Patient transfer and repositioning system

Abstract
Apparatus including a substantially pliable underlayment, connecting member, and means to exert a force to transfer or reposition a patient is provided. The substantially pliable underlayment includes a substantially smooth mantle, an attaching structure operably adjacent the mantle, and a reinforcing structure for imparting resistance to mantle distortion during transfer or repositioning. The attaching structure includes a reinforced beaded edge and an attaching structure cooperating with the mantle to form a pocket accommodating a transfer bar. The reinforcing structure includes stitching disposed generally diagonally in the mantle and reinforcing fibers present in the material of the mantle. A method of using the pliable underlayment to transfer or reposition a patient is also provided.
Description




FIELD OF THE INVENTION




The invention relates to systems which assist in moving, transporting, repositioning, and rolling over patients who are partly or completely incapacitated. The invention more particularly relates to systems which give a single health care worker the capability to move a patient from one bed to another bed, between a bed and a cart or gurney, between a sitting and a standing position, or from a slumped position in a chair or bed to a more elevated position.




BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION




Health care workers at hospitals, nursing homes, and home care programs face the challenge of moving partly or completely incapacitated patients. A typical patient weighs between 45 and 90 kilograms, although many others weigh more. Consequently, at least two to four health care workers are usually needed to move the patient. These activities often create unacceptable risks of injury, almost without regard to the number of health care workers used in the patient transfer. The risks are particularly high when a sufficient number of workers is not available to assist in a patient transfer. For example, injuries to workers' backs account for approximately 50% of worker's compensation costs for work place injuries in the health care industry in the United States. Thus, back injuries to health care workers are a particularly vexing problem.




Patient transfers can be placed in several broad categories. A first category includes the horizontal transfer of a patient from one flat surface to another. A second category involves upright transfers where a patient is moved from a horizontal position to an upright or sitting position in a wheelchair, chair or commode, and the return of the patient to the horizontal position from an upright or sitting position. A third category of transfer relates to the positioning or movement of patients in order to change their position in a bed or chair, for example pulling the patient up in the bed or rolling the patient from side to side. Although many attempts have been made to devise improved systems for patient transfer, almost all of these transfers continue to be manually performed.




Current healthcare guidelines typically recommend that four health care workers participate in a patient transfer. Two workers are at the bed side and two workers are at the cart side. Each worker grabs an edge of a draw sheet, which is positioned under the patient. The patient is then transferred between the bed and the cart through a combination of lifting, pulling, and pushing. An elongated plastic sheet is often placed beneath the patient to reduce friction or drag. Since a health care worker has to bend over at the waist to accomplish these patient transfers, the stresses encountered are magnified well beyond what would otherwise be expected for a maximum recommended lift of approximately fifty pounds. Normally this recommended maximum lift is measured with the lift at or near the worker's center of mass. Extremes in a health care worker's height, either taller or shorter than average, or any weakness in either the arms or legs further exaggerate these risks.




Many hospitals have swing-type mechanical lift devices to assist in certain patient transfers. However, these devices are not widely used because they are often cumbersome and time-consuming to set up and operate. Depending on the lift required, the devices may also be inappropriate.




The upright transfer and positioning categories provide similar difficulties, especially if the patient is unable to cooperate. For example, weak and elderly patients reclining in a semi-erect position tend to slide down. These patients must be returned to a position more toward the head of the bed. To do so, two health care workers usually grasp the patient by the upper arms to hoist the patient toward the head of the bed after the bed has been lowered to a more horizontal position. This manual transfer often causes strain on the workers' upper and lower backs and possible contact bruises on the patient. Similar difficulties occur with upright transfers.




Given these formidable difficulties, there have been other attempts to mechanize the patient transfer process. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 2,665,432 (Butler), describes a cart with a manual crank connected to an extensive pull unit. The pull unit has a large number of straps which connect at an edge by hooks to a transfer sheet. Rotation of the crank winds the pull unit onto a roller. The size of the pull unit presents many difficulties including it attachment at many locations to the sheet and the awkwardness of winding it on the roller. The pull unit must be placed under the patient just prior to transfer, since it would not normally be kept there. Also, no means are provided for transferring the patient off the cart.




U.S. Pat. No. 2,827,642 (Huff) describes a similar system mounted to the head of a bed and designed to move a patient from the foot toward the head of the bed. The '642 Patent does not describe the process of moving a patient laterally from one horizontal surface to another.




U.S. Pat. No. 4,970,738 (Cole) discloses another patient transfer system which employs a manual crank and self-locking gear system. This system has an advantage over the system described in the '432 patent in that the transfer is reversible. Rotating the crank drives a belt system, which is attached to a semi-rigid transfer apron. The apron is thereby transferred horizontally while supporting a patient. This system has the disadvantage that the apron must be first positioned under the patient before the patient can be transported from a bed onto a cart. Another disadvantage is that the transfer support alone does not provide sufficient support for the patient or the transfer system. Because of the complexity of its design, considerable operator interaction would be required for the transfer support to be mounted to a cart and then operated to transfer a patient.




U.S. Pat. No. 2,733,452 (Tanney) describes a transfer system that uses a motorized pulley to transfer a patient on a metal-reinforced transfer sheet. The transfer sheet has metal grommets in its corners for attachment to cables. A motor is used to wind the cables onto reels thereby resulting in the transfer of the sheet and the patient thereon. However, the patient must first be moved onto the transfer sheet before being moved from a bed to the cart. Moreover, this invention fails to provide support beneath a patient being transferred.




U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,747,170 and 4,868,938 (both to Knouse) reveal a motorized winch-type transfer system. This transfer system has apparent advantages over the transfer system of the '452 patent, which include a more secure transfer sheet gripping mechanism and the use of a transfer sheet which does not need grommets or other similar devices. Though more secure, the gripping system is difficult and awkward to use.




U.S. Pat. No. 5,038,424 (Carter et al.) teaches a system for reciprocally transferring a patient between a bed and a cart. This system employs a pliable transfer web wound about two detachable, cylindrical rollers and a drive motor mounted on the bed and the cart. In use, the bed and cart are positioned side-by-side and the web is placed beneath the patient. The roller adjacent the cart or bed onto which the patient is to be transferred is detached. While unwinding a sufficient length of transfer web wound thereon, the roller is extended to the opposite side of the bed or cart onto which the patient is to be transferred, and there connected to the drive motor. The drive motor is then activated, thereby rewinding the transfer web onto the roller and transporting the patient disposed thereon. Thus, while enabling reciprocal transfer, the system of the '424 patent is time consuming and awkward to set up. Moreover, as in the previous inventions discussed hereinabove, the patient is not supported adequately while being transferred.




While considerable effort has gone into developing horizontal patient transfer systems, all of the systems previously developed have significant drawbacks. These drawbacks primarily relate to the significant difficulties encountered in set-up and operation.




The patents described hereinabove primarily relate to systems for transferring patients from one horizontal surface to another horizontal surface. By partial contrast, U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,700,415 and 4,837,873 (both to DiMatteo et al.) teach a system for transferring patients between a reclined wheelchair and a bed. The bed is equipped with a sheet wound about a right side roller and a left side roller. The sheet is positioned beneath a patient reclining thereupon. The right and left side rollers are positioned laterally on each side of the bed, usually slightly below the plane of the patient. Two corner rollers are situated above the right side and left side rollers. The two corner rollers are approximately level with the top surface of the bed. The reclined wheelchair is equipped with two articulated rollers. Extending between these articulated rollers is a sheet, the sheet including three bands. The lateral edges of the sheet may be joined or separate. If the lateral edges are to be joined, the sheet spans above and below the wheelchair upper surface. If the lateral edges are free, the sheet spans the wheelchair upper surface with its ends wound about the two rollers. The separate transfer systems for the bed and wheelchair must be powered such that both sheets rotate with equal velocities. In use, the patient reclining upon the bed is conveyed laterally by the bed transfer system. Upon encountering the wheelchair transfer system, the patient is thereupon further conveyed onto the wheelchair. The wheelchair may then be further adjusted, allowing the patient to assume a sitting position.




The system of DiMatteo allows for transfer to or from a reclining wheelchair and for adjusting the wheelchair between sitting and reclining positions. However, its shortfalls include the complexity of its design, the need to retrofit beds with the rollers and sheet provided, and the possibility of pinching the patient or catching clothing in the gaps between the bands.




U.S. Pat. No. 3,597,774 (Warren) describes a harness and winch mechanism for raising a patient reclining upon a bed. The winch is mounted to a post attached to the head of the bed and is operated by a hand crank. The harness loops under the patient's armpits such that excessive stress may be applied thereto during operation of the device.




SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION




The invention includes devices for transferring patients which greatly simplify, and provide enhanced versatility over, any known device. The adoption of these transfer devices will likely reduce the wide incidence of back injuries in health care workers. A first system for the horizontal transfer of patients is adapted to use existing transfer sheets and an appropriately modified cart. The sheet is readily attached to a clamping device close to the patient. The clamping device has a releasable catch which holds the sheet. One or more straps are attached to the clamping device, and the other ends of the straps are attached to reels that are part of a winch. Activation of the winch winds the straps onto the reels. In a highly portable embodiment of this transfer device, the entire apparatus may weight only about 8-15 kilograms, and may be readily attachable and removable to bed and cart rails.




A long narrow rectangular cushion can be placed between the bed and cart when using the portable transfer device. The cushion is, optionally, the length of the bed, and may be partially coated with a low friction surface. The cushion may have fasteners for attachment to a bed or cart, or it may also be configured to hang from the side of the bed or cart by the fasteners when not in use. The cushion is particularly convenient when used with a portable transfer device of the invention because no other modifications to the bed or cart may be needed.




Other embodiments of horizontal transfer devices facilitate the transfer of the patient by providing some lift to the patient as well as horizontal motion. The vertical and horizontal transfer mechanisms may both be operably attached to a single bed or cart frame. One embodiment of a horizontal transfer mechanism within the invention has a transfer element that moves within tracks. Another embodiment of a horizontal transfer system of the invention moves the patient on a modularized cushion. In other embodiments, lift is added by use of a harness which provides significant advantage in distributing the weight of the patient without the need to lift the patient to place a portion of the harness under the patient. The harness has a support that goes across the patient's upper body. Another portion of the harness goes under the patient's arms. The harness has a fastener that attaches a lift mechanism near the back of the patient's head.




An improved patient transfer system is capable of transferring a patient using only a single attendant. The transfer system includes patient transfer means for transferring the patient, a transfer sheet, a retaining member assembly operably coupled to the patient transfer means and a contact element assembly.




The improved transfer system may also include a highly portable transfer unit. The portable transfer unit may be totally self-contained or may be installable on a bed or cart and connectable to a separate clamp. The portable transfer unit may utilize a plurality of detachable spools, as well as means for sensing the proximity of a patient being transferred and means for discontinuing the transfer in response to the sensing.




The improved transfer system may still further include a transfer bridge support means for supporting a patient being transported when the patient spans the bed or cart. The transfer bridge support means may be foldable and may include a stabilizer, a cross sectional camber and a leading edge camber to further prevent the transfer bridge support means from being displaced during patient transfer, and improved slip-resistant features.




A system for enabling a person to singly and ergonomically transfer a patient disposed on a sheet as provided. The system may include a caddy. The caddy may include means for enabling the person to transport the caddy from a first location to a second location, a power train, a hook and web assembly attachable to the power train, a power and switching system in electrical communication with the power train, and means for adjusting a vertical position of the hook and web assembly. The transport means may be operably disposed proximate the caddy. The system may further include means for gradually accelerating and decelerating a transfer force exerted by the power train. The power train may include a motor and a plurality of spools in mechanical communication with the motor. The plurality of spools may further be in mechanical and magnetic communication with the motor. The power train may still further include a plurality of magnetic clutch assemblies and a plurality of slip plates. Each magnetic clutch assembly may be in mechanical communication with the motor and each slip plate may be in magnetic communication with one of the magnetic clutch assemblies. Each spool may be in mechanical communication with one of the slip plates.




The hook and web assembly may include a plurality of webs and a plurality of transfer hooks, each web being connectable to one of the spools and each transfer hook being connectable to one of the webs. The power and switching system may further include means for automatically discontinuing a transfer. The system may provide a transfer rod, the transfer rod accommodating the transfer hook when at least a portion of the transfer sheet is wrapped around the transfer hook. The transfer rod may include a plurality of joinable sections, the sections may be elastically connected.




The system may further include a transfer bridge. The transfer bridge may further include a low-friction surface and a plurality of sections, foldable into a generally facing relationship.




There is also provided a movable caddy for enabling a single person to ergonomically turn a patient disposed on a sheet in cooperation with sheet-gripping means or to transfer the patient from a first horizontal surface to a second horizontal surface in cooperation with the sheet-gripping means. The caddy may include a base assembly, the base assembly including means enabling a single person to transport the caddy from a first site to a second site, a vertical adjustable head assembly, the vertical adjustable head assembly including a power train, the power train including a motor, a plurality of magnetic clutches, a plurality of slip plates, and a plurality of spools. Each magnetic clutch may be in mechanical communication with the motor. Each slip plate may be in magnetic communication with one of the magnetic clutches. Each spool may be in mechanical communication with one of the slip plates. The magnetic clutches and the slip plates may cooperate to exert a gradually accelerable transfer force. The system may further include a hook and web assembly with a plurality of webs and means for gripping the sheet. A first end of each web may be windably attachable to one of the spools. The sheet-gripping means may be attachable to a second end of each of the belts. The sheet-gripping means may grip a portion of the sheet, thereby transmitting the transfer force to the gripped sheet. The sheet-gripping means may include a plurality of transfer hooks and a transfer rod. Each transfer hook may be attachable to a second end of each belt and each transfer hook may cooperate with a transfer rod to grip the sheet.




There is also provided a transfer rod for cooperatively gripping and exerting a transfer force on a sheet. A portion of the sheet may be partially enwrapped around the transfer rod, the transfer rod exerting the transfer force in cooperation with the plurality of transfer hooks. The transfer rod may include means for mating with the transfer hooks.




There is also provided a transfer bridge. The transfer bridge may include a first inboard member, a plurality of outboard members, means for interfolding the inboard and outboard members, and means for reducing friction arising from contact between a sheet and the transfer bridge. An outboard member may extend from a lateral edge of the first inboard member. The transfer bridge may include a second inboard member and an outboard member may extend from each inboard member.




There is provided a substantially pliable underlayment for transferring, repositioning, or rolling a patient disposed thereon, the underlayment including a substantially smooth mantle proportioned to accommodate at least a central portion of the patient's body, an attaching structure operably adjacent the mantle, and a reinforcing structure for imparting a resistance to distortion of the mantle in response to a force exerted on the attaching structure.




There is also provided a method of transferring or repositioning a patient disposed on a substantially pliable underlayment, the method comprising the steps of providing the substantially pliable underlayment, the underlayment including a substantially smooth and pliable mantle, an attaching structure operably adjacent the mantle, and a reinforcing structure for imparting a resistance to distortion of the mantle in response to a force exerted on the attaching structure; attaching a connecting member to the attaching structure; and exerting the force on the connecting member, the force being sufficient to displace the patient.











BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS





FIG. 1

is a perspective view of a bed with an adjacent cart adapted with a first embodiment of a horizontal patient transfer system;





FIG. 2

is a front, schematic view of a cart adapted with the first embodiment of a horizontal patient transfer system with side rails in a lowered storage position;





FIG. 3

is a front, schematic view of a cart adapted with the first embodiment of a horizontal patient transfer system with side rails in a raised patient transport position;





FIG. 4

is a front, schematic view of a cart adapted with the first embodiment of a horizontal patient transfer system with one side rail in a raised position and a second side rail in a bridge position used during patient transfer;





FIG. 5

is a front fragmentary view of one embodiment of hinges supporting a side rail;





FIG. 6

is an exploded view of a side rail of the first embodiment of a horizontal transfer system;





FIG. 7

is a cut away view of a second drive system within the side rail;





FIG. 8

is a perspective view of a first embodiment of a clamping device useful with a first embodiment of the horizontal transfer system in an orientation to be clamped to a transfer sheet folded over a rod;





FIG. 9

is an end view of a first embodiment of the clamping device;





FIG. 10

is a perspective view of a second embodiment of the clamping device;





FIG. 11

is an end view of the second embodiment of the clamping device;





FIG. 12

is a perspective view of a third embodiment of the clamping device;





FIG. 13

is an end view of the third embodiment of the clamping device;





FIG. 14

is a perspective view of the attachment of a portable horizontal transfer device for the transfer of a patient from one horizontal surface to another;





FIG. 15

is a perspective view of the portable horizontal transfer device;





FIG. 16

is an exploded view of the portable horizontal transfer device;





FIG. 17

is a perspective view of a portable cushion attached to a horizontal surface to provide a smooth continuous surface for the transfer of a patient with the portable horizontal transfer system, with the cushion in a lowered, stored position shown in phantom lines;





FIG. 18

is a perspective view of a further embodiment of a horizontal transfer system;





FIG. 19

is a partial, cut away perspective view of the further embodiment of the horizontal transfer system showing the drive system for horizontal extensions;





FIG. 20

is a perspective view of the further embodiment of the horizontal transfer system with a patient elevated over a cart to indicate the ranges of motion obtainable by the transfer system;





FIG. 21

is a perspective view of the further embodiment of the horizontal transfer system with an alternative design for the horizontal drive;





FIG. 22

is a fragmentary perspective view of a sheet clamp indicating its motion relative to a lifting support and its attachment to a transfer sheet;





FIG. 23

is a perspective view of a bed equipped with the further embodiment of the horizontal transfer device with the bed in a raised position;





FIG. 24

is a partial perspective view of one end of the embodiment of

FIG. 21

with an arrow showing the disengagement of a removable panel;





FIG. 25

is a partial perspective view of one end of the embodiment of

FIG. 21

with a removable panel attached as a shelf;





FIG. 26

is a perspective view of a portion of the foot board bed or cart adapted with the further embodiment of the horizontal transfer system indicating a location for the attachment of a control unit;





FIG. 27

is a top view of a transfer sheet designed for use with the further embodiment of the horizontal transfer system;





FIG. 28

is a perspective view of the transfer sheet of

FIG. 27

shown in its folded position;





FIG. 29

is perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the horizontal transfer system;





FIG. 30

is a perspective view of a portion of the alternative embodiment of

FIG. 29

showing extendable horizontal supports;





FIG. 31

is a perspective view of the alternative embodiment of

FIG. 29

being used to assist a patient to sit up;





FIG. 32

is a perspective view as in

FIG. 31

indicating the rotation of a lifting element;





FIG. 33

is a perspective view of a transfer system with a horizontal transfer mechanism;





FIG. 34

is a cut away side view of one embodiment of a docking mechanism;





FIG. 35

is a cut away side view of a second embodiment of a docking mechanism;





FIG. 36

is a perspective view of the transfer system of

FIG. 33

with a transfer element bridging between a bed and a cart;





FIG. 37

is a perspective view of a transfer bridge used with the transfer system of

FIG. 33

;





FIG. 38

is a perspective view of the transfer bridge of

FIG. 37

with the bridge in the bridging position;





FIG. 39

is a side view of the transfer bridge in the bridging position with lever and rods removed;





FIG. 40

is a side view of the transfer bridge in the raised position with lever and rods removed;





FIG. 41

is a perspective view of a split transfer bridge;





FIG. 42

is a perspective view of a mattress transfer system;





FIG. 43

is a perspective view of a docking mechanism used with the mattress transfer system of

FIG. 42

;





FIG. 44

is a perspective view of a gripping mechanism of the mattress transfer system in pushing position;





FIG. 45

is a perspective view of a gripping mechanism of the mattress transfer system in pulling position;





FIG. 46

is an exposed, top perspective view of a mattress and fixed cushion of the mattress transfer system indicating the location of structures within and below the mattress and cushion;





FIG. 47

is a perspective view of a mattress transfer system used with a position changing cart and a folding mattress;





FIG. 48

is a perspective view of the mattress transfer system and position changing cart depicting the cart in a folded position;





FIG. 49

is a side view of the position changing cart in the chair orientation;





FIG. 50

is a perspective view of a lobster claw type of bed jacket being placed on one side of a person;





FIG. 51

is a perspective view of the bed jacket in place around a person;





FIG. 52

is a perspective view of the bed jacket secured around a person and hooked to a hoisting mechanism;





FIG. 53

is a perspective view of a motorized bed jacket attached to a stand above a wheel chair;





FIG. 54

is a front view of a padded vest;





FIG. 55

is a perspective view of the padded vest around a person and attached to a tether where hidden portions of the vest are depicted with phantom line;





FIG. 56

is a perspective view of a motorized bed jacket being attached to a mount above a headboard;





FIG. 57

is a top perspective view of the motorized bed jacket;





FIG. 58

is a partial cut away view of the drive system of the motorized bed jacket;





FIG. 59

is a perspective view of a bed jacket attached to three hoisting mechanism on a ceiling using a three way control cylinder;





FIG. 60

is a side perspective view of the three way control cylinder;





FIG. 61

is a schematic view of the internal components of the three way control unit;





FIG. 62

is a top right perspective view of another clamp embodiment of the present invention;





FIG. 63

is a side plan view of the clamp of

FIG. 62

, in an open position;





FIG. 64

is a side plan view of the clamp of

FIG. 62

in a closed, locked position;





FIG. 65

is a top perspective view of another clamp embodiment of the present invention, the clamp disassembled and depicted in an exploded view;





FIG. 66

is a top perspective view of the clamp of

FIG. 65

assembled;





FIG. 67

is a top plan view of another clamp of the present invention;





FIG. 68

is a side plan view of the clamp embodiment of

FIG. 67

;





FIG. 69

is another embodiment of the transfer system of the present invention, whereby a patient may be bidirectionally transferred without the necessity of reinstalling this embodiment on another bed or cart;





FIG. 70

is a side plan view of the embodiment of

FIG. 69

, wherein a patient is being transferred away from the bed on which the embodiment is installed;





