U.S. patent application number 10/698609 was filed with the patent office on 2004-12-09 for crib apparatus.
Invention is credited to Branson, Gregory W., Jacques, William L. II, Juratovac, Diana W., Koenig, John W., Koloski, Peter A., Kramer, Kenneth L., LeBlanc, Robert Mark, Lothrop, Thornton K., Romak, Kristin R., Sagel, John E., Teufel, Rainer B..
Application Number | 20040244109 10/698609 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 25291280 |
Filed Date | 2004-12-09 |
United States Patent
Application |
20040244109 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Koenig, John W. ; et
al. |
December 9, 2004 |
Crib apparatus
Abstract
A combination crib and high chair apparatus for supporting a
child in a reclining position, and a seated position, respectively.
The apparatus includes a deck having a head end, a foot end and
generally parallel sides. Side rails are positioned adjacent the
sides. End rail are positioned adjacent the ends of the deck. A
seat is oriented adjacent one of the ends of the deck. The seat
extends outwardly from the end. A base is coupled to the deck and
the seat.
Inventors: |
Koenig, John W.;
(Cincinnati, OH) ; Branson, Gregory W.;
(Batesville, IN) ; Jacques, William L. II;
(Batesville, IN) ; Juratovac, Diana W.; (Columbus,
OH) ; Kramer, Kenneth L.; (Greensburg, IN) ;
LeBlanc, Robert Mark; (Rockford, MI) ; Koloski, Peter
A.; (Columbus, OH) ; Lothrop, Thornton K.;
(Worthington, OH) ; Romak, Kristin R.; (West
Chester, OH) ; Sagel, John E.; (Columbus, OH)
; Teufel, Rainer B.; (Columbus, OH) |
Correspondence
Address: |
BARNES & THORNBURG
11 SOUTH MERIDIAN
INDIANAPOLIS
IN
46204
|
Family ID: |
25291280 |
Appl. No.: |
10/698609 |
Filed: |
October 31, 2003 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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10698609 |
Oct 31, 2003 |
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09843899 |
Apr 27, 2001 |
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6684420 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
5/93.1 ;
5/97 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47D 11/005 20130101;
A47D 7/02 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
005/093.1 ;
005/097 |
International
Class: |
A47D 007/00 |
Claims
1-42. (canceled)
43. An apparatus comprising a mattress having a periphery and an
upwardly facing surface, and a crib structure configured to support
the mattress, the crib structure having a pair of spaced apart end
units, each end unit having a top surface, the crib structure
having a plurality of crib rail assemblies positioned about the
periphery of the mattress and movable vertically relative to the
mattress and relative to the end units, each of the crib rail
assemblies having a top edge, the crib rail assemblies being
movable to a position in which the top surfaces of the end units,
the top edges of the crib rail assemblies, and the upwardly facing
surface of the mattress are substantially coplanar.
44. An apparatus comprising a mattress having a periphery and an
upwardly facing surface, and a crib structure configured to support
the mattress, the crib structure having a pair of spaced apart end
units, each end unit having a top surface, the crib structure
having a plurality of crib rail assemblies positioned about the
periphery of the mattress and movable vertically relative to the
mattress and relative to the end units, each of the crib rail
assemblies having a top edge, the crib rail assemblies being
movable to a position in which the top surfaces of the end units
and the top edges of the crib rail assemblies are at or below the
upwardly facing surface of the mattress.
