U.S. patent application number 11/898942 was filed with the patent office on 2009-03-19 for lifting and lowering adjustment structure of a bed.
Invention is credited to Chi-Tzung Huang.
Application Number | 20090070928 11/898942 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 40452922 |
Filed Date | 2009-03-19 |
United States Patent
Application |
20090070928 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Huang; Chi-Tzung |
March 19, 2009 |
Lifting and lowering adjustment structure of a bed
Abstract
A bed includes a stand, a bed plank, a lifting and lowering
device for the bed plank, and a power mechanism; the stand includes
a supporting beam, supporting rods joined to two ends of the
supporting beam, a main rod joined to an intermediate portion of
the supporting beam; the lifting and lowering device includes a
beam, sleeves joined to two ends of the beam and positioned around
the supporting rods of the stand, and a sliding member, which is
joined to the beam so as to slide on the main rod of the stand; the
power mechanism includes a motor, a screw rod connected to the
motor, and a sleeve, which is positioned around and threaded
engaged with the screw rod; the sleeve is securely joined to the
sliding member; the bed plank is securely joined to the sleeves of
the lifting and lowering device.
Inventors: |
Huang; Chi-Tzung; (Min
Hsiung, TW) |
Correspondence
Address: |
ROSENBERG, KLEIN & LEE
3458 ELLICOTT CENTER DRIVE-SUITE 101
ELLICOTT CITY
MD
21043
US
|
Family ID: |
40452922 |
Appl. No.: |
11/898942 |
Filed: |
September 18, 2007 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
5/11 ; 5/611;
5/658 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A61G 7/012 20130101;
A61G 7/0507 20130101; A61G 7/0509 20161101 |
Class at
Publication: |
5/11 ; 5/611;
5/658 |
International
Class: |
A47C 31/00 20060101
A47C031/00 |
Claims
1. A lifting and lowering adjustment structure of a bed, comprising
(a) a stand, the stand including: a supporting beam; two supporting
rods, which are joined to two ends of the supporting beam
respectively; a main rod, which is positioned between the
supporting rods, and securely joined to the supporting beam; (b) a
lifting and lowering device, which includes: a beam; two sleeves,
which are joined to two ends of the beam respectively, and
positioned around the supporting rods of the stand respectively; a
sliding member, which is joined to the beam to be on two sides of
the main rod of the stand; the sliding member being capable of
sliding on the main rod; (c) a power mechanism, which includes: a
motor; a screw rod connected to the motor; and a sleeve, which is
positioned around the screw rod, and has inner threads to
threadedly engage the screw rod; the sleeve being securely joined
to the sliding member; and (d) a bed plank securely joined to the
sleeves of the lifting and lowering device.
2. The lifting and lowering adjustment structure of a bed as
claimed in claim 1, wherein the bed plank includes: a frame, which
is securely joined to the sleeves of the lifting and lowering
device; and a main body positioned within and pivoted to the
frame.
3. The lifting and lowering adjustment structure of a bed as
claimed in claim 2 further comprising a tilting device, which is
securely joined to the frame of the bed plank; the tilting device
including an output shaft, which is connected to the main body of
the bed plank.
4. The lifting and lowering adjustment structure of a bed as
claimed in claim 3, wherein the tilting device is a pressure
cylinder.
5. The lifting and lowering adjustment structure of a bed as
claimed in claim 1, wherein the stand further includes casters,
which are joined to the supporting beam of the stand.
6. The lifting and lowering adjustment structure of a bed as
claimed in claim 1, wherein the main rod of the stand includes two
covering plate members, which are positioned on two sides of the
power mechanism.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to a lifting and lowering
adjustment structure of a bed, more particularly one, which
includes a power mechanism comprising a motor, a screw rod
connected to the motor, and a sleeve positioned around and threaded
engaged with the screw rod.
[0003] 2. Brief Description of the Prior Art
[0004] A common hospital bed includes several bed planks, and a
power source to move the bed planks to a proper height in order for
a patient to move onto and out of the bed easily. The power source
also can be operated to move some of the bed planks to a proper
sloping position in order for the patient to recline on the bed
comfortably. The power source can be an oil hydraulic cylinder or
an air pressure cylinder.
[0005] The inventor of the present invention developed and taught a
series of improvements on hospital beds, which were disclosed in
respective patent applications. One example of the above is "a
lifting and lowering structure of a hospital bed", which includes a
stand, tubes, and a lifting and lowering device. The stand includes
supporting members on a bottom portion thereof, and supporting rods
sticking upwards from the supporting members. The tubes are
positioned around the supporting rods of the stand respectively.
The lifting and lowering device can be an oil hydraulic cylinder or
an air pressure cylinder, and it is equipped with a control lever,
and positioned between middles of front and rear ends of the bottom
portion of the stand. The lifting and lowering device has a simple
structure, and takes relatively little cost to manufacture and
maintain, and is easy to operate. Therefore, the lifting and
lowering structure is very practical.
