Patent ID: 8887327

Claim:
A folding patient transfer apparatus comprising a material top layer, a material bottom layer, a plurality of inserts, a perimeter seam, and a plurality of handhold openings, a plurality of chambers for receiving the plurality of inserts, and plurality of interlocking devices; wherein the plurality of inserts are positioned between the material top layer and the material bottom layer, and adjacent inserts are separated along an x-axis by a plurality of insert seams formed along a y-axis; and wherein the plurality of inserts are further encapsulated by the perimeter seam; and wherein the material top layer comprises a top layer outer surface comprising a first coefficient of friction, and the material bottom layer comprises a bottom layer outer surface comprising a second coefficient of friction that is higher than the first coefficient of friction; and wherein the apparatus is configured to transfer a patient from a non-planar surface to a second surface; and wherein the plurality of chambers are formed between the material top layer and the material bottom layer by the plurality of insert seams and the perimeter seam; and wherein the plurality of insert seams between adjacent inserts form a plurality of hinges rotatable approximately 360 degrees along the y-axis; and wherein the hinges are lockable in an approximately planar orientation by positioning the plurality of interlocking devices on the apparatus to bridge the hinges thereby rigidly connecting adjacent inserts.