Abstract: A system and method of positioning a patient residing on a sheet located on a mattress includes moving to a first position opposing engagement members of a clamp, inserting a first side edge of the sheet between the opposing engagement members, moving the opposing engagement members to a second position so as to grasp the first side edge of the sheet, and causing a pulling device to pull the clamp and thus the sheet upwards so as to at least partially reposition the patient from an initial position towards a second side of the mattress. The sheet has opposing longitudinal side edges that may be retained by retainers located along corresponding opposing longitudinal first and second sides of the mattress.

Abstract: A patient monitoring and repositioning system includes a mattress, a sheet residing on an upper surface of the mattress, a housing containing a drive mechanism, and a sensor adapted to sense a position of a patient resting on the mattress. The drive mechanism is operable to pull the sheet and thereby pull the patient resting thereon. The housing receives the sheet through a slot. In the event that the patient is in an undesirable position on the mattress as detected by the sensor, a controller directs the drive mechanism to pull the sheet so as to pull the patient thereon from the undesirable position to a desirable, predetermined position. The controller may direct the drive mechanism automatically or indicate the undesirable position to a caregiver so that the caregiver may direct the drive mechanism accordingly.

Abstract: A patient repositioning system for pulling a patient toward a head end of a bed includes a sheet, a mattress, and a housing which contains at least a part of a drive mechanism for operatively coupling to and pulling the sheet. The housing resides below a head end piece of the mattress, and is secured to the bed deck. The sheet pulling structure extends out of the housing via a slot and releasably attaches to the sheet, in a manner which has a low profile so as to pass through the slot. The sheet is longer than and wider than the mattress, and has beaded longitudinal side edges which are retained within rows of spaced retainers located on opposite sides of the mattress. During pulling of the sheet, the contoured shape of the housing facilitates movement of the sheet into the housing via the slot, even though the sheet width extends beyond the lateral edges of the mattress.

Abstract: A patient repositioning system for pulling a patient toward a head end of a bed includes a sheet, a mattress, and a housing which contains at least a part of a drive mechanism for operatively coupling to and pulling the sheet. The housing resides below a head end piece of the mattress, and is secured to the bed deck. The sheet pulling structure extends out of the housing via a slot and releasably attaches to the sheet, in a manner which has a low profile so as to pass through the slot. The sheet is longer than and wider than the mattress, and has beaded longitudinal side edges which are retained within rows of spaced retainers located on opposite sides of the mattress. During pulling of the sheet, the contoured shape of the housing facilitates movement of the sheet into the housing via the slot, even though the sheet width extends beyond the lateral edges of the mattress.

Abstract: A patient monitoring and repositioning system includes a mattress, a sheet residing on an upper surface of the mattress, a housing containing a drive mechanism, and a sensor adapted to sense a position of a patient resting on the mattress. The drive mechanism is operable to pull the sheet and thereby pull the patient resting thereon. The housing receives the sheet through a slot. In the event that the patient is in an undesirable position on the mattress as detected by the sensor, a controller directs the drive mechanism to pull the sheet so as to pull the patient thereon from the undesirable position to a desirable, predetermined position. The controller may direct the drive mechanism automatically or indicate the undesirable position to a caregiver so that the caregiver may direct the drive mechanism accordingly.

Abstract: A patient repositioning system for pulling a patient toward a head end of a bed includes a sheet, a mattress, and a housing which contains at least a part of a drive mechanism for operatively coupling to and pulling the sheet. The housing resides below a head end piece of the mattress, and is secured to the bed deck. The sheet pulling structure extends out of the housing via a slot and releasably attaches to the sheet, in a manner which has a low profile so as to pass through the slot. The sheet is longer than and wider than the mattress, and has beaded longitudinal side edges which are retained within rows of spaced retainers located on opposite sides of the mattress. During pulling of the sheet, the contoured shape of the housing facilitates movement of the sheet into the housing via the slot, even though the sheet width extends beyond the lateral edges of the mattress.

