US 4,301,791 AGranted

Body transfer unit

OwnerAdolph S. Franco, IIIinventor

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Abstract

A body transfer device comprises front and rear inflatable support members which can be selectively joined to completely envelop a person's body. When the support members are inflated, the body is rendered substantially immobile. Openings are provided to accommodate the person's face and to enable access to vital portions of the body, if needed. A reinforcing board can be releasably attached to the rear support member to aid in transporting the person when the device is fully inflated.

Claims10

Dependent claims

A body transfer device comprising:

(A) a first support member adapted to receive and envelop the entire backside of a user's body, said first support member being inflatable and comprising:
(1 ) an outer shell portion including a substantially planar undersurface, a head end, a foot end, and side portions;
(2) an inner shell portion integral with and generally coextensive with said outer shell portion and having a first interior surface including a body receiving portion contoured generally to receive the user's body and having depressions to accommodate, respectively, the head and neck, shoulders, arms, torso, legs, and feet of the user, said outer shell portion and said inner shell portion being of unitary construction and defining an airtight cavity therebetween;
(3) spacer means within the cavity extending between said outer shell portion and said inner shell portion for providing said inner shell portion with a three-dimensional profile defining the depressions to accommodate the user's body when said first support member is inflated;
and
(B) a second support member adapted to overlie said first support member and substantially envelop the entire front side of the user's body when placed in said body transfer device, said second support member being inflatable and generally contiguous and coextensive with said first support member and comprising:
(1) an outer shell portion including a generally rounded upper surface, a head end, a foot end, and side portions;
(2) an inner shell portion integral with and generally coextensive with said outer shell portion and having a second interior surface which defines a body receiving portion contoured generally to conform to the front side of the user's body, said outer shell portion and said inner shell portion being of unitary construction and defining an airtight cavity therebetween;
(3) a face receiving portion adjacent to said head end comprising a continuous surface integral with said outer shell portion and said inner shell portion and extending from said upper surface to said interior surface, said face receiving portion adapted to receive the head of the user therein in a contiguous relationship;
(4) spacer means within the cavity extending between said outer shell portion and said inner shell portion for providing said inner shell portion with a three-dimensional profile to accommodate the user's body when said second support member is inflated;
and
(C) principal closure means associated with said first and second support members including first and second band members integral, respectively, with said first and second support members, each of said band members having a generally continuous flap portion extending beyond the outer periphery of its said respective support member, said band members being positioned in a contiguous relationship when said second support member overlies said first support member in a generally contiguous and coextensive relationship, and fastener means for releasably joining said flap portions of said first and second band members to thereby substantially enclose and rigidly maintain the user's body between said first and second support members when said first and second support members are substantially fully inflated.

9 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

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Abstract

A body transfer device comprising:

(A) a first support member adapted to receive and envelop the entire backside of a user's body, said first support member being inflatable and comprising:
(1 ) an outer shell portion including a substantially planar undersurface, a head end, a foot end, and side portions;
(2) an inner shell portion integral with and generally coextensive with said outer shell portion and having a first interior surface including a body receiving portion contoured generally to receive the user's body and having depressions to accommodate, respectively, the head and neck, shoulders, arms, torso, legs, and feet of the user, said outer shell portion and said inner shell portion being of unitary construction and defining an airtight cavity therebetween;
(3) spacer means within the cavity extending between said outer shell portion and said inner shell portion for providing said inner shell portion with a three-dimensional profile defining the depressions to accommodate the user's body when said first support member is inflated;
and
(B) a second support member adapted to overlie said first support member and substantially envelop the entire front side of the user's body when placed in said body transfer device, said second support member being inflatable and generally contiguous and coextensive with said first support member and comprising:
(1) an outer shell portion including a generally rounded upper surface, a head end, a foot end, and side portions;
(2) an inner shell portion integral with and generally coextensive with said outer shell portion and having a second interior surface which defines a body receiving portion contoured generally to conform to the front side of the user's body, said outer shell portion and said inner shell portion being of unitary construction and defining an airtight cavity therebetween;
(3) a face receiving portion adjacent to said head end comprising a continuous surface integral with said outer shell portion and said inner shell portion and extending from said upper surface to said interior surface, said face receiving portion adapted to receive the head of the user therein in a contiguous relationship;
(4) spacer means within the cavity extending between said outer shell portion and said inner shell portion for providing said inner shell portion with a three-dimensional profile to accommodate the user's body when said second support member is inflated;
and
(C) principal closure means associated with said first and second support members including first and second band members integral, respectively, with said first and second support members, each of said band members having a generally continuous flap portion extending beyond the outer periphery of its said respective support member, said band members being positioned in a contiguous relationship when said second support member overlies said first support member in a generally contiguous and coextensive relationship, and fastener means for releasably joining said flap portions of said first and second band members to thereby substantially enclose and rigidly maintain the user's body between said first and second support members when said first and second support members are substantially fully inflated.

9 more elements