Patient transfer board

Abstract

The patient transport board is a device that aids in the mobility of individuals who may be handicapped, patient recovering from surgery, undergoing physical therapy, or a number of other reasons. The patient transport board is slid under the individual. The patient transport board forms a bridge to the next location, which the individual slides across to. The individual can use the patient transport board on his or her own or with the help of an assistant or assistants. The patient transport board is a structure that can be made out of a number of suitable materials such as but not limited to wood, plastic, carbon fiber, fiberglass, composite covered honeycomb.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority from U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/646,274, entitled “Patient Transfer Board”, filed on Jan. 24, 2005.

FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH

Not Applicable

SEQUENCE LISTING OR PROGRAM

Not Applicable

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to patient transfer boards that are used in physical therapy. More specifically the present invention relates to a patient transfer board that is ergonomically shaped and has T-shaped handhold cut outs to aid in transferring a patient from one location to the next.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Individuals undergoing physical therapy or who may have various handicaps often require use of special equipment to aid in their mobility. A board is often required to help an individual move from his or her bed into a wheel chair, and from the wheel chair to a physical therapy mat. The board is used again in the reverse order. The board may be used along with the assistance of another person or persons, or may be used by the individual alone.

Various types of boards exist that are intended to aid in the of transfer individuals from one location to the next. Most boards are rectangular and do not have designs that ease the gripping of the board. U.S. Pat. No. 6,036,216 issued to Osborn teaches a rectangular board that does not have an ergonomic shape and does not have cutouts that assist the user in transferring from one location to another. U.S. Patent Application 2003-0,093,858 shows a board generally rectangular in shape with various cutouts to clear one of the wheel chair's wheels, but the cutouts do not assist the user's gripping of the board.

Many boards have sharp contours that can either cause pain or harm the persons being moved by such devices. The sharp contours of other boards can cause the board to hang up or stop when it is being slid under a person. Other boards do not have multiple griping locations, making the task of moving someone using such a board very difficult.

It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a patient transfer board that allows a hospital patient, physical therapy patient, handicapped individual, or other individual to more easily transfer from one location to another location with or without the assistance of another person.

It is another object of the invention to provide a patient transfer board that allows an assistant to more easily move a surgery patient, physical therapy patient, or handicapped individual, or other individual from one location to another.

It is another object of the invention to provide a patient transfer board that can be manufactured in such a manner that it is easy to keep clean.

It is another object of the invention to provide a patient transfer board that is more ergonomically designed than other patient transfer boards on the market.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with the present an organization system is provided a patient transport board device, that aids in the mobility of individuals who may be handicapped, patient recovering from surgery, undergoing physical therapy, or a number of other reasons, which overcomes the aforementioned problems of the prior art. The major elements consist of: a patient transfer board, increased taper, T-shaped handhold cutouts, reduction of board width, rounded edges and, semi-circular rounded ends.

The patient transport board is slid under the individual. The patient transport board forms a bridge to the next location, which the individual slides across. The individual can use the patient transport board on his or her own or with the help of an assistant or assistants. The patient transport board is a structure that can be made out of a number of suitable materials such as but not limited to wood, plastic, carbon fiber, fiberglass, composite covered honeycomb.

The main objected of the present invention is to provide assistance in transferring a person a bed and a wheel chair, or between a wheel chair and a physical therapy mat, and all of said steps in the reverse order. A preferred embodiment of the present invention is described herein and shown in the Figures.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated herein and form a part of the specification, illustrate the present invention and, together with the description, further serve to explain the principles of the invention and to enable a person skilled in the pertinent art to make and use the invention.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the patient transfer board;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the patient transfer board;

FIG. 3 is a side view of the patient transfer board;

FIG. 4 is a front view of the patient transfer board.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In the following detailed description of the invention of exemplary embodiments of the invention, reference is made to the accompanying drawings (where like numbers represent like elements), which form a part hereof, and in which is shown by way of illustration specific exemplary embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. These embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention, but other embodiments may be utilized and logical, mechanical, electrical, and other changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. The following detailed description is therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense, and the scope of the present invention is defined only by the appended claims.

In the following description, numerous specific details are set forth to provide a thorough understanding of the invention. However, it is understood that the invention may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known structures and techniques known to one of ordinary skill in the art have not been shown in detail in order not to obscure the invention.

Referring to the figures, it is possible to see the various major elements constituting the apparatus of the present invention. The invention is a patient transfer board (20) that is ergonomically shaped and has T-shaped handhold cut outs (10) to aid in transferring a patient from one location to the next. The major elements consist of: a patient transfer board (20), increased taper (16), T-shaped handhold cutouts (10), reduction of board (20) width, rounded edges (12) and, semi-circular rounded ends. A preferred embodiment of the present invention is described herein and shown in the Figures.

