIG. 2,
showing a braked caster;
[0018] FIG. 7 is a side perspective view of the activation
subassembly of the braking activation mechanism of FIG. 1, the
activation subassembly including a pin and a discontinuous
track;
[0019] FIG. 8 is a top view of the activation subassembly of FIG.
7;
[0020] FIG. 9 is a schematic side view of the activation
subassembly of FIG. 7, where the braking activation mechanism is in
the unlocked stated and the pin is in a home position of the
discontinuous track;
[0021] FIG. 10 is a schematic side view of the activation
subassembly of FIG. 7, where the braking activation mechanism is
being activated and the pin is in a first temporary stop position
of the discontinuous track;
[0022] FIG. 11 is a schematic side view of the activation
subassembly of FIG. 7, where the braking activation mechanism is in
the locked state and the pin is in an engaged position of the
discontinuous track;
[0023] FIG. 12 is a schematic side view of the activation
subassembly of FIG. 7, where the braking activation mechanism is
being activated and the pin is in a second temporary stop position
of the discontinuous track;
[0024] FIG. 13 is a schematic side view of the activation
subassembly of FIG. 7, where the braking activation mechanism is
being activated and the pin is traveling along a surface path
portion of the discontinuous track;
[0025] FIG. 13A is a cutaway end view of the activation subassembly
of FIG. 13;
[0026] FIG. 14 is a schematic side view of the activation
subassembly of FIG. 7, where the braking activation mechanism is in
the unlocked stated and the pin is in the home position of the
discontinuous track; and
[0027] FIG. 14A is a cutaway end view of the activation subassembly
of FIG. 14.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0028] For purposes of description herein, it is to be understood
that the specific devices illustrated in the attached drawings, and
described below are simply exemplary embodiments of the invented
concepts. Hence, specific dimensions and other physical
characteristics relating to the embodiments disclosed herein are
not to be considered as limiting. Also, components described
hereinafter as making up various elements of the invention are
intended to be illustrative and not limiting. Many suitable
components that would perform the same or similar functions as the
components described herein are intended to be considered within
the scope of the invention.
[0029] Referring to FIG. 1, the present brake activation mechanism
10 includes a connecting rod 12 having a first end 14 and a second
end 16; at least one pedal 18 attached to the connecting rod; a
cable junction 20 and an activation sub assembly 22. As illustrated
in FIG. 2, the brake activation mechanism 10 can be attached to a
chassis 24. The chassis 24 can be attached to a supporting platform
of a chair, a bed, a table, or any other movable product.
[0030] Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the connecting rod 12 may be any
shape, but preferably includes at least one planar surface. In one
embodiment, the connecting rod 12 is a tube having a square cross
section. The connecting rod 12 is attached to a chassis 24 and
spans a width of the chassis. In an exemplary embodiment, the
connecting rod 12 is attached to an underside of the chassis 24. At
least one pedal 18 is fixed to an end of the connecting rod 12 and
preferably, a pedal 18 is fixed to the first end 14 of the
connecting rod 12 and a pedal is fixed to the second end 16 of the
connecting rod. The pedal 18 extends slightly from underneath a
side of the chassis 24. The pedal may be any shape, but preferably
has a flat paddle shape for easy foot access. In an exemplary
embodiment, the cable junction 20 and actuation subassembly 22 are
positioned toward opposite ends 14, 16 of the connecting rod 12.
However, the cable junction 20 and activation subassembly 22 can be
positioned anywhere on the connecting rod 12.
[0031] Now referring to FIGS. 1 and 3-6, the cable junction 20
holds a plurality of brake cables 21 and includes a first cable
holding portion 26 and a second cable holding portion 28. The first
cable holding portion 26 of the cable junction 20 includes slits 30
at a top edge and fastening apertures at a bottom end. First ends
31 of the plurality of brake cables 21 fit in the slits 30 and are
held there. Fasteners 32, such as bolts, pass through the fastening
apertures at the bottom end of the first cable holding portion 26
to secure the first cable holding portion of the cable junction 20
to the connecting rod 12. The second cable holding portion 28 of
the cable junction 20 includes a V-shaped plate 34 and an adjacent
attached L-shaped bracket 36. The V-shaped plate 34 is attached to
the chassis 24 by fasteners 38, such as bolts, and is apertured to
contain a bearing 40 that surrounds the connecting rod 12 at a
first bearing point. The L-shaped bracket 36 contains notches 42
for supporting brake cable end fittings 44 through which the
plurality of brake cables 21 pass. A spring 46 having a first end
48 and a second end 50 is connected at its first end 48 to the
first cable holding portion 26 and at its second end 50 to the
second cable holding portion 28. As illustrated in FIG. 6, second
ends 52 of the plurality of brake cables 21 are operatively
attached to a plurality of brakes 54. In a preferred embodiment,
the brakes 54 are attached to wheels such as casters 56.
