U.S. patent number 3,729,751 [Application Number 05/137,399] was granted by the patent office on 1973-05-01 for paraplegic bed.
Invention is credited to Wayne V. Kirkman.
United States Patent |
3,729,751 |
Kirkman |
May 1, 1973 |
PARAPLEGIC BED
Abstract
This invention comprises a paraplegic bed having three portions,
a foot portion, a body portion or seat portion, and a back and head
portion; the portions are provided with means for maintaining all
three portions in coplanar alignment, and changing the angle of the
plane, and means are provided for changing the plane of each
portion with respect to any of the others portions; and means are
provided for selectively changing the seat portion both
longitudinally and transversely with respect to the foot portion
and back portion; said means for changing positions and
relationship of parts is preferably electric push button
actuated.
Inventors: |
Kirkman; Wayne V. (West Palm
Beach, FL) |
Family
ID: |
22477252 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/137,399 |
Filed: |
April 26, 1971 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
5/616 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A61G
7/002 (20130101); A61G 7/018 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
A61G
7/002 (20060101); A61G 7/018 (20060101); A47c
003/32 () |
Field of
Search: |
;5/66-69 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Nunberg; Casmir A.
Claims
I claim:
1. A paraplegic bed comprising a base, a plurality of bed
positions, pivotal means connected adjacent bed portions, planar
guideways supporting said bed portions on said base, a second
guideway having terminal portions thereof substantially parallel
and in different planes, an angularly disposed central portion
connecting the terminal portions of said second guideway, a rack
member extending the length of said second guideway and supported
thereby, a pinion gear connected with one terminal bed portion and
operably engaging said rack, and means selectively moving one bed
portion with respect to the other bed portions and moving all bed
portions simultaneously.
2. The device of claim 1 in which said means selectively moving one
bed portion is electric motor driven means.
3. The device of claim 2 together with a pressure switch for
actuating said electric motor driven means and releasing contact
upon release of pressure.
4. The device of claim 1 together with cam actuated synchronized
means to move all bed portions simultaneously.
5. A paraplegic bed comprising a substantially horizontal
rectangular frame, spaced parallel longitudinal guideways supported
by said frame, the terminal ends of said guideways being in
different horizontal planes, an angularly disposed intermediate
guideways portions connecting said terminal ends, spaced parallel
substantially vertical guideways aligned with the lower terminal
ends of said horizontal guideways, a plurality of pivotally
connected mattress bed frames, mattress plates mounted in said
mattress bed frames and supporting mattress portions, electric
motor actuated means for moving one mattress bed frame on said
guideways with respect to the other mattress bed frames,
electrically controlled means for synchronous movement of said bed
frames, electrically controlled means for moving one said mattress
plates, control means for selectively actuating said electrically
controlled means.
6. The device of claim 5 in which the electrically controlled means
for synchronous movement is cooperating cam switches.
7. A paraplegic bed comprising a substantially horizontal
rectangular frame, spaced parallel longitudinal guideways supported
by said frame, the terminal ends of said guideways being in
different horizontal planes, an angularly disposed intermediate
guideway portions connecting said terminal ends, spaced parallel
substantially vertical guideways aligned with the lower terminal
ends of said horizontal guideways, three pivotally connected
mattress bed frames, mattress plates mounted in said mattress bed
frames and supporting mattress portions, electric motor actuated
means for moving one mattress bed frame on said guideways with
respect to the other mattress bed frames, means moving the central
bed frame with respect to the terminal end bed frames when
substantially perpendicular thereto, electrically controlled means
for synchronous movement of said bed frames, electrically
controlled means for moving the intermediate mattress plate,
pressure actuated control means for selectively actuating said
electrically controlled means.
Description
An object of this invention is to provide a paraplegic bed having
three portions, to-wit; a foot portion, a seat portion, and a back
and head portion; and, means for changing the position of the bed
from horizontal to vertical and any position in the angular
displacement therebetween.
Another object of this invention is to provide a device of the
class described in which the foot portion and the back portion may
be changed in planar relationship to the seat portion.
