Beds – With means for relocating an invalid – Horizontally sliding patient support surface
Reexamination Certificate
2000-03-15
2001-11-06
Trettel, Michael F. (Department: 3628)
Beds
With means for relocating an invalid
Horizontally sliding patient support surface
C005S089100, C128S876000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06311346
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND
Transfer belts, also known as gait belts, are secured around the waist of invalids and other medical patients having mobility difficulties. The transfer belt allows a medical assistant or care taking assistant to assist the movement of the patient by providing a belt which can be grasped by the assistant.
Specifically, the transfer belt is secured tightly around the waist of the patient by a care taking assistant or medical assistant. The belt provides a loop which when grasped by the assistant allows the assistant to assist the movement of the patient by applying forces to the patient. Such forces are transferred through the belt. Through the belt, the assistant can apply a significant force on the patient. The forces which may be applied by the assistant through the belt include lifting forces, stabilizing forces, guidance forces. Patient movements which may be assisted by the medical assistant include walking, sitting, standing, etc.
The transfer belt needs to be sufficiently tightly secured around the patient so that a force applied to the patient through the belt will accomplish the intended result. The belt also needs to be tight to minimize movement of the belt in relation to the patient. A belt moving under applied forces will cause significant discomfort to the patient. Therefor, the belt must be maintained around the waist in a very tight condition which is often uncomfortable for the patient.
Once the belt is sufficiently tightened around the patient, the belt becomes more difficult to grasp by the assistant. When grasping the belt, the assistant and the patient often experience discomfort from the placement of the hand between the tightened belt and the patient.
Accordingly, there is a need for a transfer belt that can be tightly secured around the waist of a patient but which minimizes the discomfort to the patient and the assistant when the belt is grasped by the assistant. There is also a need for a belt which increases the overall comfort and safety to the patient. There is a further need for a belt which provides these benefits which is inexpensive in cost.
SUMMARY
The present invention satisfies the previously mentioned needs by providing a transfer belt that includes two elongated pads. The pads minimize discomfort for the wearer by ensuring that forces applied on the belt are applied through a surface area that is much larger than that of the belt and through a cushioning pad which is much softer than the belt. The addition of the pads greatly increases the comfort and safety of using a transfer belt on a patient. The pads also provide an increase in the comfort and safety for the medical or care taking assistant during the use of the transfer belt. This comfort and safety is provided by the presence of a gap between the belt and the belt wearer.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5065773 (1991-11-01), Jackson et al.
patent: 5158098 (1992-10-01), Jalalian
patent: 5647378 (1997-07-01), Farnum
patent: 5711044 (1998-01-01), Newman et al.
patent: 5896859 (1999-04-01), Carroll
patent: 6073280 (2000-06-01), Farnum
patent: 2213734-A (1989-08-01), None
Johnson Jerry
Trettel Michael F.
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