Retractable Guard Assembly

Abstract

The present invention provides a retractable guard assembly (104) coupled to a caster of a mobile device (100), the retractable guard assembly (104) comprising one or more first guards (210a, 210b) and one or more second guards (212a, 212b) with corresponding one or more guard toe holds (214a, 214b). When the one or more first guards and the one or more second guards are in a fully retracted state, fully compressing any one of the one or more guard toe holds transitions the one or more first guards and the one or more second guards to a fully deployed state. When the one or more first guards and the one or more second guards are in a fully deployed state, fully lifting any one of the one or more guard toe holds transitions the one or more first guards and the one or more second guards to a fully retracted state.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] Priority claims This application claims the benefit of priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63 / 072,280, entitled "RETRACTABLE GUARD ASSEMBLIES," filed August 31, 2020, inventors William Monteleone, Marc Nestor, and Brandon L. Spoelstra, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety as if fully and completely set forth herein. [Background technology]

[0002] Field FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE The present disclosure relates generally to a retractable guard assembly for use in association with a caster of a mobile device, such as a medical or non-medical device.

[0003] 2. Description of Related Art Many types of equipment, particularly medical equipment, can be mobile and have rolling caster wheels that allow them to be moved from place to place. For example, this mobility allows medical staff to move medical equipment around, such as within operating rooms, between operating rooms, between floors (e.g., using elevators), etc. However, in some cases, equipment (e.g., medical equipment) that travels on caster wheels can become caught when it runs over electrical cables, fluid hoses, and other similar objects. This can be annoying for the equipment operator and reduce the equipment's maneuverability. Furthermore, this can cause the equipment to tip over, damage electrical cables, pinch and block hoses, and lead to other similar problems.

[0004] In some cases, certain existing cable guards are used with casters to push cables and hoses aside to prevent equipment from riding over them and causing the problems described above. However, existing cable guards create certain additional undesirable problems. For example, some existing cable guards must be removed and stowed when moving equipment over fixed obstacles, such as door sills and elevator sills, or non-fixed but difficult-to-move obstacles, such as floor mats. However, forcing equipment operators to remove and stow the cable guards every time they need to move the equipment over such objects places a significant burden on the operator.

[0005] Some other existing cable guards are in a fixed position and cannot even be removed when attempting to move equipment over a fixed obstacle, which can cause the fixed cable guard to get caught on such an obstacle and tip the equipment over. Summary of the Invention [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE The present disclosure relates generally to a retractable guard assembly for use in association with a caster of a mobile device, such as a medical or non-medical device.

[0007] Certain embodiments disclosed herein provide a retractable guard assembly coupled to a caster of a mobile equipment, the retractable guard assembly including one or more first guards and one or more second guards with corresponding one or more guard toe holds. When the one or more first guards and the one or more second guards are in a fully retracted state, fully compressing any one of the one or more guard toe holds causes the one or more first guards and the one or more second guards to transition to a fully deployed state. In the fully deployed state, each of the one or more first guards and the one or more second guards has a first clearance with the ground. When the one or more first guards and the one or more second guards are in a fully deployed state, fully lifting any one of the one or more guard toe holds causes the one or more first guards and the one or more second guards to transition to a fully retracted state. In the fully retracted state, each of the one or more first guards and the one or more second guards has a second clearance with the ground, the second clearance being greater than the first clearance.

[0008] Certain embodiments disclosed herein provide a caster assembly for mobile equipment, including a caster with a caster wheel and a retractable guard assembly coupled to the caster. The retractable guard assembly includes one or more first guards and one or more second guards with one or more corresponding guard toe holds. When the one or more first guards and the one or more second guards are in a fully retracted state, fully compressing any one of the one or more guard toe holds causes the one or more first guards and the one or more second guards to transition to a fully deployed state. In the fully deployed state, each of the one or more first guards and the one or more second guards has a first clearance with the ground. When the one or more first guards and the one or more second guards are in a fully deployed state, fully lifting any one of the one or more guard toe holds causes the one or more first guards and the one or more second guards to transition to a fully retracted state. In the fully retracted state, each of the one or more first guards and the one or more second guards has a second clearance with the ground, the second clearance being greater than the first clearance.

