A caster braking assembly that has a base section, a first caster assembly coupled to the base section and having at least one wheel, a second caster assembly coupled to the base section and having at least one wheel and a brake switch pivotally repositionable between an engaged position and a disengaged position. When the brake switch is in the engaged position at least one wheel of both the first caster assembly and the second caster assembly are substantially restricted from rotating.

The caster wheel support assembly has a first section securable to a frame member of a wheelchair and a second section holding a swivel member coupled to a caster wheel. The caster wheel support assembly has a holding member designed as a collet configured to hold a first portion of the swivel member which extends along a first axis. A second portion of the swivel member, which is coupled to the caster wheel, extends away from the first portion along a second axis which forms an angle relative to the first axis. The first portion of the swivel member is supported by the holding member to selectively allow rotation thereof relative to the holding member about the first axis, causing adjustment of a camber of the caster wheel. The collet is configured to selectively prevent or permit rotation of the swivel member relative to the holding member.

A dolly assembly includes a dolly having an upper surface and a lower surface, and an aperture passing into at least the lower surface, and a ramp having an extension that extends beyond an edge of the ramp, the extension having at least one upward-facing ramp nub that, when positioned in the aperture, the ramp and the dolly are locked together as a unit.

A patient support apparatus comprises a base supported by caster assemblies with each caster assembly comprising a stem, a caster wheel, and a caster wheel axle. A patient support surface is coupled to the base and is configured to receive a load. One or more load sensors are integrated with at least one of the stem, the caster wheel, or the caster wheel axle for measuring the load. One or more of the caster assemblies can be coupled to a steering motor, which controls orientation of the caster assembly. A controller can control the steering motors based on analyzing the measurements of the load sensor. The load sensors can produce measurements indicative of both vertical load and non-vertical load applied to the caster assembly. The controller can also analyze the measurements of the load sensor to determine the load received by the patient support surface by negating the non-vertical load.

A patient support apparatus comprises a base supported by caster assemblies with each caster assembly comprising a stem, a caster wheel, and a caster wheel axle. A patient support surface is coupled to the base and is configured to receive a load. One or more load sensors are integrated with at least one of the stem, the caster wheel, or the caster wheel axle for measuring the load. One or more of the caster assemblies can be coupled to a steering motor, which controls orientation of the caster assembly. A controller can control the steering motors based on analyzing the measurements of the load sensor. The load sensors can produce measurements indicative of both vertical load and non-vertical load applied to the caster assembly. The controller can also analyze the measurements of the load sensor to determine the load received by the patient support surface by negating the non-vertical load.

A caster hub is provided that includes a housing having a wall with internal and external surfaces and an axial bore defined by the wall. First and second bearings are disposed coaxially in the bore of the housing. Each bearing has a cylindrical inner race and a cylindrical outer race, with the races separated by rolling elements, and the races defining interior and exterior radial end faces of the bearings. A seat is disposed in the bore that is connected to the internal surface of the wall between the first and second bearings. The seat is engageable with the outer races of the bearings at the confronting interior end faces of the bearings. An inner spacer is disposed in the bore between the first and second bearings, the inner spacer being engageable with the inner races of the bearings at the confronting interior end faces of the bearings.

A coupling mechanism is provided for coupling a supporting element to a frame, and includes a base member and a C-shaped retainer. The frame includes a frame body and a leg member that has a leg body extending downwardly from the frame body to terminate at an enlarged leg end. The base member defines therein a recess for the enlarged leg end therein. The supporting element is coupled to a lower major surface of the base wall. The C-shaped retainer extends to be disposed about the leg body, and is configured to be detachably coupled to a surrounding wall of the base member for retaining the enlarged leg end in the recess.

Wheels, tires, wheel coverings, foot coverings and method for forming a wheel and/or foot covering that is defined by a body that is shaped to extend along the floor contacting surface under the wheel and/or sole of a foot of a wearer and includes an antimicrobial agent that is incorporated into the body and inseparable therefrom. The antimicrobial agent is selected and supported by the body of the wheel, wheel assembly, wheel covering, and/or foot covering to render microbial matter contacted by the body nonviable.

A conductive caster wheel is adapted to be mounted on a cart The conductive caster wheel includes a caster hub adapted to be sleeved on a bearing of the cart, a wheel body sleeved on the caster hub, and a conductive plate disposed inside the caster hub and the wheel body. The conductive plate has an inner conductive section. and an outer conductive section. The inner conductive section is exposed from an inner surrounding surface of the caster hub, and is adapted to be electrically connected. to the bearing. The outer conductive section is electrically connected to the inner conductive section, is exposed from an outer surrounding surface of the wheel body, and is adapted to be in contact with a ground surface.

A conductive caster wheel is adapted to be mounted on a cart The conductive caster wheel includes a caster hub adapted to be sleeved on a bearing of the cart, a wheel body sleeved on the caster hub, and a conductive plate disposed inside the caster hub and the wheel body. The conductive plate has an inner conductive section. and an outer conductive section. The inner conductive section is exposed from an inner surrounding surface of the caster hub, and is adapted to be electrically connected. to the bearing. The outer conductive section is electrically connected to the inner conductive section, is exposed from an outer surrounding surface of the wheel body, and is adapted to be in contact with a ground surface.