Air chamber type patient mover air pallet with multiple control features

Abstract

air chamber-type air pallets incorporate side-to-side linked air pressurized tubes or chambers in two integrated rows, having common members for adjacent chambers under air pressurization rendered rigid over a certain extent to rigidify the air chambers thereof which form load backing chambers in place of rigid backing members conventionally employed in air pallets maintaining the load footprint borne by the air pressurized backing chambers matched by that of the developed air bearing or air film by passage of compressed air through the pattern of perforations. Preferably, linked tubes of one row are laterally offset but integrated physically to those of a second row to both limit lateral shrinkage of linked tubes extending completely across the pin hole perforations within the thin, flexible bottom sheet partially forming such air pallets. The use of upper and lower rows of tubes subject to air pressurization provides adequate separation between the load and the fixed support surface to prevent contact of the load and the fixed support surface irrespective of loss of pressurization of a given one of the tubes of either row. The air pallets are formed totally of thin, flexible sheet material, permitting deflation and transfer from one locale to another. The air pallets function as stable supports for the patient during transport over the developed air film between the patient mover and an underlying fixed support surface. A single row of linked tubes formed of two thin, flexible sheets, acting as plenum chambers and having perforations within the thin, flexible bottom sheet functions adequately to support the patient directly on the top thin, flexible sheet with the bottom tangential surfaces of the individual tubes flattening. Preferably the area of perforations for each tube is limited transversely to the flattened portions of those tubes facing the underlying fixed support surface, with the developed air film having a surface area matching that of the patient.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to air pallets, and more particularly to air pallet-type patient movers for facilitating comfortable support of and transfer of patients and more particularly to a semi-rigid air pallet in which a series of parallel, compressed air filled tubes or the like form one or more backing chambers which function as a generally rigid backing member.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is an outgrowth of the development of an air pallet using low pressure, low cfm air flow exemplified by U.S. Pat. No. 3,948,344 entitled. "LOW COST PLANAR AIR PALLET MATERIAL HANDLING SYSTEM" issued Apr. 6, 1976, and U.S. Pat. No. 4,272,856 entitled, "DISPOSABLE AIRBEARING PATIENT MOVER AND VALVE EMPLOYED THEREIN", issued June 16, 19817two-piece40 39, this embodiment has the first intermediate sheet 14 imperforate, and accordion pleated with the edges of the pleats as at 33, thermal bonded or otherwise sealed longitudinally, alternatively to respective opposing surfaces of the top sheet 12 and the second intermediate sheet 16 to form closed sealed flexible backing chambers or tubes similar to that of FIG. 24. These consist of an upper row of chambers or sealed hollow tubes 35 and a lower row of such tubes 37 with common walls 41 subjected to pressurization on opposite sides by a chamber 35 and 37, respectively. Since the corrugated walls are common to two tubes, one on each side of an oblique wall, such common walls are rendered taut or rigid acting as I beams and this structure resists the tendency for the air pallet to hot dog. i.e., the opposite lateral edges to curl in response to gas pressurization of these chambers. Sheet 29 may be dispensed with since the flexible backing chambers render the air pallet generally rigid upon air pressurization. Additionally, the bottom thin flexible sheet 18 over the extent of the lateral perforated area beating perforations 26, forms a series of adjacent plenum chambers or chamber sections 31 with the sheet 18 bonded to the bottom of the thin flexible sheet 25 at laterally spaced seal lines 39 which extend longitudinally and which additionally assist in maintaining the air bearing at A. Air under pressure is supplied through air inlet valve 72' to the left, and via a common transverse manifold (not shown) open to the balance of the segmental plenum chamber 31.

Alternatively a rigid rectangular open frame 41. 29', FIG. 40, may be inserted within backing member cavity 27, FIG. 39, whose longitudinally extending, laterally spaced beams 41a 29'a prevent lateral shrinking of the plenum chamber 31 such that the footprint of the air bearing A remains adequately sized for the footprint of the mass distribution of the load (patient P) positioned on the upper surface of the top thin flexible sheet 12. In a variation, the patient mover air pallet 10'" could be positioned within the frame 41 29' opening and strung on the frame by tensioned cords with the frame providing an exterior anti-shrink function.

