Patient transport system

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of International Patent Application Number PCT/US97/23283, filed Dec. 16, 1997, and designating, inter alia, the United States, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/440,065, filed May 12, 1995, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,697,109, granted Dec. 16, 1997, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/330,808, filed Oct. 28, 1994, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,819,339, granted Oct. 13, 1998

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to patient transport systems, and more particularly, to a patient transport system for transferring an immobile patient from a bed to a gurney or vice versa.

2. Description of the Prior Art

It appears to be widely accepted that a major, if not the major, work-related complaint among nurses and hospital nursing staff is back injuries caused by lifting patients and getting them in and out of a bed and to and from a gurney or a stretcher as it is commonly referred to. A survey of existing practices and techniques suggests that there is no widely adopted simple and safe method of transferring patients from a bed to a gurney, or vice versa, without lifting them. There are hoist-type lifts where the patient is suspended in a sling. The sling must be first manipulated under the patient and then the patient must be physically lifted, changing the shape of the body and applying pressures different from those existing on the patient when lying prone in bed. There are also roller boards which are inserted partially under the patient and then the patient is pulled onto the roller board. Again, the patient must be manipulated to allow the board to be inserted and then the body is pulled onto the board. In the end, the patient ends up on the board, not on the gurney or the bed. An additional disadvantage of the roller board is that either the patient must cooperate with the transferrer or more than one transferrer is required to effect the transfer. Patients have also been known to drop off the roller boards and to land on the floor between the bed and the gurney.

Also, previous inventions make use of conveyors external to both the bed and the gurney in which the patient is passed from one to the other which results in unnecessary and complex devices and cannot accommodate different sized beds. Such devices are set forth in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,163,189; 4,776,047; 4,761,841; 3,810,263; 3,769,642; 3,593,351; 3,413,663; 3,302,219; 2,733,452; 2,630,583; 2,536,707; 1,487,171; 1,263,611; 716,886; and 378,220.

Therefore, it is an object of the invention to allow a patient, while lying in the prone position and completely immobile, to be moved by one person of relatively low strength smoothly and safely from a bed onto a gurney and vice versa.

It is also an object of the invention to allow a patient, while lying in a prone position and completely immobile, to be moved by one person of relatively low strength, safely from the bed to the gurney and vice versa, and to accommodate various bed lengths with one conveying apparatus.

It is also an object of the invention to provide a patient transport system for a bed or a gurney which can be easily engaged with the bed or gurney and removed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention is an apparatus for transporting a patient that includes a base, a patient supporting member attached to the base, a conveyor secured (either fixedly or removably) to the base, and a sheet. The sheet has a first end and a second end, where the first end is attached to the conveyor. The sheet is adapted to be positioned onto the patient supporting member. The base and the patient supporting member can form a bed, a gurney or an apparatus that converts from a gurney to a wheelchair or vice versa.

The conveyor includes a roller rotatably secured to the base, where the roller can be made of graphite fibers, aluminum, fiberglass or steel. The roller includes a first end and a second end. The sheet first end is attached to the roller and two bearings which are removably and rotatably secured to respective first and second ends of the roller.

Each bearing includes a first leg and a second leg attached to the first leg. The first and second legs define an open ended roller receiving recess that receives an end of the roller. A tip extends from one of the legs into the roller recess. Preferably, the tip extends from the first leg, which includes an inner surface having a first section and a second section, where the tip extends at an interface of the two sections. The second leg includes a first segment and a depending second segment. The second segment is secured to the first leg. Inner surfaces of the first segment, second segment and second section define a roller engaging recess. The second section inner surface is concave shaped.

A pair of collars are provided on both ends of the roller, wherein the bearings are received between the collars.

The sheet is removably attached to the conveyor by a flexible strap having one end releasably attached to the roller and the other end releasably attached to the sheet. Preferably, a clip is releasably secured at one end of the strap for attaching to the sheet. The clip can include a body defining a slot and a plug received in the slot. The plug is adapted to sandwich and bind a portion of the sheet between the plug and the body. The length of the strap can be adjusted. Preferably, Velcro® fasteners are provided on an end of the strap and along the length of the roller so the strap can be releasably secured to the roller.

