Hospital bed power-assist

• US 7,219,754 B2
• Filed: 12/21/2004
• Issued: 05/22/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 10/26/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Dane Industries, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Dane Industries, Inc.
• Inventors: Johnson, Daniel
• Primary Examiner(s): BOEHLER, ANNE MARIE M
• Application Number:
  US11/017,975
• Publication Number:
  US 20050098362A1
• Time in Patent Office: 882 Days
• Field of Search: 180/11, 180/12, 180/15, 180/16, 180 191- 193, 280/33.992, 280/402, 280/400, 551/0
• US Class Current: 180/19.2
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/08 Apparatus for transporting beds
• CPC Class Codes: B60D 1/00 Traction couplings; Hitches; Draw-gear; Towing devices devices specially adapted for connection between tractors and agricultural machines or implements A01B59/00; fifth-wheel couplings B62D
• CPC Class Codes: B60D 1/02 Bolt or shackle-type couplings
• CPC Class Codes: B60D 1/167 consisting of articulated or rigidly assembled bars or tubes forming a V-, Y-, or U-shaped draw gear B60D1/173 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60D 1/1675 comprising extendable, retractable or foldable members
• CPC Class Codes: B62B 2202/90 Vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B62B 2207/00 Joining hand-propelled vehicles or sledges together
• CPC Class Codes: B62B 2207/02 rigidly
• CPC Class Codes: B62B 5/0026 Propulsion aids
• CPC Class Codes: B62B 5/005 Detachably mounted motor units

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.

Claims

1. An apparatus for moving a hospital bed equipped with wheels, the apparatus comprising:

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, wherein each engagement element is a wheel lock comprising a block including a sloped wheel approach leading to a wheel groove for receiving one of the wheels of the hospital bed, wherein the hitching mechanism is adapted so the engagement elements are horizontally displaceable relative to the body.

2. An apparatus for moving a hospital bed equipped with wheels, the apparatus comprising:

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, wherein each engagement element is a wheel lock comprising a block including a sloped wheel approach leading to a wheel groove for receiving one of the wheels of the hospital bed, wherein the hitching mechanism is adapted so the engagement elements are vertically displaceable relative to the body.

3. An apparatus for moving a hospital bed equipped with wheels, the apparatus comprising:

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, wherein each engagement element is a wheel lock comprising a block including a sloped wheel approach leading to a wheel groove for receiving one of the wheels of the hospital bed, wherein the hitching mechanism is adapted so the engagement elements are displaceable forwardly and rearwardly relative to the body.

4. An apparatus for moving a hospital bed equipped with wheels, the apparatus comprising:

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, wherein each engagement element is a wheel lock comprising a block including a sloped wheel approach leading to a wheel groove for receiving one of the wheels of the hospital bed, wherein the hitching mechanism is adapted so the engagement elements are tiltable relative to the body.

5. An apparatus for moving a hospital bed equipped with wheels, the apparatus comprising:

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, wherein each engagement element is a wheel lock comprising a block including a wheel groove for receiving one of the wheels of the hospital bed and a gate for preventing the hospital bed wheel from exiting the groove, wherein the hitching mechanism is adapted so the engagement elements are horizontally displaceable relative to the body.

6. An apparatus for moving a hospital bed equipped with wheels, the apparatus comprising:

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, wherein each engagement element is a wheel lock comprising a block including a wheel groove for receiving one of the wheels of the hospital bed and a gate for preventing the hospital bed wheel from exiting the groove, wherein the hitching mechanism is adapted so the engagement elements are vertically displaceable relative to the body.

7. An apparatus for moving a hospital bed equipped with wheels, the apparatus comprising:

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, wherein each engagement element is a wheel lock comprising a block including a wheel groove for receiving one of the wheels of the hospital bed and a gate for preventing the hospital bed wheel from exiting the groove, wherein the hitching mechanism is adapted so the engagement elements are displaceable forwardly and rearwardly relative to the body.

8. An apparatus for moving a hospital bed equipped with wheels, the apparatus comprising:

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, wherein each engagement element is a wheel lock comprising a block including a wheel groove for receiving one of the wheels of the hospital bed and a gate for preventing the hospital bed wheel from exiting the groove, wherein the hitching mechanism is adapted so the engagement elements are tiltable relative to the body.