Caster Assembly

Abstract

A caster assembly for use with a medical imaging equipment is disclosed in one embodiment in accordance with the disclosure as including two support bars and casters coupled to opposite ends of each of the support bars. The support bars are configured to pivotally mount a bottom side of a main body of the medical imaging equipment. One of the two support bars includes a bridge portion. The bridge portion is configured to allow a portion of the other of the two support bars to extend therethrough and to pivot therein. One of the support bars has an engagement pin provided thereon. A link bar is pivotally coupled to the other of the support bars at its one end thereof. The link bar has a portion for engagement to the engagement pin at its opposite end.

1 . A caster assembly, comprising:
 a plurality of support bars configured to pivotally mount a transportable body, wherein the plurality of the support bars are rotatable to each other at central portions thereof, and   casters coupled to opposite ends of each of the support bars.   
   
   
       2 . The caster assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the support bars comprise two support bars crossed to each other. 
   
   
       3 . The caster assembly of  claim 2 , wherein one of the two support bars includes a bridge portion, the bridge portion being configured to allow a portion of the other of the two support bars to extend therethrough and to pivot therein. 
   
   
       4 . The caster assembly of  claim 3 , further comprising a device for pivotally coupling between the bridge portion and the other of the two support bars. 
   
   
       5 . The caster assembly of  claim 4 , wherein the coupling device includes:
 a joint shaft passing through the other of the two support bars and the bridge portion one after the other; and   thrust bearings disposed between one end of the joint shaft and a bottom side of the other of the two support bars, between the bridge portion and a top side of the other of the two support bars, and between the bridge portion and the transportable body.   
   
   
       6 . The caster assembly of  claim 2 , further comprising a device for interlocking the support bars. 
   
   
       7 . The caster assembly of  claim 6 , wherein the interlocking device includes:
 an engagement pin provided at one of the support bars; and   a link bar configured to be pivotally coupled to the other of the support bars at one end thereof, the link bar having a portion for engaging to the engagement pin at an opposite end thereof.   
   
   
       8 . The caster assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the transportable body comprises a main body of an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus. 
   
   
       9 . The caster assembly of  claim 8 , wherein the support bars comprise two support bars crossed to each other. 
   
   
       10 . The caster assembly of  claim 9 , wherein one of the two support bars includes a bridge portion, the bridge portion being configured to allow a portion of the other of the two support bars to extend therethrough and to pivot therein. 
   
   
       11 . The caster assembly of  claim 10 , further comprising a device for coupling pivotally between the bridge portion and the other of the two support bars. 
   
   
       12 . The caster assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the coupling device includes:
 a joint shaft passing through the other of the two support bars and the bridge portion one after the other; and   thrust bearings disposed between one end of the joint shaft and a bottom side of the other of the two support bars, between the bridge portion and a top side of the other of the two support bars, and between the bridge portion and the transportable body.   
   
   
       13 . The caster assembly of  claim 9 , further comprising a device for interlocking the support bars. 
   
   
       14 . The caster assembly of  claim 13 , wherein the interlocking device includes:
 an engagement pin provided at one of the support bars; and   a link bar configured to be pivotally coupled to the other of the support bars at one end thereof, the link bar having a portion for engaging to the engagement pin at an opposite end thereof.