Abstract: A retractor assembly for engaging a sheet on which a patient is disposed includes a transverse member and a pair of tethers coupled to the transverse member and extending from the transverse member for coupling to a winding assembly. A pair of sheet clamps are mounted to the transverse member, which are spaced apart along the longitudinal axis of the transverse member in a fixed spaced relationship for engaging a sheet at two points spaced along the longitudinal axis. The transverse member maintains the sheet clamps in their fixed spaced relationship whereby the sheet clamps resist inward migration toward each other when being used to handle a patient on a sheet.

Abstract: A retractor assembly for engaging a sheet on which a patient is disposed includes a transverse member and a pair of tethers coupled to the transverse member and extending from the transverse member for coupling to a winding assembly. A pair of sheet clamps are mounted to the transverse member, which are spaced apart along the longitudinal axis of the transverse member in a fixed spaced relationship for engaging a sheet at two points spaced along the longitudinal axis. The transverse member maintains the sheet clamps in their fixed spaced relationship whereby the sheet clamps resist inward migration toward each other when being used to handle a patient on a sheet.

Abstract: A patient transfer device includes a base assembly movable in forward and lateral directions. A power train is mounted within the base assembly, and is connected to a clamping and strap assembly. A power and switching system is in electrical communication with the power train. A retractor bar carries one or more clamping devices that are releasably attachable to a sheet. The clamping devices include a clamp handle pivotally connected to a clamp base and a clamp arm eccentrically pivotally connected to the clamp handle. The clamping and strap assembly is supported on the base assembly by a vertical adjustment assembly that includes a positioning mechanism for releasably locking the clamping and strap assembly at one of a plurality of vertical positions. An attendant can stand on the base assembly to act as a counterbalance to a patient's weight.

Abstract: A wheeled carriage for supporting a patient in a substantially horizontal position, which wheeled carriage has thereon a patient support having head and foot regions and a pair of lateral side regions and a wheeled base supported at least by three floor surface engaging and castered wheels spaced from one another at locations defining corners of a theoretical polygon. An auxiliary wheel and a support structure therefor are suspendedly mounting the auxiliary wheel to the wheeled base. The auxiliary wheel is oriented inside a boundary of the theoretical polygon and includes an axle about which the wheel rotates. A control structure includes a first manually manipulatable member at at least one of the pair of lateral side regions and a second manually manipulatable member at at least one of the head end and the foot end so that an attendant can operate a selected one of the manually manipulatable members to effect a movement of the auxiliary wheel and the support structure therefor.

Abstract: A wheeled carriage for supporting a patient in a substantially horizontal position, the wheeled carriage has thereon a patient support having head and foot ends and a wheeled base supported by castered wheels. An auxiliary wheel and a wheel support structure therefor suspendedly mount the auxiliary wheel at its axis to the wheeled base at a distance L in a horizontal direction from the center of gravity of the wheeled carriage along the length of the wheeled base when the auxiliary wheel is engaged with the floor surface. A moment Mmass is defined by the distance L multiplied by a force Fmass, the force Fmass being defined by the mass of the carriage or carriage and patient at the center of gravity. The moment Mmass is greater at all times than a moment Mforce to prevent teetering of the wheeled carriage, where moment Mforce is defined by multiplying the height H by a force Fmax. The force Fmax is the force required to move the wheeled carriage.

Abstract: A side rail assembly for a wheeled carriage includes side rail posts secured by a support structure including bushings having inner flat sides that expand outwardly to adjust for variations in the tolerance of the side rail posts and snugly secure the side rail posts to the support structure. Such variations can be caused by a finished surface applied to the entire outer circumference of the side rail posts and the support structure to improve the appearance thereof. The support structure enables curved side rail posts to rotate about their axis at lower ends thereof.

Abstract: A wheeled carriage for supporting a patient in a substantially horizontal position, which wheeled carriage has thereon a patient support having head and foot regions and a pair of lateral side regions and a wheeled base supported at least by three floor surface engaging and castered wheels spaced from one another at locations defining corners of a theoretical polygon. An auxiliary wheel and a support structure therefor are suspendedly mounting the auxiliary wheel to the wheeled base. The auxiliary wheel is oriented inside a boundary of the theoretical polygon and includes an axle about which the wheel rotates. A control structure includes a first manually manipulatable member at at least one of the pair of lateral side regions and a second manually manipulatable member at at least one of the head end and the foot end so that an attendant can operate a selected one of the manually manipulatable members to effect a movement of the auxiliary wheel and the support structure therefor.

Abstract: A patient support stretcher which includes a base and a main frame portion coupled to the base through at least one pair of crossbars forming an X-shaped configuration. The crossbars are pivotally connected to one another and are pivotally connected to the base and the main frame portion. A back support or a fowler section is hinged to the main frame portion and a strut interconnects the back support to the main frame to provide the requisite balanced leverage for effecting the simultaneous lift of the main frame and the fowler section.

Abstract: A bed has movable upper body and knee support sections, and first and second coupling arrangements which each couple a respective drive arrangement to one of the upper body and knee support sections to effect movement thereof between inclined and horizontal positions. Each coupling arrangement includes two telescoping tubes and a locking mechanism for releasably holding the tubes against relative movement, the locking mechanisms of both coupling arrangements being released in response to manual operation of a release handle. Each locking mechanism includes a transverse cylindrical locking element rotatably supported on a first of the tubes for movement between a locking position in which a portion thereof engages a semicylindrical recess in the second tube, and a release position in which the tubes are free to move relative to each other with a portion of the second tube which extends lengthwise thereof sliding within a transverse recess in the locking element.

