Abstract:
A device for use with a base of a patient support system. The device has a patient supporting member attached to the base and a sheet engaged by a roller so that the sheet may be located under a patient and moved, thereby moving the patient from one location to another. The roller is supported by a bearing member and, in accordance with the subject invention, the bearing member does not need to be removed from the base, but may be pivoted to an engaged position for engaging and supporting the roller and may be pivoted to a stowed position for storage within the base when not in use.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
   This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/709,702, filed Aug. 19, 2005 and is a continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No. 11/397,317, filed Apr. 4, 2006, now abandoned, which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/668,226, filed Apr. 4, 2005. 

   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   This invention relates to a patient transport system and, more particularly, to a patient transport system for transferring an immobile patient from a bed to a gurney or from a gurney to a bed. 
   2. Description of the Prior Art 
   Patient transport systems are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,507,963 and 6,701,546, both of which are hereby incorporated by reference. 
   It appears to be widely accepted that a major, if not the major, work related complaint among nurses and hospital nursing staff is back injuries caused by lifting patients and getting them in and out of a bed and to or from a gurney, or a stretcher, as it is commonly called. A survey of existing practices and techniques suggests that there is no widely adopted simple and safe method of transferring patients from a bed to a gurney or visa versa, without lifting them. There are hoist-type lifts where the patient is suspended in a sling. However, the sling must be first manipulated under the patient and the patient must be physically lifted, changing the shape of the body and applying pressures different from those existing on the patient when lying prone in bed. There are also roller boards which are inserted partially under the patient and then the patient is pulled onto the roller board. Again, the patient must be manipulated to allow the board to be inserted and then the body is pulled onto the board. In the end, the patient ends up on the board, not on the gurney or the bed. An additional disadvantage of the roller board is that either the patient must cooperate with the transferor or more than one transferor is required to affect the transfer. Patients have also been known to drop off the roller boards and to land on the floor between the bed and the gurney. U.S. Pat. No. 5,819,339 titled “Patient Transport System”, which is hereby incorporated by reference, solves this age-old problem of transferring patients from a bed or a gurney and visa versa. In particular, this patent is directed to an apparatus for transporting a patient and includes a base, a patient supporting member attached to the base, a conveyor attached to the base and a removable sheet. In operation, an end of the sheet which is attached to the conveyor is displaced by rotation of a roller, thereby moving the patient from the bed to the gurney or visa versa. However, in accordance with this patent, the roller must remain affixed to the bed or gurney or the complete conveyor must be removed from the bed or the gurney when not in use. This results in a problem of storing the conveyor in a hospital room and transporting the conveyor when it is not attached to the bed or gurney. 
   Referring to  FIGS. 1-6 , which are prior art, a bed  10  includes a bed frame  12  having a headboard  14 , a baseboard  16 , legs  18  attached to the headboard  14 , and to the baseboard  16 , and a mattress supporting frame  20  attached to the headboard  14 , the baseboard  16 , and the legs  18 . A mattress  22  ( FIG. 2 ) is supported by the mattress supporting frame  20  ( FIG. 1 ). A gurney or stretcher  30 , which is positioned directly adjacent to a side  31  of the mattress  20  of the bed  10  includes a frame  32  having wheels  34  attached thereto. It should be noted that the term gurney and stretcher are used interchangeably herein. A patient supporting member  36  is supported by the frame  32 . Both the mattress  20  and the patient supporting member  36  extend in a first longitudinal direction shown by the arrow X. 
