Patents Examined by Myles Throop
  • Patent number: 9655800
    Abstract: A support apparatus (e.g., stretcher, back board, etc.) with double roller assembly. The apparatus includes a main frame, a first housing containing at least one wheel (e.g., gear, pulley, sprocket, roller) around which a first sheet and/or a second sheet is coiled. The opposite ends of the sheets are coupled to vertically- and horizontally-displaced lead and trail rollers in the double roller assembly, one sheet for each roller. The apparatus further includes a second housing containing at least one wheel around which a chain or belt is disposed. One or both ends of the chain/belt is coupled to the double roller assembly. In operation, a patient is positioned within the main frame, and the sheets extend underneath the patient. The belt/chain mechanism can also help urge extension of the sheets. When the sheets are fully extended underneath the patient, the patient is fully supported and can be transported.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2017
    Assignee: Salvus Transportare, LLC
    Inventor: Frederick Ferderber
  • Patent number: 9648961
    Abstract: A translocatable child care changing station having a horizontally disposed laying surface bounded by a plurality of guardrails, each of said plurality of guardrails positional between a raised, vertical orientation relative the laying surface and a horizontal orientation relative said laying surface, said laying surface securable upon a frame member disposed erectable upon a plurality of voluble leg members, each of said leg members moveable wherein the height of the laying surface is selectable at a desired position relative a user by action of a handle member, said handle member usable to effect securable positioning of each of said leg members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2017
    Assignee: Angela Laverne Lovely
    Inventor: Angela Laverne Lovely
  • Patent number: 9642400
    Abstract: A manual transfer vest which aids in compensating for fatigue, pain, loss of strength, mobility, and energy in the daily life of patients and/or individuals/caregivers assisting them. It comprises soft, lightweight, and preferably washable material that enwraps the patient's torso, and also has at least seven non-adjustable hand-grip lift components with sturdy and durable construction and attachment. In some preferred embodiments, nine hand-grip lift components are used, with six hand-grip lift components preferably situated bilaterally on the vest front, and three hand-grip lift components situated on the vest back. For vest durability during repeated patient lifting, reinforcement lining stitching is secured adjacent to or near at least one end of all hand-grips lift components. Interior adjustment ties, padded neck and armhole openings, mesh fabric, and a collar may also contribute to patient comfort. Overall, the manual transfer vest promotes safety in preventing injuries, thereby reducing medical costs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2017
    Inventors: Peggy S. Cauthen, Cathy J. Foster
  • Patent number: 9629766
    Abstract: A surgical table comprising a base and a patient support supported between opposed ends of the base, each opposed end including a pitch/roll assembly. The base is configured such that the patient support can be rolled and pitched relative to the opposed ends via the pitch/roll assemblies such that the roll axis of each pitch/roll assembly remains coaxial regardless of how the patient support is pitched or rolled relative to the base. The patient support includes an outer frame and an inner frame supported on, and displaceable relative to, the outer frame. The inner frame is further articulating about, and relative to, itself. The outer frame is rigid in that it does not change configurations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2017
    Inventor: Roger P. Jackson
  • Patent number: 9629765
    Abstract: The present invention is portable lifting apparatus for raising a supine bipedal user into a sitting position with the assistance of sequentially inflated bodies. This device includes a sectional cot, a plurality of inflatable bodies, and a rigid, foldable, locking frame. The addition of the frame, as opposed to the sole use of the inflatable bodies, provides additional stability for the apparatus during the rescue process. Further, due to the rigidity of the frame, it allows another person to lift and carry the apparatus with the patient on it. The apparatus may also include collapsible armrest for use by the patient. The inflatable bodies may inflate simultaneously, resulting in a rapidly raising the patient to a sitting position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2017
    Inventor: Thomas Mitchell
  • Patent number: 9629471
    Abstract: An improved passenger vehicle with an adjustable seat is described. The seat is provided with a frame which includes a back subframe having a backrest cushion, a seat subframe with a seat cushion and a fastening subframe. The fastening subframe is suitable for mutually fastening the back subframe to the seat subframe, and/or is suitable for attaching one of the back subframe and seat subframe, or both, to a floor of the passenger vehicle. The frame can be adjusted between a seating position and a sleeping position. The upper side of the seat cushion in the sleeping position is situated below the upper side of the seat cushion in the seating position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2017
