US Patent 7419019 Power assist apparatus for use with a hospital bed

A power-assist apparatus for use with hospital beds has at least one drive wheel interconnected to a frame of the hospital bed so as to be movable between a first position in which the drive wheel is positioned in spaced relationship to an underlying surface and a second position in which the drive wheel resiliently contacts the underlying surface. A controller is cooperative with the drive wheel so as to move the drive wheel between the first and second positions. A motor is drivably connected to the drive wheel. A handle is connected to the frame of the bed so as to extend upwardly and outwardly therefrom. The handle has control mechanisms for controlling the drive wheel and the motor.