US 11,833,085 B2
Patient transport apparatus with steer lock assembly
Mackenzie Van Loon, Mattawan, MI (US)
Assigned to Stryker Corporation, Kalamazoo, MI (US)
Filed by Stryker Corporation, Kalamazoo, MI (US)
Filed on Apr. 14, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/720,694.
Application 17/720,694 is a continuation of application No. 16/690,232, filed on Nov. 21, 2019, granted, now 11,324,648.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/770,316, filed on Nov. 21, 2018.
Prior Publication US 2022/0233368 A1, Jul. 28, 2022
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. A61G 1/02 (2006.01)
CPC A61G 1/0243 (2013.01) [A61G 1/0287 (2013.01)] 18 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A steer lock system for a patient transport apparatus, the steer lock system comprising:
a support structure;
a caster assembly coupled to the support structure to facilitate movement of the patient transport apparatus along a floor surface, the caster assembly including:
a wheel,
a wheel support coupled to the wheel to support the wheel for rotation about a rotational axis and for rotation about a swivel axis, and
a steer lock assembly movable relative to the wheel support and including a plunger arranged to receive applied force, a locking element coupled to the plunger and movable relative to the plunger, and a locking receiver; and
an actuator operatively coupled to the steer lock assembly to apply the force to the plunger to move the steer lock assembly between:
a steer locked state to limit rotation of the wheel support about the swivel axis with the locking element disposed in engagement with the locking receiver in response to force applied to the plunger, and
a non-steer locked state to permit the wheel support to swivel about the swivel axis with locking element disposed out of engagement with the locking receiver in response to removal of the force applied to the plunger;
wherein the actuator comprises a foot pedal mounted to the support structure and rotatable relative to the support structure in a first rotational direction or a second rotational direction opposite the first rotational direction, the foot pedal comprising a steer lock engaging region that is configured to engage the steer lock assembly in the steer locked state, with the steer lock engaging region disengaged from the steer lock assembly in the non-steer locked state.