   As can be seen in  FIG. 1 , both the bed  10  and the gurney  30  have a conveyor  40  attached thereto. Each conveyor  40  includes a roller  42  having two ends or end portions  43   a,    43   b.  Each end portion  43   a,    43   b  is rotatably received by or rotatably coupled to a respective bearing member  44 . Thus, the bearing members  44  are positioned near opposite ends of the roller  42 . A handle  46  may be used to rotate either of the rollers  42 . Each bearing member  44  includes a low-friction bearing member and a bearing housing  48 . Roller  42 , bearing member  44 , handle  46  and a coupling  47  used with the handle  46 , are similar to those described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,340,266, which is hereby incorporated by reference. Each housing  48  includes an attaching member plate  49  attached to the gurney  30  or bed  10 , either by welding a plate  49  to the gurney frame  32  or the bed frame  12  or by fastening a plate  49  to the gurney frame  32  or to the bed frame  12 , through fasteners such as screws. For purposes of this discussion, the bed frame  12  and the gurney frame  32  are each considered to be a base for a patient support system. 
   A sheet, such as bed sheet  80 , is releasably attached to a roller  42 . An end  81   a  of the bed sheet  80  is releasably attached to the roller  42 . The opposite end  81   b  of the sheet  80  is unsecured and is a free end. A conveyor  40  is adapted to move the sheet  80 , and in turn, a patient positioned on the sheet  80 , in a second longitudinal direction shown by arrow Y, which is transverse to the first longitudinal direction shown by arrow X. By positioning a patient upon the sheet  80 , then by rotation of one roller  40 , the sheet is moved laterally across the gurney  30  and the bed  10  to move a patient either from the gurney  30  to the bed  10  or from the bed  10  to the gurney  30 . 
     FIGS. 3-6  illustrate another prior art embodiment, whereby the bearing member  144  is removably attached to the headboard  114 . The bearing member  144  could just as well be attached to the baseboard (not shown). Directing attention to  FIG. 6 , the bearing member  144  includes a first leg  146  and a second L-shaped leg  148  integrally attached thereto, which defines an upwardly facing, open ended slot  150  for receiving the end portions of a roller  142 . A tab  152  protrudes or extends from the leg  146  dividing the leg  146  into two sections. A locking recess  154  is defined by a C-shaped surface  156  defined in the leg  148  and a portion of an inner surface  158  of leg  148 . A lower end of the tab  152  defines an upper portion of the C-shaped surface  156 . The bearing member  144  is made of a polymer material, such as high-density polyethylene or ultra high molecular weight polyethylene. Each bearing member  144  is secured to the bed by fasteners which pass through holes  170  defined in the leg  146  or in any other manner. 
   Directing attention to  FIGS. 3-5 , the bearing member  144  is removably secured to a bed frame  214  through tubes  200  attached to the frame. The tubes  200  may already be provided adjacent to the four corners of the bed frame  214  and may, in the alternate, be used as intravenous (IV) tube holders which can be used to support posts that hold bags supplying IV drugs to a patient. 
   However, as illustrated in  FIGS. 4 and 5 , the bearing holder  202  has an elongated post  204  adapted to be received by the tube  200 . The post  204  may include a rectangular upper portion  204   a  and a lower cylindrical portion  204   b  positioned in the tube  200 . A plastic spacer block  208  is secured to the upper portion  204   a  of the post  204 . The bearing member  144  is then secured to the post  204  and spacer block  208  by bolts  210 . The elongated post  204  may have, at one end, a slot  205  used to engage a pin  206  within the tube  200 . 
   However, the structure for supporting the roller  40  may be obtrusive if left upon the bed and, as a result, a design is needed whereby the conveyor  40  may be less obtrusive when it is not in use. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   In one embodiment of the subject invention, a device for use with a base of a patient support system has a patient supporting member attached to the base and a sheet having a first end and a second end. The device is comprised of a roller with a first end and a second end and two bearing holders. Each bearing holder has a bearing member adapted to be secured to a respective one of the first end and the second end of the roller. Each bearing holder may be pivoted relative to the base between an engaged position where the bearing holder extends from the base to position the bearing member to receive a roller end and a stowed position where the bearing holder is recessed within the base when not in use. 
