Lockable wheels and subject support lifts including a lockable wheel

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11234879-B2
Application number	US-201916450241-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 24, 2019
Priority date	Jun 29, 2018
Publication date	Feb 1, 2022
Grant date	Feb 1, 2022

Abstract

A subject support lift includes a mast portion, a base portion, and a lockable wheel assembly coupled to the base portion. The lockable wheel assembly includes an axle member, a lockable wheel coupled to the axle member, and a pivot member pivotally coupled to the lockable wheel and defining an axis extending in a vertical direction, where the lockable wheel is rotatable about the axis defined by the pivot member. A locking member is coupled to one of the pivot member or the lockable wheel, the locking member being repositionable between a locked position, in which the locking member engages the other of the pivot member or the lockable wheel, and an unlocked position, in which the locking member is spaced apart from the other of the pivot member or the lockable wheel.

First claim

What is claimed:

1. A subject support lift comprising a mast portion, a base portion, and a lockable wheel assembly coupled to the base portion, the lockable wheel assembly comprising:
an axle member;
a lockable wheel coupled to the axle member and rotatable about an axle axis extending through the axle member;
a pivot member pivotally coupled to the lockable wheel and defining a pivot axis extending in a vertical direction that is transverse to the axle axis, wherein the lockable wheel is rotatable about the pivot axis defined by the pivot member;
a locking member coupled to one of the pivot member or the lockable wheel, the locking member being repositionable between a locked position, in which the locking member engages the other of the pivot member or the lockable wheel, and an unlocked position, in which the locking member is spaced apart from the other of the pivot member or the lockable wheel;
a cable coupled to the locking member; and
a handle coupled to the cable, wherein the handle selectively moves the locking member between the locked position and the unlocked position,
wherein the pivot member comprises a connection portion coupled to the lockable wheel, the connection portion defining a cavity spaced apart from the pivot axis,
wherein the locking member is positioned within the cavity in the locked position, and the locking member is spaced apart from the cavity when the locking member is in the unlocked position.

2. The subject support lift of claim 1 , wherein the lockable wheel assembly further comprises a biasing member engaged with the locking member.

3. A subject support lift comprising:
a mast portion extending upward in a vertical direction; and
a base portion positioned at a bottom end of the mast portion, the base portion comprising:
a lockable leg extending between a front end and a rear end;
a lockable wheel assembly coupled to the lockable leg, the lockable wheel assembly comprising:
a pivot member coupled to the lockable leg;
a lockable wheel pivotally coupled to the lockable leg at the pivot member; and
a locking member repositionable between a locked position and an unlocked position, wherein the lockable wheel is rotatable with respect to the lockable leg about a pivot axis extending through the pivot member in the vertical direction with the locking member in the unlocked position, and the lockable wheel is fixed with respect to the lockable leg about the pivot axis extending through the pivot member with the locking member in the locked position

wherein the pivot member comprises a connection portion coupled to the lockable wheel, the connection portion defining a cavity spaced apart from the pivot axis,
wherein the locking member is positioned within the cavity in the locked position, and the locking member is spaced apart from the cavity when the locking member is in the unlocked position.

4. The subject support lift of claim 3 , wherein the lockable wheel is coupled to the front end of the lockable leg.

5. The subject support lift of claim 3 , further comprising a handle coupled to the mast portion, wherein the locking member of the lockable wheel assembly is coupled to the handle.

6. The subject support lift of claim 5 , further comprising a cable coupled to and extending between the handle and the locking member, wherein the handle is movable between an engaged position, in which the handle moves the locking member into the locked position through the cable, and a disengaged position, in which the locking member is in the unlocked position.

7. The subject support lift of claim 3 , wherein the lockable wheel assembly further comprises a biasing member engaged with the locking member.

8. The subject support lift of claim 7 , wherein the biasing member biases the locking member into the unlocked position.

9. The subject support lift of claim 7 , wherein the biasing member biases the locking member into the locked position.

10. The subject support lift of claim 3 , wherein the lockable wheel assembly further comprises a solenoid that selectively moves the locking member between the locked position and the unlocked position.

11. The subject support lift of claim 3 , wherein the base portion further comprises a pivotable leg positioned opposite the lockable leg and extending between a front end and a rear end positioned opposite the front end in a longitudinal direction that is transverse to the vertical direction, wherein the pivotable leg is repositionable between a retracted position and an extended position, and wherein the front end of the pivotable leg is positioned closer to a subject support lift centerline in the retracted position than the extended position; and
a pivotable wheel coupled to the pivotable leg, the pivotable wheel being rotatable with respect to the pivotable leg about a pivotable wheel axis extending in the vertical direction.

12. A method for supporting a subject with a subject support lift, the method comprising:
moving the subject support lift toward the subject, the subject support lift comprising a mast portion and a base portion, the base portion comprising a lockable leg and a lockable wheel pivotally coupled to the lockable leg, a pivot member comprising a connection portion coupled to the lockable wheel;
moving the lockable leg outward from a subject support lift centerline;
connecting the subject to the subject support lift;
lifting the subject with the subject support lift in a vertical direction;
actuating a locking member to lock the lockable wheel such that the lockable wheel is fixed with respect to the lockable leg about a pivot axis extending in the vertical direction, the connection portion defining a cavity spaced apart from the pivot axis, the locking member positioned within the cavity when in a locked position, and the locking member spaced apart from the cavity when the locking member is in an unlocked position; and
moving the subject connected to the subject support lift in a direction transverse to the vertical direction.

13. The method of claim 12 , further comprising, prior to lifting the subject with the subject support lift, unlocking the lockable wheel such that the lockable wheel is rotatable about the pivot axis.

14. The method of claim 12 , wherein lifting the subject further comprises moving the subject support lift in at least one of a longitudinal direction and a lateral direction that are transverse to the vertical direction to align a center of mass of a sling bar coupled to the mast portion of the subject support lift with a center of mass of the subject.

Assignees

• Liko Res & Dev Ab

Inventors

• Linde Marcus

Classifications

• A61G7/1023

  Slings used manually · CPC title

• B60B33/026 Primary

  being actuated remotely, e.g. by cable or electrically · CPC title

• A61G7/1046 Primary

  Mobile bases, e.g. having wheels · CPC title

• B60B33/0042

  Double or twin wheels · CPC title

• A61G7/1048

  having auxiliary drive means · CPC title