End Support For Anterior Bed Frame

Abstract

An end support for the anterior frame of a rotatable hospital bed having opposed, relatively movable anterior and posterior patient supporting frames. The end support has a bar which extends between spaced, parallel and generally upright side rings of the bed. The ends of the end support bar are secured to the side rings by lock units. When the lock units are in their unlocked condition, they can slide along the corresponding side rings for adjusting the distance between the end supports, hence, the anterior frame and the posterior frame of the bed. The lock unit includes pin means engageable with the side rings and resiliently urged to remain in any of several selected positions therealong. The end support bar is mounted on the lock units for limited pivotal movement around an axis parallel with the rotational axis of the bed. The end support bar is resiliently biased toward one pivotal limiting position wherein said end support bar overlaps the end of said anterior frame. In a modified embodiment, the end support bar is not resiliently held but is pivotable on the lock unit through an extended angular range, between a limit position determined by an adjustment screw wherein the end support is engageable with the anterior frame, and a second limit position thereabove and wherein a support lock pin automatically locks the end support bar against pivotal movement in an upwardly extending intermediate position.

Parent Case Text

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a continuation-in-part application of co-pending application Ser. No. 260,367, filed June 7, 1972 by Homer H. Stryker, entitled "End Support for Anterior Bed Frame," and now abandoned.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to an improvement in a bed having anterior and posterior frames for engagement of a patient and, more particularly, to an end support for the anterior frame of a hospital bed having upstanding, circular and rotatable side members enabling end-for-end rotation of a patient supported between said frames.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

U. S. Pat. No. 3,034,152, assigned to the assignee of the present invention, discloses a hospital bed of the general type involved. It is contemplated that the present invention could be applied to other bed constructions of more or less related type, even though said invention was developed in connection with the bed of the type disclosed in said U. S. patent.

Briefly, a bed of the type disclosed in said U. S. patent includes a pair of spaced circular and coaxial rings arranged in vertical planes and connected to each other by cross bars. The rings are supported upon a wheeled base for rotation about their common axis. A posterior frame extends diametrically across and between the rings to support a mattress which normally engages the patient's back. An anterior frame extends across and between the rings on the mattress side of the posterior frame and is spaced therefrom. The anterior frame is equipped with a mattress or the like.

The anterior frame is movable toward and away from the posterior frame and it may be adjusted so that the patient can be held snugly between the two frames during rotation of the rings whereby the posterior and anterior frames are rotated through approximately 180.degree. and the patient is moved from a face down position to a face up position, or the reverse. Such a bed is particularly useful where, for example, the patient is in traction or requires treatment which necessitates frequent changing of the patient's position.

Adapting the anterior frame to movement toward and away from the patient has in the past been accomplished by pivotally mounting the foot end thereof between the rings and frictionally clamping a support for the head end of the anterior frame to the rings by means of releasable friction clamps. Repositioning of the head end of the anterior frame may thus be utilized to adjust for differences in the thickness or girth of different patients to be supported by the bed and to facilitate insertion and removal of the patient from the bed. It has been found, however, that careless readjustment of clamping force by the hospital personnel or others may interfere with proper operation of the clamps, for example, resulting in excessive operating effort or reduction in clamping force below desired levels.

Thus, the objects of this invention include provision of:

1. An improved end support for the anterior frame of a hospital bed of the type disclosed in U. S. Patent No. 3,034,152 and having a support member secured by positively locking but releasable lock units in any of several predetermined positions circumferentially spaced along opposed portions of the side rings to adjust said anterior frame relative to the head end of the posterior frame.

2. An end support, as aforesaid, in which the lock units positively engage the rings both for circumferential movement therealong and for locking against circumferential movement with respect thereto and in which the occurrence of such locking is automatic upon movement of the lock unit to any of several preselected positions along the adjacent ring.

3. An end support, as aforesaid, in which accidental circumferential displacement of the lock units and hence of the head end of the anterior frame with respect to the rings in precluded and in which manual force is required to unlock such lock units and enable circumferential adjustment of said support member with respect to said rings.

4. An end support, as aforesaid, in which the head end of the anterior frame is adapted to be fastened in overlapping relation to a central, offset portion of the end support bar, the ends of which are connected to said lock units for limited pivotal movement relative thereto. This pivotal movement permits displacement of the central portion of the bar out of overlapping relation with the head end of the anterior frame to allow noninterfering movement thereof with respect to the end support bar.