FIG. 71

is a side plan view of the embodiment of

FIG. 69

, wherein a patient is being transferred onto the bed or cart onto which the embodiment is installed;





FIG. 72

is a top, side perspective view of a remote control usable for any of the embodiments described herein;





FIG. 73

is a top, side view of a remote control, which may be used for any of the embodiments described herein;





FIG. 74

is a top, side perspective view of a portable transfer device and clamp installed onto a hospital bed;





FIG. 75

is a top, side perspective view of an embodiment of the portable transfer device, wherein a spool or reel may be detachably installed onto a drive shaft;





FIG. 76

is a side plan view of any of the portable transfer devices of the present invention depicting a reel for winding a retraction belt, wherein an automatic cutoff device is operationally installed;





FIG. 77

is another embodiment of a portable transfer device installed onto a bed, and wherein one of the clamps of the present invention is connected thereto by means of belts;





FIG. 78

is a side view of any of the portable transfer devices of the present invention, depicting a mounting bracket and quick release pin;





FIG. 79

is a top perspective view of another portable transfer device of the present invention;





FIG. 80

is a top perspective view of a detachable remote control for any of the portable transfer devices of the present invention;





FIG. 81

is a fragmentary top perspective view of a portable transfer device of the present invention, depicting a clip for securing the jaws therein;





FIG. 82

is a fragmentary top perspective view of a portable transfer device of the present invention, depicting a lock-down device for securing the jaws thereto;





FIG. 83

is a top plan view of a portable transfer device of the present invention, depicting the downwardly opening jaw portion of the clamp thereto;





FIG. 84

is a side plan view of a portable transfer device of the present invention, depicting an upwardly opening jaw portion thereof;





FIG. 85

is a top plan view of a motor and winch system, suitable for any of the transfer devices of the present invention;





FIG. 86

is an exploded view of the motor and winch assembly of

FIG. 85

;





FIG. 87

is a top front perspective view of a transfer bridge spanning a gap between a bed with a patient reclining thereon and a transfer cart;





FIG. 88

is a bottom plan view of an alternate embodiment of the transfer bridge of

FIG. 87

;





FIG. 89

is a fragmentary side view of the transfer bridge of

FIG. 87

or

FIG. 88

, depicting the hinge thereon;





FIG. 90

is a top front perspective of the bridge of

FIG. 87

being folded and prepared for either transport or storage;





FIG. 91

is an exploded view of a clamp of the present invention;





FIG. 92

is a top perspective view of the assembled clamp of

FIG. 91

;





FIG. 93

is a side perspective view of a portable transfer unit;





FIG. 94

is a side plan view of the portable transfer unit of

FIG. 93

;





FIG. 95

depicts an attendant carrying a portable transfer unit;





FIG. 96

is an elevated left perspective view of the patient transfer system of the present invention;





FIG. 97

is an elevated left perspective view thereof;





FIG. 98

is an exploded view of the top frame of the present invention;





FIG. 99

is an exploded view of the base assembly thereof;





FIG. 100

is a left elevated perspective view of the remote switch of the patient transfer system of

FIG. 96

;





FIG. 101

is an exploded view depicting the components of the switch of

FIG. 100

;





FIG. 102

is an elevated perspective view of a transfer rod of the present invention;





FIG. 103

is an exploded view of the transfer rod of

FIG. 102

;





FIG. 104

is a fragmentary elevated perspective view depicting how the elastic cord is secured to the cord plate of the transfer rod of

FIG. 102

;





FIG. 105

is a top plan view of the transport rod of

FIG. 102

being disassembled for storage or transport;





FIG. 106

is a top plan view of the transfer rod of

FIG. 105

partially disassembled;





FIG. 107

is a side plan view of the transfer rod of

FIG. 102

disassembled and ready for storage;





FIG. 108

is an elevated perspective view of the transfer bridge of the present invention;





FIG. 109

is a cross section taken along lines


109





109


of

FIG. 108

;





FIG. 110

is a side plan view depicting the transfer bridge of

FIG. 108

being folded for storage or transport;





FIG. 111

is a side plan view of the transfer bridge of

FIG. 108

being completely folded and ready for storage or transport;





FIG. 112

is a side plan view of the patient transfer system of

FIG. 96

depicting the transfer rod and the transfer bridge in storage positions;





FIG. 113

is a side plan view of the patient transfer system of

FIG. 96

depicting vertical adjustment of the head assembly;





FIG. 114

is a fragmentary elevated perspective view of the head assembly of the lateral patient transfer system with the upper shield removed;





FIG. 115

is a fragmentary side view of the head assembly of the lateral patient transfer system depicting a patient transfer in progress;





FIG. 116

is a fragmentary side plan view of the patient transfer system depicting completion of a patient transfer event;





FIG. 117

is a fragmentary elevated perspective view of the webbing attached to the drum of the head assembly and extending through a slot therefor in the top frame and upper shield and further depicting an interlock switch in place thereto;





FIG. 118

is a top plan view of a webbing attached to the drum of the transfer system of

FIG. 96

;





FIG. 119

is a fragmentary elevated perspective view of the transfer hook, joint connector, and webbing of the present invention;





FIG. 120

is a side plan view of the hook, joint connector, and webbing of

FIG. 119

;





FIG. 121

is a fragmentary elevated right perspective view of the base assembly of the present invention depicting attachment of the cable to the peddle and actuator assembly thereof;





FIGS. 122-132

sequentially depict a patient transfer event by an attendant using the patient transfer system of the present invention;





FIG. 133

is a fragmentary elevated left perspective view of a transfer hook emplaced over an enwrapped transfer bar of the present invention;





FIG. 134

is a diagram of the electrical and switching system of the present invention;





FIG. 135

is an elevated perspective view of another embodiment of the patient transfer system of

FIG. 96

, with extended bumpers;





FIG. 136

is a top plan view of a pair of sheet grippers alternately used with the patient transfer system of

FIGS. 96 and 135

;





FIG. 137

is an elevated left perspective view of an alternate embodiment of the patient transfer system of

FIG. 96

;





FIG. 138

is an elevated rear perspective view of another alternate embodiment of the patient transfer system of

FIG. 96

;





FIG. 139

is a fragmentary perspective view of a stabilizing weight being positioned on a bumper of the transfer caddy of

FIG. 96

;





FIG. 140

is a fragmentary elevated perspective view of the transfer caddy of

FIG. 139

with the weight in place;





FIG. 141

is a side view of the transfer caddy of

FIG. 140

;





FIG. 142

is a bottom plan view of another embodiment of a stabilizing weigh to be installed on the transfer caddy of

FIG. 96

;





FIG. 143

is a front exploded view depicting placement of the weight of

FIG. 142

;





FIG. 144

is a side view depicting the weight of

FIG. 142

installed on the transfer caddy of

FIG. 96

;





FIG. 145

is a top plan view of a first embodiment of a transfer sheet cooperating with a plurality of attaching members to form pockets;





FIG. 146

is a top plan view of a second embodiment of the sheet of

FIG. 145

;





FIG. 147

is a top plan view of a third embodiment of the sheet of

FIG. 145

;





FIG. 148

is a fragmentary perspective view of the sheet of

FIG. 145

with a repositioning bar being inserted therein;





FIG. 149

is a fragmentary perspective view of the sheet of

FIG. 145

with a repositioning bar in place;





FIG. 150

is fragmentary perspective view of the sheet of

FIG. 145

with a repositioning bar inserted and with a transfer hook being attached thereto;





FIG. 151

is a fragmentary perspective view of a first embodiment of another sheet of this invention;





FIG. 152

is a fragmentary perspective view of a second embodiment of the sheet of

FIG. 151

;





FIG. 153

is a fragmentary perspective view of a third embodiment of the sheet of

FIG. 151

;





FIG. 154

is a fragmentary perspective view of a fourth embodiment of the sheet of

FIG. 151

;





FIG. 155

is a fragmentary perspective view of a transfer hook being connected to the sheet of

FIG. 154

;





FIG. 156

is a top plan view of a transfer and repositioning sheet of this invention;





FIG. 157

is a sectional view of the sheet of

FIG. 156

taken along line


157





157


;





FIG. 158

is a top plan view of a drawsheet layer of the sheet of

FIG. 156

;





FIG. 159

is a sectional view of an alternate embodiment of the sheet of

FIG. 156

;





FIG. 160

is a fragmentary perspective view of another embodiment of a transfer and repositioning sheet of this invention;





FIG. 161

is a top plan view of the sheet of FIG.


160


;











DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS




The invention includes improved devices and methods for moving and repositioning patients and other individuals who lack full mobility. Patients must be moved in a variety of ways in health care facilities such as hospitals, nursing homes and other residences. For example, patients may need to be transferred horizontally between a bed and a cart, they may need to be repositioned in a bed or chair, or they may need to assume a prone, sitting or standing position. The unifying feature of the various embodiments of this invention is enabling empowering a single health care worker to move a patient in a substantially low risk manner to either the patient or the healthcare worker. The embodiments of this invention further allow a patient transfer event to require between about 20 seconds and 28 seconds and preferably about 24 seconds.




A feature of the horizontal transfer systems of the present invention includes a support beneath the patient and a mechanical or electromechanical system for applying a horizontal force to the support to effect the transfer. The designs of the various embodiments incorporate varying features to achieve this utility. In order to reduce cost, the simplest systems are designed to be adapted for use with beds, carts and transfer sheets now commonly in use in health care facilities. Other embodiments optimize the particular characteristics of the design with less regard to adaptation to existing equipment. In all cases, each design focuses toward the goal of a safe and efficient ergonomic patient transfer event by a single health care worker. Each design also focuses toward greatly reducing the number of healthcare workers required for each transfer event.




This is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/713,412, filed Sep. 13, 1996, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/527,519, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,737,781. The embodiments of the present invention described hereinbelow are also disclosed in U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/023,572, filed Aug. 19, 1996, in U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/025,084, filed Aug. 30, 1996, and U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/043,208, filed Apr. 8, 1997, the entire contents of each being hereby incorporated by reference.




Referring to

FIG. 1

, the first exemplary embodiment of horizontal transfer system


100


includes standard patient cart


102


retrofitted with horizontal transfer mechanism


104


. Cart


102


will generally have base


106


with four wheels


108


. Wheels


108


preferably have lock levers


110


for applying brakes to prevent rotation of wheels


108


. Base


106


may have a top surface


112


that usually, but not necessarily, will have a flat portion


114


.




Cart


102


includes support portion


116


. Support portion


116


is attached to base


106


by one or more upright supports


118


. The exemplary embodiment represented in

FIG. 1

has two upright supports


118


. Some designs may have wheels


108


attached directly to upright supports


118


, thereby eliminating the need for base


106


. Support portion


116


will preferably include cushioned bumpers


120


. Cart


102


may have the capability of raising and lowering support portion


116


relative to base


106


, as well as other features. Support portion


116


provides support structure


122


for supporting cushion (or mattress)


124


for holding patient


126


.




Exemplary horizontal transfer mechanism


104


includes two side rails


128


. Referring to

FIG. 5

, side rails


128


are mounted to cart


102


by hinges


130


,


131


. Side rails


128


and hinges


130


,


131


are preferably adapted from existing side rails and hinges on cart


102


. Hinges


130


,


131


can adjust to place side rails


128


in either an elevated pull position or a lowered storage position as depicted in FIG.


2


. Preferably, hinges


130


,


131


are used to place side rails


128


in a horizontal bridge position to provide support and a smooth surface for transferring the patient (FIG.


4


). The different positions are schematically depicted in

FIGS. 2-4

. Alternative designs for the side rail may allow for the side rail to slide straight down to a lowered position, although other variations are within the spirit and scope of this invention.




Referring to

FIG. 6

, each exemplary side rail


128


includes handle


132


, control panel


134


and a plurality of openings


136


for a power assembly, such as winch


138


. Other openings may be used for access to the winch unit. Control panel


134


has a plurality of switches


140


to control the operation of winch


138


. The particular design of side rail


128


and control panel


134


may be varied without effecting their function.




Referring to

FIG. 6

, a convenient structure for side rail


128


includes frame


142


, winch


138


, front cover


144


and back cover


146


. Frame


142


further includes extensions


148


attached to frame substructure


150


at frame hinge


152


. Frame substructure


150


may include winch mounting portion


154


. Frame substructure


150


may be made from metal, a rigid polymer or a composite material, although other materials exhibiting the proper strength, weight, and cost characteristics may be suitable. Back cover


146


may define open portions


156


and handle


132


. In this example, extensions


148


are disposed through open portion


156


. Moreover, the sizes and configurations of open portions


156


admit frame hinges


152


. Open portions


152


are further dimensioned to admit coincident movement when side rail


128


is raised or lowered by pivoting side rail


128


on hinges


152


. Outer surface


147


of back cover


146


(

FIG. 5

) is a transfer surface which may include a low friction material to assist with the transfer process and reduce the risk of injury. Front cover


144


includes a mated part of handle


132


. Front cover


144


further defines openings


136


and control panel opening


158


.




Winch


138


is coupled to control panel


134


by wires


160


. A conventional manual winch may also be used without excess difficulty, but less conveniently. Drive system


143


may include at least one motor


162


. Both drive system


143


and motor


162


may be configured in a variety of conventional designs. Motor


162


may directly rotate drive shaft


164


as depicted in FIG.


6


. In the embodiment of

FIG. 7

, motor


162


rotates first drive shaft


165


, thereby rotating first gear


166


. First gear


166


engages second gear


168


. Second gear


168


is connected to second drive shaft


170


. Second gear


168


may have a larger diameter than first gear


166


, thereby causing a reduced rate of rotation of second drive shaft


170


relative to first draft shaft


165


.




Two belts


172


each with a clip


174


are attached to second drive shaft


170


at positions coincident openings


136


. Belts


172


preferably wind on spools


175


. Spools


175


help ensure that belts


172


wind and unwind straight. Belts


172


are preferably made from very strong synthetic fabric such as the material used in seat belts for automobiles. Winch


138


may be powered by a battery pack


176


. Winch


138


and battery pack


176


are electrically connected by power cord


178


. Alternatively, winch


138


may be powered by alternating current using another power cord (not shown). Cart


102


, or any other embodiment of the present invention, may also include aligning and docking mechanisms. Aligning mechanisms may further include powering and steering means, whereby at least two wheels


108


of cart


102


are powered and steered by operation of control switches


140


. Docking mechanisms may include clamps and electromagnets. These clamps and electromagnets may also be operated by control switches


140


. These clamps and electromagnets may secure cart


102


to the horizontal surface onto which the patient is to be transferred.




In addition to control switches


140


, hand-held remote control units communicating with the control mechanism of cart


102


by electric or electromagnetic means are within the scope of the present invention. Voice actuated controls are also within the scope of the present invention, thereby enabling the patient, as well as an attendant, to begin and discontinue a transfer event.




Cart


102


, or any other embodiment of the present invention, may further include means for sensing an asynchronous operation of the transfer mechanisms. Such means include sensing the individual belt torque or drag experienced when belts


172


are being retracted and a comparison of these sensings. A difference between sensings exceeding a predetermined value or a sensing ratio greater than or less than a predetermined ratio range would result in an alarm being actuated or an automatic discontinuance of transfer.




Cart


102


of

FIG. 1

is designed for use with standard patient draw sheet


190


. Standard patient draw sheet


190


is sufficiently wide that it can be folded over patient


126


if desired. Typically draw sheet


190


is not long enough that it extends under the head or feet of the patient. Rather than using several persons to move the patient disposed on draw sheet


190


, horizontal transfer mechanism


104


performs a comparable function. Clips


174


are designed to attach directly to draw sheet


190


. However, a worker may also use another clamping device to provide a more even pull over more of the length of sheet


190


and thus provide a smoother transfer motion to the patient. For particularly tall patients, draw sheet


190


may be wrapped around patient


126


for added support. Both ends of draw sheet


190


are then attached to the clamping device.




Three embodiments of exemplary clamping device


194


are presented in

FIGS. 8-13

. The first embodiment of clamping device


194


is shown in

FIGS. 8 and 9

. Clamping device


194


may be used to attach draw sheet


190


to winch


138


. Clamping device


194


may employ rod


192


in doing so. A cross section of clamp


196


includes U-shaped portion


196


, which forms cavity


198


. Cavity


198


, in turn, is covered by spring loaded gate


200


. Rod


192


can enter cavity


198


when pushed against gate


200


. Force from rod


192


against gate


200


from inside cavity


198


tends to force gate


200


closed, thereby further preventing withdrawal of rod


192


. Gate


200


includes upward extension


202


. Forward force on upward extension


202


opens gate


200


for the withdrawal of rod


192


from cavity


198


. Clips


174


are conveniently attached to clamping device


194


at J-shaped flanges


204


. Rod


192


can be optionally tethered to the clamping device


194


at one or more positions. Rod


192


may also be clipped to clamping device


194


for storage.




In the second and third embodiments, clamping device


194


includes upper portion


206


and lower portion


208


attached at hinge


210


, thereby defining cavity


212


. The front of cavity


212


is closed by L-shaped, hinged closure


214


. The two embodiments to device


194


differ in their design for J-shaped flanges


216


,


218


for attaching clips


174


. In these embodiments, sheet


190


is directly placed into cavity


212


without the need to wrap sheet


190


around rod


192


. However, rod


192


could still be used if desired. Sheet


190


is held in place by L-shaped hinge closure


214


. A thin rigid tucking device (not shown) of any convenient length may be used if desired to assist with tucking sheet


190


into clamp


194


.




Clearly, a variety of other designs for clamping device


194


are possible within the general concepts presented. In each of these embodiments, any portion of sheet


190


may be attached, not just the edge of sheet


190


. This is an important feature because clamping device


194


should preferably be placed as near as possible to the patient so that transfer mechanism


104


can fully transfer the patient from the first horizontal surface to the second.




In operation, cart


102


is wheeled to a patient's bed


220


, as depicted in

FIG. 1

, or onto another cart. Side rail


128


facing bed


220


is placed in the bridge position with low friction surface


147


directed upward. Draw sheet


190


is attached to a clamping device. Belts


172


are unwound from drive shafts


164


or


170


until they reach rod


192


at the edge of bed


220


. Belts


172


are unwound either by activating motor


162


to unwind them or by using a clutch (not shown) to allow belts


172


to be freely withdrawn from the drive shaft. Clips


174


on the ends of belts


172


are attached to exemplary clamping device


194


. Clamping device


194


is then engaged by rod


192


and sheet


190


. Other embodiments of clamping device


194


may be used with or without rod


192


.




After the appropriate switch mechanism


140


is actuated, winch


138


begins winding belts


172


onto drive shafts


164


(

FIG. 6

) or spool


175


(FIG.


7


). Motor


162


may be designed to apply a slow, steady and constant force to move patient


126


without jerking. Motor


162


may further advantageously provide variable speeds of movement consistent with gradual starts and stops and safe transfer throughout the length of travel. Draw sheet


190


helps to distribute transfer forces over significant areas of the patient's body. When patient


126


is on cart cushion


124


, motor


162


is turned off or otherwise disengaged. At this point, belts


172


are disconnected from clamping device


194


. Sheet


190


is then removed from clamping device


194


.




To transfer a patient from a cart to a bed, the bed should be equipped with a winch such as winch


138


present on cart


102


. This bed-based transfer device may include the side rails of a conventional bed. These side rails typically slide vertically rather than folding under the bed. Winch


138


could easily be adapted on one or both sides of the bed, and may be retrofitted to a bed in a comparable fashion as with cart


102


, based on the above description.




Alternatively, a portable winch unit readily carried by a single health care provider may be used to replace winch


138


on bed


220


, or cart


102


. Exemplary portable winch unit


250


is shown in

FIGS. 14-16

. Portable winch unit


250


includes housing


252


, clamping device


254


and winch


256


. Clamping device


254


may hold and grip transfer sheet


190


in a similar manner as clamping device


194


. Clamping device


254


also serves as a frame or a portion of a frame for the portable winch unit


250


. Housing


252


preferably includes top portion


258


and bottom portion


260


. Top portion


258


and bottom portion


260


may be heavy plastic shells surrounding clamping device


254


and winch


256


.




Winch


256


includes motor


262


. In operation motor


262


rotates a drive shaft (not shown) on which reel


263


is mounted. Belt


264


winds around reel


263


. Belt


264


is comparable to belts


172


in embodiment


100


. Handle


266


attaches to a free end of belt


264


. Handle


266


, in turn, attaches to clamp


268


. Clamp


268


attaches to the edge of a bed or cart. Clamp


268


may be designed to fold out of the way when not in use. Belt


264


passes out of housing


252


through opening


270


. The operation of winch


256


may be controlled through circuit board


272


. Circuit board


272


may electrically connect to motor


262


by means of wire


274


. Circuit board


272


may be electrically connected to port


276


.




Control unit


278


with switches


280


may be electrically connected to port


276


by way of tether


282


. The operator may operate winch


256


using control unit


278


. Alternatively, control switches


280


may be present within housing


252


, as shown in FIG.


15


. However, this may be less desirable because the operator would need to lean over the bed or cart while the patient was being transferred. Control unit


278


may also have a wireless connection with circuit board


272


using a transmitter/receiver (not shown). Winch


256


may be powered by a standard wall outlet using cord


284


. Retractable cord assembly


286


may be used to retract cord


284


when cord


284


is not in use. Retractable cord assembly


286


may also be used to prevent excess cord from being in the way during a patient transfer. Alternatively, a battery, preferably rechargeable, may be used to power winch


256


.




As shown in

FIG. 14

, a patient may be transferred from a first bed/cart


288


to a second bed/cart


290


. Draw sheet


190


may be disposed under the patient in a similar manner as described above with respect to embodiment


100


.