Abstract: A patient monitoring and repositioning system includes a mattress, a sheet residing on an upper surface of the mattress, a housing containing a drive mechanism, and a sensor adapted to sense a position of a patient resting on the mattress. The drive mechanism is operable to pull the sheet and thereby pull the patient resting thereon. The housing receives the sheet through a slot. In the event that the patient is in an undesirable position on the mattress as detected by the sensor, a controller directs the drive mechanism to pull the sheet so as to pull the patient thereon from the undesirable position to a desirable, predetermined position. The controller may direct the drive mechanism automatically or indicate the undesirable position to a caregiver so that the caregiver may direct the drive mechanism accordingly.

Abstract: A patient repositioning system for pulling a patient toward a head end of a bed includes a sheet, a mattress, and a housing which contains at least a part of a drive mechanism for operatively coupling to and pulling the sheet. The housing resides below a head end piece of the mattress, and is secured to the bed deck. The sheet pulling structure extends out of the housing via a slot and releasably attaches to the sheet, in a manner which has a low profile so as to pass through the slot. The sheet is longer than and wider than the mattress, and has beaded longitudinal side edges which are retained within rows of spaced retainers located on opposite sides of the mattress. During pulling of the sheet, the contoured shape of the housing facilitates movement of the sheet into the housing via the slot, even though the sheet width extends beyond the lateral edges of the mattress.

Abstract: A patient repositioning system for pulling a patient toward a head end of a bed includes a sheet, a mattress, and a housing which contains at least a part of a drive mechanism for operatively coupling to and pulling the sheet. The housing resides below a head end piece of the mattress, and is secured to the bed deck. The sheet pulling structure extends out of the housing via a slot and releasably attaches to the sheet, in a manner which has a low profile so as to pass through the slot. The sheet is longer than and wider than the mattress, and has beaded longitudinal side edges which are retained within rows of spaced retainers located on opposite sides of the mattress. During pulling of the sheet, the contoured shape of the housing facilitates movement of the sheet into the housing via the slot, even though the sheet width extends beyond the lateral edges of the mattress.

Abstract: A patient repositioning system (10) for a bariatric bed (12) includes a mattress (14) having a head end (54), a foot end (52), and an upper surface (46), a sheet (16) residing on the upper surface (46), a drive mechanism (22) operatively coupled to the sheet (16) and adapted to pull the sheet (16) toward the head end (54), and a housing (20) which holds the drive mechanism (22). The mattress (14) further includes a body portion (114) and at least one operatively coupled attached side bolster (112a) located along one longitudinal side (62a) of the body portion (114), thereby to widen the upper surface (46) of the mattress (14) so as to accommodate standard bariatric dimensions.

Abstract: A patient monitoring and repositioning system includes a mattress, a sheet residing on an upper surface of the mattress, a housing containing a drive mechanism, and a sensor adapted to sense a position of a patient resting on the mattress. The drive mechanism is operable to pull the sheet and thereby pull the patient resting thereon. The housing receives the sheet through a slot. In the event that the patient is in an undesirable position on the mattress as detected by the sensor, a controller directs the drive mechanism to pull the sheet so as to pull the patient thereon from the undesirable position to a desirable, predetermined position. The controller may direct the drive mechanism automatically or indicate the undesirable position to a caregiver so that the caregiver may direct the drive mechanism accordingly.

Abstract: A patient monitoring and repositioning system (10a) includes a mattress (26), a sheet (16) residing on an upper surface of the mattress (26), a housing (29) containing a drive mechanism (28), and a sensor (20) adapted to sense a position of a patient (22) resting on the mattress (26). The drive mechanism (28) is operable to pull the sheet (16) and thereby pull the patient (22) resting thereon. The housing (29) receives the sheet (16) through a slot (54). In the event that the patient (22) is in an undesirable position on the mattress (26) as detected by the sensor (20), a controller (24) directs the drive mechanism (28) to pull the sheet (16) so as to pull the patient thereon from the undesirable position to a desirable, predetermined position. The controller (24) may direct the drive mechanism (28) automatically or indicate the undesirable position to a caregiver so that the caregiver may direct the drive mechanism (28) accordingly.

