HOSPITAL BED POWER-ASSIST
First Claim
1. An apparatus for moving a hospital bed, the bed including a wheel for rollably supporting the hospital bed on a floor surface, the wheel including first and second opposed sides, a tread surface that rollably contacts the floor surface and is located between the first and second sides, and an axis extending generally perpendicular between the sides and about which the wheel rotates, the apparatus comprising:
- a body operably coupled to a motor and a traction device, wherein the motor is configured to drive the traction device and the traction device is configured to engage the floor, wherein the motor driving the traction device causes the apparatus to move along the floor;
a wheel engagement member operably coupled to the body and including a first surface that contacts the tread surface when the wheel is received in the wheel engagement member.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention, in one embodiment, is a device for moving a hospital bed. The device comprises a body, a motor driven wheel coupled to the body, and a hitch coupled to the body and adapted for engaging the hospital bed. Finally, the present invention, in yet another embodiment, is a method for moving a hospital bed with a motorized device. The method comprises maneuvering the device into position next to the hospital bed, hitching the device to the hospital bed, and moving the hospital bed with the device.
92 Citations
35 Claims
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1. An apparatus for moving a hospital bed, the bed including a wheel for rollably supporting the hospital bed on a floor surface, the wheel including first and second opposed sides, a tread surface that rollably contacts the floor surface and is located between the first and second sides, and an axis extending generally perpendicular between the sides and about which the wheel rotates, the apparatus comprising:
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a body operably coupled to a motor and a traction device, wherein the motor is configured to drive the traction device and the traction device is configured to engage the floor, wherein the motor driving the traction device causes the apparatus to move along the floor;
a wheel engagement member operably coupled to the body and including a first surface that contacts the tread surface when the wheel is received in the wheel engagement member. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. An apparatus for moving a hospital bed, the bed including a wheel for rollably supporting the hospital bed on a floor surface, the wheel including first and second opposed sides, a tread surface that rollably contacts the floor surface and is located between the first and second sides, and an axis extending generally perpendicular between the sides and about which the wheel rotates, the apparatus comprising:
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a body operably coupled to a motor and a traction device, wherein the motor is configured to drive the traction device and the traction device is configured to engage the floor, wherein the motor driving the traction device causes the apparatus to move along the floor;
a wheel engagement member operably coupled to the body and including a first portion that abuts against the when the wheel engagement member is engaging the wheel. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A method of moving a hospital bed with a powered apparatus, wherein the bed includes a wheel for rollably supporting the hospital bed on a floor surface, the wheel including first and second opposed sides, a tread surface that rollably contacts the floor surface and is located between the first and second sides, and an axis extending generally perpendicular between the sides and about which the wheel rotates, the method comprising:
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receiving the wheel within a wheel engagement member of the powered apparatus such that a first portion of the wheel engagement member abuts against the tread surface of the wheel; and
using the apparatus to move the hospital bed. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26)
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27. An apparatus for moving a hospital bed equipped with wheels, the apparatus comprising:
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a body including a plurality of wheels coupled to the body, wherein at least one of the wheels is a motor driven wheel and at least one of the wheels is a free turning wheel adapted to stabilize the apparatus; and
a hitch mechanism including a pair of engagement elements adapted to engage the wheels of the hospital bed. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35)
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Specification