FIG. 17

depicts portable cushion


292


. Cushion


292


may be placed between the first bed/cart


288


and the second bed/cart


290


to provide a relatively smooth continuous surface for transferring the patient. Mating portions of a hook and loop fastener are present on a surface of portable cushion


292


and the bed or cart. Thus, portable cushion


292


may be attached to the bed or cart when not in use. Portable cushion


292


may also be used with other transfer devices or as an aid during a manual transfer. A top surface of cushion


292


may include a very low friction material. The very low friction material may be plastic.




Portable winch unit


250


may be attached to draw sheet


190


by means of clamping device


254


, (

FIGS. 15

,


16


). The design of clamping device


254


may be similar to the clamping devices in

FIGS. 8-13

or a comparable design based on similar concepts. Draw sheet


190


may be wrapped about rod


192


(

FIG. 8

) for attachment to clamping device


254


. Referring to

FIG. 14

, belt


264


is withdrawn from housing


252


so that handle


266


can be attached to clamp


268


. Clamp


268


is rigidly attached to second bed/cart


290


on its side opposite the side near first bed/cart


288


. Clamp


268


can be optionally reversibly detachable or lowerable to a storage position. The operator uses control unit


278


to activate motor


262


. As motor


262


retracts belt


264


, portable winch unit


250


and the patient are drawn toward clamp


268


which result in the patient being moved onto second bed/cart


290


.




Referring to

FIG. 14

, the transfer devices of the present invention, especially the clamps, are designed to be centered at the patient's center of gravity when the patient is in a supine position. A patient's center of gravity is usually about midway between the patient's navel and buttocks, represented as lines N and B, respectively. Thus, to move the patient smoothly and evenly, the clamp center of gravity (represented by arrow C) should be aligned about midway between lines N and B on the patient.




Exemplary horizontal transfer system


300


includes an especially designed transfer sheet


302


and transfer unit


304


, as shown in FIG.


18


. Transfer unit


304


can move a patient in either of two directions. Thus, horizontal transfer system


300


has the advantage that only the cart or bed, but not both, must be equipped with transfer unit


304


. Therefore, the cart or bed not adapted by transfer unit


304


may be conventional in design.




Transfer unit


304


includes head frame


306


and foot frame


308


. Head frame


306


and foot frame


308


are in mechanical communication with drive system


310


(FIG.


19


). Head frame


306


replaces or attaches to the head board of the bed or cart. Foot frame


308


replaces or is attached to the foot board of the bed or cart. Head frame


306


and foot frame


308


include at least one vertical support


312


. A bottom portion of vertical support


312


may include wheel


314


. Wheels


314


are oriented to roll in a direction defined by the width of the bed/cart. Wheels


314


may be attached to vertical support


312


in such a manner that wheels


314


are shifted up and out of contact with the floor. Thus, the bed or cart may then be moved more easily because wheels


314


are retracted away from the floor. Vertical supports


312


may have a removable brace (not shown) extending therebetween. When in use, the removable braces serve to enable vertical supports


312


to become more rigid by compensating for forces created by the weight of the patient during transport.




Referring to

FIGS. 19-21

, head frame


306


and foot frame


308


each include at least one expandable horizontal support


316


and lifting support


324


. Each horizontal support


316


extends from vertical supports


312


. Horizontal supports


316


include fixed portions


318


and telescoping portions


322


. Fixed portions


318


are attached to the head board, foot board, head board portion


320


, or foot board portion


320


. Fixed portions


318


may extend at least across the width of the bed or cart. Telescoping portions


322


are attached to each vertical support


312


and slidably engage a corresponding fixed portion


318


. In certain embodiments, telescoping portion


322


will slide into a corresponding fixed portion


318


, although other types of slidable engagement are possible.




Lifting support


324


slidably attaches to fixed portion


318


such that lifting support


324


moves with vertical support


312


and telescoping portions


322


. Each lifting support


324


includes gripping portion


328


and two lifting portions


330


. Gripping portion


328


may define opening


332


. Sheet clamp


325


will be discussed in more detail hereinbelow. However, first ends of cables


327


may extend from sheet clamp


325


through opening


332


. Second ends of cables


327


may be secured to gripping portion


328


. Thus, raising lifting support


324


will also raise clamp


325


. Referring to

FIG. 23

, cables


327


permit sheet clamps


325


to remain attached to transfer sheet


302


while mattress support


329


goes through a range of motion. In one configuration, first lifting portion


330


engages vertical support


312


at slot


336


. Second lifting portion


330


engages moving support


338


which is attached to telescoping portion


322


.




Exemplary lifting support


324


is capable of a range of vertical motion. The range of vertical motion enabled by lifting support


324


will typically be between 6″ and 12″. This range of vertical motion provides sufficient clearance for a horizontal transfer from a first bed/cart to a second bed/cart. Thus, retrofitted bed/cart


326


with attached transfer unit


304


can transfer patients from or to retrofitted bed/cart


326


. Lifting support


324


also enables workers to change linen more conveniently. However, transfer sheet


302


needs to be changed separately.




Referring to

FIG. 19

, drive system


310


includes horizontal drive system


340


and vertical drive system


342


. Drive system


310


is operated from control panel


344


(FIGS.


18


-


20


). Control panel


344


may be located on vertical supports


312


. Alternatively, portable controller


345


(

FIG. 23

) is patched into head frame


306


or foot frame


308


through connector


348


. Other embodiments for controlling drive system


310


are possible. Drive


342


enables vertical motion of lifting support


324


. Drive


342


may be adapted to operate by motorized worm drive


343


or by other motor or hydraulic systems.




Two embodiments are shown for horizontal drive system


340


in

FIGS. 19 and 21

, respectively. The first embodiment includes motor


350


. Motor


350


is secured to the frame of bed/cart frame


352


. Motor


350


turns drive shafts


352


,


354


. Drive shafts


352


,


354


connect to transmission


356


. Transmission


356


, in turn, is in mechanical communication with telescoping portion


322


. Thus, actuating motor


350


results in extending or retracting telescoping portion


322


within fixed portion


318


.




The second embodiment of drive system


340


includes motor


358


mounted on either head frame


306


or foot frame


308


. Motor


358


rotates worm drive


360


. Worm drive


360


is mounted horizontally alongside motor


358


. Worm drive


360


transfers motion from motor


358


to telescoping portion


322


. Optional removable panel


362


can be removed, as shown in

FIG. 24

, and mounted on foot frame


308


. When mounted on foot frame


308


, panel


362


may be used as a shelf, as a cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) board, or to support additional equipment as shown in FIG.


25


.




An appropriate transfer sheet


302


for use in this embodiment of horizontal transfer unit


300


is depicted in

FIGS. 27 and 28

. Transfer sheet


302


includes wings


380


. Hook and loop or comparable fasteners


382


may be present on the edges of wings


380


. Wings


380


may be folded over the patient and closed with fasteners


382


. The shape of wings


380


may be selected as desired. The top and bottom of transfer sheet


302


may include reinforced attachment portions


384


. Reinforced holes, grommets


334


, or other improved attachment means are optionally present within reinforced portions


384


. Sheet


302


may be attached to sheet clamps


325


. Alternatively, sheet


302


may be attached to the clamps shown in

FIGS. 8-13

. The presence of grommets on sheet


302


may be a disadvantage when sheet


302


is being laundered. Attachment portions


384


will generally extend to or just beyond the end of the mattress


386


. Other designs are possible for sheet


302


, for example an embodiment which does not fold over the patient.




As depicted in

FIGS. 19 and 20

, vertical supports


312


and telescoping portion


322


are initially placed in a retracted position if the patient is being moved from retrofitted bed/cart


326


. Vertical supports


312


and telescoping portion


322


are initially placed in their extended position if the patient is being moved from a separate bed/cart


331


to retrofitted bed/cart


326


. Transfer sheet


302


is optionally folded over the patient, and fasteners


382


are secured together. Attachment portions


384


are placed into opening


332


and sheet clamps


325


engage reinforced holes


334


. At this point, vertical drive system


342


, originally in its lower point, is engaged to extend to its upper point, thereby raising the patient into a suspended position.




Horizontal transfer system


300


is engaged accordingly to move the patient from an original location to the transfer location. If the patient was originally disposed on retrofitted bed/cart


326


, vertical supports


312


and telescoping portion


322


are moved to extended positions. If the patient was not originally located on the retrofitted bed/cart


326


, vertical supports


312


and telescoping portion


322


are moved to retracted positions. Once the horizontal transfer is complete, vertical drive system


342


is lowered and transfer sheet


302


is disengaged therefrom.




Another embodiment of a patient transfer device


400


is shown in FIG.


29


. Head portion


402


and foot portion


404


may be similar in construction to head frame


304


and foot frame


306


, respectively. However, head portion


402


and foot portion


404


lack lifting supports


324


attached to telescoping portion


320


. Head portion


402


and foot portion


404


instead include top supports


406


. Top supports


406


support upper transverse support


408


. Upper transverse support


408


provides support to counterforces resulting from the weight of the patient during a transfer.




Upper transverse support


408


may include transverse tracks


410


on both sides thereof. Transverse tracks


410


support lifting elements


412


. Lifting elements


412


include track wheels


414


. Track wheels


414


rotate within tracks


410


, thereby enabling lifting elements


412


to transverse thereon. Lifting elements


412


may include winches (not shown) to retract cords


416


. Cords


416


may have fasteners


418


at their ends for attaching to reinforced holes or grommets


420


at the corners of draw sheet


422


. Retracting cords


416


raise draw sheet


422


, on which the patient is secured therewithin.




As shown in

FIG. 30

, extendable horizontal supports


424


may include wheels


428


. Horizontal supports


424


enable lateral motion of vertical supports


426


, along with upper transverse support


408


and lifting elements


412


. As with system


300


, device


400


can transfer a patient from a retrofitted bed/cart to a second bed/cart or from a second bed/cart to the retrofitted bed/cart.




An exemplary single lifting element


412


is depicted in

FIGS. 31

,


32


. Element


412


may be used with lift jacket


430


. Lift jacket


430


fits around the torso of a patient and includes loops


432


. Fasteners


418


attach to loops


432


. When thusly attached to lift jacket


430


, cords


416


may be retracted, thereby lifting the patient's torso off the bed and into a bent position at the patient's waist. Lifting element


412


may then be translated and rotated as shown in

FIGS. 31 and 32

, thereby placing the patient in a seated position at the side of the bed. The patient's back is supported in this position. In this way horizontal transfer device


400


serves a second purpose in assisting a patient from a supine to a sitting position.




Exemplary transfer system


500


is depicted in FIG.


33


. Transfer system


500


is designed for retrofitting both bed


502


and cart


504


. Transfer system


500


includes horizontal transfer mechanism


508


and transfer bridge


510


(FIGS.


37


-


41


). Horizontal transfer mechanism


508


includes docking mechanism


506


.

FIGS. 34 and 35

depict two representative embodiments of docking mechanism


506


. Bed


502


of the first embodiment includes foot board


518


. An opening


516


is defined in the side of foot board


518


. The first embodiment of transfer system


500


includes spring loaded clamp


512


. Clamp


512


includes arms


514


, each arm


514


with an angled front edge


524


. Arms


514


protrude from opening


516


at side of foot board


518


of bed


502


. Spring loaded clamp


512


engages cavity


520


, which opens into transfer bar


522


. When angled front edge


524


of arms


514


engage cavity


520


, arms


514


resiliently deflect towards each other until tips


526


clear flanges


528


. When tips


526


clear flanges


528


, arms


514


return outwardly as tips


526


engage flanges


528


. Arms


514


pivot on docking support


530


within bed foot board


518


. Head boards (not shown) of bed


502


and cart


504


have a comparable docking mechanism. When clamp


512


is protruding from opening


516


, arms


514


may be disengaged by being pressed together.




The second embodiment of the docking mechanism


506


is depicted in FIG.


35


. In this second embodiment, gear


538


is supported by a docking support


540


. Gear


538


protrudes from opening


542


in the side of bed foot board


544


. Protruding gear


538


engages teeth


548


, which are disposed on top surface


550


of cavity


552


within transfer bar


522


. Gear


538


may flex slightly on its support


540


to engage teeth


548


. Cavity


552


within transfer bar


522


may not have flanges at its opening. Gear


538


is disengaged by pressing downwardly on docking support


540


when docking support


540


is protruding from opening


542


. The head boards (not shown) of bed


502


and cart


504


may have a comparable docking mechanism.




The two embodiments of docking mechanisms


506


are described in a particular configuration with respect to the cart and the bed. This configuration may be reversed with the bed containing protruding gear


532


or clamp


512


. In either configuration, the protruding gear or clamp may be retracted by worm gear drive


532


during a docking.




Horizontal transfer mechanism


508


is shown in FIG.


36


. Transfer mechanism


508


includes transfer element


556


and drive system


558


. Transfer element


556


includes gripping mechanism


560


and transfer bar


522


. Gripping mechanism


560


grips transfer sheets such as transfer sheet


302


. Gripping mechanism


560


is attached to transfer bar


522


by a plurality of support bars


564


. Gripping mechanism


560


may be similar to sheet clamp


325


. Transfer bar


522


slides within cart channel


566


and bed channel


568


. Cart channel


566


and bed channel


568


respectively define slots


570


,


572


. Support bars


564


extend through slots


570


,


572


within cart channel


566


and bed channel


568


, respectively. Docking supports


530


or


540


may be moved laterally by drive system


558


which may comprise worm gear drive


532


(

FIGS. 34

,


35


). Worm gear drive


532


includes motor


534


and worm


536


. Rotating worm


536


laterally moves docking supports


530


or


540


. The motion of the docking supports


530


or


540


moves transfer bar


522


within channels


566


and


568


(FIG.


28


). Worm gear drive


532


can move the transfer bar


522


in either direction, thereby effecting a patient transfer in either direction.




Transfer bridge


510


is mounted on the side of cart


504


(

FIGS. 37

,


41


). Transfer bridge


510


includes bridge


574


, lever


576


and mounting portions


578


. Bridge


574


is preferably molded from a low friction material such as, for example, polypropylene, to facilitate passage of the transfer sheet. It is recognized that other low friction materials may also be suitable. Mounting portions


578


are attached to the side of cart


504


by rods


580


. Mounting portions


578


include hinge


582


which supports bridge


574


. Lever


576


passes through mounting portions


578


. Rotating lever


576


changes the configuration of hinges


582


, thereby moving bridge


510


between a stored position and a bridge position, as shown in

FIGS. 37-40

. In the bridge position, bridge


574


fills in the gaps between bed


502


and cart


504


. In the storage position, bridge


574


may function as a side rail for cart


504


.

FIG. 41

depicts a different embodiment of transfer bridge


510


, including split transfer bridge portions


584


. These embodiments of the transfer bridge may be adapted for use with other transfer systems including the conventional manual transfer system.




To transfer a patient between bed


502


and cart


504


, transfer sheet


302


is attached to gripping mechanisms


560


proximate the patient's head and foot, in a similar manner to the attachment of transfer sheet


302


in the embodiment of FIG.


18


. Referring to

FIG. 36

, cart


504


and bed


502


are positioned to align channels


566


and


568


. Referring to

FIG. 38

, transfer bridge


510


is placed in its transfer position to fill the gap between bed


502


and cart


504


. As shown in

FIG. 36

, drive system


558


is engaged to move transfer element


556


from bed


502


or cart


504


where the patient was located to the bed


502


or cart


504


to which the patient is being transferred. Once the patient is transferred, cart


504


and bed


502


are undocked, and transfer sheet


302


is disconnected from gripping mechanisms


560


.




The above transfer systems rely on supporting the patient on some type of sheet during the transfer. However, present methods often rely on health care personnel to provide the necessary transfer forces, usually by pulling a transfer sheet. However, supporting the patient on a sheet may be inappropriate for patients with certain injuries. Hence, it may be safer to transfer the entire mattress or cushion, as described below.





FIG. 42

depicts exemplary bed


600


. Bed


600


includes exemplary mattress transfer system


602


. Bed


600


supports modular mattress


604


and fixed cushion


606


. Modular mattress


604


includes wing


608


made of padded fabric in this example. Wing


608


wraps around fixed cushion


606


to form a smooth surface without gaps, as shown in the insert to FIG.


42


. Wing


608


tucks under modular mattress


604


when not in use. Referring to

FIG. 43

, bed


600


connects to cart


610


by way of docking mechanism


612


when mattress


604


is to be transferred. Docking mechanism


612


includes one or more apertures


614


for accepting projections


616


.

FIG. 43

displays apertures


614


on bed


600


and projections


616


on cart


610


. However, the opposite arrangement would work similarly. It is possible to provide a locking mechanism (not shown) to lock projections


616


within apertures


614


. The locking mechanism would prevent relative motion of bed


600


and cart


610


during transfer of modular mattress


604


. However, the same effect may be accomplished by locking the wheels of cart


610


.




In one embodiment, mattress transfer system


602


includes transverse bar


618


, a plurality of lateral bars


620


and at least one lateral drive bar


622


. Transverse bar


618


is connected to the plurality of lateral bars


620


and to at least one lateral drive bar


622


. Lateral bars


620


slide along lateral tracks


624


. Lateral drive bar


620


engages lateral drive track


626


. Lateral bars


620


and lateral drive bars


622


allow transverse bar


618


to extend just past the edge of bed


600


. Transverse bar


618


has a plurality of gripping mechanisms


628


. Each gripping mechanism


628


may assume a pushing position (

FIG. 44

) and a pulling position (

FIG. 45

) for respectively pulling and pushing modular mattress


604


.




Referring to

FIGS. 42 and 46

, gripping mechanisms


628


grip handles


630


near the edge of modular mattress


604


. Mattress transfer system


602


is controlled from control panel


632


mounted on foot board


634


, as shown in FIG.


42


. Actuating mattress transfer system


602


moves transverse bar


618


either toward or away from cart


610


by moving lateral drive bar


622


accordingly. Of course, a variety of designs are possible for the mattress transfer system


602


besides the embodiment described.




Referring again to

FIG. 46

, modular mattress


604


may include channel system


636


to accommodate transfer system


602


. Channel system


636


includes transverse void


638


and longitudinal channels


640


. Transverse void


638


accommodates transverse bar


618


. Longitudinal channels


640


accommodate lateral tracks


624


and lateral drive track


626


. Handles


630


are located along an upper surface of transverse void


638


. To the extent necessary, channels


642


may be present within fixed cushion


606


.




In order to transfer modular mattress


604


, cart


610


is first docked with bed


600


using docking mechanism


612


. If modular mattress


604


is being moved to cart


610


, the patient is centered on modular mattress


604


, and gripping mechanisms


628


are set from control panel


632


into a pushing position. Mattress transfer system


602


is then operated to move transverse bar


618


toward cart


610


. When modular mattress


604


is located on cart


610


, docking mechanism


612


is disengaged.




If modular mattress


604


is being moved from cart


610


to bed


600


, cart


610


and bed


600


are docked appropriately. Then, transverse bar


618


is placed into an extended position within transverse void


638


. Gripping mechanisms


628


are placed in their pulling position. Mattress transfer mechanism


602


is operated to move transverse bar


618


away from cart


610


. When modular mattress


604


is in position on bed


600


, mattress transfer system


602


is stopped and docking mechanism


612


is disengaged.




Bed


600


with mattress transfer system


602


may be adapted to cooperate with exemplary position changing cart


650


when used with folding mattress


652


, as shown in

FIGS. 47-49

. Position changing cart


650


includes base


654


and a plurality of, preferably two, arms


656


. Base


654


has a plurality of locking wheels


658


to provide a relatively broad base of support for cart


650


. Base


654


should have sufficient weight and a relatively low center of mass such that cart


650


is stable. Top


660


of base


654


provides support for the center of folding mattress


652


when mattress


652


is positioned on cart


650


.




Arms


656


may include support portion


662


and lever portion


664


. Support portions


662


extend laterally toward bed


600


from the far edge of cart


650


. Lever portions


664


are rigidly attached to support portions


662


at one end and are attached to hinge mechanism


666


at base


654


. Support portions


662


support folding mattress


652


when mattress


652


is positioned on cart


650


. A folding drive (not shown) within base


654


is operated from control panel


668


at the side of base


654


. The folding drive operates to rotate hinge mechanisms


666


to change folding mattress


652


from a prone configuration to a seated configuration, or visa versa, as depicted in FIGS.


47


,


49


.




When going from a supine to a seated configuration, lever portion


664


at the head of mattress


652


rotates upwardly and lever portion


664


at the foot of bed


400


rotates downwardly. Folding mattress


652


may include creases


670


to accommodate changes in configuration. Movement of folding mattress


652


on and off position changing cart


650


is analogous to moving modular mattress


604


on and off cart


610


.




The next devices are designed to hoist, or pull up, a patient disposed on a bed or a chair. These devices are configured with at least one lifting device and at least one winch system. Exemplary embodiment


700


illustrates a hoist system. Hoist system


700


includes “lobster claw-shaped” bed jacket


702


, as shown in

FIGS. 50-52

. Bed jacket


702


has two “claw” portions


704


joined at joint


706


. Claw portions


704


are made of fabric enclosing a padding in one embodiment. Exemplary joint


706


includes folds in the fabric which enable a greater flexibility therein. No portion of bed jacket


702


fits under the mid-torso of a patient. Hence, it is relatively easy to place bed jacket


702


on the patient. Lifting forces generated when bed jacket


702


is used are distributed across the patient's chest and the patient's neck is supported by claw portions


704


.




Claw portions


704


may display edges


708


at their ends opposite joint


706


. Edges


708


may be joined by hook and loop fastener


710


, with clips (not shown), as well as other suitable fasteners. However, edges


708


do not necessarily have to be joined before the patient is moved by bed jacket


702


. In use, joint


706


is placed across the patient's chest and claw portions


704


are placed under the patient's arms. Edges


708


may be joined behind the patient's neck, if desired. If edges


708


are not joined, they will nonetheless be held together by loops


714


. Loops


714


, in turn, are attached to a hoist cable as described below.




Bed jacket


702


may be used with at least two embodiments of the winch system described herein. A first embodiment, winch system


712


, is depicted in FIG.