Turning next to FIG. 41, a further embodiment of the patient mover type air pallet 10"" is illustrated, again being a vertical sectional view corresponding to the air pallet 10 embodiment shown in FIG. 32 with modifications as shown in the drawings. Otherwise the air pallet 10"" corresponds to air pallet 10, as described and shown in detail. One respect in which the structure 10"" is modified resides in the utilization of vertical and oblique ties 43 formed of perforated flexible sheet material, being thermal bonded, sewn, heat sealed or the like at opposite ends to the thin flexible perforated bottom sheet 18 and to the second intermediate sheet 16 respectively. These ties 43 act, when taut, as additional physical restraints to prevent the structure from hot dogging. in response to air pressurization of the upper and lower rows of tubes 44 through 64, inclusive and the plenum chamber. While the dual tube array in FIG. 41 corresponding to FIG. 32, by having common walls of side by side laterally offset upper and lower row flexible backing chamber tubes, equally pressurized, normally adequately prevents excessive shrinkage of the portion of the plenum chamber 68 forming the air bearing A such that the footprint of the air bearing A between the air pallet 10"" and the rigid planar support surface 11 beyond that capable of supporting the load P over its footprint, the ties 43 further assist in that purpose. Such ties may in themselves solely provide that function in a soft pad or hard pad air pallet. With the tubes 44-64 under constant pressure by application of compressed air to the tubes as per arrow 89 similar to the embodiment of FIG. 26 32, the application of a low cfm flow of air from a source indicated as arrow 70 through the air inlet valve 72 to plenum chamber 68 creates the air bearing A over a perforated area whose footprint may be readily maintained between 75% and 100% of the footprint cross sectional area of the load provided by the patient P supported by the pallet 10"".

While the invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to preferred embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that the foregoing and other changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Claims

1. A patient mover air pallet for frictionless movement of a patient over an underlying, relatively fixed support surface, said patient mover air pallet comprising:

top, intermediate and bottom thin flexible sheets,

means for sealing given sheets together linearly to define a plenum chamber between said intermediate and bottom sheets,

at least one backing member cavity between said top sheet and said intermediate sheet, said bottom thin flexible sheet including a portion defined by the footprint of the load having a plurality of closely spaced small diameter pin hole type perforations opening directly into the plenum chamber and directly onto said support surface,

air inlet means communicating with the plenum chamber at one end thereof for permitting low pressure air flow pressurization of the plenum chamber for initially jacking the load and for subsequent discharge through the perforations to create a thin air film between the bottom thin flexible sheet and the support surface,

means including said top thin flexible sheet defining a semi-rigid backing member so as to define with the plenum chamber air dispersion means for insuring air flow throughout the plenum chamber when the air pallet is under load at the time of air pressurization of the plenum chamber, and constituting with said bottom thin flexible sheet, means for controlling pillowing of the thin flexible sheet material to permit jacking of the semi-rigid backing member and the load while preventing ballooning of the thin flexible sheet material,

wherein said semi-rigid backing member permits deflection of the patient mover somewhat to conform the patient mover to depressions within the support surface to permit transport of the patient via the patient mover air pallet over said support surface,

wherein said top thin flexible sheet is sealed to said intermediate thin flexible sheet along longitudinal parallel lines at laterally spaced positions across the surface of the intermediate thin flexible sheet and at both ends thereof to form a series of longitudinally extending tubes, and

wherein means are provided for supplying air under pressure to the individual tubes formed thereby in addition to air pressurization of the plenum chamber such that the tubes cradle the patient while facilitating transport of the patient over the support surface on the frictionless air film,

the improvement comprising means for substantially restricting lateral shrinkage of the portion of the plenum chamber in the area of said perforations parallel to the plane of the developed air film for maintaining the footprint of the air film generally equal to that of the footprint of the load to insure stable support of the patient on the patient mover air pallet, and for preventing loss of said air film and grounding of the air pallet to the underlying support surface.

2. The patient mover air pallet as claimed in claim 1, wherein said means for substantially restricting lateral shrinkage of said plenum chamber over the width of said perforated portion of said thin flexible bottom sheet comprises two integral, linked vertical rows of said tubes extending transversely with the tubes of one row being laterally offset with respect to the other over the full lateral width of the perforated portion of the thin flexible bottom sheet such that the centers of tubes in one row are aligned with abutting peripheries of tubes of the adjacent row and adjacent tubes of said two rows have a common wall under pressurization to opposite sides rendered thereby taunt taut and rigid, and wherein said taut common walls render said two rows of tubes rigid under said load to stably support said load thereon.

3. The patient mover air pallet as claimed in claim 2, wherein said linked rows of tubes are sealed from said plenum chamber, and means are provided for separately supplying compressed air to said linked rows of tubes from that supplied to said at least one plenum chamber.

4. The patient mover air pallet as claimed in claim 3, further comprising a pressure relief valve operatively coupled to said linked rows of tubes and set to prevent the pressure therein from reaching a level inducing capillary closure of the patient supported by said patient mover air pallet.

5. The patient mover air pallet as claimed in claim 4, wherein said pressure relief valve is a variably adjustable valve such that said linked rows of tubes can be lightly air pressurized to form a highly supple comfortable air mattress for supporting a patient thereon over long periods of time without trauma, while providing therapy to said patient.

6. The patient mover air pallet as claimed in claim 2, wherein at least one of said tubes constituting said semi-rigid backing member carries said air inlet means at one end thereof opening directly thereto, and wherein at an opposite end thereof, an air flow port opens to an integral linked tube of another row of tubes to permit flow of low pressure air flow from one tube of one of said rows to said tube of another row via said air flow port and wherein the cross-sectional area of said air flow port is substantially less than the cross-sectional area of said air inlet means such that said one tube of said one linked row is at a higher pressure than said other tube of said another linked row of tubes.

