Patient care and transport assembly

• US 8,516,637 B2
• Filed: 08/03/2010
• Issued: 08/27/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 08/05/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Gary Ratzlaff Fulkerson, Gopi Krishna Chowdary Vulava, Robert Allan Kowalski, RSK Holdings LLC
• Original Assignee: B & R Holdings Company, LLC
• Inventors: Karwal, Deepak Raj, Fulkerson, Gary Ratzlaff, Chowdary Vulava, Gopi Krishna, Kowalski, Robert Allan
• Primary Examiner(s): Kelleher, William
• Assistant Examiner(s): Davis, Richard G
• Application Number:
  US12/849,197
• Publication Number:
  US 20110030142A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,120 Days
• Field of Search: 560/7, 560/8, 5610-614, 561/6, 551/0
• US Class Current: 5/608
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 12/008 mounted on a mobile base, e.g. on a trolley
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 2203/80 for connecting a trolley to a device, e.g. bed or column table
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/005 tiltable around transverse horizontal axis, e.g. for Trendelenburg position rocking beds for physical therapy A61H1/003; hanging patient inclined downwardly for drawing him out A61H2203/0493
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/008 tiltable around longitudinal axis, e.g. for rolling
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/012 raising or lowering of the whole mattress frame A61G7/005, A61G7/008 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/015 divided into different adjustable sections, e.g. for Gatch position
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/0507 Side-rails
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/0509 sliding or pivoting downwards
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/0514 mounted to individual mattress supporting frame sections
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/05738 with fluid-like particles, e.g. sand, mud, seeds, gel, beads

Abstract

A mobility assist assembly, consisting of a transportable patient support module including a support surface which is modifiable by at least a plurality of upwardly extending and individually height adjustable and articulate-able posts integrated into a supporting carriage. A power transport module can be docked to the carriage. The patient support surface further includes a plurality of individual height or width adjustable sections. A headboard proximate docking module interfaces with the patient support module and a power assist modules.

Claims

1. A mobility assist assembly, comprising:

a patient supporting and transportable module exhibiting an articulating frame with a support surface, a plurality of height adjustable supports engaging underside locations of said articulating frame to tilt said support surface according to at least one of fore, aft and side directions;

a headboard docking module engageable with said patient support module, said headboard module including a built-in power supply and having castors for optionally transporting along with said patient support module; and

said support surface further comprising first and second width extension components pivotally supported upon said headboard docking module and displacing into contact with opposite side edges of said support surface.

2. The assembly as described in claim 1, said articulating frame further comprising a plurality of individual articulating sections collectively defining a patient support surface.

3. The assembly as described in claim 1, further comprising a power assist module incorporated into a lower carriage housing associated with said patient support module.

4. The assembly as described in claim 2, said patient support surface further comprising an upper torso supporting portion, an intermediate and pivotally interconnecting midsection/buttock supporting portion, and lower articulating leg support portions.

5. The assembly as described in claim 1, further comprising a winch mechanism extending from said headboard docking module and engaging said mobility assist assembly for drawing into contact with said headboard module.

6. The assembly as described in claim 3, said height adjustable supports further comprising a plurality of four telescoping members supported upon said carriage, each of said telescoping member exhibiting a universal pivot secured to an underside of said articulating frame.

7. The assembly as described in claim 6, further comprising a plurality of foot pedals associated with said carriage for selectively actuation some or all of said telescoping members via at least one power servo drive incorporated into at least one of said patient transport and power assist modules.

8. The assembly as described in claim 3, said power assist module further comprising a power drive component integrated with or releasably attachable to said carriage, said drive component housing a rechargeable battery for generating a power output drive to initial drive wheels positioned in underside ground engaging and proximate fashion to said drive component, the driving force exerted by said drive wheels transferred to additional wheels arranged at corners of said carriage.

9. The assembly as described in claim 1, further comprising a plurality of side rails associated with first and second sides of said patient supporting and transportable module, each of said side rails further comprising pivot brackets for configuring between first and second positions.

10. The assembly as described in claim 1, further comprising a horizontally displaceable headboard separate from said headboard docking module and affixed to a forward end of said patient supporting and transportable module, a footboard pivotally secured to a rearward end of said patient module.

11. The assembly as described in claim 1, said articulating frame configuring between a first bed mode, a second transitioning mode and a third reconfigured wheelchair mode.

12. The assembly as described in claim 1, further comprising said width extending components each being articulated and segmented along with said support surface to facilitate subsequent adjustment to any of a number of different configurations while docked to said headboard module.

13. The assembly as described in claim 1, said support surface further comprising a plurality of grid-type individualized and deformable polymeric pockets.

14. A mobility assist assembly, comprising:

a patient supporting and transportable module exhibiting an articulating frame with a support surface, said articulating frame configuring between a first bed mode, a second transitioning mode and a third wheelchair mode;

a power assist module incorporated into a lower carriage associated with said patient support module and integrating a plurality of height adjustable supports engaging underside locations of said articulating frame to tilt said support surface according to at least one of fore, aft and side directions;

a headboard docking module interfacing with said patient support and power assist modules for providing at least recharging of a battery associated with a drive unit incorporated into said power assist module;

said support surface further comprising an upper torso supporting portion, an intermediate and pivotally interconnecting midsection/buttock supporting portion, and lower articulating leg support portions; and

said support surface further having first and second width extension components pivotally supported upon said headboard module and displacing into contact with opposite side edges of said support surface.

15. The assembly as described in claim 14, further comprising a plurality of side rails associated with first and second sides of said patient supporting and transportable module, each of said side rails further comprising pivot brackets for configuring between first and second positions.

16. The assembly as described in claim 14, further comprising a horizontally displaceable headboard affixed to a forward end of said patient supporting and transportable module and a footboard pivotally secured to a rearward end.