[0032] As illustrated in FIGS. 7 and 8, the activation subassembly
22 includes a plate 58, a cam 60, a flipper 64 having a
discontinuous track 66 and ramp 68. The plate 58 is fixed to the
chassis 24 by fasteners 70, such as bolts, and apertured to contain
a bearing 72 that surrounds the connecting rod 12 at a second
bearing point. The plate 58 further includes a guide rod 74, a
spring connection rod 76, and a spring 77 biased rod 78. The guide
rod 74 protrudes from a center of the plate 58 towards the center
of the brake activation mechanism 10. The spring connection rod 76
protrudes from an upper portion of the plate 58 away from the
center of the mechanism 10. The spring 77 biased rod 78 protrudes
from the plate 58 toward the center of the mechanism 10.
[0033] Referring to FIG. 7, the cam 60 includes a tab 80 at its
lower end, a pin 82 at its upper end, and a guide track 84
proximate its center. The tab 80 is apertured to allow fasteners
86, such as bolts, to pass there through and fix the cam 60 to the
connecting rod 12. The pin 82 protrudes from the cam 60 towards the
center of the mechanism 10. The pin 82 travels along a path defined
by the discontinuous track 66 of the flipper 64. The guide track 84
houses the guide rod 74 that is fixed to the plate 58. The guide
rod 74 moves in the guide track 84 to maintain the position of the
cam 60 relative to the plate 58.
[0034] Still referring to FIG. 7, the flipper 64 includes an upper
portion 88 and a lower portion 90. The lower portion 90 of the
flipper 64 is positioned at the upper end of the cam 60 on the side
of the cam that is closest to the center of the mechanism 10. The
lower portion 90 includes the discontinuous track 66, the ramp 68,
and an aperture. The spring 77 biased rod 78 protruding from the
plate 58 passes through the aperture to loosely and pivotably
connect the flipper 64 to the plate. The discontinuous track 66 is
a complete and closed loop including two types of track, namely an
open slot portion 92 and a surface path portion 94. The open slot
portion 92 of the discontinuous track 66 includes a home position
96 and bends which define a first temporary stop position 98, an
engaged position 100 and a second temporary stop position 102. The
home position 96, first temporary stop position 98, engaged
position 100 and secondary temporary stop position 102 function as
stop points for the pin 82. The home position 96 is located at one
end of the open slot portion 92 of the discontinuous track 66 and
the ramp 68 is located at an opposite end of the open slot portion.
The ramp 68 operates to transition the pin 82 from the open slot
portion 92 to the surface path portion 94 of the discontinuous
track 66. The surface path portion 94 is defined by a route
connecting the ramp 68 and home position 96 in the open slot
portion 92. The surface path portion 94 is located on a planar
surface of the lower portion 90 of the flipper 64 which faces the
plate 58. The upper portion 88 of the flipper 64 is positioned over
the cam 60 and the plate 58, away from the center of the mechanism
10. As best illustrated in FIG. 8, a spring 104 connects the plate
58 spring connection rod 76 to the flipper 64 upper portion 88. In
particular, a first end 106 of spring 104 engages the spring
connection rod 76 and a second end 108 engages the upper portion
88.
[0035] When the brake activation mechanism 10 is deactivated, the
chassis 24 is movable and the at least one pedal 18 is parallel
with the floor. The first and second cable holding parts 26, 28 of
the cable junction 20 are perpendicular to the floor and parallel
to each other as illustrated in FIG. 4. Referring to FIG. 9, the
pin 82 is in the home position 92 in the discontinuous track 66 of
the flipper 64.
[0036] To activate the brake activation mechanism 10, a user
depresses a pedal 18. The pedal 18 rotates downward relative to the
connecting rod 12 forming an acute angle with the floor. Where
there is a pedal 18 located on opposite sides of the chassis, the
user only needs to push one of the pedals which causes both pedals
to rotate downward. For clarity, activation and deactivation of the
brake activation mechanism are described in terms of one pedal, but
it is to be understood that the mechanism may include two pedals.
