Patent ID: 7698760

Claim:
A patient support apparatus comprising: a base having a first side, a second side, a head end, and a foot end, a head end caster and a foot end caster coupled to the base on the first side near the respective head and foot ends, wherein one of the two casters is a brake-steer caster having neutral, brake and steer modes and the other of the two casters is a brake caster having neutral and brake modes, a head end link and a foot end link located on the first side and operably associated with the respective head and foot end casters on the first side, the head and foot end links on the first side moving longitudinally in a first pair of opposite directions to brake the respective head and foot end casters on the first side, and the head and foot end links on the first side moving longitudinally a second pair of opposite directions to prevent swiveling of the steer caster, a shaft pivotably mounted to the base and carrying a pedal lever including brake and steer pedals, and a linkage coupling the shaft to the head and foot end links, the linkage comprising a cam mounted on the shaft for rotation therewith, a head end cam plate, and a foot end cam plate; the head and foot end cam plates configured to operatively engage the cam and the head and foot end cam plates coupled to the respective head and foot end links so that downward actuation of the brake pedal causes the cam to push the two cam plates in the first pair of opposite directions to brake the two casters and so that downward actuation of the steer pedal causes the cam to push the two cam plates in the second pair of opposite directions to prevent swiveling of the steer caster.