Beds – Invalid bed or surgical support
Reexamination Certificate
1999-04-27
2001-01-30
Trettel, Michael F. (Department: 3628)
Beds
Invalid bed or surgical support
C005S086100, C180S011000, C180S016000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06178575
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a stretcher mounting unit which can be readily attached to and detached from a stretcher to be used in carrying a patient at sites of medical care such as hospitals and other medical nursing facilities.
2. Description of Prior Art
Conventional stretchers which are used for carrying patients, invalids, etc. at sites of medical care such as hospitals are not provided with a power device for travel motion, and are usually moved by artificial motive power. Thus, these conventional stretchers have cast a heavy burden on men or women of the nursing force.
Heretofore, motor-driven medical beds and motor-driven wheelchairs have been in use. These bedsand wheelchairs are highly expensive because they incorporate internal mechanisms, motors, and electric power sources in their main bodies. These beds and wheelchairs purchase entail enormous cost because they must be procured as new products one by one.
The development of a motor-driven stretcher, among other types of stretchers, has a residual problem in terms of cost. Even at present, substantially all sites of medical care, such as premises of hospitals, use stretchers relying solely on artificial power to carry patients, invalids, etc. Such is a true state of affairs.
Generally, the carriage of a patient by the use of a stretcher is inevitably performed, more often than not, by one person. The combined weight of the stretcher itself and the patient laid thereon averages in the approximate range of 80-150 kg. The carriage of this weight by just one nurse has been found to be very hard labor.
Especially, the carriage of a patient or an invalid with a stretcher on a winding passageway, a sloped passageway which changes in level, or a long corridor has demanded still greater man-power. At times, the carriage of the patient has required extra help.
Most conventional stretchers have four freely rotatable castors fixed thereto, to touch the ground in order to produce a small turning circle while in use. Such a stretcher, while in service, is prone to produce an instable travel because the individual castors thereof often randomly assume directions different randomly from the direction of travel of the stretcher. Thus, the conventional stretchers have been deficient in the ability to produce a translatory motion, and the casters thereof are unstable during a turning motion of the stretcher,
Since the carriage of a patient or an invalid with a conventional stretcher has inflicted great pain on the nurse as described above, the desirability of relieving the nurse of this pain by offering a stably operating, inexpensive stretcher which avoids inflicting an undue burden on the user has been finding enthusiastic recognition.
This invention has been produced in light of the true state of prior art described above. It is an object of this invention to relieve the medical personel of the burden incurred in the carriage of patients, by providing a stretcher mounting unit which allows a reduction in the power necessary for the carriage of patients, enjoys a satisfactory operation, and avoids adding to cost.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
To accomplish the object mentioned above, the stretcher mounting unit of this invention comprises a unit body detachably mounted on a stretcher; drive means attached to the unit body for providing an output; operating means detachably mounted on the stretcher for operating the drive means; a center shaft for receiving the output of the drive means; a coupling that couples the drive means and the center shaft for transmitting the output of the drive means to the center shaft; a roller pressed on the center shaft to produce torque; a carrier swingably disposed on the center shaft; a pair of wheels rotatably mounted on the carrier and rotated by the torque of the roller; and a friction clutch rotatably provided on the center shaft and associated with the carrier for swinging the carrier until one of the pair of wheels touches the ground, whereby the output of the drive means, upon the one wheel touching the ground, is transmitted to the one wheel to idly rotate the friction clutch relative to the center shaft and enable the stretcher to attain a self-advancing travel.
Further, the unit body can be removably fixed to the stretcher. The stretcher may well be provided near its pressure gripping part with a removable operating panel for operating the stretcher mounting unit.
The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the description made with reference to the accompanying drawings.
REFERENCES:
patent: 2495573 (1950-01-01), Duke
patent: 3137869 (1964-06-01), Johnson
patent: 3199621 (1965-08-01), Seaman
patent: 3349862 (1967-10-01), Shirey, Jr.
patent: 3380546 (1968-04-01), Rabjohn
patent: 5083625 (1992-01-01), Bleicher
patent: 5163189 (1992-11-01), DeGray
patent: 5337845 (1994-08-01), Foster et al.
patent: 5445233 (1995-08-01), Fernie et al.
patent: 5758371 (1998-06-01), VanDyke et al.
patent: 6065557 (2000-05-01), Von Keyserling
S. N. Seiki Co., Ltd.
Trettel Michael F.
Wenderoth , Lind & Ponack, L.L.P.
LandOfFree
Stretcher mounting unit does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Stretcher mounting unit, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Stretcher mounting unit will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2461879