[0009] The following description and the annexed drawings set forth in detail certain illustrative features of the one or more embodiments.

[0010] The accompanying drawings depict certain aspects of one or more embodiments and therefore should not be considered as limiting the scope of the disclosure. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0011] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 illustrates a medical instrument with four caster assemblies according to certain embodiments of the present disclosure. [Figures 2A-2C]Figure 2A shows a side view of the caster assembly of Figure 1 with a retractable guard assembly in a deployed position, Figure 2B shows a perspective view of the caster assembly of Figure 2A with a retractable guard assembly in a stored position, according to certain embodiments of the present disclosure. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 illustrates an exploded view of the caster assembly of FIGS. 2A-2C, according to certain embodiments of the present disclosure. [Figure 4A-4B] Figure 4A shows a medial side view of the front and rear guards in a deployed position according to certain embodiments of the present disclosure, and Figure 4B shows a medial side view of the front and rear guards of Figure 4A in a stored position according to certain embodiments of the present disclosure. [Figure 5] FIG. 5 illustrates a front guard and a rear guard connected together using a bridge link, according to certain embodiments of the present disclosure. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0012] To facilitate understanding, identical reference numerals have been used, wherever possible, to designate identical elements common to the figures, and it is contemplated that elements and features of one embodiment may be beneficially incorporated in other embodiments without further description.

[0013] Certain embodiments of the present disclosure provide a retractable guard assembly that can be used in conjunction with casters of mobile equipment. While the following embodiments describe a retractable guard assembly mounted on casters and used in conjunction with medical equipment such as an ophthalmic surgery console, those skilled in the art will understand that the retractable guard assembly described herein can be used with a variety of medical and non-medical equipment. Examples of such medical equipment include surgical and non-surgical consoles, diagnostic equipment, hospital beds, hospital cards, stretchers, IV poles, and other mobile medical equipment. Examples of non-medical equipment include any mobile, electrical, and / or mechanical devices and accessories with casters.

[0014] 1 illustrates a medical device 100 that includes four caster assemblies 102a, 102b, 102c, and 102d (not shown). As illustrated, each caster assembly 102 includes a caster (e.g., caster 303 shown in FIG. 3) that has a rotating caster wheel ("caster wheel") 101 and a caster-lock toe hold 106. When a caster-lock toe hold 106 is pressed, the caster-lock toe hold 106 contacts the ground, creating friction that may prevent the corresponding caster wheel 101 from rotating.

[0015] Each caster assembly 102 also includes a retractable guard assembly 104, as described in more detail below. In certain embodiments, each retractable guard assembly 104 is attached to a corresponding caster during the manufacturing process. As further described in connection with FIG. 2 , each retractable guard assembly 104 includes a cable pusher toe hold (or guard toe hold) configured to deploy four guards when depressed. When deployed, the guards are configured to push aside objects such as cables, hoses, and other similar objects. In the deployed state, the guards provide a certain amount of clearance with the ground so that the medical device 100 can be moved around. However, the clearance (e.g., the distance between the bottom of the guard and the ground) is configured so that the guards can still contact and push aside cables, hoses, and other similar objects. When the toe holds are raised, the corresponding guards are retracted, thereby increasing ground clearance and allowing the medical device 100 to be easily moved over fixed objects (e.g., obstacles) such as door sills and elevator sills, or non-fixed but difficult-to-move obstacles such as floor mats.

[0016] FIG. 2A shows a side view of a caster assembly 102 with a retractable guard assembly 104 in a deployed position, according to some embodiments. FIG. 2B shows a perspective view of a caster assembly 102 with a retractable guard assembly 104 in a deployed position, according to some embodiments. FIG. 2C shows a perspective view of a caster assembly 102 with a retractable guard assembly 104 in a retracted position, according to some embodiments. The caster assembly 102 shown in FIGS. 2A-2C can be any one of caster assemblies 102a, 102b, 102c, or 102d of FIG. 1. For clarity, FIGS. 2A-2C are described together herein.