45. An apparatus comprising a patient support surface having a
periphery and an upwardly facing surface, and a crib structure
configured to support the patient support surface, the crib
structure having a pair of spaced apart end units, each end unit
having a top surface, the crib structure having a plurality of crib
rail assemblies positioned about the periphery of the patient
support surface and movable vertically relative to the patient
support surface and relative to the end units, each of the crib
rail assemblies having a top edge, the crib rail assemblies being
movable to a position in which the top surfaces of the end units
and the top edges of the crib rail assemblies are at or below the
upwardly facing surface of the patient support surface.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to a crib apparatus and
particularly, to a crib apparatus for supporting infants and
toddlers during their stays at a hospital. More particularly, this
invention relates to a crib apparatus having chair and bed
portions.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Adult hospital patients typically are provided with hospital
beds adjustable to sitting positions, for example, to facilitate
serving of meals to the patients. Meals are generally served to
such a patient on an overbed table placed adjacent to the patient's
bed so that the overbed table is oriented over the patient's lap
when the bed is oriented so that the patient is sitting Up. After
the meal, the overbed table is moved away from the bed and stored
elsewhere.
[0003] Infants are generally fed while being held by an adult.
However, children between the ages of, for example, 9 months and 4
years, are generally too large to be fed in the arms of an
attending health care worker or parent, but are too young to be fed
using an overbed table. Such children might eat sitting in
conventional high chairs or booster seats when at home. However,
such equipment may not be available in a hospital.
[0004] Furthermore, health care workers who attend to children at
hospitals often stand beside the child's crib. Attending health
care workers thus prefer for the child to be supported at a
relatively high elevation to facilitate access to the child. On the
other hand, a parent of a hospitalized child may spend considerable
time seated in a chair at the child's bedside. For this reason,
parents may prefer for the child to be supported at a relatively
low elevation to facilitate access to the child.
[0005] Thus, a child's bed that is adjustable through a wide range
of elevations and includes an integrated high chair would be
appreciated by health care workers and parents. Health care workers
and parents would also appreciate a child's bed having rails that
are movable to positions permitting unobstructed access to the
child. In addition, health care workers and parents would
appreciate a child's bed that permits the child to be moved into
and out of the bed without the need to disconnect and reconnect any
tubes or wires that are coupled to the child, for example, for the
administration of health care.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] Accordingly, an embodiment of the present invention includes
a mattress and a crib structure configured to support the mattress.
The crib structure includes a chair portion, a tray movable
relative to the chair portion, and a crib rail assembly movable
relative to the mattress and relative to the chair portion. In
preferred embodiments, the tray moves horizontally relative to the
chair portion, and the crib rail assembly moves vertically relative
to the chair portion. Some embodiments include a powered drive
assembly that is operable to change the position of the mattress
relative to the chair portion. According to one embodiment, the
crib structure includes a first end unit having a chair portion and
a second end unit having a storage compartment.
[0007] In an illustrative embodiment the crib structure includes a
chair portion having an upwardly-facing seat surface and a back
surface extending above the seat surface and terminating at a top
edge. In this embodiment, the crib structure further includes a
tray movable between a first position covering the seat surface and
covering the top edge and a second position uncovering at least a
portion of the seat surface.
[0008] In accordance with the illustrative embodiment, an apparatus
includes a mattress having a periphery and an upwardly-facing
surface. The apparatus includes a crib structure configured to
support the mattress. The crib structure has a pair of spaced apart
end units, each of which has a top surface. The crib structure also
has a plurality of crib rail assemblies positioned about the
periphery of the mattress. The crib rail assemblies are movable
vertically relative to the mattress and each of the crib rail
assemblies has a top rail edge. The mattress and crib rail
assemblies are movable to a position in which the top surfaces of
the end units, the top edges of the crib rail assemblies, and the
upwardly-facing surface of the mattress are substantially
coplanar.
[0009] Also in accordance with the illustrative embodiment, the
crib structure includes a plurality of crib rail assemblies each
having a pair of spaced apart side edges. The crib rail assemblies
are movable vertically relative to the mattress between raised and
lowered positions. Each crib rail assembly is movable independent
of each of the other crib rail assemblies. A plurality of gaps are
defined between the side edges of the crib rails when the crib
rails are in the raised position. The gaps are configured to permit
passage of medical lines therethrough.