   In another embodiment of the subject invention, an apparatus for transporting a patient has a base, a patient supporting member attached to the base, and a conveyor removably secured to the base. The conveyor has a roller with a first end and a second end, wherein the roller is removably secured to a bearing member that is secured to the base. The sheet has a first end and a second end. The first end is attached to the conveyor. The sheet is adapted to be positioned onto the patient supporting member. The conveyor also has two bearing holders, each supporting a bearing member, wherein each bearing member is adapted to be secured to a respective one of the first end and the second end of the roller. Each bearing holder may be pivoted relative to the base between an engaged position where the bearing holder extends from the base to position the bearing member to receive a roller end, and a stowed position where the bearing holder is recessed within the base when not in use. 
   Yet another embodiment of the subject invention is directed to a device for use with a base of a patient support system having a patient supporting member attached to the base and a sheet having a first end and a second end. The device is adapted to support a roller having a first end and a second end and is comprised of two bearing holders. Each bearing holder has a bearing member adapted to be secured to a respective one of the first end and the second end of the roller and has a bearing post which mates with a mounting post. The mounting post is secured to a base post of the base and each bearing holder may be pivoted relative to the post between an engage position where the bearing of the bearing holder extends from the base to position the bearing member to receive a roller end and a stowed position where the bearing holder is recessed within the base when not in use. 
   Still another embodiment of the subject invention is directed to a method for a device used with a base of a patient support system having a patient supporting member attached to the base and a sheet having a first end and a second end, wherein the sheet first end is adapted to be attached to a roller with a first end and a second end From an engaged position where the bearing of the bearing bolder is secured within the bearing member to receive a roller end to a stowed position where the bearing holder is recessed within the base when no in use, the method involves the steps of lifting the bearing holder from the base post to expose a hinge assembly, rotating the bearing post 180 degrees about the mounting post longitudinal axis, and pivoting the mounting post about the base post in a direction perpendicular to the mounting post to position the mounting post in a stowed position. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is prior art and is a perspective view of a gurney, a hospital bed and a conveyor; 
       FIG. 2  is prior art and is a partial top view of a portion of the bed and the conveyor shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 3  is prior art and is a top view of a bed having bearing holder tubes positioned adjacent to corners of the bed; 
       FIG. 4  is prior art and is a side view showing a portion of the bed shown in  FIG. 3  with a bearing holder and a post; 
       FIG. 5  is prior art and is a top perspective fragmentary view showing the bearing holder and the post shown in  FIG. 4 ; 
       FIG. 6  is a side view of the bearing member shown in  FIG. 5 ; 
       FIG. 7  is a top perspective view of a portion of a bed frame and patient transport bearing unit in a first position or a engaged position made in accordance with the present invention; 
       FIG. 8  is a top perspective view of the arrangement shown in  FIG. 7  with the patient transport bearing unit in a second position or stowed position; 
       FIG. 9  is an alternate embodiment of the region in  FIG. 8  circled and identified with reference number  9 , but without the bearing post; and 
       FIG. 10  is an assembled view of the arrangement illustrated in  FIG. 9  in the engaged position with the bearing post. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
   In each of the arrangements heretofore described, the bearing holder protrudes from the bed when the patient transport system is in operation and, at other times, the bearing holder must be removed and stored in another location. The inventor has found the bearing holder may be retained with the bed or gurney so that not only is it unnecessary to remove the bearing holder when not in use, but furthermore, the bearing holder may be permanently attached to the bed but used only when needed. 
   In particular, in  FIG. 7  the bearing holder  402  is in an engaged position and in  FIG. 8  the bearing holder  402  is in a stowed position relative to the bed  214 . 
     FIGS. 7 and 8  illustrate a bearing holder  402  similar to bearing holder  202  previously described, however, supported with respect to the base in a different fashion such that bearing holder  402 , as illustrated in  FIG. 7 , is in an extended position. In the extended position, the bearing holder  402  extends from the frame  432  to receive the end  443   a  of roller  442 , having a first end  443   a  and a second end (not shown). Although only a single bearing holder  402  is illustrated in  FIGS. 7 and 8 , it should be appreciated that a single roller requires two bearing holders  402 , wherein each bearing holder  402  is adapted to be secured to a respective one of the first end  443   a  and the second end of the roller  442 . The bearing holder  402  may be pivoted relative to the base  432  between an engaged position, as illustrated in  FIG. 7  and a stowed position, as illustrated in  FIG. 8 . 
