Adjustable Bed

Abstract

An adjustable bed particularly for use in hospitals and nursing homes in which a chassis is provided with at least one telescopically extendable span, a bed frame tiltable relative to the chassis includes a middle portion and two end portions hinged to the middle portion, with at least one lifting assembly being disposed on the chassis at each end of the middle portion of the bed frame for adjusting the bed frame to various elevated and inclined positions, and at least one foot for each extendable part of the span.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to an adjustable bed comprising a chassis a bed frame tiltable relative to the chassis, at least one linear actuator disposed on the chassis at each end of the bed, and means articulatedly connecting the linear actuators to the bed frame so that the bed frame may be moved to various elevated positions.

PRIOR ART

In known adjustable beds, single or combined control over the driving assemblies is exercised by means of separately arranged and/or effective actuating elements. The manipulation of the setting devices thus becomes too onerous and not quite exempt from failures. Also complex composite systems, for example electro-hydraulic assemblies, which contribute to a substantial increase in the production costs of the sick bed, are employed in a centrally arranged switching or control system.

The devices employed merely allow vertical adjustment and ambilateral oblique position setting of the bed frame in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the bed. A device appropriate for oblique position setting of the bed frame in its transverse direction, was lacking.

The adjustable beds known until now form a unit invariable in scope in their configuration as a whole. The space requirements for the beds have a highly disadvantageous effect in cases of non-utilization, storage or standby, and also of cartage.

Accordingly, hospitals and nursing homes strive to keep unoccupied adjustable sick beds of small bulk on standby or in storage. Beyond this, there is an incentive to keep the dimensions of unoccupied sick beds small in order to ensure compact stowage in transportation means, and in particular in disinfecting chambers.

Finally, the despatch and storage costs of intermediate storage are disproportionately high for the known bulky sick beds, in view of the great space requirement.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention has as its objects a simplication of the method of operation of the adjusting means and a universal positional adjustment of the bed frame in the vertical and oblique positions in the direction of the longitudinal and transversal axes, in particular by application of substantially less complex actuating devices as well as a saving of floor and storage space obtainable in case of need, by structural or spatial shape modifications of the sick bed when not in use or in storage.

The invention consists in an adjustable bed comprising a chassis, a bed frame tiltable relative to the chassis, at least one linear actuator disposed on the chassis at each end of the bed, and means articulatedly connecting the linear actuators to the bed frame so that the bed frame may be moved to various elevated positions, pumping means on the chassis and arranged to actuate at least one of said linear actuators to operate said movement of the bed frame, said pumping means including a plurality of actuating pedals.

The invention further consists in an adjustable bed comprising a chassis, a bed frame tiltable relative to the chassis, at least one linear actuator disposed on the chassis at each end of the bed, and means articulatedly connecting the linear actuators to the bed frame so that the bed frame may be moved to various elevated positions, and actuating means for displacing said bed frame about the axis transverse to the longitudinal axis of the bed.

The invention further consists in an adjustable bed comprising a chassis, a bed frame tiltable relative to the chassis, at least one linear actuator disposed on the chassis at each end of the bed, and means articulatedly connecting the linear actuators to the bed frame so that the bed frame may be moved to various elevated positions, the bed frame being foldable so as to reduce the space occupied by the bed.

The invention still further consists in an adjustable bed comprising a chassis, a bed frame tiltable relative to the chassis, at least one linear actuator disposed on the chassis at each end of the bed, and means articulatedly connecting the linear actuators to the bed frame so that the bed frame may be moved to various elevated positions, the length of said chassis being adjustable.

It is thus possible to perform the vertical and oblique position adjustment of the bed frame in the shortest possible time and without effort from one position, by means of simple actuating devices. The oblique position adjustment of the bed frame, at either end thereof, now rendered possible relative to both axial directions, in combination with the simplified vertical adjustment up to the most varied extreme positions, offers increased and universal applicability of the bed for all medical wards of hospitals and nursing homes. The production costs are reduced by the simplicity of the actuating devices.