7. The patient mover air pallet as claimed in claim 2, wherein openings are provided within said tubes of one row which open directly into tubes of the adjacent row, and wherein said tubes of said one or said adjacent row have further openings which open directly into the plenum chamber, and wherein at least one of said tubes of one of said rows carries air inlet means at one end thereof opening directly thereto, such that said patient mover air pallet constitutes a flow through soft pad with said flow of air being through said tubes of integral linked rows, and through said plenum chamber to effect said means for substantially restricting lateral shrinkage of the plenum chamber, while providing simultaneously said air film.

8. The patient mover air pallet as claimed in claim 2, wherein said air pallet includes a second, intermediate thin flexible sheet, said second intermediate, thin flexible sheet is interposed between said first intermediate thin flexible sheet and said top sheet, and wherein said means for sealing given sheets together linearly comprise seal lines extending longitudinally over a given length of said thin flexible sheets at laterally spaced positions, such that said integral linked rows of end-to-end tubes are formed solely by said top and bottom thin flexible sheets and said first and second intermediate thin flexible sheets, and seal lines extending at least between two immediately adjacent flexible sheets.

9. The patient mover air pallet as claimed in claim 8, wherein said intermediate thin flexible sheets include holes therein forming air flow ports between respective tubes defined by said at least two immediately adjacent sheets and between laterally spaced seal lines for permitting air pressurization of a plurality of tubes formed thereby from a common source of air under pressure.

10. The patient mover air pallet as claimed in claim 8, wherein said bottom thin flexible sheet bearing said perforations includes means for coupling said bottom thin flexible sheet to said immediately adjacent intermediate thin flexible sheet at laterally spaced positions substantially across the extent of said area of perforations, so as to provide individual segments to said plenum chamber to prevent excessive slack in said bottom thin flexible sheet and bottoming out of the patient on the underlying relatively fixed support surface during air pallet operation and hot dogging of said air pallet.

11. The patent patient mover air pallet as claimed in claim 8, further comprising a third, intermediate thin flexible sheet edge sealed to intermediate thin flexible sheets to opposite sides thereof, and defining a backing member cavity, and

wherein a generally rigid backing member is carried within said cavity and comprises part of said means for substantially restricting lateral shrinkage of said plenum chamber over at least the width of said perforated portion of said bottom thin flexible sheet.

12. The patient mover air pallet as claimed in claim 8, wherein said means for substantially restricting lateral shrinking of said plenum chamber over at least the width of said perforated portion of said thin flexible bottom sheet comprises ties within said plenum chamber, having opposite ends fixed respectively to said bottom thin flexible sheet and said intermediate thin flexible sheet proximate thereto forming said integral linked rows of tubes extending transversely across the width of said air pallet.

13. The patient mover air pallet as claimed in claim 12, wherein said ties extend perpendicularly through said plenum chamber at right angles to the plane of said air film and that of the patient supported thereby.

14. The patient mover air pallet as claimed in claim 12, wherein said ties extend obliquely from said bottom thin flexible sheet inwardly towards the center of said plenum chamber to engage said integral linked rows of tubes to restrict movement of said bottom thin flexible sheet away from the integral linked rows of tubes and towards the respective lateral sides of said patient mover air pallet.

15. A flexible air pallet for frictionless movement of a flexible load supported thereon relative to an underlying generally planar fixed support surface, said air pallet including:

a first thin flexible sheet forming a flexible, generally planar backing surface underlying the load,

a second thin, flexible sheet underlying the flexible backing surface and directly overlying the planar support surface,

said second thin, flexible sheet having a portion facing the generally planar fixed support surface perforated over a surface area generally conforming to the footprint of the load and defining with the flexible backing surface, at least one plenum chamber,

said perforations opening unrestrictedly directly to the plenum chamber,

air dispersion means operatively associated with said at least one plenum chamber to insure air flow throughout said at least one plenum chamber when the air pallet is under load,

means for controlling pillowing of the thin, flexible sheet portion of said at least one plenum chamber to jack the flexible backing surface and the load sufficiently to permit the air pallet to accommodate surface irregularities for both the load support surface and the flexible backing surface without ballooning, and

air inlet means for supplying compressed air to said at least one plenum chamber,

the improvements wherein said air pallet includes within said at least one plenum chamber, at least one flexible common member joined at spaced positions respectively to said first and second flexible sheets within the perforaed area underlying the footprint of the load and being of limited length, whereby said air inlet means in supplying air under pressure to said at least one plenum chamber causes said at least one common member to become taut and rigid and to thereby render said flexible, generally planar backing surface at least semi rigid to at least support said load and to produce an air film upon jacking of the flexible backing surface and the load above said fixed support surface by escape of compressed air from said at least one plenum chamber through said perforations, and said at least one flexible common member defining lateral anti-shrink means for restricting the reduction in air pallet size in a plane parallel to the air film during air pressurization of said at least one plenum chamber.

16. The air pallet as claimed in claim 15, wherein said at least one flexible member is a third thin, flexible sheet joined at lateral spaced positions alternatively to said first and second thin flexible sheets.