Abstract: A delivery bed includes two spaced foot support assemblies which project outwardly from one end thereof. Each foot support assembly includes a first horizontally extending member having a top surface with transversely extending grooves and having a bottom surface, and a second member having two spaced, transversely extending rods which respectively slidably engage the top surface and bottom surface of the first member, the second member having therein a foot-shaped recess. A pad can be removably supported on the two foot support assemblies without any need for additional support structure for the pad intermediate the foot support assemblies. The pad is held in place by two fastening straps which extend downwardly between the foot support assemblies and are each releasably coupled to a respective one of the foot support assemblies. Alternatively, the pad can be held in place by brackets on the pad which releasably engage brackets provided on the foot support assemblies near the outer ends thereof.

Abstract: A mattress for use on a hospital stretcher has an upwardly facing support surface which can support a patient. The top surface of the mattress has a plurality of small, parallel ribs which extend transversely of the mattress, and which resist sliding movement of the patient lengthwise of the mattress while simultaneously facilitating sliding movement of the patient transversely of the mattress. The mattress has bevels extending along opposite sides of the support surface, the support surface being provided on a sheetlike material which extends from a lower edge of one bevel to a lower edge of the other bevel without intervening seams extending lengthwise of the mattress. The sheetlike material is preferably a laminate which includes a rip-resistant scrim layer made of a closely woven spun polyester material and two vinyl layers disposed on respective sides of the scrim layer, the ribs being provided in one of the vinyl layers on a side thereof remote from the scrim layer.

Abstract: A truck upright sections, and a load carriage mounted on a telescopic upright section. A sole asymmetric lift cylinder assembly is located adjacent one side of the upright in a position which provides improved overall operator visibility through the upright. The lift cylinder is adapted to be operatively connected at its upper end to a first telescopic upright section for operating first lifting chain structure which traverses laterally across the upright and which is reeved on spaced and rotationally aligned sprockets supported from said telescopic section. The first lifting chain structure in all embodiments comprising either single or multiple chains has one chain end(s) fixedly secured a substantial distance outwardly of one side only of the cylinder assembly to a member, such as to the adjacent outer upright rail, and the other chain end(s) secured to the second telescopic section either centrally thereof or at opposite sides thereof.

Abstract: A lift truck upright having a fixed upright section, one or more telescopic upright sections, and a load carrier mounted on an inner upright section. An asymmetric lift cylinder assembly is located adjacent one side or the upright in a position which provides improved overall operator visibility through the upright. The lift cylinder is adapted to be operatively connected at its upper end to a telescopic upright section for operating lifting chain structure which traverses laterally across the upright and which is reeved on spaced and rotationally aligned sprockets supported either from a telescopic upright section or from the lift cylinder assembly, the one chain end structure being connected in the two stage upright hereof a substantial distance outwardly of one side of the cylinder assembly to a member, such as to the adjacent outer upright rail, and the other chain end structure being connected centrally of the lifting or fork carriage.

Abstract: A lift truck upright having a fixed upright section, a telescopic upright section, and a load carrier mounted on the latter section. A sole asymmetric lift cylinder assembly is located adjacent one side of the upright in a position which provides improved overall operator visibility through the upright. The lift cylinder is adapted to be operatively connected to the telescopic upright section by means of a pair of lifting chains. One of the chains is reeved on a pair of spaced and rotationally aligned sprockets supported either from the lift cylinder assembly and from the fixed upright section, or from the opposite ends of a transverse bar structure which is supported from the cylinder assembly. In either embodiment the one chain traverses the upright and is fixedly secured at one end at one side of the cylinder assembly and at the other end to the remote side of the telescopic section of the upright.

Abstract: A truck upright having a fixed upright section, one or more telescopic upright sections, and a load carrier mounted on one of the telescopic sections. A sole asymmetric lift cylinder assembly is located adjacent one side of the upright in a position which provides improved overall operator visibility through the upright. The lift cylinder is adapted to be operatively connected to a telescopic upright section by means of a pair of lifting chains. One of the chains is reeved on a pair of spaced and rotationally aligned sprockets supported either from a telescopic section or from the lift cylinder assembly such that the chain traverses the upright and is fixedly secured at one end a substantial distance outwardly of one side only of the cylinder assembly to a member, such as to the adjacent outer upright rail, and at the other end to the remote side of a telescopic section or to a fork carriage.

Abstract: A lift truck upright having a fixed upright section, a telescopic upright section, and a load carrier mounted on the latter section. An asymmetric lift cylinder assembly is located adjacent one side of the upright in a position which provides improved overall operator visibility through the upright. The lift cylinder is adapted to be operatively connected to the telescopic upright section by means of lifting chain structure which traverses across the upright and which is reeved on spaced and rotationally aligned sprockets supported from the cylinder assembly, the one chain end structure being connected substantially centrally of the load carrier and the other chain end structure being fixedly secured substantially outwardly of one side of the cylinder assembly.