Table and slide assemblies for patient transfer device

A patient transfer device comprising:

• a base;
• at least one support member attached to said base;
• a slide assembly attached to said support member, movable between a home position over said base and an extended position to a side of said base;
• an air mattress having first and second inlet/exhaust ports;
• a first valve controlling said first inlet/exhaust port;
• a second valve controlling said second inlet/exhaust port;
• and
• a table assembly attached to said slide assembly and supporting said air mattress, said table assembly having upper and lower belt tables, said upper belt table having left and right side plates movable between an extended position, a transitional position and a fully retracted position, wherein said first and second valves are both open when said side plates are in the extended position, said first valve is open and said second valve is closed when said side plates are in the transitional position, and said first and second valves are both closed when said side plates are in the fully retracted position.

A slide assembly for a table of a patient transfer device, comprising:

• at least one fixed plate adapted for attachment to a frame of the patient transfer device;
• a first pinion rotatably mounted to said fixed plate;
• an intermediate plate;
• a first rack affixed to said intermediate plate which engages said first pinion;
• a first horizontal bar affixed to said fixed plate which slidably supports said intermediate plate;
• second and third pinions rotatably mounted to said intermediate plate, having a common axle;
• a second rack affixed to said fixed plate which engages said second pinion;
• a full-motion plate;
• a third rack affixed to said full-motion plate which engages said third pinion;
• a second horizontal bar affixed to said full-motion plate which is slidably supported by said intermediate plate;
• and
• mounting means affixed to said full-motion plate for supporting the table.

A steering mechanism for a transfer device, comprising:

• a horizontal chassis;
• a plurality of casters attached to said chassis;
• two wheels located along a longitudinal centerline of said chassis, generally symmetrically opposite a transverse centerline of said chassis;
• and
• means for counter-rotating said wheels about vertical axes in synchronized motion to at least three positions including a straight position, a turning position and a lateral position, wherein
• said wheels are generally aligned with each other and with the longitudinal centerline of said chassis in the straight position,
• said wheels are counter-rotated from the straight position by an acute angle in the turning position, and
• said wheels are generally orthogonal to the longitudinal centerline of the chassis in the lateral position.