Other objects and purposes of this invention will become apparent to persons acquainted with apparatus of this general type upon reading the following specification and inspecting the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a rotatable hospital bed including an anterior frame having an end support embodying the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragment of FIG. 1 substantially as viewed from the line II--II.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view substantially as taken on line III--III of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged sectional view substantially as taken on the line IV--IV of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged sectional view substantially as taken on line V--V of FIG. 3.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged sectional view substantially as taken on line VII of FIG. 3.

FIG. 7 is an enlarged sectional view substantially as taken on line VII--VII of FIG. 3.

FIG. 8 is a sectional view substantially taken on line VIII--VIII of FIG. 6.

FIG. 9 is a fragment of FIG. 2 disclosing a modification.

FIG. 10 is an enlarged, fragmentary, partly exploded, sectional view substantially as taken along the line X--X of FIG. 9.

FIG. 11 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view substantially as taken along the line XI--XI of FIG. 9.

FIG. 12 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view substantially as taken along the line XII--XII of FIG. 9 and showing, in broken lines, alternate pivotal positions of the end support bar.

FIG. 13 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view substantially as taken along the line XIII--XIII of FIG. 9 and showing the end support bar pivoted upwardly to its normal out-of-use position, corresponding to its intermediate position of FIG. 12.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The objects and purposes of the invention, including those set forth above, have been met by providing an improved end support for the anterior frame of a rotatable hospital bed having opposed relatively movable anterior and posterior patient supporting frames. The end support has a bar which extends between the spaced, parallel and upright side rings of the bed. The ends of the end support bar are secured to corresponding ones of said side rings by lock units. When the lock units are in their unlocked condition, they can slide along the corresponding side rings for adjusting the distance between the end support, hence the head end of the anterior frame, and the posterior frame of the bed. The lock unit includes pin means engageable with the side rings and resiliently urged to remain in any of several selected positions therealong. The end support bar is mounted on the lock units for limited pivotal movement around an axis parallel with the rotational axis of the bed. The end support bar is resiliently biased toward one pivotal limiting position wherein said end support bar overlaps the end of said anterior frame. In a modified embodiment, the end support bar is not resiliently held but is pivotable on the lock unit through an extended angular range, between a limit position determined by an adjustment screw wherein the end support is engageable with the anterior frame, and a second limit position thereabove and wherein a support lock pin automatically locks the end support bar against pivotal movement in an upwardly extending intermediate position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIGS. 1 through 3 disclose a bed 10 having an anterior frame support embodying the invention. The bed includes a substantially rectangular base 12 (FIG. 1) preferably supported by casters 14. Two pairs of spaced rollers 16 are rotatably supported on the base 12, and a motor 17 is carried by said base for rotatably driving at least one roller 16.

A pair of spaced, circular, coaxial and vertically disposed side rings 21 and 22 are connected together by circumferentially spaced transversely extending cross bars, one of which is shown at 23 (FIG. 2), to define a rigid cylindrical unit. The rings 21 and 22 are supported on and between the rollers 16 for rotation with respect to the base 12 as seen in FIG. 1.

A posterior frame 26, preferably of rectangular plan, extends substantially diametrically across the rings 21 and 22 and is disposed transversely therebetween. The ends 25 of the posterior frame 26 are removably secured, preferably by nut and threaded stud connections 27 (FIG. 2) to adjacent ones of the cross bars 23. The posterior frame includes a patient support 29 for supporting the back of a patient, and may for example include a mattress, not shown. If desired, the patient support 29 may be articulated to allow either flat or flexed support of the patient.

The rings 21 and 22 are preferably of two piece construction. Each ring includes a lower semicircular portion 31, here extending through slightly more than 180.degree. of arc, which carries and terminates above the posterior frame 26. The ends of the upper semicircular portion 32 of each ring are removably fixed to the ends of the corresponding lower portion 31. To this end, plugs 34 (FIG. 4) fixed within the ends of the lower ring portions 31 are snugly but slidably received in the opposed ends of the corresponding upper ring portions 32 and fixed thereto by a nut and bolt connection 36, the bolt extending through suitable coaxial openings in the plug and upper ring portion end. In consequence, the upper ring portions 32 can be removed to enable free access to the patient supported on the posterior frame, as for treatment, operations and the like without removing the patient from the bed 10.