17. The air pallet as claimed in claim 16, wherein

said third thin flexible sheet comprises a series of unitary portions common to an upper row of tubes and a lower row of tubes, said upper row of tubes defining plural flexible backing chambers, and

said lower row of tubes defining a plurality of linked plenum chambers, and wherein,

said upper and lower rows of tubes extend completely across the area of said perforations and provide adequate separation between the flexible load, the flexible generally planar backing surface underlying the load and the generally planar fixed support surface, irrespective of loss of pressurization in a given one of said tubes of either of said rows of tubes.

18. A flexible air chamber-type air pallet for frictionless movement of a load support supported thereon relative to an underlying generally planar fixed support surface, said air pallet being formed of thin, flexible sheet material consisting of a first thin, flexible sheet at least partially defining a flexible, generally planar backing surface for supporting said load thereon, and

a second thin, flexible sheet directly underlying and sealed to said backing surface and directly overlying said fixed load support surface and being sealed thereto along longitudinal lines at laterally spaced positions to form a series of laterally connected plenum chambers, said second thin, flexible sheet having a plurality of perforations therein facing said fixed support surface within said linked plenum chambers, said perforations opening directly into and out of said plenum chambers,

air dispersion means for said plenum chambers to insure air flow through said chambers when said air pallet is under load,

air inlet means to said chambers for directing compressed air into said plenum chambers for jacking said load and for discharge of said air from the plenum chambers through said perforations to create an air film between said thin, flexible bottom sheet and said fixed support surface,

pillowing means to cause, upon air pressurization of said chambers, said thin, flexible sheet portions of said chambers to jack the backing surface and said load sufficiently to permit the pallet to accommodate surface irregularities and to move said load on said air film,

means for rendering said plenum chambers sufficiently rigid under said load to support said load when said chambers are pressurized, and

means for limiting the amount of lateral shrink across the air pallet upon air pressurization of said plenum chambers so that said air pallet plenum chambers can lift said load.

19. The flexible air chamber-type air pallet as claimed in claim 18, further comprising:

means for rendering said plenum chambers in the area of said perforations sufficiently rigid to prevent load instability and to prevent hot dogging of said linked plenum chambers underlying said load.

20. The air pallet as claimed in claim 18, wherein said first thin, flexible sheet is joined to said second thin, flexible bottom sheet by longitudinally extending parallel seal lines to form a side-to-side array of parallel tubes, with the lateral width between the seal lines for one of said thin, flexible sheets being significantly different from that of the other thin, flexible sheet, thereby providing inherently the tendency to arch the thin, flexible sheet whose lateral width between adjacent parallel seal lines is narrower than that of the other thin, flexible sheet, upon air pressurization of the linked plenum chambers.

21. Said flexible air chamber-type air pallet as claimed in claim 20, wherein said air pallet comprises hollow tubes extending generally at right angles to said side-to-side array of tubes defined by said first and second thin, flexible sheets at both sides thereof and constituting said means for rendering said air pallet plenum chambers generally rigid to prevent load instability and for preventing grounding and insuring that the load is jacked sufficiently from the underlying fixed support surface to permit the pallet to accommodate surface irregularities and to move said load on said air film.

22. The flexible air chamber-type air pallet as claimed in claim 18, wherein said thin, flexible bottom sheet tends to flatten in the vicinity of the underlying relatively fixed support surface under load, when said chambers are air pressurized, and

wherein the perforations within said plenum chambers exist solely within the flattened area of said thin, flexible bottom sheet for each of said plenum chambers, thereby maintaining the footprint of the developed air film sized to that of said load.

23. A flexible film air chamber-type air pallet for frictionless movement of a load supported thereon relative to an underlying generally planar fixed support surface, said air pallet comprising:

a flexible, generally planar backing surface for supporting said load thereon,

a thin, flexible sheet directly underlying said flexible backing surface and directly overlying said load support surface,

a portion of said thin, flexible sheet facing said general planar fixed support surface being perforated and being sealed to and defining with said backing surface at least one plenum chamber, said perforations extending over an area generally corresponding to the footprint of the load with said perforations opening directly into said at least one plenum chamber,

air dispersion means for said plenum chamber to insure air flow through said chamber when said chamber is under load and being pressurized,

air inlet means opening to said at least one plenum chamber for permitting air under pressure to enter into the plenum chamber for jacking said load, for discharge of the air from said plenum chamber through said perforations to create an air film between the flexible, thin sheet and said fixed support surface over the area of the perforations,

pillowing means for jacking the backing surface and said load sufficiently to permit the pallet to accommodate surface irregularities and move said load on a film of air without said thin, flexible bottom sheet ballooning,

means for preventing said at least one plenum chamber from hot dogging hotdogging, for preventing load instability, and for maintaining said at least one plenum chamber planar in a direction parallel to the developed air film for retention of the load on said backing surface during movement of said load via said air pallet on said developed air film, and

means for limiting shrink of the air pallet laterally parallel to the plane of the developed air film over the surface area of the perforations to insure that the footprint of the air film generally matches that of the load.