   In the engaged position illustrated in  FIG. 7 , the bearing holder  402  is positioned to receive a roller  442  within the bearing member  444  while in the stowed position illustrated in  FIG. 8 , the bearing holder  402  is recessed within the base  432 . In this position, the bearing member  444  is unable to receive and jointly support a roller  42 . In the stowed position, the bearing holder  402  provides a low profile relative to the base  432 . 
   The bearing holder  402  is secured to a base support post  433  which is secured to the base  432 . The base  432  extends below the segment illustrated in  FIG. 7  and it is this lower segment to which the base support  433  may be secured. 
   The bearing holder  402  is pivotally mounted to the base  433  through a connecting pin  450  extending through the bearing holder  402  and the base  433 . In particular, the bearing holder  402  is pivotal in a direction D perpendicular to the longitudinal axis L extending through the frame support post  433 . Additionally, in the engaged position the bearing holder  402  is pivotally locked from rotating about the connecting pin  450  in a direction opposite to that of direction D. In operation, the sheet  80   a  ( FIG. 1 ) attached to the roller  442  will always exert a force in the direction S, as illustrated in  FIG. 7 . Therefore, with the bearing holder  402  oriented as shown in  FIG. 7 , when the roller  442  is engaged by a sheet, the bearing holder  402  will not pivot about the connecting pin  450  because its rotation in that direction is locked. 
   On the other hand, the bearing holder  402  is pivotally free to move in the direction opposite to that direction S. In particular, the bearing holder  402  pivots about an axis X perpendicular to the longitudinal axis L to travel between the engaged position and the stowed position. However, to do so, the bearing holder  402  must be reoriented about the base support post  433  so that pivoting the bearing holder  402  in the direction D will place the bearing holder  402  in the stowed position. To achieve this, the bearing holder  402  may rotate about the longitudinal axis L through a rotary coupling  455  on the frame support post  433 . The details of such a rotary coupling  455  are known to those skilled in the art and, for that reason, will not be discussed in detail. Nevertheless, the rotary coupling  455  permits the bearing holder  402  to rotate in the direction of rotation F so that when the bearing holder  402  is pivoted about the connecting pin  450 , at least the front portion  445  of the bearing member  444  will be recessed within the frame  432 . 
   Therefore, it should be appreciated that in the embodiment illustrated in  FIGS. 7 and 8 , two separate pivots are required. In particular, rotation about the longitudinal axis L in a direction of rotation F, which may be provided by the rotary coupling  455 , moves the front end  445  of the bearing member  444  180 degrees and, a second rotation about the connecting pin  450  in the direction D about an axis X perpendicular to the longitudinal axis L folds the bearing member  444  downward relative to the base  433 . It should be appreciated that details of the bearing member  444  for holding the roller  442  may be similar to those details discussed with respect to the bearing member  144  in  FIG. 6  of the prior art. The bearing holder  402  discussed herein may be applied to a base  432  which may be a gurney, a bed frame, or a wheelchair. Additionally, the bearing holder  402  may be comprised of a polymer material. 
     FIGS. 9 and 10  illustrate an alternate embodiment of the subject invention, whereby each bearing holder  500  has a bearing post  505  which mates with a mounting post  510  and, wherein the mounting post  510  is secured to a base post  515  which is part of the base  132  which may be the bed frame  12  or the gurney frame  32 . The bearing post  500  and the mounting post  510  are telescopically movable relative to one another to a plurality of positions. In particular, a connecting pin  517  extends through matching bore pairs  520 A,  520 B between the bearing post  505  and the mounting post  510  to secure the bearing post  505  and mounting post  510  in each of the plurality of positions. 
