A handcart may include a frame; a drive wheel rotatably supported by the frame about a rotation axis extending in a right-left direction; a prime mover configured to rotate the drive wheel; a bracket pivotably supported by the frame about a pivot axis extending in an up-down direction; and a non-drive wheel supported by the bracket about a rotation axis extending in a direction perpendicular to the up-down direction. The non-drive wheel may include a first non-drive wheel and a second non-drive wheel, and the first non-drive wheel and the second non-drive wheel may be configured to be rotatable independent of each other.

A vehicle may include a flutter resistant caster. The vehicle may include a frame, a drive wheel coupled to the frame, a caster housing coupled to the frame, a caster, a locking element, a first bearing, and a biasing element. The caster housing may include an opening. The caster may include a caster wheel and a caster stem extending through the opening in the caster housing. The caster stem may be configured to rotate relative to the caster housing. The locking element may be coupled to the caster stem. The first bearing may be coupled to the caster stem. The biasing element may be coupled to the caster stem. The biasing element may be configured to exert a force on the first bearing.

A castor with a brake pad is disclosed, wherein the fixing sections and the pressing sections of the brake pad press against the two wheel-side portions of the wheel body, so in addition to providing friction, it can also provide clamping function, as a result, the braking effect can be achieved more easily, and the braking force tends to be even. Furthermore, because the fixing sections and the pressing sections of the brake pad press against the two wheel-side portions instead of pressing against the center of the wheel body, so no extra resistance is generated, and there is no excess wear, thereby extending the service life of the wheel body.

A caster wheel brake and anti-swivel system for carts and other wheeled articles is operable to secure free-castering wheels against swiveling rotation about their swivel axes, and against rolling rotation along their horizontal rotation axes. The system includes a swiveling caster wheel assembly and an actuation link, with an anti-swivel actuator and a brake actuator coupled thereto. Linear movement of the actuation link causes the anti-swivel actuator to engage the anti-swivel member that rotates with the caster wheel about the swivel axis, to selectively prevent the anti-swivel member and wheel from swiveling. The actuation link's movement also urges a brake actuator to move a wheel brake and drives a braking surface into engagement with the wheel, thereby preventing the wheel from rolling at the same time it is prevented from swiveling by the pawl. Optionally, a foot-operated torque shaft and a rack-and-pinion arrangement are used to operate the actuation link.

A caster wheel brake system for carts and other wheeled articles is operable to secure caster wheels against rolling rotation along their horizontal rotation axes. The system includes a pivotable parking brake lever, an actuator arm, and a torque shaft extending between the brake lever and actuator arm. The brake lever includes a distal end portion for selectively engaging a caster wheel, a proximal end portion opposite the distal end portion, and a pivot coupling, the latter being pivotably secured to the cart or wheeled article. An actuator arm extends outwardly from a distal end portion of the torque shaft, with the actuator arm slidably engaging the proximal end portion of the brake lever. The torque shaft and the actuator arm are rotatable together to urge the brake lever toward the braking or non-braking position

Disclosed is a fixed and mobile-capable collapsible cart (100) that includes a plurality of wheel extend levers (102a, and 102b); a first engage surface (104); a first control surface (106); a first control carriage (108a); connection cables (110a, and 110b); swivel caster trunnions (112a); a locking dog (114); a locking catch (116); and casters (118, and 120). The wheel extend levers (102a, and 102b) are pulled to facilitate the first engage surface (104) to contact with the first control surface (106) on the first control carriage (108a) when the fixed and mobile capable collapsible cart (100) is in a retracted state. When the wheel extend levers (102a, and 102b) are pulled farther, the first control carriage (108a) rotates and pulls the connection cables (110a) causing the swivel caster trunnions (112a) to rotate towards an extended position. The locking dog (114) snaps over the locking catch (116) present on the end of the first control carriage (108a) when the swivel caster trunnions (112a) are in the extended positions to lock the casters (118) into the extend position. The wheel extend levers (102a, and 102b) are released after snapping of the locking dog (114), over the locking catch (116) and a hand lever torsion spring (201) return to a home position.

A patient transport apparatus is provided for use with a retainer of a transport vehicle. The patient transport apparatus comprises a support structure comprising a patient support surface to support a patient. An engagement member is coupled to the support structure and arranged to engage the retainer when unloading the patient transport apparatus from the transport vehicle. A dampener is operable in a standby state or a resistance state such that the dampener provides increased resistance to movement of the patient transport apparatus in the resistance state as compared to the standby state. The resistance state of the dampener is activated by manually moving the patient transport apparatus in a first direction and the standby state is activated by manually moving the patient transport apparatus in a second direction, opposite the first direction.

The present invention relates to an improvement in caster swivel restriction structure. The present invention is characterized in that a swivel brake plate has a body piece having a plurality of through holes arranged therein and latch pieces bent downward from the body piece, a support base has latch hole portions for fitting the latch pieces in a vertical slidable manner, a gap portion provided at a location corresponding to below the group of through holes formed in the swivel brake plate, and cushioning members or biasing members which are disposed in the gap portion and supports the swivel brake plate aloft and which is repulsively compressed when downward force is applied to the swivel brake plate.

The present invention relates to an improvement in caster swivel restriction structure. The present invention is characterized in that a swivel brake plate has a body piece having a plurality of through holes arranged therein and latch pieces bent downward from the body piece, a support base has latch hole portions for fitting the latch pieces in a vertical slidable manner, a gap portion provided at a location corresponding to below the group of through holes formed in the swivel brake plate, and cushioning members or biasing members which are disposed in the gap portion and supports the swivel brake plate aloft and which is repulsively compressed when downward force is applied to the swivel brake plate.

An actuating mechanism for a caster that brakes and positions the caster by means of a cam mechanism that enables braking of the caster using minimum forces developed on the brake lever or brake rod. The mechanism helps to handle casters of patient support apparatuses in hospital and nursery facilities easily, using minimum force developed by caregivers or by an electronic caster brake systems if used for braking of casters of patient support apparatuses, as well. The mechanism may produce an outstanding decrease of noise level of castors on patient support apparatuses.