[0017] The retractable guard assembly 104 is mounted on a caster (shown as caster 303 in FIG. 3) that includes, among other components, a caster wheel 101 and a caster lock toe hold 106. The retractable guard assembly 104 includes a housing 208, a front guard 210, a rear guard 212, a snap button 216, screws 218, and other components shown in detail in FIG. 3. The housing 208 includes two housing pieces 209a and 209b. In FIG. 2A, only housing piece 209a is shown, while in FIGS. 2B and 2C, housing piece 209b is partially shown. The housing pieces 209a and 209b are coupled together using screws 218a-218c and cap nuts (shown in FIG. 3). As shown, the front guards 210a and 210b are symmetrically positioned, with one front guard on each side of the caster wheel 101. The front guards 210a and 210b are connected together using a bridge link (shown in FIGS. 3 and 5) so that movement of one of the front guards (e.g., front guard 210a) also moves the other front guard (e.g., 210b). Each front guard 210 includes a cable pusher toe hold 214 (also referred to as a "guard toe hold"). For example, front guard 210a includes cable pusher toe hold 214a, and front guard 210b includes cable pusher toe hold 214b. The rear guards 212a and 212b are also symmetrically positioned, with one rear guard on each side of the caster wheel 101. Snap buttons 216 are used to movably and / or removably couple the front guards 210, 212, and housing pieces 209a-209b together.

[0018] As described above, in the deployed state, the front guard 210 and the rear guard 212 provide a minimal amount of clearance with the ground, allowing the medical device 100 to move around while pushing objects, such as cables, out of its way. To retract the front guard 210 and the rear guard 212, a user can lift one of the cable pusher toe holds 214a-214b, for example, using their toes, which retracts all four of the front guards 210 and the rear guard 212. Note that because the front guards 210a and 210b are connected, lifting or retracting any one of the four guards retracts the others. Thus, lifting any one of the cable pusher toe holds 214a-214b lifts both front guards 210, which in turn retracts the rear guard 212. In certain embodiments, retracting the front guard 210 retracts the rear guard 212 due to components called slides (shown in FIGS. 3 and 4a-4b) that act as interfaces between each pair of front and rear guards (e.g., front guard 210a and rear guard 212a are a first pair, and front guard 210b and rear guard 212b are a second pair). For example, lifting the cable pusher toe hold 214a causes the front guard 210a to rotate clockwise about its axis along the snap button 216. This clockwise movement of the front guard 210a sets in motion the slide, which then interfaces with the rear guard 212a, causing counterclockwise movement of the rear guard 212a, which also retracts the rear guard 212a.

[0019] It should be noted that in the embodiments described herein, only the front guard 210 includes a cable pusher toe hold 214, but in certain embodiments, each of the rear guards 212 may also include a cable pusher toe hold 214. In certain other embodiments, only the rear guard 212 includes a cable pusher toe hold 214. In yet certain other embodiments, only the front guard 210a and the rear guard 212a (or alternatively, only the front guard 210b and the rear guard 212b) may include a cable pusher toe hold. In certain embodiments, the rear guard 212 may additionally or alternatively be coupled with a bridge link.

[0020] 3 illustrates an exploded view of the caster assembly 102 of FIGS. 2A-2C according to certain embodiments. As shown, snap button 216a is configured to be inserted and engaged into opening 311a in housing piece 209a, U-shaped opening 325a in slide 320a, opening 315a in rear guard 212a, and opening 313a in front guard 210a, in that order. When snap button 216a is engaged into all of these openings, snap button 216a holds housing piece 209a, slide 320a, rear guard 212a, and front guard 210a together such that rear guard 212a and front guard 210a can rotate relative to housing piece 209a about an axis along snap button 216 (e.g., an axis that passes through all of the openings and is perpendicular to the outer surface of caster wheel 101). Snap button 216b functions similarly to snap button 216a. Snap button 216b is configured to be inserted and fitted into the opening in housing piece 209a, U-shaped opening 325b in slide 320b, opening 315b in rear guard 212b, and opening 313b in front guard 210b, in that order. When snap button 216b is fitted into all of these openings, snap button 216b holds housing piece 209b, slide 320b, rear guard 212b, and front guard 210b together such that rear guard 212b and front guard 210b can rotate relative to housing piece 209b about an axis along snap button 216b.