    Assignee: VAN HOOL NV
    Inventors: Jan Van Hool, Raf Vervoort
  • Patent number: 9622604
    Abstract: The present invention comprises an assembly and method for a bed skirt employing a harness and skirting panel(s) adapted for removeable attachment thereto, and includes a cinching mechanism and stabilizing tongue stays to secure the assembly in fixed horizontal alignment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Inventor: Tim Dexter
  • Patent number: 9622901
    Abstract: The present invention is related to a supportive sleepy heads neck pillow comprising a pillow with a bone structure support inside the pillow and a clip/strap system that is fixed to the bone structure, wherein the bone structure support is fully incased in the pillow, and the bone structure support comprises three parts, which may be adjustable; a neck bone support, an arm bone, and an upper back bone. The invention can also be used awake for comfort and support while relaxing, watching TV, playing video games, gambling, etc. It can also be used for head and neck support for people who have neck injuries, or to prevent neck injuries during transportation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Inventors: Alice Jean Schwingendorf, Gabriel Olivier Durand
  • Patent number: 9615984
    Abstract: A method of treating the back pain of a patient which can include the steps of weighing the patient, selecting a firmness of a mattress based on the patient's weight, and disposing a three-dimensional fabric overlay over the mattress for use by the patient. To select the mattress, it can be determined if the weight of the patient corresponds to a value and if the weight is less than or equal to the value, a firm mattress is selected, and selecting a soft mattress if the weight is greater than the value. Further, the overlay can have a plurality air spaces provided between an upper layer, a lower layer and a plurality of monofilaments in the overlay. The plurality of air spaces can be allowed to partially collapse under the weight of the patient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: HERNIAMESH S.R.L.
    Inventor: Ermanno E. Trabucco
  • Patent number: 9610206
    Abstract: A patient support system includes independently adjustable columns supporting a hinged bending or breaking patient support structure. At least one column includes at least two sections. A coordinated drive system provides for upwardly breaking and downwardly breaking orientations of the two sections in various inclined and tilted positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2017
    Inventor: Roger P. Jackson
  • Patent number: 9597244
    Abstract: Provided is an air mattress in which internal pressure can be controlled according to the movements of a bed. The air mattress is provided with a plurality of air cell groups lined up in the lengthwise direction of the air mattress, each of which groups is made from a plurality of bladder-shaped cells; an air supply/release pump; and an air tube connecting the air cell groups and the air supply/release pump in an independent system for each air cell group of two or more air cell groups out of said air cell groups. Air supply/release by the air supply/release pump to each of the air cell groups is controlled by a controller, at least a part of information needed to control the bed is received from an external sensor for detecting such information, and air supply/release by the air supply/release pump for each of the air cell groups is controlled on the basis of the received information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: PARAMOUNT BED CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yoshinori Ishibashi, Rika Matsumiya, Kenta Ohno
  • Patent number: 9585596
    Abstract: A wireless device communicates with a medical image capturing apparatus to adjust a position of a table supporting an object to be imaged. An operator adjusts a position of the wireless device, the apparatus measures the wireless device's position, and adjusts the table based on the measured position. A method may include measuring distances between the wireless device and each of a plurality of respective detection units arranged along an axis. An axial distance may be measured between a reference point and the wireless device using measured distances and locations of the detection units relative to the reference point. The table is moved with respect to a gantry aperture of the apparatus based on the calculated axial distance. Controlled table movement may be movement into the gantry aperture and/or table height adjustment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jin-hyun Bae, Ji-hun Ahn
  • Patent number: 9586021
    Abstract: Introduced are methods and systems for: gathering human biological signals, such as heart rate, respiration rate, or temperature; analyzing the gathered human biological signals; and controlling a vibrating pillow strip based on the analysis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: Eight Sleep Inc.
