Patents by Inventor Thomas F. Heil
Thomas F. Heil 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).
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Patent number: 9375374Abstract: A siderail assembly for a person support apparatus comprises a siderail body, a grip portion, and a power communication device. The siderail body includes a front surface, a back surface, and a side surface extending between the front surface and the back surface. The side surface defines a perimeter of the siderail body. The grip portion includes a siderail opening through a portion of the siderail body. The grip opening has an upper grip opening portion that cooperates with the side surface to define a grip. The power communication device is configured to communicate power wirelessly to a device in communication therewith.Type: GrantFiled: April 9, 2010Date of Patent: June 28, 2016Assignee: Hill-Rom Services, Inc.Inventors: Fred Herman, Thomas F. Heil, Charles A. Howell
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Patent number: 9132051Abstract: Person support apparatuses with exercise functionalities are disclosed. In one embodiment, the person support apparatus may include a base frame and a primary support frame supported on the base frame. A carriage may be freely translatable at least between a head end of the primary support frame and a foot end of the primary support frame. A support surface may be supported on the carriage such that the support surface translates with the carriage. The support surface may include at least one support section which is collapsible in a length direction of the support surface. The at least one support section collapses as the carriage translates towards the foot end of the primary support frame.Type: GrantFiled: January 15, 2014Date of Patent: September 15, 2015Assignee: Hill-Rom Services, Inc.Inventor: Thomas F. Heil
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Publication number: 20150216749Abstract: Person support apparatuses with selectively coupled foot sections are disclosed. In one embodiment, the person support apparatus includes a base frame, a primary support frame supported on the base frame, and a foot section coupled to the primary support frame. The person support apparatus also includes a carriage that is freely translatable between a head end of the primary support frame and a foot end of the primary support frame, the carriage comprising a torso portion and a seat portion having a thigh segment and a gluteal segment. The person support apparatus further includes a selectable trunnion that selectively and severally couples the foot section to the primary support frame and the thigh segment of the seat portion.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 17, 2015Publication date: August 6, 2015Applicant: HILL-ROM SERVICES, INC.Inventors: Thomas F. Heil, Glenn C. Suttman
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Publication number: 20150196442Abstract: Person support apparatuses with exercise functionalities are disclosed. In one embodiment, the person support apparatus may include a base frame and a primary support frame supported on the base frame. A carriage may be freely translatable at least between a head end of the primary support frame and a foot end of the primary support frame. A support surface may be supported on the carriage such that the support surface translates with the carriage. The support surface may include at least one support section which is collapsible in a length direction of the support surface. The at least one support section collapses as the carriage translates towards the foot end of the primary support frame.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 15, 2014Publication date: July 16, 2015Applicant: HILL-ROM SERVICES, INC.Inventor: Thomas F. Heil
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Patent number: 9038218Abstract: Person support apparatuses with selectively coupled foot sections are disclosed. In one embodiment, the person support apparatus includes a base frame, a primary support frame supported on the base frame, and a foot section coupled to the primary support frame. The person support apparatus also includes a carriage that is freely translatable between a head end of the primary support frame and a foot end of the primary support frame, the carriage comprising a torso portion and a seat portion having a thigh segment and a gluteal segment. The person support apparatus further includes a selectable trunnion that selectively and severally couples the foot section to the primary support frame and the thigh segment of the seat portion.Type: GrantFiled: January 15, 2014Date of Patent: May 26, 2015Assignee: Hill-Rom Services, Inc.Inventors: Thomas F. Heil, Glenn C. Suttman
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Publication number: 20150081335Abstract: Systems and methods of associating beds and/or rooms and/or patients are provided. One system and method involves using a signature of emitted light to determine a location of a patient bed in a healthcare facility. Another system and method involves reading a bar code from an array of redundant bar codes. Still another system and method involves manually entering location information on a graphical user interface of a patient bed for subsequent transmission. A further system and method involves sending bed ID and location ID along parallel paths from two independent circuits on a patient bed for receipt by two different transceivers and ultimately by two different remote computers that cooperate to associate the bed ID with the location ID. Still a further system and method involves using circuitry on a bed to mutate a received location ID and a bed ID into a single unique mutated ID such as by adding the location ID and bed ID and then performing a hashing operation.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 16, 2014Publication date: March 19, 2015Inventors: Steven Alan Dixon, Keith A. Huster, Michael S. Hood, James Maurice Allen, John D. Christie, Jack Barney Sing, Dan R. Tallent, Clay Gerome Owsley, Umesh Jairamdas Rajani, Thomas F. Heil, Richard Joseph Schuman, SR., Timothy D. Wildman