The roller can be provided with a telescopic arrangement so that its length can be adjusted, wherein the roller includes a first longitudinally extending member that slidably receives a second longitudinally extending member with a recess defined in the first longitudinally extending member. Preferably, the recess has the same geometric shape as a cross-sectional shape of the second longitudinal member. A segmented handle can be attached to the roller. An annular member is slidably received by the second longitudinally extending member and a flexible strip is secured to the annular member.

A tube can be attached to the base and a post can be attached to the bearing, or vice versa. The post is slidably received by the tube so that the bearing is removably secured to the base. A pawl and ratchet arrangement can be secured to the roller and bearing to prevent the roller from rotating in a defined direction.

The invention can be used on a bed, a gurney or a convertible gurney that converts from a gurney to a wheelchair.

The invention is also a method for transporting a patient from a bed to a gurney or vice versa using the above-described conveyor including the steps of: placing a sheet on one of the mattress of the bed and the patient supporting surface of the gurney, positioning the patient on the sheet, attaching the conveyor to the other of the bed and the gurney having the sheet, positioning the gurney adjacent to the bed so that the conveyor is along a side of the other of the gurney and the bed, the side being furthest away from the one of the bed and the gurney having the sheet, removably attaching the sheet to the roller, rotating the roller and thereby winding the sheet around the roller, moving the patient on the sheet from the one of the bed and gurney toward the roller onto the other of the bed and the roller, and removing the roller from the one of the bed and the gurney.

The method can also include the steps of attaching the sheet to straps secured to the roller and adjusting the length of the straps after the patient begins to be moved on the sheet so that all of the straps are taut.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1

is a perspective view of a gurney, a hospital bed and a conveyor;

FIG. 2

is a partial top view of a portion of the bed and the conveyor shown in

FIG. 1

;

FIG. 3

is a schematic side view of a bed, a gurney and a conveyor attached to the gurney for moving a patient from the bed to the gurney;

FIG. 4

is a schematic view of a bed, gurney and a conveyor attached to the bed for moving a patient from the gurney to the bed;

FIGS. 5-9

are schematic views showing a bed, a gurney and a conveyor for moving a patient to and from the bed and the gurney for the purposes of changing a bed sheet on the bed;

FIG. 10

shows a partial perspective view of a bed and a conveyor having a belt and a clip;

FIG. 11

is a top view of a clip body member;

FIG. 12

is a front view of the clip body member shown in

FIG. 11

;

FIG. 13

is a top view of a clip plug member;

FIG. 14

is a section taken along line XIV—XIV of

FIG. 13

;

FIG. 15

is a sectional view of the body member and plug member;

FIG. 16

is a sectional view of the body member and a belt;

FIG. 17

is a top view of a portion of the conveyor shown in

FIG. 10

;

FIG. 18

is a top view of a portion of the conveyor shown in

FIG. 10

with a sheet attached thereto;

FIG. 19

is a partial sectional view of the conveyor shown in

FIG. 10

with the belt partially wrapped around the conveyor;

FIG. 20

is a section taken along line XX—XX of

FIG. 18

;

FIG. 21

is a perspective view of a hospital bed and a conveyor made in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 22

is a plan view of a roller assembly of the conveyor shown in

FIG. 21

;

FIG. 23

is a side view of a bearing of the conveyor shown in

FIG. 21

;

FIG. 24

a

is a top view of a strap and clip arrangement of the conveyor shown in

FIG. 21

;

FIG. 24

b

is a section taken along line XXIVb—XXIVb of

FIG. 24

a;

FIG. 25

is a view along line XXV—XXV of the roller shown in

FIG. 22

;

FIG. 26

is a section taken along line XXVI—XXVI of the roller shown in

FIG. 22

;

FIG. 27

is a partial view of another embodiment of the present invention showing a portion of a conveyor having a telescopic roller;

FIG. 28

is a section taken along lines XXVIII—XXVIII of

FIG. 27

;

FIG. 29

is a partial plan view of the telescopic roller shown in

FIG. 27

in a closed position;

FIG. 30

is a perspective view of a portion of the conveyor roller shown in

FIG. 27

in an extended position;

FIG. 31

is a perspective view of the conveyor roller shown in

FIG. 30

in a retracted position;

FIG. 32

is a front view of a top cap shown in

FIG. 27

;

