Directional lock

A directional lock for a caster, the caster having a wheel assembly including a wheel rotatable about a wheel axis and a housing supporting the wheel, and a stem supported by the housing and positionable in a chassis element, the wheel assembly being pivotally attached to the stem, the directional lock having:

• an engagement portion for engaging the wheel assembly to locate the wheel assembly in a predetermined position relative to the chassis element;
• a base portion coupled to the engagement portion such that the engagement portion is movable relative to the base portion;
• the base portion being adapted to cooperate with the chassis element to maintain the engagement portion in a predetermined relation to the chassis element;
• and
• the engagement portion being pivotally attached to the base portion by a hinge means including a hinge pin, the engagement portion being pivotable about a hinge axis defined by the hinge pin.

An adjustable bed to be positioned on a floor, the adjustable bed having:

• a primary frame for supporting a mattress frame;
• at least one leg assembly attached to the primary frame for supporting the primary frame and moving the primary frame relative to the floor, said at least one leg assembly including a chassis element;
• at least one caster including a wheel assembly having:
• a wheel rotatable about a wheel axis;
• a housing for supporting the wheel;
• said at least one caster including a stem supported by the housing;
• the wheel assembly being pivotally attached to the stem;
• the stem being positioned in the chassis element;
• said at least one caster supporting said at least one leg assembly above the floor;
• and
• at least one directional lock for said at least one caster, said at least one directional lock having:
• an engagement portion for engaging the wheel assembly to locate the wheel assembly in a predetermined position relative to the chassis element;
• a base portion coupled to the engagement portion, the engagement portion being movable relative to the base portion between an engaged state, in which the engagement portion maintains the wheel assembly in the predetermined position, and a disengaged state, in which the wheel assembly is pivotable about the stem;
• the engagement portion being movable between an intermediate state and the engaged state and between the intermediate state and the disengaged state, the engagement portion being biased to the engaged state when the engagement portion is in the intermediate state;
• the wheel assembly and the engagement portion being adapted to cooperate with each other such that the wheel assembly is pivotable about the stem when the engagement portion is in the intermediate state until the wheel assembly is in the predetermined position, the engagement portion moving to the engaged state when the wheel assembly is in the predetermined position;
• and
• the base portion including an aperture sized to receive the stem and being adapted to cooperate with the chassis element to maintain the engagement portion in a predetermined relation to the chassis element.

A directional lock for a caster, the caster having a wheel assembly with a wheel rotatable about a wheel axis and a housing supporting the wheel, and a stem supported by the housing and positionable in a chassis element, the wheel assembly being pivotally attached to the stem, the directional lock having:

• an engagement portion for engaging the wheel assembly to locate the wheel assembly in a predetermined position relative to the chassis element;
• a base portion coupled to the engagement portion, the engagement portion being movable relative to the base portion between an engaged state, in which the engagement portion maintains the wheel assembly in the predetermined position, and a disengaged state, in which the wheel assembly is pivotable about the stem;
• the engagement portion being maintainable in the engaged state by gravity;
• and
• the base portion being adapted to cooperate with the chassis element to maintain the engagement portion in a predetermined relation to the chassis element.

An adjustable bed to be positioned on a floor, the adjustable bed having:

• a primary frame for supporting a mattress frame;
• at least one leg assembly attached to the primary frame for supporting the primary frame and moving the primary frame relative to the floor, said at least one leg assembly including a chassis element;
• at least one caster including a wheel assembly having:
• a wheel rotatable about a wheel axis;
• a housing for supporting the wheel;
• said at least one caster including a stem supported by the housing;
• the wheel assembly being pivotally attached to the stem;
• the stem being positioned in the chassis element;
• said at least one caster supporting said at least one leg assembly above the floor;
• and
• at least one directional lock for said at least one caster, said at least one directional lock having:
• an engagement portion for engaging the wheel assembly to locate the wheel assembly in a predetermined position relative to the chassis element;
• a base portion coupled to the engagement portion, the engagement portion being movable relative to the base portion between an engaged state, in which the engagement portion maintains the wheel assembly in the predetermined position, and a disengaged state, in which the wheel assembly is pivotable about the stem;
• the engagement portion being maintainable in the engaged state by gravity;
• and
• the base portion being adapted to cooperate with the chassis element to maintain the engagement portion in a predetermined relation to the chassis element.

An adjustable bed to be positioned on a floor, the adjustable bed having:

• a primary frame for supporting a mattress frame;
• at least one leg assembly attached to the primary frame for supporting the primary frame and moving the primary frame relative to the floor, said at least one leg assembly including a chassis element;
• at least one caster including a wheel assembly having:
• a wheel rotatable about a wheel axis;
• a housing for supporting the wheel;
• said at least one caster including a stem supported by the housing;
• the wheel assembly being pivotally attached to the stem;
• the stem being positioned in the chassis element;
• said at least one caster supporting said at least one leg assembly above the floor;
• and
• at least one directional lock for said at least one caster, said at least one directional lock having:
• an engagement portion for engaging the wheel assembly to locate the wheel assembly in a predetermined position relative to the chassis element;
• a base portion coupled to the engagement portion, the engagement portion being movable relative to the base portion between an engaged state, in which the engagement portion maintains the wheel assembly in the predetermined position, and a disengaged state, in which the wheel assembly is pivotable about the stem;
• and
• the base portion being adapted to cooperate with the chassis element to maintain the engagement portion in a predetermined relation to the chassis element.