Patent ID: 6505359
Filing Date: 2003-01-14
Classification: A61G

Abstract:
A stretcher for transporting a patient along a floor, the stretcher comprisingan elongated frame, a plurality of casters coupled to the frame and engaging the floor, a patient-support deck carried by the frame, an elongated shaft coupled to the frame for rotation about a longitudinally-extending axis, a wheel, a bracket coupled to the wheel and to the frame, the bracket being movable between a first position in which the wheel engages the floor and a second position in which the wheel is spaced apart from the floor, and a linkage pivotably coupled to the frame and to the bracket, the linkage also being coupled to the shaft so that rotation of the shaft about the axis actuates the linkage to move the bracket between the first and second positions, wherein the linkage includes a first link coupled to the shaft to rotate therewith about the axis, a second link pivotably coupled to the first link, a third link pivotably coupled to the second link and pivotably coupled to the frame, and a fourth link pivotably coupled to the second link and pivotably coupled to the bracket.