FIG. 33

is a partial view of another embodiment of the present invention showing a portion of a conveyor having a telescopic roller;

FIG. 34

is a top view of another embodiment of the strap made in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 35

is a top view of a clip and the strap of the embodiment shown in

FIG. 34

;

FIG. 36

is a partial side view of a locking mechanism used with the conveyor of the present invention;

FIG. 37

is a top view of a bed having bearing holder tubes positioned adjacent the corners of the bed;

FIG. 38

is a side view showing the bed shown in

FIG. 37

with a bearing holder and a post made in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 39

is a top perspective fragmentary view showing the bearing holder and the post shown in

FIG. 38

;

FIG. 40

is a plan view of a roller assembly similar to that as shown in

FIG. 22

with a different handle;

FIG. 41

is a top view of a bed having a conveyor made in accordance with the present invention positioned at the head of the bed;

FIG. 42

is an exploded top plan view of another embodiment of the present invention showing a conveyor for use with a gurney that converts into a wheelchair;

FIG. 43

is a side view of the gurney shown in

FIG. 42

converted into a wheelchair;

FIG. 44

is a side view of a bearing unit shown in

FIG. 42

;

FIG. 45

is a top view of a clip arrangement made in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 46

is a top view of another embodiment of a clip made in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 47

is a side view of the clip shown in

FIG. 46

;

FIG. 48A

is a side view of another plug made in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 48B

is a top view of the plug shown in

FIG. 48

;

FIG. 49

is a side view showing the plug shown in

FIGS. 48A and 48B

engaged with the clip shown in

FIGS. 46 and 47

;

FIG. 50A

is a side view, partially in section, of another embodiment of a roller made in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 50B

is a top view of the roller shown in

FIG. 50A

;

FIG. 50C

is a side view of a collapsible handle used with the roller shown in

FIGS. 50A and 50B

.

FIG. 51

is a side view of a belt for use with the roller shown in

FIGS. 50A and 50B

;

FIG. 52

is a side view of a bearing made in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 53

is a top view of a bearing shown in

FIG. 52

;

FIG. 54

is a plan view of another embodiment of a roller assembly made in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 55

is a plan view of another embodiment of a roller assembly made in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 56

is a section taken along lines LVI—LVI of the rollers shown in

FIG. 55

;

FIG. 57

is a top perspective view showing a bearing holder;

FIG. 58

is a top perspective view of a tube and bed arrangement adapted to receive the bearing holder shown in

FIG. 57

;

FIG. 59

is a top perspective view of a bed having a tube and pin arrangement adapted to receive the bearing holder shown in

FIG. 57

;

FIG. 60

is a top view of a bed having a conveyor made in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 61

is a top view of another embodiment of a clip attached to a portion of a belt made in accordance with the present invention; and

FIG. 62

is a side view of another plug made in accordance with the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring to

FIGS. 1-9

, there is shown a bed and a gurney having a conveyor in accordance with the present invention. specifically,

FIG. 1

shows a bed

10

that includes a bed frame or base

12

having a headboard

14

, a baseboard

16

, legs

18

attached to headboard

14

and baseboard

16

, and a mattress supporting frame

20

attached to headboard

14

and baseboard

16

and legs

18

. A mattress

22

is supported by mattress supporting frame

20

. A gurney or stretcher

30

, which is positioned directly adjacent to a side

31

of mattress

20

of bed

10

, includes a frame or base

32

having wheels

34

attached thereto (throughout the specification, gurney and stretcher are used interchangeably). A patient supporting member

36

is supported by frame

32

. Both mattress

20

and patient supporting member

36

extend in a first longitudinal direction shown by the arrow X.