It is accomplished moreover in advantageous manner that the bed has a small space requirement when unoccupied.

A considerable saving in space is obtained upon keeping the beds in store. In sickrooms equipped with two or more beds, so much additional living space can be produced when a reduction in the number of patients occurs, that is becomes unnecessary to remove the bed from the room. Several beds may be treated at the same time in disinfecting or sterilizing rooms, in thus saving space and time. It becomes easier and substantially simpler to convey the empty beds. The saving in costs for packaging and despatch, as well as for simplified intermediate storage of the beds, is very considerable.

The possibility of adapting the dimensions of the foldable and interpenetrable bed frame components to prescribed container cartage dimensions, is also advantageous.

The invention will be further described by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a side view of an adjustable bed with the bed frame lowered, the elevated position after extension of the linear actuators being shown in broken lines,

FIG. 2 is a cross-section taken along the line A-B of FIG. 1.,

FIG. 3 is a side view of an adjustable bed with the bed frame in an oblique position with the head elevated, the opposite oblique position of the bed frame being shown in broken lines,

FIG. 4 is a plan view of a foot pump complex comprising a multiple action system of foot pedals,

FIG. 5 is a side view of an adjustable bed incorporating a built-in setting element for the oblique position adjustment of the bed frame in its transversel direction,

FIG. 6 is a section taken along the line C-D of FIG. 5 showing in broken lines the ambilateral oblique positions of the bed frame,

FIG. 7 is a side view of an adjustable bed with a three-piece foldable configuration of the bed frame, headboard and with the footboard in the outwardly folded position, said boards being flush with the supporting surface of the middle portion in the horizontal position,

FIG. 8 is a side view of a bed with the back support and the leg support folded down on to the middle portion,

FIG. 9 is a partial plan view of the frame of the leg support with a grid base fitted,

FIG. 10 is a side view of the bed structure with the foldable bed frame and retractable chassis in the operational position,

FIG. 11 is a side view of the bed shown in FIG. 10 with the chassis retracted and with the head and foot parts of the reclining frame folded upwards, and

FIG. 12 is a plan view of the bed shown in FIG. 10.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The adjustable bed shown in the drawings comprises a bed frame 1 supported on a bed chassis; the bed chassis essentially comprises a longitudinal member 8 having at each end transverse members 9, 9a. The bed frame 1 has head and foot portions 2, 3 and is provided with (FIGS. 1-3) supports 4 articulatedly secured to transverse support members 5 forming part of the bed chassis. The central portions of the support members 5 rest on supporting elements 7 which comprise the upper portions of the extensible parts 6a of linear actuator units 6. At the head and foot ends of the bed frame, the two actuator units 6 are fixed at their lower ends to the transverse members 9 and 9a. Castors 10 are arranged at the ends of the transverse members 9, 9a; a castor setting device 11 acting on single castor or on all the castors is arranged on one of the transverse members 9, 9a. An actuator unit 6 is articulatedly connected to the transverse member 9 by means of a ball and socket joint 12, so that the unit may pivot along the longitudinal axis of the bed.

On the longitudinal member 8 of the chassis is laterally fastened a foot pump 15 for operating the hydraulic system of the actuator units 6; the foot pump is equipped at either side with connecting pipes 13, 14 (FIGS. 1-3). The foot pump has a multi-action system of release or actuating pedals 16, 17, 18, 19. When the upper pair of pedals 16, 17 are actuated at the same time, the reclining surface or bed frame 1 is raised to the position indicated by broken lines in FiG. 1. The lowering of the bed frame 1 to its initial position is performed by simultaneous actuation of the lower pair of pedals 18, 19.

Separate actuation of the upper left foot pedal 16 (FIG. 4) raises the head portion of the bed frame, and actuation of the upper right pedal 17 raises the foot portion. Separate actuation of the lower left foot pedal 18 causes the lowering of the head portion, and that of the lower right pedal 19 causes the lowering of the foot portion of the bed frame 1. The appropriate setting displacements of the bed frame 1 can thus be performed very rapidly and conveniently from one position.

