A new and improved anatomical imaging system which includes a new and improved movement system, wherein the movement system comprises an omnidirectional powered drive unit and wherein the movement system can substantially eliminate lateral walk (or drift) over the complete stroke of a scan, even when the floor includes substantial irregularities, whereby to improve the accuracy of the scan results and avoid unintentional engagement of the anatomical imaging system with the bed or gurney which is supporting the patient. The present invention also comprises the provision and use of Liddiard wheels.

A caster apparatus is provided. In one embodiment, there is provided a caster apparatus including a caster wheel and a first driving wheel disposed on a first side of the caster wheel. The first driving wheel is configured to be driven by a first motor. A second driving wheel is disposed on a second side opposite to the first side of the caster wheel. The second driving wheel is configured to be driven by a second motor different from the first motor. A first actuator is configured to move the first driving wheel in a vertical direction to a ground according to a curvature of the ground. A second actuator is configured to move the second driving wheel in a vertical direction to the ground according to a curvature of the ground, wherein the first and second driving wheels are configured to steer the caster wheel.

A bed frame and cover that is capably joinable to another bed frame and cover and capably disjoinable from another bed frame and cover and of which comprises a mattress supporting plate which is capable of moving vertically within the cover. The cover is a unified structure of walls and a roof with pivotally connected doors that capably form an enclosure around the plate or of which are stowable on the roof. The entire cover is capable of 360 degree bi-directional rotation around the entire plate as well as vertical movement. A capably pivotable mattress attachment is stowable under the plate or extends to form a contiguous mattress surface of which is supported by rods that connect to another bed frame and cover. The bed frame and cover is capable of a multitude of configurations dependent on bed frame, mattress attachment and the cover's optional positioning.

A wheel for a non-motorized vehicle (e.g., a shopping cart) can include a housing assembly and a tread assembly. The housing assembly can be configured to sealingly house electronics or other components. The tread assembly can removably mate with the housing assembly such that the electronics or other components remain closed and/or sealed within the housing assembly when the tread assembly is mated or unmated with the housing assembly.

A transportation device includes a motor, a transmission assembly, a position limiting assembly, two linkage assemblies, and two wheels. The transmission assembly is linked to the motor. The position limiting assembly includes two position limiting board portions disposed in parallel and adjacent to each other. The two linkage assemblies partially extend into a space between the two position limiting board portions and are pivoted to the two position limiting board portions, respectively. The two linkage assemblies are limited by the two position limiting board portions in a first axis. The two wheels are disposed in tandem along a second axis, respectively linked to the transmission assembly, and pivoted to the two linkage assemblies. The two wheels are driven by the motor respectively through the transmission assembly and are limited by the two linkage assemblies in the first axis. A transportation system including the transportation device is also provided.

[Problem]

Related to a caster structure in which a sign groove for indicating a tire replacement timing of a caster including a wheel braked by a brake shoe is provided.

[Solution]

A caster structure in which a mark groove is provided in a tire of a wheel of a caster in which rotation of the wheel is braked by pressing a brake shoe onto the tire, characterized in that the mark groove in which a groove bottom portion is set to a predetermined depth is provided in an outer peripheral surface of the tire annularly along an outer periphery of the tire, and projecting portions for alarm each having an upper surface connecting right and left side walls forming the groove and closing the groove are provided in plural at predetermined intervals along an extending direction of the mark groove at a middle position of the depth between the groove bottom portion and a groove opening portion in the mark groove.

A patient transport apparatus comprises a support structure comprising a base and a patient support surface for supporting a patient and a caster assembly coupled to the base. The caster assembly comprises a wheel assembly. The wheel assembly includes a first edge, a second edge, and a center disposed between the first edge and the second edge. Each of the edges have a lower coefficient of friction than the center. The caster assembly further includes a tilt assembly coupled to the wheel assembly. The tilt assembly is configured to allow the wheel assembly to tilt relative to a floor surface such that at least one of the first and second edges contact the floor surface.

A caster wheel assembly includes a vertical axis brake and barrier-traversing member. The caster shaft housing contains a stator surface adjacent the caster wheel assembly. The barrier-traversing member with barrier contact surface is biasedly fastened to the caster wheel assembly. A brake pad member is attached to the barrier-traversing member opposite the barrier contact surface and adjacent the stator surface. In operation, the moving caster wheel assembly first contacts an obstacle with the barrier contact surface of the barrier-traversing member. The encountered obstacle elevates the barrier-traversing member and attached brake pad member into contact with the stator surface of the caster shaft housing, thereby restraining rotation of the caster wheel assembly. Then, further forward movement of the rotation-restrained caster wheel assembly allows the barrier-traversing member to elevate the caster wheel, transfer load to the caster wheel, and thereby more easily traverse the obstacle.

A wheel mechanism (10) is disclosed as including an outer wheel (12), two inner wheels (36) received in the outer wheel, and two rubber dampers (24) each separating a respective outer wheel and inner wheel, the rubber dampers being deformable between a first configuration in which the entire outer periphery (37) of the inner wheel is in contact with an inner wall (29) of a recess (28) of the rubber damper and a second configuration in which a part of the outer periphery of the inner wheel is out of contact with the inner wall of the recess of the rubber damper.

A universal caster is provided that, with a hand truck, for loading and transporting a heavy substance. The universal caster includes a lower stage turning part A being mounted to an upper stage supporting shaft in the upper stage turning part B, thereby being made turnable with respect to the upper stage turning part; and a universal metal fitting that pivotally supports a wheel, being mounted to a lower stage supporting shaft in the lower stage turning part, thereby being made turnable with respect to the lower stage turning part, the lower stage supporting shaft being disposed in a displaced manner in a horizontal direction from the upper stage supporting shaft, and the wheel being supported by the wheel shaft through one or a plurality of rows of spiral springs.