Abstract: A patient support apparatus may include a base frame, lift arms, an intermediate frame, a deck support having three articulating sections, a brake system, various drive motors, actuators, and sensors, at least one power source, communication devices, and at least one controller, wherein the lift arms, articulating sections, drive motors, brake system, and actuators may be controlled from the at least one controller and in response to signals received by the various sensors, while storing data internally and/or sending data to a remote location.

Abstract: A weeding hand tool, comprising a generally longitudinal member joining a handle grip at a first end thereof and a pedal at a second opposite end thereof, a finger head comprising coiled fingers arranged in a helix and an ejector rod mobile inside the helix, and an ejector arm, wherein, when the tool is positioned generally vertically with free end tips of the coiled fingers on the ground, pushing down on the handle grip and/or on the pedal causes the coiled fingers to rotated down into the soil, entrapping a weed beneath the soil as they penetrate the soil, and wherein when, by pulling up on the longitudinal member, the coiled fingers are pulled out from the soil, with the weed entrapped in the helix they form, and the weed is ejected from the helix pulling down on the ejector arm.

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 patient bed includes a base, a patent support supported by the base, and a control system. The patient support includes a pivotal head-end section, with the control system including an actuator to pivot the head-end section and being adapted to control the speed of the actuator and, further, to selectively increase the speed of the actuator to pivot the head-end section at a greater speed.

Abstract: A patient bed includes a patient support, with a headboard, a footboard, and a plurality of side rails. One or more surfaces of the side rails or of the headboard or of the footboard includes a gap and a sealing cover for sealing the gap to facilitate cleaning and disinfection of the patient bed. For example, the cover may comprise a membrane that is applied to the surface, for example, by an adhesive. The adhesive may be releasable so that the membrane may be removed for replacement or to provide access to the gap for example, where the gap is formed between a control interface that is located in the surface.

Abstract: A patient bed includes a base, a patient support, and an elevation mechanism for raising or lowering the patient support relative to the base. The elevation mechanism comprises a first pair of arms and a second pair of arms, with both the pairs of arms mounted relative to the patient support and the base. The first pair of arms and the second pair of arms have pivot connections at the patient support, with the pivot connections of at least one pair of the pair of arms moving in a sinusoidal path when the patient support is raised or lowered with respect to the base.

Abstract: A spring perch assembly for automatically centering a load applied to a spring is provided. The assembly includes a body portion and a base portion which when engaged may tilt relative to one another. When disposed between a spring and an applied load, the assembly automatically centers the load along the spring's natural centerline.

Abstract: The present invention includes a shopping cart frame with mounting bracket units connecting caster wheels and having a plate secured underneath the base with a caster pin receiving hole and spaced-apart flanges flanking the hole and abutting on the base; a shopping cart with a support bar between side uprights for forwardly propping up a primary basket and rearwardly hanging a secondary basket; a cart with a plastic basket having rear structural tubes sheathing the frame's side uprights and being secured thereto; a modular method of making different cart models by providing multiple sets of components with cooperating mounting surfaces for interconnection; a modular plastic basket with a hooked-on suspended tray and a channel-shaped overlay detachably snapped over the edge and tray; a one-piece molded plastic basket with independent branching tubular sections with different thicknesses; and an independent gas-assisted injection method for molding a one-piece plastic basket.

Abstract: A spring perch assembly for automatically centering a load applied to a spring is provided. The assembly includes a body portion and a base portion which when engaged may tilt relative to one another. When disposed between a spring and an applied load, the assembly automatically centers the load along the spring's natural centerline.

Abstract: A spring perch assembly for automatically centering a load applied to a spring is provided. The assembly includes a body portion and a base portion which when engaged may tilt relative to one another. When disposed between a spring and an applied load, the assembly automatically centers the load along the spring's natural centerline.

