User interface for power drive system of a patient support apparatus
First Claim
1. A patient support apparatus comprisinga frame,a plurality of casters coupled to the frame,a wheel coupled to the frame,a motor coupled to the wheel and operable to rotate the wheel to propel the patient support apparatus along a floor, the wheel being movable relative to the frame so as to reorient a rotation axis of the wheel relative to the frame thereby to propel the patient support apparatus in different directions that are non-parallel with a longitudinal dimension of the frame,an electrical system comprising a controller to control operation of the motor, the controller being configured to signal operation of the motor to rotate the wheel to propel the patient support apparatus along the floor,a push handle situated near a first end of the frame, anda plurality of user inputs coupled to the push handle, a first user input of the plurality of user inputs being operable by a user to signal the controller to operate the motor to propel the patient support apparatus in a first direction parallel with the longitudinal dimension of the frame, and a second user input of the plurality of user inputs being operable by a user to signal the controller to operate the motor to propel the patient support apparatus in a second direction that is other than the longitudinal dimension relative to the frame, the first user input being spaced apart from the second user input.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A patient support apparatus includes a frame, a patient support coupled to the frame, a plurality of casters and a wheel coupled to the frame, a motor coupled to the wheel and operable to rotate the wheel to propel the patient support apparatus along a floor, and an electrical system comprising a controller configured to signal operation of the motor to rotate the wheel to propel the patient support apparatus along the floor. The electrical system further includes user inputs adjacent at least one end of the frame and adjacent at least one side of the frame. The user inputs including forward and reverse switches that are engaged to determine whether the patient support apparatus is propelled in a forward direction or a rearward direction, respectively.
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Citations
21 Claims
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1. A patient support apparatus comprising
a frame, a plurality of casters coupled to the frame, a wheel coupled to the frame, a motor coupled to the wheel and operable to rotate the wheel to propel the patient support apparatus along a floor, the wheel being movable relative to the frame so as to reorient a rotation axis of the wheel relative to the frame thereby to propel the patient support apparatus in different directions that are non-parallel with a longitudinal dimension of the frame, an electrical system comprising a controller to control operation of the motor, the controller being configured to signal operation of the motor to rotate the wheel to propel the patient support apparatus along the floor, a push handle situated near a first end of the frame, and a plurality of user inputs coupled to the push handle, a first user input of the plurality of user inputs being operable by a user to signal the controller to operate the motor to propel the patient support apparatus in a first direction parallel with the longitudinal dimension of the frame, and a second user input of the plurality of user inputs being operable by a user to signal the controller to operate the motor to propel the patient support apparatus in a second direction that is other than the longitudinal dimension relative to the frame, the first user input being spaced apart from the second user input.
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21. A patient support apparatus comprising
a frame, a plurality of casters coupled to the frame, a wheel coupled to the frame, a motor coupled to the wheel and operable to rotate the wheel to propel the patient support apparatus along a floor, the wheel being movable relative to the frame so as to reorient a rotation axis of the wheel relative to the frame thereby to propel the patient support apparatus in different directions that are non-parallel with a longitudinal dimension of the frame, an electrical system comprising a controller to control operation of the motor, the controller being configured to signal operation of the motor to rotate the wheel to propel the patient support apparatus along the floor, and a plurality of user inputs coupled to the electrical system, a first user input of the plurality of user inputs being operable by a user to signal the controller to operate the motor to propel the patient support apparatus in a first direction parallel with the longitudinal dimension of the frame, and a second user input of the plurality of user inputs being operable by a user to signal the controller to operate the motor to propel the patient support apparatus in a second direction that is other than the longitudinal dimension relative to the frame, the first user input being spaced apart from the second user input.
Specification