As can be seen in

FIG. 1

, both bed

10

and gurney

30

have a conveyor

40

attached thereto. Each conveyor

40

includes a roller

42

having two ends or end portions

43

a

and

43

b

. Each end portion

43

a

and

43

b

is rotatably received by or rotatably coupled to a respective bearing unit

44

. Thus, bearing units

44

are positioned near opposite ends of roller

42

. A removable handle

46

or rotating member is received by a coupling

47

attached to end

43

b

of roller

42

. Each bearing unit

44

includes a low friction bearing member, such as the Fafnir R.P.B. bearing and a housing

48

. Roller

42

, bearing unit

44

, handle

46

, and coupling

47

are similar to those used in Loadhandler Industries, Inc. LH-1000 Unloader described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,340,266 and PCT Application Serial No. US94/07816, which are hereby incorporated by reference. Each housing

48

includes an attaching member plate

49

. Plate

49

attaches to gurney

30

or bed

10

either by welding plate

49

to gurney frame

32

or bed frame

12

, or by fastening plate

49

to gurney frame

32

or bed frame

12

, through fasteners, such as screws.

Alternatively, each plate

49

can be attached to or coupled to a conveyor attaching member

50

. Each member

50

includes an L-shaped plate

52

having a first leg

54

and a second leg

56

extending therefrom. A second member

58

is provided having a U-shaped portion

60

. Two legs

62

and

64

depend from U-shaped portion

60

. Preferably, member

58

is formed by bending a metallic rod having a circular cross-section. Legs

62

and

64

have threaded ends

66

and

68

, respectively. Two holes are defined in leg

56

of L-shaped plate

52

through which legs

62

and

64

pass, respectively. A recess

70

is defined between L-shaped plate

52

and second member

58

. Either headboard

14

or baseboard

16

of bed

10

is positioned within recess

70

, as shown in

FIGS. 1 and 2

.

Conveyor

40

attaches to or is coupled to bed

10

as follows. First, second leg

56

of L-shaped plate

52

and U-shaped portion

60

of second member

58

, which are secured to one of bearing units

44

, are pressed against respective sides of headboard

14

. Then, second leg

56

and U-shaped portion

60

are held in place by wing nuts

72

and

74

, which are threadably received by respective threaded ends

66

and

68

of legs

62

and

64

and abut against respective second legs

56

. Wing nuts

72

and

74

are tightened sufficiently to hold, through frictional forces, attaching member

50

to headboard

14

. The same process is then repeated for second leg

56

and U-shaped portion

60

of the other bearing unit

44

, which is secured to baseboard

16

, thereby holding conveyor

40

in place.

A sheet

80

, such as a bedsheet, is releasably attached to roller

42

. Preferably, sheet

80

is at least two times the width W of bed

10

and gurney

30

, when bed

10

and gurney

30

are positioned adjacent one another, as shown in FIG.

1

. An end

81

a

of sheet

80

is releasably attached to roller

42

with adhesive tape T, shown in phantom, such as cloth backed first aid tape or duct tape. Opposite end of sheet

81

b

is unsecured and is a free end. Preferably, sheet

80

is made from high quality fabric, such as cotton or polyester, with at least 180 threads per inch weave construction, although any type of sheeting material which can support a body can be used. A queen size bed sheet works satisfactory for use with a twin size mattress. Conveyor

40

is adapted to move sheet

80

, and in turn a patient

100

, in a second longitudinal direction shown by arrow Y, which is transverse to the first longitudinal direction shown by the arrow X.

Moving patient

100

using conveyor

40

is described hereinbelow.

a) Moving a Patient from the Bed to the Gurney

As shown in

FIG. 3

, initially patient

100

is lying in a prone position on bed

10

preferably on or near longitudinal centerline L of sheet

80

. Typically, sheet

80

is secured to bed

10

by tucking sheet

80

under mattress

20

. Sheet

80

is then untucked or unsecured from bed

10

and an edge

81

b

of sheet

80

closest to gurney

30

is extended across gurney

30

. Conveyor

40

is attached to gurney

30

at a side

83

of gurney

30

furthest from bed

10

. Edge

81

b

of sheet

80

is releasably attached to roller

42

using, for example, adhesive tape. Preferably, bed

10

and gurney

30

are adjusted so that an upper surface

82

of mattress

20

is approximately two inches higher H than an upper surface

84

of patient supporting member

36

. Height adjusting mechanisms for hospital beds and gurneys are well known in the art. Roller

42

is then slowly rotated about a longitudinal axis X passing through roller

42

, so that preferably at least two complete wraps of sheet

80

are wound onto roller

42

. Handle

46

is then inserted into or attached to coupling

47

of conveyor

40

. Roller

42

is then rotated about longitudinal axis X, so that sheet

80

continues to be wound onto roller

42

. This causes sheet

80

with patient

100

lying on an upper surface thereof to slide across upper surface

82

of mattress

10

and upper surface

84

of gurney supporting member

36

, thereby causing patient

100

to be moved from bed

10

to gurney

30

, as shown in phantom in FIG.

