U.S. patent application number 11/404608 was filed with the patent office on 2007-07-05 for bed hand rails.
Invention is credited to Thomas Heavrin.
Application Number | 20070151032 11/404608 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 38222801 |
Filed Date | 2007-07-05 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070151032 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Heavrin; Thomas |
July 5, 2007 |
Bed hand rails
Abstract
These bed hand rails are for use with rotatable hand grip rails
on a bed. The rails comprise an arrangement of rails forming the
hand grip rails, wherein the hand grip rails form an annular space;
and a rigid or semi-rigid, perforated metallic cover is attached to
the hand grip rails and covers the annular space. The cover has a
rigidity that is substantially resistant to penetration by an
appendage of a person.
Inventors: |
Heavrin; Thomas; (Arlington,
OH) |
Correspondence
Address: |
EMCH, SCHAFFER, SCHAUB & PORCELLO CO
P O BOX 916
ONE SEAGATE SUITE 1980
TOLEDO
OH
43697
US
|
Family ID: |
38222801 |
Appl. No.: |
11/404608 |
Filed: |
April 13, 2006 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
60756491 |
Jan 5, 2006 |
|
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Current U.S.
Class: |
5/662 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47C 21/08 20130101;
A61G 7/053 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
005/662 |
International
Class: |
A47C 31/00 20060101
A47C031/00 |
Claims
1. A bed hand rail for use with rotatable hand grip rails on a bed
comprising: an arrangement of rails form an annular space; and a
rigid or semi-rigid, perforated metallic cover attached to the hand
grip rails and covering the annular space.
2. A hand rail according to claim 1 wherein the metallic cover is a
perforated metal plate.
3. A hand rail according to claim 1 wherein the metallic cover is a
metallic, wire mesh.
4. A hand rail according to claim 1 wherein the metallic cover is
made of stainless steel.
5. A hand rail according to claim 1 wherein the cover has a
rigidity that is substantially resistant to penetration by an
appendage of a person.
6. A hand rail according to claim 1 wherein the cover includes
holes therein such that the cover has a rigidity that is
substantially resistant to penetration by an appendage of a
person.
7. A hand rail according to claim 1 including a rubbery coating
coated onto the hand grip rails.
8. A hand rail according to claim 7 wherein the rubbery coating is
a spray on material.
9. A hand rail according to claim 7 wherein the rubbery coating is
a urethane.
10. A hand rail according to claim 7 wherein the rubbery material
is a natural or synthetic rubber.
11. A hand rail according to claim 7 wherein the rubbery coating
has a density less than 0.25 lbs/ft.sup.3.
12. A hand rail according to claim 1 including at least one lock
assembly to securely lock the bed rail in various position
regarding height adjustment and rotated position.
13. A hand rail according to claim 12 including one lock assembly
for height adjustment and a second lock assembly for a rotation
position.
14. A hand rail according to claim 12 wherein the rotatable hand
grip rails are adapted to rotate 360.degree..
15. A hand rail according to claim 12 wherein the rotatable hand
grip rails are adapted to firmly lock in position.
16. A hand rail according to claim 12 wherein the rotatable hand
grip rails lock in four positions.
17. A hand rail according to claim 12 wherein the four positions
are spaced apart 90.degree..
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. provisional
patent application Ser. No. 60/756,491 filed Jan. 5, 2006.
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0002] This invention relates to bedside handrails for hospital and
nursing home beds. In the preferred embodiment, the handrail or
grab bar rotates or pivots.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] Hospital beds traditionally had some type of collapsible
side rail on each side of the mattress, so that a patient on the
bed cannot inadvertently roll off of the bed and receive serious
injuries from a fall to the floor. Padded covers, bumper wedges and
the like also are used with the bed-rails to improve the comfort
and safety of patients in long-term care facilities.
[0004] One recent development is a padded gap protector that
provides zero clearance no matter what the articulated position of
the bed is. The pad remains in compression with the mattress and
closes the gap between the mattress and side rails. The pad
provides a zero gap when the mattress is in a horizontal position
and when the mattress is secured in an articulate position such as
an elevated position. The gapless bed rail pads are described in
U.S. Pat. No. 6,347,422 issued on Feb. 19, 2002, which herein is
incorporated by reference.