Another object of this invention is to provide a device of the
class described in which said bed may be synchronously converted to
a chair, with the seat portion being displaced transversely of the
plane of the back and seat portions.
A still further object of this invention is to provide a device of
the class described which may be selectively changed in position by
actuation of one of a plurality of switches.
A still further object of this invention is to provide a device of
the class described which would be simple and economical in
construction, and efficient and durable in use.
The invention will be more fully understood from the following
specification, in conjunction with the drawings, forming a part
thereof, wherein:
FIG. 1 is a side elevation of a device of this invention in
horizontal or bed position;
FIG. 2 is a side elevation of the device of this invention showing
the foot, back and head portions in elevated or displaced
position;
FIG. 3 is a side elevation of the device of this invention showing
the displacement of the elements to form a seat with the seat
portion displaced transversely of the plane of the foot and back
portions;
FIG. 4 is a side elevation of the device of this invention
displaced to vertical or standing position;
FIG. 5 is an end elevation of the device of this invention showing
the motor and gear arrangement for operation of the foot
portion;
FIG. 6 is an end elevation of the back and head portion, parts
broken away for clarity;
FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken through the seat
portion;
FIG. 8 is a longitudinal section taken through the seat
portion;
FIG. 9 is a detail view of the drive mechanism for the foot portion
showing the pinion and rack drive mechanism;
FIG. 10 is a detail cross-sectional view of the mounting elements
for the seat portion;
FIG. 11 is a detail sectional view of the support and elevating
chains for the back and head portion;
FIG. 12 is a horizontal sectional view taken through the support
column of the chain drive shaft mechanism;
FIG. 13 is a vertical sectional view of the support column for the
back and head portion illustrating the mounting for the elevating
or operating chains;
FIG. 14 is a transverse sectional view of the drive, motor and
chain connection for the chain drive shaft of the back and head
portion;
FIG. 15 is a detail view of the adjusting mounts for the rack under
the seat portion;
FIG. 16 is a detail view of the drive pinion and yoke of the foot
portion drive mechanism, at the upper bend of the rack;
FIG. 17 is a detail view of the drive pinion and yoke for the foot
portion at the lower bend of the rack;
FIG. 18 is a schematic wiring diagram for the electric motor
circuits;
FIG. 19 is an elevation of the electric motors control panel;
FIG. 20 is a sectional view of the castor mountings.
FIG. 21 is a plane view of stiffening or reinforcing bars for the
bed portions;
FIG. 22 is a side elevation of the stiffening or reinforcing bars
of the bed portions; and,
FIG. 23 is a fragmentary sectional view showing stop limits for the
pivotal or "jackknife" action between adjacent bed portions;
Referring to the drawings, wherein like parts are given the same
reference numeral, a substantially rectangular base 11, which
supports the parts of this invention, is mounted on casters 12 for
ease in moving the device to desired locations.
A cabinet 13 is mounted upon one end of the base number 11 to
provide a storage area, and also as a support for the terminal end
of a foot portion; and, this cabinet has risers 14 mounted thereon
to receive adjusting screws 15, which support side rails 16
longitudinally positioned in substantially level horizontal
position;
A supporting column 17 is secured to the terminal end of the base
member 11 adjacent the storage cabinet 13, to support one end of an
inverted channel member 18, which extends the length of the frame
or base 11. The channel member 18 has a central portion thereof
angularly disposed downwardly from the said cabinet member 13, as
shown at 19, and terminates in a horizontal portion 21 parallel to
the portion extending over the cabinet 13; and, this lower level of
the channel member 18 extends beyond the base member 11.
The inverted channel 18 is provided with longitudinal rails 22,
secured to and parallel with the edges of said channel 18, and
extending the entire length of said channel member 18. The rails 22
support and have attached thereto a rack 23 substantially centrally
positioned in said channel member 18. The channel member 18 is
provided with an adjustable supporting member 24 at the free end
thereof, to provide for raising or lowering the channel member
18.