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Publication number: 20140296755Abstract: A care system including a medical device, a mobile computing device, and a information system. The medical device configured to generate data graphics to transfer information from the medical device to the mobile computing device.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 20, 2014Publication date: October 2, 2014Applicant: HILL-ROM SERVICES, INC.Inventors: Christopher K. Lack, Steven A. Dixon, Todd P. O'Neal, David L. Ribble, Thomas F. Heil, James M. Allen
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Publication number: 20140297327Abstract: A care system includes a mobile communication device, a remote server, and a patient support system in communication with either or both of the mobile communication device and the remote server. The mobile communication device operates as a user interface for the patient support system. The remote server provides computing power for the patient support system for resource intensive computing tasks. A system for use in a healthcare facility includes patient care devices located in a patient room. The system also includes an application server located remotely from the patient room. The application server stores application software associated with each patient care device. The system further includes a universal caregiver interface situated in the patient room and in communication with the application server. The universal caregiver interface receives application software from the application server.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 24, 2014Publication date: October 2, 2014Applicant: Hill-Rom Services, Inc.Inventors: Thomas F. Heil, Eric D. Agdeppa, Steven A. Dixon, Charles A. Howell, Thomas M. Gillis, Benjamin E. Howell, Christian Saucier, Kelli F. Rempel, Keith A. Huster, Irvin J. Vanderpohl, III, Andrew S. Robinson, Mary Butler, Bryan J. Bello, Michael S. Hood
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Publication number: 20140276504Abstract: One embodiment of a method of interrogating a sensor to detect the presence of moisture on an occupant support comprises the steps of A) providing a moisture responsive sensor in a surveillance zone of the occupant support, the sensor being tuned to a center frequency; B) exciting the sensor with an electromagnetic signal having a frequency approximately equal to the center frequency; C) monitoring for a center frequency response from the sensor; D) comparing the center frequency response to an expected center frequency response; and E) if the center frequency response compares favorably to an expected center frequency response, issuing a first output consistent with the favorable comparison.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 21, 2014Publication date: September 18, 2014Applicant: Hill-Rom Services, Inc.Inventors: Thomas F. Heil, Steven A. Dixon, Laetitia Gazagnes, Timothy A. Lane, II, David L. Ribble, Varad N. Srivastava
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Publication number: 20130253291Abstract: A patient support apparatus includes one or more readers and/or sensing devices to receive data that can be use to verify the identity of persons or objects, such as patients, caregivers, and medications. The sensing devices may include, for example, a biometric sensor, a physiological sensor, a bar code reader, a camera, a microphone, or a combination thereof. The patient support apparatus may use identity verification information obtained from these devices for a number of different purposes, including, for example, managing the delivery of therapy, medication, or treatment to a patient associated with the patient support apparatus.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 12, 2013Publication date: September 26, 2013Applicant: HILL-ROM SERVICES, INC.Inventors: Steven A. Dixon, David L. Ribble, Todd P. O'Neal, Christopher K. Lack, James M. Allen, Thomas F. Heil
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Publication number: 20130135160Abstract: An apparatus for providing data communication and power to a device located in a room having a power outlet is disclosed. The power outlet may be a standard AC outlet, for example. The apparatus includes a cable extending from the device and having a plug comprising a plug body. Prongs extend from the plug body and couple to the power outlet to receive power. A first near field communication antenna is carried by the plug body. A communication module has a second near field communication antenna and is located in the room in proximity to the plug. At least one of the first near field communication antenna and the second near field communication antenna communicates data wirelessly to the other of the first near field communication antenna and the second near field communication antenna.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 28, 2012Publication date: May 30, 2013Inventors: Steven A. Dixon, Keith A. Huster, Irvin J. Vanderpohl, III, Thomas F. Heil, Richard J. Schuman, Christopher K. Lack
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Publication number: 20120311786Abstract: A person-support apparatus comprises a frame a deck, and an equipment support. The deck is movably coupled to the frame and configured to support a person thereon. The equipment support is coupled to the deck and configured to move with the deck. The equipment support is configured to maintain its orientation with respect to the deck as the deck moves with respect to the frame.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 11, 2012Publication date: December 13, 2012Inventors: Steven A. Dixon, Richard H. Heimbrock, Thomas F. Heil, Charles A. Howell, Karen Lanning, Marcia E. Belcher, David W. Hornbach
