GB2473046A

GB2473046A - A support element for a transfer trolley with a removable cover

Info

Publication number: GB2473046A
Application number: GB0915061A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Charles Kilby; Cormac O'prey
Original assignee: Personal Lifting Ltd
Current assignee: Personal Lifting Ltd
Priority date: 2009-08-28
Filing date: 2009-08-28
Publication date: 2011-03-02
Also published as: GB0915061D0

Abstract

A support element for a transfer trolley comprising an elongate tine 5 and an inflatable sheath 17, the sheath 17 covers a distal end of the tine 5 and is operable to unfurl and lift an object. A removable cover 18 is provided which can be attached to the sheath 17 at 2 points and acts to protect the sheath 17 from an object to be lifted. The removable cover 18 may be tubular, have open ends and be made of Tyvek (RTM). The cover 18 may also be permeable to fluid used in inflating the sheath. Also disclosed is cartridge for storing a plurality of covers, an inflation fluid supply arrangement for a transfer trolley and a synchronous movement mechanism which acts to coordinate movement of respective sheaths and support elements.

Description

Title: A transfer trolley and parts for a transfer trolley The present invention relates to a transfer trolley, parts thereof, accessories therefor, and methods of operating such transfer trolleys and parts thereof.

More particularly, aspects of the invention relate to a transfer trolley that can be used to lift a load and transfer it to a new location. Transfer trolleys according to embodiments of the present invention can be used to lift medical patients from a bed or table for transfer to another location.

Specific embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the movement of a medical patient from a bed; however, it will be appreciated that embodiments of the present invention can be used for other purposes. For example, embodiments of the present invention could be used to lift other delicate objects (such as porcelain, ceramics, explosives, aerospace corn ponents, vehicles, or radioactive materials).

Transfer trolleys which use inflatable sheaths configured to inflate and insinuate under a patient are known. Transfer trolleys of this type are particularly useful for lifting overweight or obese patients, or patients with delicate wounds such as burns.

Documents which disclose such known transfer trolleys include W091/07158 discloses a transfer trolley which comprises an arm from which a number of rigid tines extend to form a bed-like surface which is suitable to support a patient. The tines are hollow tube-like structures with a hole located at the free (distal) end of each tine (i.e. the end not connected to the arm). Each of the tines is covered in a resilient sheath and contains a plunger within the hollow cavity thereof.

The sheath is longer than the tine which it surrounds and the excess material is inserted into the hollow cavity of the tine (where there is a connection between the sheath and the plunger). A concertina section of the sheath is provided on the outside of the tine and is coupled to the arm.

A wedge shaped block separates the concertina section on a top surface of the tine from the rest of the sheath.

The transfer trolley of W02008/071940 is similar in construction to that of W091/07158 with several significant innovative improvements. For example, the transfer trolley of this document uses a sheath which partially (rather than completely covers) each tine; by using fixed or sliding seals to couple each sheath to its respective tine the need to provide a concertina section of the sheath, which could be prone to failure or malfunction, is eliminated.

Both known transfer trolleys of this type (as described above), however, may suffer from certain disadvantages. For example, the need to provide a plunger and plunger retraction mechanism or a retractable tether within each tine may necessitate the use of a gasket at the end of each tine in order to provide an airtight or substantially airtight access point for the tether or plunger retraction mechanism. The provision of a reliable gasket is difficult.

Sliding seals are also difficult to manufacture and are prone to failure.

The retractable cables and associated retraction mechanism of known transfer trolleys must be very strong as they are required to control deployment of the sheaths -often against the forces applied by the fluid which inflates the sheaths.

In operation of the above described known transfer trolleys the inflatable sheaths must inflate under the patient. As the sheaths inflate, in the above prior transfer trolleys, the end of each sheath may form a substantially bulbous end. It can, in practice, be difficult to insert this bulbous end under a patient, between the patient and (for example) a bed.

The present invention seeks to ameliorate some of the problems associated

with the prior art.