[0005] Another recent development is an enabler cover for hand
rails used with hospital and nursing home beds. The industry often
refers to these hand rails as grab bars, positioning bars and the
like. U.S. Pat. No. 6,629,325 issued on Oct. 7, 2003, which herein
is incorporated by reference, discloses an enabler cover for use
with hand rails on a bed which comprises a pad which fits around
the rails of the hand rails. The pad, including a cover material,
defines an interior space formed of the material. The material is
flexible, non-abrasive and substantially resistant to penetration
by an appendage of a person. The pad also includes a foam material
filling the interior space defined by the cover material. Further,
the cover material includes a means for enabling the enabler cover
to fit around the rails of the hand rails. A mesh cover then covers
any opening in the hand rails.
[0006] The hand rails prevent, to some extent, a resident from
falling out of bed. Internal bed positioning or assistance into and
out of bed is the major use. Hand rails typically have a tubular
frame which mounts to the bed frame. The hand rails may rotate up
to 360.degree. and lock into a number of positions. The hand rails,
however, have an open center with the tubular frame circumscribing
the opening. During operation or in a stationary position, a limb
or other body part should not extend through the opening. As a
result, a need remains for improving these hand rails.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] This invention provides yet other improvements for hand
rails used with hospital and nursing home beds. Instead of a mesh
cover enclosing the open center of the hand rails, I employ a
perforated metal cover. The perforated metal cover may be a plate,
wire mesh and the like. Unlike the flexible mesh of my previous
cover, the metal cover is rigid or semi-rigid and welded to the
tubular frame circumscribing the opening. The metal cover is very
durable and survives the everyday use of long term care beds, yet
is flexible enough to be substantially resistant to penetration by
an appendage of a person.
[0008] Instead of the tubular pad of my earlier invention, I now
use a spray on rubbery material. This spray on protection provides
protection cushioning yet is very durable and survives the everyday
use of long term care beds.
[0009] In my prior invention, the hand rails rotate 360.degree. and
lock firmly and safely into position with a pin and hole. Height
adjustment also was carried out with the pin and hole arrangement.
With time, however, the pins and holes wear and don't provide firm
and safe positioning. I now use a lock bolt and lock nut assembly
for rotation and height adjustment. The locking assembly is very
durable and survives the every day use of long term care beds.
[0010] Other objects and advantages of the present invention will
become apparent to those skilled in the art upon a review of the
following detailed description of the preferred embodiments and the
accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0011] FIG. 1 shows a first embodiment of a perforated metal cover
according to this invention.
[0012] FIG. 2 shows a second embodiment of a rigid or semi-rigid
wire mesh cover according to this invention.
[0013] FIG. 3 shows a lock nut and lock bolt assembly according to
this invention.
[0014] FIG. 4 shows a hand rail, bed, and cover according to this
invention.
[0015] FIG. 5 shows an assembly and post for the supporting hand
rail.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT(S)
[0016] FIG. 1 shows bed hand rail 10 according to this invention.
Rail 10 comprises an arrangement of rails 12 circumscribing an
annular space. Cover 14 covers the annular space and is welded to
the inside edges or rails 12 defining the annular space. Cover 14
preferably is a perforated metal plate. Rubbery cushion 16 is
sprayed onto rails 12.
[0017] FIG. 2 shows another embodiment for cover 14 for hand rail
10. In this embodiment, cover 14 is a rigid or semi-rigid wire
mesh.
[0018] The rubbery material of cushion 16 of this invention may
vary widely. widely. Generally, it is a thermoplastic polymer
produced by the condensation reaction of a polyisocyanate and a
hydroxyl-containing material, e.g., a polyol derived from propylene
oxide or trichlorobutylene oxide. The basic polymer unit is formed
as follows: R.sub.1NHCOOR.sub.2.
[0019] A preferred urethane is RUBATEX 3/8'' WALL: FIRE RATED (ASTM
E-84 ME; 25 flame or less; 50 smoke or less). The urethane
generally has a density less than 0.25 lbs/ft.sup.3. Preferably,
the urethanes are flame-resistant and have a low smoke value. This
usually is accomplished by incorporating a metallic salt such as
aluminum trihydrate. Typically, the materials should have a flame
spread of 25 or less and a smoke value of less than 400 according
to standard ASTM tests.
[0020] Rubbery cushion 16 also may comprise rubber and a resin
component containing at least one ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer
(EVA). Ethylene vinyl acetate copolymers useful in the invention
containing at least 15% by weight vinyl acetate. The resin
component may contain only ethylene vinyl acetate copolymer or a
mixture of EVA copolymers.
