Patents by Inventor James L. Walke

James L. Walke has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20080217910
    Abstract: A patient care equipment support is transferable between a first device having a first spherical socket and a second device having a second spherical socket. The equipment support comprises an equipment supporting portion configured to support patient care equipment and a coupler extending downwardly from the equipment supporting portion. The coupler has first and second spherical portions configured for receipt in the first and second spherical sockets, respectively. The first and second spherical portions are rotatable within the respective first and second spherical sockets about a multitude of axes to compensate for misalignment between the coupler and at least one of the first and second spherical sockets during transfer of the equipment support between the first and second devices.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 9, 2007
    Publication date: September 11, 2008
    Applicant: HILL-ROM SERVICES, INC.
    Inventors: James L. Walke, David C. Newkirk, Douglas A. Seim
  • Publication number: 20070180624
    Abstract: An end panel 312 for a patient-support apparatus 310 includes a main portion 316 and one or more movable portions 330, 332. The movable portions 330, 332 are movable to provide a barrier 318 in a gap between a siderail 360 of the patient-support apparatus 310 and the main portion 316 of the end panel 312.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 7, 2007
    Publication date: August 9, 2007
    Applicant: Hill-Rom Services, Inc.
    Inventors: David C. Newkirk, Kenneth W. Meyer, John B. Wilker, Richard H. Heimbrock, James L. Walke, Robert M. Zerhusen, Michael M. Frondorf
  • Publication number: 20070180616
    Abstract: A user module for a patient support is provided. The user module is coupled to a patient support barrier, such as a siderail or a footboard.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 7, 2007
    Publication date: August 9, 2007
    Applicant: Hill-Rom Services, Inc.
    Inventors: David C. Newkirk, Brian T. Wiggins, James L. Walke, Jack B. Wilker, Carl William Riley, Robert Mark Zerhusen
  • Publication number: 20070181751
    Abstract: A patient line management device to manage one or more patient care lines. The line management device includes a line manager coupled to a support. The support is adapted to be coupled to a patient support.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 8, 2007
    Publication date: August 9, 2007
    Inventors: David C. Newkirk, Richard H. Heimbrock, James L. Walke, Robert A. Till
  • Publication number: 20070180625
    Abstract: A mattress having a storage compartment is provided. The storage compartment is used to hold items that are useful in the transport of a patient located on the mattress, such as a patient restraint that can be used to secure the patient to the mattress during transport.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 5, 2007
    Publication date: August 9, 2007
    Inventors: James L. Walke, Steven A. Dixon
  • Patent number: 6478499
    Abstract: An adjustable corner fitting suitable for use with a cable raceway duct system includes first and second interconnectable arcuate base members and first and second interconnectable covers. One of the base members has at least one arcuate slot and the other of the base members has at least one boss positionable within the at least one slot. The arcuate slot has a curvature and a length that constrains the boss within the slot and allows pivoting of the first base member relative to the second base member about a pivot point within a predetermined range of relative angular movement when the first and second interconnectable arcuate base members are mated. One of the covers has at least one slot and the other has at least one latch positionable within the slot of the one cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2002
    Assignee: Panduit Corp.
    Inventors: Kurt J. Fugman, James L. Walke
  • Patent number: 6374439
    Abstract: A vacuum pad suitable for use with a head rest of a stretcher is configured to support the head of a patient supported on the stretcher. The vacuum pad has a non-rigid state wherein the vacuum pad is formable and a rigid state wherein the vacuum pad is non-formable. The vacuum pad includes side walls with top edges positioned to lie at an elevation above the head rest. The top edges of the vacuum pad provide a wrist rest surface that is formable when the pad is in the non-rigid state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2002
    Assignee: Hill-Rom Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard H. Heimbrock, Patrick J. Minnelli, James L. Walke
  • Publication number: 20020013966
    Abstract: A vacuum pad suitable for use with a head rest of a stretcher is configured to support the head of a patient supported on the stretcher. The vacuum pad has a non-rigid state wherein the vacuum pad is formable and a rigid state wherein the vacuum pad is non-formable. The vacuum pad includes side walls with top edges positioned to lie at an elevation above the head rest. The top edges of the vacuum pad provide a wrist rest surface that is formable when the pad is in the non-rigid state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 17, 2001
    Publication date: February 7, 2002
    Inventors: Richard H. Heimbrock, Patrick J. Minnelli, James L. Walke
  • Patent number: 6314597
    Abstract: A pedal assembly for rotating a brake-steer shaft of a stretcher. The pedal assembly includes a yoke coupled to the brake-steer shaft to rotate therewith and a flip-over pedal having a proximal end coupled to the yoke and a distal end spaced therefrom. The flip-over pedal is pivotable about a flip-over axis relative to the yoke. The flip-over pedal has a first orientation in which the flip-over pedal extends away from the yoke in a first direction so that the distal end of the flip-over pedal can be engaged to rotate the brake-steer shaft in a first direction. The flip-over pedal has a second orientation in which the flip-over pedal extends away from the yoke in a second direction so that the distal end of the flip-over pedal can be engaged to rotate the brake-steer shaft in a second direction opposite to the first direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2001
    Assignee: Hill-Rom Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard H. Heimbrock, Patrick J. Minnelli, James L. Walke
  • Publication number: 20010004778