A pair of spaced columns 25 are mounted on the terminal end 51A of
the base member 11 opposite the cabinet 13 end, and extend
vertically from said terminal end 51A on base 11. The columns are
provided with cross-bracing members 24 at the lower ends thereof.
These columns 25 are provided with elongated slots or guideways 26
on the inside portions facing and aligned with each other. These
slots or guideways 26 receive elevating mechanisms explained
herein. A cap 27 is fitted on each column 25 and provided with an
aperture to receive a cap screw 28 which has the lower end thereof
threadedly engaging tapped apertures 29 in the head of yoke members
31 adapted to slide within the column 25. Depending side members of
the yoke 31 support idler sprockets 32, which receive an
articulated continuous chain member 33, having an elevating cross
bar 34 positioned and secured to aligned links of said chain
members 33. This elevating cross bar 34 is positioned through the
elongated slots 26 and extends between the columns 25.
Bearing plates 35 are secured to the inner surfaces of the columns
25 and positioned below the normal position of the back and head
portion of the bed, which is below the plane of the top of the
cabinet 13; and, the said bearing plates 35 support a drive shaft
37 to which is secured a drive sprocket 38 to receive an endless
chain 39 to transmit power to a drive shaft through sprockets 42 on
the shaft of the head motor 43. This head motor 43 and also the
foot motor 57 for the foot portion includes the self contained
electric motor and reduction gears for the desired speed output of
the drive shaft.
The shaft of the head motor 43 is operably connected to a cam drum
45 containing a plurality of cams 46, which are cross connected to
corresponding cams forming part of the control of the foot motor
57, to provide synchronized operation of the two motors. The head
motor 43 can be mounted upon any suitable base in any conventional
manner. Its mounting is illustrated as a base 47, supported by
cross angular bars 48 attached to the columns 25 by cap screws 49,
and positioned outwardly from the columns 25.
Side plates or guideways 51 which are mounted on terminal end 51A
of the base and these side plates 51 are secured to the columns 25
by angle members 52.
The foregoing comprises substantially the stationary supporting
parts and movable members remaining on the stationary parts. The
following description is directed principally towards the movable
bed portions supported by the aforedescribed support members, and
to the means for selectively actuating the three portions of the
bed.
The bed proper is, as aforesaid, divided into three portions, the
foot portion, the seat portion, and the back and head portion. The
foot portion comprises a frame having side rails 53 and cross angle
members 54. Rollers 55 are mounted under the horizontal flanges of
the side rails 53. One of the cross angle members 54 has secured
thereto a bracket 56 to which is secured the combined motor and
reduction gearing 57, which is provided with a flexible coupling 58
on its drive shaft and operable connected to drive a short shaft 59
supported by a bracket 60. A pinion gear 61 is mounted on the short
shaft 59 and positioned to engage the rack 23. Guide rollers 62 are
secured to the short shaft 59 and positioned to operate on the side
rails 22 mounted on the inverted channel 18. The short shaft 59 has
secured thereto a yoke 63, having its side members extending below
the inverted channel 18 and having the terminal ends thereof
provided with retaining rollers 64 mounted thereon and adapted to
contact the bottom of the inverted channel member 18. These
retaining rollers 64 by engagement with the channel 18 prevents the
pinion 61 from becoming disengaged with the rack 23 and permits the
rollers 62 to roll along on side rails 22 in operation of the
pinion and rack to move the foot portion longitudinally along the
rack. The short shaft 59 extends beyond the yoke 63, and has
mounted thereon a reduction gearing 65, which operates the moving
parts of the cam drum 66 to operate the individual cams 67, some of
which are cross connected to predetermined selected cams in the
back and head portion motor assembly 43.
A plate 68 is secured to the frame formed by the side rails 53 and
cross angle members 54, which plate 68 supports a mattress member
69. A foot rest 71 is adjustably mounted on the side rails 53 of
the foot portion frame, to provide for adjustment to accomodate the
size of a particular patient using the device. The side rails 53
are chamfered at the interior terminal ends at 45.degree. angle and
the cross rail 72 is mounted at a 45.degree. angle to the said
frames, and is hingedly connected by means of an elongated hinge
73.
