Apparatus for pulling patient up in bed

A patient-support device comprising:

• a base portion,
• a patient-support portion movable between a raised position and a lowered position relative to the base portion,
• a sheet situated on the patient-support portion,
• a patient positioning apparatus comprising a sheet gripper releasably coupleable to the sheet, a tether control unit, a first tether, and a second tether, the tether control unit having a first winder and a second winder, the first tether being coupled to the sheet gripper and the first winder, the second tether being coupled to the sheet gripper and the base portion, the first winder being spring biased to maintain the first tether taut, and the second winder being spring biased to maintain the second tether taut.

A patient positioning apparatus for use with a patient-support device having a base portion and a patient-support portion which is movable upwardly and downwardly relative to the base portion and which includes a mattress with a sheet thereon, the patient positioning apparatus comprising

• a sheet gripper that is coupleable to the sheet,
• a first tether that pulls the sheet gripper toward an end of the patient support device in response to the patient-support portion of the bed being raised relative to the base portion,
• a first winder to wrap up at least a portion of the first tether, and
• a ratchet assembly coupled to the winder, the ratchet assembly having a latched position in which the winder is permitted to wind in a first direction but is prevented from winding in a second direction which is opposite to the first direction and an unlatched position in which the winder is permitted to wind in the first and second directions.