Accordingly, an aspect of the present invention provides a support element for use with a transfer trolley, the support element comprising: a tine having a proximal and a distal end; an inflatable sheath which at least partially surrounds the distal end of the tine and is adapted to unfurl and evert beneath an object to be lifted when inflated with an inflation fluid, the inflatable sheath including first and second attachment location; and a removable cover attached to the sheath and covering at least part of the sheath, the cover having a first end attached to the first attachment location of the sheath and a second end attached to the second attachment location of the sheath such that, in use, the cover at least partially protects the sheath from contact with an object to be lifted and inflation fluid passes through the fluid permeable cover.

Preferably, the removable cover is tubular.

Advantageously, the first and second ends of the tubular removable cover are open ends.

Conveniently, the first end of the cover has an attachment arrangement which is configured to grip the sheath.

Preferably, the cover is at least partially formed of Tyvek (registered trade mark).

Advantageously, the cover is inflation fluid permeable.

Another aspect of the present invention provides a plurality of covers and a cartridge comprising: a plurality of removable covers attachable to respective sheaths of a transfer trolley, each cover adapted to cover at least part of a sheath such that, in use, the cover at least partially protects the sheath from contact with an object to be lifted; and a cartridge coupled to the plurality of removable covers and configured to store the removable covers for deployment onto a respective plurality of sheaths.

Preferably, the cartridge comprises a face plate and case.

Advantageously, the cartridge is at least partially formed from cardboard.

Another aspect of the present invention provides a transfer trolley comprising: a supply of inflation fluid; and a plurality of attachment locations, each of the plurality of attachment locations being coupled to the supply of inflation fluid and adapted to receive a removable support element comprising: a tine having a proximal and a distal end, and an inflatable sheath which at least partially surrounds the distal end of the tine and is adapted to unfurl and evert beneath an object to be lifted, wherein each attachment location is configured to link the supply of inflation fluid to the inflatable sheath of a support element coupled thereto to allow inflation of the sheath by fluid supplied from the supply of inflation fluid.

Another aspect of the present invention provides a transfer trolley comprising: a base module; one or more support elements carried by the base module, the or each support element comprising: a tine having a proximal and a distal end, and an inflatable sheath which at least partially surrounds the distal end of the tine and is adapted to unfurl and evert beneath an object to be lifted; and a synchronous movement mechanism operable to actuate at least one of the or each support elements to cause movement of the or each respective sheath with respect to the or each respective tine at a sheath movement rate, and to actuate the base module to cause movement of the or each support element with respect to an object to be lifted at rate which substantially corresponds to the sheath movement rate.

Preferably, the or each support element is configured such that the respective sheath scrolls around a distal end of the respective tine during operation.

Another aspect of the present invention provides a transfer trolley including a support element.

Another aspect of the present invention provides a transfer trolley including a plurality of covers and a cartridge.

In order that the present invention may be more readily understood, and so that further features thereof may be appreciated, the invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 shows a transfer trolley; Figure 2 shows a side view of a transfer trolley; Figure 3 shows a tine; Figure 4 shows a removable cover; Figure 5 shows a removable cover and support element; Figure 6 shows a removable cover and support element in use; Figure 7 shows a cartridge; Figure 8 shows a cartridge including a case; Figure 9 shows a support element; and Figure 10 shows a support element with removable cover.

Figure 1 shows an embodiment in the form transfer trolley 1. The transfer trolley 1 may generally comprise a base unit 2, a support pillar 3, an arm 4, and one or more tines 5.

In an embodiment, the base unit 2 comprises a generally U-shaped section 6 in a base plane -in use the base plane may be substantially parallel to a floor or support surface (not shown). The U-shaped section 6 comprises a central member 7 and two side members 8. The two side members 8 are separated from each other across a length of the central member 7 and have respective longitudinal axes which are approximately parallel to each other and generally perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the central member 7 -thus forming a U-shape.