Abstract: A patient support apparatus may include a base frame, lift arms, an intermediate frame, a deck support having three articulating sections, a brake system, various drive motors, actuators, and sensors, at least one power source, communication devices, and at least one controller, wherein the lift arms, articulating sections, drive motors, brake system, and actuators may be controlled from the at least one controller and in response to signals received by the various sensors, while storing data internally and/or sending data to a remote location.

Abstract: A patient bed includes a patient support, with a headboard, a footboard, and a plurality of side rails. One or more surfaces of the side rails or of the headboard or of the footboard includes a gap and a sealing cover for sealing the gap to facilitate cleaning and disinfection of the patient bed. For example, the cover may comprise a membrane that is applied to the surface, for example, by an adhesive. The adhesive may be releasable so that the membrane may be removed for replacement or to provide access to the gap for example, where the gap is formed between a control interface that is located in the surface.

Abstract: A patient bed includes a base, a patent support supported by the base, and a control system. The patient support includes a pivotal head-end section, with the control system including an actuator to pivot the head-end section and being adapted to control the speed of the actuator and, further, to selectively increase the speed of the actuator to pivot the head-end section at a greater speed.

Abstract: A patient bed includes a base, a patient support, and an elevation mechanism for raising or lowering the patient support relative to the base. The elevation mechanism comprises a first pair of arms and a second pair of arms, with both the pairs of arms mounted relative to the patient support and the base. The first pair of arms and the second pair of arms have pivot connections at the patient support, with the pivot connections of at least one pair of the pair of arms moving in a sinusoidal path when the patient support is raised or lowered with respect to the base.

Abstract: A patient support apparatus which includes a litter frame having a head end and a foot end and a pair of laterally spaced, longitudinally extending support rails. A seat section which includes a seat frame is secured to the support rails. A first head section which includes a first frame is movably supported on the support rails between a first horizontal position and a second position wherein a head end of the first frame is elevated above a foot end of the first frame. The foot end of the first head section is always oriented on the litter frame immediately adjacent a head end of the seat frame. A second head section is provided on the litter frame and is separate from the first head section. The second head section includes a second frame movably supported on the support rails between a first horizontal position and a second position wherein a head end of the second frame is elevated above a foot end of the second frame.

Abstract: A patient support apparatus which includes a litter frame having a head end and a foot end and a pair of laterally spaced, longitudinally extending support rails. A seat section which includes a seat frame is secured to the support rails. A first head section which includes a first frame is movably supported on the support rails between a first horizontal position and a second position wherein a head end of the first frame is elevated above a foot end of the first frame. The foot end of the first head section is always oriented on the litter frame immediately adjacent a head end of the seat frame. A second head section is provided on the litter frame and is separate from the first head section. The second head section includes a second frame movably supported on the support rails between a first horizontal position and a second position wherein a head end of the second frame is elevated above a foot end of the second frame.

Abstract: One preferred embodiment of the present invention provides a method for centering the reactive force of a coil spring to an applied load. The method provides a coil spring which defines a spring natural centerline. The spring has opposing ends and at least one end coil with an end coil tip. Opposing loads with parallel load axes and at least one fixed load surface are applied to the opposing ends of the spring. The spring natural centerline is maintained parallel to the applied load axes. The end coil is initially engaged to at least one of the applied loads at a point substantially opposite the end coil tip. In an alternate embodiment of the present invention, a coil spring and an applied load are combined. A plurality of helically wound coils define a spring with a natural centerline and at least one end coil. The end coil defines an end coil tip.

Abstract: A spring perch assembly for automatically centering a load applied to a spring is provided. The assembly includes a body portion and a base portion which when engaged may tilt relative to one another. When disposed between a spring and an applied load, the assembly automatically centers the load along the spring's natural centerline.

Abstract: A spring perch assembly for automatically centering a load applied to a spring is provided. The assembly includes a body portion and a base portion which form a hollow cavity when engaged and may tilt relative to one another. When disposed between a spring and an applied load, the assembly automatically centers the load along the spring's centerline.