초록

A patient support and powered transport apparatus are provided. The powered transport apparatus is provided to assist a caregiver in moving the patient support from one location in a care facility to another.

대표청구항 ▼

What is claimed is: 1. A powered transport apparatus configured to provide powered transport of a patient support, the patient support defining a footprint having head and foot ends and first and second longitudinal sides extending between the head and foot ends, the powered transport apparatus com

What is claimed is: 1. A powered transport apparatus configured to provide powered transport of a patient support, the patient support defining a footprint having head and foot ends and first and second longitudinal sides extending between the head and foot ends, the powered transport apparatus comprising a frame adapted to be positioned under the patient support by entering one of the longitudinal sides of the patient support, a powered wheel rotatably supported by the frame to provide powered transport of the patient support, a scissor mechanism supported by the frame and configured to transfer downward force from the patient support to the powered wheel, the scissor mechanism being movable between a first position transferring downward force from the patient support to the powered wheel and a second position permitting removal of the frame from the patient support, and a connection member, supported by the scissor mechanism, to removably connect the powered transport apparatus to the patient support with contact pressure at a connection location that is accessible by the powered transport apparatus through one of the first and second longitudinal sides of the footprint. 2. The powered transport apparatus of claim 1, wherein the powered wheel is adapted to include an axis of rotation that is substantially perpendicular to the first and seconds longitudinal sides of the patient support when the frame is positioned under the patient support. 3. The powered transport apparatus of claim 1, wherein the frame is adapted to include longitudinal axis that is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal sides of the patient support when the frame is positioned under the patient support. 4. The powered transport apparatus of claim 1, wherein the frame is adapted to be positioned at a midpoint between the head and foot ends of the patient support when positioned under the patient support. 5. The powered transport apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a scissor mover configured to move the scissor mechanism between the first and second positions. 6. A powered transport apparatus configured to provide powered transport of a patient, the powered transport apparatus comprising a patient support including a support frame, a mattress, and at least four casters coupled to the support frame, a frame removably connectable to the patient support at a connection location that is accessible by the frame through at least one of the first and second longitudinal sides of the patient support, at least two casters coupled to the frame, and a powered wheel rotatably connected to the frame to provide powered transport of the patient support. 7. The powered transport apparatus of claim 6, wherein the frame is adapted to be positioned under the patient support. 8. The powered transport apparatus of claim 6, wherein the frame is adapted to be positioned below one of the first and second longitudinal sides when connected to the patient support. 9. The powered transport apparatus of claim 6, wherein the powered wheel is connected to the frame such that an axis of rotation of the powered wheel is substantially perpendicular to the first and seconds longitudinal sides of the patient support when the frame is connected to the patient support. 10. The powered transport apparatus of claim 6, wherein a longitudinal axis of the frame is adapted to be substantially perpendicular to the first and second longitudinal sides of the patient support when the frame is connected to the patient support. 11. The powered transport apparatus of claim 6, wherein the frame is adapted to be positioned at a midpoint between the head and foot ends of the patient support when connected to the patient support. 12. The powered transport apparatus of claim 6, further comprising a scissor mechanism adapted to transfer downward force from the patient support to the powered wheel, the scissor mechanism is movable between a first position transferring downward force from the patient support to the powered wheel and a second position permitting removal of the frame from the patient support. 13. The powered transport apparatus of claim 12, further comprising a scissor mover configured to move the scissor mechanism between the first and second positions. 14. A powered transport apparatus configured to provide powered transport of a patient support, the powered transport apparatus comprising: a frame, a powered wheel, a scissor mechanism supported by the frame and movable between a first position supporting the patient support and a second position permitting removal of the frame from the patient support, the scissor mechanism including a first link and a second link coupled to the first link to rotate relative to the first link during movement of the scissor mechanism between the first and second positions, and a compliant member coupled to at least one of the first and second links of the scissor mechanism and the frame, and a connection member, supported by the scissor mechanism, to removably connect the powered transport apparatus to the patient support with contact pressure wherein the compliant member has a first state applying a first amount of force to the at least one of the first and second links and a second state applying a second amount of force to the at least one of the first and second links that is greater than the first amount. 15. The powered transport apparatus of claim 14, further comprising a member supported by the scissor mechanism and adapted to connect the scissor mechanism to the patient support. 16. The powered transport apparatus of claim 14, further comprising a shuttle slidably coupled to the frame and at least one of the first and second links of the of the scissor mechanism, the shuttle is configured to move the scissor mechanism between the first and second positions. 