The patient transport board (20) is a device that aids in the mobility of individuals who may be handicapped, patient recovering from surgery, undergoing physical therapy, or a number of other reasons.

The patient transport board (20) is slid under the individual. The patient transport board (20) forms a bridge to the next location, which the individual slides across to. The individual can use the patient transport board (20) on his or her own or with the help of an assistant or assistants.

Now referring to FIG. 1 a perspective view of the patient transfer board (20) is illustrated showing the dog bone shape caused by the reduction in width at the center and the semi-circular round ends (18) and T-shaped hand-hold cutouts (10).

Two T-shaped cutout handhold sections within the central ends of the board (20) allow for easy grasping of the board (20). The T-shaped cutouts (10) help the board (20) to be more easily controlled and gripped by its users. The cutouts (10) do not have to be limited to only two locations or the shape of a “T.” The T-shaped cutout handhold sections also allow the board (20) to be lighter than a board (20) of similar dimensions without cutouts (10). The T-shaped handhold cutouts (10) are typically, but not limited to five inches in length. The contours or edges (12) of the T-shaped cutouts (10) are rounded or tapered (16). The overall length of the board (20) is typically, but not limited to thirty inches. The overall width of the board (20) is at the broad section is typically, but not limited to twelve inches.

Now referring to FIG. 2 the bottom or top view of the patient transfer board (20) is illustrated. The dog bone shape caused by the reduction in width and the semi-circular round ends (18) are easily seen in this figure. The T-shaped handhold cutouts (10) are also seen in this figure. While looking down upon the board (20) from above or as if the board (20) where placed flat on the ground, the board (20) is shaped similar to a dog bone as it has a narrower section in its middle. The dog bone shape allows for easier grasping of the board (20). The minor width of the board (20), which contributes to the dog bone shape is typically, but not limited to 8 inches. The other design feature that contributes to the dog bone shape is the board (20)'s semi-circular round ends (18).

Referring to FIG. 3, a side view of the patient transfer board (20), the sharper taper (16) of the edges (12) of the patient transfer board (20) at each end are illustrated. The semi-circular round ends (18) aid in placing the board (20) under an individual, as there are no sharp points that may hang up or potentially cause the individual pain or harm. The typical thickness depending on the material of manufacture is typically, but not limited to ⅝ inch to ¾ inch.

Now referring to FIG. 4 the front view of the patient transfer board (20) shows the tapered (16) or rounded edges (12) of the patient transfer board (20). The board (20) is rounded along all of its edges (12). The rounded edges (12) or tapers (16) may be made sharper at both of the longer ends of the board (20) allowing the board (20) to be more wedge-like in these sections. The tapers (16) and round edges (12) allow the users to more easily slide the board (20) under the person being moved. The tapers (16) and round edges (12) also give the patient transport board (20) a more easy to grip edge contour than a board (20) with squared off ends or other shape with abrupt or sharp contour changes.

The patient transport board (20) is a structure that can be made out of a number of suitable materials such as but not limited to wood, plastic, carbon fiber, fiberglass, composite covered honeycomb.

It is appreciated that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variation in size, materials, shape, form, function, and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the above description are intended to be encompassed by the present invention.

Furthermore, other areas of art may benefit from this method and adjustments to the design are anticipated. Thus, the scope of the invention should be determined by the appended claims and their legal equivalents, rather than by the examples given.

Claims

1. Patient transport board device apparatus comprising:

a flat board consisting of a semi-circular rounded end protion and a middle portion, each of said portions having a top surface, a bottom surface and a side surface extending around the perimeter of the top and bottom surfaces having a thickness;

said flat board having an increased taper on each side surface around its perimeter; and

handhold cutouts extending through the top and bottom surfaces.

2. The patient transport board device apparatus fo claim 1 wherein the flat board is esentailly a dog bone shape caused by the reduction in width at a center portion and semi-circular round ends.

3. The patient transport board device apparatus of claim 1 wherein the cutouts are in the shape of a “T.”

4. The patient transport board device apparatus of claim 3 wherein the T-shaped handhold cutouts are five inches in length.

5. The patient transport board device apparatus of claim 3 wherein the edges of the T-shaped cutouts are rounded or tapered.

6. The patient transport board device apparatus of claim 1 wherein the overall length of the board is thirty inches.

7. The patient transport board device apparatus of claim 1 wherein the overall width of the board is twelve inches.

8. The patient transport board device apparatus of claim 1 wherein the thickness of the board is ⅝ inch.

9. The patient transport board device apparatus of claim 1 wherein the thickness of the board is ¾ inch.