Bed immobilization system integrated into chassis feet
A bed leg with a caster, equipped with a braking mechanism that allows the bed to be immobilized is provided. The bed leg comprises a housing, which houses a caster, an actuating mechanism installed in the housing, a pedal joined to a lever and a braking pad mounted on the lower part of the actuating mechanism.
1. A bed leg with a caster, the bed leg comprising:
a tubular housing comprising an upper end and a lower end, said tubular housing adapted to be attached to a bed frame and comprising an opening at its lower end,
a base mounted inside the tubular housing and extending horizontally, the base being closer to the lower end of the tubular housing than its upper end,
a caster attached to the base inside of the housing and projecting from said opening, the tubular housing surrounding the caster such that a majority of the caster is hidden from view by the housing,
an actuating mechanism mounted inside the tubular housing so as to be able to move longitudinally inside said housing, an upper portion of the actuating mechanism being above the base and a lower portion of the actuating mechanism being below the base, the actuating mechanism being guided in translation and locked in rotation by the base,
a pedal articulated to said upper end of said housing and joined to a lever cooperating with a cam surface defined on an upper part of said actuating mechanism, and
a braking pad mounted on a lower end of said actuating mechanism so as to prevent the free rotation of the caster when said actuating mechanism is moved downward under the action of the pedal, wherein the braking pad is pressed to a floor all around the caster so as to surround a contact area between the caster and the floor when said actuating mechanism is moved downward under the action of the pedal.
2. The bed leg according to claim 1 , wherein said actuating mechanism comprises two elements that slide relative to each other, with a first spring interposed between them, a braking force being communicated to said braking pad by the compression of said spring.
3. The bed leg according to claim 2 , further comprising a second spring interposed between said actuating mechanism and a fixed support point so as to allow said actuating mechanism to move back up into the housing when the pedal is released.
4. The bed leg according to claim 1 , wherein said braking pad comprises an elastomer braking pad.
5. The bed leg according to claim 1 , further comprising a collar attached to said lower end of the housing, the collar having a notch that receives a portion of the pedal when the pedal is moved to a braking position.
6. A bed equipped with at least one bed leg according to claim 1 .
7. The bed leg according to claim 2 , wherein said braking pad comprises an elastomer braking pad.
8. The bed leg according to claim 3 , wherein said braking pad comprises an elastomer braking pad.
9. The bed leg according to claim 2 , further comprising a collar attached to said lower end of the housing, the collar having a notch that receives a portion of the pedal when the pedal is moved to a braking position.
10. The bed leg according to claim 3 , further comprising a collar attached to said lower end of the housing, the collar having a notch that receives a portion of the pedal when the pedal is moved to a braking position.
11. A bed equipped with at least one bed leg according to claim 2 .
12. A bed equipped with at least one bed leg according to claim 3 .
13. A bed equipped with at least one bed leg according to claim 4 .
14. A bed equipped with at least one bed leg according to claim 5 .