Brake pedal mechanism for hospital bed

A brake system for a patient support apparatus having a base comprises

• a plurality of casters supporting the base on surface of a floor the casters having a plurality of modes,
• a caster mode changing mechanism moveable between a plurality of positions,
• a plurality of pedals positioned to be moved by a user to move the caster mode mechanism between the plurality of positions, at least a first one of the plurality of pedals positioned adjacent a head end of the base, and
• wherein the caster mode changing mechanism coordinates movement of the plurality of pedals so that movement of any one of the plurality of pedals causes movement of the caster mode changing mechanism to thereby rotate a mode change key to change the mode of at least one caster, and wherein downward movement of the at least one pedal positioned adjacent the head end of the base causes the caster mode key to move from a first position to a second position,
• wherein the patient support apparatus further includes an input assembly positioned on a lateral side of the patient support apparatus, the input assembly operable to move the caster mode changing mechanism.

A brake system for a patient support apparatus having a base comprises

• a plurality of casters supporting the base on surface of a floor the casters having a plurality of modes,
• a caster mode changing mechanism moveable between a plurality of positions,
• a plurality of pedals positioned to be moved by a user to move the caster mode mechanism between the plurality of positions, at least a first one of the plurality of pedals positioned adjacent a head end of the base, and
• wherein the caster mode changing mechanism coordinates movement of the plurality of pedals so that movement of any one of the plurality of pedals causes movement of the caster mode changing mechanism to thereby rotate a mode change key to change the mode of at least one caster, and wherein downward movement of the at least one pedal positioned adjacent the head end of the base causes the caster mode key to move from a first position to a second position,
• wherein the plurality of pedals positioned adjacent the head end of the base each have a fulcrum axis that corresponds to a fulcrum of the pedal, the fulcrum axes of each of the plurality of pedals being generally collinear,
• wherein at least one of plurality of pedals positioned adjacent the head end of the base is coupled to the mechanism at a position below the fulcrum axes.

A patient support apparatus comprising,

• a lower frame including a plurality of casters, each caster including at least two operating modes, and
• a mode changing mechanism operable to simultaneously modify the mode of at least two casters, the mode changing mechanism including a first actuation mechanism having a first actuator, a first control arm pivotably coupled to the first actuator, a first follower pivotably coupled to the first control arm, the first follower engaged with a first mode key to transfer motion from the first actuator to the first mode key to rotate the first mode key about a first axis, the mode changing mechanism also including a first transfer arm pivotably coupled to the first actuator and positioned between the at least two casters, such that movement of the first actuator causes rotation of the first mode key and movement of the first transfer arm,
• wherein the first actuator includes a force receiving area and the first actuator and the first transfer arm are pivotably coupled at a second axis,
• wherein the first control arm is pivotably coupled to the first actuator at a third axis, the third axis positioned between the force receiving area and the second axis.

A patient support apparatus comprising,

• a lower frame including a plurality of casters, each caster including at least two operating modes, and
• a mode changing mechanism operable to simultaneously modify the mode of at least two casters, the mode changing mechanism including a first actuation mechanism having a first actuator, a first control arm pivotably coupled to the first actuator, a first follower pivotably coupled to the first control arm, the first follower engaged with a first mode key to transfer motion from the first actuator to the first mode key to rotate the first mode key about a first axis, the mode changing mechanism also including a first transfer arm pivotably coupled to the first actuator and positioned between the at least two casters, such that movement of the first actuator causes rotation of the first mode key and movement of the first transfer arm,
• wherein the mode changing mechanism further includes a second actuation mechanism having a second follower, the second follower pivotably about a second axis and pivotably coupled to the first transfer arm at a third axis such that rotation of the follower about the second axis causes movement of the first transfer arm,
• wherein the second follower is coupled to a second mode key, the second mode key pivotable about the second axis,
• wherein the second mode key is engaged with one of the plurality of casters to change the mode of the caster with which the second mode key is engaged,
• wherein the second mode key is coupled to an input assembly, the input assembly including a second actuator operable to rotate the second mode key.