Motorized propulsion system for a bed

• US 20060175100A1
• Filed: 03/28/2006
• Published: 08/10/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 05/11/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Jeffrey A. Ruschke, Thomas W. Hanson
• Original Assignee: Jeffrey A. Ruschke, Thomas W. Hanson
• Inventors: Ruschke, Jeffrey A., Hanson, Thomas W.
• Granted Patent: US 7,481,286 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 180/11
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/08 Apparatus for transporting beds
• CPC Class Codes: B62B 5/0026 Propulsion aids
• CPC Class Codes: B62B 5/0083 Wheeled supports connected to the transported object
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 51/04 the driver walking
• CPC Class Codes: B66F 5/00 Mobile jacks of the garage type mounted on wheels or rollers

Abstract

According to the present disclosure, a propulsion system is provided to assist a caregiver in moving a patient support about a care facility. The propulsion system is detachably coupled to patient support to permit storage of the propulsion system or use of propulsion system on multiple patient supports.

Claims

1-29. -29. (canceled)

30. A patient support system configured to transport a patient supported over a floor, the patient support system comprising,

a patient support including a bedframe and at least four casters coupled to the bedframe, the at least four casters positioned to engage the floor, and

a propulsion system including a propulsion device configured to contact the floor to power movement of the patient support and a coupler to pivotably and detachably couple the propulsion device to the bedframe of the patient support, wherein at least two of the at least four casters remain engaged with the floor when the coupler detachably couples the propulsion device to the bedframe.

31. The patient support system of claim 30, wherein the propulsion device pivots about a vertical axis of rotation relative to the bedframe of the patient support.

32. The patient support system of claim 30, wherein the coupler includes a ball sized to fit within a socket positioned on the bedframe.

33. The patient support system of claim 30, wherein the propulsion device includes a frame coupled to the coupler and a motorized wheel coupled to the frame and the coupler is positioned between the frame and the bedframe.

34. The patient support system of claim 30, wherein the coupler is configured to move in a vertical direction relative to the propulsion device to couple and uncouple from the bedframe.

35. The patient support system of claim 30, wherein the patient support includes a longitudinal axis and the propulsion system is pivotably to a first position urging the patient support in a longitudinal direction and a second position urging the patient support in a lateral direction.

36. The patient support system of claim 30, wherein the propulsion device includes a frame and a motorized wheel coupled to the frame, and a plurality of wheels coupled to the frame and adapted to permit rolling of the propulsion device from the patient support to another patient support.

37. A propulsion system configured to move a patient support having a bedframe and mattress supported by the bedframe, the propulsion system comprising

a propulsion device adapted to contact the floor to power movement of the patient support,

a coupler configured to move between a coupled position coupling the propulsion device to the bedframe and an uncoupled device permitting movement of the propulsion device away from the bedframe, and

a vertically extending handle coupled to the coupler and configured to move the coupler between the coupled and uncoupled positions.

38. The propulsion system of claim 37, wherein the propulsion device includes a frame and a drive wheel coupled to the frame and the handle is pivotably coupled to the frame.

39. The propulsion system of claim 37, further comprising a linkage system configured to couple the handle to the coupler.

40. The propulsion system of claim 39, wherein the linkage system includes a first link pivotably coupled to the handle and a second link coupled to the coupler and pivotably coupled to the first link.

41. The propulsion system of claim 37, wherein the coupler is ball shaped to fit within a socket of the patient support.

42. The propulsion system of claim 37, further comprising a latch configured to hold the handle in at least one of the coupling and uncoupling positions.

43. A propulsion system configured to move a patient support having a bedframe and at least four casters, the propulsion system comprising

a propulsion device to power movement of the patient support, the propulsion device including a pair of drive wheels and a pair of secondary wheels, and

a coupler configured to detachably couple the propulsion device to the patient support, the coupler including a first member adapted to couple the patient support at a first distance from the floor and a second member adapted to couple the patient support at a second distance from the floor that is greater than the first distance, at least one of the first member and the second member being adjustable

wherein at least two of the at least four casters remain engaged with the floor when the coupler detachably couples the propulsion device to the patient support.

44. The propulsion system of claim 43, wherein the second member is adapted to couple to a patient restraint board of the patient support and the first member is adapted to couple to a base frame of the patient support.

45. The propulsion system of claim 43, further comprising a vertically extending handle, wherein the propulsion device includes a frame and a motorized wheel coupled to the frame, and the vertically extending handle is coupled to the frame, and the second member is coupled to the vertically extending handle.

46. The propulsion system of claim 43, wherein the first member is hook-shaped and adapted to hook onto a bedframe of the patient support.

47. The propulsion system of claim 46, wherein the second member is hook-shaped and adapted to hook onto a patient restraint board of the patient support.

48. The propulsion system of claim 43, further comprising a frame and a plurality of wheels coupled to the frame, wherein the propulsion device is coupled to the frame and the plurality of wheels are adapted to contact the floor to permit rolling of the propulsion system from one patient support to another.

49. The propulsion system of claim 48, further comprising a handle coupled to the frame to permit pushing of the propulsion system by a user.