Abstract:
A bed moving device includes a two part frame with the lower section having a motor and at least one driving wheel. The upper section rotates independent of the lower section and includes at least one suction device for attachment to a headboard or footboard of a bed and a set of controllers for directing the speed and direction of the motor and for directing a direction of the bed. The motor supplies the driving force to move the device and bed.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0002]     This invention relates in general to relocation of hospital beds and more particularly, to a motorized apparatus that quickly attaches to a variety of bed-frame designs and moves the bed from one place to another.  
         [0003]     2. Description of the Related Art  
         [0004]     While the health of the patients is the top priority of a hospital, the safety of its employees runs a close second. With insurance rates constantly on the rise, preventing employee injuries not only makes common sense, it makes financial sense as well. One steady source of injury stems from lifting, pushing, or pulling heavy objects.  
         [0005]     If a patient must stay overnight in a hospital, he or she is assigned to a room and, accordingly, to a bed. It is quite common, however, for a patient to be relocated to a different location. For instance, a patient may need to have tests or procedures performed, and while some test equipment is mobile, other equipment is not. Therefore, the patient will have to be transported to a specific area of the hospital for the tests to be performed. Similarly, a patient may be reassigned to a different room. For instance, a patient in critical condition will be in a critical care section of the hospital, where he can receive a high level of supervision and care, and, after improving from a critical condition where such close supervision is no longer needed, will be relocated to a different section of the hospital. There are a variety of other reasons why a patient might need to be relocated.  
         [0006]     Hospital beds are generally quite large and consist of a metal frame, a mattress, a headboard, a foot board, and mechanics to raise and lower the height of the bed and to adjust the angle of at least the portion supporting the patient&#39;s upper body. Numerous manufactures compete in the hospital bed market, resulting in a multitude of bed-frame designs being present in a single hospital facility. Due to the previously-mentioned structure, all of the beds are generally are quite heavy and can weigh as much as 600 lbs.  
         [0007]     Relocating such a heavy structure can place significant strain on the persons assigned to transporting the bed. The result of pushing and pulling the bed, especially over time, can cause serious back and other related injuries. To combat this problem, several beds on the market are equipped with a motor to assist the operator in relocating the bed. The beds are very expensive however, costing as much as $45,000 each. Even if the price weren&#39;t so cost prohibitive, the fact remains that the hospitals are fully stocked with beds with no motors.  
         [0008]     Attempts have been made at providing a motorized apparatus that is portable and can be attached to a bed frame. However, due to the large variety of bed designs found in the field, prior art apparatus&#39; have the disadvantage that they do not provide a satisfactory solution for attaching to and moving a majority of bed-frame designs in a hospital or any health care facility.  
         [0009]     Furthermore, physical space in hospital rooms, hallways, and elevators is limited. Prior-art apparatus&#39; that attach to bed frames extend from one of the ends of the bed and greatly extend the total length, making maneuverability of the bed and apparatus difficult.  
         [0010]     Accordingly, a need exists for a compact motorized apparatus that has the flexibility to be easily attached to hospital-type beds manufactured by a variety of manufacturers having varying designs, and that is capable of being easily operated to move the beds from one location to another.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0011]     Briefly, in accordance with the present invention, disclosed is a apparatus for moving a hospital-type bed from one physical location to another. The apparatus includes a set of balancing wheels and at least one driving wheel for applying force to the floor. The driving wheel is driven by an electric motor, which draws its energy from a battery. Preferably, the battery source is rechargeable, but does not necessarily have to be. The wheels, motor, and battery are all attached to a lower section of a two-piece body. Also attached to the lower section holding the wheels, motor and battery is a steering handle, which includes driving controls, such as forward, backward, stop, speed controls, and others.  
         [0012]     At the upper section of the two-piece body is one or more cup-shaped elements operable to apply a suction force for securely attaching the apparatus to either a headboard or a footboard of a hospital bed. The two body pieces are rotatably connected to each other so that the steering handle can be used to rotate the lower section thereby turning the balancing and driving wheels in relation to the upper section, which remains fixedly attached to the headboard or footboard that it is suctioned to.  
         [0013]     In the manner briefly discussed above, as well as other embodiments that will be described below and that will be apparent from the present invention, a apparatus for moving a hospital bed can be realized.  
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0014]     The accompanying figures, where like reference numerals refer to identical or functionally similar elements throughout the separate views and which together with the detailed description below are incorporated in and form part of the specification, serve to further illustrate various embodiments and to explain various principles and advantages all in accordance with the present invention.  
