ANCHOR FOR USE WITH PATIENT RESTRAINTS AND ASSOCIATED METHODS
A restraint anchor in accordance with at least one of the present inventions includes an attachment member that is adapted to be secured to a patient restraint and a base member, associated with the attachment member, that is adapted to be secured to a portion of a patient support apparatus.
1 . A restraint anchor, comprising:
an attachment member that is adapted to be secured to a patient restraint; and
a base member, associated with the attachment member, that is adapted to be secured to a portion of a patient support apparatus.
2 . A restraint anchor as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the base member includes a flexible strap defining a free end and a fixed end.
3 . A restraint anchor as claimed in claim 2 , further comprising:
a buckle associated with the fixed end of the base member flexible strap.
4 . A restraint anchor as claimed in claim 1 , wherein
the attachment member includes a flexible strap, defining a free end and a fixed end, and a ring associated with the free end.
5 . A restraint anchor as claimed in claim 4 , further comprising:
a buckle associated with the fixed end of the attachment member flexible strap.
6 . A restraint anchor as claimed in claim 1 , wherein
the base member is not part of the patient restraint.
7 . A restraint anchor, comprising:
means for anchoring a patient restraint; and
means for securing the means for anchoring to a portion of a patient support apparatus.
8 . A restraint anchor as claimed in claim 7 , further comprising:
a buckle associated with the means for securing.
9 . A restraint anchor as claimed in claim 7 , wherein
the means for anchoring a patient restraint is not part of the patient restraint.
10 . A method of converting a patient support apparatus into a patient support apparatus with an anchor point, comprising the step of:
securing a restraint anchor, which includes an attachment member that is adapted to be secured to a patient restraint, to the patient support apparatus.
11 . A method as claimed in claim 10 , wherein
the restraint anchor includes a flexible strap; and
the step of the securing a restraint anchor comprises looping the flexible strap around a portion of the patient support apparatus.
12 . A method as claimed in claim 11 , further comprising the step of:
locking the flexible strap to the portion of the patient support apparatus.
13 . A method as claimed in claim 10 , wherein
the patient support apparatus includes a frame and a mattress; and
the step of the securing a restraint anchor comprises securing the restraint anchor to the frame.
14 . A method as claimed in claim 13 , the further comprising the step of:
removing the mattress prior to securing the mattress to the frame.
15 . A method as claimed in claim 10 , wherein
the attachment member is not part of the patient support apparatus.