[0006] Another example of the above is "an improvement on a
hospital bed structure", which includes front and rear power
sources. The front and the rear power sources can be oil hydraulic
cylinders or air pressure cylinders, and they are positioned on
bottom portions of front and rear ends of a stand of a hospital
bed. The front and the rear power sources can be oil hydraulic
cylinders or air pressure cylinders.
[0007] The front power source has an output end, a supporting rod
sticking from the output end, and a sliding piece pivoted on the
supporting rod. The stand has a guiding rail on the bottom portion
of the front end thereof, and the sliding piece is passed into the
guiding rail. Furthermore, a bending arm is pivoted to both the bed
stand and the output end of the front power source.
[0008] The rear power source has an output end, a supporting rod
sticking from the output end, and a sliding piece pivoted on the
supporting rod. The stand has a groove on the bottom portion of the
rear end thereof, and the sliding piece is passed into the groove.
Front and rear position-limiting switches are disposed on front and
rear ends of the groove respectively. And, front and rear
plate-shaped pieces are fitted on the supporting rod to face the
front and the rear position-limiting switches respectively. The
front and the rear plate-shaped pieces have contacting portions to
contact the front and the rear position-limiting switches
respectively.
[0009] Yet another example of the above is "an improvement on
structure of a hospital bed", which includes a base, a lifting and
lowering unit, and a stand. The base has two inverted U-shaped
bars, which are parallel and faced with each other. Transverse
frames are connected to two tail ends of each of the inverted
U-shaped bars, and casters are joined to outward portions of the
transverse frames. The lifting and lowering unit comprises two
frame parts, which cross and pivot on each other, and which are
connected to the stand at upper ends thereof. Vertical rods are
connected to bottom sides of front and rear portions of the frame
parts, which vertical rods are as high as the inverted U-shaped
bars, and connected to the transverse frames of the base. And,
power mechanisms, which can be pressure cylinders, are fitted
between the base and a front portion of one of the frame, and
between the base and a rear portion of said frame respectively.
[0010] All of the above adjustable hospital beds are equipped with
either oil hydraulic cylinders or air pressure cylinders to provide
power. Oil hydraulic cylinders can bear much weight, yet they move
relatively slowly; it will take more time to adjust the bed planks
to a proper height and position when oil hydraulic cylinders are
used as the power source. Therefore, such beds aren't very ideal in
hospitals where efficiency of service is emphasized. Air pressure
cylinders move more rapidly, yet they can't bear as much weight or
move as smoothly as oil hydraulic cylinders. Consequently,
performance of the lifting and lowering devices equipped with air
pressure cylinders can be affected if a heavy patient is lying on
the hospital beds.
[0011] Furthermore, bed planks of a hospital bed can only be moved
to either a high position or a low one, incapable of being moved to
any other position between the high and the low positions, if the
lifting and lowering device of the hospital bed is equipped with an
air pressure cylinder or an oil hydraulic one. In other words, the
height of the hospital bed can't be adjusted to be suitable for
different patients.
[0012] Moreover, because the above oil hydraulic/air pressure
cylinders are installed on the bottoms of hospital beds, they will
occupy much space under the bed planks, thus becoming an obstacle
to the bed planks, the bed planks can't be lowered sufficiently in
order for seriously sick patients to be easily moved onto/out of
the hospital beds.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0013] It is a main object of the present invention to provide an
improvement on a lifting and lowering adjustment structure of a bed
to overcome the above problems.
[0014] A lifting and lowering adjustment structure according to an
embodiment of the present invention includes a stand, a bed plank,
a lifting and lowering device for the bed plank, and a power
mechanism. The stand includes a supporting beam, supporting rods
joined to two ends of the supporting beam, a main rod joined to an
intermediate portion of the supporting beam. The lifting and
lowering device includes a beam, sleeves joined to two ends of the
beam and positioned around the supporting rods of the stand, and a
sliding member, which is joined to the beam to be on two sides of
the main rod of the stand. The power mechanism includes a motor, a
screw rod connected to the motor, and a sleeve, which is positioned
around and threaded engaged with the screw rod. The sleeve is
securely joined to the sliding member while the bed plank is
securely joined to the sleeves of the lifting and lowering device.
Therefore, when the power mechanism is actuated, the bed plank will
be moved to a new height through the lifting and lowering device in
order for a person to move onto/out of the bed easily.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0015] The present invention will be better understood by referring
to the accompanying drawings, wherein:
[0016] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the present invention,
[0017] FIG. 2 is a partial perspective view of the present
invention,
[0018] FIG. 3 is a fragmentary exploded perspective view of the
present invention,
[0019] FIG. 4 is a view of the present invention being in use
(1),
[0020] FIG. 5 is a view of the present invention being in use
(2),
[0021] FIG. 6 is a view of the present invention being in use (3),
and
[0022] FIG. 7 is a view of the present invention being in use
(4).