In an embodiment, the support pillar 3 extends from the central member 7 of the U-shaped section 6 of the base unit 2 (in a direction which is substantially perpendicular to the base plane thereof). In an embodiment, the support pillar 3 extends upwards from the base unit 2.

In an embodiment, the arm 4 is coupled to an end of the support pillar 3 which is remote from the base unit 2 such that a longitudinal axis of the arm 4 is preferably substantially parallel with the longitudinal axis of the central member 7 of the base unit 2.

The one or more tines 5 are preferably elongate members and preferably comprise a plurality of tines 5. In an embodiment, the or each tine 5 projects from the arm 4 such that the or each tine 5 has a longitudinal axis which is generally parallel to the base plane and the or each tine 5 is generally separated from the side members 8 of the base unit 2 by a height of the support pillar 3. In an embodiment, each tine 5 has a width of between approximately 5cm and 10cm.

Thus, the transfer trolley 1 of embodiments of the present invention has a generally C-shaped appearance when viewed from a side (as shown in figure 2) with the base unit 2 forming a lower part of the C-shaped structure, and the tines 5 and arm 4 forming a comb-like arrangement which is separated from the base unit 2 by the support pillar 3.

In an embodiment, a plurality of tines 5 are provided which project from the arm 4 such that at least one tine 5 projects from the arm 4 in a direction which opposes the direction in which another of said tines 5 projects from the arm 4.

In other words, embodiments of the present invention include an arrangement (such as a transfer trolley 1) in which at least two tines 5 extend from the arm 4 in opposing directions.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the direction in which a tine 5 projects from the arm 4 differs from the direction in which another tine 5 projects from the arm 4 by 90° or 45° or less about the longitudinal axis of the arm 4. In an embodiment, the direction which a tine 5 projects from the arm 4 differs from the direction in which another tine 5 projects from the arm 4 (or from a horizontal plane -in an embodiment) by less than 10°and, preferably, more than 50 In an embodiment, the direction of projection of one tine 5 may form an acute angle with the direction of projection of another tine 5.

However, preferably, a plurality of tines 5 are provided and all of the tines 5 have longitudinal axes which are substantially parallel with each other.

A mechanism (not shown) may be provided to allow one tine 5 to be moved with respect to another tine 5 (both tines 5 projecting from the arm 4) so that the angles of projection about the longitudinal axis of the arm 4 of the two tines 5 differ. The mechanism may permit each of a plurality of tines 5 to be moved with respect to each other about a longitudinal axis of the arm 4. A mechanism may be provided (not shown) to cause synchronous movement of all of the plurality tines 5 about the arm 4. Thus, it will be appreciated that the angle of attack for one or more of the tines 5 with respect to an object to be lifted can be varied. This may be useful, for example, to lift a heavy patient from a soft mattress.

The or each tine 5 is secured to the arm 4 by a suitable attachment arrangement (not shown) provided at an attachment location. The attachment arrangement may comprise a clamp, a nut and bolt, adhesive, or a press-fitting arrangement. Alternatively, the or each tine 5 may be integrally formed with the arm 4. A tine 5 may be secured to the arm 4 in a different manner to the manner in which another tine 5 is secured to the arm 4. The or each tine 5 may be removable from the arm 4 to permit maintenance or re-configuration of the transfer trolley 1 or a part thereof -for example. The or each tine 5 may be removable from the arm 4 to provide a particular configuration of tines projecting from the arm 4 -this may, for example, allow the tines 5 to be configured to lift a delicate object or a patient with an injury which should not be contacted by a tine 5.