    Abstract: A pedal assembly for rotating a brake-steer shaft of a stretcher. The pedal assembly includes a yoke coupled to the brake-steer shaft to rotate therewith and a flip-over pedal having a proximal end coupled to the yoke and a distal end spaced therefrom. The flip-over pedal is pivotable about a flip-over axis relative to the yoke. The flip-over pedal has a first orientation in which the flip-over pedal extends away from the yoke in a first direction so that the distal end of the flip-over pedal can be engaged to rotate the brake-steer shaft in a first direction. The flip-over pedal has a second orientation in which the flip-over pedal extends away from the yoke in a second direction so that the distal end of the flip-over pedal can be engaged to rotate the brake-steer shaft in a second direction opposite to the first direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 14, 2001
    Publication date: June 28, 2001
    Inventors: Richard H. Heimbrock, Patrick J. Minnelli, James L. Walke
  • Patent number: 6249923
    Abstract: An apparatus is provided for supporting a patient. The apparatus includes a frame, a patient-support deck coupled to the frame and configured to support the patient, and a bracket coupled to the patient-support deck for pivoting movement about a transverse first pivot axis. The bracket extends away from the patient-support deck. The apparatus also includes a head rest having first and second spaced-apart sides which is coupled to the bracket for pivoting movement about a transverse second pivot axis, and a grip handle coupled to the head rest. The grip handle has a side handle portion extending alongside the first side of the head rest in spaced-apart relation therewith so that the side handle portion can be grasped to control pivoting movement of the head rest relative to the patient-support deck.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2001
    Assignee: Hill-Rom, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard H. Heimbrock, Patrick J. Minnelli, James L. Walke
  • Patent number: 6226816
    Abstract: A stretcher includes a first actuator coupled to a head section and a second actuator coupled to a thigh section. A set of buttons accessible to a patient carried by the stretcher are coupled to motors that drive the respective first and second actuators. The buttons are pressed to move the thigh section through a fill range of motion and to move the head section through a limited range of motion. A switch inaccessible to the patient is pressed to move the head section through a full range of motion. Lockout switches are provided for disabling the buttons and the switch. A first hand crank is coupled to the first actuator and is manually rotated to move the head section through the full range of motion. A second hand crank is coupled to the second actuator and is manually rotated to move the thigh section through the fill range of motion. A CPR release handle is provided for quickly lowering the head section to the lowered position without the use of the buttons, switch, or first hand crank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2001
    Assignee: Hill-Rom, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas Matthew Webster, James L. Walke, Charles A. Howell
  • Patent number: 6202231
    Abstract: An extender board for use on a surgical stretcher is disclosed. The surgical stretcher includes a pivotable back section, and an actuator that locks to prevent the back section from pivoting and that unlocks to permit the back section to pivot. The extender board includes a frame, a panel coupled to the frame, and a releasing assembly coupled to the extender board frame. The releasing assembly is adapted to lock and unlock the actuator while the extender board is coupled to the back section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2001
    Assignee: Hill-Rom, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard H. Heimbrock, Patrick J. Minnelli, James L. Walke
  • Patent number: 6108840
    Abstract: An apparatus for supporting a patient includes a frame, a patient support deck coupled to the frame and configured to support the patient, and a head rest coupled to the patient-support deck and having longitudinally-extending, transversely spaced-apart sides. The head rest includes a pair of longitudinally-extending, transversely spaced-apart socket tubes adjacent to respective head rest sides. The head rest also includes a bottom plate extending transversely between the socket tubes and a side plate angling upwardly from each of the socket tubes so that a head cushion-receiving space is defined between the side plates. Each of the socket tubes has an interior region adapted to receive portions of a wrist rest assembly configured to be coupled to the head rest.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2000
    Assignee: Hill-Rom, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard H. Heimbrock, Patrick J. Minnelli, James L. Walke
  • Patent number: 6076208
    Abstract: A surgical stretcher includes a patient-support deck having a substantially planar back section coupled to a frame for pivoting movement about a transverse pivot axis. The back section includes a frame member having first and second corner portions. The first corner portion is transversely spaced apart from the second corner portion, and the first and second corner portions are longitudinally spaced apart from the transverse pivot axis. An actuator couples the back section to the frame. The actuator is lockable to prevent pivoting movement of the back section relative to the frame, and is releasable to allow pivoting movement of the back section relative to the frame. A release rod is coupled to the back section and movable to release the actuator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2000
    Assignee: Hill-Rom, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard H. Heimbrock, Patrick J. Minnelli, James L. Walke
  • Patent number: 6000076
    Abstract: A stretcher includes a first actuator coupled to a head section and a second actuator coupled to a thigh section. A set of buttons accessible to a patient carried by the stretcher are coupled to motors that drive the respective first and second actuators. The buttons are pressed to move the thigh section through a full range of motion and to move the head section through a limited range of motion. A switch inaccessible to the patient is pressed to move the head section through a full range of motion. Lockout switches are provided for disabling the buttons and the switch. A first hand crank is coupled to the first actuator and is manually rotated to move the head section through the full range of motion. A second hand crank is coupled to the second actuator and is manually rotated to move the thigh section through the full range of motion. A CPR release handle is provided for quickly lowering the head section to the lowered position without the use of the buttons, switch, or first hand crank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 14, 1999
    Assignee: Hill-Rom, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas Matthew Webster, James L. Walke, Charles A. Howell