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.

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.

A caster for equipment, furniture and medical equipment, the caster including a support arm that includes a base portion and a top portion and receives an attachment bolt wherein the base portion supports a wheel axle that supports at least one wheel; a direction fixing device; and a movable blocking element configured to lock the direction fixing device, wherein the moveable blocking element is in direct or indirect friction contact with the wheel so that a friction force that is caused by the friction contact causes a locking of the direction fixing device and a direction fixing of the caster in a first direction when the caster moves in the first direction.

The present invention relates to a castor wheel structure, comprising a wheel part (18) and a castor wheel house (28), on which a transition element can be mounted, such as a spindle structure (1) or a flange structure (2), which again can be mounted on equipment that is to be made mobile, which wheel part (18) is unilaterally suspended and arranged about a substantially horizontal shaft on the castor wheel house (28).

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 includes a running wheel, a fork and an assembly journal, wherein the fork is pivotable in relation to the assembly journal and a braking device is arranged in the fork and can be displaced into the braking position via a tappet actuated by a trip cam. A direction lock can be set without a braking action on the running wheel. Two tappets are movable independently of each other, wherein only the direction lock without a braking action can be set via one of the tappets. Another caster includes a running wheel, a fork and an assembly journal, wherein a braking device is provided in the fork and can be displaced into the braking position via a trip cam. The braking device has a first braking part for friction-locking action on the running wheel and a second braking part for the interlocking lock of the running wheel.

A formfitting securing device for a roller has a rotation blocking engagement part which is biased into an engagement position by means of a first spring. The first spring exerts a bias onto the rotation-blocking engagement part both in the engaged position as well as in the nonengaged position, and a bias is achieved in the non-engaged position by acting on the rotation-blocking engagement part by means of a second spring.

A tipping prevention unit that prevents tipping of an image forming apparatus includes shafts holding a wheel of the image forming apparatus, a shaft that abuts the image forming apparatus at a position higher than the shafts, and a shaft that contacts a floor surface on which the image forming apparatus is placed at a position further protruding to the outside of the image forming apparatus than the wheel of the image forming apparatus.

A system comprising a movable device including front wheels and rear wheels configured to swivel and roll, a braking system configured to lock the front wheels and the rear wheels to keep the front wheels and the rear wheels from rolling, a directionally locking system configured to keep the rear wheels from swiveling, first and second rear pedals configured to control the front and rear wheels to be in one of a locked state, a directionally locked state, or a released state, and first and second front pedals configured to control the front and rear wheels to be in one of a locked state or a released state.

A formfitting securing device for a roller has a rotation blocking engagement part which is biased into an engagement position by means of a first spring. The first spring exerts a bias onto the rotation-blocking engagement part both in the engaged position as well as in the nonengaged position, and a bias is achieved in the non-engaged position by acting on the rotation-blocking engagement part by means of a second spring.