The arm 4, in an embodiment, comprises multiple sections. Each section is connected to at least one other adjacent section of the arm 4 by a hinge arrangement. One section of the arm 4 can be moved about a hinge arrangement with respect to an adjacent section of the arm 4. Thus, an arm 4 comprising three sections can be formed into a chair-like shape -with a middle section of the arm 4 forming the seat of the chair, an end section of the arm 4 forming a leg support and an opposing end section of he arm 4 forming a back support. This movement may be driven (by a drive unit -not shown) or may be manual. A locking mechanism may be provided to allow a section of the arm 4 to be locked in a fixed relationship with an adjacent section of the arm 4. In an embodiment, sections of the arm 4 can move with respect to each other while all sections of the arm 4 remain in the same plane -which may, for example, be a horizontal or vertical plane. In an embodiment, sections of the arm 4 are connected to each other by a ball-and-socket (or similar arrangement) such that one section of the arm 4 can be moved with respect to an adjacent section in substantially any direction about the ball-and-socket arrangement. In an embodiment, a hinge arrangement between sections of an arm is a virtual hinge arrangement such that the centroid of a rotational movement is not, aligned with the hinge arrangement.

The base unit 2 may be provided with a plurality of castors 9 such that the base unit 2 (and hence the rest of the transfer trolley 1) can be moved with respect to a floor or other support surface (not shown) on which the base unit 2 rests when in use. Movement of the base unit 2 with respect to the floor or support surface may be manual or may be driven (by a drive unit -not shown).

In some embodiments, the support pillar 3 is mounted on a track system (not shown) which may form part of the base unit 2. The track system may be configured to permit movement of the support pillar 3 (and everything supported by the support pillar 3, including for example the arm 4 and one or more tines 5) with respect to the base unit 2. This movement may be manual or driven (by a drive unit -not shown).

The support pillar 3 may include a rotatable joint (not shown) which is configured to permit rotation of part of the support pillar 3 (and everything supported by the support pillar 3, including for example the arm 4 and one or more tines 5) with respect to another part of the support pillar 3 and the base unit 2. Operation of the rotatable joint may be manual or driven (by a drive unit -not shown).

In an embodiment, the support pillar 3 further comprises a level adjustment mechanism which is configured to adjust the height of the arm 4 with respect to the base unit 2. This level adjustment mechanism may, for example, comprise two or more telescopically coupled sections of the support pillar 3 which are adapted to move with respect to each other along a longitudinal axis of the support pillar 3. The level adjustment mechanism may be a driven mechanism (by a drive unit -not shown) or may be a manual mechanism.

The level adjustment mechanism may include a plurality of lifting rams.

In an embodiment, the two side members 8 of the U-shaped section 6 of the base unit 2 are retractable. This may be achieved by providing retractable side members 8 which telescopically extend from the central member 7.

Alternatively, the side members 8 may be moveable with respect to the central member 7 between a position in which they extend from the central member 7 in a first direction and a position in which they extend away from the central member 7 in a second direction (the second direction may oppose the first direction). Movement or retraction of the side members 8 may be manual or driven by a drive unit (not shown). The two side members 8 may be independently moveable or may be configured to move synchronously.

The two side members 8 may be moveable with respect to the central member 7 in a direction which is parallel with their respective longitudinal axes. The two side members 8 may be moveable with respect to the central member 7 about respective rotatable joints which couple the side members 8 to the central member 7 -i.e. the side members 8 are rotatable with respect to the central member 7.

A limiter (not shown) may be provided to limit movement of the two side members 8 of the U-shaped section 6 to locations in which the transfer trolley 1 is stable. In other words, to positions in which the central of mass of the transfer trolley 1 is not beyond the confines of a footprint of the base unit 2.

Thus, it will be appreciated that in such embodiments further including a level adjustment mechanism, movement of the arm 4 towards the surface on which the base unit 3 is resting is less restricted by the U-shaped section 6 of the base unit 3 and the arm 4 may be lowered closer to the surface on which the base unit 3 is resting. As will become apparent, this may permit the transfer trolley 1 to pickup objects which are far lower (i.e. closer to the support surf ace on which the base unit 3 rests) than would otherwise be the case; embodiments even permit an object to be lifted from the surface on which the base unit 3 is resting (e.g. the floor).

One or more additional retractable support members (not shown) may be provided which extend from the trolley 1 to a surface on which the base unit 3 is resting (e.g. the floor) in the event of the two side members 8 being retracts -to improve stability of the trolley 1.