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0023] Referring to FIG. 1, a preferred embodiment of a lifting and
lowering adjustment structure of a bed of the present invention
includes a stand 1, two lifting and lowering devices 2 connected to
two ends of the stand 1 respectively, a bed plank 3, and a tilting
device 4.
[0024] Referring to FIG. 2 as well, the stand 1 includes:
[0025] a supporting beam 11 at each of the two ends thereof;
[0026] several casters 12, which are joined to lower sides of the
supporting beams 11;
[0027] supporting rods 13, which are joined to two ends of the
supporting beams 11 respectively; and
[0028] two main rods 14, which are securely joined to the
supporting beams 11 respectively, and arranged between two
corresponding said supporting rods 13.
[0029] Referring to FIG. 3 as well, each of the lifting and
lowering devices 2 includes:
[0030] a beam 21;
[0031] two sleeves 22, which are joined to two ends of the beam 21
respectively, and positioned around corresponding said supporting
rods 13 of the stand 1 respectively;
[0032] a sliding member 23, which is joined to the beam 21 so as to
be on two sides of a corresponding said main rod 14 of the stand 1;
the sliding member 23 can slide on the main rod 14 of the stand 1;
and
[0033] a power mechanism 24; the motor 24 includes a motor 241, a
screw rod 242 connected to the motor 241, and a sleeve 243, which
is positioned around the screw rod 242, and has inner threads to
threadedly engage the screw rod 242; the sleeve 243 is securely
joined to the sliding member 23. Furthermore, each of the main rods
14 of the stand 1 comprises two covering plate members 141, which
are securely disposed on two sides of a corresponding said lifting
and lowering device 2.
[0034] The bed plank 3 includes a frame 31, and a main body 32; the
frame 31 is securely joined to the sleeves 22 of the lifting and
lowering devices while the main body 32 is positioned within and
pivoted to the frame 31 (FIG. 1).
[0035] The tilting device 4 is securely joined to the frame 31 of
the bed plank 3, and has an output shaft 41 connected to the main
body 32 of the bed plank 3, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 6. The tilting
device 4 is a pressure cylinder.
[0036] Therefore, the bed plank 3 can be lifted and lowered to
adjust height by means of the lifting and lowering devices 2.
Referring to FIG. 1, when the motors 241 of the power mechanisms 24
the lifting and lowering devices 2 are actuated, they will cause
the screw rods 242 to rotate so as to move the sleeves 243 on the
screw rods 242, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5; the direction of the
sleeves 243 depends on the rotational direction of the screw rods
242; for example, the sleeves 243 will move upwards when the screw
rods 242 rotate in a clockwise direction. Thus, the sliding members
23 are moved on the main rods 14 of the stand 1 so as to move the
sleeves 22 on the supporting rods 13 of the stand 1. Consequently,
the bed plank 3 securely joined to the sleeves 22 of the lifting
and lowering devices 2 are moved to a new height in order for a
person to move onto/out of the bed easily.
[0037] The motors 241 should be turned off as soon as the bed plank
3 is moved to a proper height; thus, the bed plank 3 is fixed in
position. In addition, referring to FIG. 7, if the bed is used with
a seriously ill person who can't move out of the bed by
himself/herself, the bed plank 3 can be lowered to a lowermost
portion of the stand 1 in order for the seriously ill patient to be
easily moved out of the bed.
[0038] The tilting device 4 can be actuated to move the main body
32 of the bed plank 3 to a sloping position in order for a person
to recline on the bed more comfortably.
[0039] Furthermore, because the motors 241 are used as the power
source to move the bed plank 3, and power is transmitted through
the screw rods 242 and the sleeves 243 positioned around and
threadedly engaged with the screw rods 242, the bed plank 3 can
bear relatively much weight, and can move upwards and downwards
relatively smoothly at a heightened speed. Therefore, the present
invention is safe to use, and will save the user time and labor,
being suitable for use in hospitals.
[0040] From the above description, it can be seen that the present
invention has the following advantages:
[0041] 1. The power mechanisms of the present invention each
comprise a motor, a screw rod connected to the motor, and a sleeve
positioned around and threaded engaged with the screw rod, and can
move to bed plank to a proper position according to the user's
height in order for the user to move onto/out of the bed
easily.
[0042] 2. Because the lifting and lowering devices of the present
invention are positioned on two ends of the stand of the bed
instead of the bottom of the bed plank, they can move the bed plank
to a relatively low position as compared with the prior art, which
includes an oil hydraulic/air pressure cylinder installed on a
bottom of a bed plank to occupy much space under the bed plank.
Therefore, the present invention allows a seriously ill patient to
be easily moved out of the bed, being more convenient to use than
the prior art.
[0043] 3. The lifting and lowering devices of the present invention
are equipped with motors to serve as the power source to move the
bed plank, and power is transmitted through the screw rods and the
sleeves positioned around and threadedly engaged with the screw
rods. Therefore, the bed plank can bear relatively much weight, and
can move upwards and downwards relatively smoothly at a heightened
speed as compared with that of the prior art.
* * * * *