         [0015]      FIG. 1  is a diagram illustrating one embodiment of a hospital bed;  
         [0016]      FIG. 2  is a diagram illustrating a side-elevational view of a motorized bed-moving apparatus, according to one embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0017]      FIG. 3  is a diagram illustrating a plan view of a motorized bed-moving apparatus, according to one embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0018]      FIG. 4  is a diagram illustrating the bed-moving apparatus of  FIGS. 2 and 3  attached to the hospital bed of  FIG. 1 , according to one embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0019]      FIG. 5  is a diagram illustrating a suction device according to one embodiment of the present invention; and  
         [0020]      FIG. 6  is a diagram illustrating a coupling system of the motorized bed-moving device according to one embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0021]      FIG. 7  is a diagram illustrating a bed-moving device including the coupling system of  FIG. 6  according to one embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0022]      FIG. 8  is a flow diagram illustrating a method for moving a bed according to one embodiment of the present invention.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0023]     While the specification concludes with claims defining the features of the invention that are regarded as novel, it is believed that the invention will be better understood from a consideration of the following description in conjunction with the drawing figures, in which like reference numerals are carried forward. It is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention, which can be embodied in various forms. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the present invention in virtually any appropriately detailed structure. Further, the terms and phrases used herein are not intended to be limiting; but rather, to provide an understandable description of the invention.  
         [0024]     The terms “a” or “an”, as used herein, are defined as one or more than one. The term plurality, as used herein, is defined as two or more than two. The term another, as used herein, is defined as at least a second or more. The terms including and/or having, as used herein, are defined as comprising (i.e., open language). The term coupled, as used herein, is defined as connected, although not necessarily directly, and not necessarily mechanically.  
         [0025]     Referring now to  FIG. 1 , a hospital bed  100  is shown. The hospital bed  100  shown in  FIG. 1  is typical of many hospital beds found in hospitals, nursing homes, residential home, and more, and is commonly used in the health-care industry. Hospital bed  100  includes a patient support surface  102  where a patient is able to lie prone. In many beds, the patient support surface  102  can be raised, lowered, tilted, or only a portion of the surface  102  can do the same. Depending on the sophistication of the particular bed, the patient support surface  102  can be repositioned either manually, by pressing one or more foot pedals located near the floor for easy reach of a user&#39;s foot, or with a series of electric motors, which can also be actuated by pressing foot pedals, or, alternatively, by pressing buttons provided at various locations along the bed.  
         [0026]     The patient support surface  102  is supported by at least two pairs of legs  112 , provided with a friction abating, rotating castor  104  at the end of each leg  112 . Castors  104  are attached to the legs  112  of bed  100  in such a manner as to rotate on a horizontal center axis  114  perpendicular to the vertical axis  116  of the leg  112 . At least two of the four castors  104  are pivotally attached to the legs  112  so that the castors  104  can pivot around the vertical axis  116  of each leg  112 . In many beds, all four castors are pivotally attached to their respective legs allowing all four to pivot when a lateral force is applied to the bed. The rotating pivoting castors allow the bed to be pushed in almost any direction when a force is applied to the bed.  
         [0027]     Most hospital beds  100  are provided with a headboard  106  at one end of the bed and a footboard  108  at the other. The head and footboards are generally well secured to the bed  100  and extend in a vertical direction both above and below the patient support surface  102 , as shown in  FIG. 1 . Among other functions, the headboard and footboard provide a location for an operator to apply pushing force to the bed when transporting a patient from one location to another.  
         [0028]     Because hospital beds are required to handle patients of relatively large size when required, the framework must be of sufficient size to support the load of the patient. Additionally, the motors, pedals, mattress, and other features of the bed add to the total weight. As a result, it is not uncommon for the total weight of the bed and patient to exceed 700 lbs. Starting and stopping a large load requires a great deal of force applied to the bed. This required force is increased when the pivoting castors are not initially aligned with the direction the bed is to be moved.  
         [0029]     Referring now to  FIG. 2 , a bed-moving apparatus  200  is shown. The apparatus  200  includes two sections: a lower section  202  and an upper section  204 . The lower section  202  includes a plurality of plates  230  connected by supports  232 . The supports  232  can be posts, tubes, walls, or other similar structures. The supports  232  can pass through multiple plates, extend between only two plates, be in staggered alignment, or combinations thereof so as to allow easy assembly and manufacture of the apparatus  200 . Each set of plates  230  defines a subsection  234  within the apparatus  200 . The subsections  234  are aligned in a vertical orientation.  
