A stretcher, which comprises: a support frame for supporting a patient; a pair of front legs rotatably coupled to the support frame around a first rotation axis, wherein each front leg supports a front wheel holder frame hinged to the respective front leg around a first oscillation axis parallel to the first rotation axis and supporting a front wheel resting on a rest plane, wherein the front wheel pivots around a respective first pivot axis orthogonal to the first oscillation axis; a pair of rear legs rotatably coupled to the support frame around a second rotation axis, wherein each rear leg supports a rear wheel holder frame hinged to the respective rear leg around a second oscillation axis parallel to the second rotation axis and supporting a rear wheel resting on a rest plane, wherein the front wheel pivots around a respective second pivot axis orthogonal to the second oscillation axis; a handling arrangement for the front wheel holder frame and the rear wheel holder frame; a control module configured to keep the first pivot axis and the second pivot axis always orthogonal to the rest plane on which the front and rear wheels roll.

The present invention relates to the field of lifting mechanisms for beds, and beds incorporating such lifting mechanisms. A lifting mechanism for a bed comprises a leg connecting a foot assembly to a frame for supporting a mattress, the frame defining a support plane; and a linkage mechanism connected between the frame and the leg and configured to allow the frame to move with respect to the foot assembly in a direction perpendicular to the support plane between a raised position and a lowered position. In the lowered position the leg extends parallel to the support plane, and during movement of the frame between the raised and lowered positions the foot assembly does not move in a direction parallel to the support plane.

The present invention relates to the field of lifting mechanisms for beds, and beds incorporating such lifting mechanisms. A lifting mechanism for a bed comprises a leg connecting a foot to a frame for supporting a mattress, the frame defining a support plane; an actuator; a drive linkage mechanism comprising a drive input link pivotally connected to the frame about a first pivot axis and a drive output link pivotally connected to the frame about a second pivot axis; and a leg linkage mechanism comprising a leg input link and a leg output link, the leg input link being pivotally connected to the frame about the second pivot axis and being coupled to the drive output link, and the leg output link being pivotally connected to the frame about a third pivot axis, and wherein a length of the leg input link is shorter than a length of the drive output link.

According to one embodiment, a roll-in cot may include a support frame, a pair of front legs, a pair of back legs, and a cot actuation system. The pair of front legs may be slidingly coupled to the support frame. Each front leg includes at least one front wheel. The pair of back legs may be slidingly coupled to the support frame. Each back leg includes at least one back wheel. The cot actuation system includes a front actuator that moves the front legs and a back actuator that moves the back legs. The front actuator and the back actuator raises or lowers the support frame in tandem. The front actuator raises or lowers the front end of the support frame independently of the back actuator. The back actuator raises or lowers the back end of the support frame independently of the front actuator.

An ambulance stretcher, which comprises: a support frame for supporting a patient; a pair of front legs, each having a front wheel; a pair of rear legs, each having a rear wheel; a front coupling body connected to a front end of the support frame; characterized in that the coupling body comprises a spherical or hemispherical coupling head arranged on a vertical longitudinal median plane of the support frame.

An ambulance stretcher, which comprises: a support frame for supporting a patient; a pair of front legs, each having a front wheel; a pair of rear legs, each having a rear wheel; an actuation arrangement provided with a front actuator, which moves the pair of front legs and a rear actuator, which moves the pair of rear legs; and a front coupling body connected to a front end of the support frame; a control unit of the coupling body provided at least a first sensor connected to the coupling body and configured to detect a correct positioning of the coupling body in a respective support coupling of an automatic loading/unloading apparatus of an ambulance, and at least a second sensor connected to the coupling body configured to detect a load bearing on the coupling body; at least one release arrangement arranged at the front end of the support frame and configured to operate a release between the coupling body and the support coupling; and an electronic control unit operatively connected to the actuation arrangement, to the release arrangement and to the control unit and configured to actuate one between the actuation arrangement and the release arrangement as a function of a signal received from at least one between the first sensor and the second sensor of the control unit.

A device for moving a load is provided. The device includes a platform defining a surface and an edge extending downward therefrom. The device further includes two pairs of opposing legs each defining a top portion pivotally engaged with the platform interior of the edge, wherein each pair of legs has an extended position where each leg extends away from the edge. Each pair of legs further includes a collapsed position where the top portion of each leg extends substantially parallel and interior to the edge, a middle portion of each leg extends through a corresponding slot defined by the edge, and a bottom portion of each leg extends substantially parallel and exterior to the edge.

A powered ambulance cot and methods of raising and lowering the cot as well as loading and unloading the cot are disclosed. The cot includes a support frame and legs, each leg having a wheel. An actuator of an actuation system interconnects the frame and legs, and is configured to effect changes in elevation of the frame relative to the wheel of each of the legs. A control system controls activation of the actuation system, and detects both the actuator at a first location relative to the frame, where the first location is remote from a second location and which situates an end of the actuator that is remote from each wheel closer to the frame, and a presence of a signal requesting a change in elevation of said support frame to thereby cause the legs to move relative to the support frame.

Roll-in cots having lift assist mechanisms and lift assist mechanisms are disclosed. According to one embodiment, a lift assist mechanism includes a force application member having an actuation element, an actuation mechanism comprising a first grasp handle and a second grasp handle, and a force transmission assembly. The force transmission assembly includes a first keyway plate that is coupled to the first grasp handle, a second keyway plate that is coupled to the second grasp handle, and an actuation pin that extends through both the first keyway plate and the second keyway plate, where the actuation pin selectively applies a force to the actuation element of the force application member.

A patient support apparatus for patients. The patient support apparatus comprises a base and a litter supported by the base. The patient support apparatus also comprises powered devices that perform one or more predetermined functions on the patient support apparatus. A user interface is employed to control the powered devices. The user interface is designed to enable caregivers to cause operation of the powered devices with fewer buttons, while retaining functionality in using powered devices.