3

. Any remaining part of sheet

80

on bed

10

after patient

100

is transferred to gurney

30

can be placed over patient

100

. Patient

100

can then be transported by gurney

30

.

b) Moving a Patient from the Gurney to the Bed

As shown in

FIG. 4

, initially patient

100

is lying in a prone position on gurney

30

. Specifically, the patient is lying on or near longitudinal centerline L of sheet

80

resting on upper surface

84

of patient supporting member

36

. Gurney

30

is positioned along a side

86

of bed

10

. Conveyor

40

is attached to bed

10

on side

88

of bed

10

furthest from gurney

30

. Edge

81

a

of sheet

80

closest to bed

10

is removably attached to roller

42

with, for example, four or five short pieces of adhesive tape as previously described. Preferably, bed

10

and gurney

30

are adjusted so that upper surface

82

of mattress

20

is approximately two inches above upper surface

84

of patient supporting member

36

. Roller

42

is then slowly rotated about longitudinal axis X so that preferably at least two complete wraps of sheet

80

are wound onto roller

42

. Handle

46

is then inserted into or attached to coupling

47

of conveyor

40

and roller

42

is rotated about the longitudinal axis X so that sheet

80

continues to be wound onto roller

42

. This causes patient

100

to be moved from gurney

30

onto bed

10

in a manner similar to moving patient

100

from bed

10

to gurney

30

. Roller

42

is rotated until the patient is located in a middle section M of bed

10

. Sheet

80

is then removed from roller

42

by removing the adhesive tape and can be secured to bed

10

by tucking sheet

80

under mattress

20

. Conveyor

40

may then be removed from bed

10

.

c) Changing Sheets on a Bed of a Prone, Immobile Patient without Lifting or Manipulating the Patient

FIGS. 5-9

show a method for changing sheets on bed

10

of a prone, immobile patient without lifting or manipulating the patient. At least two conveyors

40

are required and are designated

40

′ and

40

″. A first conveyor

40

′ attaches to side

86

of bed

10

and a second conveyor

40

″ attaches to side

83

of gurney

30

as shown in FIG.

5

. Conveyors

40

′ and

40

″ are the same as conveyor

40

previously described. Initially, patient

100

is on bed sheet

80

on bed

10

, lying essentially on longitudinal centerline L′ on sheet

80

′. Sheet

80

′, which is positioned under patient

100

, is unsecured or untucked and removably attached at longitudinal edge

81

b

′ with adhesive tape, or another type of removable fastener, to roller

42

′. Then roller

42

′ is turned slowly by hand so that preferably at least two wraps of sheet

80

′ are wound around roller

42

′. A fresh sheet

80

″ is then laid across patient supporting member

36

of gurney

30

. Longitudinal edge

81

b

′ of sheet

80

″ is attached with adhesive tape to roller

42

″. Then roller

42

″ is turned slowly by hand so that preferably at least two wraps of sheet

80

″ are wound around roller

42

″. Loose end

81

a

″ of fresh sheet

80

″ is gathered and folded concertina style and laid in a sheet retaining receptacle

110

, as shown in

FIGS. 5-9

, positioned underneath a longitudinal edge

112

of gurney

30

. Edge

112

of gurney

30

is positioned adjacent side

86

of bed

10

and conveyor

40

′ so that conveyor

40

′ is positioned between bed

10

and gurney

30

, and conveyor

40

″ of gurney

30

is positioned on the side of gurney

30

furthest from bed

10

. Preferably, bed

10

and gurney

30

are adjusted so that upper surface

82

of mattress

20

is about two inches above upper surface

84

of patient supporting member

36

and an upper horizontal tangent of roller

42

′ should be approximately one inch below surface

82

. Preferably, gurney

30

is then clamped to bed

10

using any sort of clamping device, for example, a C-clamp, although locking the wheels of gurney

30

will also suffice. Handle

46

′ is then inserted into or attached to coupling

47

′ of conveyor

40

′ and turned, moving patient

100

toward gurney

30

, until a shoulder of patient

100

is positioned over gurney

30

and starts to push fresh sheet

80

″ across gurney

30

toward side

83

, as shown in FIG.