         [0030]     Additionally, the lower section  202  is provided with bearings  218  disposed within one or more of the plates  230 . The upper section  204  rotates within the bearings  218  upon an axis  220  through the center of the apparatus  200 . Bearings  218  allow the upper section  204  to remain in physical communication with the lower section  202  while being able to rotate with respect to the lower section  202 .  
         [0031]     In one embodiment, the upper section  204  and lower section  202  are coupled by a spring-type mechanism for allowing the lower and upper sections to move relative to one another. For instance, when rolling over a doorway threshold, the upper section  204 , attached to the bed, can remain stationary while the lower section  202  compresses the spring, moves over the threshold and relative to the upper section  204 , and then back to its original position.  
         [0032]     The lower section  202  of the apparatus  200  has a set of driving wheels  206  that make contact with the ground. The driving wheels  206  are connected by a drive shaft/axle  222 . The driving wheels  206  are selected from a material that provides sufficient friction to the floor surface, which is often a waxed linoleum or other smooth polished surface. A set of wheels or castors  208  are also attached to the lower section  202  of the apparatus  200  and provide, in conjunction with the driving wheels  206 , stability to the apparatus  200 , so that the apparatus  200  can stand upright without falling over. The castors  208  work similarly to the castors  104  described above and allow the lower section  202  of the apparatus  200  to turn freely upon an axis  220  through the center of the apparatus  200  while the upper section  204  remains fixedly attached to the headboard.  
         [0033]     The wheels  206  are driven by a motor  210  located within the lower section  202  of the apparatus  200 . In one embodiment, the motor is a standard DC motor that is well known by those of ordinary skill in the art. The motor  210  can be directly connected to a driveshaft/axle  222 , or can drive the drive shaft/axle  222  through at least one provided gear (not shown). Preferably, the motor  210  can be operated in forward and reverse directions. Power for the motor  210  is provided by a battery  212 , also located within the lower section  202  of the apparatus  200  and electrically connected to the inputs of the motor  210 . In a preferred embodiment, the battery is a standard rechargeable DC battery. A variety of motors and batteries, each having varying electrical characteristics, can be selected to perform the function of moving the apparatus, and, as will be explained below, a bed. It is a goal of the motor and battery combination to provide enough driving power and operation time to perform multiple bed relocations before needing to be recharged.  
         [0034]     The upper section  204  of the apparatus  200  includes a vertically oriented, elongated section  228  that rotates with respect to the lower section  202 , as described above. The upper section  204  rotates within the bearings  218  located within the plates  230  provided in the lower section  202 . In one embodiment of the present invention, an end of the elongated section  228  rests on one of the plates  230  and the elongated section  228  has a conical or spherical radius to allow rotation of the elongated section  228 .  
         [0035]     The upper section  204  is also provided with a pair of horizontal arms  224  physically coupled to the elongated section  228  and to at least one suction cup  226 . A suction cup  226  is an apparatus that can apply a suctional force to any substantially flat surface and is generally well known to those of skill in the art. As will be explained in greater detail below, it is through the suction cup  226  that the apparatus  200  can be attached to the hospital bed  100 . The suction cup  226  can hold and release a suctional force. For example, the suction can be applied by a mechanical lever, a vacuum, or other similar method. The horizontal arms  224  may have a spring-loaded construction allowing the suction cups to accommodate deviations in the headboard.  
         [0036]      FIG. 3  shows a plan view of the bed-moving apparatus  200 . In  FIG. 3 , rotational bearings  218  can be seen, as well as the set of horizontally oriented extending arms  224  attached to the suction cups  226 . The plan view of  FIG. 3  also shows the orientation of driving wheels  206  and balancing castors  208 .  
         [0037]     Most hospital beds of the kind described above have headboards and footboards that are substantially smooth and flat. Looking now to  FIG. 4 , the bed-moving apparatus  200  is attached to the headboard  106  of a bed  100  by suction cups  226 . When attached to apparatus  200 , in the manner shown in  FIG. 4 , the upper section of the apparatus is fixedly attached to the headboard  106  and remains locked to the headboard  106 . Because the bottom section  202  of the apparatus  200  is provided with bearings  218 , the bottom section can pivot around the center axis  220  while the upper section  204  remains attached to the headboard  106 . Referring back to  FIG. 2 , the apparatus  200  is seen with a steering handle  214  attached to the bottom section  202 . The handle  214  provides an easy way for an operator to rotate the bottom section  202  in relation to the bed  100  and direct the direction of the movement of the bed. To make use of the handle easier, a grip  216  is provided at the end of the handle  214 . The grip, which can also be seen in  FIG. 3 , can have a set of controls  302 ,  304  for engaging the motor in the forward or reverse directions. In one embodiment, the motor  210  can be connected to the wheels  206  so that the wheels  206  spin in opposite directions to facilitate tight turns.  
