Adjustable transfer device

Abstract

The invention relates to a device for facilitating a person's transfer onto and off-of a support surface such as a bed by providing a transfer device that includes a rail member connected to a lateral support. The transfer device is height adjustable, depth adjustable and width adjustable, and the transfer device can be adjusted independently in each direction. An optional retainer acts a selectively operated gate to secure a patient or user on a bed. An optional securement strap attaches to the frame of the bed and the transfer device to anchor the device to the bed.

1 . A transfer device for use with a bed having a surface layer and a bed frame supporting the surface layer, the bed transfer device comprising: 
 a plurality of floor supports;    a width adjustable rail member height adjustably positioned on the floor supports;    a plurality of collars mounted on the rail member,    a width adjustable lateral support adjustably received by the collars, the lateral support being removably inserted between the surface layer of the bed and the bed frame; and    wherein the transfer device is independently adjustable in the height, width, and depth directions with respect to the bed.    
   
   
       2 . The transfer device of  claim 1 , further comprising a securement strap releasably connecting the bed frame to the transfer device.  
   
   
       3 . The transfer device of  claim 2 , wherein the securement strap is not connected to the lateral support.  
   
   
       4 . The transfer device of  claim 1 , wherein the rail member, floor supports and lateral support are fabricated of metal tubes.  
   
   
       5 . The transfer device of  claim 1 , wherein the rail member is comprised of at least two pieces that telescope one within the other to vary the width of the rail member; and 
 the lateral support is comprised of at least two pieces that telescope one within the other to vary the width of the lateral support.    
   
   
       6 . The transfer device of  claim 1 , further comprising the lateral support having ends, wherein each end is slidably inserted into an extension on the respective collar; and 
 a mechanism adapted to selectively maintain the lateral support in a stationary relationship with respect to the collars.    
   
   
       7 . The transfer device of  claim 6 , wherein the lateral support is comprised of at least two pieces that telescope one within the other to vary the width of the lateral support.  
   
   
       8 . The transfer device of  claim 1 , wherein each floor support in the plurality of floor supports includes a height adjustment mechanism adapted to releasably secure the position of the rail member relative to the floor support.  
   
   
       9 . The transfer device of  claim 8 , wherein the rail member is comprised of at least two pieces that telescope one within the other to vary the width of the rail member; and 
 the lateral support is comprised of at least two pieces that telescope one within the other to vary the width of the lateral support.    
   
   
       10 . The transfer device of  claim 1 , further comprising a fastener on each collar, the fastener adapted to selectively maintain the collar in a stationary position on the rail member.  
   
   
       11 . The transfer device of  claim 10 , wherein the fasteners comprise a wing nut frictionally engaging the rail member.  
   
   
       12 . The transfer device of  claim 10 , wherein the rail member is comprised of at least two pieces that telescope one within the other to vary the length of the rail member.  
   
   
       13 . The transfer device of  claim 1 , further comprising a retainer selectively secured to the rail member, the retainer operable to secure a user on the bed.  
   
   
       14 . A bed transfer device for use with a bed having a mattress and a bed frame, the bed transfer device comprising: 
 a rail member adjacent the mattress;    a lateral support connected to the rail member, the lateral support located below the mattress;    a retainer secured to the rail member, the retainer comprising a section of fabric having opposite ends, and where in the opposite ends of the fabric are releasably secured around different portions of the rail member to thereby form a releasable gate; and    wherein the retainer is releasably attached to the rail member to selectively secure a user on a mattress.    
   
   
       15 . A bed transfer device as described in  claim 14 , farther comprising a plurality of floor supports adjustably coupled to the rail member.  
   
   
       16 . A bed transfer device as described in  claim 15 , wherein the floor supports include tubular segments telescopically coupled to the rail member.  
   
   
       17 . A bed transfer device as described in  claim 15 , wherein the lateral support is adjustably connected to the rail member.  
   
   
       18 . A bed transfer device as described in  claim 17 , wherein adjusting the lateral support relative to the rail member is independent of adjusting the floor supports with respect to the rail member.  
   
   
       19 . A bed transfer device as described in  claim 17 , further comprising a plurality of collars slidably mounted on the rail member, each collar adjustably receiving the lateral support and coupling the rail member to the lateral support; and 
 a fastener on each collar, the fastener adapted to selectively maintain the collar in a stationary position on the rail member.    
   