[0010] Additional features and advantages of this apparatus will
become apparent to those skilled in the art upon consideration of
the following detailed description of the illustrated embodiment
exemplifying the best mode of carrying out the apparatus as
presently perceived.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0011] The invention may best be understood by referring to the
following detailed description and accompanying drawings which
illustrate the invention. In the drawings:
[0012] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a patient support according
to the present invention showing a mattress, a crib structure
supporting the mattress, and the crib structure having a plurality
of crib rail assemblies, each crib rail assembly being in a raised
position above the mattress;
[0013] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the patient support of FIG.
1 showing each of the crib rail assemblies being movable
independently of one another and lowered by different amounts from
the respective raised positions;
[0014] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the patient support of FIG.
1 showing each crib rail assembly moved to a lowered position
having respective top edges of the crib rail assemblies
substantially coplanar with an upwardly facing surface of the
mattress;
[0015] FIG. 4 is a side elevation view of the patient support of
FIG. 3 showing the substantially coplanar relationship of the
upwardly facing surface of the mattress, the top edges of the crib
rail assemblies, and the top surfaces of a pair of end units
located adjacent to opposite ends of the mattress;
[0016] FIG. 5 is a side elevation view similar to FIG. 4 showing
the mattress and two of the crib rail assemblies along the sides of
the mattress moved to a position below the top surfaces of the end
units;
[0017] FIG. 6 is a side elevation view of the patient support of
FIG. 1 showing the crib rail assemblies in the raised position;
[0018] FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a portion of the patient
support of FIG. 1 showing medical lines passing through a gap
defined between side edges of two of the crib rail assemblies;
[0019] FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a portion of the patient
support of FIG. 1 showing the crib structure having a chair portion
with an upwardly facing seat surface and a back surface extending
above the seat surface and showing a tray of the crib structure
moved to a position uncovering a portion of the seat surface;
[0020] FIG. 9 is a top plan view of the portion of the patient
support of FIG. 8 showing the tray moved to an outermost position
having the seat surface completely uncovered;
[0021] FIG. 10 is a sectional view taken along line 10-10 of FIG. 9
showing a crotch post appended to an undersurface of the tray and
extending downwardly therefrom;
[0022] FIG. 11 is an end elevational view of the apparatus
illustrated in FIGS. 1-10 in the orientation illustrated in FIGS. 1
and 6;
[0023] FIG. 12 is an end elevation view similar to FIG. 11 showing
a canopy assembly supported above the crib rail assemblies;
[0024] FIG. 13 is a partial sectional view of the patient support
of FIG. 12 showing a top canopy segment, a first canopy segment
moved about a longitudinal axis to an opened position having an
arcuate panel of the first canopy segment positioned to lie in an
interior region of the top canopy segment, and a second canopy
segment in a closed position having the majority of an arcuate
panel of the second canopy segment positioned to lie outside the
interior region of the top canopy segment;
[0025] FIG. 14 is a partial sectional view similar to FIG. 13
showing the first canopy segment in a closed position having a
majority of the arcuate panel of the first segment positioned to
lie outside the interior region of the top canopy segment and
showing the second canopy segment moved to an opened position
having the arcuate panel of the second canopy segment positioned to
lie in the interior region of the top canopy segment;
[0026] FIG. 15 is a partial sectional view similar to FIG. 13 of an
alternative embodiment canopy assembly showing a first canopy half
moved about a longitudinal axis partially toward an open position
and a second canopy half in a closed position, the first canopy
half having an arcuate panel that overlies an arcuate panel of the
second canopy half when the first canopy half is in the open
position; and
[0027] FIG. 16 is a top plan view of the patient support of FIG.
1.