    Inventors: Matteo Franceschetti, Massimo Andreasi Bassi
  • Patent number: 9585804
    Abstract: A patient helper apparatus for use with a patient support is disclosed. The patient helper apparatus includes a first L-shaped support tube coupled to the patient support, a shaft coupled to the first L-shaped support tube and extending over the patient support, and an egress handle coupled to the first L-shaped support tube. The egress handle moves between a stowed position and an assist position. In the stowed position, the egress handle is situated inside a footprint of the patient support. In the assist position, the egress handle extends outside the footprint of the patient support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: Hill-Rom Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard H. Heimbrock, Edward J. Koors, Jonathan D. Turner, David W. Hornbach
  • Patent number: 9574647
    Abstract: A reciprocating rocking device for the rocking of a chair or cradle, the chair or cradle having rockers and a seat member, the reciprocating rocking device comprising a base secured to the rockers, the base comprising a first bracket, a second bracket secured to the seat member of the chair or cradle, a tension member connected to the second bracket, an eccentric, the eccentric constantly engaged with the second bracket and, a motor secured to the first bracket, the motor having a drive shaft operatively arranged to drive the eccentric, wherein the motor is coaxially arranged with the eccentric.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Inventor: Acea M. Mosey
  • Patent number: 9565948
    Abstract: A enhanced folding bed bracket, lean leg bars are installed on both sides of the X shaped folding bracket for dispersing the force received by the bracket, the lean leg bars are linked with the leg bars of the bracket through connecting member, thereby the lean leg bar can be folded or unfolded along with the fold or unfold of the fold folding frame. The strength of the bracket is increased, in the mean time the folding or unfolding is not affected. The improved enhanced folding bed bracket, its bracket receives much less force, is not easy to be deformed and folding and unfolding are easy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2017
    Assignee: ZHEJIANG HENGFENG TOPLEISURE CO., LTD
    Inventor: Baoqing Yang
  • Patent number: 9549863
    Abstract: A surgical table including a patient support structure and a base assembly including a first and a second support column supporting respective ends of the patient support structure. The patient support structure including a head end section and a foot end section, the head end section coupled at a pair of outer ends to the first support column, the foot end section coupled at a pair of outer ends to the second support column, the head and foot end sections each comprising a pair of inner ends that are pivotally and slidingly coupled together at an inward articulation, each of the inner ends of the head end section comprise a slot at the inward articulation, each of the inner ends of the foot end section are coupled with the respective slot via a hinge pin that engages the slot, the hinge pin configured to pivot and slide within the slot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Inventor: Roger P. Jackson
  • Patent number: 9549625
    Abstract: A bedding system may be installable on a mattress. The bedding system may have a bottom sheet, a top sheet, and a duvet. The bottom sheet may have a peripheral portion with bottom sheet mounting elements that secure the bottom sheet to the mattress, and top sheet fastening elements. The top sheet may have top sheet mounting elements that secure the top sheet to the bottom sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Assignee: WILKINSON & CO HOME LC
    Inventors: Jay B. Wilkinson, Marius V. Gedgaudas
  • Patent number: 9549706
    Abstract: A cradle drive mechanism, a table and a patient imaging and carrying apparatus are provided. The cradle drive mechanism includes: a first portion, which is arranged on a main base and has a belt drive structure, wherein the belt drive structure is used to connect a cradle and drive the cradle to make a reciprocating motion; a second portion, which is arranged on a secondary base and has a secondary supporting and rotating member, wherein the second portion and the first portion form a gap therebetween, and the secondary supporting and rotating member is used to support the cradle; and two guiding and rotating members, which are arranged on the second portion and/or the first portion for guiding the cradle to move linearly. The present application can simplify the structure by adoption of the belt drive structure. Further, the gap between the second portion and the first portion does not attenuate the X-ray additionally, so the dose of the X-ray emitted can be decreased.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Xiaoyan Zhang, Xuyong Yang, Yanguo Yang, Feng Yang, Jia Liu
  • Patent number: 9545348
    Abstract: A mattress with a rotating and waste elimination system comprises a mattress with a recessed area for receiving a rotation and waste elimination system. The rotation and waste elimination system comprises a (i) frame with a rectangular base and two side walls, forming a ā€œUā€ shape; (ii) platform (with a central cut out for a waste elimination bag) suspended over the base by two pairs of sliding posts; (iii) optional four chains attached to the platform and side walls; and (iv) programmable electronic gear to operate the sliding posts to simultaneously raise one end and lower the opposite end of the platform to gently turn the patient. Alternately, the gear operates a cable/pulley system (involving two independent systems positioned outside the frame) by attaching one cable end to the midpoint of the platform's shorter side and the other cable end to the gear to rotate and counter-rotate the platform.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2017
    Inventor: Elaine L. Britton