Device for transferring a patient to and from a hospital bed

Abstract

Disclosed is a device useable for by a technician to transport a patient to and from a hospital bed. In one embodiment, the device comprises: a support frame comprising a plurality of wheels adapted to roll upon the floor. The device further comprises a patient transfer portion engaged with and extending outward of the support frame and comprising a plurality of belts. The device further comprises a patient transport portion engaged with the support frame and comprising a plurality of belts. The device further comprises a drive wheel engaged with the support frame. The device further comprises a drive mechanism engaged with the support frame. The drive mechanism comprising a manual crank wheel and is adapted such that rotation of the manual crank wheel by the person causes the drive wheel to rotate and to move the support frame in a first direction and at a first velocity and to move the belts of the patient transfer portion and the patient transport portion in a second direction and at a second velocity. The first direction is substantially opposite to the second direction, while the first velocity and the second velocity are substantially the same. Upon engagement of the drive wheel and rotation of the manual crank wheel by the person the patient transfer portion may be moved under the patient and upon disengagement of the drive wheel and rotation of the manual crank wheel the patient is moved from the patient transfer portion to the patient transport portion.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.