   In the embodiment illustrated in  FIGS. 9 and 10 , the bearing post  505  fits over the mounting post  510 . The mounting post  510  has a longitudinal axis  525  and the bearing post  505  rotates about the mounting post longitudinal axis  525  as indicated by arrow W to orient the bearing holder  500  to an engaged position or for a stowed position. The rotational position of the bearing post  505  may be secured with the same connecting pin  515  previously discussed, which extends through the bore pairs  520 A,  520 B. 
     FIG. 9  illustrates the mounting post  510  pivoting in the direction indicated by arrow A about the pivot pin  550  toward the stowed position. As such, the mounting post  510  is pivotal about the base post  515  in a direction perpendicular to the mounting post longitudinal axis  525 . 
   The mounting post  510  is secured to the base post  515  with at least one mounting leg  530  ( FIG. 9 ) extending from the base post  515 , although an additional mounting leg  532  is also illustrated. The mounting legs  530 ,  532  have a common bore  535  which extends beyond the base post  515 . At least one extension leg  540  has a bore  545  aligned with the bores  530 ,  532  and extends from the mounting post  510 , wherein the mounting legs  530 ,  532  and the extension leg  540  are pivotally attached to one another with the pivot pin  550  extending through the bores  535 ,  545  to define a hinge assembly  552 . 
   It should be appreciated that the mounting legs  530 ,  532  are secured within the base post  515  by a fastener  555  and, as such, the entire bearing holder assembly  560  comprised of the mounting post  510 , the extension leg  540 , the two mounting legs  530 ,  532  and the pivot pin  550  is removably attached to the base post  515 . It should be noted that the bearing holder assembly  560  may also include a block  565  positioned between the mounting post  510  and the extension leg  540 . The block  565 , as illustrated in  FIG. 10 , is mateable with the interior  570  of the base post  515 . In the engaged position, the mounting post  510  may be secured directly within the base post  515  through the block  565  which fits securely within the interior  570  of the base post  515  and is engaged by the fastener  555 . As such, the fastener  555  may serve the dual purpose of securing the mounting legs  530 ,  532  within the base post  515  ( FIG. 9 ) for transitioning to the stowed position and, when the block  565  is positioned within the base post  515 , securing the block  565  within the base post  515  in the engaged position ( FIG. 10 ). When the block  565  is positioned within the base post  515  and secured therein through fastener  555 , the mounting post assembly  560  is held within the base post  515  for maximum lateral support. 
   Directing attention again to  FIGS. 9 and 10 , the bearing holder  500  rotates and pivots in a motion similar to that previously described for earlier embodiments. However, in order to transition the bearing holder  500  from the engaged position illustrated, for example, in  FIG. 10  to the stowed position, the connecting pin  517  would be removed and the bearing post  505  would be rotated 180 degrees about the mounting post longitudinal axis  525  in the direction of arrow W. The fastener  555  would then be released such that the mounting post assembly  560  could be lifted from the base post  515  until the hinge assembly  552  was exposed ( FIG. 9 ). At that point, the mounting post  510  would be pivoted about the base post  515  in a direction perpendicular to the mounting post longitudinal axis  525  as shown by arrow A to position the mounting post  510  in a stowed position. 
   The mounting post assembly  560  is completely removable from the base post  515  and, as such, it is possible to retrofit existing beds or gurneys that may have a base post similar to a base post  515  with a mounting post assembly  560  that would be receptive to receiving a bearing holder  500  in accordance with the subject invention. 
   By providing a device in accordance with the subject invention, it is now possible to retain the bearing member with the base but to pivot the bearing member in an inconspicuous location on the base so that not only is it now unnecessary to remove the bearing member from the base, but furthermore, the bearing member may be stowed on the base itself in an inconspicuous location that will not interfere with the regular operation of the base. 
   While specific embodiments of the invention have been described in detail, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that various modifications and alternatives to those details could be developed in light of the overall teachings of the disclosure. The presently preferred embodiments described herein are meant to be illustrative only and not limiting as to the scope of the invention which is to be given the full breadth of the appended claims and any and all equivalents thereof.