An anterior frame 41 (FIG. 1) extends substantially chordally across the rings 21 and 22 and is disposed transversely therebetween. The anterior frame is disposed in spaced opposition to the posterior frame 26 and is carried by the upper ring portions 32 in a manner hereinafter described. In the particular embodiment shown, the anterior frame 41 comprises spaced side members 43 and 44 (FIG. 3) which at their foot or rightward ends and for the majority of the length thereof are relatively widely spaced lying just inside planes of the rings 21 and 22. The head or leftward ends of the side members 43 and 44 are more closely spaced and are joined to the foot ends of the side members 43 and 44 by angled portions, one of which is indicated at 46. The head or leftward end of the side members 43 and 44 are joined, here integrally, by a head element 48 extending transversely therebetween. The rightward or foot ends of the side members 43 and 44 are joined by a transverse foot element 49. The central portions of the head and foot elements 48 and 49 are pivotable with respect to the end portions thereof for purposes appearing hereinafter. Intermediate elements 51 and 52 join the side members 43 and 44 intermediate their ends and are preferably of inverted U-shape. A mattress or the like, not shown, is preferably carried by the anterior frame in opposed relation to the posterior frame.

As seen in FIG. 3, the foot element 49 of the anterior frame 41 rests on and is releasably secured to another one 53 of the cross bars connecting the rings 21 and 22. The cross bar 53 extends between the upper ring portion adjacent and above the rightward ends of the lower ring portions 31. A threaded stud 54 (FIG. 5) is fixed to and extends upwardly from the central portion of cross bar 53 and is received through a diametral opening 56 in the foot element 49. A nut 57, here held captive to the foot element 49 by a chain 58, threadedly engages the free end of the stud 54 to fixedly but releasably secure the central portion of the foot element 49 of the anterior frame to the cross bar 53.

The head or leftward end of the anterior frame 41 is carried by an end support bar 61 (FIGS. 1, 2 and 3) adjustably positioned on the upper portions 32 of rings 21 and 22 by lock units 63 and 64 described in more detail hereinafter.

The support bar 61 has coaxial ends 66 (FIG. 2) which engage the lock units 63 and 64. The central portion 67 of the support bar parallels but is radially offset from the ends 66 and integrally connects thereto by divergent angled portions 68. In its position of use indicated in FIG. 1, the central portion 67 of support bar 61 depends from and is outwardly angled from the lock units 63 and 64 supporting same. Further, the head element 48 of the anterior frame is supported on the central portion 67 between the angled portions 68 and is affixed thereto by a stud and nut connection 71 which is preferably generally similar to that used at the foot end of the anterior frame and shown in FIG. 5.

If desired, accessory mounting devices such as that shown at 72 (FIG. 2) may be fixed to the support bar 61.

The lock unit 63 and 64 are preferably mirror images of each other. Thus, a description of lock unit 64 will suffice for both. The lock unit 64 comprises a block 74, here substantially rectilinear in form. A transverse opening 76 (FIG. 6) extends through the block 74 adjacent the rightward end thereof. A cylindrical sleeve 77 is snugly received within and extends through the opening 76 and its ends extend beyond the upper and lower faces 78 and 79 of the block 74, each by a distance here approximating the thickness of the block. A rivet 82 extends through coaxial openings in the interior end 83 of the block 74 and side wall of the sleeve 77 for fixedly securing the sleeve to the block. The rivet 82 is preferably aligned diametrically of the sleeve and located on the central length axis of the block.

The upper ring portion 32 is slidably through the sleeve 77. The sleeve 77 is preferably linear in contrast to the arcuate character of the ring extending therethrough. The inside diameter of the sleeve 77 exceeds the thickness of the ring portion 32 so that the ring directly contacts the sleeve wall only at the interior portion of the sleeve ends, as indicated at 86 and 87 (FIG. 6), and centrally of the sleeve at the exterior side facing zone 88 thereof. The ring portion 32 is elsewhere spaced from the sleeve 77 and at least slidably clears the adjacent end of rivet 82.

A pair of plugs 91 are provided adjacent each end of the sleeve 77. The plugs are conveniently rivets extending through the wall of sleeve 77 and having heads therewithin. The plugs 91 of each pair of each spaced by more than a quarter circle, for example 110.degree., circumferentially of the sleeve from the rivet 82. The plugs 91 of each pair are thus circumferentially spaced from each other in a symmetrical manner on opposite sides of the radial plane of the ring 22. The heads of the plugs 91 slidably contact the exterior surface of the ring 22 so that each end of the sleeve 77 engages the opposed surface of the ring 22 at three circumferentially distributed points around the perimeter of such sleeve end, thereby reducing any tendency for the sleeve to more with respect to the ring except along the circumference of such ring. On the other hand the surface contact between the ring and sleeve is relatively small easing movement of the sleeve along the ring.