17. A powered transport apparatus configured to provide powered transport of a patient, the powered transport apparatus comprising a patient support including a support frame with at least two longitudinally extending members, a mattress, and at least four casters coupled to the support frame, a frame, at least two casters coupled to the frame, a powered wheel supported by the frame, and a substantially T-shaped connection member including a first member and a second member coupled to a midpoint of the first member, supported by the frame, to connect to the at least two longitudinally extending members of the patient support, the first member is adapted to be connected to the patient support in at least two spaced-apart locations and the second member is connected to the patient support in at least one location. 18. The powered transport apparatus of claim 17, further comprising a scissor mechanism movable between a first position supporting connection member in contact with the patient support and a second position permitting removal of the connection member from the patient support. 19. The powered transport apparatus of claim 18, further comprising a scissor mover configured to move the scissor mechanism between the first position and the second positions. 20. The powered transport apparatus of claim 18, wherein the scissor mechanism raises the connection member to the first position and lowers the connection member to the second position. 21. The powered transport apparatus of claim 17, wherein the frame is adapted to be positioned under a longitudinal side of the patient support. 22. The powered transport apparatus of claim 17, wherein the connection member has first and second ends and is pivotal supported at a location spaced apart from the first and second ends. 23. A powered transport apparatus configured to provide powered transport of a patient support, the patient support having a head end, a foot end longitudinally spaced apart from the head end, a first longitudinal side, and a second longitudinal side, the head and foot ends and the first and second longitudinal sides cooperating to define a footprint of the patient support, the powered transport apparatus comprising a frame including at least two casters, the frame adapted to enter the footprint of the patient support between the first and second ends of the patient support, a powered wheel rotatably supported by the frame to provide powered transport to the patient support, and a connection member supported by the frame and configured to removably connect the powered transport apparatus to the patient support with contact pressure. 24. The powered transport apparatus of claim 23, wherein the frame of the mover is adapted to be positioned under one of the first and second longitudinal sides of the patient support. 25. The powered transport apparatus of claim 23, further comprising a scissor mechanism adapted to transfer downward force to the frame from the patient support. 26. An apparatus configured to provide powered transport of a patient, the apparatus comprising a patient support including a frame, at least four casters, and a patient rest surface, the patient support defining a footprint having a head end, a foot end, and first and second spaced-apart longitudinal sides extending between the head and foot ends, and a powered transport apparatus configured to assist a caregiver in moving the patient support from one location to another, the powered transport apparatus including at least two casters and a powered wheel, the powered transport apparatus being removably connected to the patient support at a connection location that is accessible by the powered transport apparatus through one of the first and second longitudinal sides of the footprint. 27. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein the powered transport apparatus is positioned substantially within the footprint defined by the patient support when connected to the patient support. 28. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein the powered transport apparatus follows a path when being removably connected to the patient support and the path crosses at least one of the first and second longitudinal sides of the footprint. 29. The apparatus of claim 28, wherein the path crosses over a midpoint of at least one of the first and second longitudinal sides of the footprint. 30. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein in the powered transport is spaced apart from the head and foot ends of the footprint when removably connected to the patient support. 31. The apparatus of claim 30, wherein the powered transport is positioned over a midpoint of the footprint when removably connected to the patient support. 32. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein the powered transport apparatus includes a frame removably connected to the frame of the patient support and a powered wheel supported by the frame and configured to move the patient support. 33. The apparatus of claim 32, wherein the frame of the powered transport apparatus and the frame of the patient support are substantially perpendicular when removably connected. 34. The apparatus of claim 32, wherein the powered transport apparatus further includes a connection member supported by the frame of the powered transport apparatus, the frame of the patient support includes at least two longitudinally extending member, and the connection member of the powered transport apparatus is removably connected to the at least two longitudinally extending members of the patient support to removably connected the frame of the powered transport apparatus to the frame of the patient support. 35. The apparatus of claim 32, wherein the powered transport apparatus further includes a scissor mechanism adapted to transfer downward force from the patient support to the powered wheel, the scissor mechanism is movable between a first position transferring downward force from the patient support to the powered wheel and a second position permitting removal of the powered transport apparatus from the foot print defined by the patient support.