[0028] Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding
parts throughout the several views. The exemplification set out
herein illustrates an embodiment of the apparatus, in one form, and
such exemplification is not to be construed as limiting the scope
of the apparatus in any manner.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0029] In the illustrated embodiment, a patient support or crib
apparatus 2 includes a mattress 16 and a crib structure 4
configured to support mattress 16 as shown in FIGS. 1-6. Crib
structure 4 includes a plurality of crib rail assemblies 8, 10, 12,
14 two of which are longitudinally extending side rails assemblies
8, 10 and two of which are transversely extending end rail
assemblies 12, 14. Thus, rail assemblies 8, 10 extend along the
long sides of mattress 16 and end rail assemblies extend along the
short sides of mattress 16. Crib structure 4 also includes a base
20 having a central portion 100 underlying mattress 16 and a pair
of end units or sections 22, 24 coupled to central portion 100 at
opposite ends thereof as shown best in FIGS. 4 and 6. (See FIG. 4.)
A power drive assembly 101 which may, for example, include
electrical, hydraulic and/or pneumatic prime mover components, is
provided in central portion 100. Power drive assembly 101 is used
to change, inter alia, the position of mattress 16. A plurality of
casters 28 are coupled to base 20 as shown in FIG. 1. Crib
structure 4 includes a high chair portion 6 and a tray 27 as shown
in FIGS. 8 and 10. Patient support apparatus 2 is useful for
children. Those too young or whose condition is too critical to
feed themselves will remain on mattress 16 and will receive their
meals, for example, intravenously or from a bottle. Children
capable of doing so can take their meals sitting on chair portion
6, with their food placed on tray 27. Children capable of doing so
can also sit on chair portion 6 and play with toys placed on tray
27. Inclusion of chair portion 6 and tray 27 as part of patient
support apparatus 2 thus can reduce the amount of equipment a
health care facility needs to purchase, maintain and store for
these functions.
[0030] Crib rail assemblies 8, 10, 12, 14 and mattress 16 are
vertically adjustable through a wide range of elevations. For
example, mattress 16 is continuously adjustable from a high
position illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 3 to a low position illustrated
in FIG. 5. When mattress 16 is in the position illustrated in FIGS.
1 and 3, crib rail assemblies 8, 10, 12, 14 are movable
independently of each other between the positions illustrated in
FIGS. 1 and 6 and the positions illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4. When
mattress 16 is in the position illustrated in FIG. 5, side rails 8,
10 are further movable to the positions illustrated in FIG. 5.
Typically, when caregivers desire unobstructed access to the
patient, crib rail assemblies 8, 10, 12, 14 are moved to the
lowered position, but mattress 16 is left in the high position
because the caregivers attending to the patient will usually be
standing alongside patient support apparatus 2. Parents and other
visitors, on the other hand, may prefer to have mattress 16 and
side rails 8, 10 in even lower positions to promote visibility of
and access to the patient when the parents and/or visitors are
seated near the patient support apparatus 2.
[0031] Each crib side rail assembly 8, 10 includes a top 30, a
bottom 32, and sides 34, 36. In addition, each crib rail assembly
8, 10 is movable independently of each of end crib rail assemblies
12, 14, as shown in FIG. 2 where each of crib rail assemblies 8,
10, 12, 14 are in different positions between their respective
raised and lowered positions. Crib apparatus 2 is provided with
suitable locking mechanisms that lock each of crib rail assemblies
8, 10, 12, 14 in their respective adjusted positions. Such locking
mechanisms are well-known to those skilled in the art to which this
invention pertains. For example, in one embodiment, sides 34, 36 of
each crib rail assembly 8, 10 include a plurality of apertures that
receive corresponding locking pins (not shown) that extend out of
end units 22, 24. The locking pins are retracted out of the
apertures by actuation of suitable release mechanisms such as
handles, levers, knobs, buttons, or the like that are operatively
coupled to the locking pins either mechanically via cables, chains,
links, and the like or electrically via solenoids, motors, relays,
and the like. Equivalents to the locking pins include, but are by
no means limited to, latches, hooks, pawls, or the like.
[0032] In cases in which optimum access to the patient is necessary
or desirable, all of the locking mechanisms are unlocked and all
rail assemblies 8, 10, 12, 14 are moved to the positions
illustrated in FIG. 3. In the illustrated embodiment, assemblies 8,
10, 12, 14, are lowered to place portions 30, 44 at or below
surface 108 of mattress 16. The access to the patient afforded the
caregiver standing anywhere about patient support apparatus 2 can
best be appreciated by comparing FIGS. 3 and 4 to FIG. 1. Height
110 illustrated in FIG. 4 is convenient for the caregiver working
with the patient.