A transverse opening 94 extends through the exterior (leftward in FIG. 6) end portion of the block 74. The opening 94 is spaced exteriorly from the opening 76 and extends through the side walls of the block. As seen from the exterior end 95 of the block, the axes of openings 94 and 76 appear substantially perpendicular. The end 66 of support bar 61 extends snugly but pivotally into the opening 94.

An elongated lock opening 98 (FIG. 6) extends along the central longitudinal axis of the lock block 74 from the exterior end 95 thereof diametrally through opening 94 and diametrally into opening 76. The portion of lock opening 98 communicating with opening 76 is of reduced diameter to form a step 99. A hole 101 through the sleeve 77 coaxially communicates with the longitudinal lock opening 98 and corresponds in diameter to the adjacent portion of the opening 98. A plurality of holes 103 are spaced, preferably evenly, along the exterior face of the ring 22 (and correspondingly of ring 21). As seen in FIG. 2, the series of holes 103 extends from the connection 36 upwardly along the upper portion 32 of ring 22 for a distance corresponding to the desired range of circumferential placement of lock unit 64.

The end 66 of end support 61 is provided with a diametral opening 106 normally in coaxial alignment with lock opening 98 but exceeding the diameter thereof, for example by 0.050 inch to 0.090 inch, for purposes appearing hereinafter.

A lock plunger assembly 108 (FIG. 6) is housed in the lock opening 98. The plunger assembly includes a lock sleeve or casing 110 snugly but slidably received in the opening 98 against the step 99. The interior end of the sleeve 110 has a radially inwardly directed, annular flange 109. A snap ring 112 removably located in a groove in the leftward end of the opening 98 retains a washer 111 and the sleeve 110 coaxially within the opening 98. The lock sleeve 110 thus extends through opening 106 in the end 66 of the end support 61 and with sufficient clearance as to allow limited pivotal movement of the offset end support with respect to the lock block.

A coil spring 114, under compression, lies coaxially within the sleeve 110 and is retained therein at one end by the flange 109 and an intervening washer 113 and at the other end by the washer 111.

A lock pin or plunger 116 includes a shank 117 slidably received within the spring 114 and sleeve 110 and which is guided for reciprocation by the washer 111. An enlarged, substantially cylindrical head 119 extends coaxially rightwardly from the shank and is guided for reciprocation within the flange 109. The head abuts the washer 113. In the locking position of the plunger assembly 108 shown in FIG. 6, the head extends rightwardly past the shoulder 99 through the sleeve hole 101 and a desired one of the ring holes 103 into the ring 22 for preventing movement of the lock block 74 circumferentially along the ring, and hence for positively locating the end 66 of end support 61 circumferentially on the ring 22. The head 119 is preferably grooved at 120 to lightly resist movement out of the hole 103, so as to prevent removal by inadvertence and indicate to the user that the plunger has properly engaged the ring 22. A manually engageable knob 122 is threaded on the outer end of the shank 117 for pulling the plunger 160 out of engagement with the holes 103 in ring 22.

One, and preferably both, of the lock units 63 and 64 are provided with a bias device 124 (FIG. 7) for pivotally urging the end support 61 away from the rings 21 and 22 out of overlapping relation with the adjacent end 48 of the anterior frame 41. In the preferred embodiment shown, the bias device 124 comprises a substantially L-shaped leaf spring 126, here a resilient rod. The outboard (leftward) end 131 of the spring 126 extends through an opening in the peripheral wall of the anterior frame support end 66 into the interior thereof. The other end of the spring 126 is held beneath a screw 128 extending laterally from the side wall 129, preferably the interior side wall, of the lock block 74, near the inboard end wall 83. The intermediate portion of the spring 126 is at all times subjected to a resilient bending force by the connection of its ends to support end 66 and screw 128 and so constantly urges the interior frame support end 66 to the clockwise limit (as seen in FIG. 7) of its pivotal movement allowed by the currents between opening 106 and lock sleeve 110 of FIG. 6.

OPERATION

To assemble the anterior frame end support 61 and lock units 63 and 64, the ends 66 of support 61 are inserted in openings 94 in the lock blocks 74, with the opening 106 of each support end being aligned with the lock opening 98 in the corresponding lock block For each lock unit, the washer 113, spring 114, washer 111 and snap ring 112 are preferably then slid onto the threaded end of the plunger 117 and the resultant subassembly is inserted into the sleeve 110. The knob 122 is threaded onto the threaded end of the plunger shank 117. The resultant assembly is inserted into the longitudinal lock opening 98 of the lock block 74, the sleeve 110 abutting the step 99 and the head 119 extending into the sleeve 77 of the lock block 74. The snap ring 112 is then snapped into its groove in lock opening 98 to hold the plunger assembly and sleeve 110 in place as in FIG. 6.