         [0038]      FIG. 5  shows one embodiment of the bed-moving apparatus  200 . In the embodiment shown, an extra pair of arms  502  and  504  are attached to the elongated section  228 . The arms can be provided with suction cups, elastomeric stoppers, or other support materials. For exemplary purposes, a pair of suction cups  508  and  506  are shown in  FIG. 5 . The suction cups  508  and  506  at the end of the arms provide added attachment strength to the apparatus. The extra arms  502  and  504  help prevent movement or separation of the apparatus  200  in relation to the headboard  106  or footboard  108  of bed  100  that the apparatus  200  is attached to.  
         [0039]     Because not all head and footboards present a smooth surface area in which to attach the suction cups, an area of smooth material can be applied to the head or footboard of individual beds in a facility. In one embodiment, a sticker is used, which is a piece of smooth material having an adhesive backing, and can be easily attached to the bed.  
         [0040]     In the manner described above, and referring back to  FIG. 2 , the apparatus  200  can be securely attached to a bed  100  and through the use of the handle  214  and grip  216 , power can be sent to the drive wheels  206 . Movement of the handle  214  will allow the bed to be pushed or pulled in any direction while reducing the need for an operator to apply their own physical force to the bed.  
         [0041]     Modifications of the exemplary embodiments described in the figures of the instant application lie entirely within the scope of the invention. For example, instead the elongated section  228  of the upper section  204  rotating within the bearings that are disposed in the lower section  202 , it is also possible for the elongated section  228  to be fixed with respect to the lower section  202  on one of the plates  230  and for the bearings to be mounted in a plate or connection  604  that connects the horizontal arms  224  to the elongated section  228 .  
         [0042]     Referring now to  FIG. 6 , a collar assembly  602  vertically positions and holds the plate or connection  604  on the elongated section  228 . The collar assembly  602  includes two collars  606  and  608  that are mechanically, by bolts, screws, or the like, connected to each other and have springs  610  disposed between each other so that the collars  606  and  608  have a light spring force pushing each other apart. The lower of the two collars  606  is statically mounted to the elongated section  228 . This allows the upper collar  608  to move vertically with respect to the lower collar  606 . The collar assembly  602  permits the plate or connection  604  to move vertical on the elongated section  228  so as to accommodate any deviations in the surfaces over which the beds are moved. This in turn ensures that at least one suction cup  226  will maintain a connection with the bed  100  without dislodging the headboard  108  or footboard  106 . In one embodiment of the present invention, a removable collar  611  is provided so as to prevent the plate or connection  604  from separating from the elongated section  228 .  
         [0043]      FIG. 7  shows the assembly of  FIG. 6 , including the elongated section  228 , attached to a lower section  702 . Lower section  702  includes at least one driving wheel  206  and a stabilizing wheel  208 . The lower section also includes a steering handle  214 . The handle  214  provides an easy way for an operator to rotate the lower section  702  in relation to a bed and direct the direction of the movement of the bed. To make use of the handle easier, a grip  216  is provided at the end of the handle  214 . The grip can have a set of controls for engaging the motor in the forward or reverse directions. In one embodiment, a motor  210  can be connected to the wheels  206  so that the wheels  206  spin in opposite directions to facilitate tight turns.  
         [0044]     Referring now to  FIG. 8 , a flow diagram for the present invention is shown. The flow begins at step  800  and moved directly to step  802  where at least one suction device is placed in contact with either a headboard or a footboard of a bed. In step  804 , a suction force is applied to the suction device, creating a negative pressure between the suction device and the bed. Next, in step  806 , at least one button is operated to control a motor attached to the suction device. Finally, in step  808 , a force is applied to the suction device by the controlled motor, thereby moving the bed. The flow ends at step  810 , where force is no longer applied to the bed.  
         [0045]     While the preferred embodiments of the invention have been illustrated and described, it will be clear that the invention is not so limited. Numerous modifications, changes, variations, substitutions and equivalents will occur to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.