A displacing element 20, crank-driven by means of a hand crank 21 (FIGS. 5 and 6) and having an extendible part 23, is employed for oblique positional adjustment of the bed frame 1 in its transversel direction. The displacing element 20 is linked to the bed frame 1 by means of holding shackles 22. The extendible part 23 is articulated to securing shackles 25 fastened on a further longitudinal member 24 of the chassis.

The oblique positions of the reclining surface or bed frame 1 are indicated by broken lines in FIG. 6, and are attained by turning the hand crank 21 respectively clockwise or anticlockwise, to permit special treatments of patients and facilitate maintenance work on the bed. The displacing movements of the bed frame 1 are performed in each case through double pivot bearings 26 arranged between the actuator units 6 and the bed frame 1 and articulated thereto. The tilting axis for the bed frame displacement in the transversal direction is indicated by numeral 27 in FIG. 5.

The adjustable bed may or may not be supplied with the displacing means for the oblique positional adjustment of the bed frame 1, depending on the purpose of application. These displacing devices may also be installed subsequently in existing beds.

In the embodiment according to FIGS. 7 and 8 a back support 105 and a leg support 106 are fastened to the middle portion 103 of the bed frame by means of hinges 104 which are situated at either side on the longitudinal frame members and which permit pivotal movement of at least 180.degree. or more. Head and foot bows 107 have their lateral members fastened by means of hinges 111 to the pivotable frame portions 105/106.

A sleeve 108, longitudinally displaceable on the lateral members or branches of bow 107, encloses the hinge 111 in such manner that the bow 107 is secured in rattle-proof manner in the upright position.

At either side of the leg support frame are supporting links 113 provided with slots adapted to cooperate with clamping capstan head bolts or screws 114 fastened on the middle portion 103; the links 113 are preferably hinged to swivel out of the way and serve to secure the leg support 106 in the operational position. The support 106 may, however, also be supported by means of conventional adjusting devices, to allow an oblique positional setting.

In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 7-9 the back rest is displaced and supported by means of a known gas pressure spring system 109, 112, the gas spring 109 being controlled by means of the actuating lever 110. Since the back rest 105, is an extension of the portion 103, and may be tipped upwards by up to 70.degree. as well as downwards by approximately 15.degree., a bow 107 at the head end is not illustrated but one may be fitted if desired.

The length of the chassis corresponds to that of the middle portion 103, whose remote ends with the hinges 104 are set back a little relative to the castor wheel posts and castor wheels of the chassis. This prevents the folded reclining frame 103, 105 from impeding transport and prevents damage to the same.

When the adjustable bed is not in use, the connection between the linking shackle 112 of the back rest 105 and the gas spring 109 is disconnected and the back rest is pivoted on to the middle portion 103 in the direction of the arrow. After release of the leg rest 106, or of the screw joint 113, 114, the leg rest 106 is pivoted in the direction of the arrow to rest on the middle portion 103, after first folding the foot bow 107 on to the leg rest 106 preceded by pushing the sleeve 108 upwards (FIG. 8).

All three portions of the reclining frame 103, 105, 106 are equipped with a grid base 115 which is preferably joined direct to the corresponding frame in each case. An insert-type reclining frame corresponding in dimension to the reclining frame portions 103, 105, 106 and preferably wrought in three-piece foldable configuration, may also be employed complementarily or separately, without thereby delaying the inward folding of the frame portions.

In the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 10-12, a chassis 201 has fastened or articulated thereto lifting assemblies 202 having extensible parts has to a middle portion 203 of a reclining bed frame supported by the chassis. The bed frame also includes a head portion 205 and a foot portion 206 articulated to the middle portion 203 preferably by means of adjustable detente or similar hinges 204. Head and foot bows 207 are foldably connected to the corresponding head and foot portions 205, 206 by means of hinges which are each covered by a sleeve 208, ensuring maintenance in the upright position. All three parts of the reclining frame have a separate base grid 215.