24. The flexible air chamber-type air pallet as claimed in claim 23, further comprising means for rendering said flexible generally planar backing surface rigid under said load to support said load upon jacking when said at least one plenum chamber is air pressurized.

25. In a flexible air chamber-type air pallet for frictionless movement of a load supported thereon relative to an underlying generally planar fixed support surface, said air pallet being formed of thin, flexible sheet material comprising a first thin, flexible sheet at least partially defining a flexible, generally planar backing surface for supporting said lead thereon, and

a second thin, flexible sheet underlying said backing surface and directly overlying said fixed load support surface and being connected thereto along longitudinal lines at laterally spaced positions to form a series of laterally connected, linked plenum chambers, said second thin, flexible sheet having a plurality of perforations therein facing said fixed support surface within said linked plenum chambers, said perforations opening directly into and out of said plenum chambers,

air dispersion means for said plenum chambers to insure air flow through said chambers when said air pallet is under load,

air inlet means to said chambers for directing compressed air into said plenum chambers for jacking said load and for discharge of said air from the plenum chambers through said perforations to create an air film between said thin, flexible bottom sheet and said fixed support surface,

pillowing means to cause, upon air pressurization of said chambers said thin, flexible sheet portions of said chambers to jack the backing surface and said load sufficiently to permit the pallet to accommodate surface irregularities and to move said load on said air film, the improvement comprising:

means for controlling the amount of lateral shrink across the pallet upon air pressurization of said plenum chambers so that said air pallet plenum chambers can lift said load, and

means for rendering said first thin flexible sheet over the area of said perforations sufficiently rigid to support said load when the chambers are pressurized and means to prevent load instability and hot dogging hotdogging of said air pallet under load.

26. A flexible film air chamber-type air pallet for frictionless movement of a load supported thereon relative to an underlying generally planar fixed support surface, said air pallet comprising:

a flexible, generally planar backing surface for supporting said load thereon,

a thin, flexible sheet underlying said flexible backing surface and directly overlying said load support surface,

a portion of said thin, flexible sheet facing said generally planar fixed support surface being perforated and being sealed to and defining with said backing surface at least one plenum chamber, said perforations extending over a surface area of said thin, flexible sheet corresponding generally to the footprint of the load with said perforations opening directly into said at least one plenum chambers,

air dispersion means for said plenum chamber to insure air flow through said chamber when said chamber is under load and being pressurized,

air inlet means opening to said at least one plenum chamber for permitting air under pressure to enter the at least one plenum chamber for jacking said load, and for discharge of the air from said plenum chamber through said perforations to create an air film between the flexible, thin sheet and said fixed support surface over the area of the perforations,

pillowing means for jacking the backing surface and said load sufficiently to permit the pallet to accommodate surface irregularities and move said load on a film of air without said thin, flexible bottom sheet ballooning, and

means for preventing said at least one plenum chamber from hot dogging hotdogging, for preventing load instability, for maintatining said flexible backing surface planar in a direction generally parallel to the developed air film for retention of the load on said backing surface during movement of said load via said air pallet on said developed air film and for limiting shrink of the air pallet laterally, generally parallel to the plane of the developed air film to insure that the footprint of the air film generally matches that of the load, and means for rendering said flexible generally planar backing surface sufficiently rigid under said load to support said load upon jacking when said at least one plenum chamber is air pressurized.

27. The patient mover air pallet as claimed in claim 8, wherein said integral linked rows of tubes are sealed from said plenum chamber, and means are provided for separately supplying compressed air to said linked rows of tubes from that supplied to said at least one plenum chamber. 28. The patient mover air pallet as claimed in claim 27, further comprising a pressure relief valve operatively coupled to said linked rows of tubes and set to prevent the pressure therein from reaching a level inducing capillary closure of the patient supported by said patient mover air pallet. 29. The patient mover air pallet as claimed in claim 28, wherein said pressure relief valve is a variably adjustable valve such that said integral linked rows of tubes can be lightly air pressurized to form a highly supple comfortable air mattress for supporting a patient thereon over long periods of time without trauma, while providing therapy to said patient. 30. The patient mover air pallet as claimed in claim 12, wherein said ties extend perpendicularly through said plenum chamber at right angles to the plane of said air film and that of the patient supported thereby and obliquely from said bottom thin flexible sheet inwardly towards the center of said plenum chamber to engage said integral linked rows of tubes to restrict movement of said bottom thin flexible sheet away from the integral linked rows of tubes and towards the respective lateral sides of said patient