[0033] Various medical lines, such as intravenous tubes, oxygen
tubes, waste management tubes, electrocardiograph wires,
electroencephalograph wires, and the like oftentimes extend between
the patient and associated medical equipment. Crib rail assemblies
8, 10, 12, 14 of patient support apparatus 2 are configured to
permit such medical lines, for example lines 23 shown in FIG. 7, to
extend through passageways 74 located at the corner regions between
siderails 8, 10 and end rails 12, 14.
[0034] FIG. 1 illustrates a support apparatus 2 with integral crib
structure 4 and high chair portion 6. High chair portion 6 is
formed in end section 22. High chair portion 6 includes a seat 26
and a tray 27. As is conventional, each side rail assembly 8, 10
includes several bars 38 which extend generally vertically between
an upper surface 40 of bottom portion 32 and a lower surface 42 of
upper portion 30.
[0035] End rail assemblies 12, 14, include spaced apart top and
bottom portions 44, 46, respectively, and spaced apart side
portions 48, 50, respectively. Portions 44, 46, 48, 50 cooperate to
form a frame. A clear panel 54 mounted to the inner surfaces 56,
58, 60, 62, of portions 44, 46, 50, 52 permits observation of the
patient on mattress 16. Panel 54 can be made from, for example, a
transparent or suitably translucent resin. Decorative indicia, such
as stickers, are optionally included on panel 54.
[0036] Flanges 64, 66, extend outwardly from top portions 44 of
ends 68, 70 adjacent ends 72 of side rail assemblies 8, 10 to form
passageways 74 between end surfaces 76 of end rail assemblies 12,
14, and end surfaces 78 of side rail assemblies 8, 10. Passageways
74 are provided at each corner of crib structure 4 to accommodate
lines 23 as previously discussed.
[0037] As previously discussed, rail assemblies 8, 10 12, 14, are
movable relative to mattress 16. In the illustrated embodiment, a
groove 80 is provided in each end surface 76. A tongue 82 is
provided on a surface 84 of each end section 22 24 to engage each
groove 80 to provide for the vertical-movement of rail assemblies
8, 10 relative to end sections 22, 24. This movement is indicated
by directional arrows 86, 88. The range of motion can be
appreciated by referring to FIGS. 4, 5 and 6. End rails 12, 14 are
similarly movable vertically with respect to their respective end
sections 22, 24.
[0038] End sections 22, 24 include side panels 224, 226 and top
panels 228 230. As illustrated in FIG. 8, sides 182, 184 lie
adjacent top panels 228, 230. Sides 182, 184, form portions of rail
assemblies 192, 194, respectively, which will be discussed in
greater detail below. As best illustrated in FIG. 1, surfaces 84
having tongues 82 extend inwardly from panels 224, 226.
[0039] A face panel 232 extends outwardly between side panels 224,
226. In the illustrated embodiment, end section 22 includes a
storage compartment 234 which is accessible through an opening
provided in face panel 232. See FIGS. 1 through 3.
[0040] Another face plate 236 is positioned between side panels
224, 226 below face panel 232.
[0041] End section 24 is similar in construction to end section 24.
In the illustrated embodiment, end section 24 does not include high
chair portion 6 or storage compartment 234. However, end section 24
could include one or the other or both a storage compartment and/or
a high chair if desired.
[0042] Referring now particularly to FIG. 8, high chair portion 6
includes seat 26 having a generally horizontally extending seat
surface 116, a generally vertically extending, illustratively
curved, back rest 118, generally vertically extending sides 120,
122, a top surface 124, and tray 27. Seat 26 is integrally formed
with and into end section 22. See also FIGS. 4, 5 and 10. Back rest
118 is positioned adjacent channel 130 which receives end rail 12.