The lifting assemblies 202 are fastened to middle portions 216 of the longitudinal members of the chassis 201. The length of the longitudinal member portions 216 is equal to or approximately equal to the length of the middle portion 203 of the reclining frame. Retractable longitudinal member portions 217 situated at either end may be inserted telescopically into the middle longitudinal member portions 216, or may be extended outwardly. An immobilizing device of a known kind arranged on each of the member portions secures the set position of the longitudinal member portions 216; the remote ends of members 217 are secured to transverse members 218 equipped with castors 219. The immobilizing device may be a clamping screw, eccentric toggle, or the like.

The longitudinally variable configuration of the longitudinal members, apart from determining a minimum longitudinal dimension of the adjustable bed, also permits variation of the wheel base of the castor wheels, so that space for instruments intended for examination of the patient may be provided beneath the reclining frame, according to requirements.

The embodiment shows two parallel longitudinal members 216, each provided with retractable members 217. The chassis 201 may alternatively comprise a single longitudinal member provided with one or more retractable members 217.

If two longitudinal members 216 are provided, the transverse members or crossbeams 218 may each be provided with two retractable longitudinal member portions 217, as indicated by broken lines in FIG. 12. An improvement in stability may thus be accomplished with smaller dimensions of the longitudinal members 216, 217.

The reduction of the longitudinal size of the middle portion of the reclining frame has the result that the head and foot portions can be pivoted inwardly only to the erect position or such as to lean against each other (see FIG. 11). Although this increases the vertical dimension, this is immaterial since the bed is almost always handled singly during storage, transport and sterilization, with the castor wheels on the floor, and is not stacked. The stacking operation which involved a considerable expenditure of time and effort has now been eliminated by the very considerable saving of floor space.

The inward folding of the bed and foot side reclining frame portions down onto the middle portion, if the head and foot portions are for example, telescopically insertable and are, equipped with separate grid or mesh bases in the reclining portions, or if they are equipped with complementary hinge fittings.

In the embodiment according to FIGS. 10-12, for the purpose of articulatedly connecting the middle portion 203 to the head portion 205 and foot portion 206 of the divided bed frame, there are provided adjustable detent hinges 204, comprising ambilaterally arranged disc couplings with Hirth denticulations. The adjustment of the bed frame portions is thus possible in a more a universal manner, a simplified adjustment to the cardiac position being obtainable, for example. The upwardly folded position of the head and foot portions 205, 206 may thus also be secured easily and automatically without application of complementary immobilizing means.

FIG. 10 shows the lowered position of the back rest 205, while the cardiac position of the reclining frame 205, 203, 206 is indicated by broken lines.

Claims

I claim:

1. An adjustable bed comprising a chassis provided with at least one telescopically extendable span defined by a stationary part and an extendable part, a bed frame tiltable relative to the chassis, said bed frame including a middle portion and two end portions hinged to the middle portion, at least one lifting assembly disposed on the chassis at each end of the middle portion of the bed frame for adjusting the bed frame to various elevated and inclined positions, and at least one foot provided on each extendable part of the span, the chassis including two telescopically extendable spans, cross-beams carrying feet at their free ends, said cross-beams being secured to the extendable parts of the chassis, and the lifting assemblies being arranged between the stationary parts of the spans.

2. The adjustable bed as claimed in claim 1, in which the lifting assemblies are provided with outer tubes and the stationary spans including outer tubes, the outer tubes of the lifting assemblies being directly connected to the outer tubes of the spans.

3. An adjustable bed comprising a chassis provided with at least one telescopically extendable span defined by a stationary part and an extendable part, a bed frame tiltable relative to the chassis, said bed frame including a middle portion and two end portions hinged to the middle portion, at least one lifting assembly disposed on the chassis at each end of the middle portion of the bed frame for adjusting the bed frame to various elevated and inclined positions, and at least one foot provided on each extendable part of the span, said at least one telescopically extendable including a stationary part and two extendable parts arranged to be withdrawn from opposite ends of the stationary part.