52


. In this embodiment, bed jacket


702


includes loop


714


for attaching tether


716


. Tether


716


winds on external winch


718


. External winch


718


may be attached to head board


720


, located on support


722


. Support


722


may be in an elevated position above a bed or wheel chair


724


(

FIG. 53

) or mounted to a ceiling (FIG.


52


). External winch


718


may be operated manually with a hand crank (not shown) or with a motor (not shown). If present, the motor may be controlled by a control panel.




As shown in

FIGS. 54

,


55


, external winch


712


may also be used with padded vest


762


. Exemplary padded vest


762


offers many of the same advantages as lobster claw bed jacket


702


. Padded vest


762


includes foam portion


764


and straps


766


. Foam portion


764


fits across the patient's chest. Two adjustable straps


766


extend from foam portion


764


. One strap


766


includes head support


768


attached thereto. The free end of head support


768


may be attached with hook and loop fastener


770


or a comparable fastener to the other strap


766


. Rings


772


may be attached to the ends of straps


766


. Rings


772


attach vest


762


to tether


716


. Tether


716


is wound about winch


718


.





FIGS. 53

,


56


-


58


depict exemplary winch system


726


. Winch system


726


includes bed jacket


730


. Winch mechanism


728


is disposed within bed jacket


730


. Winch mechanism


728


is preferably motorized. Winch mechanism


728


is embedded in one of claws


732


of bed jacket


730


. However, winch mechanism


728


may be imbedded in other designs of bed jackets as well. Exemplary winch mechanism


728


includes motor


734


. Motor


734


rotates drive shaft


736


. Spool


738


is mounted on drive shaft


736


. A first end of tether


740


is attached to spool


738


. Ring


742


is attached to the second end of tether


740


.




Claw


732


may also include controls such as release switch


744


, recoil switch


746


, pull switch


748


and lower switch


750


. Release switch


744


releases spool


738


, allowing tether


740


to be unwound therefrom. Recoil switch


746


winds tether


740


on spool


738


using a spring mechanism (not shown) if there is a sufficiently minimal resistance from tether


740


. Pull switch


748


activates motor


734


to wind tether


740


on spool


738


. Lower switch


750


actuates motor


734


in the opposite direction, thereby releasing tether


740


from spool


738


. Optionally, controls


744


-


750


may be disposed externally to bed jacket


730


. If so, controls


744


-


750


may be contained within a remote control unit or mounted to a bed. External control units may communicate with winch mechanism


728


either through a wired or wireless (transmitter/receiver) communication in a similar manner to control unit


278


on the clamp embodiments depicted in

FIGS. 15 and 16

.




Exemplary ring


742


may be attached to head board


720


, to an elevated support on wheel chair


722


or to ceiling mount


52


. Thus, motorized bed jacket


730


may be used in the same way as its non-motorized counterpart


702


. Winch-bed jacket combination


730


is more versatile because it may be used without separate winches. Furthermore, controls


744


-


750


are conveniently located. Hence, a health care worker can operate controls


744


-


750


while being close enough to the patient to assist in the transfer thereof.




Bed jacket


702


may also be connected by way of three axis control cylinder


752


to three ceiling mounted winches


754


, as shown in

FIGS. 59 and 60

. Control cylinder


752


may connect to bed jacket


702


by way of ball


756


. Ball


756


fits into ball joint


758


. Control cylinder


760


may include three switches


760


. Each switch


760


controls motion along one of three axes. Referring to

FIG. 61

, switches


760


are in electrical communication with microprocessor


753


. Microprocessor


753


may be preprogrammed to include the locations of winches


754


in its memory. Thusly programmed, microprocessor


753


may calculate instructions for winches


754


to perform selected motions. Microprocessor


753


may be connected to winches


754


by way of wires


755


. This versatile system can be used in a variety of ways including transferring a patient from bed


762


to a wheel chair


724


and pulling the patient up in either bed


762


or wheel chair


724


. Padded vest


724


may also be used with three axis control cylinder


752


.





FIGS. 62-95

further relate to features of a portable patient transfer system of the present invention. Each component thereof, is consistent with the patient care and health care injury reduction goals stated above. Referring to

FIGS. 62-64

, exemplary engaging mechanism


800


is shown. Engaging mechanism


800


is designed for engaging or clamping a sheet bearing a patient. Engaging mechanism


800


includes forwardly opening element


802


, arcuate engaging element


804


, belt engaging element


806


and cylindrical member


807


. In this embodiment, elements


802


,


804


are elongated and may have a length of at least greater than about 60 cm and preferably at least about 100 cm. Element


802


includes interiorly disposed movable extension


808


. A laterally disposed edge, such as convex edge


810


, is present on extension


808


. Arcuate engaging element


804


displays exterior surface


812


and interior surface


814


. Interior surface


814


defines cavity


816


. A plurality of belt engaging elements


806


are affixed to element


802


. Elements


806


extend through engaging element


804


. At least one engaging slot


817


is defined exterior to engaging element


804


on belt engaging element


806


. Disposed on each end of element


802


is pivot means


818


. Pivoting member


820


is slidingly and rotatingly affixed about pivot means


818


. Pivoting member


820


, in turn, is rigidly affixed to portions of cylindrical member


807


. The exterior surface of cylindrical member


807


may be smooth or may present a roughened surface to enhance gripping. A rubberized or tacky substance may be present on the surface of cylindrical member


807


. Other means to enhance gripping such as an increased surface area or greater gripping features of the existing surface area may also be present. A plurality of biasing springs or other biasing means (not shown) are optionally and operably disposed within engaging mechanism


800


.




Functionally, elements


802


,


804


of engaging mechanism


800


are biased away from each other by means one or more biasing springs (not shown). When a user desires to place a transfer sheet within engaging mechanism


800


, the user first wraps a portion of the transfer sheet around cylindrical member


807


. Subsequently, cylindrical member


807


is pivoted proximate convex interior surface


810


. Elements


802


and


804


are then forced toward each other, thereby extending engaging slot


817


on belt engaging element


806


away from element


804


. When elements


802


,


804


are in a closed position, cylindrical member


809


and the portion of the transfer sheet wrapped around cylindrical member


809


are enclosed within clamp


800


. Engaging slot


817


is displaced by forcing elements


802


,


804


toward each other. Hence, when elements


802


,


804


contact and grip cylindrical member


809


and the enwrapped transfer sheet, engaging slot


817


is sufficiently distant from element


804


for belt buckle


822


to firmly latch onto belt engaging element


806


. Belt buckles


822


, when firmly attached onto engaging element


806


, thereby hold elements


802


and


804


in a closed position. Elements


802


,


804


enclose cylindrical member


809


therein and exert a gripping force on the portion of the transfer sheet enclosed. When a patient is being transferred, a transfer force is exerted on belt engaging elements


806


, further forcing elements


802


and


804


toward each other and thus exerting an additional, or further, gripping force on the transfer sheet disposed therein.




Exemplary clamp


830


is shown in

FIGS. 65 and 66

. Clamp


830


is another embodiment of the present invention. Clamp


830


includes large U-channel member


832


, small U-channel member


834


, cylindrical member


836


, a plurality of belt engaging elements


838


, and a plurality of cams


840


. Large U-channel member


832


displays outer surface


842


, inner surface


844


and defines a plurality of slots


846


. Each slot


846


is optionally configured with a horizontal and a vertical dimension. Small U-channel member


834


displays outer surface


848


and inner surface


850


. In this embodiment, U-channel members


832


,


834


are at least about 60 cm, preferably greater than about 100 cm, in length. Cylindrical member


836


has a circumference sufficient to enable cylindrical member


836


to fit within the confines of inner surface


846


with a transfer sheet wrapped therearound. Cylindrical member


836


may have a length substantially the same as U-channel members


832


,


834


. The outer surface of cylindrical member


836


may be smooth, but may also be somewhat rough, thereby further facilitating gripping, as described above. Belt engaging elements


838


are rigidly affixed to, and extend from, small U-channel member


834


. Disposed on each belt engaging element


838


, as part of cam attachment element


838


, is engaging means


852


.




In use, a portion of a transfer sheet (not shown) is wrapped around cylindrical member


836


. Cylindrical member


836


and the enwrapped sheet portion are disposed proximate inner surface


850


of small U-channel member


834


and adjacent belt engaging element


838


. Belt engaging elements


838


are then passed through slots


846


. Large U-channel member


832


and small U-channel member


834


are forced toward each other until cylindrical member


836


and the enwrapped sheet contact inner surface


844


of large U-channel member


832


. At this point, the vertical notch component of slots


846


has served as a passageway for cam attachment elements


854


. Cams


840


then lock members


832


and


834


together. Belt buckles or equivalent attaching means (not shown) are then affixed to belt engaging elements


838


. As in previous embodiments, when a transfer force is exerted on clamp


830


, members


832


and


834


are further forced together, thereby exerting an additional, or further, gripping force on the transfer sheet disposed therein.




Clamps


800


and


830


may be made from resilient, rather stiff materials. Suitable materials include various gauges of metal or synthetic resins. Buckle mechanisms, similar to those commonly used in automobiles, as well as the belts attached thereto, are possible for use as one embodiment of attaching means of the present invention.




Exemplary clamp


860


, depicted in

FIGS. 67 and 68

, includes base member


862


, pivoting upper member


864


, two locking levers


866


, locking mechanism


868


and a plurality of belt attachment sites


870


. Pivoting upper member


864


pivots onto base member


862


, with a pivot site at the base of member


864


and coincident with locking mechanism


868


. A rubberized substance


869


or other material with increased tack may be present on the inner surfaces of base member


862


and upper member


864


. A pair of locking levers


866


is present atop base member


862


and proximate the pivotal end of pivoting upper member


864


. Locking mechanism


868


cooperates with locking levers


866


to secure pivoting upper member


864


in a locked position. Pivoting upper member


864


may be biased in an open position by such means as a leaf or helical spring. Two belt attachment sites


870


may be disposed adjacent to each locking lever


866


.




In practice, a portion of a transfer sheet (not shown) is disposed between base member


862


and pivoting upper member


864


. Alternatively, a portion of the transfer sheet may be wrapped around a cylindrical element or other suitable member (not shown), and then placed between base member


862


and pivoting upper member


864


. Pivoting upper member


864


is then pressed toward base member


862


until locking mechanism


868


locks, thereby securing base member


862


and pivoting upper member in a closed, locked position with the transfer sheet gripped securely therewithin. Alternatively, pivoting upper member


864


and locking levers


866


may be mechanically connected by a linkage or lever combination in which locking lever


866


is pressed down by a user, thereby forcing pivoting upper member


864


down until locking mechanism


868


securely locks base member


862


and pivoting member


864


in closed contact. Finally, belt or strap


872


is affixed to clamp


860


by disposing hook


874


within the slots located at belt attachment sites


870


.




As depicted in

FIG. 68

, when transfer sheet


876


is secured within clamp


860


, base member


862


and pivoting upper member


864


are in a closed and locked position. When belt


872


is then retracted away from transfer sheet


876


, a transfer force is exerted onto transfer sheet


876


in the direction of arrow


880


. Due to the upper placement of belt attachment sites


870


and the angular configuration of the bottom portion of clamp


860


, a pivot point is thereby formed proximate locking mechanism


868


. This transfer motion simultaneously pivots upper member


864


upwardly and the portion of clamp


860


proximate hook attachment site


870


downwardly, thus rotating clamp


860


about the pivot point located proximate locking mechanism


868


and as indicated in arrow


880


. The angular orientation of the portion of transfer sheet


876


, secured within clamp


860


, relative to the remainder of transfer sheet


876


exerts a further gripping force thereon.




Patient transfer system


900


, as depicted in

FIGS. 69-71

, broadly includes bed


902


, cart


904


, motor-winch unit


906


, perpendicular transfer units


908


,


910


,


912


, clamp


914


and a plurality of belts discussed below. Although depicted as cart


904


, a bed or other horizontal surface may be used and still be within the spirit and scope of the present invention. Motor-winch unit


906


may be attached to base


916


of bed


902


. Perpendicular transfer unit


908


is attached to the upper frame of bed


902


. Another perpendicular transfer unit


910


is attached to the upper frame on adjoining cart


904


. Still another perpendicular transfer unit


912


is attached to the lower frame of cart


904


. As shown in

FIG. 69

, a pair of belts


918


may extend generally upwardly from motor-winch unit


906


through perpendicular transfer unit


908


, finally extending horizontally on mattress


915


. Belts


918


are then attached to clamp


914


in any manner such as described herein. Alternately, belts


918


may proceed horizontally from motor-winch unit


906


, beneath bed


902


and cart


904


and through perpendicular transfer unit


912


. Extending generally upwardly and vertically from perpendicular transfer until


912


, belts


918


pass through perpendicular transfer unit


910


, then onto mattress


917


. On mattress


917


, belts


918


may be attached to a clamp such as a clamp of the present invention. Motor-winch unit


906


may be attached to bed


902


by means of rings


922


extending from housing


920


. Rings


922


may enclose an upper portion of casters


924


on which bed


902


is mounted.




In use, bed


902


and cart


904


are aligned and may be secured together. If a patient is to be transferred from bed


902


onto cart


904


, clamp


914


is attached to a transfer sheet upon which the patient is disposed. The belts attaching to clamp


914


have been routed under bed


902


and cart


904


, then upwards, and then horizontally by means of perpendicular transfer units


910


and


912


. Once motor-winch unit


906


is activated, belts


918


are retracted. The transfer force exerted thereby will transport the patient in the direction of arrow


926


from bed


902


onto cart


904


. Once the patient has been transferred onto cart


904


, motor-winch unit


906


is disengaged. Alternatively, a sensing device (not shown) may be attached to perpendicular transfer unit


910


. This sensing device may be either mechanical, electronic, magnetic, optical or a combination thereof in its operation and may detect the presence of the patient, the buckle, the belt portion proximate the buckle, or the clamp within a predetermined distance from perpendicular transfer unit


910


.




If the patient is to be transferred from cart


904


onto bed


902


, belts


918


are routed through perpendicular transfer unit


908


and onto mattress


915


where they are attached to clamp


914


. Clamp


914


is then securely attached to a transfer sheet upon which the patient is disposed. Motor-winch unit


906


is then activated, thereby retracting belt


918


in the direction of arrow


930


, thereby generating a transfer force upon clamp


914


. The transfer force acts upon the transfer sheet upon which the patient is disposed, thereby transferring the patient from cart


904


onto bed


902


and thereby further, or additionally, gripping the transfer sheet secured within clamp


914


. Again, patient proximity sensing devices may be included in perpendicular transfer unit


908


as discussed hereinabove. Perpendicular transfer units


908


,


910


, and


912


may include either a pulley system or a roller system onto which belts


918


are emplaced prior to a patient transfer. Clamp


914


may be any of the clamps disclosed herein. Some exemplary embodiments of motor-winch unit


906


are discussed in more detail herein.




Referring to

FIGS. 72-74

, exemplary patient transfer system


940


is depicted. Patient transfer system


940


broadly includes bed


942


, portable transfer unit


944


and clamp


946


. Bed


942


includes mattress


948


and side rail


950


. Side rail


950


may include a plurality of horizontal bars


951


. Portable transfer unit


944


includes housing


952


, one or more belts


954


, an equal number of attaching means or buckles


956


and a motor-winch unit. Further included in portable transfer unit


944


is mounting bracket


958


which will be further described below. Handle


960


on portable transfer unit


944


enables an attendant to easily grasp and carry portable transfer unit


944


as desired. Housing


952


is preferably a light weight resilient plastic or other suitable light weight material. Portable transfer unit


944


has the advantage of being light in weight, hence readily transportable by an attendant of virtually any size and lifting ability with little likelihood of injury therefrom. Portable transfer unit


944


may weigh between about 20 and 35 pounds. Portable transfer unit


944


may also weigh between about 15 and 25 pounds.





FIGS. 73 and 74

depict two of many possible embodiments


966


,


968


of control units


966


,


968


. Control units


966


,


968


control the operation of exemplary portable transfer unit


944


. Controls


970


of control units


966


,


968


serve to operate portable transfer unit


944


. Control unit


966


may communicate with portable transfer unit


944


by means of electromagnetic radiation, more particularly by radio frequency, or by other means. Controls


970


include on/off simultaneous transfer power control


974


and left and right transfer actuator controls


976


,


977


. Control unit


968


communicates with portable transfer unit


944


by means of a cord or other suitable connecting means. The cord is mechanically and electrically attached to control unit


968


and may be disposed on a spool or other retaining means within portable transfer unit


944


. The spool may be biased so that cord


974


winds thereon when control unit


968


is released by the operator. Control units


966


and


968


may be housed in a recess contained within portable transfer unit


944


when not in use. An alternative to the control units of this patient transfer system is via voice actuation. Voice actuation would enable the patient to effect the patient's own transfer and to halt a transfer in progress if the need to do so arose.





FIG. 75

depicts another embodiment of a portable transfer unit according to the present invention. In this embodiment, shaft


978


extends laterally from housing


952


. By being exposed, shaft


978


facilitates mounting spools


980


thereon. Spools


980


provide means upon which belts


982


are wound. Since shaft


978


is exposed, each spool


980


may be easily and quickly detached from shaft


978


to facilitate cleaning and disinfecting shaft


978


, spools


980


and belts


982


.




Exemplary portable transfer unit


944


′ is depicted in FIG.


93


. In this embodiment, receiving cavity


962


is formed in lateral portions of housing


952


′. A drive shaft (not shown) is disposed within cavity


962


. Spool


980


′ may be reversibly mounted on the shaft drive. Belt


988


is routed through slot


963


so that buckle


956


may be used to engage a clamp. Cap


964


may be used to cover cavity


962


.




Referring again to

FIGS. 72-76

, bed


942


and exemplary portable transfer unit


944


are depicted. Portable transfer unit


944


is secured to side rail


950


by means such as those described below. Bed


942


is then placed beside a bed or cart onto which a patient is disposed upon a transfer sheet. The transfer sheet is then secured proximate the patient with clamp


946


. Belts


954


are then extended from portable transfer unit


944


and attached to clamp


946


. Either control unit


966


or


968


is detached from portable transfer unit


944


and used to operate the motor-winch within unit


944


by means such as on/off controls


974


. Upon actuation of the motor-winch mechanism, transfer unit


944


begins to wind belts


954


and thereby move clamp


946


, the transfer sheet, and the patient toward transfer unit


944


. The motor-winch assembly may cease operation when the attendant operates control unit


966


,


968


or when an above-described sensing device functions.




During transfer, it is desirable that the longitudinal axis of the patient be generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of the bed or cart onto which transfer is to be effected. If not, the patient may not be transferred completely onto the bed or cart and may require further manual adjustment by the attendant, possibly obviating some of the advantages of this system. Thus, left or right transfer actuator controls


976


,


977


may be used. For example, if left control


976


is actuated, the belt


982


, attached toward the patient's head, continues to be wound and the other belt


982


either ceases to be wound or is wound more slowly. In a similar manner, when right control


977


is actuated, belt


982


, attached closest to the patient's feet, continues to be wound and the other belt


982


either ceases to be wound or is wound more slowly.




When patient transfer is complete, patient transfer system


940


may be disengaged from the transfer sheet and detached from bed


942


. Belts


954


may then be retracted until attached clamp


946


is proximate portable transfer unit


944


. Control unit


968


(or


966


) is then stowed within a niche in portable transfer unit


944


. The attendant then grasps handle


960


and carries portable transfer unit


944


and attached clamp


946


to another location (FIG.


95


), or shows the unit on the cart or bed for subsequent use.




Exemplary portable transfer unit


984


is depicted in FIG.


76


. In this embodiment, belt


986


is bound onto spool


988


. Spool


988


, in turn, is detachably mounted onto bracket


990


. Bracket


990


is mounted onto the back of housing


952


. Bracket


990


includes upper member


992


and lower member


994


. An automatic sensing and motor disconnect may be included in this, as well as other, embodiments. The sensing mechanism detects the presence of either the patient, the clamp, or the terminus of an attached belt. Upon sensing one or more of these, portable transfer unit


984


ceases to wind belt


988


, thereby stopping or easing (slowing) patient transfer.




The portable devices, as well as the other devices of the present invention, preferably also contain an automatic recording and/or display mechanism


998


, representatively shown in FIG.


77


. Mechanism


998


records each patient transfer event. Recording is via a printout on paper or other means. Recording may also comprise storage or transfer of relevant information electronically. The stored information may then be transferred to a computer or other device as desired. Relevant information with regard to a transfer event may include the time of day, the patient's number and name, the attendant's name and number, and the time length of the transfer event. Other items, such as motor performance and torque received by the motor-winch assembly, speed, acceleration, alignment, or other parameters of the patient or the clamp when transferring the patient may also be recorded.




Referring to

FIGS. 77 and 78

, exemplary patient transfer system


1000


broadly includes bed


1002


and portable transfer unit


1004


. Bed


1002


includes mattress


1006


and side rail


1008


. Portable transfer unit


1004


includes housing


1010


, control unit


1012


, belts


1014


and an engaging mechanism, such as clamp


1016


. Belts


1014


and clamp


1016


may include any of the embodiments discussed herein. Portable transfer unit


1004


combines a housing which encloses the motor and winch assembly and which is easily and reversibly mounted onto side rail


1008


. Mounting bracket


1018


may be integral to housing


1010


of portable transfer unit


1004


. Mounting bracket


1018


readily and securely mounts onto side rail


1008


. A side view of one embodiment of mounting bracket


1018


is depicted in FIG.


78


. While shown as unitary to the embodiment of

FIG. 77

, the concept depicted in

FIG. 78

is applicable to any of the portable transfer units of the present invention. Mounting bracket


1018


includes engaging side


1020


of portable transfer unit housing


1010


, horizontal extension


1022


and substantially vertical member


1024


.




