Patient support apparatus having a motorized wheel

• US 7,011,172 B2
• Filed: 11/23/2004
• Issued: 03/14/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/15/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Hill-Rom Services Incorporated (Baxter International Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hill-Rom Services Incorporated (Baxter International Inc.)
• Inventors: Heimbrock, Richard H., Vogel, John, Webster, Thomas M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Morris, Lesley D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): LUM VANNUCCI, LEE SIN YEE
• Application Number:
  US10/998,329
• Publication Number:
  US 20050072610A1
• Time in Patent Office: 476 Days
• Field of Search: 180/11, 180/15, 180/19.1, 180/65.1, 180/65.5, 280/43.17, 280/767, 560/0, 561/1, 5 8/61
• US Class Current: 180/65.51
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 1/0225 other configuration, e.g. odd number of wheels
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 1/0243 with lockable swivel action, e.g. fixing castor in certain direction locking of castor swivel action in general B60B33/02
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 1/0268 having deployable or retractable wheels
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 1/0275 having driven wheels, e.g. motorised
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 1/0287 having brakes, e.g. slowing down and/or holding details of brake actuators on castors B60B33/0078; brakes on hand carts B62B5/04; brakes in general F16D49/00 - F16D65/853
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/018 Control or drive mechanisms
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/0528 Steering or braking devices for castor wheels
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/08 Apparatus for transporting beds
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2009/068 with switches mounted on a handlebar, e.g. for motorcycles, fork lift trucks, etc.

Abstract

A patient support apparatus includes a frame, a plurality of casters coupled to the frame, a wheel movable relative to the frame between a first position engaging the floor and a second position spaced from the floor, a drive assembly coupled to the wheel and operable to drive the wheel to propel the patient support apparatus along the floor, a controller associated with the drive assembly, a push handle coupled to the frame, a control coupled to the push handle and movable to provide a signal to the controller via at least one wire routed from the control through the push handle.

Claims

1. A patient support apparatus for transporting a patient along a floor, the patient support apparatus comprising:

a frame,

a plurality of casters coupled to the frame,

a wheel movable relative to the frame between a first position engaging the floor and a second position spaced from the floor,

a drive assembly coupled to the wheel and operable to drive the wheel to propel the patient support apparatus along the floor,

a controller associated with the drive assembly,

a push handle coupled to the frame,

a control coupled to the push handle and movable to provide a signal to the controller via at least one wire routed from the control through the push handle.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the push handle includes a hollow tube portion and the wire is routed through the hollow tube portion.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the push handle includes a bend at a region defining an intersection of a first portion and a second portion, and the wire is routed through the bend.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the push handle includes a bottom portion, and the wires exits the push handle through the bottom portion.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the wire is routed to the controller along portions of the frame.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the push handle is grippable to maneuver the patient support apparatus along the floor.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the push handle is movable relative to the frame.

8. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the push handle is pivotable relative to the frame.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the push handle includes a bend at a region defining an intersection of a generally vertically-extending portion and a generally horizontally-extending portion, and the wire is routed through the bend.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the generally horizontally-extending portion extends generally perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the frame.

11. A patient support apparatus for transporting a patient along a floor, the patient support apparatus comprising:

a frame,

a plurality of casters coupled to the frame,

a wheel movable relative to the frame between a first position engaging the floor and a second position spaced from the floor,

a drive assembly coupled to the wheel and operable to drive the wheel to propel the patient support apparatus along the floor, and

a rotary switch having a rotatable member that is rotatable from a neutral position in a forward direction to provide a first signal associated with propelling the patient support apparatus forwardly and that is rotatable from the neutral position in a rearward direction to provide a second signal associated with propelling the patient support apparatus rearwardly, and a spring to bias the rotatable member toward the neutral position.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the spring is spaced from the rotatable member.

13. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the rotatable member is rotatable about an axis extending generally perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the frame.

14. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein a speed at which the patient support apparatus is propelled depends upon an amount that the rotatable member is rotated away from the neutral position

15. The apparatus of claim 11, further comprising a user-engageable piece that is moved by a user to rotate the rotatable member.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the user-engageable piece is pivoted by the user to rotate the rotatable member.

17. A patient support apparatus for transporting a patient along a floor, the apparatus comprising

a frame,

a plurality of casters coupled to the frame,

a wheel supported relative to the frame and movable between a raised position spaced from the floor and a lowered position engaging the floor,

a drive assembly that is operable to drive the wheel and propel the patient support apparatus along the floor, and

a foot pedal coupled to the frame and movable between a first position and a second position, the wheel being in the raised position when the foot pedal is in the first position, movement of the foot pedal from the first position to the second position resulting in movement of the wheel from the raised position to the lowered position, the drive assembly being disabled from driving the wheel when the foot pedal is in the first position, wherein the foot pedal moves a linkage that interacts with a switch that provides a signal indicative of a position of the wheel.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the foot pedal is situated adjacent to an end of the frame.

19. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the foot pedal is coupled to a shaft extending along a longitudinal axis of the frame.

20. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the foot pedal is a butterfly pedal.