Patent ID: 7591030

Claim:
A retractor assembly for engaging a sheet on which a patient is disposed, said retractor assembly comprising: a transverse member having a longitudinal axis and a length along said longitudinal axis; a pair of tethers coupled to said transverse member and extending from said transverse member for coupling to a winding assembly; and a pair of sheet clamps mounted to the transverse member, said sheet clamps being spaced apart along said longitudinal axis in a fixed spaced relationship for engaging a sheet at two points spaced along the longitudinal axis, and said transverse member maintaining said sheet clamps in said fixed spaced relationship whereby said sheet clamps resist inward migration toward each other when being used to handle a patient on a sheet, wherein each sheet clamp comprises: a clamp base having a resilient receiver, and said receiver having a concave facing surface; a clamp arm being pivotally mounted about said clamp base and having a clamping bar, said clamping bar being pivotal between a non-clamping position and a pre-clamping position adjacent and spaced from said concave facing surface; and a lever arm coupled to said clamp arm and to said base, said lever arm for moving said clamping bar from said pre-clamping position into a clamping position and into engagement with said receiver wherein said clamping bar can frictionally engage a sheet between said receiver and said clamping bar, and said lever arm comprising a pair of lever arms and a handle extending between said lever arms.