In use, portable transfer unit


1004


is situated onto side rail


1008


such that the lower surface of horizontal extension


1022


rests on side rail


1008


. Pin


1026


is then inserted in opening


1027


, extending through member


1024


and into a slot or receiving orifice


1028


, securely fastening therein. Mounting bracket


1018


, thereby securely holds portable transfer unit


1004


onto side rail


1008


during a transfer event. Moreover, transfer unit


1004


is easily detachable from side rail


1008


by removing pin


1026


.




An end view of another embodiment of a portable transfer unit


1004


′ is depicted in

FIG. 94

, where an alternate mounting bracket


1018


′ is disclosed. Mounting bracket


1018


′ includes horizontal extension


1022


′ extending integrally from housing


1010


′. Extending generally vertically from horizontal extension


1022


′ are fixed upper vertical member


1030


and pivotally mounted, lower vertical member


1032


. A locking mechanism, actuated by cam lever


1034


, is included. To install portable transfer unit


1004


on a bed with side rails


1008


, portable transfer unit


1004


′ is tilted, allowing upper vertical member


1030


to be disposed such that an upper side rail is between member


1030


and housing


1010


′. Lower vertical member


1032


, extended in an open position, allows portable transfer unit


1004


′ to be disposed in position and lower side rails


1008


to be disposed proximate housing


1010


′. Lower vertical member


1032


is pivoted to a closed position, generally coaxial to that of upper vertical member


1030


. Finally, cam lever


1034


is pivoted into a locked position in the direction of arrow


1036


.




In

FIGS. 79 and 80

, another embodiment of a self-contained portable transfer unit


1040


of the present invention is depicted. Portable transfer unit


1040


broadly includes handle-control unit


1042


, housing


1044


, clamp


1046


, belt


1048


, hook


1050


, and locking devices


1052


. Portable transfer unit


1040


is self contained, including a belt, clamp, and enclosed motor-winch assembly. The motor-winch assembly of portable transfer unit


1040


may be totally enclosed within housing


1044


. Belts


1048


may be extended to hook onto the framework of a bed or cart or they may be retracted to a position almost completely within housing


1044


. Locking devices


1052


may be embodiments previously discussed with respect to the clamps of the present invention. Handle-control unit


1042


may be detached during a transfer event. Handle-control unit


1042


may include controls


1056


disposed within housing


1058


. Alternatively, handle-control unit


1042


may include the controls depicted in

FIGS. 73

,


74


and discussed hereinabove. Cord


1054


physically and electrically connects control unit


1042


to the remainder of portable transfer unit


1040


. Cord


1054


may be mounted to a pulley within housing


1044


so that cord


1054


is retracted unless pulled away by a user. Clamp


1046


may open downwardly to admit a transfer sheet therein.




In use, portable transfer unit


1040


is placed onto a bed, onto which a patient to be transferred is disposed upon a sheet. As shown in

FIGS. 79-84

, locking devices


1052


are unlocked and the jaws of clamp


1046


are separated. A portion of the transfer sheet is placed between the jaws of clamp


1046


, the jaws are then closed and locking devices


1052


locked. Belts


1048


are extended away from portable transfer unit


1040


, across the bed or cart onto which the patient is to be transferred and hooks


1050


are hooked onto the bed frame. The attendant detaches handle-control unit


1042


and then begins the transfer by actuating the motor-winch assembly. When the patient has been transferred onto the desired bed or cart, the attendant turns the motor-winch off. The transfer sheet is then freed from clamp


1046


and hooks


1050


are unhooked from the bed and retracted within housing


1044


. Finally, handle-control unit


1042


is reconnected to portable transfer unit


1040


. The attendant then may carry portable transfer unit


1040


away by grasping and holding handle-control unit


1042


.




In

FIGS. 81 and 82

, other embodiments are shown for securing the clamps of the present invention. Referring to

FIG. 81

, clamp


1070


is secured in a closed position by the operation of clip


1072


. Clamp


1070


includes lower pivoting member


1074


and upper clamp member


1076


. Clip


1072


includes free end


1078


and pivot


1080


. When in an open position, free end


1078


has been pivoted away from the body of clamp


1070


and lower pivoting member


1074


is pivoted away from upper clamp member


1076


. Functionally, a transfer sheet (not shown) is placed between lower pivoting member


1074


and upper clamp member


1076


. Lower pivoting member


1074


and upper clamp member


1076


are then pressed together. Free end


1078


is then pivoted toward the body of clamp


1070


, then snapped around the front thereof. A locking mechanism is thereby actuated, locking lower pivoting member


1074


and upper clamp member


1076


securely together and gripping the sheet therewithin.




Clamp assembly


1088


is shown in

FIG. 82

includes clamp


1090


and locking assembly


1092


. Clamp


1090


further includes upper pivoting clamp member


1094


and lower clamp member


1096


. Locking assembly


1092


includes handle


1098


, which actuates the locking mechanism of clamp assembly


1088


. Handle


1098


is affixed to the remainder of locking assembly


1092


via an elongated member. Handle


1098


and the elongated member are slidable within slot


1100


. When clamp assembly


1088


is in an open position, upper pivoting clamp member


1094


is pivoted away from lower clamp member


1096


and handle


1098


is disposed toward rear edge


1102


of clamp


1090


. In use, a transfer sheet is placed between upper pivoting clamp member


1094


and lower clamp member


1096


and clamp members


1094


,


1096


are pressed together, firmly securing the transfer sheet within. Handle


1098


is then grasped by the attendant and pushed away from rear edge


1102


, thereby activating locking assembly


1092


and securing upper pivoting clamp member


1094


and lower clamp member


1096


together in a secure, closed position.





FIG. 83

is a side view of a self-contained portable transfer unit


1110


. Portable transfer unit


1110


may include any of the self-contained portable transfer units described herein. Included are upper clamp member


1112


and lower pivoting clamp member


1114


. When pivoted between an open and a closed position, lower pivoting clamp member


1114


may be moved in either direction as indicated by arrow


1116


.





FIG. 84

depicts self-contained portable transfer unit


1120


. In addition to other features described for the self-contained portable transfer unit embodiments herein, transfer unit


1120


includes upper pivoting clamp member


1122


, lower clamp member


1124


and housing


1126


. Venting


1128


is present within housing


1126


. As indicated by arrow


1130


, upper pivoting clamp member


1122


pivots upwardly toward an open position or downwardly toward lower clamp member


1124


when in a closed position. Venting


1128


, present in housing


1126


, facilitates air exchange and, consequently, enhances cooling of the motor-winch assembly within portable transfer unit


1120


.





FIGS. 85 and 86

disclose one embodiment of motor-winch assembly


1150


of the present invention. Motor-winch assembly


1150


broadly includes frame


1152


, upon which are mounted motor bracket


1154


, control board


1156


, hook member


1158


, right clutch bracket


1160


and left clutch bracket


1162


. Motor


1164


is operationally mounted on an upper portion of motor bracket


1154


. Gear


1166


(which in one embodiment is a 42-tooth gear) is attached to a shaft (not shown) extending from motor


1164


. Gear


1166


, in turn, operably engages gear


1168


which is mounted on shaft


1169


. Also mounted on shaft


1169


are right clutch


1170


and left clutch


1172


. Right clutch


1170


is disposed within right clutch bracket


1160


. Left clutch


1172


is disposed within left clutch bracket


1162


. Spring


1174


is disposed about right clutch


1170


and about left clutch


1172


. Spring


1174


, in turn, is enclosed by spring cover


1176


. Spring cover


1176


is attached to spring hub


1178


. A spring hub


1178


is affixed to right clutch bracket


1160


and left clutch bracket


1162


. Spool


1182


may be detachably disposed on the outboard portion of shaft


1169


. Motor-winch assembly


1150


is suitable for providing the necessary power to operate the transfer units described herein.




Optimized patient transfer requires smooth transition of the patient from one platform to another. One means for achieving such optimization is through use of a transfer bridge


1200


, shown in

FIGS. 87-90

. A modified transfer bridge


1200


′, depicted in

FIG. 87

, differs from transfer bridge


1200


. Transfer bridge


1200


broadly includes one or more sections


1202


. A stabilizer


1204


is ideally present on the underside of each section


1202


. Where multiple sections are used, such sections


1202


are joined by hinge


1206


(discussed hereinbelow), and stabilizer


1204


extends generally perpendicularly from each section. Functionally, transfer bridge


1200


is placed between a bed or cart onto which a patient is lying and another bed or cart onto which the patient is to be transferred. Stabilizer


1204


is disposed between the platforms, thereby securely holding transfer bridge


1200


in place and preventing transfer bridge


1200


from being displaced by patient contact during a transfer. After use, transfer bridge


1200


is folded along hinge


1206


for storage or transport.




One embodiment of hinge


1206


is depicted in FIG.


89


. Hinge


1206


may be manufactured as a “living hinge,” i.e., a hinge made by removing a narrow, linear portion of the material along a portion of transfer bridge


1200


or transfer bridge


1200


′.




Transfer bridge


1200


′, shown in

FIG. 88

, includes a plurality of sections


1202


′ and a stabilizer


1204


′, mounted on the underside of each section


1202


. As in the case of transfer bridge


1200


, hinge


1206


is present and divides


1202


. Leading edge


1210


is present on the portion of transfer bridge


1200


′ opposite stabilizers


1204


′. Although not depicted, transfer bridge


1200


and


1200


′ may include one or more carrying handles. The carrying handles may be attachable, unitary to transfer bridge


1200


,


1200


′ or may be cutouts within sections


1202


or


1202


′. Preparing transfer bridge


1200


′ for a patient transfer is essentially done in an identical manner as preparing transfer bridge


1200


, the only exception being that leading edge


1210


is oriented toward the patient to be transferred.




Both transfer bridge


1200


and


1200


′ may be constructed using a smooth polyethylene sheet material, which is generally about 1.5 millimeters in thickness. Alternatively, hinge


1206


may be reinforced with a thin sheet of polyethylene on the underside of transfer bridge


1200


,


1200


′. Stabilizer


1204


′ may be centered about 7.5 centimeters from edge


1214


. One embodiment of transfer bridge


1200


′ is about 31 centimeters wide at hinge


1206


, tapering to about 25 centimeters in width at each end. The cambered radius for a side section of transfer bridge


1200


′ is about 105 centimeters. The cambered radius for the leading edge of transfer bridge


1200


′ is about 225 centimeters. The side camber insures that leading edge


1210


will firmly contact the mattress on which the patient is disposed such that transfer bridge


1200


′ will not be displaced during a patient transfer. The leading edge camber allows for a gradually increasing amount of patient contact during transfer, rather than immediate total contact. The gradually increasing contact also tends to allow the patient to be pulled atop transfer bridge


1200


′, rather than abutting and possibly displacing transfer bridge


1200


′. Transfer bridge


1200


′ is advantageously positioned when leading edge


1210


is placed under at least a portion of the patient.




In an average male patient, approximately 90% of the patient's weight resides in the portion between the patient's buttocks and shoulders. Hence, the overall length of transfer bridge


1200


or


1200


′ should minimally provide support therefor. Accordingly, lengths for transfer bridge


1200


or


1200


′ may be between 65 and 173, centimeters or about 65, 120 and 173 centimeters.




Clamp


1230


is yet another embodiment of an engaging means for use with this invention. Clamp


1230


is depicted in

FIGS. 91 and 92

. Clamp


1230


broadly includes U-channel member


1232


and pivot assembly


1234


. Pivot assembly


1234


, in turn, includes pivot member


1236


and pivot rod


1238


. Defined laterally on each end of pivot member


1236


is pivot point orifice


1240


. Tab


1241


is laterally present proximate pivot point orifice


1240


. Symmetrically affixed to pivot member


1236


is a plurality of belt engaging elements


1242


. Each belt engaging element


1242


generally includes tongue section


1244


and planar member


1246


. Each tongue section


1244


defines engaging slot


1245


. Tongue section


1244


and planar member


1246


are joined in a stair step fashion. A pair of pivot rod brackets


1248


may be laterally attached to pivot member


1236


by means of a rivet or bolt. Orifice


1249


is defined by each pivot rod bracket


1248


and provides the opening through which pivot point


1240


may be disposed. At least one cylindrical member


1250


is affixed to each pivot rod bracket


1248


. U-channel member


1232


may include a plurality of slots


1252


and a plurality of brackets


1254


. U-channel member


1232


displays leading edge


1256


and inner surface


1258


, discussed hereinbelow. Mounted on brackets


1254


is a plurality of cam levers


1260


and springs


1262


.




Operationally, a portion of transfer sheet


1263


is wrapped about cylindrical member


1250


. Cylindrical member


1250


and the enwrapped portion of transfer sheet


1263


are then pivoted in the direction of arrow


1264


until brackets


1248


rest upon tabs


1241


. Slots


1252


on U-channel member


1232


are aligned with belt engaging elements


1242


. U-channel member


1232


and pivot assembly


1234


are then pressed together, thus allowing belt engaging elements


1242


to pass through slots


1252


and protrude forwardly therefrom. U-channel member


1232


and pivot assembly


1234


may be biased away from each other by means of a plurality of springs. Another alternative embodiment of clamp


1230


employs a spring (not shown) to bias cylindrical member


1250


in an open position. Cam levers


1260


are then rotated over pivot member


1236


, thereby biasing pivot member


1236


against U-channel member


1232


and cylindrical member


1250


firmly against inner surface


1258


. Finally, a belt buckle may be affixed to belt engaging elements


1242


. Leading edge


1256


of U-channel member


1232


is may be arcuate in cross-section, thereby allowing clamp


1230


to be more positively pulled upon a transfer bridge during a patient transfer, rather than abutting and displacing the transfer bridge.




Referring to

FIGS. 96-97

, exemplary patient transfer system


1300


enables a single operator to transfer or reposition a patient disposed on a substantially pliable underlayment, such as a transfer sheet described herein. Patient transfer may be effected from a first horizontal surface to a second horizontal surface or from a first transfer position to a second transfer position. This invention may also advantageously and ergonomically reposition a patient disposed on a substantially pliable underlayment, for example, from a slumped position to a position more toward the head of the bed on which the patient is disposed. Embodiments of this invention may further enable a single operator to ergonomically roll or reposition a patient, for instance, from the patient's left side to the patient's right side (a rollover). Patient transfer is effected with minimum risk of back injury to the operator. Moreover, patient transfer system


1300


is compact, easily transported to and from the site of a transfer event, and self-contained.




Moreover, patient transfer system


1300


is compact and thus easily fits through hospital and elevator doors and other small spaces. A single attendant may easily roll patient transfer system


1300


to the site of a patient transfer, conduct the patient transfer, then roll patient transfer system


1300


to the site of another transfer or place of storage. Patient transfer system


1300


is self-contained in that every component necessary to transfer a patient disposed on a sheet from a first horizontal surface to a second horizontal surface is self-contained.




As seen in

FIGS. 96-99

,


134


, patient transfer system


1300


broadly includes transfer caddy


1302


, transfer bridge


1304


, and transfer rod


1306


. Transfer caddy


1302


, in turn, includes head assembly


1308


, hook and web assembly


1310


, base assembly


1312


and electrical and switching system


1314


.




Referring to

FIGS. 98

,


114


, head assembly


1308


includes top frame


1316


, power train


1318


, and upper shield assembly


1320


. Top frame


1316


includes front panel


1322


, base panel


1324


, motor bracket


1326


, retractor bracket


1328


, left clutch bracket


1330


, a pair of interlock switch brackets


1334


, and right clutch bracket


1336


.




Front panel


1322


includes lobes


1342


which extend laterally from upper edges of front panel


1322


. Lobes


1342


and front panel


1322


cooperate in defining generally rectangular openings


1344


. Front panel


1322


presents planar inner surface


1346


. Base panel


1324


extends generally transversely from a bottom edge of front panel


1322


. Base panel


1324


presents upper surface


1348


. A pair of laterally disposed peripheral lips


1350


extend upwardly from a rear edge of base panel


1324


. Arcuate extension


1352


is a rearward extension of base panel


1324


and is flanked by peripheral lips


1350


.




Motor bracket


1326


includes planar member


1354


, a lateral pair of generally perpendicular members


1356


, and generally perpendicular lower member


1358


. Motor bracket


1326


is affixed to top frame


1316


. More specifically, one of members


1356


is affixed to surface


1346


and lower member


1358


is affixed to surface


1348


.




Retractor bracket


1328


includes horizontal member


1362


and vertical member


1364


. Vertical member


1364


extends upwardly and generally transversely from horizontal member


1362


. A generally cylindrical or conical element


1365


extends from vertical member


1364


generally toward right clutch bracket


1336


. Retractor bracket


1328


is affixed to top frame


1316


slightly to the right and rearwardly from motor bracket


1326


. Motor bracket


1326


defines orifices


1366


,


1368


,


1370


and cutout


1372


. Orifice


1366


is defined generally centrally on planar member


1326


. Orifice


1368


is defined generally below orifice


1366


. One or more smaller orifices


1370


may also be defined within planar member


1354


. Generally arcuate cutout


1372


may be defined proximate a central portion of an upper edge of member


1354


.




Left clutch bracket


1330


generally includes inboard planar member


1376


, outboard planar member


1378


and connecting member


1380


. Front edges of inboard planar member


1376


and outboard planar member


1378


are unitary to connecting member


1380


and are joined at a bend in this embodiment. Inboard planar member


1376


defines central orifice


1382


and one or more smaller orifices


1384


. Orifices


1384


may be peripherally disposed with respect to central orifice


1382


. Outboard planar member


1378


defines opening


1388


, cutouts


1390


, opening


1392


, cutout


1394


, and generally rectangular opening


1396


. Opening


1388


is generally circular, with four cutouts


1390


extending generally radially therefrom. Opening


1392


is defined above a rear portion of opening


1388


. Generally arcuate cutout


1394


is defined proximate an upper edge of outboard planar member


1378


. Rectangular opening


1396


is disposed generally centrally, below clutch opening


1388


. A plurality of smaller openings


1398


, flanking opening


1396


, may also be defined by planar member


1378


.




Interlock switch bracket


1334


is disposed proximate openings


1344


and affixed to front panel


1322


proximate surface


1346


.




Right clutch bracket


1336


generally includes inboard planar member


1400


, outboard planar member


1402


and connecting member


1404


. Front edges of inboard and outboard planar members


1400


,


1402


may be unitarily joined to connecting member


1404


at a bend. Orifices defined within inboard planar member


1400


and outer planar member


1402


are generally similar to those formed or defined by inboard planar member


1376


and outboard planar member


1338


. Therefore, these openings are designated by identical numerals.




Motor bracket


1326


is mounted such that planar member


1354


is generally transverse to panels


1322


,


1324


. Inboard planar members


1376


,


1400


, outboard planar members


1378


,


1402


, and vertical member


1364


are disposed generally parallel to planar member


1354


in this embodiment.




Front panel


1322


, base panel


1324


, motor bracket


1326


, retractor bracket


1328


, left clutch bracket


1330


, interlock switch brackets


1334


, and right clutch bracket


1336


may be formed from a 16-18 gauge sheet metal. However, other suitable materials are known to the art.




Also as seen in

FIGS. 98

,


114


, power train


1318


broadly includes motor


1410


, motor gear


1412


, shaft gear


1414


, shaft bearing


1416


, shaft


1418


, and pluralities of magnetic clutch assemblies


1420


, slip plates


1422


, and drum assemblies


1424


. Motor


1410


includes housing


1430


and motor shaft


1432


. Motor shaft


1432


may define a key way (not shown). A generally coaxial bore


1434


is defined in motor gear


1412


. Bore


1434


accommodates motor shaft


1432


. Gear


1412


may be further affixed to motor shaft


1432


by means of a key (not shown) inserted in the key way. Motor


1410


may be affixed to motor bracket


1326


by fasteners, such as a plurality of screws. When motor


1410


is attached to motor bracket


1326


and motor gear


1412


is mounted on motor shaft


1432


, motor shaft


1432


extends through motor orifice


1368


and motor gear


1412


is disposed outboard planar member


1354


. When power train


1318


is assembled, shaft


1418


extends through orifices


1366


,


1382


, and


1388


.




Shaft gear


1414


may be mounted on shaft


1418


in a similar manner as motor gear


1412


is mounted on motor shaft


1432


. Shaft gear


1414


may further be disposed on shaft


1418


such that shaft gear


1414


meshes with motor gear


1412


. Shaft


1418


extends through shaft bearing


1416


when power train


1318


is assembled. Shaft bearing


1416


may be further affixed to planar member


1354


by fasteners, such as a plurality of screws


1433


. In one embodiment, gears


1412


,


1414


respectively possess thirty-sixty and forty teeth. Gears


1412


,


1414


may be formed from such materials as steel, cast iron, as well as from other materials known to the art. Shaft


1418


may be formed from similar materials as gears


1412


,


1414


. In this embodiment, motor


1410


is a permanent magnet, parallel shaft, DC brush gear motor, operating at 12 volts DC and generating approximately ⅛ hp. Also in this embodiment, motor


1410


rotates motor shaft


1432


at an output speed of between about 25 and 75 rpm and attains an output torque range of between approximately 300 in-lbs at 25 rpm and 100 in-lbs at 75 rpm. Motor


1410


may be approximately 10″ (±0.5″) long, 5″ (±0.5″) high, and 4″ (±0.5″) wide. An exemplary motor may be obtained from Byson Gear and Engineering Corporation, Downers Grove, Ill.




Each magnetic clutch assembly


1420


includes disk


1436


and cylindrical housing


1438


. A generally coaxial bore


1440


extends through magnetic clutch assembly


1420


. In this embodiment, bore


1440


has a ½″ diameter and disk


1436


has a diameter of approximately 4.9″ (±0.5″). Cylindrical housing


1438


has a diameter of approximately 4.2″ (±0.5″) and a height of approximately 1.8″ (±0.5″). An exemplary magnetic clutch develops a torque of 22 lb-ft, and attains a coil power of 28 watts, an armature hub inertia of 161×10-4 lb-ft 2, a rotor inertia of about 172×10-4 lb-ft 2, and generates 3 hp at 1800 rpm. Disk


1436


may be mounted to an outboard surface of inboard planar member


1376


by fasteners, such as a plurality of screws. When magnetic clutch assembly


1420


is mounted to inboard member


1376


, cylindrical housing


1438


extends through opening


1388


. Magnetic clutch assembly


1420


is mounted such that shaft


1418


extends generally coaxially through bore


1440


. Shaft


1418


and magnetic clutch


1420


may be affixed by a key way combination (not shown). Each slip plate


1422


defines bore


1466


, a plurality of peripheral holes


1446


, and presents an inboard surface


1444


.