[0021] The rubbers, latexes or elastomers of this invention may
vary widely. Examples of such elastomers include neoprene, EPDM,
i.e., ethylene-propylene-diene terpolymer, SBR, i.e.,
styrene-butadiene rubber, nitrile rubber, and chlorinated
polyethylene. Other eligible examples of rubbers include
chlorosulfonated polyethylene, chlorinated polyethylene,
ethylene-propylene rubber, isoprene-isobutylene rubber, chlorinated
or brominated butyl rubber, and nitrile-butadiene rubber.
[0022] Natural rubber latex for cushion 16 can be any widely used
centrifuged or creamed natural rubber latex such as NC 35% from
ENNAR adjusted to the proper KOH number and PH value for proper
reaction to standard curing agents and accelerators common to the
trade.
[0023] Styrene butadiene rubber for cushion 16 is a low styrene SBR
type such as 27% styrene that will crosslink and cure with the same
cure package as incorporated in the formulation for the curing of
the natural rubber. The SBR polymer will adhere in a satisfactory
manner either alone or in combination with natural rubber to the
top surface of rails 12.
[0024] The metals of cover 14 may vary widely. For example cover 16
may be made iron, copper, aluminum and the like. Alloys such as
carbon steels may be used as well. Molybdenum improves the
toughness and wear resistance of steel alloys. Corrosion and
oxidation resistance of steel is increased with the addition of
chromium or nickel (stainless steel). These metals and alloys may
be used in either the perforated metal plates or the wire mesh.
Rigidity may be controlled by the number of holes in the plate or
the openness of the wire mesh. Rigidity also is controlled by the
thickness or diameter of the wire. The holes or spaces may very
with caution not to make them to large. A limb or other body part
should not extend through the opening. The holes or openings are
such that cover 14 is substantially resistant to penetration by an
appendage of a person.
[0025] FIG. 3 shows a lock nut and lock bolt according to this
invention. FIG. 3 shows lock assembly 30 which comprises lock nut
32 and lock bolt 34. Rails 12 in FIGS. 1 and 2 show lock hole 36.
Lock bolt 34 may be prepositioned in lock hole 36. Lock bolt 34 may
be loosened somewhat to allow for proper assembly. Lock assembly 30
is used to securely lock bed hand rail 10 in its various position
regarding height adjustment position. Lock hole 36 extends through
rails 12. Typically, one lock assembly 30 is employed with each bed
hand rail 10. The assembly locks height adjustment. Another
assembly may be used, if desired to lock the rotation position.
[0026] FIG. 4 shows a hand rail, bed and cover according to this
invention. FIG. 4 shows bed hand rail 10 in position on long term
care bed 40. Rails 12 form annular space 42 and cover 14 covers
space 42. Spot welds (not shown) are on the outside of rails 12
away from an occupant of bed 40.
[0027] FIG. 5 shows a post and assembly for supporting the hand
rail. Assembly 50 includes vertical post 52. Post 52 includes three
sets of holes support post 52. Lock bolt 32 passes through hole 36
of rail 12. Lock bolt 32 also passes through one set of holes 54
for height adjustment. Lock bolt 34 then secures rail 12 to post
52.
[0028] The following example further illustrate this invention.
EXAMPLE I
[0029] A preferred hand rail is a modified version of a Arcorail
System. See FIG. 4. This hand rail rotates 360.degree. and locks
firmly and safely in four positions. Prior to rotation, loosen lock
assembly 30 enough to allow for rotation. To rotate the hand rail,
grip it close to where the center and top rail meet. Pull up
lightly and turn it in either direction to a desired 90.degree.
position. To lock the hand rail, lower it. You will fee it drop
slightly into the 90.degree. position. Push the hand rail from side
to side to ensure that it will not move out of position. Next,
tighten lock nut 32 and lock bolt 34 to prevent rotation. To exit
and enter the bed, rotate hand rail and lock it perpendicular at a
right angle to the mattress. Sit down on the opposite side of the
hand rail furthest from your pillow. To sit up or to reposition
while in bed, grasp the hand rail by the center rail.
EXAMPLE II
[0030] In the preferred embodiment, cover 14 is a perforated metal
plate made of stainless steel. Cover 14 typically has holes that
are one half inch in diameter. Usually the holes are uniform in
size. However, uniform hole size is not required. In addition to
these embodiments, persons skilled in the art can see that numerous
modifications and changes may be made to the above invention
without departing from the intended spirit and scope thereof.
* * * * *