mover air pallet. 31. The patient mover air pallet as claimed in claim 2, further comprising another thin flexible sheet sealed to the top thin flexible sheet along the edges thereof and sealed along lines extending transversely across said air pallet to the top thin flexible sheet, including a perforated area having a plurality of closely spaced small diameter pinhole-type perforations opening upward towards the load for creating a second air bearing, defining an upper plenum chamber directly beneath the patient supported by said patient mover air pallet. 32. The patient mover air pallet as claimed in claim 31, wherein said upper plenum chamber, when pressurized from a source of compressed air, provides sufficient lubrication for patient positioning on the air pallet. 33. The patient mover air pallet as claimed in claim 31, wherein said upper plenum chamber, upon pressurization from a separate source of compressed air, can be utilized to supply a medicament in vapor form upwards about the patient supported by the air pallet. 34. The patient mover air pallet as claimed in claim 8, further comprising another thin flexible sheet sealed to the top thin flexible sheet along the edges thereof and sealed along lines extending transversely across said air pallet to the top thin flexible sheet, including a perforated area having a plurality of closely spaced small diameter pinhole-type perforations opening upward towards the load for creating a second air bearing, defining an upper plenum chamber directly beneath the patient supported by said patient mover air pallet. 35. The patient mover air pallet as claimed in claim 34, wherein said upper plenum chamber, when pressurized from a source of compressed air, provides sufficient lubrication for patient positioning on the air pallet. 36. The patient mover air pallet as claimed in claim 34, wherein said upper plenum chamber, upon pressurization from a separate source of compressed air, can be utilized to supply a medicament in vapor form upwards about the patient supported by the air pallet. 37. The patient mover air pallet as claimed in claim 8, wherein at least one of said tubes constituting said semi-rigid backing member carries said air inlet means at one end thereof opening directly thereto, and wherein at an opposite end thereof, an air flow port opens to an integral linked tube of another row of tubes to permit flow of low pressure air flow from one tube of one of said rows to said tube of another row via said air flow port and wherein the cross-sectional area of said air flow port is substantially less than the cross-sectional area of said air inlet means such that said one tube of said one linked row is at a higher pressure than said other tube of said another linked row of tubes. 38. The patient mover air pallet as claimed in claim 8, wherein openings are provided within said tubes of one row which open directly into tubes of the adjacent row, and wherein said tubes of said one or said adjacent row have further openings which open directly into the plenum chamber, and wherein at least one of said tubes of one of said rows carries air inlet means at one end thereof opening directly thereto, such that said patient mover air pallet constitutes a flow through soft pad with said flow of air being through said tubes of integral linked rows, and through said plenum chamber to effect said means for substantially restricting lateral shrinkage of the plenum chamber, while providing simultaneously said air film. 39. The flexible air pallet as claimed in claim 17 wherein said flexible backing chambers are sealed from said plenum chambers, and means are provided for separately supplying compressed air to said backing chambers from that supplied to said plenum chambers. 40. The flexible air pallet as claimed in claim 39, further comprising a pressure relief valve operatively coupled to said flexible backing chambers and set to prevent the pressure therein from reaching a level inducing capillary closure of the patient supported by said patient mover air pallet. 41. The flexible air pallet as claimed in claim 40, wherein said pressure relief valve is a variably adjustable valve such that said flexible backing chambers can be lightly air pressurized to form a highly supple comfortable air mattress for supporting a patient thereon over long periods of time without trauma, while providing therapy to said patient. 42. The flexible air pallet as claimed in claim 17, wherein at least one of said tubes constituting said semi-rigid backing surface carries said air inlet means at one end thereof opening directly thereto, and wherein at an opposite end thereof, an air flow port opens to an integral linked tube of another row of tubes to permit flow of low pressure air flow from one tube of one of said rows to said tube of another row via said air flow port and wherein the cross-sectional area of said air flow port is substantially less than the cross-sectional area of said air inlet means such that said one tube of said one linked row is at a higher pressure than said other tube of said another linked row of tubes. 43. The flexible air pallet as claimed in claim 17, wherein openings are provided within said tubes of one row which open directly into tubes of an adjacent row, and wherein said tubes of said one or said adjacent row have further openings which open directly into said at least one plenum chamber, and wherein at least one of said tubes of one of said rows carries air inlet means at one end thereof opening directly thereto, such that said air pallet constitutes a flow through soft pad with said flow of air being through said tubes of linked rows, and through said plenum chamber to effect said means for substantially restricting lateral shrinkage of the plenum chamber, while providing simultaneously said air film. 44. The flexible air pallet as claimed in claim 17, wherein said rows of tubes generally extend longitudinally along the air pallet. 45. The flexible air pallet as claimed in claim 17, wherein said rows of tubes generally extend laterally across the air pallet. 46. The flexible air pallet as claimed in claim 17, further comprising means for eliminating trauma to the head and neck of a patient supported on the air pallet induced by jolts received from unequal air pressurization of the row of tubes forming the flexible backing chambers. 47. The flexible air pallet as claimed in claim 46, wherein said means for eliminating trauma to the head and neck of a patient comprises air flow paths between the ends of the tubes and the opposing edge of the air pallet, said air flow path having a pre-determined minimum dimension. 48. The flexible air chamber-type air pallet as claimed in claim 24, wherein said means for rendering said backing surface rigid comprises at least one row of tubes with each tube of said row of tubes having a common wall with said at least one plenum chamber, said common walls of said tubes, under pressurization, rendering said at least one row of tubes rigid under said