Each exemplary drum assembly


1424


includes cylindrical member


1450


. Four threaded extensions


1452


may extend peripherally from cylindrical member


1450


. Disk


1454


may be unitarily joined to cylindrical member


1450


. Disk


1454


presents an outboard surface


1455


and defines a threaded aperture


1456


. Cylindrical member


1457


coaxially extends from outboard surface


1455


. Outboard disk


1458


extends generally coaxially and radially from the outboard terminus of cylindrical member


1457


. Outboard disk


1458


defines an aperture


1460


and presents an outboard surface


1462


. Aperture


1460


is generally aligned with threaded aperture


1456


in this embodiment.




Also in this embodiment, a fastener such as a screw extends through each aperture


1446


and is threadably disposed within each threaded extension


1452


. Screw


1464


is extended through aperture


1460


and is threadably received within threaded aperture


1456


as will be discussed below. Bores


1466


,


1468


are coaxially formed within slip plate


1422


and drum assembly


1424


, respectively, such that shaft


1418


is received within bores


1466


,


1468


. Drag cap spring


1470


is compressibly held in place by drag cap


1472


cooperating with a fastener such as a screw. If a screw is used, the screw is threadably received within an aperture proximate a terminus of shaft


1418


.




As seen in

FIGS. 96

,


98


, upper shield assembly


1320


includes upper shield


1478


and respective left, and right end caps


1480


,


1482


. Upper shield


1478


, in turn, includes front panel


1486


, upper panel


1488


, and rear panel


1490


. Front panel


1486


includes conical protrusion


1492


. Respective planar members


1493


,


1494


flank protrusion


1492


and present an interior surface


1496


. Lower lip


1498


extends generally transversely from interior surface


1496


, proximate a lower edge thereof. In this embodiment, upper panel


1488


includes planar member


1502


and presents upper surface


1504


. Planar member


1502


, in turn, defines switch aperture


1506


, on-off light aperture


1508


, and charge light aperture


1510


. Apertures


1506


-


1510


are generally and centrally aligned transverse a longitudinal axis of planar member


1502


. Rear panel


1490


includes respective left and right planar members


1514


,


1516


. Conical protrusion


1518


unitarily extends from, and is flanked by, left and right planar members


1514


,


1516


. An upper edge of rear panel


1490


unitarily joins a rear edge of upper panel


1488


at a bend. Upper and rear panels


1488


,


1490


cooperate in defining remote aperture


1522


. Remote aperture


1522


generally aligns with apertures


1506


-


1510


and extends downwardly into a portion of conical protrusion


1518


.




Another lower lip (not shown) protrudes from an interior surface of rear panel


1490


in a similar manner as lower lip


1498


. Extending from respective left and right edges of panels


1486


-


1490


are left and right peripheral extensions


1524


,


1526


, respectively. Extensions


1524


,


1526


are formed by inward recesses from the exterior edges of panels


1486


-


1490


.




Respective left and right end caps


1480


,


1482


are essentially mirror images in this embodiment. Hence, they will be described with like-numbered elements. Each end cap


1480


,


1482


includes an outboard member


1530


, an upper member


1532


and a rear member


1534


. Outboard member


1530


is generally arcuate in cross-section. Upper member


1532


further includes generally planar member


1536


and generally conical element


1538


. Element


1538


extends above a forward portion of planar member


1536


. Lip


1540


extends forward from a lower edge of rear member


1534


.




Referring to

FIGS. 98

,


114


-


120


, hook and web assembly


1310


includes web


1550


and transfer hook


1552


. First and second loops


1556


,


1558


are formed within web


1550


by stitching


1560


. In this embodiment, transfer hook


1552


is a unitary structure, which includes strap retaining member


1564


and hook member


1566


. Strap retaining member


1564


, in turn, displays exterior surface


1565


and defines a generally cylindrical bore


1568


. A slot


1570


is further defined in a lower portion of strap retaining member


1564


. Extending from strap retaining member


1564


is flange


1572


. Flange


1572


displays lower surface


1573


. Hook member


1566


extends from an upper portion of strap retaining member


1564


. Hook member


1566


may be envisioned as including planar member


1574


, arcuate member


1575


, and terminal lip


1576


. Planar member


1574


extends from strap retaining member


1564


. Arcuate member


1575


extends from planar member


1574


. Terminal lip


1576


extends from arcuate member


1575


toward strap retaining member


1564


. Planar member


1574


, arcuate member


1575


and terminal lip


1576


display respective exterior surfaces


1577


,


1579


,


1581


and interior surfaces


1578


,


1580


,


1582


. Terminal lip


1576


displays tip


1583


. Viewed cross-sectionally in

FIG. 120

, lines


1584


,


1585


represent sites on interior surfaces


1565


,


1580


. Plane


1587


extends through point


1585


and is generally perpendicular to surfaces


1578


,


1582


. Planes


1588


,


1589


extend through tip


1583


and line


1584


and are generally parallel to plane


1587


. Plane


1590


extends from surface


1578


and plane


1591


extends from surface


1582


. Gap


1592


is the distance between planes


1587


,


1588


; gap


1593


is the distance between planes


1588


,


1589


; and gap


1594


is the distance between planes


1590


,


1591


. Plane


1600


extends from surface


1577


. Plane


1601


extends from surface


1573


and is generally perpendicular to plane


1600


. Plane


1605


extends tangentially from the tip of flange


1572


and is generally perpendicular to planes


1600


,


1601


. Gap


1607


is the distance between planes


1587


,


1595


. Plane


1595


is generally perpendicular to surface


1577


and extends through a center of bore


1568


. Plane


1596


extends through the center of bore


1568


and bisects slot


1570


. Angle


1597


is formed by the intersection of planes


1595


,


1596


.




Exemplary transfer hook


1552


is about 4.03″ (±0.05″) in length and about 1.50″ (±0.05″) wide. Flange


1572


and members


1574


,


1576


may be respectively about 0.25″ (±0.05″) and 0.325″ (±0.05″) in thickness. Strap retaining member


1564


may be about 0.25″ (±0.05″) thick, but may be thicker proximate planar member


1574


. Respective gaps


1592


,


1593


,


1594


,


1586


,


1607


may be about 1.00″ (±0.05″), 1.50″ (±0.05″), 0.75″ (±0.05″), 2.75″ (±0.05″), 1.03″ (±0.05″). Bore


1568


may be about 0.42″ (±0.05″) in diameter. Slot


1570


may be about 0.23″ (±0.05″) wide. Angles


1596


,


1603


may be about 20° (±10°) and 80° (±20°), respectively. Both terminal lip


1576


and flange


1572


may be rounded. If so, the edges of terminal lip


1576


may be rounded to a radius of about 0.50″ (±0.05″) and flange


1572


may be rounded to a radius of about 0.80″ (±0.05″). In this embodiment, transfer hook


1552


is made from extruded aluminum.




Webbing


1550


connects to transfer hook


1554


by means of joint connector bolt


1598


and joint connector


1599


. Joint connector


1599


disposes within loop


1558


. Joint connector


1599


and loop


1558


are placed within bore


1568


. Webbing


1550


is extended through slot


1570


. To secure the attachment of webbing


1550


to transfer hook


1552


, joint connector bolt


1598


is threadably received onto joint connector


1599


. Dimensionally, exemplary web


1550


is about 60″ in length and about 1.50″ in width. However, it should be appreciated that the dimensions of web


1550


may be altered as necessary. Web


1550


may include materials suitable for automobile seat belts.




Hook and web assembly


1310


is installed onto drum assembly


1424


as depicted in

FIGS. 117

,


118


. First loop


1556


is extended through opening


1344


. First loop


1556


is then aligned with apertures


1456


,


1460


(FIG.


98


). Screw


1464


is passed through aperture


1460


and first loop


1556


, then threadably received within aperture


1456


.




Exemplary base assembly


1312


is depicted in FIG.


99


and broadly includes leg assembly


1602


, vertical adjusting means such as actuator assembly


1604


, trunk and skirt assembly


1606


, handle assembly


1608


, and base shield assembly


1610


. Leg assembly


1602


, in turn, includes two front legs or bumpers


1622


and two rear legs or bumpers


1624


unitarily extending from central portion


1626


. A caster


1628


is attached to a lower surface of each bumper


1622


,


1624


. Central portion


1626


may display a generally planar surface


1630


which is recessed downwardly from bumpers


1622


,


1624


. Central portion


1626


further defines a plurality of recessed portions


1632


, used as discussed below.




Exemplary actuator assembly


1604


is shown in

FIGS. 99

,


121


and includes actuator


1640


, left actuator support


1642


, right actuator support


1644


, plunger bracket


1646


, plunger pivot arm


1648


, actuator cable


1650


, and foot pedal assembly


1652


. Actuator


1640


, in turn, includes base member


1660


, actuator body


1664


, actuator piston


1666


, actuator pump piston


1668


, and disk


1670


. Actuator body


1664


extends generally transversely from generally horizontal base


1660


. The portion of actuator body above base


1660


is generally cylindrical. The portion of actuator body


1664


proximate base


1660


houses a hydraulic reservoir and pump. Actuator piston


1666


is slidingly and coaxially disposed within an upper portion of actuator body


1664


. Pump piston


1668


extends from base


1660


generally transversely to actuator body


1664


. Disk


1670


is fixed to pump piston


1668


a distance away from a terminus of pump piston


1668


. Actuator cable


1650


includes a stiff, flexible wire element


1678


slidingly disposed within jacket


1680


. Further included are a plurality of fastening devices, such as ferrules


1682


.




Exemplary foot pedal assembly


1652


includes pedal bracket


1686


, a plurality of pedal levers


1688


, pedal pivot bearings


1690


, foot pedal


1692


, and foot pedal pad


1694


. Pedal lever


1688


, in turn, includes lever portion


1696


, pedal mounting bracket


1698


, and bearing mounting bracket


1700


. Pedal mounting bracket


1698


is disposed generally transversely to lever portion


1698


at a first end thereof. Bearing mounting bracket


1700


extends generally transversely from a second end of lever portion


1698


. Pedal bracket


1686


attaches to a lower surface of central portion


1626


. Pedal lever


1688


is disposed within pedal bracket


1686


. Each extension of bearing mounting bracket


1700


is disposed within a pedal pivot bearing


1690


. Each pedal pivot bearing


1690


is affixed to a lower surface of central portion


1626


. Foot pedal


1692


, in turn, is affixed to an upper surface of pedal mounting bracket


1698


. Foot pedal pad


1694


is then disposed atop an upper surface of foot pedal


1692


.




Referring to

FIG. 99

, exemplary trunk and skirt assembly


1606


includes trunk


1710


, two hat sections


1712


, skirt plate


1714


, and skirt


1716


. Trunk


1710


, in turn, includes front panel


1720


, left side panel


1722


, right side panel


1724


, and rear panel


1726


. Front panel


1720


is a generally planar member. Left side panel


1722


and right side panel


1724


extend generally transversely from lateral edges of front panel


1720


and include a extended portions


1728


,


1729


. Extended portions


1728


,


1729


are generally rectangular in cross-section. Cord pocket


1730


is attached to an exterior surface of extended portion


1728


. Rear panel


1726


extends from rear edges of left and right side panels


1722


,


1724


. Rear panel


1726


includes planar member


1732


. Flange


1734


extends outwardly from an upper edge of planar member


1732


. Another flange


1736


extends from an exterior surface of planar member


1732


. Bracket


1738


extends rearwardly proximate a right edge of flange


1736


. In this embodiment, bracket


1738


is disposed generally transverse to planar member


1732


. Cutout


1740


is defined in a lower portion of rear panel


1726


in this embodiment. A cutout may also be defined in a corresponding location of front panel


1720


.




Each exemplary hat section


1712


includes base member


1744


, front vertical member


1746


, rear vertical member


1748


, and inboard vertical member


1750


. Front, rear and inboard vertical members


1746


-


1750


extend generally transversely from base member


1744


and join base member


1744


at a bend. A peripheral flange


1752


extends generally transversely from an upper edge of each of vertical members


1746


-


1750


. Inboard vertical member


1750


and an adjoining portion of base member


1744


cooperate to define an inwardly curved surface


1754


. Generally planar top skirt plate


1714


coextends with a mated pair of hat sections


1712


when trunk and skirt assembly


1608


is assembled.




Skirt


1716


includes front panel


1760


, left side panel


1762


, right side panel


1764


, and rear panel


1766


. Panels


1760


-


1766


are generally planar. Front flange


1768


and rear flange


1770


extend inwardly from top edges of front panel


1760


and rear panel


1766


, respectively. Front panel


1760


and rear panel


1766


further and respectively define cutouts


1772


,


1774


on lower-most portions thereof. A multiplicity of wear strips


1776


may be attached to exterior surfaces of panels


1760


-


1766


. In this embodiment, a wear strip


1776


is attached to lower portions of front and rear panels


1762


,


1766


, proximate cutouts


1772


,


1774


.




Actuator assembly


1604


and trunk and skirt assembly


1606


are assembled in a cooperative relationship as depicted in

FIGS. 99

,


121


. Left and right actuator supports


1642


,


1644


are mated to actuator


1640


and then accommodated in one of recessed portions


1632


within central portion


1626


. Left and right actuator supports


1642


,


1644


are then affixed to central portion


1626


by threading screws into pre-drilled and pre-threaded holes therefor. Plunger pivot arm


1648


is then seated and pivotally affixed to a recessed portion


1632


on an upper surface of central portion


1626


. A portion of pump piston


1668


, disposed distally to disk


670


, is then mounted to an upper portion of plunger bracket


1646


by being disposed through a slot (not shown) defined therein. One end of wire


1678


is extended through an upper slot defined in plunger bracket


1646


. One of ferrules


1682


is then affixed to the end of wire


1678


. Trunk


1710


is then lowered into place atop central portion


1626


. Two hat sections


1712


are mated around actuator piston


1666


and affixed thereto by fastening means, such as a plurality of bolts threadably mated to nuts. Top skirt plate


1714


is then affixed to mated hat sections


1712


by fasteners such as screws or bolts through pre-drilled holes within top skirt plate


1714


and peripheral flanges


1752


. Top skirt plate


1714


and attached hat sections


1712


are affixed to lower surfaces of flanges


1768


,


1770


by such means as screws or bolts. The unattached end of wire


1768


is attached to pedal lever


1688


proximate pedal mounting bracket


1698


and secured thereto by a ferrule


1682


.




As also shown in

FIGS. 99

,


121


, handle assembly


1608


includes a plurality of handle supports


1788


and handle


1790


. Respective holes


1792


,


1794


are defined in handle supports


1788


and handle


1790


. A first end of each handle support


1788


is accommodated in a recessed portion


1632


within central portion


1626


and affixed thereto. The free ends of handle


1790


then telescopically fit over exposed second ends of each handle support


1788


. Handle


1790


is then affixed to each handle support


1788


by such means as bolts or pins extending through holes


1788


,


1790


.




Exemplary base shield assembly


1610


broadly includes front base shield


1800


, rear base shield


1802


, and battery cover


1804


. Front base shield


1800


, in turn, includes front panel


1810


, left side panel


1812


, and right side panel


1814


. Left and right side panels


1812


,


1814


extend generally perpendicularly from lateral edges of front panel


1810


. Left side panel


1812


defines arcuate cutout


1816


proximate a rear edge thereof.




Exemplary rear base shield


1802


, in turn, includes rear panel


1822


and left and right panels


1824


,


1826


. Rear panel


1822


is generally outwardly curved in cross-section. Flange


1834


extends from an upper edge of rear panel


1822


. A lower portion of rear panel


1822


defines recessed portion


1836


. Recessed portion


1836


, in turn, defines cutout


1838


centrally proximate a lower edge thereof. A pair of laterally disposed handle moldings


1840


are formed proximate an upper and each lateral edge of rear panel


1822


. Rear panel


1822


defines bracket slot


1842


. Bracket slot


1842


is disposed such that bracket


1738


will extend therethrough when rear panel


1822


is in place. Left and right panels


1824


,


1826


extend respectively from left and right edges of rear panel


1822


. Left panel


1824


defines cutout


1848


proximate a front edge thereof and coordinate with cutout


1816


defined on left side panel


1812


. Label


1850


may be affixed to a predetermined portion


1852


of left panel


1824


in this embodiment. Label


1850


may display such indicia as operating and safety instructions.




Recessed edge


1828


extends from upper surfaces of panels


1810


-


1814


and


1822


-


1826


. A flange


1830


extends generally perpendicularly from lower edges of panels


1810


-


1814


and panels


1822


-


1826


.




Exemplary battery cover


1804


is unitary in this embodiment and includes rear panel


1860


and left and right panels


1862


,


1864


. Rear panel


1860


may be envisioned as including left and right lobes


1868


,


1870


. Curved surface


1872


presents vertical wall


1873


. Both curved surface


1872


and vertical wall


1873


are defined by lobes


1868


,


1870


. In this embodiment, four generally vertical walls


1876


extend downwardly from rear panel


1860


to form pocket


1874


in an upper portion of right lobe


1870


. When battery cover


1804


is in place, plate


1878


is affixed to the bottom of pocket


1874


. Left and right panels


1862


,


1864


extend generally perpendicularly from lateral edges of rear panel


1860


. Also when battery cover


1804


is in place, forward edges of left and right panels


1862


,


1864


are proximate lateral edges of recessed area


1836


.




Referring to

FIGS. 98

,


99


,


134


, the components of exemplary electrical and switching system


1314


broadly include charger


1902


, battery


1904


, AC sensor


1906


, logic board


1908


, interlock switches


1910


, proximity switches


1912


, remote coil assembly


1914


, remote switch


1916


, hour meter


1918


, and panel


1920


. Charger


1902


, in this embodiment, receives AC current via power cable


1900


and converts the AC current to DC current for charging battery


1904


via power cable


1901


. Charger


1902


is protected by cover


1903


. Input ratings for charger


1902


may include 90-264 VAC, line frequencies of 47-63 Hz, and currents between 0.80 A-0.35 A. Output ratings for charger


1902


may include, an initial charge voltage of 14.7 VDC, an end of charge voltage of 13.80 VDC, a current of 2.0 A, and a switchover current of 160 mA. Battery


1904


receives DC current from charger


1902


to operate the electrical components of transfer caddy


1302


. Battery


1904


is held in place by bracket


1905


. In this embodiment, battery


1904


is a rechargeable sealed lead acid battery with an output rating of 12 V and a nominal capacity of 12 Amp-hours or more. Also in this embodiment, AC sensor


1906


senses whether charger


1902


is plugged into 110 VAC or 220 VAC. This sensing is relayed to logic board


1908


. A pair of interlock switches


1910


are present as indicated in

FIGS. 98

,


114


. In this embodiment, proximity switches


1910


are affixed to base panel


1324


, proximate left and right end caps


1480


,


1482


. Proximity switches


1910


disable electrical and switching system


1314


when either left or right end caps


1480


,


1482


are not in place.




As may be seen in

FIGS. 115-116

,


134


, another pair of proximity switches


1912


are disposed proximate each interlock switch bracket


1334


. Each proximity switch pair


1912


includes a pair of single switches


1926


and pivot


1927


. Each single switch


1926


within switch pair


1912


operates from a separate circuitry. Switches


1926


are actuated by pivot


1927


. Exemplary remote coil assembly


1914


feeds out or retracts cable


1928


.




Referring to

FIGS. 100

,


101


,


134


, remote switch


1916


is in electrical communication with logic board


1908


via cable


1928


, and remote coil assembly


1914


. Remote switch


1916


includes bottom cover


1940


, top cover


1942


, membrane switch


1944


, and button assembly


1946


. A plurality of moldings


1952


and a segmented platform


1954


may be present in bottom cover


1940


. Top cover


1942


includes another plurality of moldings (not shown), each molding generally aligned with a molding


1952


in bottom cover


1940


. Top cover


1942


also defines switch opening


1960


. Switch opening


1960


is defined proximate platform


1954


when top and bottom covers


1940


,


1942


are mated. Membrane switch


1944


includes planar member


1964


, conductor


1966


and tab


1968


. Conductor


1966


generally extends from planar member


1964


. Tab


1968


represents a dielectric extension of conductor


1966


.




Button assembly


1946


is unitary in construction in this embodiment, and includes left and right lobes


1972


,


1974


and base


1976


. Left and right lobes


1972


,


1974


are joined at base


1976


in this embodiment. In practice, membrane switch


1944


is electrically connected to logic board


1908


via cable


1928


. Membrane switch


1944


is then disposed on platform


1954


and button assembly


1946


is disposed atop membrane switch


1944


. Top cover


1942


is then mated to bottom cover


1940


and secured thereto by a plurality of fasteners, such as screws


1978


. Each screw


1978


extends through bore


1953


of molding


1952


and is threadably received within a complimentary molding formed in top cover


1942


.




Another advantageous feature of exemplary transfer caddy


1302


is a switch controlling clutches


1420


after transfer caddy


1302


has effected a transfer, repositioning or rollover. In a first switch position, clutches


1420


, hence drum assemblies


1424


, turn freely or unwind slightly, thereby enabling the operator to more easily disconnect transfer hook


1552


from transfer rod


1306


after a transfer or repositioning. In a second switch position, clutches


1420


are still engaged with slip plates


1422


, thereby preventing drum assemblies


1424


from turning freely and holding the patient in a new rollover position. In the second switch position, drum assemblies are then reversed when the patient has been secured in the new desired position. Such a switch may be present on remote switch


1916


or proximate power switch


1988


on upper surface


1504


of upper panel


1488


.