It will be appreciated that the side members 8 improve the stability of the trolley 1.

A tine 5 in accordance with an embodiment is shown in figure 3. The tine 5 has a proximal 10 and a distal 11 end. The proximal end 10 of the tine 5 is connected to the arm 4. This distal end 11 of the tine 5 is a free end and is not connected to the arm 4.

The tine 5 comprises a generally tube-like structure with an outer wall 15 having a large support surface 12, an opposing large surface 13, and two side surfaces 14 (all of these surfaces 12-14 may, in fact, be part of the same single substantially continuous surface). The outer wall defines an internal cavity 16 of the tine.

An inflatable sheath 17 extends over at least part of the tine 5 such that the sheath 17 can be inflated to unfurl and evert under a patient in a manner which may be identical with or similar to the known manner disclosed in W02008/071940 or W091/07158. The tine 5 and sheath 17 comprise a support element.

In an embodiment, each tine 5 can be placed in an operative or an inoperative state. In an operative state, inflation fluid can be supplied to inflate the sheath 17 but in an inoperative state the inflation fluid is prevented from inflating the sheath 17. The inoperative state of a tine 5 may be selected using a control panel (not shown). The inoperative state of a tine 5 may be selected by removing that tine 5 from the arm 4. The inoperative state of a tine 5 may be selected by moving the tine 5 about the arm 4 into an inoperative rotational position (which may be such that a longitudinal axis of the tine 5 is vertical).

In an embodiment, in the inoperative state the sheath 17 is inflated but is prevented from movement with respect to the tine 5.

It will be appreciated that the transfer trolley 1 includes a supply of inflation fluid 41 to which the attachment location for each tine 5 is coupled such that each attachment location is adapted to supply inflation fluid to the sheath 17 coupled to that tine 5. A check-valve (not shown) may be provided which only allows the delivery of inflation fluid therethrough and into the sheath 17 if a tine 5 is coupled to the attachment location. It will be appreciated that a sheath 17 coupled to a tine 5 may be inflated and operated irrespective of whether or not tines are received by all of the attachment locations of a particular trolley 1.

An embodiment of the present invention comprises a removable cover 18 -see figure 4. The removable cover 18 is preferably formed from a flexible tube of material -such as a cotton or paper based material. The cover 18 is adapted for use with a support element as will be described below. In an embodiment, the removable cover 18 is formed out of Tyvek (registered trade mark) or another polymer based material.

Both a first 19 and a second 20 ends of the cover 18 are configured to be removably coupled to the sheath 17 (at respective attachment portions at the ends 19,20) and, when so coupled to the sheath 17, the cover 18 is operable to move with the sheath 17 with respect to the tine 5 -see figure 5.

Preferably, the first end 19 of the cover 18 is coupled to the sheath 17 at a first attachment location 21 which is located on a part of the sheath 17 which is on the outside of the internal cavity 16 of the tine 5 when the sheath 17 and tine 5 are in a first configuration. Preferably, the second end 20 of the cover 18 is coupled to the sheath 17 at a second attachment location 22 which is located in a part of the sheath 17 which is on the inside the internal cavity 16 of the tine 5 when the sheath 17 and the tine 5 are in the first configuration.

A first 23 and a second 24 attachment arrangement are respectively provided at the first 21 and second 22 attachment locations. The first 23 and second 24 attachment arrangements may each comprise an annular attachment arrangement around an entire circumference of the sheath 17 at the respective first 21 and second 22 locations. Each attachment arrangement 23,24 may comprise a part of a hook-and-loop based attachment system.

The first 23 and second 24 attachment arrangements are adapted to be coupled to respective attachment arrangements 25 at the first 19 and second ends of the cover 18. As will be appreciated, the attachment arrangements 25 of the cover may comprise a part of a hook-and-loop based attachment system.

The second attachment location 22 is preferably positioned along a length of the sheath 17 such that, when the sheath 17 and tine 5 are in a second configuration, the second attachment location 22 is positioned substantially at the extreme distal end 26 of the tine 5.