Because the pedal 18 is fixed to the connecting rod 12, the
connecting rod also rotates. As the connecting rod 12 rotates, the
cam 60 which is fixed to the connecting rod, also rotates. As
illustrated in FIGS. 9-14, rotation of the cam 60 causes the pin 82
to move along the discontinuous track 66 of the flipper 64. First,
the user steps on the pedal 18, which moves the pin 82 from the
home position 96 (FIG. 9) to a first temporary stop position 98
(FIG. 10) in the open slot portion 92 of the discontinuous track
66, thereby stretching the spring 104 between the flipper 64 and
the plate 58. The stretch of the spring 104 and movement of the
spring over the plate 58 provides audible feedback to the user to
signal that the brake activation mechanism 10 will engage.
Concomitantly, the first cable holding portion 26 of the cable
junction 20, which is fixed to the connecting rod 12, also rotates
with the pedal 18 and connecting rod. The first cable holding
portion 26 rotates away from the second cable holding portion 28 of
the cable junction 20, thereby creating an obtuse angle between the
lower ends of the first and second cable holding portions. When the
user then removes his or her foot from the pedal 18, the pedal
slightly rotates back up away from the floor, but still maintains a
rotated position relative to the floor. As the pedal 18 rotates
slightly back, the connecting rod 12 also rotates slightly, which
causes the pin 82 on the cam 60 to snap up from the first temporary
stop position 98 (FIG. 10) to the engaged position 100 (FIG. 11).
The first cable holding portion 26 of the cable junction 20 remains
angled away from the second cable holding portion 28, thereby
forming an obtuse angle between the lower ends of the first and
second cable holding portions and holding tension in the plurality
of braking cables 21. Tension in the plurality of braking cables 21
causes the brakes 54 to be activated and lock the caster wheels 56.
The rotated position of the at least one pedal 18 is a visible
indication to the user that the brakes 54 are engaged and the
caster wheels 56 are locked. In one embodiment, three caster wheels
56 are equipped with brakes 54 to prevent any movement of the
chassis 24 when the brakes are engaged.
[0037] To deactivate the brake activation mechanism 10, the user
again steps downward on pedal 18. This downward motion rotates the
cam 60 with the connecting rod 12 causing the pin 82 to move out of
the engaged position 100 (FIG. 11) in the open slot portion 92 of
the discontinuous track 66 and to a second temporary stop position
102 (FIG. 12). Movement of the pin 82 on the cam 60 to the second
temporary stop position 102 stretches the spring 104 between the
flipper 64 and the plate 58, which again provides audible feedback
to the user to signal the deactivation of the brake activation
mechanism 10. When the user removes their foot from the pedal 18,
the pedal 18 rotates up away from the floor which causes the
connecting rod 12 to rotate, thereby rotating the cam 60. The
rotating cam 60 moves the pin 82 through the open slot portion 92
of the discontinuous track 66 toward the ramp 68. Referring to FIG.
13A, when the pin 82 contacts the ramp 68, the ramp forces the
flipper 64 to translate on the spring 77 biased rod 78 away from
the pin 82, cam 60, and plate 58. The pin 82 travels up the ramp
68, behind the flipper and onto the surface path portion 94 of the
discontinuous track 66 (FIG. 13), and returns to the home position
96 (FIG. 14). As soon as the pin 82 reaches the home position 96,
the spring 77 between the flipper 64 and the plate 58 forces the
flipper back into alignment with the pin in its home position
(FIGS. 14 and 14A). The first cable holding portion 26 of the cable
junction 20 also returns to its deactivated position of being
perpendicular to the floor releasing tension in the plurality of
braking cables 21. Release of the tension in the plurality of
braking cables 21 causes the brakes 54 to be deactivated and unlock
the caster wheels 56. The unrotated position of the at least one
pedal 18 is a visible indication to the user that the brakes 54 are
disengaged and the caster wheels 56 are unlocked.
[0038] As described in detail above, the flipper 64 is adapted to
include three degrees of motion which facilitates movement of the
pin 82 along the discontinuous track 66. As illustrated in FIGS.
9-12, the flipper 64 moves in an X-Y direction parallel to plate 58
as the pin 82 travels along the open slot portion 92 of the
discontinuous track 66. As illustrated in FIGS. 13 and 13A, when
the pin 82 contacts the ramp 68 and travels along the surface path
portion 94 of the discontinuous track 66, the flipper 64
additionally translates in a Z-direction away from plate 58.
Movement in the Z-direction is limited by upper portion 88 of the
flipper 64 coming into contact with plate 58. Referring to FIGS. 14
and 14A, when the pin 82 reaches home position 96, the flipper 64
again translates in a Z-direction toward the plate 58.
* * * * *