Side surfaces 120, 122 may be generally continuous with, or meet at
corners 136 with, back rest 118. In addition, back rest 118 meets
top surface 124 at a top edge 198.
[0043] Tray 27 includes top and bottom surfaces 180, 181, sides
182, 184, and illustratively curved front and rear faces 186, 188.
An opening 191 in tray 27 provides a handle 190 which is useful to
move tray 27 between a projected, use orientation exposing seat 26
and a retracted, storage orientation. In the illustrated
embodiment, surface 180 of tray 27 includes a raised perimetral
edge to reduce the likelihood that liquids spilled on recessed
region 183 of tray 27 will run off it.
[0044] Crib apparatus 2 includes rail assemblies 192, 194 that
couple tray 27 to end unit 22. Tongues 200 of rail assemblies 192,
194 are attached to sides 182, 184 of tray 27 and grooves 196 of
rail assemblies 192, 194 are attached to side walls of end unit 22
above top surface 124 as shown in FIG. 8. Tongues 200 and grooves
196 cooperate to permit the manipulation of tray 27 inwardly to its
storage orientation and outwardly to its use orientation with
respect to chair portion 26. In the storage orientation, tray 27
covers top edge 198. A crotch post 208 provided on the underside
181 of tray 27 reduces the likelihood that a child placed in seat
26 will slide out of chair 6.
[0045] Referring now to FIGS. 12-14, one illustrated embodiment of
patient support apparatus 2 includes a canopy 231. Looking from
either end of the canopy 231, it includes three sections 242, 243,
244, each of which defines slightly more than one sixth of a
circle. This provides some overlap between adjacent sections 242,
243 and 243, 244. Illustratively, sections 242, 243, 244 are
constructed, at least in part, from transparent or highly
translucent, perhaps tinted, resins permitting observation of a
child on the mattress 16 underneath canopy 231. The central section
243 includes two adjacent, arcuately shaped layers of the material
defining between them an arcuate slot 246. The width of the arcuate
slot 246 is such that both of the other sections 242, 244 can be
pivoted upwardly and toward each other about the center of the
circle of which they are sectors into the slot 246 for storage
and/or access to the child in support apparatus 2 from either side
of the support apparatus 2.
[0046] In another embodiment, illustrated in FIG. 15, only two
sections 252, 254 are provided. Looking from either end of the
canopy, each of sections 252, 254 defines slightly more than a
quarter of the circle about which each is pivotable upward and
toward the other to gain access to the child in support apparatus 2
from either side of the support apparatus 2. This provides some
overlap between the sections 252, 254. Again, illustratively
sections 252, 254 are constructed, at least in part, from
transparent or highly translucent resins. In either embodiment,
handles 248, 250 are provided along the lower edges of the movable
sections 242, 244 (FIGS. 12-14), 252, 254 (FIG. 15) to facilitate
movement.
[0047] As previously discussed, patient support apparatus 2
includes casters 28. In addition, patient support apparatus 2
includes braking and steering mechanisms (not shown). The braking
and steering mechanisms facilitate movement of patient support
apparatus 2, for example, by locking one or more of casters 28
against pivoting in such a way as to keep the apparatus traveling
in a straight line. The braking system permits braking of one or
more of casters 28, for example, to prevent or better control
movement of patient support apparatus 2.
[0048] It is appreciated that although patient support apparatus 2
is described herein as being used in a hospital environment,
patient support apparatus 2 may just as well be used by consumers
in their homes and thus, the claims are not intended to be limited
to apparatus used only in hospitals.
[0049] Furthermore, although the apparatus has been described with
reference to particular means, materials and embodiments, from the
foregoing description, one skilled in the art can easily ascertain
the essential characteristics of the illustrative. apparatus and
various changes and modifications may be made to adapt the various
uses and characteristics without departing from the spirit and
scope of the present invention as described by the claims which
follow.
* * * * *