Thus, during operation of the tine 5 and sheath 17 (which together form a support element) between the first and second configurations which may be a "ready to load" and a "loaded" configuration, the cover 18 extends along a length of the sheath 17 between the first 21 and second 22 attachment locations. This length of the sheath 17 is the length of the sheath 17 on which the object being lifted is positioned. In other words, the cover 18 is sandwiched between the object being lifted 38 and the sheath 17-see figure 6.

A ready to load configuration is a configuration in which the tine 5 and sheath 17 are arranged such that they are ready to lift an object from a surface and a loaded configuration is a configuration in which the sheath 17 and tine 5 are arranged such that an object being lifted is substantially supported by the tine -of course, the loaded configuration can be achieved even without an object being supported by the tine 5 (the reference is merely to a configuration of the sheath 17 with respect to the tine 5).

Thus, it will be appreciated that the cover 18 can be used to protect one or both of the sheath 17 or the object being lifted from damage. For example, the cover 18 may be a sterile cover which is intended to prevent a patient from contaminating or being contaminated by the sheath 17.

The cover 18 is removable to allow the cover 18 to be replaced.

The fitting of a cover 18 to a sheath 17 may be achieved by positioning the sheath 17 and the tine 5 in the first configuration, coupling the first end 19 of the cover 18 to the first attachment arrangement 23, positioning the sheath 17 and tine 5 in the second configuration, and coupling the second end 20 of the cover 18 to the second attachment arrangement 24. The process may be reversed such that the second attachment arrangement 24 is coupled to the second end 10 of the cover 18 first, and the first attachment arrangement 23 is coupled to the first end 19 of the cover 18 subsequently.

In an embodiment, the fitting of a cover 18 to a sheath 17 may be achieved by positioning the sheath 17 and tine 5 in the second configuration, coupling the second end 20 of the cover 18 to the second attachment arrangement 24, pulling the cover 18 over a length of the sheath 17, and coupling the first end 19 of the cover 18 to the first attachment arrangement 24. This has the advantage of not requiring the movement of the sheath 17 with respect to the tine 5 between the first and second configurations. The process may be reversed such that the second attachment arrangement 24 is coupled to the second end 10 of the cover 18 first, and the first attachment arrangement 23 is coupled to the first end 19 of the cover 18 subsequently.

Removal of a cover 18 from the sheath 17 can, of course, be performed by reversing the process of fitting a cover 18 to a sheath 17.

An embodiment comprises a cartridge 27 -see figure 7. The cartridge is configured to hold and supply a cover 18. As such, the cartridge 27 may comprise a face plate 28 to which the cover 18 is removably coupled around a circumferential edge of one end 19,20 of the cover 18 to the circumferential edge 29 of an aperture 30 through en entire depth of the face plate 28.

In an embodiment of the cartridge 27 in which the second end 20 of the cover 18 is coupled to the cartridge 27, the cover 18 may be fitted to the sheath 17 by coupling the free end (i.e. the first end 19) of the cover 18 to the first attachment arrangement 23 with the sheath 17 and the tine 5 in the first configuration, moving the sheath 17 with respect to the tine 5 into the second configuration, detaching the second end 20 of the cover from the cartridge 27 and coupling the second end 20 of the cover 18 to the second attachment arrangement 24 -as generally described above in relation to the fitting of a cover 18 to a sheath 17.

In an embodiment of the cartridge 27 in which the first end 19 of the cover 18 is coupled to the cartridge 27, the cover 18 may be fitted to the sheath 17 by coupling the free end (i.e. the second end 20) of the cover 18 to the second attachment arrangement 24 with the sheath 17 and the tine 5 in the second configuration, moving the sheath 17 with respect to the tine 5 into the first configuration, detaching the first end 19 of the cover from the cartridge 27 and coupling the first end 19 of the cover 18 to the first attachment arrangement 23.