The thus assembled lock units 63 and 64 and support 61 are installed on the rings 21 and 22 by separating the upper and lower ring portions 31 and 32 thereof and inserting the free leftward (as seen in FIG. 6) ends of the upper ring portions 32 into the sleeves 77 of the corresponding lock units. As such as carried out, each plunger knob 122 is manually pulled to retract the plunger head 119, against the force of the spring 114, further into the sleeve 110 to clear the interior of sleeve 77. The lock units 63 and 64 may then be freely shifted along the upper ring portions 32, into alignment with the desired one of the holes 103 in each of the upper ring portions 32. The knobs 122 are then released which in each case allows the spring 114 to urge the head 119 of the plunger through such opening 103 into the interior of the adjacent ring portion 32 as seen in FIG. 6. Alternately, the knobs 122 may be released as the lock units near their desired locations on the rings, the plungers automatically entering the holes 103 in the rings when opposed thereto. In this manner, the anterior frame end support 61 is positively and fixedly located on the rings.

To move the support 61 along the upper ring portions 32, for example to raise or lower same from its position of FIG. 1, each of the plunger knobs 122 is again manually pulled to retract the plunger head 119 from the engaged one of the holes 103 and the anterior bar and support 61 and locking units 63 and 64 are then manually shifted along the circumference of the rings to a desired new location whereat the plungers are released so that the head 119 of each therof extends into lock engagement with a new one of the holes 103 in the corresponding ring.

Installation of the anterior frame on rings 21 and 22 is carried out by placing the foot element 49 thereof over the stud 54 (FIG. 5) and locking the foot element 49 in place on the cross bar 53 with the nut 57. When so positioned, the anterior frame is pivotable at least through a limited arc corresponding to the portion of circumference of the rings along which the lock units 63 and 64 are movable and lockable.

The clearance between shell 110 and opening 106 (FIG. 6) permits the leaf springs 126 to swing the central portion of end support 61 leftwardly, as seen in FIGS. 1 and 3, away from the rings 21 and 22 to allow the head end of the anterior frame to be pivoted upwardly therepast. Thereafter, the support 61 is manually displaced rightwardly toward the rings 21 and 22. The anterior frame is then placed upon the central portion of the support 61 and secured thereto by the connection 71.

The pivot range of the support 61 on the lock blocks 74 is sufficient to accommodate differences in the radial location of the anterior frame head end, with respect to the rings 21 and 22, as the lock units are moved along the rings, in addition to the aforementioned pivotal movement of the support central portion 48 into and out of overlapping relation with the anterior frame.

The head end of the anterior frame may be disengaged from the support 61 when a patient is placed in the bed between the posterior and anterior frames so that the anterior frame can be swung away from the posterior frame to allow the patient to be freely maneuvered into a position therebetween. On the other hand, repositioning of the lock units 63 and 64 along the perimeter of the rings 21 and 22, either with or without attachment of the anterior frame to the support 61, may be carried out for a variety of purposes including location of the anterior frame at a spacing from the posterior frame commen surate with the girth of the patient to be disposed therebetween or under conditions wherein it may be desirable to support the patient on his back on the posterior frame with the anterior frame spaced from him.

MODIFICATION

FIGS. 9 through 13 disclose a modified apparatus. Portions of the apparatus of FIGS. 9 through 13 corresponding to portions of the apparatus of FIGS. 1 through 8 above described will carry the same reference numeral with the suffix "A" added thereto.

The apparatus of FIGS. 9 through 13 differs from that of FIGS. 1 through 8 above described primarily in the construction of modified lock units 63A and 64A and modified end portions 66A of the support bar 61A.

The lock units 63A and 64A are preferably mirror images of each other. Thus, except as otherwise noted, description of portions of one of the lock units will apply to corresponding portions of the other lock unit.

The lock unit 63 comprises an elongated tube 201 (FIG. 10) snugly but slidably receivable over and preferably being curved in conformance with, the upper ring portions 32A. A tubular boss 203 is, as shown in FIG. 11 with respect to lock unit 64A, secured, as by welding, to the tube 201, extending outwardly therefrom on a radius of the ring portion 32A. The outer end of the tubular boss 203 is radially inwardly lipped and the inner end thereof opens into and is radially coextensive with a hole 205 in the tube 201.

