Hospital bed power-assist

Abstract

The present invention, in one embodiment, is a device for moving a hospital bed. The device comprises a body, a motor driven wheel coupled to the body, and a hitch coupled to the body and adapted for engaging the hospital bed. Finally, the present invention, in yet another embodiment, is a method for moving a hospital bed with a motorized device. The method comprises maneuvering the device into position next to the hospital bed, hitching the device to the hospital bed, and moving the hospital bed with the device.

1 . An apparatus for moving a hospital bed, the bed including a wheel for rollably supporting the hospital bed on a floor surface, the wheel including first and second opposed sides, a tread surface that rollably contacts the floor surface and is located between the first and second sides, and an axis extending generally perpendicular between the sides and about which the wheel rotates, the apparatus comprising: 
 a body operably coupled to a motor and a traction device, wherein the motor is configured to drive the traction device and the traction device is configured to engage the floor, wherein the motor driving the traction device causes the apparatus to move along the floor;    a wheel engagement member operably coupled to the body and including a first surface that contacts the tread surface when the wheel is received in the wheel engagement member.    
   
   
       2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the first surface is at least partially arcuate.  
   
   
       3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the wheel engagement member further includes a second surface generally perpendicular to the first surface, the first and second surfaces defining a volume in the wheel engagement member for receiving therein at least a portion of the wheel.  
   
   
       4 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the second surface extends generally parallel to one of the wheel sides when the wheel is received in the wheel engagement member.  
   
   
       5 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the wheel engagement member further includes a third surface generally opposing the second surface, the first, second and third surfaces defining a volume in the wheel engagement member for receiving therein at least a portion of the wheel.  
   
   
       6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the wheel engagement member further includes a second surface that extends along one of the wheel sides when the wheel is received in the wheel engagement member.  
   
   
       7 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein the wheel engagement member further includes a third surface generally opposed to the second surface, the third surface extending along one of the wheel sides when the wheel is received in the wheel engagement member.  
   
   
       8 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the first surface is located between the second and third surfaces.  
   
   
       9 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the first, second and third surfaces define a volume in the wheel engagement member for receiving therein at least a portion of the wheel.  
   
   
       10 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the second and third surfaces define a front opening into the volume, and at least a portion of the first surface faces towards the opening.  
   
   
       11 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein a portion of the first surface joins the second and third surfaces.  
   
   
       12 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein the wheel engagement member further includes a first member rotatably or pivotally mounted on the wheel engagement member adjacent the first surface.  
   
   
       13 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the first member is a gate retainer that assists in preventing the wheel from exiting the wheel engagement member when received therein.  
   
   
       14 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the traction device is a wheel.  
   
   
       15 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the wheel engagement member is horizontally displaceable relative to the body.  
   
   
       16 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the wheel engagement member is vertically displaceable relative to the body.  
   
   
       17 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the wheel engagement member is tiltable relative to the body.  
   
   
       18 . An apparatus for moving a hospital bed, the bed including a wheel for rollably supporting the hospital bed on a floor surface, the wheel including first and second opposed sides, a tread surface that rollably contacts the floor surface and is located between the first and second sides, and an axis extending generally perpendicular between the sides and about which the wheel rotates, the apparatus comprising: 
 a body operably coupled to a motor and a traction device, wherein the motor is configured to drive the traction device and the traction device is configured to engage the floor, wherein the motor driving the traction device causes the apparatus to move along the floor;    a wheel engagement member operably coupled to the body and including a first portion that abuts against the when the wheel engagement member is engaging the wheel.    
   
   
       19 . The apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein the first portion is at least partially arcuate.  
   
   
       20 . The apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein the wheel engagement member further includes a second portion operably coupled to the first portion and extending adjacent to one of the sides of the wheel when the wheel engagement member is engaging the wheel.  
   
   
       21 . The apparatus of  claim 19 , wherein the wheel engagement member further includes a third portion opposed to the second portion and extending adjacent to one of the sides of the wheel when the wheel engagement member is engaging the wheel.  
   
   
       22 . The apparatus of  claim 21 , wherein the wheel engagement member further includes a fourth portion rotatably or pivotably coupled to the second portion.  
   
   
       23 . A method of moving a hospital bed with a powered apparatus, wherein the bed includes a wheel for rollably supporting the hospital bed on a floor surface, the wheel including first and second opposed sides, a tread surface that rollably contacts the floor surface and is located between the first and second sides, and an axis extending generally perpendicular between the sides and about which the wheel rotates, the method comprising: 
 receiving the wheel within a wheel engagement member of the powered apparatus such that a first portion of the wheel engagement member abuts against the tread surface of the wheel; and    using the apparatus to move the hospital bed.    
   
   
       24 . The method of  claim 23 , further comprising vertically displacing the wheel engagement member.  
   
   
       25 . The method of  claim 23 , further comprising tilting the wheel engagement member.  
   
   
       26 . The method of  claim 23 , further comprising positioning the wheel in the wheel engagement member such that a second portion of the wheel engagement member extends adjacent to one of the sides of the wheel.  
   
   
       27 . An apparatus for moving a hospital bed equipped with wheels, the apparatus comprising: 
 a body including a plurality of wheels coupled to the body, wherein at least one of the wheels is a motor driven wheel and at least one of the wheels is a free turning wheel adapted to stabilize the apparatus; and    a hitch mechanism including a pair of engagement elements adapted to engage the wheels of the hospital bed.    
   
   
       28 . The apparatus of  claim 27 , wherein each engagement element is a wheel lock comprising a block including a sloped wheel approach leading to a wheel groove for receiving one of the wheels of the hospital bed.  
   
   
       29 . The apparatus of  claim 27 , wherein each engagement element is a wheel lock comprising a block including a wheel groove for receiving one of the wheels of the hospital bed and a gate for preventing the hospital bed wheel from exiting the groove.  
   
   
       30 . The apparatus of  claim 27 , wherein the hitching mechanism is adapted so the engagement elements are horizontally displaceable relative to the body.  
   
   
       31 . The apparatus of  claim 27 , wherein the hitching mechanism is adapted so the engagement elements are vertically displaceable relative to the body.  
   
   
       32 . The apparatus of  claim 27 , wherein the hitching mechanism is adapted so the engagement elements are displaceable forwardly and rearwardly relative to the body.  
   
   
       33 . The apparatus of  claim 27 , wherein the hitching mechanism is adapted so the engagement elements are tiltable relative to the body.  
   
   
       34 . The apparatus of  claim 27 , wherein a portion of the engagement elements engage the tread of the wheels.  
   
   
       35 . The apparatus of  claim 34 , wherein the portion is generally arcuate such that the portion generally corresponds to the curvature of the tread of the wheels.