As will be appreciated, the specific coupling and decoupling/detaching steps will be dependent on the configuration of the sheath 17 and tine 5 involved.

In an embodiment, the cartridge 17 further comprises a case 31 -see figure 8 -configured to store the cover 18 and to protect the cover from contamination. A side of the case 31 may comprise the above described face plate 28. The aperture 30 through the face plate 28 may be temporarily sealed (for storage) by a removable film (not shown) which may, for example, me a plastic of paper film.

In an embodiment, the cartridge 17 is constructed from cardboard. In an embodiment, the cartridge 17 is constructed from plastic.

Thus, it will be understood, that a cartridge 27 in accordance with an embodiment is configured to supply and aid in the fitting of a cover 18 to a sheath 17.

In an embodiment, a cartridge 27 is provided which is configured to supply and aid in the fitting of a plurality of covers 18 to a respective plurality of sheaths 17. As such, the cartridge 27 may comprise a face plate 28 with an array of apertures 30 therethrough and an associated array of covers 18 coupled thereto. Such an embodiment of the cartridge 27 may ease the fitting of a plurality of covers 18 to a respective plurality of sheaths 17.

Embodiments may be suitable for use with a support element such as depicted in figure 9 which comprises a tine 5, an inner tube 32 fitted inside the tine 5, and a sheath 17 which is coupled at one end to the tine 5 and at the other to the inner tube 32. One end of a tether 34 is attached to the sheath 17 at a point which is normally inside the tine 5 and the opposing end of the tether 34 is attached to the sheath 17 at a point which is normally outside the tine 5. The tether 34 maintains a controlled distance between the sheath 17 and an extreme distal end of the tine 5. Inflation fluid is provided to the sheath 17 though a port 35 which is in fluid communication with a channel defined between the inner tube 32 and the tine 5. Thus, the sheath 17 scrolls around the distal end 11 of the tine 5.

It will be appreciated that the support element should be moved beneath an object to be lifted (such as a patient) at approximately the same rate as the sheath 17 scrolls around the distal end 11 of the tine 5. Thus, a synchronous movement mechanism 40 of the transfer trolley 1 may drive movement of one or more support elements of the trolley 1 beneath an object being lifted at a controlled rate which is substantially equal to the rate at which the sheath 17 scrolls around the distal end 11 of the tine 5. The synchronous movement mechanism 40 may include the track system on which the support pillar 3 is mounted (if provided) and/or the plurality of castors 9. In an embodiment a speed control is provided to vary the rate at which the sheath 17 scrolls around the distal end 11 of the tine 5 (and hence also the rate at which the one or more support elements move beneath the object to be lifted). It will be appreciated the movement of the one or more support elements beneath an object to be lifted may be a movement in a substantially horizontal plane -which may be parallel to a plane of the base unit 3.

It will be appreciated that a support element which has a sheath 17 which is sock-like may use a cover 18 which is also sock-like. A sock-like sheath 17 is a sheath which comprises a generally tubular sheath 17 which is substantially closed at one end thereof.

In an embodiment, the cover 18 has a first end 19 which is configured to be coupled to a sheath 17 (as described above) and a second end 20 which, along with a length of excess of cover 18 material, is stored in a cover 18 storage unit 36 -see figure 10. The storage unit 36 is located such that the cover 18 extends through the inside of the tine 5 and around the extreme distal end of the tine 5-the first end 19 of the cover 18 being coupled to the sheath 17 on the outside of the tine 5.

When the cover 18 has been soiled, through use, the first end of the cover 18 can be detached from the sheath 17, excess cover material extracted from the storage unit 36 by, for example, pulling the cover 18 through the tine 5.

The soiled section of the cover 18 can then be removed from the rest of the cover 18 material. This may be achieved by tearing or cutting the cover 18. A new first end 37 of the cover 18 is created and can be coupled to the sheath 17 (generally as discussed above).