An elongated lock pin 207 extends axially through, and is slidably within, the tubular boss 203 and includes an enlarged and preferably tapered head 208. The head 208 is extendable through the hole 205 in tube 201 and through an aligned one of the holes 103A in ring portion 32A for positively locking the corresponding lock unit 63A, or 64A, circumferentially on the corresponding ring portion 32A. The opposite end of the locking pin 207 extends beyond the outer, lipped end of the tubular boss 203 and has a hand engageable pull knob 209 fixed thereto, preferably by threaded engagement therewith. A coil compression spring 211 surrounds the central part of the lock pin 207 and bears against the head 208 and lipped outer end of the tubular boss 203, to urge the lock pin 207 into the tube 201, to the extent allowed by the enlarged pull knob 209 and as shown for example in FIGS. 10 and 11. A manual pull on the knob 209 retracts the head 208 into the tubular boss 203, allowing the tube 201 to slide circumferntially on the ring portion 32A.

A linear cross tube 213 (FIG. 9) extends laterally across, and is fixed as by welding, to the outer surface of the tube 201 for snugly but pivotally receiving the adjacent end 66A of the support 61A. The cross tube preferably extends laterally inwardly from the tube 201. The cross tube 213 is preferably located, as seen in FIG. 10, immediately above the tubular boss 203 and is in contact therewith to provide mutual bracing. Thus, the cross tubes 213 of lock units 63A and 64A will be coaxially aligned, as seen in FIG. 9, when the lock pins 203 thereof engage corresponding holes 103A of the left and right ring portions 32A, and will snugly but pivotally receive the opposed ends 66A of the support bar 61A for supporting the latter on the rings.

Lower and upper stop bars 215 and 216, respectively, are fixed, as by wleding, to the periphery of the cross tube 213 and extend axially inwardly therebeyond in radially overlapping relation with the exposed end portion 66A of the support bar 61A. As seen in FIG. 10, the stop bars 215, 216 are circumferentially spaced from each other around the cross tube 213 and are aligned substantially at right angles to each other. In the preferred embodiment shown, the stop bars 215 and 216 do not extend radially from the cross tube 213, but rather are circumferentially offset from parallel radii of the cross tube 213. Both said stop bars lie, in the preferred embodiment shown, within the same quadrant of the cross tube 213. The upper stop bar 216 lies substantially at right angles to the axis of tube 201 and the stop bar 215 is substantially parallel to such axis.

A further stop bar 218 (FIGS. 9 and 10) is fixed to each end portion 66A of the support bar 61A, intermediate the extremities of said end portions, and is preferably welded thereto. With the support bar 61A installed on the lock units 63A and 64A, as shown in FIG. 9, each stop block 218 circumferentially overlaps the corresponding stop bars 215 and 216 on the adjacent lock unit. The stop bar 218, as seen in FIG. 10, is circumferentially offset from a radius of the support bar end portion 66A, in a direction radially outwardly of the rings. However, the stop bar 218 preferably parallels the plane of the generally U-shaped support bar 61A and extends generally toward the offset central portion 67A of such support bar. A setscrew 220 (FIG. 10) carries a locking nut 221 at its leftward end and is threadedly receivable through the stop bar 218 for axial adjustment with respect thereto. The rightward end of the screw 220 will normally extend rightwardly beyond the stop bar 218 for abutting the lower stop bar 215 on the adjacent lock unit, so as to positively determine the lower pivotal limit position of the support bar 61A. Such lower limit position is shown in FIGS. 9 and 12 wherein the central portion 67A of the support bar 61A is properly located for securement to the adjacent end of the anterior frame 41A, by mean of the threaded stud 54A and nut 57A as above described with respect to FIG. 5.

The support bar 61A, upon disengagement from the anterior frame 41A, may be pivoted in a clockwise direction, as seen in FIG. 12, upwardly and past the axis of cross tube 213 through an intermediate over-center position, indicated in broken lines at A--A, to a final clockwise limiting position generally indicated at B--B, the latter position being determined by abutting interference between the setscrews 220 and the upper stop bars 216 on cross tubes 213.

However, in normal use it is preferred that the support bar 61A be positively located in either in lower interior frame engaging position (indicated in solid lines in FIG. 12) or in its over-center, intermediate position A (also shown in solid lines in FIG. 13). In such over-center position, the support bar 61A extends upwardly from the cross tubes 213 substantially tangentially, and slightly outboard, of the rings and is thus well out of the way of any activity such as installation or removal of a patient from the bed structure, repositioning of the anterior frame 31A, which allows unobstructed access for inserting emergency airway, stomache tubes, or head traction apparatus and administration of anesthesia, etc.