[0021] The components held together using snap button 216a and the components held together using snap button 216b are configured to be coupled together by threading housing piece 209a onto housing piece 209b using screws 218a-218c and corresponding cap nuts 219a-219c, thereby forming retractable guard assembly 104. As described above, bridge link 322 is used to connect front guards 210a and 210b together. As shown, bridge link 322 is slightly compressed inward (e.g., toward caster wheel 101) and includes detents 323a and 323b configured to be inserted into corresponding openings 327a and 327b in front guards 210a and 210b, respectively. More specifically, in the embodiment of FIG. 3, openings 327a and 327b are configured to receive tips of detents 323a and 323b to retain bridge link 322 between front guards 210a and 210b.

[0022] 3 also shows slides 320a and 320b. As shown, slide 320a has a cylindrical extension 321a configured to pass through slot 319a in rear guard 212a and slot 317a in front guard 210a (e.g., slide 320a is removably coupled to rear guard 212a and front guard 210a). As described above and in connection with FIGS. 4A and 4B, slide 320a functions as an interface between front guard 210a and rear guard 212a, such as by transferring rotational motion of front guard 210a to rear guard 212a, thereby rotating rear guard 212a in the opposite direction. Slide 320b functions similarly to slide 320a.

[0023] FIG. 4A shows an interior side view of front guard 210, rear guard 212a, slide 320a, and housing piece 209a, all of which are held together using snap button 216a. In FIG. 4A, front guard 210a and rear guard 212a are in their fully deployed positions. In the fully deployed position, cylindrical extension 321a of slide 320a is located at the inner end of slots 317a and 319a, respectively. The inner ends of slots 317a and 319a refer to the ends closest to the ground or the center of snap button 216a. The outer ends of slots 317a and 319a refer to the ends furthest from the ground or the center of snap button 216a. As shown, slot 317a is sized and shaped so that when cable pusher toe hold 214 is lifted, slide 320a is pushed toward the outer end of slot 319a as well as the outer end of slot 317a. For example, slot 317a is curved and / or bean-shaped. Due to the curve of slot 317a, when front guard 210a rotates relative to snap button 216a, a force is exerted on extension 321a (e.g., an upward force or a force pushing extension 321a away from snap button 216a). Because extension 321a can only move within slots 317a and 319a, a force, such as an upward force exerted by front guard 210a on extension 321a, causes extension 321a to move from the inner end of slots 317a and 319a to the outer end thereof.

[0024] Figure 4B shows that extension 321a is located at the outer end of slots 317a and 319a, which means that extension 321a, and therefore slide 320a, has moved away from snap button 216a relative to where extension 321a was located in Figure 4A. In Figure 4B, front guard 210a and rear guard 212a are in their fully retracted positions as shown.

[0025] In certain embodiments, grooves or detents (e.g., detents 331a-331b) are provided in the axial openings of the inner extensions (inner extensions 330) of the front guards 210a-210b. Such detents are configured to contact bumps or protrusions on the arms of the corresponding snap buttons 216. In such embodiments, a user can use the cable pusher toe hold 214 to fully snap the front guard 210 and the rear guard 212 into either the fully retracted or fully deployed position. For example, when a user fully pushes the cable pusher toe hold 214 up, the bumps on the arms of the corresponding snap buttons 216 snap into the detents on the inner extensions of the front guards 210a-210b, thus holding the front guard 210 and the rear guard 212 in the fully retracted position. Similarly, when the user fully depresses the cable pusher toe hold 214, a bump on the arm of the corresponding snap button 216 engages with a detent on the inner extension of the front guard 210a-210b, thus holding the front guard 210 and the rear guard 212 in their fully deployed position.