The cover 18 may be provided with a perforated or weakened section 39 to ease the tearing of cover 18. The cover 18 may be provided with a plurality of attachment arrangements 25 along its length which are each configured for coupling to the first attachment arrangement 23. Thus, the cover 18 material can be removed in sections with a suitable attachment arrangement 25 being provided at the first end 37 of each section.

It will be understood that a base module may comprise one or more of the base unit 2, the support pillar 3, the arm 4 and the like.

When used in this specification and claims, the terms "comprises" and "comprising" and variations thereof mean that the specified features, steps or integers are included. The terms are not to be interpreted to exclude the presence of other features, steps or components.

The features disclosed in the foregoing description, or the following claims, or the accompanying drawings, expressed in their specific forms or in terms of a means for performing the disclosed function, or a method or process for attaining the disclosed result, as appropriate, may, separately, or in any combination of such features, be utilised for realising the invention in diverse forms thereof.

Claims

Claims: 1. A support element for use with a transfer trolley, the support element comprising: a tine having a proximal and a distal end; an inflatable sheath which at least partially surrounds the distal end of the tine and is adapted to unfurl and evert beneath an object to be lifted when inflated with an inflation fluid, the inflatable sheath including first and second attachment location; and a removable cover attached to the sheath and covering at least part of the sheath, the cover having a first end attached to the first attachment location of the sheath and a second end attached to the second attachment location of the sheath such that, in use, the cover at least partially protects the sheath from contact with an object to be lifted and inflation fluid passes through the fluid permeable cover.
2. A support element according to claim 1, wherein the removable cover is tubular.
3. A support element according to claim 2, wherein the first and second ends of the tubular removable cover are open ends.
4. A support element according to any preceding claim, wherein the first end of the cover has an attachment arrangement which is configured to grip the sheath.
5. A support element according to any preceding claim, wherein the cover is at least partially formed of Tyvek.
6. A support element according to any preceding claim, wherein the cover is inflation fluid permeable.
7. A plurality of covers and a cartridge comprising: a plurality of removable covers attachable to respective sheaths of a transfer trolley, each cover adapted to cover at least part of a sheath such that, in use, the cover at least partially protects the sheath from contact with an object to be lifted; and a cartridge coupled to the plurality of removable covers and configured to store the removable covers for deployment onto a respective plurality of sheaths.
8. A plurality of covers and a cartridge according to claim 9, wherein the cartridge comprises a face plate and case.
9. A plurality of covers and a cartridge according to claim 9 or 10, wherein the cartridge is at least partially formed from cardboard.
10. A transfer trolley comprising: a supply of inflation fluid; and a plurality of attachment locations, each of the plurality of attachment locations being coupled to the supply of inflation fluid and adapted to receive a removable support element comprising: a tine having a proximal and a distal end, and an inflatable sheath which at least partially surrounds the distal end of the tine and is adapted to unfurl and evert beneath an object to be lifted, wherein each attachment location is configured to link the supply of inflation fluid to the inflatable sheath of a support element coupled thereto to allow inflation of the sheath by fluid supplied from the supply of inflation fluid.
11. A transfer trolley comprising: a base module; one or more support elements carried by the base module, the or each support element comprising: a tine having a proximal and a distal end, and an inflatable sheath which at least partially surrounds the distal end of the tine and is adapted to unfurl and evert beneath an object to be lifted; and a synchronous movement mechanism operable to actuate at least one of the or each support elements to cause movement of the or each respective sheath with respect to the or each respective tine at a sheath movement rate, and to actuate the base module to cause movement of the or each support element with respect to an object to be lifted at rate which substantially corresponds to the sheath movement rate.
12. A transfer trolley according to claim 11, wherein the or each support element is configured such that the respective sheath scrolls around a distal end of the respective tine during operation.
13. A transfer trolley including a support element according to any of claims 1 to 6.
14. A transfer trolley including a plurality of covers and a cartridge according to any of claims 7 to 9.
15. A support element substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
16. A plurality of covers and a cartridge substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
17. A transfer trolley substantially as herein before described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
18. Any novel feature or combination of features described herein.