Patient support apparatus having an extension

US11540963B2 · US · B2

Patent metadata
FieldValue
Publication numberUS-11540963-B2
Application numberUS-202016850579-A
CountryUS
Kind codeB2
Filing dateApr 16, 2020
Priority dateSep 11, 2015
Publication dateJan 3, 2023
Grant dateJan 3, 2023

How to read this patent

A practical reading order for non-experts. Skip the full description unless you need deep technical detail.

  1. Title

    What the patent document calls the invention.

  2. Abstract

    A short plain-language summary of the technical disclosure.

  3. Assignees and inventors

    Who owns or filed the patent and who is credited as inventor.

  4. Key dates

    Filing, priority, publication, and grant dates set the timeline.

  5. First independent claim

    The legal scope of protection — read this for what is actually claimed.

  6. CPC / IPC classifications

    Technology tags used to group this patent with similar filings.

  7. Citations and related patents

    Prior art links and similar publications in this corpus.

Abstract

Official abstract text for this publication.

A patient support apparatus having a support structure with a primary support surface for a patient, and an extension manually movable by a user relative to the support structure from a stowed position to an extended position so that the extension provides auxiliary support for the patient in the extended position. A locking device is operable to releasably hold the extension relative to the support structure in the stowed position and the extended position. A release mechanism is operable to manipulate the locking device to release the extension for movement relative to the support structure, and is movable with the extension from the stowed position to the extended position.

First claim

Opening claim text (preview).

What is claimed is: 1. A patient support apparatus comprising: a support structure comprising a primary support surface for a patient, wherein said primary support surface has a head end and a foot end and said primary support surface extends longitudinally between said head end and said foot end; an extension manually movable by a user relative to said support structure from a stowed position to an extended position so that said extension provides auxiliary support for the patient in said extended position; a locking device and a second locking device, said locking devices being spaced apart and cooperable to releasably hold said extension relative to said support structure in said stowed position and said extended position; and a release mechanism operable to manipulate said locking device to release said extension for movement relative to said support structure, said release mechanism comprising a release handle being longitudinally movable with said extension from said stowed position to said extended position; wherein said locking device includes a locking element and a biasing device arranged to bias said locking element into engagement with one of said support structure or said extension; wherein said second locking device comprises a second locking element and a second biasing device arranged to bias said second locking element into engagement with one of said support structure or said extension; and wherein said release mechanism is configured to manipulate said locking elements simultaneously includes a pair of release members movable to disengage said locking elements to release said extension for movement relative to said support structure. 2. The patient support apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said release mechanism is configured to manipulate said locking elements simultaneously to release said extension for movement relative to said support structure upon one-handed operation of said release handle by the user. 3. The patient support apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said release mechanism further comprises a release actuator and a pair of links coupled to said release members, said release actuator being manipulable by the user to simultaneously move said links and said release members to disengage said locking elements from said support structure. 4. The patient support apparatus of claim 3 , wherein said release actuator comprises a cross member having opposing ends rotatably coupled to said extension, a pair of arms fixed to said cross member and coupled to said links, and said release handle, wherein said release handle is manually operable to rotate said cross member and said arms to move said links and said release members to disengage said locking elements from said support structure. 5. The patient support apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said locking device is operable to engage one of said support structure or said extension at a first discrete location when said extension is in said stowed position and at a second discrete location, longitudinally spaced from said first discrete location, when said extension is in said extended position. 6. The patient support apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a footboard mounted to said extension to move with said extension from said stowed position to said extended position. 7. The patient support apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a cable support having a first end connected to said support structure and a second end connected to said extension, said cable support being flexible and comprising openings for weaving a cable therethrough to support the cable as said extension moves from said stowed position to said extended position. 8. The patient support apparatus of claim 7 , wherein said cable support further comprises a strip of flexible material arranged to flex such that said strip limits motion of the cable to two degrees of freedom as said extension moves from said stowed position to said extended position. 9. A patient support apparatus comprising: a support structure comprising a primary support surface for a patient; an extension manually movable by a user relative to said support structure from a stowed position to an extended position so that said extension provides auxiliary support for the patient in said extended position; and a cable support having a first end connected to said support structure and a second end connected to said extension, said cable support being flexible and comprising openings for weaving a cable therethrough to support the cable as said extension moves from said stowed position to said extended position, said cable support including a strip of flexible material arranged to flex such that said strip limits motion of the cable to two degrees of freedom as said extension moves from said stowed position to said extended position. 10. The patient support apparatus of claim 9 , further comprising a locking device operable to releasably hold said extension relative to said support structure in said stowed position and said extended position. 11. The patient support apparatus of claim 10 , further comprising a release mechanism operable to manipulate said locking device to release said extension for movement relative to said support structure. 12. The patient support apparatus of claim 11 , wherein said release mechanism is movable with said extension from said stowed position to said extended position. 13. A patient support apparatus comprising: a support structure comprising a primary support surface for a patient; an extension manually movable by a user relative to said support structure from a stowed position to an extended position so that said extension provides auxiliary support for the patient in said extended position; a locking device operable to releasably hold said extension relative to said support structure in said stowed position and said extended position; a release mechanism operable to manipulate said locking device to release said extension for movement relative to said support structure, said release mechanism being movable with said extension from said stowed position to said extended position; and a cable support having a first end connected to said support structure and a second end connected to said extension, said cable support being flexible and comprising openings for weaving a cable therethrough to support the cable as said extension moves from said stowed position to said extended position, said cable support including a strip of flexible material arranged to flex such that said strip limits motion of the cable to two degrees of freedom as said extension moves from said stowed position to said extended position.

Assignees

Inventors

Classifications

  • Parts, details or accessories, e.g. head-, foot-, or like rests specially adapted for stretchers · CPC title

  • for the legs or feet · CPC title

  • Constructional arrangements, e.g. casings (A61N1/375 takes precedence) · CPC title

  • A61G7/0503Primary

    Holders, support devices for receptacles, e.g. for drainage or urine bags (hanging-up devices for infusion A61M5/1414 ) · CPC title

  • Stands, brackets or the like for supporting infusion accessories · CPC title

Patent family

Related publications grouped by family.

External sources

Frequently asked questions

Answers are generated from the same data shown on this page.

What does patent US11540963B2 cover?
A patient support apparatus having a support structure with a primary support surface for a patient, and an extension manually movable by a user relative to the support structure from a stowed position to an extended position so that the extension provides auxiliary support for the patient in the extended position. A locking device is operable to releasably hold the extension relative to the su…
Who is the assignee on this patent?
Stryker Corp
What technology area does this patent fall under?
Primary CPC classification A61G7/0503. Mapped technology areas include Human Necessities.
When was this patent published?
Publication date Tue Jan 03 2023 00:00:00 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time) (B2). Legal status and post-grant events are not shown on this page.
What related patents are in patentsdb?
We list 5 related publications on this page (citations in our corpus or others sharing the same primary CPC).