RESTRAINT ANCHOR FOR PATIENT SUPPORT APPARATUSES

A restraint anchor for a component of a patient support apparatus includes a strap having first and second strap sections. The first strap section has opposed first and second distal ends and forms a loop between the first and second distal ends, with the first strap section for looping around the component of the patient support apparatus and for receiving the second strap section through the loop for securing the anchor to the component. The second strap section has first and second ends, with the first end of the second strap section coupled to the first and second distal ends of the first strap section, and the second end of the second strap section coupled to a buckle component. The strap further has at least one stop to limit movement of the second strap section through the loop wherein the stop helps retain the anchor on the component.

TECHNICAL FIELD AND BACKGROUND

The present disclosure relates to restraints for patients, and more specifically to a restraint anchor that can be secured to a component of a patient support apparatus, such as a hospital bed.

SUMMARY

A restraint anchor for anchoring restraint to a patient support apparatus includes a strap having a first strap section and a second strap section. The first strap section has opposed first and second distal ends and forms a loop between the first and second distal ends for looping around a component of the patient support apparatus and for receiving the second strap section through the loop for securing the restraint anchor to the component. The second strap section has first and second ends, with the first end of the second strap section coupled to the first and second distal ends of the first strap section, and the second end of the second strap section coupled to a buckle component, such as a buckle body or a buckle tab. The strap has at least one stop to limit backwards movement of the second strap section through the loop wherein the stop helps retain the restraint anchor on the component.

In one embodiment, the stop comprises a second loop having a base and a looped end, with the base being secured to or formed at the strap. Optionally, the restraint anchor includes a pair of the stops. For example, the pair of stops may be secured to opposed sides of the strap.

In another aspect, the first strap section comprises a section of strap that is folded over along its longitudinal length so that its width is reduced and optionally approximately half of the width of the section of strap to facilitate insertion.

In another aspect, the second strap section is stitched to the first and second distal ends of the first strap section.

In yet another aspect, the second strap section forms the stop. For example, the second strap section may be looped to form the stop. In another example, the first end of the second strap section is looped to form the stop.

According to yet another aspect, the second end of the second strap section is looped through the buckle body or buckle tab to couple the buckle body or buckle tab to the strap via the second end.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring to FIG. 1, the numeral 10 designates a restraint anchor. As will be more fully described below, restraint anchor 10 is configured to allow a user to quickly and easily secure restraint anchor 10 to a patient support apparatus, such as a hospital bed, and also quickly remove it for relocating it somewhere else on the patient support apparatus or for cleaning.

As best seen in FIG. 1, restraint anchor 10 includes a strap 12 and a buckle component 14, such as a buckle body or buckle tab. For illustration, strap 12 is shown with a buckle component 14 in the form of a buckle body secured to the strap, but a buckle tab may be alternately mounted to the strap.

As best seen in FIG. 2, strap 12 includes a first strap section 16 and a second strap section 18. Strap section 16 forms a loop 16a (FIG. 1) for securing the restraint anchor 10 to a component of the patient support apparatus, with second strap second 18 for looping through the loop 16a formed by first strap section 16 when first strap section 16 is looped around the component of the patient support apparatus to thereby secure the restraint anchor 10 to the patient support apparatus.

Referring again to FIGS. 1-3, first strap section 16 has opposed first and second distal ends 16b, 16c and forms loop 16a between first and second distal ends 16b, 16c. Loop 16a is sized for looping around the component of the patient support apparatus and, further, for receiving at least a portion of second strap section 18 and buckle component 14 through the portion of the loop that extends beyond the component, such as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, for buckling to a buckle body or buckle tab on a restraint strap, such as shown in FIG. 8.

The second strap section 18 has first and second ends 18a and 18b, with the first end 18a coupled to first and second distal ends 16b, 16c of first strap section 16, for example, via stitching 18c (FIG. 2). Second end 18b of second strap section 18 is coupled to buckle component 14. For example, second end 18b may form a loop 18d in second strap section 18 (which is secured back on itself by stitching 18e) and which can extend through buckle component 14 to secure buckle component 14 to the second strap section 18.

To secure restraint anchor 10 to the component of the patient support apparatus, strap 12 has at least one stop 20 to limit backwards movement of the second strap section 18 through the loop 16a so that stop 20 helps retain the restraint anchor 10 on the component of the patient support apparatus. In the illustrated embodiment, stop 20 comprises a loop 22. Loop 22 may be formed at or from first end 18a of second strap section 18. Further, when formed from the first end 18a of second strap section 18, loop 22 may be secured by the same stitching 18c that secures distal ends 16b, 16c of first strap section 16 to second strap section 18 (see FIG. 2).

Loop 22 is secured in a folded configuration so that it forms a V-shaped recess 22a (FIG. 7) between loop 22 and strap 12, which faces the direction of withdrawal of second strap section 18 from loop 16a (versus extension of second strap section 18 through loop 16a). Recess 22a is sized to receive loop 16a of first strap section 16. In this manner, when second strap section 18 is extended through loop 16a, loop 16a can be captured in the recess 22a formed by loop 22 so that loop 22 thereby forms a stop that prevents second strap section 18 from being withdrawn back through loop 16a. Loop 22, hence, retains restraint anchor 10 on the component until a force is applied to dislodge loop 16a from loop 22.

Optionally, a second stop 24 (FIG. 3) may be provided on an opposed side of strap 12 so that the restrain anchor can be installed with an inverted configuration. Stop 24 may be similarly formed from a loop 26 that is also formed from the second strap section 18 and folded so that it forms a V-shaped recess between loop 26 and strap 12, which also faces the direction of withdrawal of second strap section 18 from loop 16a.

In addition, strap 12 may include a series of loops on each side of the strap 12 so that the restraint anchor can be used on different sized components.

As best seen in FIGS. 4-7, strap 12 is looped around a patient support apparatus component, such as a frame rail, and fed back through itself so that the loop 16a is then wedged between one of the loops 22, 26. The other loop 26, 22 can act as a secondary support by bearing against the component of the patient support apparatus and may also help prevent the strap 12 from loosening from either side or falling off the component. This secondary support may also be accomplished by magnets, velcro hook and loop fasteners, welded or attached by steel or metal quick release buckle. Restraint anchor 10 may also be configured to be permanently affixed to the patient support apparatus.

Either way, once restraint anchor is attached to patent support apparatus, it is, therefore, designed to accept soft limb restraint straps or tethers for control of uncooperative patients.