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Transfer pads for horizontal and/or vertical translocation are provided. The transfer pads include the fewest possible number of components required to provide a plenum chamber, the operative features of which are controlled at least by the provision of one or more interior sheets having specific ch

Transfer pads for horizontal and/or vertical translocation are provided. The transfer pads include the fewest possible number of components required to provide a plenum chamber, the operative features of which are controlled at least by the provision of one or more interior sheets having specific characteristics with respect to position, perforation and attachment.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A transfer pad comprising: a top sheet having an upper surface, a lower surface and a substantially rectangular outer peripheral shape, the top sheet having a width dimension extending in a transverse direction from a first outer peripheral side to an opposed second outer peripheral side thereof,

1. A transfer pad comprising: a top sheet having an upper surface, a lower surface and a substantially rectangular outer peripheral shape, the top sheet having a width dimension extending in a transverse direction from a first outer peripheral side to an opposed second outer peripheral side thereof, and a length dimension extending in a longitudinal direction from a first outer peripheral end to an opposed second outer peripheral end thereof;a bottom sheet having an upper surface, a lower surface and a substantially rectangular outer peripheral shape, the bottom sheet having a width dimension extending in the transverse direction from a first outer peripheral side to an opposed second outer peripheral side thereof and a length dimension extending in the longitudinal direction from a first out peripheral end to an opposed second outer peripheral end thereof, wherein the bottom sheet is joined to the top sheet to define a plenum chamber between the lower surface of the top sheet and the upper surface of the bottom sheet, the plenum chamber having a curved but substantially rectangular outer peripheral shape with rounded corners, a plenum chamber width dimension that is smaller than the respective width dimensions of the top and bottom sheets extending in the transverse direction and a plenum chamber length dimension that is smaller than the respective length dimensions of the top and bottom sheets extending in the longitudinal direction, andwherein a portion of the bottom sheet defining the plenum chamber, is perforated in an area corresponding to a footprint of a load receiving portion of the top sheet and surrounding at least a central portion of the bottom sheet defining the plenum chamber in a central fixation area;a central membrane having an upper surface and a lower surface, a length dimension that is smaller than the plenum chamber length dimension and a width dimension that is smaller than the plenum chamber width dimension, wherein the central membrane is disposed within the plenum chamber and extends across a portion of the width of the plenum chamber and along a portion of the length of the plenum chamber,wherein transversely opposed areas of the upper surface of the central membrane proximate side edges thereof are affixed to portions of the lower surface of the top sheet along the length of the central membrane, andwherein an area of the central membrane, including at least a portion of a longitudinal centerline of the central membrane that divides the width dimension of the central membrane into two equal parts, is affixed to a portion of the upper surface of the bottom sheet in the central fixation area;a fluid weir, defined by outer peripheral portions of the lower surface of the bottom sheet defining the plenum chamber, and substantially surrounding the perforated portion of the bottom sheet defining the plenum chamber along with a fluid reservoir located between at least a central portion of the lower surface of the bottom sheet defining the plenum chamber and a surface on which the transfer pad is positioned;a plurality of peripheral flaps extending from the plenum chamber and defined between peripheral sides of the plenum chamber and respective peripheral edges of the top sheet and the bottom sheet; wherein one or more of the peripheral flaps includes at least one handle portion defined by at least on of an opening formed in the peripheral flap itself and a separate handle device affixed to the peripheral flap either directly or through an opening in the peripheral flap. 2. The transfer pad according to claim 1, wherein a rigid fluid inlet valve is positioned at least at one of the rounded comers of the plenum chamber and extends a distance into the plenum chamber at an acute angle with respect to the longitudinal centerline of the plenum chamber. 3. The transfer pad according to claim 1, wherein a portion of the top sheet is peripherally fixed onto a portion of itself at a first fixation location to define an upper surface portion and distinct sidewall portions of the transfer pad, wherein the terminal peripheral edges of the sidewall portions of the top sheet are joined to the bottom sheet. 4. The transfer pad according to claim 3, wherein a second portion of the top sheet is peripherally fixed onto a portion of itself, in a second fixation location, between the first fixation location and the terminal peripheral edges of the top sheet, to define accordion sidewall portions of the transfer pad. 5. The transfer pad according to claim 1, wherein a width of the top sheet is greater than a width of the bottom sheet. 6. A transfer pad comprising: a top sheet having an upper surface, a lower surface and a substantially rectangular outer peripheral shape, the top sheet having a width dimension extending in a transverse direction from a first outer peripheral side to an opposed second outer peripheral side thereof, and a length dimension extending in a longitudinal direction from a first outer peripheral end to an opposed second outer peripheral end thereof;a bottom sheet having an upper surface, a lower surface and a substantially rectangular outer peripheral shape, the bottom sheet having a width dimension extending in the transverse direction from a first outer peripheral side to an opposed second outer peripheral side thereof and a length dimension extending in the longitudinal direction from a first outer peripheral end to an opposed second outer peripheral end thereof, wherein the bottom sheet is joined to the top sheet to define a plenum chamber between the lower surface of the sheet and the upper surface of the bottom sheet, the plenum chamber having a curved but substantially rectangular outer peripheral shape with rounded corners, a plenum chamber width dimension that is smaller than the respective width dimensions of the top and bottom sheets extending in the transverse direction and a plenum chamber length dimension that is smaller than the respective length dimensions of the top and bottom sheets extending in the longitudinal direction, andwherein a portion of the