   
       20 . A bed transfer device as described in  claim 19 , wherein the fasteners comprise a wing nut frictionally engaging the rail member.  
   
   
       21 . A bed transfer device as described in  claim 14 , further comprising a securement strap releasably connecting the bed frame to the bed transfer device and wherein the securement strap has a variable length.  
   
   
       22 . A bed transfer device as described in  claim 14 , wherein the rail member and lateral support arc fabricated of metal tubes.  
   
   
       23 . (canceled)  
   
   
       24 . A bed transfer device for use with a bed having at least two surface layers and a bed frame, the bed transfer device comprising: 
 a rail member having a plurality of ends, the rail member comprised of at least two pieces that telescope one within the other to vary the width of the rail member; and    a lateral support substantially crosswise to and connected to the rail member, the lateral support comprised of at least two pieces that telescope one within the other to vary the width of the lateral support.    
   
   
       25 . A bed transfer device as described in  claim 24 , wherein the rail member and lateral support are fabricated of metal tubes.  
   
   
       26 . A bed transfer device as described in  claim 25 , a plurality of collars slidably mounted on the rail member, the collars including an extension that slidably receives the lateral support.  
   
   
       27 . A bed transfer device as described in  claim 24 , further comprising a securement strap releasably connected on one end to the bed frame and releasably connected on another end to the transfer device.  
   
   
       28 . A bed transfer device as described in  claim 27 , wherein the securement strap is not connected to the lateral support.  
   
   
       29 . A bed transfer device as described in  claim 24 , further comprising a plurality of collars slidably mounted on the sail member; 
 a plurality of floor supports, the rail member height adjustably mounted on the floor supports;    the lateral support having ends, wherein each end is slidably received by a collar; and    a fastener associated with each of the collars adapted to maintain the collars in a stationary relationship with respect to the rail member.    
   
   
       30 . A bed transfer device as described in  claim 29 , wherein sliding the lateral support relative to the collars is independent of adjusting the floor supports with respect to the rail member.  
   
   
       31 . A bed transfer device as described in  claim 24 , further comprising a plurality of floor supports adjustably coupled to the ends of the rail member and wherein the floor supports include tubular segments telescopically coupled to the rail member ends.  
   
   
       32 . A bed transfer device as described in  claim 31 , wherein the floor supports include a height adjustment mechanism adapted to releasably secure the position of the floor supports relative to the rail member.  
   
   
       33 . A bed transfer device as described in  claim 32 , wherein sliding the lateral support relative to the collars is independent of adjusting the floor supports with respect to the rail member ends.  
   
   
       34 . A bed transfer device as described in  claim 24 , further comprising an adjustable length retainer selectively secured to the rail member, the retainer operable to secure a user on a bed.  
   
   
       35 . A bed transfer device for use with a bed having a mattress and a bed frame, the bed transfer device comprising: 
 a rail member adjacent the mattress;    a lateral support adjustably connected to the rail member in the crosswise direction, the lateral support located below the mattress;    a plurality of collars slidably mounted on the rail member, each collar adjustably receiving the lateral support and coupling the rail member to the lateral support; and    a securement strap releasably connecting the bed frame to the bed transfer device and wherein the securement strap has a variable length.    
   
   
       36 . The bed transfer device of  claim 35 , further comprising a retainer secured to the rail member; and 
 wherein the retainer is releasably attached to the rail member to selectively secure a user on a mattress.    
   
   
       37 . The bed transfer device of  claim 36 , wherein the retainer comprises a piece of fabric piece having opposite ends, and wherein the opposite ends of the fabric piece are releasably secured to different portions of the rail member to thereby form a releasable gate.  
   
   
       38 . The bed transfer device of  claim 35 , further comprising a plurality of floor supports adjustably coupled to the rail member.  
   
   
       39 . The bed transfer device of  claim 38 , wherein the floor supports include tubular segments telescopically coupled to the rail member.  
   
   
       40 . The bed transfer device of  claim 38 , wherein adjusting the lateral support relative to the rail member is independent of adjusting the floor supports with respect to the rail member.  
   
   
       41 . The bed transfer device of  claim 35 , 
 wherein a fastener is associated with each collar, the fasteners adapted to selectively maintain the collar in a stationary position on the rail member.    
   
   
       42 . The bed transfer device of  claim 41 , wherein the fasteners comprise a wing nut frictionally engaging the rail member.