[0026] In certain embodiments, instead of using detents to hold the front guard 210 and the rear guard 212 in a fully deployed or fully retracted state, the weight and / or material of the slide 320 is selected to ensure that the front guard 210 and the rear guard 212 are held securely in whatever position the user places them. For example, the extension 321 a can keep the front guard 210 a and the rear guard 212 a in a fully retracted state until the user compresses the cable pusher tow hold 214 a. Similarly, in certain embodiments, the extension 321 a keeps the front guard 210 a and the rear guard 212 a in any retracted state (fully retracted or partially retracted). Note that in certain embodiments, any state other than a fully deployed state may be considered a retracted state or a partially retracted state. Such a state may also be considered a partially deployed state. In certain embodiments, as described above, the weight and / or material of slide 320 is selected so that it does not create enough gravitational force to transition front guard 210a and rear guard 212a to the partially deployed or fully deployed positions without the application of force by the user. More specifically, in certain embodiments, the weight of slide 320a does not overcome the opposing force exerted by front guard 210a and rear guard 212a (e.g., the respective edges of slots 317 and 319a). By again fully compressing cable pusher 214a toward the ground, front guard 210a and rear guard 212a transition to the deployed state, as shown in FIG. 4A .

[0027] Note that in certain embodiments, the length of slot 317a or slot 319a, respectively, corresponds to the amount of rotational displacement each guard (i.e., front guard 210a or rear guard 212a) undergoes as it goes from fully deployed to fully retracted, or from fully retracted to fully deployed. Regardless of where extension 321a is located along the length of slot 317 and slot 319a, in certain embodiments, the lengths of slot 317 and slot 319a are configured to help maintain the corresponding positions of front guard 210a and rear guard 212a. Thus, a user may adjust the clearance provided by front guard 210a and rear guard 212a anywhere along a range, from a fully deployed state (e.g., minimum clearance) at one end of the range to a fully retracted state (e.g., maximum clearance) at the other end of the range.

[0028] FIG. 5 illustrates front guards 210a and 210b connected together using bridge link 322. As shown, opening 313a in front guard 210a includes a circular extension or rim 332 (also referred to as an "outer extension") configured to be inserted into opening 315 in rear guard 212a (shown in FIG. 3). An inner extension also exists on the opposite side of opening 313a. An example of inner extension 330 is shown on front guard 210b. In certain embodiments, this inner extension is configured to be inserted into a circular opening in the outer surface of caster wheel 101. As mentioned above, FIG. 5 also illustrates detents 331a-b located on the axle openings of inner extensions 330 of front guards 210a-b.

[0029] Accordingly, certain embodiments described herein provide a retractable guard assembly that can be used with caster wheels on equipment. The retractable guard assembly can be deployed to push aside objects such as cables and hoses when moving the equipment around. The retractable guard assembly can also be retracted when moving the equipment over fixed obstacles such as door sills and elevator sills, or non-fixed but difficult-to-move obstacles such as floor mats.

[0030] The foregoing description is provided to enable those skilled in the art to practice the various embodiments described herein. Various modifications to these embodiments will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and the general principles defined herein may be applied to other embodiments. Accordingly, the claims are not intended to be limited to the embodiments shown herein, but are to be accorded the full scope consistent with the language of the claims.

Claims

1. one or more first guards with corresponding one or more guard toe holds; one or more second guards; 1. A retractable guard assembly coupled to a caster of mobile equipment, comprising: when the one or more first guards and the one or more second guards are in a fully retracted state, fully compressing any one of the one or more guard toe holds transitions the one or more first guards and the one or more second guards to a fully deployed state; In a fully deployed state, each of the one or more first guards and the one or more second guards has a first clearance with the ground; when the one or more first guards and the one or more second guards are in a fully deployed state, fully lifting any one of the one or more guard toe holds transitions the one or more first guards and the one or more second guards to the fully retracted state; in a fully retracted position, each of the one or more first guards and the one or more second guards has a second clearance with the ground; The retractable guard assembly, wherein the second clearance is greater than the first clearance.

2. the one or more guard toe holds include two guard toe holds; the one or more first guards include two first guards with the two guard toe holds; the one or more second guards include two second guards; two pairs of guards are symmetrically disposed on either side of the caster wheel such that the two pairs of guards directly face each other; each pair of guards comprises one of the two first guards and one of the two second guards; the two first guards directly face each other; The retractable guard assembly of claim 1 , wherein the two second guards directly face each other.