bottom sheet defining the plenum chamber, is perforated in an area corresponding to a footprint of a load receiving portion of the top sheet and surrounding at least a central portion of the bottom sheet defining the plenum chamber in a central fixation area;a central membrane having an upper surface and a lower surface, a length dimension that is smaller than the plenum chamber length dimension and a width dimension that is smaller than the plenum chamber width dimension, wherein the central membrane is disposed within the plenum chamber and extends across a portion of the width of the plenum chamber and along a portion of the length of the plenum chamber,wherein transversely opposed areas of the upper surface of the central membrane proximate side edges thereof are affixed to portions of the lower surface of the top sheet along the length of the central membrane, andwherein an area of the central membrane, including at least a portion of a longitudinal centerline of the central membrane that divides the width dimension of the central membrane into two equal parts, is affixed to a portion of the upper surface of the bottom sheet in the central fixation area;a fluid weir, defined by outer peripheral portions of the lower surface of the bottom sheet defining the plenum chamber, and substantially surrounding the perforated portion of the bottom sheet defining the plenum chamber along with a fluid reservoir located between at least a central portion of the lower surface of the bottom sheet defining the plenum chamber and a surface on which the transfer pad is positioned;a plurality of peripheral flaps extending from the plenum chamber and defined between peripheral sides of the plenum chamber and respective peripheral edges of the top sheet and the bottom sheet; wherein a width of the top sheet is greater than a width of the bottom sheet; andwherein the peripheral flaps extending from the plenum chamber and defined between peripheral sides of the plenum chamber and peripheral edges of the top sheet include portions of the top sheet fixed to itself and spaced a distance away from the peripheral edges of the top sheet, whereby a sidewall portion of the transfer pad is defined between the terminal edge of the extended fixation portion and the peripheral edges of the top sheet, which are joined to the bottom sheet. 7. A horizontal and vertical transfer pad comprising: a vertical transfer portion comprising a top sheet having an upper surface, a lower surface and a substantially rectangular outer peripheral shape, the top sheet having a width dimension extending in a transverse direction from a first outer peripheral side to an opposed second outer peripheral side thereof, and a length dimension extending in a longitudinal direction from a first outer peripheral end to an opposed second outer peripheral end thereof;a bottom sheet having an upper surface, a lower surface and a substantially rectangular outer peripheral shape, the bottom sheet having a width dimension extending in the transverse direction from a first outer peripheral side to an opposed second outer peripheral side thereof and a length dimension extending in the longitudinal direction from a first outer peripheral end to an opposed second outer peripheral end thereof; andone or more interior sheets, each having an upper surface, a lower surface and a substantially rectangular outer peripheral shape, a width dimension extending in the transverse direction from a first outer peripheral side to an opposed second outer peripheral side thereof, and a length dimension extending in the longitudinal direction from a first outer peripheral end to an opposed second outer peripheral end thereof, wherein the outer peripheral sides and the outer peripheral ends of the one or more interior sheets are joined to the outer peripheral sides of at least one of the top sheet, the bottom sheet and an adjacent interior sheet to define an accordion sidewall structure extending between the top and bottom sheets around the outer peripheral shape of the transfer pad and defining a main plenum chamber therein,wherein a plurality of adjacent plenum chamber sections are defined between respective ones of the top sheet, the interior sheets and the bottom sheet, andwherein at least portion of each of the one or more interior sheets includes a damping section defining a predetermined area to provide fluid communication between adjacent vertical plenum chamber sections; anda horizontal transfer section comprising a first sheet defined by the bottom sheet of the vertical transfer section,a second sheet having an upper surface, a lower surface and a substantially rectangular outer peripheral shape, the second sheet having a width dimension extending in the transverse direction from a first outer peripheral side to an opposed second outer peripheral side thereof and a length dimension extending in the longitudinal direction from a end thereof, wherein the second sheet is joined to the first sheet to define a plenum chamber section between the lower surface of the first sheet and the upper surface of the second sheet, the plenum chamber section having a curved but substantially rectangular outer peripheral shape with rounded comers, a plenum chamber section width dimension that is smaller than the width dimension of at least the first sheet extending in the transverse direction and a plenum chamber section length dimension that is smaller than the length dimension of at least the top extending in the longitudinal direction, andwherein a portion of the second sheet defining the plenum chamber, is perforated in an area corresponding to a footprint of a load receiving portion of the top sheet of the vertical transfer section, which surrounds at least a central portion of the second sheet corresponding to a central fixation area,a central membrane having an upper surface and a lower surface, a length dimension that is smaller than the plenum chamber section length dimension and a width dimension that is smaller than the plenum chamber section width dimension, wherein the central membrane is disposed within the plenum chamber section and extends across a portion of the width of the plenum chamber section and along a portion of the length of the plenum chamber section,wherein transversely opposed areas of the upper surface of the central membrane proximate side edges thereof are affixed to portions of the lower surface of the first sheet along the length of the central membrane, andwherein an area including at least a portion of a longitudinal centerline of the central membrane, which divides the width, dimension of the central membrane into two equal parts, is affixed to a portion of the upper surface of the second sheet in a location corresponding to the central fixation area, anda fluid weir, defined by outer peripheral portions of the lower surface of the second sheet and substantially surrounding the perforated portion of the second sheet along with a fluid reservoir located between at least a central portion of the lower surface of the second and a surface on which the vertical and horizontal transfer pad is positioned.