Low pressure fluidized horizontal and vertical movement device

A transfer pad comprising:

• a top sheet having an upper surface, a lower surface and a substantially rectangular outer peripheral shape, the top sheet having a width dimension extending in a transverse direction from a first outer peripheral side to an opposed second outer peripheral side thereof, and a length dimension extending in a longitudinal direction from a first outer peripheral end to an opposed second outer peripheral end thereof;
• a bottom sheet having an upper surface, a lower surface and a substantially rectangular outer peripheral shape, the bottom sheet having a width dimension extending in the transverse direction from a first outer peripheral side to an opposed second outer peripheral side thereof and a length dimension extending in the longitudinal direction from a first outer peripheral end to an opposed second outer peripheral end thereof,
• wherein the bottom sheet is joined to the top sheet to define a plenum chamber between the lower surface of the sheet and the upper surface of the bottom sheet, the plenum chamber having a curved but substantially rectangular outer peripheral shape with rounded corners, a plenum chamber width dimension that is smaller than the respective width dimensions of the top and bottom sheets extending in the transverse direction and a plenum chamber length dimension that is smaller than the respective length dimensions of the top and bottom sheets extending in the longitudinal direction, and
• wherein a portion of the bottom sheet defining the plenum chamber, is perforated in an area corresponding to a footprint of a load receiving portion of the top sheet and surrounding at least a central portion of the bottom sheet defining the plenum chamber in a central fixation area;
• a central membrane having an upper surface and a lower surface, a length dimension that is smaller than the plenum chamber length dimension and a width dimension that is smaller than the plenum chamber width dimension,
• wherein the central membrane is disposed within the plenum chamber and extends across a portion of the width of the plenum chamber and along a portion of the length of the plenum chamber,
• wherein transversely opposed areas of the upper surface of the central membrane proximate side edges thereof are affixed to portions of the lower surface of the top sheet along the length of the central membrane, and
• wherein an area of the central membrane, including at least a portion of a longitudinal centerline of the central membrane that divides the width dimension of the central membrane into two equal parts, is affixed to a portion of the upper surface of the bottom sheet in the central fixation area;
• a fluid weir, defined by outer peripheral portions of the lower surface of the bottom sheet defining the plenum chamber, and substantially surrounding the perforated portion of the bottom sheet defining the plenum chamber along with a fluid reservoir located between at least a central portion of the lower surface of the bottom sheet defining the plenum chamber and a surface on which the transfer pad is positioned;
• a plurality of peripheral flaps extending from the plenum chamber and defined between peripheral sides of the plenum chamber and respective peripheral edges of the top sheet and the bottom sheet;
• wherein a width of the top sheet is greater than a width of the bottom sheet;
• and
• wherein the peripheral flaps extending from the plenum chamber and defined between peripheral sides of the plenum chamber and peripheral edges of the top sheet include portions of the top sheet fixed to itself and spaced a distance away from the peripheral edges of the top sheet, whereby a sidewall portion of the transfer pad is defined between the terminal edge of the extended fixation portion and the peripheral edges of the top sheet, which are joined to the bottom sheet.

A horizontal and vertical transfer pad comprising:

• a vertical transfer portion comprising
• a top sheet having an upper surface, a lower surface and a substantially rectangular outer peripheral shape, the top sheet having a width dimension extending in a transverse direction from a first outer peripheral side to an opposed second outer peripheral side thereof, and a length dimension extending in a longitudinal direction from a first outer peripheral end to an opposed second outer peripheral end thereof;
• a bottom sheet having an upper surface, a lower surface and a substantially rectangular outer peripheral shape, the bottom sheet having a width dimension extending in the transverse direction from a first outer peripheral side to an opposed second outer peripheral side thereof and a length dimension extending in the longitudinal direction from a first outer peripheral end to an opposed second outer peripheral end thereof;
• and
• one or more interior sheets, each having an upper surface, a lower surface and a substantially rectangular outer peripheral shape, a width dimension extending in the transverse direction from a first outer peripheral side to an opposed second outer peripheral side thereof, and a length dimension extending in the longitudinal direction from a first outer peripheral end to an opposed second outer peripheral end thereof,
• wherein the outer peripheral sides and the outer peripheral ends of the one or more interior sheets are joined to the outer peripheral sides of at least one of the top sheet, the bottom sheet and an adjacent interior sheet to define an accordion sidewall structure extending between the top and bottom sheets around the outer peripheral shape of the transfer pad and defining a main plenum chamber therein,
• wherein a plurality of adjacent plenum chamber sections are defined between respective ones of the top sheet, the interior sheets and the bottom sheet, and
• wherein at least portion of each of the one or more interior sheets includes a damping section defining a predetermined area to provide fluid communication between adjacent vertical plenum chamber sections;
• and
• a horizontal transfer section comprising
• a first sheet defined by the bottom sheet of the vertical transfer section,
• a second sheet having an upper surface, a lower surface and a substantially rectangular outer peripheral shape, the second sheet having a width dimension extending in the transverse direction from a first outer peripheral side to an opposed second outer peripheral side thereof and a length dimension extending in the longitudinal direction from a end thereof,
• wherein the second sheet is joined to the first sheet to define a plenum chamber section between the lower surface of the first sheet and the upper surface of the second sheet, the plenum chamber section having a curved but substantially rectangular outer peripheral shape with rounded comers, a plenum chamber section width dimension that is smaller than the width dimension of at least the first sheet extending in the transverse direction and a plenum chamber section length dimension that is smaller than the length dimension of at least the top extending in the longitudinal direction, and
• wherein a portion of the second sheet defining the plenum chamber, is perforated in an area corresponding to a footprint of a load receiving portion of the top sheet of the vertical transfer section, which surrounds at least a central portion of the second sheet corresponding to a central fixation area,
• a central membrane having an upper surface and a lower surface, a length dimension that is smaller than the plenum chamber section length dimension and a width dimension that is smaller than the plenum chamber section width dimension,
• wherein the central membrane is disposed within the plenum chamber section and extends across a portion of the width of the plenum chamber section and along a portion of the length of the plenum chamber section,
• wherein transversely opposed areas of the upper surface of the central membrane proximate side edges thereof are affixed to portions of the lower surface of the first sheet along the length of the central membrane, and
• wherein an area including at least a portion of a longitudinal centerline of the central membrane, which divides the width, dimension of the central membrane into two equal parts, is affixed to a portion of the upper surface of the second sheet in a location corresponding to the central fixation area, and
• a fluid weir, defined by outer peripheral portions of the lower surface of the second sheet and substantially surrounding the perforated portion of the second sheet along with a fluid reservoir located between at least a central portion of the lower surface of the second and a surface on which the vertical and horizontal transfer pad is positioned.