load to stably support said load thereon. 49. The flexible air chamber-type air pallet as claimed in claim 23, wherein said means for limiting shrink of the air pallet comprises two integral, linked vertical rows of tubes with a first row being laterally offset with respect to a second row such that the centers of the tubes in the first row are aligned with abutting peripheries of tubes of the second row and adjacent tubes of said two rows having a common wall under pressurization to opposite sides being rendered taut and rigid, wherein said rows of tubes comprising a series of backing chambers, and means for coupling said thin, flexible sheet underlying the backing surface to another thin, flexible sheet intermediate said bottom thin, flexible sheet and said backing surface, which defines with said backing surface the series of backing chambers, at spaced positions substantially across the extent of said area of perforations to provide individual segments to said at least one plenum chamber to prevent excessive slack in said bottom thin, flexible sheet. 50. The flexible air chamber-type air pallet as claimed in claim 48, wherein said at least one row of tubes is sealed from said at least one plenum chamber, and means are provided for separately supplying compressed air to said at least one row of tubes from that supplied to said at least one plenum chamber. 51. The flexible air chamber-type air pallet as claimed in claim 50, further comprising a pressure relief valve operatively coupled to said at least one row of tubes and set to prevent the pressure therein from reaching a level inducing capillary closure of the patient supported by said air pallet. 52. The flexible air chamber-type air pallet as claimed in claim 51, wherein said pressure relief valve is a variably adjustable valve such that said at least one row of tubes can be lightly air pressurized to form a highly supple comfortable air mattress for supporting a patient thereon over long periods of time without trauma, while providing therapy to said patient. 53. The flexible air chamber-type air pallet as claimed in claim 48, wherein at least one of said tubes constituting said rigid backing surface carries said air inlet means at one end thereof opening directly thereto, and wherein at an opposite end thereof, an air flow port opens to an integral linked tube of another row of tubes to permit flow of low pressure air flow from one tube of one of said rows to said tube of another row via said air flow port and wherein the cross-sectional area of said air flow port is substantially less than the cross-sectional area of said air inlet means such that said one tube of said one linked row is at a higher pressure than said other tube of said another linked row of tubes. 54. The flexible air chamber-type air pallet as claimed in claim 48, wherein openings are provided within said tubes of one row which open directly into tubes of an adjacent row, and wherein said tubes of said one or said adjacent row have further openings which open directly into the plenum chamber, and wherein at least one of said tubes of one of said rows carries air inlet means at one end thereof opening directly thereto, such that said air pallet constitutes a flow through soft pad with said flow of air being through said tubes of integral linked rows, and through said plenum chamber to effect said means for substantially restricting lateral shrinkage of the plenum chamber, while providing simultaneously said air film. 55. The flexible air chamber-type air pallet as claimed in claim 48, further comprising means for eliminating trauma to the head and neck of a patient supported on the air pallet induced by jolts received from unequal air pressurization of the row of tubes forming the flexible backing chambers. 56. The flexible air chamber-type air pallet as claimed in claim 55, wherein said means for eliminating trauma to the head and neck of a patient comprises air flow paths between the ends of the tubes and the opposing edge of the air pallet, said air flow path having a pre-determined minimum dimension. 57. The flexible air chamber-type air pallet as claimed in claim 25, wherein said air pallet includes an intermediate thin, flexible sheet interposed between said first thin, flexible sheet and said second thin, flexible sheet which with said first thin, flexible sheet defines a series of backing chambers for supporting said load. 58. The flexible air chamber-type air pallet as claimed in claim 57, further comprising a second intermediate thin, flexible sheet edge sealed to said first intermediate thin, flexible sheet to opposite sides thereof, and defining a backing member cavity, and wherein a generally rigid backing member is carried within said cavity and comprises part of said means for substantially restricting lateral shrinkage of said plenum chamber over at least the width of said perforated portion of said bottom thin flexible sheet. 59. The flexible air chamber-type air pallet as claimed in claim 58, wherein said series of backing chambers are sealed from said plenum chambers, and means are provided for separately supplying compressed air to said series of backing chambers from that supplied to said plenum chambers. 60. The flexible air chamber-type air pallet as claimed in claim 59, further comprising a pressure relief valve operatively coupled to said series of backing chambers and set to prevent the pressure therein from reaching a level inducing capillary closure of the patient supported by said air pallet. 61. The flexible air chamber-type air pallet as claimed in claim 60, wherein said pressure relief valve is a variably adjustable valve such that said series of backing chambers can be lightly air pressurized to form a highly supple comfortable air mattress for supporting a patient thereon over long periods of time without trauma, while providing therapy to said patient. 62. The flexible air chamber-type air pallet as claimed in claim 58, further comprising another thin flexible sheet sealed to the top thin flexible sheet along the edges thereof and sealed along lines extending transversely across said air pallet to the top thin flexible sheet, including a perforated area having a plurality of closely spaced small diameter pinhole-type perforations opening upward towards the load for creating a second air bearing, defining an upper plenum chamber directly beneath the patient supported by said air pallet. 63. The flexible air chamber-type air pallet as claimed in claim 62, wherein said upper plenum chamber, when pressurized from a source of compressed air, provides sufficient lubrication for patient positioning on the air pallet. 64. The flexible air chamber-type air pallet as claimed in claim 62, wherein said upper plenum chamber, upon pressurization from a separate source of compressed air, can be utilized to supply a medicament in vapor form upwards about the patient supported by the air pallet. 65. The flexible film air chamber-type air pallet as claimed in claim 26, wherein said flexible, generally planar backing surface is comprised of at least a top thin, flexible sheet and a bottom thin, flexible sheet being sealed to each other and defining a series of flexible backing chambers directly overlying said at least one plenum chamber. 66. The flexible film air chamber-type air pallet as claimed in claim 65, wherein said means for preventing hotdogging and load instability, for maintaining said backing surface generally parallel to said developed air film, for limiting shrink of the air pallet, and for rendering said backing surface sufficiently rigid during air pressurization of said at least one plenum chamber comprises at least two integral, linked vertical rows of backing chambers with a first row being laterally offset with respect to a second row such that the centers of the chambers in the first row are aligned with abutting peripheries of chambers of the second row and adjacent chambers of said two rows having a common wall under pressurization to opposite sides being rendered taut and rigid and means for coupling said thin, flexible sheet underlying the backing surface to said backing chambers at spaced positions substantially across the extent of said area of perforations to provide individual segments to said at least one plenum chamber to prevent excessive slack in said bottom thin, flexible sheet. 67. The flexible film air chamber-type air pallet as claimed in claim 65, wherein said series of backing chambers are sealed from said plenum chamber, and means are provided for separately supplying compressed air to said series of backing chambers from that supplied to said at least one plenum chamber. 68. The flexible film air chamber-type air pallet as claimed in claim 67, further comprising a pressure relief valve operatively coupled to said series of backing chambers and set to prevent the pressure therein from reaching a level inducing capillary closure of the patient supported by said air pallet.