3. a bridge link connecting the two first guards together such that movement of one of the two first guards causes movement of the other; The retractable guard assembly of claim 2 further comprising:

4. two slides, each slide of the two slides being removably coupled to a respective pair of guards of the two pairs of guards; The retractable guard assembly of claim 3 further comprising:

5. each slide includes an extension inserted into a slot in a corresponding first guard of each pair of guards and a slot in a corresponding second guard of each pair of guards; 5. The retractable guard assembly of claim 4, wherein the extension acts as an interface between each pair of guards such that the extension translates movement of a first guard of the pair into movement of a second guard of the pair.

6. when the two pairs of guards are in the fully deployed position, each extension is located at an inner end of a corresponding slot in each pair of guards; 6. The retractable guard assembly of claim 5, wherein each extension is located at an outer end of the corresponding slot of each pair of guards when the two pairs of guards are in the fully retracted position.

7. 6. The retractable guard assembly of claim 5, wherein the extensions cause each pair of guards to remain in a fully retracted or partially retracted position.

8. The slots in each pair of guards are curved, 6. The retractable guard assembly of claim 5, wherein curvature of the slot of the corresponding first guard of each pair of guards exerts a force on a corresponding extension to move the extension from an inner end of the slot to an outer end of the slot.

9. in the fully deployed state, the one or more first guards and the one or more second guards are configured to push away objects when the mobile equipment is moving; 2. The retractable guard assembly of claim 1, wherein in the fully retracted position, the second clearance provides a sufficient distance from the ground to allow the mobile equipment to move over a fixed object.

10. a caster having a caster wheel; a retractable guard assembly coupled to the caster, the retractable guard assembly comprising: one or more first guards with corresponding one or more guard toe holds; one or more second guards; Equipped with when the one or more first guards and the one or more second guards are in a fully retracted state, fully compressing any one of the one or more guard toe holds transitions the one or more first guards and the one or more second guards to a fully deployed state; In a fully deployed state, each of the one or more first guards and the one or more second guards has a first clearance with the ground; when the one or more first guards and the one or more second guards are in a fully deployed state, fully lifting any one of the one or more guard toe holds transitions the one or more first guards and the one or more second guards to the fully retracted state; in a fully retracted position, each of the one or more first guards and the one or more second guards has a second clearance with the ground; a retractable guard assembly, wherein the second clearance is greater than the first clearance; A caster assembly for mobile equipment comprising:

11. the one or more guard toe holds include two guard toe holds; the one or more first guards include two first guards with the two guard toe holds; the one or more second guards include two second guards; two pairs of guards are symmetrically disposed on either side of the caster wheel such that the two pairs of guards directly face each other; each pair of guards comprises one of the two first guards and one of the two second guards; the two first guards directly face each other; the two second guards directly face each other; 11. The caster assembly of claim 10, further comprising a bridge link connecting the two first guards together such that movement of one of the two first guards causes movement of the other.

12. two slides, each slide of the two slides being removably coupled to a respective guard of the two pairs of guards; each slide includes an extension inserted into a corresponding slot in the first guard of each pair of guards and a corresponding slot in the second guard of each pair of guards; two slides, the extensions acting as an interface between each pair of guards such that the extensions translate movement of a first guard of the pair into movement of a second guard of the pair; The caster assembly of claim 11 further comprising:

13. when the two pairs of guards are in the fully deployed position, each extension is located at an inner end of a corresponding slot in each pair of guards; 13. The caster assembly of claim 12, wherein each extension is located at an outer end of the corresponding slot of each pair of guards when the two pairs of guards are in the fully retracted position.

14. The caster assembly of claim 12, wherein the extensions cause each pair of guards to remain in a fully retracted or partially retracted position.

15. The slots in each pair of guards are curved, 13. The caster assembly of claim 12, wherein the curvature of the slot of the first guard of each pair of guards exerts a force on a corresponding extension to move the extension from an inner end of the slot to an outer end of the slot.

Images