Abstract: The locking mechanism is adapted to a door system having a door unit slidably mounted to a door frame to open and close by sliding longitudinally along the door frame. The locking mechanism includes: a pivoting member pivotally mounted to one of the door frame and the door unit for pivoting about a pivot axis, and a hook member spaced apart from the pivot axis such that the hook member can pivot about the pivot axis via the pivoting member; and a guide member secured to the other one of the door frame and the door unit, the guide member having a channel formed therein to receive the hook member when the pivoting member is moved toward the guide by said sliding of the door, and subsequently maintain engagement with the hook member.

Abstract: A patient support apparatus includes a patient support surface, a plurality of caster wheels supporting the patient support surface on a floor or ground surface, a brake for manually braking at least one caster wheel of the plurality of caster wheels, and a handle or pedal for manually operating the brake, with the handle or pedal at least having a brake position. The patient support apparatus also includes an electrical actuator configured to couple to the brake and to selectively output a driving force and a user interface in communication with the electrical actuator. In response to input at the user interface, the electrical actuator generating the driving force to actuate the brake to thereby brake the at least one caster wheel, and wherein the driving force of the actuator moves the handle or pedal to the brake positon when the actuator actuates the manually operable brake to brake the caster wheel.

Abstract: The door actuator generally has a receiving structure having a door carriage path; a first coil assembly and a second coil assembly both being mounted to the receiving structure along a common coil assembly plane and being longitudinally spaced from one another along the door carriage path by a spacing distance; and a door carriage being slidingly received by the receiving structure, the door carriage having a plurality of alternate-pole magnets provided along a magnet plane being parallel and spaced apart from the coil assembly plane, the first and second coil assemblies being operable to move the door carriage back and forth between the two ends of the rail.

Abstract: The locking mechanism is adapted to a door system having a door unit slidably mounted to a door frame to open and close by sliding longitudinally along the door frame. The locking mechanism includes: a pivoting member pivotally mounted to one of the door frame and the door unit for pivoting about a pivot axis, and a hook member spaced apart from the pivot axis such that the hook member can pivot about the pivot axis via the pivoting member; and a guide member secured to the other one of the door frame and the door unit, the guide member having a channel formed therein to receive the hook member when the pivoting member is moved toward the guide by said sliding of the door, and subsequently maintain engagement with the hook member.

Abstract: The door actuator generally has a receiving structure having a door carriage path; a first coil assembly and a second coil assembly both being mounted to the receiving structure along a common coil assembly plane and being longitudinally spaced from one another along the door carriage path by a spacing distance; and a door carriage being slidingly received by the receiving structure, the door carriage having a plurality of alternate-pole magnets provided along a magnet plane being parallel and spaced apart from the coil assembly plane, the first and second coil assemblies being operable to move the door carriage back and forth between the two ends of the rail.

Abstract: A patient support apparatus includes a base, a patient support, and a lift mechanism wherein the lift mechanism is coupled to the patient support by at least one upper pivot connection. The upper pivot connection includes an elongated slot and a pin captured in the elongated slot to form a sliding pivot axis, with the sliding pivot axis traveling along the elongated slot when the lift mechanism raises or lowers the patient support.

Abstract: There is provided a method of adjusting a height of a car floor plane of a railroad car relative to a platform of a train station. The method includes, using a height adjusting system mounted to an exterior side of the railroad car adjacent the car floor plane, emitting a first ultrasonic beam towards the platform of the train station and monitoring a reflection of the first ultrasonic beam; and generating a first signal based on said monitoring the reflection of the first ultrasonic beam. The method includes, using a processor, operating an actuator of a suspension system of the railroad car to adjust the height of the car floor plane to a height of the platform of the train station based on the generated first signal.

Abstract: A patient support apparatus includes a patient support surface, a manually operable brake operatively associated with the patient support surface, a manual brake activation handle or pedal for manually operating the manually operable brake, and an electrically powered actuator. The actuator is mechanically coupled to the manually operable brake and to the manual brake activation handle or pedal, and actuates the manually operable brake and moves the manual brake activation handle or pedal from a first position to a second portion in response to a signal at the patient support apparatus.

Abstract: A patient support apparatus includes a deck, a plurality of side rails, a control panel, and a plurality of subsystems, such as a bed exit system that detects when a patient may exit from the support apparatus, or a lifting mechanism to raise and lower the deck. A controller is in communication with the control panel and is adapted to monitor conditions regarding the side rails and/or the other subsystems. At least one lamp is also provided on the patient support apparatus that is adapted to be illuminated in a first manner when a plurality of monitored conditions remain in a desired state, and in a second manner when at least one of the plurality of monitored conditions changes to an undesired state.