69. The flexible film air chamber-type air pallet as claimed in claim 68, wherein said pressure relief valve is a variably adjustable valve such that said series of backing chambers can be lightly air pressurized to form a highly supple comfortable air mattress for supporting a patient thereon over long periods of time without trauma, while providing therapy to said patient. 70. The flexible film air chamber-type air pallet as claimed in claim 65, wherein at least one of said backing chambers constituting said backing surface carries said air inlet means at one end thereof opening directly thereto, and wherein at an opposite end thereof, an air flow port opens to an integral linked chamber of another row of backing chambers to permit flow of low pressure air flow from one chamber of one of said rows to said chamber of another row via said air flow port and wherein the cross-sectional area of said air flow port is substantially less than the cross-sectional area of said air inlet means such that said one chamber of said one linked row is at a higher pressure than said other chamber of said another linked row of backing chambers. 71. The flexible film air chamber-type air pallet as claimed in claim 65, wherein openings are provided within said backing chambers of one row which open directly into backing chambers of the adjacent row, and wherein said chambers of said one or said adjacent row have further openings which open directly into the plenum chamber, and wherein at least one of said backing chambers of one of said rows carries air inlet means at one end thereof opening directly thereto, such that said air pallet constitutes a flow through soft pad with said flow of air being through said backing chambers of integral linked rows, and through said plenum chamber to effect said means for substantially restricting lateral shrinkage of the plenum chamber, while providing simultaneously said air film. 72. The flexible film air chamber-type air pallet as claimed in claim 65, wherein said series of backing chambers generally extend longitudinally along the air pallet. 73. The flexible film air chamber-type air pallet as claimed in claim 65, wherein said series of backing chambers generally extend laterally across the air pallet. 74. The flexible film air chamber-type air pallet as claimed in claim 26, further comprising another thin flexible sheet sealed to the generally planar backing surface along the edges thereof and sealed along lines extending transversely across said air pallet to the backing surface, including a perforated area having a plurality of closely spaced small diameter pinhole-type perforations opening upward towards the load for creating a second air bearing, defining an upper plenum chamber directly beneath the patient supported by said patient mover air pallet. 75. The flexible film air chamber-type air pallet as claimed in claim 74, wherein said upper plenum chamber, when pressurized from a source of compressed air, provides sufficient lubrication for patient positioning on the air pallet. 76. The flexible film air chamber-type air pallet as claimed in claim 74, wherein said upper plenum chamber, upon pressurization from a separate source of compressed air, can be utilized to supply a medicament in vapor form upwards about the patient supported by the air pallet. 77. The flexible film air chamber-type air pallet as claimed in claim 65, further comprising means for eliminating trauma to the head and neck of a patient supported on the air pallet induced by jolts received from unequal air pressurization of the series of flexible backing chambers. 78. The flexible film air chamber-type air pallet as claimed in claim 77, wherein said means for eliminating trauma to the head and neck of a patient comprises air flow paths between the ends of the tubes and the opposing edge of the air pallet, said air flow path having a pre-determined minimum dimension.