# US 11,439,549 B2 · Castor base with load sensor

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- Number: US 11,439,549 B2
- Document ID: US11439549B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 16/741,182
- Filed: 2020-01-13
- Published: 2020-06-04
- Granted: 2022-09-13
- Earliest claimed: 2016-03-28
- Assignees: NOA Medical Industries, Inc.
- Applicants: NOA Medical Industries, Inc.
- Inventors: Craig P. Kubiak; Ron Hartge
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11439549B2

## CPC

- A61G 7/0527: {Weighing devices}
- A61G 7/0528: {Steering or braking devices for castor wheels}
- A61G 7/005: tiltable around transverse horizontal axis, e.g. for Trendelenburg position {(rocking beds for physical therapy A61H1/003; hanging patient inclined downwardly for drawing him out A61H2203/0493)}
- A61G 7/012: raising or lowering of the whole mattress frame (A61G7/005, A61G7/008 take precedence)
- A61G 7/0524: {characterised by integrated accessories, e.g. bed control means, nurse call or reading lights}
- G01G 19/445: {in a horizontal position}
- A61G 2203/12: Remote controls
- A61G 2203/20: Displays or monitors
- A61G 2203/32: for force
- A61G 2203/44: for weight
- 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)
- G01G: WEIGHING (sorting by weighing B07C5/16)

## Abstract

Systems and methods for a load sensing system that determines a mass on a bed. The systems generally are in the form of a castor base, particularly one that can be used as part of an adjustable hospital bed. The load sensing system serves to determine the mass of any object or objects (typically a human or animal patient) which is placed on the bed by having the mass create a force on lever arms of a plurality of load cells in the castor base. The load sensing systems are designed to work without hindering the adjustable functionality of the bed and can accurately determine mass (weight) at any position of the bed, and potentially even while the bed is adjusting between positions.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A castor base for detecting load, the castor base comprising:
at least two auxiliary beams, each auxiliary beam supporting at least one castor;
a load cell mounted to each of said auxiliary beams via a main housing and having a lever arm extending therefrom, wherein a force applied to said lever arm in a direction generally perpendicular to a direction said lever arm extends from said main housing is detected by said load cell;
a bushing positioned on each of said lever arms to rotate about said lever arm without rotating said lever arm it is positioned on; and
an axle connected to said bushing so that said axle can rotate relative to said castor base without rotating said lever arms.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The base of claim 1 further comprising a main beam interconnecting said auxiliary beams.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The base of claim 2 wherein said main beam is of generally “L” shape having two generally perpendicular arms and said axle rotates within said space defined by said two arms.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The base of claim 1 wherein each of said auxiliary beams includes two castors, each of said two castors being arranged toward an opposing end of said auxiliary beam.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The base of claim 1 wherein wiring from each said load cell extends into said axle.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The base of claim 1 wherein said bushings and said lever arms are positioned inside said axle.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The base of claim 1 wherein at least one of said lever arms is of generally cylindrical shape.