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Patent number: 8143846Abstract: A charging system comprises an accessory module and a charging system. The accessory module includes a housing with a coupling portion and a power source. The coupling portion includes an engagement surface and a coupler configured to removably couple the accessory module to a person-support apparatus. The power source is positioned within the housing and includes a recharging assembly. The charging station includes a docking portion configured to receive the accessory module and a charging assembly configured to communicate power to the recharging assembly.Type: GrantFiled: April 9, 2010Date of Patent: March 27, 2012Assignee: Hill-Rom Services, Inc.Inventors: Fred Herman, Thomas F. Heil, Charles A. Howell, Michelle Kovach, Timothy Stanley
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Publication number: 20110247134Abstract: A siderail assembly comprises a siderail and a removable module. The siderail has a siderail body and a grip portion. The grip portion includes a grip and a grip opening located between the grip and the siderail body. The removable module is removably coupled to the siderail such that the removable module is positionable substantially within the grip opening. The removable module includes a gas blower configured to direct a flow of gas at least one of toward and away from a person-support apparatus.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 9, 2010Publication date: October 13, 2011Inventors: Charles A. Howell, Fred Herman, Thomas F. Heil
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Publication number: 20110248672Abstract: A charging system comprises an accessory module and a charging system. The accessory module includes a housing with a coupling portion and a power source. The coupling portion includes an engagement surface and a coupler configured to removably couple the accessory module to a person-support apparatus. The power source is positioned within the housing and includes a recharging assembly. The charging station includes a docking portion configured to receive the accessory module and a charging assembly configured to communicate power to the recharging assembly.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 9, 2010Publication date: October 13, 2011Inventors: Fred Herman, Thomas F. Heil, Charles A. Howell, Michelle Kovach, Timothy Stanley
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Publication number: 20110247135Abstract: A siderail assembly for a person support apparatus comprises a siderail body, a grip portion, and a power communication device. The siderail body includes a front surface, a back surface, and a side surface extending between the front surface and the back surface. The side surface defines a perimeter of the siderail body. The grip portion includes a siderail opening through a portion of the siderail body. The grip opening has an upper grip opening portion that cooperates with the side surface to define a grip. The power communication device is configured to communicate power wirelessly to a device in communication therewith.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 9, 2010Publication date: October 13, 2011Inventors: Fred Herman, Thomas F. Heil, Charles A. Howell
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Publication number: 20110247137Abstract: An apparatus comprises a housing and a communication system. The housing includes a front portion and a rear portion. The rear portion has an engagement surface and a coupler configured to cooperate with a portion of a person-support apparatus to removably couple the housing to the person-support apparatus. The communication system includes at least one communication device coupled to the housing. The communication device is configured to at least one of transmit and receive at least one of a data signal and a power signal to/from the person-support apparatus and an external device.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 8, 2011Publication date: October 13, 2011Inventors: Fred Herman, Thomas F. Heil, Charles A. Howell, Michelle Kovach, Timothy Stanley, Timothy J. Receveur, Josh Williams, John D. Christie, James L. Walke
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Publication number: 20080263840Abstract: A casket comprises a casket shell, a casket lid closeable upon the shell, and a memorial shelf pivoted to the lid and movable to and between an extended position at which the shelf is adapted to support items of memorialization and a retracted position.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 1, 2008Publication date: October 30, 2008Applicant: BATESVILLE SERVICES, INC.Inventors: Todd K. Dennis, Jon E. Doyle, Thomas F. Heil, Paul A. Holzman, Christopher R. Ruberg
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Patent number: 7392574Abstract: A casket comprises a casket shell, a casket lid closeable upon the shell, and a memorial shelf pivoted to the lid and movable to and between an extended position at which the shelf is adapted to support items of memorialization and a retracted position.Type: GrantFiled: April 1, 2005Date of Patent: July 1, 2008Assignee: Batesville Services, Inc.Inventors: Christopher C. Bovard, Todd K. Dennis, Jon E. Doyle, Thomas F. Heil, Paul A. Holzman, Daniel J. Parker, Christopher R. Ruberg, Greg Wray
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Patent number: 7316053Abstract: A casket comprises a casket shell, a casket lid close able upon the shell and deployable structure, operably associated with either the shell or the lid, and integrally formed therewith, which, when deployed, defines a memorial surface adapted to have placed thereon items of memorialization for display. The deployable structure is so configured and arranged such that the items of memorialization must be removed therefrom when the structure is not deployed. In one aspect, the deployable structure can be operably associated with said shell. In another aspect, the deployable structure can be operably associated with the lid.Type: GrantFiled: October 16, 2003Date of Patent: January 8, 2008Assignee: Batesville Services, Inc.Inventors: Todd K. Dennis, Jon E. Doyle, Thomas F. Heil, Paul A. Holzman, Christopher R. Ruberg