Push handle with rotatable user interface

• US 7,886,377 B2
• Filed: 01/29/2008
• Issued: 02/15/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 10/13/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hill-Rom Services Incorporated (Baxter International Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hill-Rom Services Incorporated (Baxter International Inc.)
• Inventors: Reinke, Christian H., Hamberg, Stephen R., Zerhusen, Robert M.
• Primary Examiner(s): CONLEY, FREDRICK C
• Application Number:
  US12/021,346
• Publication Number:
  US 20080141459A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,113 Days
• Field of Search: 5 8/11.R, 5 8/61, 560/0, 561/1, 180/19.3, 180/65.1, 280/47.11, 280/47.371
• US Class Current: 5/86.1
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 1/0225 other configuration, e.g. odd number of wheels
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 1/0237 having at least one swivelling wheel, e.g. castors
• 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 1/0281 having a steering device
• 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 1/048 Handles
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 2203/723 Impact absorbing means, e.g. bumpers or airbags
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/018 Control or drive mechanisms
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/05 Parts, details or accessories of beds devices for prevention against falling out A47C21/08, A47D7/00 ; mattresses A47C27/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/0507 Side-rails
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/0509 sliding or pivoting downwards
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/0524 characterised by integrated accessories, e.g. bed control means, nurse call or reading lights
• 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: B62B 5/0026 Propulsion aids
• CPC Class Codes: B62B 5/0069 Control
• CPC Class Codes: B62B 5/06 Hand moving equipment, e.g. handle bars for cycles B62K11/14, B62K21/12

Abstract

A patient support apparatus includes a frame, a patient support coupled to the frame, a push handle coupled to the frame and having a handle post, and a user interface coupled to the handle post and having at least one user input. The user interface is rotatable about an axis defined by the handle post between a first position presenting the at least one user input to a caregiver standing at an end of the frame and a second position presenting the at least one user input to a caregiver standing alongside the frame.

Claims

1. A patient support apparatus comprising

a frame,

a push handle coupled to the frame and having a handle post,

a power transport system coupled to the frame and operable to propel the apparatus along a floor, and

a user interface coupled to the handle post, the user interface having at least one user input that is engageable to provide a signal to the power transport system, the user interface being rotatable relative to the handle post about an axis between a first position presenting the at least one user input to a caregiver standing at an end of the frame and a second position presenting the at least one user input to a caregiver standing alongside the frame,

wherein the power transport system has a wheel that is movable between a first orientation in which the power transport system is operable to propel the apparatus substantially parallel to a longitudinal dimension of the frame and a second orientation in which the power transport system is operable to propel the apparatus substantially parallel to a lateral dimension of the frame, and

wherein the push handle is pushed forwardly and pulled rearwardly to signal the power transport system to propel the apparatus forwardly and rearwardly, respectively, and

wherein the at least one user input is engageable to selectively toggle among a plurality of discrete speed settings at which the power transport system is operable.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the handle post defines an axis about which the user interface rotates.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the user interface faces generally rearwardly when the user interface is in the first position and faces generally upwardly when the user interface is in the second position.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an enable switch coupled to the handle post, wherein the at least one user input and the enable switch are engageable simultaneously to signal the power transport system to propel the apparatus along the floor.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one user input comprises a membrane switch.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the push handle comprises a hollow tube and the user interface includes at least one wire routed from the at least one user input through the hollow tube.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the handle post includes an upper portion, and the at least one wire from the at least one user input is routed through an opening in the upper portion into an interior region of the handle post.

8. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the push handle includes a bottom portion, and the at least one wire exits the push handle through an opening in the bottom portion of the push handle.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one user input includes left and right switches that are engageable to signal the power transport system to propel the apparatus leftwardly and rightwardly, respectively.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the user interface includes a housing that is coupled to the handle post for rotation about the axis and the at least one user input is coupled to the user interface housing for rotation therewith.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the housing has a protrusion that is received in a radial slot formed in the handle post to limit the rotation of user interface.

12. The apparatus of claim 10, further comprising an O-Ring interposed between the user interface housing and an upper portion of the handle post to provide resistance to the rotation of the user interface housing relative to the upper portion of the handle post.

13. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the axis extends generally perpendicularly to a longitudinal axis of the frame.

14. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the push handle has a portion that extends upwardly from the frame and the handle post is coupled to an upper end of the upwardly-extending portion.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the handle post is integrally formed with the upwardly-extending portion of the push handle.

16. A patient support apparatus comprising

a frame,

a push handle coupled to the frame and having a handle post,

a power transport system coupled to the frame and operable to propel the apparatus along a floor, and

a user interface coupled to the handle post, the user interface having at least one user input that is engageable to provide a signal to the power transport system, the user interface being rotatable about an axis between a first position presenting the at least one user input to a caregiver standing at an end of the frame and a second position presenting the at least one user input to a caregiver standing alongside the frame,

wherein the push handle comprises a hollow tube and the user interface includes at least one wire routed from the at least one user input through the hollow tube.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the handle post defines an axis about which the user interface rotates.

18. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the user interface faces generally rearwardly when the user interface is in the first position and faces generally upwardly when the user interface is in the second position.

19. The apparatus of claim 16, further comprising an enable switch coupled to the handle post, wherein the at least one user input and the enable switch are engageable simultaneously to signal the power transport system to propel the apparatus along the floor.

20. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the at least one user input comprises a membrane switch.

21. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the user interface includes a housing that is coupled to the handle post for rotation about the axis and the at least one user input is coupled to the user interface housing for rotation therewith.

22. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the axis extends generally perpendicularly to a longitudinal axis of the frame.

23. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the push handle has a portion that extends upwardly from the frame and the handle post is coupled to an upper end of the upwardly-extending portion.

24. A patient support apparatus comprising

a frame,

a push handle coupled to the frame and having a handle post,

a power transport system coupled to the frame and operable to propel the apparatus along a floor, and

a user interface coupled to the handle post, the user interface having at least one user input that is engageable to provide a signal to the power transport system, the user interface being rotatable about an axis between a first position presenting the at least one user input to a caregiver standing at an end of the frame and a second position presenting the at least one user input to a caregiver standing alongside the frame,

wherein the power transport system has a wheel that is movable between a first orientation in which the power transport system is operable to propel the apparatus substantially parallel to a longitudinal dimension of the frame and a second orientation in which the power transport system is operable to propel the apparatus substantially parallel to a lateral dimension of the frame,

wherein the push handle is pushed forwardly and pulled rearwardly to signal the power transport system to propel the apparatus forwardly and rearwardly, respectively, and

wherein the at least one user input is engageable to selectively toggle among a plurality of discrete speed settings at which the power transport system is operable.

25. A patient support apparatus comprising

a frame,

a push handle coupled to the frame and having a handle post,

a power transport system coupled to the frame and operable to propel the apparatus along a floor, and

a user interface coupled to the handle post, the user interface having at least one user input that is engageable to provide a signal to the power transport system, the user interface being rotatable about an axis between a first position presenting the at least one user input to a caregiver standing at an end of the frame and a second position presenting the at least one user input to a caregiver standing alongside the frame,

wherein the user interface includes a housing that is coupled to the handle post for rotation about the axis and the at least one user input is coupled to the user interface housing for rotation therewith, and

wherein the housing has a protrusion that is received in a radial slot formed in the handle post to limit the rotation of user interface.

26. A patient support apparatus comprising

a frame,

a push handle coupled to the frame and having a handle post,

a power transport system coupled to the frame and operable to propel the apparatus along a floor,

a user interface coupled to the handle post, the user interface having at least one user input that is engageable to provide a signal to the power transport system, the user interface being rotatable about an axis between a first position presenting the at least one user input to a caregiver standing at an end of the frame and a second position presenting the at least one user input to a caregiver standing alongside the frame, and

an O-Ring interposed between the user interface housing and an upper portion of the handle post to provide resistance to the rotation of the user interface housing relative to the upper portion of the handle post,

wherein the user interface includes a housing that is coupled to the handle post for rotation about the axis and the at least one user input is coupled to the user interface housing for rotation therewith.