Powered roll-in cots

A roll-in cot configured to lessen a need for an operator to support the roll-in cot for at least a portion of a process of loading the roll-in cot onto or unloading the roll-in cot from a loading surface, the roll-in cot comprising:

• a support frame comprising a back end and a front end, the front end comprising at least one front load wheel coupled thereto;
• a front carriage member and a back carriage member each slidingly coupled to the support frame;
• a pair of back legs pivotably coupled to the back carriage member such that the pair of back legs moves both translationally and rotationally relative to the support frame, wherein each of the pair of back legs comprises a back wheel and corresponding linkage disposed at a back leg distal end;
• a pair of front legs pivotably coupled to the front carriage member such that the pair of front legs moves both translationally and rotationally relative to the support frame, wherein each of the pair of front legs comprises a front wheel and corresponding linkage disposed at a front leg distal end and an intermediate load wheel disposed along a length between the front leg distal end and a front leg proximal end;
• a pair of front hinge members pivotably coupled at one end to the support frame and at an opposing end to the pair of front legs at a point intermediate the front leg proximal end and the front leg distal end;
• a pair of back hinge members pivotably coupled at one end to the support frame and at an opposing end to the pair of back legs at a point intermediate the back leg proximal end and the back leg distal end;
• and
• a cot actuation system, comprising a front actuator and a back actuator, in cooperation with the pair of back legs, the pair of front legs, the pair of back hinge members and the pair of front hinge members to raise and lower the support frame through selective independent movement of the pair of back legs and the pair of front legs relative to one another such that the at least one front load wheel and the intermediate load wheels provide a weight support of the roll-in cot when a center of gravity of the roll-in cot is above the loading surface.