A laundry treatment apparatus including a plurality of swivel casters. Two of the swivel casters are braked swivel casters. One of the swivel casters other than the braked swivel casters is a vertically adjustable swivel caster. The braked swivel casters restrain translational movement of the laundry treatment apparatus across a floor. The vertically adjustable swivel caster can help fix the position of the laundry treatment apparatus so as to restrain rocking and twisting of the laundry treatment apparatus.

A lift mechanism for a wheel assembly includes a lever arm having a first axis of rotation, and a first torque transfer plate having a second axis of rotation coincident with the first axis of rotation. A lift block is engageable by the first torque transfer plate and has a first angularly disposed surface and a resting surface adjacent to the first angularly disposed surface. The lift mechanism is configured such that rotation of the lever arm causes the first torque transfer plate to rotate into engagement with the lift block, thereby causing linear motion of the lift block. The wheel assembly is raised and lowered by contact between a portion of the wheel assembly and the first angularly disposed surface of the lift block and held in a raised position when the portion of the wheel assembly is positioned with respect to the resting surface.

An article of furniture has retractable and extendable wheels secured beneath each leg. The mechanism for retraction and extension is accomplished by an activation means in mechanical communication with each wheel.

An example article of furniture includes a number of furniture legs having mechanically coupled thereto a respective furniture caster having a rolling component. The furniture casters are movable between (i) an extended position in which their rolling components at least partially extend below bottom surfaces of the furniture legs and (ii) a retracted position in which their rolling components are positioned entirely above the bottom surfaces of the furniture legs. Push-pull cables are mechanically coupled to the furniture casters, and at least one actuator is mechanically coupled to the push-pull cables. When actuated, the actuator applies a pushing force to the push-pull cables, thereby causing the furniture casters to transition from the retracted position to the extended position. When the actuator is not actuated, the pushing force is removed from the push-pull cables, thereby causing the furniture casters to transition from the extended position to the retracted position.

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.

An example article of furniture includes a number of furniture legs having mechanically coupled thereto a respective furniture caster having a rolling component. The furniture casters are movable between (i) an extended position in which their rolling components at least partially extend below bottom surfaces of the furniture legs and (ii) a retracted position in which their rolling components are positioned entirely above the bottom surfaces of the furniture legs. Push-pull cables are mechanically coupled to the furniture casters, and at least one actuator is mechanically coupled to the push-pull cables. When actuated, the actuator applies a pushing force to the push-pull cables, thereby causing the furniture casters to transition from the retracted position to the extended position. When the actuator is not actuated, the pushing force is removed from the push-pull cables, thereby causing the furniture casters to transition from the extended position to the retracted position.

A stabilizing device for a piece of furniture including a housing with a piston opening, and a piston element mounted movably within the housing and moveable at least partly out of the piston opening for engagement with a supporting surface. The stabilizing device further includes an actuator, including a motor, connected to the piston element for actuating a movement of the piston. A control unit connected to the actuator for control of the actuation of the piston element, and at least one first sensor capable of measuring the load on the motor. The at least one first sensor device is connected to the control unit such that the movement of the piston element can be controlled based on input from the first sensor.

A telescoping wheel assembly includes a base body, a wheel set and an elastic member. The base body includes a receiving groove. The wheel set is connected to the receiving groove and selectively positioned at an outward position or an inward position relative to the receiving groove. The wheel set includes a wheel axle and a wheel body. The wheel body is connected to an outside of the wheel axle. The elastic member is disposed in the receiving groove and abutted against the base body and the wheel set. When the wheel set is positioned at the outward position, the elastic member provides a buffering elastic force to the wheel set. When the wheel set is positioned at the inward position, the elastic member provides a pushing elastic force to the wheel set.

Several solutions are described for making it easier to move a surgical robotics patient table, either from rest or to turn it. The table has a base, a support, and a table top on which the patient is supported. A number of casters are mounted to a body of the base. In one case, controllable jacks lift the body to release the casters thereby allowing them to swivel to a desired orientation. In another case, a drive assembly is rotatably coupled to the body of the base and includes an electric drive motor and a drive wheel to drive the table across the floor. Other aspects are also described and claimed.

A vertically adjustable support or table with legs each having a pneumatic foot assembly operated to engage roller ball assemblies on the floor surface thereby allowing the table to be rolled. Each pneumatic foot assembly has a piston unit which is operated by pressurized air from a source, which is controlled by a valve on the table, and which is fluidically connected to a piston chamber of the pneumatic foot assembly. Once the table has been rolled across the floor and is in a desired location, the control valve is operated to release the air from the piston chamber and to rest a circular rim of the pneumatic foot assembly, and therefore, the legs of the table firmly against the floor surface for a stationary or fixed positioning of the table.