The seat portion, being the intermediate or central portion between
the foot portion and back and head portion, comprises side rails
76, preferably formed of angle members having one flange of each of
the side rails horizontal and the other flange extending vertically
upward. These side rails 76 are securely joined by cross angle
members 77 with the cross angle member adjacent the foot portion,
being designated cross member 78 is set at an angle of 45.degree.
to compliment the corresponding cross end member 72 of the foot
portion, and is pivotally connected therewith by the elongated
hinge 73. The side rails have securely mounted thereto and
extending therebetween cross bars 79, which support rollers 81 to
which longitudinal rails 82 are rotatable mounted. A substantially
rectangular frame 83, is secured to the rails 82 and is slidable
displacable longitudinally with respect to the side rails 76. A
seat plate 84 is secured to the slidable frame 83 and this mattress
portion 85 is on a base portion slightly smaller than the mattress
to provide for an undercut groove 86 around the mattress portion to
assure a snug fit of the mattress covering. The seat plate 84 has
secured thereto a motor base or mount 87 to which is secured a
motor including reduction gearing 88. The shaft of the motor and
reduction gearing 88 has operatively connected thereto a pinion 89,
which engages the rack 91 mounted to two of the cross bracing
members. Limits 92 are interposed to determine the length of travel
in either direction forward or aft of the slidable seat plate
84.
The side rails 76 for the seat portion insert into the side rails
of the head of the bed. The vertical flanges of said side rails
have the ends thereof entering and received by a bifurcated end 94
of the supporting arms 95. Pins 96 hold the side rails 76 and
bifurcated support arm 95 pivotally together, and the pin 96 also
support rollers 97 for operating on the side plates 51.
The back and head portion have opposed supporting arms 95 connected
by cross angle members 98 to provide a rigid frame to receive a
back and head plate 99 to which the back and head mattress portion
101 is secured. The marginal edge of the mattress is similarly
undercut, as shown at 102, to receive the mattress cover binding
for a snug fitting cover. The adjacent edges of the seat mattress
and the back and head mattress are cut at complimentary angles, as
illustrated at 103 to provide coplaner alignment and permit
sections independently moved for various combinations of
positions.
The elevating bar 34 is provided with flange rollers 104 which
engage the supporting bars, engaging the under surface of the
support arms 95 and against a retaining strap 105 for free movement
of the back and head portion toward head or foot of bed and self
adjusts position of back and head portion when moving from
horizontal position to vertical position or any angular
displacement therebetween, and also prevent the back and head
portion from becoming misaligned.
When positioning all three portions of the bed, foot portion, seat
portion and back and head portion, from one position to another in
a planar relationship, it will be necessary to tie the three
movable sections together in a rigid form. To accomplish this, side
rails 106 are provided, which extend substantially the length of
the three portions and are secured to each portion thereof by means
of any suitable fastening device, preferably bolts and wing nut
assemblies 107 engaging nuts secured to the underside of the side
rails of each frame for each portion, apertures 110 being formed in
the side rails and support arms to receive these bolt arrangements.
Of course stud bolts 109 can be employed in lieu of the wing nut
and bolt assemblies 107.
Limit stops 111 are disposed in the path of the cross members of
the head portion so that when the cross member is moved forwardly,
the stop member 111 is positioned to hold the seat portion from
moving away from the pivotal action necessary for the pivotal
movement of the foot portion in respect to the seat portion. When
employed as a seat with the back and head portion vertical, the
back and head portion motor raises the cross member out of the path
of the stop so that the seat portion may be extended beyond the
head columns 25 to reduce the seat area.
In operation the mechanical and electrical parts are correlated,
and quite simple.
A control panel 113 has a neon glow lamp 114 to indicate if the
current is on or off position, for safe operation. Two push buttons
115 and 116 together are provided to selectively actuate switches
to raise the foot portion of the bed and lower the foot portion of
the bed, to position the unit as a vertical standing unit in one
plane, or a chair having the three bed portions in different
planes, and return the unit to a horizontal position. The control
panel is provided with one overall energy circuit breaker 125.