Referring to

FIGS. 96-98

,


134


, panel


1920


includes power switch


1988


, on/off light


1990


, and charge light


1992


. Electrical and switching system


1314


is activated or deactivated by toggling power switch


1988


. On/off light


1990


displays a green color when electrical and switching system


1314


is activated in this embodiment. Charge light


1992


displays an amber light when the available charge in battery


1904


is less than 11.7±0.1 VDC. Charge light


1992


displays a blinking amber light when battery


1904


is being charged by charger


1902


.




As seen in

FIG. 134

, exemplary logic board


1908


includes terminals


2000


-


2016


. Terminal


2000


electrically connects logic board


1908


to left clutch


1420


and to one of redundant proximity switches


1926


of a first proximity switch pair


1912


. Terminal


2002


electrically connects logic board


1908


to right clutch


1420


and to one of redundant proximity switches


1926


of a second proximity switch pair


1912


. Terminal


2004


electrically connects logic board


1908


to motor


1410


. Terminal


2006


electrically connects logic board


1908


to charger


1902


, battery


1904


, and AC sensor


1906


. Terminal


2008


electrically connects logic board


1908


to panel


1920


. Terminal


2010


electrically connects logic board


1908


to right interlock switch


1910


and to another redundant proximity switch


1926


of second proximity switch pair


1912


. Terminal


2012


electrically connects logic board


1908


to remote switch


1916


. Terminal


2014


electrically connects logic board


1908


to yet another redundant proximity switch


1926


of first proximity switch pair


1912


and to left interlock switch


1910


. Terminal


2016


electrically connects logic board


1908


to hour meter


1918


.




Logic board


1908


controls and monitors the operation of transfer caddy


1302


. One function of the operation of logic board


1908


is controlling clutches


1420


and motor


1410


when a transfer event is in progress. Another function of logic board


1908


is monitoring the condition of battery


1904


. Still another function of logic board


1908


is monitoring charging of battery


1904


by charger


1902


. Yet another function of logic board


1908


is monitoring when charger


1902


is connected to an AC receptacle.




Logic board


1908


controls the operation of clutches


1420


in response to an operator pressing left or right lobes


1972


,


1974


of remote switch


1916


. Logic board


1908


also actuates motor


1410


when either of clutches


1420


is energized. Logic board


1908


discontinues operation of one of clutches


1420


when a corresponding one of switches


1912


,


1914


is activated. The deactivated clutch


1410


is locked-out until remote switch


1916


is cycled off and then on to prevent “chattering” of the clutch when an end of travel is reached. “Chattering” occurs when clutch


1420


is turned off and the tension on web


1550


is thereby released, causing web


1550


to disengage flange


1572


from proximity switch


1912


. An end of travel condition is reached when flange


1572


of transfer hook


1552


contacts pivot


1927


, thereby engaging proximity switch


1912


. Logic board


1908


further prevents operation of either of clutches


1420


or motor


1410


when either interlock switch


1910


is engaged. Either of interlock switches


1910


are engaged when an adjacent end cap


1480


,


1482


is not in position. Logic board


1908


further prevents operation of either of clutches


1420


or motor


1410


when charger


1902


is connected to an AC receptacle. Logic board


1908


still further activates the event timer contained within hour meter


1918


when a current above


1


A originates from motor


1410


. A current above


1


A arbitrarily indicates that a transfer is being performed.




Logic board


1908


also functions as a battery condition monitor. Logic board


1908


monitors battery voltage and activates yellow indicator light


1992


. Logic board


1908


detects a condition wherein the voltage potential of battery


1904


is less than 11.7±0.1 VDC. Upon detecting this condition, logic board


1908


displays yellow light


1992


until battery


1904


is charged to above this level. If logic board


1908


detects a voltage potential below 11.7±0.1 VDC during a transfer event, there is sufficient energy still contained within battery


1904


to complete the transfer. Logic board


1908


monitors the condition of charger


1902


. Logic board


1908


detects when current between charger


1902


and battery


1904


exceeds 0.1 Amps. A current exceeding 0.1 Amps is above the “trickle charge level” charger


1902


typically supplies when battery


1904


is in a charged condition. Logic board


1908


activates light


1992


in response to a current between charger


1902


and battery


1904


exceeding 0.1 A. Logic board


1908


further locks out activation of light


1990


until charging is completed.




When charger


1902


is connected to an AC supply, logic board


1908


, via AC sensor


1906


, detects this condition for a value between 90-250 Vrms (volt-root mean square). When a value between 90-250 Vrms is detected, logic board


1908


locks out further operation of motor


1410


or clutches


1420


. Logic board


1908


further activates light


1990


, thus indicating that charger


1902


is connected to an AC supply. If charger


1902


is connected to an AC supply and light


1992


is activated, light


1990


will not be activated until the charging process for battery


1904


is complete.




Power switch


1988


controls power to motor


1410


and clutches


1420


. When switch


1988


is toggled to an on position, green light


1990


is activated, indicating that a relay has been energized. This relay (not shown) controls power output to motor


1410


and clutches


1420


. However, power for the electronics within logic board


1908


is otherwise not controlled by switch


1988


. Thus, the condition of battery


1904


may be continuously monitored.




Exemplary electrical and switching system


1314


may be configured so that between about


135


and


150


transfers may take place before charge light


1992


is illuminated, if battery


1904


is fully charged before initiation of transfers. Moreover, more than between about 200 transfers and 300 transfers may occur before battery


1904


is so drained of voltage that clutches


1420


disengage, thereby stopping the transfer process. More than between about 35 and 45 transfers may be effected between when charge light


1992


illuminates and when clutches


1420


disengage. Of course, these potential numbers of transfers would depend on factors such as the amperage of battery


1904


when fully charged, the weights of patients transferred, coefficients of friction between the transfer sheets, upon which the patients are disposed and the upper surfaces of transfer bridge


1304


and the surfaces from which and to which the patients are being transferred, and temperatures where transfer caddy


1302


is stored and used.




Transfer caddy


1302


may be about 36 inches wide, thereby enabling transfer caddy


1302


to be rolled through most hospital doorways. However, other embodiments of transfer caddy


1302


may be wider than


36


inches, yet be readily transportable through most doorways.




Another embodiment of the transfer caddy of this invention is depicted in

FIG. 137

as transfer caddy


2350


. Transfer caddy


2350


differs from transfer caddy


1302


in that handle


2354


is mounted on front and rear bumpers. In this embodiment, handle


2354


is mounted on respective left front and rear bumpers


1622


and


1624


in mounts


2356


. Handle


2354


may be secured in mounts


2356


by such fasteners as pins, locking cam assemblies or nut-bolt combinations. Transfer caddy


2350


may further include pivotable handle


2360


. Handle


2360


pivots up in the direction of arrow


2362


from a recess in left end cap


1480


. Handle


2360


may be used singly or in combination with handle


1608


or handle


2354


in transporting and positioning transfer caddy


2350


.




Another embodiment to handle


1608


and


2354


is shown in

FIG. 138

as handle assembly


2370


. Exemplary handle assembly


2370


includes upper section


2372


, left lower section


2374


, and a right lower section. Left lower section


2374


and the right lower section are joined to upper section


2372


by hinge assemblies


2378


. Hinge assemblies


2378


are mounted such that upper section


2372


folds toward head assembly


1308


. However, hinge assemblies


2378


may be mounted to enable upper section


2372


to fold away from head assembly


1308


and down as well. Upper section


2372


may be reversibly locked into an upright position by such means as pins and clip-pin combinations.




Transfer caddy


1302


may be proportioned such that webs


1550


are spaced apart about 26 inches on center. While spacings less than about 26 inches may produce satisfactory results, it becomes more important that the patient's center of mass be centered between webs


1550


as spacing therebetween decreases.




A transfer bridge, positionable between the horizontal surface on which the patient is disposed and the horizontal surface to which the patient will be transferred, is advantageously employed in the invention. Such an exemplary transfer bridge is depicted in

FIGS. 108-110

as


1304


. Transfer bridge


1304


includes left and right inboard sections


2102


,


2104


and left and right outboard sections


2106


,


2108


. Each section


2102


-


2108


displays upper surface


2110


and lower surface


2112


. Each section


2102


-


2108


is hingedly connected to one or more adjacent sections by means of bridgespines


2116


. Each bridgespine


2116


includes a flexible low-friction material, such as Cordura®, laid proximate upper surface


2110


and a strip of enhanced friction material, such as Neoprene, placed proximate lower surface


2112


, thereby sandwiching the material of each of sections


2102


-


2108


therebetween. The layers are then stitched together in a manner known to the art. Inboard sections


2102


,


2104


are joined together by bridgespine


2116


and include loops


2114


. Each loop


2114


may be 0.188″ diameter elastic (commonly known as bungee) cord. Each loop


2114


may be approximately 1″ in length. Each of sections


2102


-


2108


may include a material such as polypropylene overlaid with Cordova and reinforced Neoprene. The polypropylene may be 0.125″ (±0.05″) in thickness. A series of longitudinally oriented ribs


2118


may also be present on lower surface


2112


. In this embodiment, sections


2102


and


2104


and sections


2106


,


2108


are generally mirror images. Each inboard section may extend outwardly approximately 17.25″ (±0.1″). Each outboard section may extend approximately 16.5″ (±0.1″). The depth of each inboard section


2102


,


2104


may taper generally from a maximum proximate a central bridgespine


2116


. The maximum depth of sections


2102


,


2104


may be approximately 14.0″ (±0.1″). In this embodiment, tapering continues on both the forward and rear edges. Exemplary transfer bride


1304


reaches a minimum depth of about 6.56″ (±0.1″) proximate each lateral edge of outboard sections


2106


,


2108


. Each exemplary inboard section


2102


,


2104


has a length of about 17.25″ (±0.1″). Each exemplary outboard section


2106


,


2108


extends about 16.5″ (±0.1″). Indicia, such as arrow


2120


, may be present on upper surface


2110


. In this embodiment, arrow


2120


points toward the patient to be transferred. However, other indicia may be present on surfaces


2110


,


2112


as well.




Referring to

FIGS. 102-107

, exemplary transfer rod


1306


includes first section


2140


, second section


2142


, and cord


2144


. First and second sections


2140


,


2142


, respectively, include hollow rods


2146


,


2148


. Each rod


2146


,


2148


defines a generally coaxial bore


2150


. Bore


2150


is generally oval in cross-section. First section


2140


includes rod covers


2156


,


2158


. Second section


2142


includes covers


2160


,


2162


. Each section


2140


,


2142


also includes several rod caps


2166


. Each rod cap


2166


is generally oval in cross-section and defines opening


2168


therein. Each rod cap


2166


further displays a flat surface


2170


and a rounded surface


2172


. A plurality of lips


2174


generally extend transversely from a midpoint of each flat surface


2170


. Opening


2168


generally conforms to an outer cross-sectional geometry of rods


2146


,


2148


. Each transfer rod


1306


may further include a plurality of cord plates


2178


. In this embodiment, cord plate


2178


is generally planar and configures to a cross section of rods


2146


,


2148


. Cord plate


2178


may further define a plurality of openings


2180


. A plurality of O-rings


2184


may also be present and, if present, are disposed as described below. In this embodiment, each rod


2146


,


2148


is made of material which includes extruded aluminum. Each rod cover is extruded urethane overlaid with a material with a durometer, further enabling rods


2146


,


2148


to grip a sheet.




Prior to assembly, a rod cap


2166


is installed in each end of each rod cover


2156


-


2162


. Installation includes contacting each lip


2174


to an interior surface of each rod cover


2156


-


2162


until flat surfaces


2170


contact the end of each rod cover


2156


-


2162


. Rods


2146


,


2148


are then forced inside the assembled rod cover-rod cap combinations, for example by a hydraulic press, such that a gap


2188


is assured therebetween. Gap


2188


will accommodate transfer hook


1552


as discussed below. An O-ring


2184


is then inserted onto rod


2146


. Elastic cord


2144


is then installed within bores


2150


of rods


2146


,


2148


. Each end of cord


2144


is passed through each opening


2180


in a cord plate


2178


. A knot is then formed in each free end of cord


2144


, thereby holding cord plates


2178


in place by the resulting tension.




In this embodiment, rods


2146


,


2148


are about 27″ (±0.5″) and 20″ (±0.5″), respectively, with a cross-sectional width of 1.5″ (±0.007″) and a cross-sectional height of 0.5″ (±0.007″). Bore


2150


has a cross-sectional height of about 0.25″ (±0.01″) and a cross-sectional width of 0.75″ (±0.01″). Rod covers


2156


-


2162


are about 17″ (±0.5″), 10.5″ (±0.5″), 14.38″ (±0.5″), and 14.38″ (±0.5″), respectively, with a cross-sectional width of about 2.0″ (±0.03″), and a cross-sectional height of about 1.0″ (±0.02″).




When assembled, a free end of rod


2146


extends from first section


2140


. An inboard portion of rod cover


2160


does not contact rod


2148


. Thus, the free end of rod


2146


slidingly fits within rod cover


2160


and results in an assembled transfer rod


1306


of approximately 66″ (±1.0″) in length. Of course, other lengths for transfer rod


1306


are possible as well. Transfer rod


1306


may, for example, be between about 45 inches and 72 inches long. However, longer transfer rods tend to better distribute the loads generated by patients. Moreover, centering of patient mass becomes less important as transfer rods increase in length.




Assembled transfer rod


1306


is broken down for storage by separating sections


2140


,


2142


in the directions indicated by arrows


2192


, then by folding sections


2140


,


2142


together in the directions indicated by arrows


2194


.





FIGS. 122-132

, depict exemplary steps in a patient transfer using the lateral patient transfer system of the present invention. A patient is lying on a first support


2304


. Disposed between the patient and first support


2304


is sheet


2306


. The patient is to be transferred to second support


2308


. First support


2304


and second support


2308


display respective upper surfaces


2310


,


2312


. An attendant has previously transported second support surface


2308


and transfer caddy


1302


into the room. Second support


2308


has been positioned such that it angles away from first support


2304


, thereby providing working space for the attendant. The attendant has locked wheels present on first support


2304


where possible. The attendant has further withdrawn transfer rod


1306


from pocket


1874


and mated first and second sections


2140


,


2142


. Transfer caddy


1302


has been positioned on a side of second support


2308


opposite first support


2304


. Side rails on first and second supports


2304


,


2308


have been lowered, if present. Transfer rod


1306


is then placed atop sheet


2306


and centered to align generally with the center of the patient's body, as depicted by line


2314


. Sheet


2306


is untucked and folded over transfer rod


1306


. Transfer rod


1306


is rolled at least once toward the patient. However, transfer rod


1306


may be rolled until transfer rod


1306


and an enwrapped portion of sheet


2306


are as close to the patient as possible. Transfer bridge


1304


is then unfolded and placed under transfer rod


1306


. Transfer bridge


1304


is positioned such that the cambered edge is proximate the patient. Indicia such as arrows will point toward the patient to be transferred in some embodiments of transfer bridge


1304


. Each hook and web assembly


1310


is unrolled from transfer caddy


1302


and placed upon second support


2308


. Hooks


1552


are then emplaced about rods


2146


,


2148


and enwrapped sheet


2306


at gaps


2188


. Second support


2308


is then brought into contact with first support


2304


as depicted by arrow


2316


in FIG.


127


. First and second supports,


2304


,


2308


are then docked if possible. Also, wheels on second support


2308


are locked if possible. Finally, supports


2304


,


2308


may be adjusted such that surface


2312


is approximately 1 inch lower than surface


2310


. Transfer caddy


1302


is then positioned as close to second support


2308


as possible and aligned with the center of the patient.




The vertical height of head assembly


1308


is then adjusted by foot pedal


1692


. Head assembly


1308


may be raised by pumping foot pedal


1692


as shown by arrow


2315


. Head assembly


1308


may be lowered by depressing and holding foot pedal


1692


until head assembly


1308


is at the desired vertical height. The desired vertical height of head assembly


1308


is such that a distance H (

FIG. 126

) is formed between webbing


1550


and surface


2312


. Distance H in this example is about 1 inch. A value of about 1 inch for distance H will result in stable contact between transfer caddy


1302


and second support


2308


. As seen in

FIG. 113

, head assembly


1308


is raised or lowered as indicated by arrows


2313


by foot pedal


1692


. In this embodiment, head assembly


1308


may be raised a distance


2317


from its lowest position. Exemplary distance


2317


is about 11 inches (±2 inches). Alternately, an electric motor may be used to actuate raising and lowering head assembly


1308


, for example, by powering a hydraulic pump. If an electric motor is employed, foot pedal assembly


1652


would be replaced with an electric switch. Alternately, an electric switch could be mounted proximate switch


1506


on upper panel


1488


.




Returning to

FIGS. 122-132

, the attendant then removes remote switch


1916


from remote aperture


1522


and withdraws a desired length of power cable


1928


. Left and right lobes


1972


,


1974


are depressed as needed until the slack in webs


1550


has been taken up and webs


1550


are taut. The transfer event begins when lobes


1972


,


1974


are depressed simultaneously and the patient begins to be moved atop transfer bridge


1304


and toward second support


2308


. The attendant may insure that transfer bridge


1304


is not displaced by holding transfer bridge


1304


until the patient is atop thereof. Once the patient has been transported generally to a center position on second support


2308


, the attendant discontinues depressing left and right lobes


1972


,


1974


. However, if for some reason the patient transfer continues past this point, a safety mechanism provided in transfer caddy


1302


will automatically discontinue the transfer.




As depicted in

FIGS. 115

,


116


, transfer hook


1552


, transfer rod


1306


, and an enwrapped portion of sheet


2306


are being retracted toward head assembly


1308


. If the patient transfer is not discontinued by an attendant, flange


1572


will contact and displace pivot


1927


. Pivot


1927


actuates proximity switch


1912


, when displaced and thereby discontinues the transfer.




Once the patient has been transferred to second support


2308


, the transfer event is ended. Transfer hooks


1552


are disconnected from transfer rod


1306


and sheet


2306


is then unwrapped from transfer rod


1306


. Sections


2140


,


2142


of transfer rod


1306


are then separated and returned to their storage position on transfer caddy


1302


. Transfer bridge


1304


is removed, refolded, and returned to its storage position on transfer caddy


1302


as well. Side rails are then raised on second support


2308


, if present. Transfer caddy


1302


may be then rolled away and transported to another desired location.




The beginning and end of a patient transfer event are characterized by an advantageous feature of the present invention. Web


1550


is wound on drum assembly


1424


to effect the transfer. If drum assembly


1424


were directly connected to shaft


1418


, rather than to magnetic clutch assembly


1420


, the transfer would begin and end abruptly. That is, drum assembly


1424


would begin to wind and cease winding at full speed. Thus, an abrupt and potentially uncomfortable beginning and ending of the patient transfer event might occur. However, addition of magnetic clutch assembly


1420


and slip plate


1422


results in a more gradual acceleration and deceleration in the rotation of drum assembly


1424


. Hence, the patient transfer effected by the present invention begins and ends in gradually increasing rates of transfer.




Another embodiment of the invention is depicted in

FIG. 135

as exemplary patient transfer system


2330


. Exemplary patient transfer system


2330


is similar to patient transfer system


1330


with the exception that extended bumpers


2334


are present in place of bumpers


1484


. As seen in

FIGS. 98 and 135

, bumpers


2334


differ from bumpers


1484


by the presence of extended member


2338


. Extended member


2338


mates to front portions of left and right end caps


1480


,


1482


. Other features of bumper


2334


may be similar to those of bumper


1484


. Another embodiment of bumper


2334


is extendible and retractable within endcaps


1480


,


1482


in the direction of arrow


2340


. Bumpers


2334


may be extended or retracted by such means as a worm gear drive (not shown). Still another embodiment of bumpers


2334


includes a plurality of telescoping sections to comprise member


2338


(not shown). Normally, front bumpers


1622


are disposed beneath a bed so that bumpers


1484


can contact the bed frame. Extended bumpers


2334


are advantageous if front bumpers


1622


cannot be positioned beneath the surface on which the patient is to be transferred, because extended bumper


2334


may nonetheless contact the frame.




Alternate embodiments of transfer caddy


1302


are depicted in

FIGS. 139-144

. These embodiments employ measures such as weights to enhance the stability of transfer caddy


1302


during a transfer event. Referring to

FIGS. 139-141

transfer caddy


1302


is depicted as including weight


2390


mounted on upper surface


2388


of rear bumper (or leg)


1624


. In this embodiment one or more orifices


2392


extend from upper surfaces


2388


to lower surfaces


2394


of rear bumpers


1624


. Threaded apertures may be formed in weights


2390


to coincide with locations of orifices


2392


. Bolts are then extended through orifices


2392


from lower surfaces


2394


of rear bumpers


1624


and threaded into the threaded apertures in weights


2390


.




Referring to

FIGS. 142-144

, weight


2398


includes central portion


2404


and respective front and rear extensions


2400


,


2402


. Weight


2398


is formed to conform to the peripheral contours of leg assembly


1602


. Central portion


2404


conforms to the periphery of central portion


1626


of leg assembly


1602


. Respective front and rear extensions


2400


,


2402


conform to peripheries of respective front and rear bumpers


1622


,


1624


. Orifices may be formed in weight


2398


to coincide with the locations of casters


1628


and to accommodate mounting bolts. In this embodiment, weight


2398


is mounted to the underside of leg assembly


1602


by mounting bolts extending therethrough and threaded into apertures formed in leg assembly


1602


. Casters


1628


may then be mounted through weight


2398


into leg assembly


1602


.




Weights


2390


,


2398


may be used singly or in combination with other weights or stability enhancing means. Moreover, weights such as


2390


,


2398


may be mounted by other mounting means such as glues and clamps. Exemplary weights


2390


,


2398


may include such materials as lead, cast iron, steel and other metal alloys. Furthermore, some or all of the desirable stability enhancing means achieved by exemplary weights


2390


,


2398


may be attained by forming all or part of leg assembly


1602


from the same heavier materials as used to form exemplary weights


2390


,


2398


.