To fix the support 61A in its over-center position AA, a support bar pivot lock 225 (FIGS. 9 and 13) is provided on either one of the lock units 63A and 64A, here the lock unit 63A, it being unnecessary to provide more than one such pivot lock 225. The pivot lock 225 comprises an internally threaded cup 227 fixed, as by welding, to the periphery of the cross tube and extending substantially upwardly therefrom in parallelism with the substantially downwardly directed stop bar 215. A pivot lock pin 228 is radially flanged intermediate its ends for guided sliding movement axially in the cup 227. The lower end of the pin 228 normally extends downwardly through suitable coaxial openings in the bottom of the cup 227 and in the cross tube 213 and drops automatically, by gravity, into a corresponding hole 230 in the end portion 66A of support bar 61A when the latter is in its overcenter position AA of FIGS. 12 and 13. A shouldered, quill externally threaded, hollow quill telescoped over the upper end of the pivot lock pin 228 and threadedly engages the interior of the cup 227, whereby axial motion of the pivot lock pin has spaced limits established by contact of the flanged intermediate portion thereof with the bottom of the cup 227 and the inner end of the quill 231.

In summary, the support bar 61A and the attached end of anterior frame 41A may be adjusted circumferentially on the rings 32A by a manual pull on the knobs 209 of lock units 63A and 64A, circumferential shifting of such lock units along the rings to a new position and release of the knobs to allow the heads 208 of pins 207 to engage the holes 103A in the rings, thereby positively fixing the lock units 63A and 64A in a new position circumferentially of the rings.

To locate the support bar 61 in its upward, over-center position AA, as for allowing manipulation of the anterior frame 41A for installing or removing a patient from the bed construction or to prevent pivotal movement of the support bar 61A during removal or installation of the upper ring portions 32A with respect to the lower ring portions shown, for example, at 31 in FIG. 1, the support bar 61A is pivoted clockwise from its solid line position of FIG. 12 toward its position AA. Upon reaching the position AA, the pivot lock pin 228 drops by gravity into the hole 230 in the adjacent support bar end 66A locking the support bar in its position AA.

To release the support bar from its over-center position AA, an upward pull on the pivot lock pin 228 disengages same from the support bar 61A. The support bar 61A can then be pivoted to its upward limiting position BB or, more normally, to its anterior frame support position shown in solid lines in FIG. 12. To interengage the support bar 61A with the anterior frame 41A, as shown in FIG. 12, the anterior frame is located above its position of FIG. 12 and the support bar 61A is pivoted downwardly, in a counterclockwise direction, stopping when the setscrew 220 contacts the stop bar 215. Given a suitable prior adjustment of the setscrew 220 of each lock unit, downward movement of the anterior frame 41A drops the end portion thereof over the stud 54A and onto the central portion 67A of the support bar, whereafter placement of the nut 57A completes installation of the anterior frame end on the support bar.

Although a particular preferred embodiment of the invention has been disclosed in detail for illustrative purposes, it will be recognized that variations or modifications of the disclosed apparatus, including the rearrangement of parts, lie within the scope of the present invention.

Claims

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. An anterior frame end support apparatus for a hospital bed of the type having a coaxial pair of upstanding, spaced side rings rotatable on a supporting base and normally spaced, substantially diametrally extending posterior and anterior frames between said rings for supporting a patient to allow rotational orientation of the patient about an axis transverse to his body, comprising in combination:

an elongate support extending between said rings and having ends positionable adjacent corresponding ones of said rings and a central portion securable to the anterior frame adjacent one end thereof;

a lock unit slidably supported on each of said rings and connected to a corresponding one of said support ends for adjustably mounting said support on said rings;

means defining a plurality of circumferentially aligned openings circumferentially spaced along said rings;

manually actuable plunger means on each of said lock units normally engageable in said ring openings for positively locking said anterior frame support on said rings and releasable for allowing selected repositioning of said anterior frame support at a plurality of positions along said rings corresponding to the location of said openings in such rings.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 in which said lock unit includes a block having a first opening therethrough adjacent one end thereof, the axis of said opening lying substantially in the plane of the adjacent ring, said adjacent ring being slidably receivable through said first opening, means defining a second opening in said block adjacent the other end thereof and spaced from said first opening, the axis of said second opening being transverse to said plane of said adjacent ring, the adjacent end of said support being snugly but rotatably received in said second opening, means defining a third opening in said block communicating with said second opening, said plunger means comprising an elongate plunger slidably supported on said block within said third opening.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 including an elongate sleeve extending through said first opening and means fixing said sleeve to said block, the sleeve being linear and of inside diameter exceeding the thickness of said ring sufficiently as to allow snug sliding reception of said ring therein, said ring engaging each end of said sleeve at a point on the side of said sleeve facing internally of said ring, plugs fixed inside said sleeve adjacent the ends of said sleeve, said plugs being spaced on opposite sides of the plane of said ring and being located on the half of said sleeve furthest from the center of said ring, said ring slidably contacting each end of said sleeve at said point and said plugs for slidably supporting said block on said ring.