The following typical settings are used for illustrations only,
other settings can be employed. In order to change the positions of
the bed from flat or horizontal normal laying position, to one in
which the foot portion alone is pivoted, the foot switch 122 is
actuated by holding the push button 115 until the foot portion
motor 57 moves the foot portion towards the back and head portion
until the head portion engages the stop 111 preventing further
movement and causing the foot section to then pivot raising that
portion near the knees approximately 10 inches. When the pinion
driven by the foot portion motor has made two revolutions the cam
drum has turned approximately 51 degrees and cam 1 opens the
circuit to stop the foot motor.
To lower the foot portion, the push button 116 is depressed and
held until the foot motor, operating in reverse returns the foot
portion to flat position and limit switch 126 opens and stops the
motor.
To raise the back and head portion of the bed only, the head only
switch 117 is depressed to actuate switch 123, and held until the
back and head motor 43 operates to raise the head section, when
this is done the cam drum will be rotated approximately 51.degree.,
and cam 2 opens the circuit to stop the motor.
To lower the back and head portion from the inclined position the
lowering switch button 118 is depressed and held until the motor,
operating in reverse lowers the back and head section to flat
position, and limit switch 127 will open the circuit and stop the
motor.
Any of the aforementioned steps with respect to the foot portion
only raising and lowering, and the back and head portion raising
and lowering only can be stopped at any intermediate point in the
circuit by merely releasing the pressure from the operating button
that operates the switch, to shut off current to the motor and stop
in that position.
To position the bed from coplanar horizontal bed position to a
chair position, depress the push button 117 to actuate the back and
head motor to raise the free end of the head portion; after two
revolutions of the sprocket on the drive chain and 51.degree.
revolution of the cam drum, cam number 4 will close and allow the
foot motor to operate.
After five and one half revolutions of the back and head motor
sprocketed shaft at approximately 140.degree. of the cam drum, cam
number 5 will open and the back and head motor will stop, the foot
motor pinion will rotate 41/2 revolutions or approximately
110.degree. of the cam drum, at which point cam number 6 will open
the switch and the foot motor will stop.
To adjust the width of the seat portion with respect to the back
and head portion, push buttons 119 is provided for forward movement
and push button 121 for return movement, each button selectively
actuating switch 124 for the seat motor central. Limit switches 92
cutting off the circuits when maximum movement has been reached in
either direction.
To lower the bed portion from sitting position, depress and hold
button 118 to actuate the switch for the foot portion motor which
will rotate in reverse direction. When the foot motor pinion
rotates two and one-half revolutions or approximately 19.degree. of
the cam drum, cam 7 will close and cause the head motor to rotate
in reverse direction. Limit switch 126 will open and stop the foot
portion motor after eight revolutions in reverse direction; and,
limit switch 127 will open and stop the back and head motor portion
after five and one half revolutions of the sprocket shaft in
reverse direction.
To position all three bed sections to standing position or vertical
position from laying or horizontal position, depress push button
117 to actuate the head motor, and after two revolutions of the
head motor sprocket the cam drum will turn 51 degrees, and then cam
9 will close the circuit through the foot portion motor to operate
the head motor sprocket shaft for approximately seven revolutions
at which point the cam drum will have turned 220.degree. and cam 10
will open the circuit to stop the head motor. After 13 revolutions
of the foot motor pinion the cam drum for this portion will have
turned 338.degree. and cam 8 will then open the circuit through the
foot motor to stop the action, the three portions now will be
vertical.
To return the three sections in a coplanar relationship from
standing or vertical position to flat or bed horizontal position
the push button 118 is depressed to actuate the foot motor in
reverse for six and one half revolutions at which point the foot
motor pinion will operate the cam drum 170.degree. to close cam 11
and allow the head motor to rotate in reverse direction. After 13
revolutions of the foot motor pinion in the reverse direction limit
switch 128 will open and stop the foot motor at which point the
head motor sprocket will have rotated approximately seven
revolutions and the cam rotated 220.degree., then limit switch 129
will open the circuit and stop the head motor.
* * * * *