The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Mar. 12, 2002
Filed:
May. 09, 2000
Michael V. Bolden, Charleston, SC (US);
Vincent L. Babson, Goose Creek, SC (US);
Daniel A. Denson, Summerville, SC (US);
Hill-Rom, Inc., Batesville, IN (US);
Abstract
A castor locking apparatus for a castor assembly rotatably mounted to the frame member of a fluidized bed by a support that includes a notched portion. The locking apparatus includes a housing coupled to the castor with the housing including an interior region with a top opening located adjacent to the notched portion of the frame and first and second notched portions spaced apart from the top opening. Each of the first and second notched portions of the housing are spaced from the opening a distance corresponding to each notched portion, with the second notched portion being closer to the housing opening than the first notched portion. A spring loaded locking pin is located within the housing and is biased upwardly by the spring such that the pin engages the notched portion of the frame to prevent rotation of the castor assembly relative to the frame. A stop is coupled to the pin, the stop and pin can be moved from a first position in which the stop is located within the first notched portion of the housing to compress the spring and the pin is removed from the notched portion of the frame to permit rotation of the castor assembly relative to the frame, and a second position in which the stop is located within the second notched portion of the housing to permit the spring to bias the pin upwardly to engage the notched portion of the frame and lock the castor relative to the frame member.