Still other stability enhancing means include extending the length of bumpers


1622


,


1624


of leg assembly


1602


. Leading edges


2410


of front bumpers


1622


and trailing edges of rear bumpers


2412


are about 12.5 inches and 8.8 inches, respectively, from center point


2408


in exemplary leg assembly


1602


. Increasing the distance between center point


2408


and leading edges


2410


would be more effective than increasing the distance between center point


2408


and trailing edges


2412


.




Referring to

FIG. 136

, a pair of sheet gripping devices


2380


are shown. Each gripping device


2380


includes a pair of extended gripping members


2384


and a connecting member


2386


. Gripping member pairs


2384


work together in jaw-like fashion and grip a portion of a transfer sheet in a similar manner to several of the embodiments herein. Connecting member


2386


may include means to mate with another connecting member such as transfer hook


1552


. Alternately, connecting member


2386


may include means to allow web


1550


to attach directly thereto. In this embodiment each pair of gripping devices


2380


may grip a sheet portion of about 12 inches in length and a combined sheet portion of about 24 inches.




Referring to

FIGS. 145-150

, one embodiment of a pliable underlayment for patient transfer and repositioning is depicted as transfer sheet


2450


. Transfer sheet


2450


includes mantle


2452


, one or more reinforced edges


2454


, and one or more attaching members


2456


. Reinforced edge


2454


may include a number of embodiments discussed below.




Each attaching member


2456


is attached to, and cooperates with, mantle


2452


to define a pocket


2459


. Each attaching member


2456


in this embodiment is attached to mantle


2452


by stitching


2462


. A plurality of slots


2460


may be formed proximate a lateral edge of each pocket


2459


. Exemplary pockets


2459


are about 22 inches in length and about 2 inches wide.




Transfer bar


2470


is used in conjunction with transfer sheet


2450


. Exemplary transfer bar


2470


includes first and second bar segments


2472


,


2473


. However, other embodiments of transfer bar


2470


may be unitary or one-piece in construction. Transfer bar


2470


defines first and second ends


2474


,


2475


and first and second slots


2476


,


2477


. Exemplary transfer bar


2470


is proportioned, and first and second slots


2476


,


2477


are spaced apart, such that slots


2476


,


2477


are exposed when transfer bar


2470


is disposed in pocket


2459


. In one embodiment slots


2476


,


2477


are spaced apart about 24 inches on center and transfer bar is about one inch wide, one-fourth inch in depth, and 26¾ inches in length. While slots


2476


,


2477


are shown generally centered in first and second bar segments


2472


,


2473


, first and second slots


2476


,


2477


may be offset as well. Offset slots tend to maintain transfer bar


2470


in a flattened position during a patient transfer or pullup, thereby decreasing the likelihood of transfer bar


2470


being bent. Slots


2476


,


2477


are dimensioned to accommodate a transfer or repositioning hook such as hook


2480


or transfer hook


1552


. Slots


2460


are formed proximate pockets


2459


and are also proportioned to accommodate connecting members such as hook


2480


or transfer hook


1552


. Hook


2480


, in this example, may extend through slot


2460


and attach to transfer bar


2470


disposed therein.




Transfer sheet


2450


displays respective first, second, third, and fourth edges


2484


,


2486


,


2488


,


2490


. In

FIG. 145

, a plurality of pockets


2459


are depicted extending generally parallel to respective first, third, and fourth edges


2484


,


2488


,


2490


, corresponding to a patient's head and sides.

FIG. 146

depicts a plurality of pockets


2459


extending generally parallel to respective third and fourth edges


2488


,


2490


, corresponding to portions of transfer sheet


2450


normally flanking a patient. In

FIG. 147

a plurality of pockets


2459


are depicted extending generally parallel to each respective first and second edge


2484


,


2486


. Edges


2484


,


2486


, respectively, correspond to edges proximate a patient's head and foot. While pockets


2459


are depicted as generally contiguous or adjoining in

FIGS. 145-150

, pockets


2459


may be spaced apart as well.




In

FIGS. 151-161

other embodiments of the substantially pliable underlayment of this invention are depicted.

FIG. 151

depicts transfer sheet


2500


. Transfer sheet


2500


includes mantle


2502


. Mantle


2502


, in turn, includes reinforced edges


2504


, a plurality of generally elliptically-shaped slots


2506


, and respective first and second stitchings


2508


,


2510


. In this embodiment, slots


2506


are defined within reinforced edges


2504


. Slots


2506


are configured to accommodate a connecting device such as transfer hook


1552


. A plurality of respective first and second stitchings


2508


,


2510


is present within mantle


2502


. First stitchings


2508


extend generally obliquely (diagonally) from edges


2504


. Second stitchings


2510


extend generally perpendicularly to first stitchings


2508


and extend generally obliquely to reinforced edges


2504


as well. Other reinforcing means may be present within mantle


2502


, either in addition to stitchings


2508


,


2510


or to the exclusion thereof. These reinforcing means include reinforcing fibers, woven into the material of mantle


2502


. These reinforcing means reduce distortion to transfer sheet


2500


to less than about 10% during a patient transfer, repositioning, or rollover event. These reinforcing means may further reduce distortion to less than about 8%. These reinforcing means may still further reduce distortion to less than about 5%.




Transfer sheet


2520


is depicted in FIG.


152


. Transfer sheet


2520


includes mantle


2522


. Mantle


2522


, in turn, includes reinforced edges


2524


and a plurality of generally elliptically-shaped slots


2526


. Though not depicted, reinforcing means such as stitchings


2508


,


2510


may be present as well. Reinforced edges


2524


are partially formed and bordered by hems


2528


. Slots


2526


are bordered by stitching (not depicted) in this embodiment. Slots


2526


are configured to accommodate a plurality of grasping or connecting members such as transfer hook


1552


to accommodate other grasping members requiring wider sights of attachment.





FIG. 153

depicts another embodiment of the pliable underlayment of this invention as transfer sheet


2540


. Transfer sheet


2540


includes mantle


2542


, reinforcements


2544


and apertures


2546


. In contrast to previous embodiments, reinforcements


2544


surround each aperture


2546


, but do not form a continuous reinforced edge. Reinforcements


2544


cooperate with apertures


2546


to form reinforced, discrete connector points. These connector points function to accommodate gripping mechanisms for patient transfers, repositionings, and rollovers. While not depicted, reinforcing means as discussed above may also be present.




Referring to

FIGS. 154

,


155


another embodiment of the pliable underlayment of the present invention is depicted generally as transfer sheet


2560


. Transfer sheet


2560


includes mantle


2562


and a plurality of reinforced portions


2564


. A slot


2566


is defined within each reinforced portion


2564


in this embodiment. Adjacent reinforced portions


2564


cooperate to form reinforced edges


2568


. In this embodiment slots


2566


are configured to accommodate a grasping or connecting member such as transfer hook


1552


. In this invention, any of slots


2506


,


2526


,


2566


, aperture


2546


or any opening formed in a pliable underlayment such as any of the transfer sheets described above, may be bordered by such protective and reinforcing means such as grommets.




Another embodiment of the substantially pliable underlayment of this invention is depicted in

FIG. 156

as drawsheet


2600


. Drawsheet


2600


offers the advantages of maintaining its shape during a transfer or repositioning event when gripped by clamps or connected to connecting members. Drawsheet


2600


offers the additional advantage of including an absorptive means, whereby fluids from a patient disposed thereon are transmitted away from the patient. Thus, the absorptive means help keep the patient dry. Drawsheet


2600


offers the further advantages of being washable in normal laundering facilities and eliminating the expense and waste involved when sanitary pads are used to absorb fluids from a patient.




Drawsheet


2600


includes mantle


2602


. Mantle


2602


may include a plurality of layers. Exemplary mantle


2602


, as depicted in

FIG. 157

, includes permeable layer


2606


, absorptive layer


2608


, drawsheet layer


2610


and impermeable layer


2612


and any combination thereof. Permeable layer


2606


overlays absorptive layer


2608


. Permeable layer


2606


may include fabrics which allow liquids to pass through to absorptive layer


2608


and which impart a sensation of comfort to a patient lying thereon. Permeable layer


2606


may include fabrics such as cotton, linen, various polyesters such as nylon and rayon, as well as various blends thereof.




Absorptive layer


2608


includes a substance which will absorb liquids, thereby wicking them away from a patient disposed thereon. Absorptive layer


2608


may also include an anti-microbial substance such as Microban® or Biocryl®. These or other anti-microbial agents (biocides) may be capable of killing BRSA bacteria, such as Staphylococcus aureus. An absorptive acrylic spun-laced fabric disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,350,625, assigned to DuPont and incorporated herein by reference, is one example of a suitable material for absorptive layer


2608


.




Drawsheet layer


2610


, as depicted in

FIG. 158

, is designed to impart a resistance to distortion due to forces applied during a transfer, repositioning, or rollover event. Drawsheet


2600


thus includes fabrics designed to minimize the “parabolic” effects otherwise occurring in sheets which fail to resist stretching or distortion. One means of reinforcing drawsheet layer


2610


includes stitchings such as


2508


,


2510


as described above. Materials used in drawsheet layer


2610


may include cotton, linen, and polyesters such as nylon, rayon or any blend thereof.




Impermeable layer


2612


is disposed exterior to drawsheet layer


2610


. Impermeable layer


2612


is impermeable to liquids, thus protecting an underlying mattress from fluids originating from a patient disposed thereon. Impermeable layer


2612


may also include materials which reduce friction as drawsheet


2600


is drawn across a bed. Vinyl or silicone applied to a nylon substrate are examples of friction-reducing materials. Impermeable layer


2612


may further include antimicrobial or antibacterial compounds.




As seen in

FIG. 156

, absorptive layer


2608


may extend over a central portion of drawsheet


2600


. Absorptive layer


2608


may be disposed on drawsheet


2600


so that absorptive layer


2608


underlies the portion of the patient between the patient's waistline and thighs. Drawsheet layer


2610


in this embodiment, is about 60 inches wide and 72 inches long. Absorptive layer


2608


is about 33 inches wide and about 33 inches long. As seen from

FIG. 157

, absorptive layer


2608


is generally centrally disposed on drawsheet layer


2610


. Permeable layer


2606


may extend to within approximately one foot of beaded edge


2604


. Layers


2606


-


2612


present a tapering to reduce the density of drawsheet


2600


, thereby reducing the thickness of any seam which may contact a patient disposed thereon. By tapering, it is meant that layers


2606


-


2612


are dimensioned so that their edges do not coincide. For example, the edges of permeable layer


2606


are disposed outside the edges of absorptive layer


2608


; the edges of impermeable layer


2612


are disposed outside the edges of permeable layer


2606


; and the edges of drawsheet layer


2610


are disposed outside the edges of impermeable layer


2612


. Tapering has the effect of reducing localized pressure on a patient's skin which a thick seam might otherwise impart. The reduced pressure on the patient's skin reduces or eliminates irritation. Methods of bonding layers


2606


-


2612


to each other include stitching.




Also seen in the cross-section depicted in

FIGS. 157

,


159


are enhanced beads (beaded edges)


2604


. Enhanced beads


2604


may be hems which include doubled or rolled materials from drawsheet layer


2610


. Electrically conductive, yet flexible materials may also be included in beads


2604


. One advantage of enhanced bead


2604


is that drawsheet


2600


may be more securely gripped during a transfer or repositioning event.




Also depicted in

FIG. 156

are exemplary conductors


2614


,


2616


. Conductors


2614


,


2616


extend. generally parallel to each other in a non-contacting fashion within absorptive layer


2608


. Conductors


2614


,


2616


further extend from absorptive layer


2608


to logic board


2618


. When absorptive layer


2608


is dry, the electrical potential between conductors


2614


,


2616


is not expressed. However, when absorptive layer


2608


contacts a sufficient amount of liquids with electrolytes, such as urine or perspiration, current flows between conductors


2614


,


2616


. The current originates in a battery such as a 12-volt battery (not shown). Logic board


2618


thereby detects a closed circuit and may transmit an electromagnetic signal to a receiver (not shown), in response, thus alerting an attendant that drawsheet


2600


should be changed. The electromagnetic signal may also be transmitted via a conductor, which may be present in enhanced bead


2604


.




Absorptive layer


2608


, or other layers


2606


,


2610


,


2612


, may also include sensors


2620


. Sensors


2620


may generally extend from absorptive layer


2608


to logic board


2618


. Sensors


2620


may be designed to monitor such phenomena as the patient's temperature and heartbeat rate. These and other vital signs may also be transmitted electromagnetically to a receiver for automated monitoring and recording.




An alternative embodiment of permeable layer


2606


changes color when exposed to perspiration or urine due to a change in pH, thereby further alerting attendants that sheet


2600


needs to be changed.





FIG. 159

depicts drawsheet


2630


, another embodiment of the present invention. Drawsheet


2630


includes permeable layer


2606


, absorptive-drawsheet layer


2632


, impermeable layer


2612


and beaded edge


2604


. Layers


2606


,


2632


, and


2612


are bonded together, and cooperate in a tapering fashion as described above, except that the material of


2632


serves the dual functions of layers


2608


,


2610


of drawsheet


2600


.




Referring to

FIGS. 160

,


161


, yet another embodiment of the substantially pliable underlayment of the present invention is depicted as transfer or repositioning sheet


2640


. Transfer sheet


2640


includes mantle


2642


and beaded edge


2644


. Material from mantle


2642


is wrapped about substantially flexible member


2646


and hemmed against itself, thereby forming beaded edge


2644


. Beaded edges


2604


,


2644


are desirable for attachment by a connecting member such as several of the clamps discussed herein. Affixing means, such as stitching


2648


, is used to affix the overlapping portions of the material of mantle


2642


proximate beaded edge


2644


. Transfer sheet


2640


may further include reinforcing means as discussed above.




Because numerous modifications may be made to this invention without departing from the spirit thereof, the scope of the invention is not to be limited to the embodiments illustrated and described. Rather, the scope of the invention is to be determined by appended claims and their equivalents.



Claims
  • 1. A substantially pliable underlayment for transferring, repositioning, or rolling a patient disposed thereon, comprising:a substantially smooth mantle proportioned to accommodate at least a central portion of the patient's body comprising a top layer including a permeable material, a second layer including an absorptive material, a third layer including an impermeable layer and a bottom layer including a reinforced drawsheet; an attaching structure operably adjacent the mantle; and a reinforcing structure for imparting a resistance to distortion of the mantle in response to a force exerted on the attaching structure.
  • 2. The underlayment of claim 1, wherein the mantle comprises fabrics selected from the group consisting of linen, cotton, satin, muslin, flannel, polyester and any combination thereof.
  • 3. The underlayment of claim 1, wherein the absorptive layer has a smaller surface area than a remainder of the mantle and wherein the absorptive layer is disposed on a generally central position on the mantle.
  • 4. The underlayment of claim 3, wherein the absorptive layer is disposed such that a portion of the patient between the patient's waistline and the patient's thighs overlays the absorptive layer.
  • 5. The underlayment of claim 1, wherein the impermeable layer at least partially overlays the drawsheet layer, the absorptive layer at least partially overlays the impermeable layer, and the permeable layer at least partially overlays the absorptive layer.
  • 6. The underlayment of claim 1, wherein tie permeable layer, the absorptive layer, the impermeable layer and the drawsheet layer are tapered adjacent the periphery of the underlayment.
  • 7. The underlayment of claim 1, wherein the absorptive layer further comprises a spun-laced acrylic.
  • 8. The underlayment of claim 1, wherein the absorptive layer further comprises an antimicrobial agent.
  • 9. The underlayment of claim 8, in which the antimicrobial agent is capable of killing BRSA bacteria.
  • 10. The underlayment of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of electrical conductors.
  • 11. The underlayment of claim 10, wherein the electrical conductors are in electrical communication when the absorptive layer absorbs a quantity of liquid.
  • 12. The underlayment of claim 10, further comprising a logic device in electrical communication with the electrical conductors.
  • 13. The underlayment of claim 10, further comprising a sensor for monitoring the patient's vital signs.
  • 14. The underlayment of claim 13, in which the sensor monitors one or more of a patient's vital signs selected from the group consisting of heart rate and temperature.
  • 15. The underlayment of claim 1, wherein the attaching structure includes structures selected from the group consisting of a beaded edge, one or more pockets proportioned to accommodate a transfer rod, a plurality of grommets proximate the underlayment periphery, reinforced border including one or more apertures or slots and any combination thereof.
  • 16. The underlayment of claim 15, the beaded edge including a substantially pliable member enclosed and hemmed by the mantle.
  • 17. The underlayment of claim 15, in which the reinforced border includes a composite fiber.
  • 18. The underlayment of claim 1, wherein the attaching structure includes an attaching member attached to the mantle in a manner in which the attaching member and the mantle cooperate to admit a transfer bar therebetween.
  • 19. The underlayment of claim 18, in which the attaching member is substantially pliable.
  • 20. The underlayment of claim 18, in which the attaching member is disposed adjacent a lateral edge of the mantle.
  • 21. The underlayment of claim 18, in which an attaching member is disposed adjacent each lateral edge of the mantle.
  • 22. The underlayment of claim 18, in which a slot is present in the attaching member and accommodates a connecting member of a patient transfer and positioning system.
  • 23. The underlayment of claim 22, wherein the connecting member is a transfer hook.
  • 24. The underlayment of claim 18, wherein the transfer bar includes a first slot position approximately on a first end of the transfer bar and a second slot located on a second end of the transfer bar.
  • 25. The underlayment of claim 24, wherein the first and second slots of the transfer bar are offset from center on first and second ends, respectively.
  • 26. The underlayment of claim 18, wherein the transfer bar comprises a flexible material.
  • 27. The underlayment of claim 1, in which a distortion less than about 10% occurs when a patient is transferred or repositioned.
  • 28. The underlayment of claim 27, in which a distortion less than about 8% occurs when a patient is transferred or repositioned.
  • 29. The underlayment of claim 28, in which a distortion less than about 5% occurs when a patient is transferred or repositioned.
  • 30. The underlayment of claim 1, wherein the reinforcing structure further includes a multiplicity of first stitchings extending generally obliquely from each edge of the underlayment.
  • 31. The underlayment of claim 30, in which the first stitchings are generally parallel.
  • 32. The underlayment of claim 30, wherein the reinforcing structure further comprises a multiplicity of second stitchings extending generally obliquely from each edge of the underlayment and further extending generally transversely to the first stitchings.
  • 33. The underlayment of claim 32, in which the second stitchings are generally parallel.
  • 34. The underlayment of claim 30, wherein the reinforcing structure further comprises a multiplicity of reinforcing fibers.
  • 35. The underlayment of claim 32, wherein the reinforcing structure further comprises multiple reinforcing fibers.
  • 36. The underlayment of claim 1, wherein the reinforcing structure comprises a multiplicity of reinforcing fibers.
  • 37. The underlayment of claim 36, in which the reinforcing fibers extend generally obliquely from each edge of the underlayment.
  • 38. The underlayment of claim 1, wherein the drawsheet is approximately 60 inches wide and 72 inches long.
  • 39. The underlayment of claim 1, wherein the attaching structure includes one or more sets of two or more pockets, said pockets of each set are positioned parallel to each other and said one or more sets are positioned along one or more edges of the mantle.
  • 40. The underlayment of claim 39, wherein each pocket is adapted to receive a transfer bar.
  • 41. A method of transferring or repositioning a patient disposed on a substantially pliable underlayment, the method comprising the steps of:providing the substantially pliable underlayment, the underlayment comprising a substantially smooth and pliable mantle having a top layer including a permeable material, a second layer including an absorptive material, a third layer including an impermeable layer and a bottom layer including a reinforced drawsheet; an attaching structure operably adjacent the mantle; and a reinforcing structure for imparting a resistance to distortion of the mantle in response to a force exerted on the attaching structure; attaching a connecting member to the attaching structure; and exerting the force on the connecting member, the force being sufficient to displace the patient.
  • 42. The method of claim 41, in which the attaching structure includes a beaded edge and in which the connecting member is attached to the beaded edge.
  • 43. The method of claim 41, in which the attaching structure includes an attaching member cooperating with the mantle to form a pocket accommodating a transfer bar and in which a plurality of connecting members are attached to the transfer bar.
  • 44. The method of claim 43, in which the transfer bar defines a plurality of slots and in which the connecting members are accommodated by the slots.
  • 45. The method of claim 43, in which a plurality of slits are defined in the pocket and in which each connecting member is at least partially disposed in one of the slits when connected to the transfer bar.
  • 46. The method of claim 43, in which the attaching structure includes a reinforced portion of the mantle defining a plurality of openings and in which the connecting structure connects to at least one of the openings.
  • 47. The method of claim 41, in which the connecting member is a clamp and the clamp is attached to the attaching structure.
  • 48. The method of claim 41, in which the attaching structure defines a plurality of openings and in which the connecting member is plurality of hooks attached to the openings.
  • 49. The method of claim 41, in which the force is exerted by a plurality of pliable members attached to the connecting members and being wound by a transfer caddy.
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/057,139, filed Apr. 8, 1998, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/713,412, filed Sep. 13, 1996 now U.S. Pat. No. 5,890,238, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/527,519, filed Sep. 13, 1995 and now U.S. Pat. No. 5,737,781, all hereby incorporated by reference. U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/057,139 claimed the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/043,208, filed Apr. 8, 1997. This Application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/084,519, filed May 7, 1998 and U.S. Provisional Patent Application Nos. 60/092,286 and 60/092,287, both filed Jul. 10, 1998, all hereby incorporated by reference.

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Continuation in Parts (3)
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Child 09/174110 US
Parent 08/713412 Sep 1996 US
Child 09/057139 US
Parent 08/527519 Sep 1995 US
Child 08/713412 US