# US 10,864,773 B2 · Castor suspension system > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,864,773 B2 - Document ID: US10864773B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/456,801 - Filed: 2019-06-28 - Published: 2020-01-16 - Granted: 2020-12-15 - Earliest claimed: 2018-07-10 - Assignees: Trumpf Medizin Systeme GmbH + Co. KG - Applicants: Trumpf Medizin Systeme GmbH + Co. KG - Inventors: Alexander Trempert - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10864773B2 ## CPC - A61G 13/10: Parts, details or accessories (surgical drape sheets A61B46/00) - B60B 33/045: {mounted resiliently, by means of dampers} - A61G 13/104: {Adaptations for table mobility, e.g. arrangement of wheels} - A61G 1/042: {Suspension means} - A61G 7/0528: {Steering or braking devices for castor wheels} - B60B 2200/20: Furniture or medical appliances - B60B 2200/242: Hospital beds - B60B 2900/113: Production or maintenance time - B60B 2900/114: Size - B60B 2900/115: Complexity - A61G: TRANSPORT, PERSONAL CONVEYANCES OR ACCOMMODATION SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR PATIENTS OR DISABLED PERSONS (appliances for aiding patients or disabled persons to walk A61H3/00); OPERATING TABLES OR CHAIRS; CHAIRS FOR DENTISTRY; FUNERAL DEVICES (embalming corpses A01N1/00) - B60B: VEHICLE WHEELS (making wheels or wheel parts by rolling B21H1/00, by forging, hammering or pressing B21K1/28); CASTORS; AXLES FOR WHEELS OR CASTORS; INCREASING WHEEL ADHESION ## Abstract A castor suspension system for suspending a first castor at a patient support device is provided. The castor suspension system comprises a pivoting suspension link pivotably attachable to the patient support device, and a springy element comprising a leaf spring made of a band deformed such that the band makes at least one U-turn so that the band has a first leg and at least one second leg. One of the first leg and the at least one second leg is provided with a first support portion supported on the pivoting suspension link, and the other of the first leg and the at least one second leg is provided with a second support portion for supporting the springy element with respect to the patient support device such that the springy element is configured to provide a pre-stress force to the pivoting suspension link. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A castor suspension system for suspending a first castor at a patient support device, the castor suspension system comprising a pivoting suspension link pivotably attachable to the patient support device, and a springy element comprising a leaf spring made of a band deformed such that the band makes at least one U-turn so that the band has a first leg and at least one second leg, wherein one of the first leg and the at least one second leg is provided with a first support portion supported against and in contact with the pivoting suspension link such that the first support portion is disposed above the first castor, and the other of the first leg and the at least one second leg is provided with a second support portion for supporting the springy element with respect to the patient support device such that the springy element is configured to provide a pre-stress force to the pivoting suspension link. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The castor suspension system of claim 1, wherein the band is made of a spring band steel. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The castor suspension system of claim 2, wherein the springy element comprises two U-turns such that it comprises two second legs. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The castor suspension system of claim 3, wherein the springy element has a shape of an open-loop. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) The castor suspension system of claim 3, wherein the two second legs are joined to one another so that the springy element has a shape of a closed loop. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The castor suspension system of claim 1, wherein the springy element comprises two U-turns such that it comprises two second legs, and wherein the two second legs extend toward each other. ### Claim 7 A patient support device comprising: a castor suspension system including a pivoting suspension link pivotably attachable to the patient support device, and a springy element comprising a leaf spring made of a band deformed such that the band makes at least one U-turn so that the band has a first leg and at least one second leg, wherein one of the first leg and the at least one second leg is provided with a first support portion supported against the pivoting suspension link, and the other of the first leg and the at least one second leg is provided with a second support portion for supporting the springy element with respect to the patient support device such that the springy element is configured to provide a pre-stress force to the pivoting suspension link, and a first castor suspended by the castor suspension system, wherein the band is made of a spring band steel, wherein the springy element comprises two U-turns such that it comprises two second legs, and wherein the two second legs are joined to one another so that the springy element has a shape of a closed loop. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The patient support device of claim 7, wherein the castor suspension system is provided with a drive for rotatably driving the first castor. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The patient support device of claim 8, wherein the patient support device comprises further castors respectively located in an edge area of the patient support device, wherein lowest points of treads of the further castors form a plane, and the first castor is located in a central bottom area of the patient support device. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The patient support device of claim 9, wherein, the castor suspension system is configured to pivot the first castor such that a lowest point of the first castor can be moved to at least 10 mm below the plane, and to pre-stress the pivoting suspension link by the springy element in this position of the first castor. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The patient support device of claim 9, wherein the castor suspension system is configured to pivot the first castor such that a lowest point of the first castor can be moved to at least 18 mm above the plane, and to pre-stress the pivoting suspension link by the springy element in this position of the first castor. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The patient support device of claim 11, wherein the castor suspension system is configured to provide the pre-stress force to the first castor such that a contact force to a floor is about 400 N when the pivoting suspension link is deflected such that the lowest point of the tread of the first castor is located on the plane. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The patient support device of claim 12, wherein the downwardly-directed pre-stress force to the first castor is maximally 1300 N when the pivoting suspension link is maximally deflected above the plane. ### Claim 14 (depends on 9) The patient support device of claim 9, wherein the castor suspension system is configured to provide the pre-stress force to the first castor such that a contact force to a floor is about 400 N when the pivoting suspension link is deflected such that the lowest point of the tread of the first castor is located on the plane. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The patient support device of claim 14, wherein the downwardly-directed pre-stress force to the first castor is maximally 1300 N when the pivoting suspension link is maximally deflected above the plane. ### Claim 16 (depends on 9) The patient support device of claim 9, wherein the downwardly-directed pre-stress force to the first castor is maximally 1300 N when the pivoting suspension link is maximally deflected above the plane. ### Claim 17 A patient support device comprising: a castor suspension system including a pivoting suspension link pivotably attachable to the patient support device, and a springy element comprising a leaf spring made of a band deformed such that the band makes at least one U-turn so that the band has a first leg and at least one second leg, wherein one of the first leg and the at least one second leg is provided with a first support portion supported against the pivoting suspension link, and the other of the first leg and the at least one second leg is provided with a second support portion for supporting the springy element with respect to the patient support device such that the springy element is configured to provide a pre-stress force to the pivoting suspension link, and a first castor suspended by the castor suspension system, wherein the springy element comprises two U-turns such that it comprises two second legs, and wherein a lower end of each of the two U-turns is connected to each other via the first support portion. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The castor suspension system of claim 17, wherein a width of the springy element defined along a longitudinal direction of the springy element is larger than a height of the springy element defined along the longitudinal direction. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The castor suspension system of claim 18, wherein the springy element is coupled to the pivoting suspension link on a top side of the pivoting suspension link opposite a pivot axis of the pivoting suspension link. ### Claim 20 (depends on 17) The castor suspension system of claim 17, wherein an upper end of each of the two U-turns is connected to the patient support device.