Abstract: A patient repositioning system for pulling a patient toward a head end of a bed includes a sheet, a mattress, and a housing which contains at least a part of a drive mechanism for operatively coupling to and pulling the sheet. The housing resides below a head end piece of the mattress, and is secured to the bed deck. The sheet pulling structure extends out of the housing via a slot and releasably attaches to the sheet, in a manner which has a low profile so as to pass through the slot. The sheet is longer than and wider than the mattress, and has beaded longitudinal side edges which are retained within rows of spaced retainers located on opposite sides of the mattress. During pulling of the sheet, the contoured shape of the housing facilitates movement of the sheet into the housing via the slot, even though the sheet width extends beyond the lateral edges of the mattress.

Abstract: A patient repositioning system for pulling a patient toward a head end of a bed includes a sheet, a mattress, and a housing which contains at least a part of a drive mechanism for operatively coupling to and pulling the sheet. The housing resides below a head end piece of the mattress, and is secured to the bed deck. The sheet pulling structure extends out of the housing via a slot and releasably attaches to the sheet, in a manner which has a low profile so as to pass through the slot. The sheet is longer than and wider than the mattress, and has beaded longitudinal side edges which are retained within rows of spaced retainers located on opposite sides of the mattress. During pulling of the sheet, the contoured shape of the housing facilitates movement of the sheet into the housing via the slot, even though the sheet width extends beyond the lateral edges of the mattress.

Abstract: The specification relates to a protection device that includes a helmet and an air sack. The air sack being mounted within the helmet and includes a one-way valve and a snap closure. The one y valve being used for inflation of the air sack and the snap closure being pressure sensitive and releasing pressure within the air sack when impacted by a high load.

Abstract: A hybrid axial/cross-flow fan aerial vehicle includes both axial and cross-flow fan propulsion for efficient hover and forward flight performance. The axial fans provide primarily vertical thrust, while the cross-flow fan provides horizontal, as well as vertical, thrust. The vehicle takes off vertically, is capable of hover, and can fly forward by vectoring the thrust of the cross-flow fan system. This approach provides large internal cargo capacity and high forward flight speeds.

Abstract: A patient repositioning system (10) for a bariatric bed (12) includes a mattress (14) having a head end (54), a foot end (52), and an upper surface (46), a sheet (16) residing on the upper surface (46), a drive mechanism (22) operatively coupled to the sheet (16) and adapted to pull the sheet (16) toward the head end (54), and a housing (20) which holds the drive mechanism (22). The mattress (14) further includes a body portion (114) and at least one operatively coupled attached side bolster (112a) located along one longitudinal side (62a) of the body portion (114), thereby to widen the upper surface (46) of the mattress (14) so as to accommodate standard bariatric dimensions.

Abstract: A patient monitoring and repositioning system (10a) includes a mattress (26), a sheet (16) residing on an upper surface of the mattress (26), a housing (29) containing a drive mechanism (28), and a sensor (20) adapted to sense a position of a patient (22) resting on the mattress (26). The drive mechanism (28) is operable to pull the sheet (16) and thereby pull the patient (22) resting thereon. The housing (29) receives the sheet (16) through a slot (54). In the event that the patient (22) is in an undesirable position on the mattress (26) as detected by the sensor (20), a controller (24) directs the drive mechanism (28) to pull the sheet (16) so as to pull the patient thereon from the undesirable position to a desirable, predetermined position. The controller (24) may direct the drive mechanism (28) automatically or indicate the undesirable position to a caregiver so that the caregiver may direct the drive mechanism (28) accordingly.

Abstract: A dual-use ladder and bridge modular system preferably includes tubes, gussets, flanges, and/or joints. In a preferred embodiment, the tubes, gussets, flanges, and/or joints are made of carbon fiber. A method connects and disconnects modular carbon fiber ladder segments. Another method creates a lightweight carbon-fiber beam with exceptionally high stiffness and strength using a combination of carbon-fiber braid material, uni-directional cloth, and pultruded carbon-fiber strips. A carbon fiber ladder segment and tube connectors are also disclosed.