4. The apparatus of claim 2 in which said third opening extends longitudinally of said block, the axis of said third opening lying transverse to and intersecting the axes of said first and second openings, said plunger means including a casing snugly received in said third opening, said plunger being slidably received in said casing, an opening in said support end alignable with said third opening of said block and loosely receiving said casing therethrough for allowing limited pivotal movement of said support about the axis of said support end with respect to said block, said central portion of said support being radially offset from the axis of its ends and engageable with the adjacent end of said anterior frame, whereby pivotal movement of said support allows the anterior frame to be alternatively supported on said support central portion and to move therepast.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, including spring means on said block engageable with said support ends for shifting said central portion of said support away from said rings.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, in which said spring means comprises a leaf spring, said leaf spring having one end engaging said support end outside said block and an opposite end spaced from said support end and extending along said block, abutment means on said block engaging said other end of said spring and maintaining a bending force on said spring for resiliently and pivotally urging said support away from said rings.

7. The apparatus of claim 2, in which said third opening extends from said other end of said block through said second opening and into said first opening, said plunger means further including a casing snugly receivable within said third opening, said third opening having a shoulder intermediate said first and second openings and facing toward said second opening, said casing being axially fixed in said third opening in contact with said shoulder, a compression spring within said casing, said plunger being slidably located within said casing and compression spring and extending axially therebeyond, an enlarged head on one end of said plunger slidably located within the reduced diameter portion of said third opening defined by said shoulder and adjacent end of said casing, a sleeve in said first opening for slidably receiving the adjacent ring therethrough, a hole in said sleeve coaxial with the third opening for receiving said head therethrough, said head being receivable in a selected one of said openings in the adjacent ring when said selected opening is in alignment with said hole in said sleeve and said third opening for locking said block in fixed circumferential location on said ring.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, including overlapping means adjacent the outer end of said casing and extending radially inwardly thereof in radially overlapping relation with said compression spring, said overlapping means guiding said plunger, said head radially overlapping said compression spring so that movement of said head into said casing is resisted by compression of said compression spring, a knob on the end of said plunger opposite said head and extending out of said third opening for manual engagement to retract said plunger head into said casing and out of contact with said spring.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 including circumferential pivot limit means on at least one of said lock units for positively limiting pivotal movement of said support on said lock unit.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, in which said pivot limit means comprises a pivot lock pin on said one of said lock units positively engageable with an adjacent portion of said support for positively locking said support in a rest position pivotally remote from its normal position with engagement of said anterior frame.

11. The apparatus in claim 10, including means locating said pivot lock pin for axial movement on said one lock unit and so as to extend substantially upwardly therefrom and including means limiting axial movement of said pivot lock pin, said adjacent support portion having a hole therein for receiving the inner end of said pivot lock pin when aligned therewith and in response to gravitational attraction of said pin.

12. The apparatus of claim 9, in which said pivot limit means comprises first and second stop bars fixed to said one lock unit and spaced circumferentially with respect to the axis of the adjacent support end and a third stop bar fixed to said support end in longitudinally overlapping relation with said first and second stop bars, whereby interference between said third top bar and said first and second stop bars establishes first and second circumferentially spaced pivot limiting positions of said support.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, including an adjustment screw on said third stop bar engageable with said first stop bar to adjustably establish one of said circumferential limiting positions wherein said support is securable to said anterior frame.

14. The apparatus of claim 1, in which each of said lock units comprises a tube closely conformed to and slidably surrounding a corresponding one of said rings, a cross tube affixed to said tube and extending transversely thereof for telescopically receiving therein the adjacent end of said support, a tubular boss extending from said tube adjacent said cross tube in substantially transverse relation to said tube and cross tube, said plunger means being carried by said tubular boss.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, including a stop bar on said support engageable with an opposed end of said cross tube for limiting the extent of penetration of said support end in said cross tube.

16. The apparatus of claim 14, including coacting stop bars on said cross tube and the adjacent portion of said support for interacting to define positive limits to pivotal movement of said support with respect to said lock unit, means for adjusting at least one of said limits and gravitationally actuated limit means responsive to assumption of an intermediate pivotal position of said support with respect to one of said lock units for positively preventing pivotal movement of said support out of such intermediate position.