6

. Second handle

46

″ is then inserted into or attached to coupling

47

″ of conveyor

40

″. Handle

46

″ should then be rotated about a longitudinal axis X″ moving fresh sheet

80

″ and patient

100

onto gurney

30

, as shown in FIG.

7

. Preferably, handle

46

″ should continue to be rotated while handle

46

″ is rotated.

Once patient

100

is on gurney

30

, rotation of handles

46

′ and

46

″ is stopped and sheet

80

″ is removed from bed

10

and conveyor

40

′ by grasping free edge

81

b

′ of sheet

80

′ lying on bed

10

and pulling it off roller

42

′, as shown in FIG.

8

. Conveyor

40

′ is then moved and attached to side

88

of bed

10

, i.e., to the side furthest away from gurney

30

, as shown in FIG.

9

. Free edge

81

a

″ of sheet

80

″ is extended across mattress

20

of bed

10

and removably attached to roller

42

′. Handle

46

′ is then attached or inserted into coupling

47

′ of conveyor

40

′ and rotated about the longitudinal axis X′, as previously discussed, thereby wrapping sheet

80

″ around roller

42

′. Patient

100

is then moved by sheet

80

″, which is moved by conveyor

40

′, from gurney

30

onto bed

10

and is now lying on fresh sheet

80

″. Sheet

80

″ is then removed from rollers

42

′ and

42

″ and can be tucked under mattress

20

in an appropriate fashion. Sheet

80

″ can also be removed from roller

42

″ prior to its being wound around roller

42

′. Conveyors

40

′ and

40

″ may then be removed from bed

10

and/or gurney

30

.

It should be noted that conveyor

40

can include a motor in lieu of a handle to rotate roller

42

. Further, conveyor

40

described above can be permanently affixed to bed

10

or gurney

30

and one or two conveyors may be attached to bed

10

and/or gurney

30

. This depends on whether a conveyor

40

is attached to one side or both sides of bed

10

or gurney

30

.

Conveyor

40

and the above-described methods for moving a patient from gurney

30

to bed

10

solve several problems in moving immobile patients. First, conveyor

40

is inexpensive to manufacture and simple to operate, and overcomes many of the problems involved in the complex conveying mechanisms presently known in the art. Further, conveyor

40

utilizes a bed sheet

80

which is then used on the bed. This eliminates the need to move the patient by lifting the patient from gurney

30

to bed

10

or vice versa. Further, the patient need not be physically lifted by a nurser's aid or nurse because the patient is transported by the sheet. This will minimize injuries to nurses, nurser's aides and patients in moving a patient from gurney

30

to bed

10

or vice versa. Furthermore, only one person is required to move the patient between gurney

30

and bed

10

. This will result in a substantial labor cost savings associated with transferring patients.

A second embodiment of conveyor

40

, as described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/330,808 and identified as conveyor

200

, is shown in

FIGS. 10-20

. Conveyor

200

is similar to conveyor

40

except conveyor

200

includes a clip

202

. Like reference numerals are used for like parts.

As shown in

FIG. 10

, conveyor

200

includes a roller

42

, bearing units

44

, and a removable handle

46

received by a coupling

47

. Each bearing unit includes a low friction bearing and housing

48

, which includes an attaching member plate

49

. Each plate

49

can be attached to a conveyor attaching member

50

.

Three fasteners or clips

202

are attached to roller

42

. Specifically, each clip

202

is attached to an end

204

of a respective flexible belt

206

. An opposite end

208

of belt

206

is attached to roller

42

. Preferably, three or four belts

206

are spaced along roller

42

. Belts

206

are permanently attached to roller

42

, either by an adhesive or by mechanical fasteners. Belts

206

are made of a flexible material such as woven polypropylene, woven polyethylene or cotton. Belts

206

should be at least as long as the sheet being replaced, say three to four feet for a twin size bed.

As shown in

FIGS. 10-16

, each clip

202

includes a substantially flat body member

210

and a plug member

212

. Preferably, plug member

212

is attached to belt

206

by a flexible string

213