Abstract: A patient support apparatus includes a base, a patient support, and a lift mechanism wherein the lift mechanism is coupled to the patient support by at least one upper pivot connection. The upper pivot connection includes an elongated slot and a pin captured in the elongated slot to form a sliding pivot axis, with the sliding pivot axis traveling along the elongated slot when the lift mechanism raises or lowers the patient support.

Abstract: A patient support apparatus includes a frame, with a barrier, and a patient support surface supported in the frame. The apparatus further includes a control system with a controller, which is incorporated into the surface or the frame, and which is in communication with at least one functional component associated with the surface or the frame for controlling or monitoring the functional component. The control system further includes a touch-screen display in communication with the controller for controlling the functional component, which is positioned in the barrier between the exterior and interior side of the barrier wherein the display is incorporated into the barrier and accessible at the exterior or interior side for access by a user.

Abstract: A patient support apparatus includes a patient support surface, a manually operable brake operatively associated with the patient support surface, a manual brake activation handle or pedal for manually operating the manually operable brake, and an electrically powered actuator. The actuator is mechanically coupled to the manually operable brake and to the manual brake activation handle or pedal, and actuates the manually operable brake and moves the manual brake activation handle or pedal from a first position to a second portion in response to a signal at the patient support apparatus.

Abstract: A method of actuating a manually operable brake on a caster wheel of a patient support apparatus to stop motion of the apparatus includes electrically coupling the control system of the patient support to an actuator at the patient support, generating actuating signals with the control system based on input at the patient support apparatus, transmitting the actuating signals to the actuator to thereby actuate the actuator to output a driving force, and mechanically coupling the driving force of the actuator with the manually operable brake to thereby actuate the manually operable brake and thereby brake the caster wheels.

Abstract: A location detection system includes a device that is mobile for positioning at a location and has a unique device ID. The device also has circuitry for controlling one or more functions of the device and includes a network interface. A location transmitting device is provided that is spaced from the device for communicating a unique location identifier corresponding to the location of the device to the device. The circuitry is operable to send device data, the unique device ID, and the unique location identifier from the device by way of the network interface.

Abstract: A location detection system includes a device that is mobile for positioning at a location and has a unique device ID. The device also has circuitry for controlling one or more functions of the device and includes a network interface. A location transmitting device is provided that is spaced from the device for communicating a unique location identifier corresponding to the location of the device to the device. The circuitry is operable to send device data, the unique device ID, and the unique location identifier from the device by way of the network interface.

Abstract: A patient support apparatus includes a deck, a plurality of side rails, a control panel, and a plurality of subsystems, such as a bed exit system that detects when a patient may exit from the support apparatus, or a lifting mechanism to raise and lower the deck. A controller is in communication with the control panel and is adapted to monitor conditions regarding the side rails and/or the other subsystems. At least one lamp is also provided on the patient support apparatus that is adapted to be illuminated in a first manner when a plurality of monitored conditions remain in a desired state, and in a second manner when at least one of the plurality of monitored conditions changes to an undesired state.

Abstract: A location detection system for a facility includes a patient handling device with a communication module with a unique ID, a locator fixed relative to the handling device for transmitting a unique location identifier corresponding to the location of the handling device, and a receiver mounted to the patient device for receiving the unique location identifier. A processing station remote from the handling device and the locator receives the unique location identifier and the unique ID and further correlates the unique ID with a patient supported by the handling device wherein the processing station can track the handling device and the patient supported thereby such that the location of the patient and handling device can be determined and monitored remotely from the handling device.

Abstract: A location detection system for a facility includes a patient handling device with a communication module with a unique ID, a locator fixed relative to the handling device for transmitting a unique location identifier corresponding to the location of the handling device, and a receiver mounted to the patient device for receiving the unique location identifier. A processing station remote from the handling device and the locator receives the unique location identifier and the unique ID and further correlates the unique ID with a patient supported by the handling device wherein the processing station can track the handling device and the patient supported thereby such that the location of the patient and handling device can be determined and monitored remotely from the handling device.

Abstract: A patient support apparatus includes a support surface, which includes at least one fluid bladder and a recess, and a fluid delivery system configured to deliver fluid to the bladder, with at least a portion of the fluid delivery system being located in the recess. The fluid delivery system includes a pump having a fluid output and a fluid input. The apparatus further includes a chamber wall that defines a chamber in fluid communication with the fluid input or output of the pump, with the chamber wall absorbing vibration from the pump when the pump is operated to output fluid at its fluid output.

Abstract: A location detection system for a facility including a patient handling device for supporting a patient and being mobile for positioning at a location in the facility, a locator fixed relative to the patient handling device for transmitting a unique location identifier corresponding to the location of the patient handling device, and a processing station remote from the patient handling device and the locator for receiving the unique location identifier such that the location of the patient handling device can be determined and monitored remotely from the patient handling device.