U.S. patent number 3,875,598 [Application Number 05/429,971] was granted by the patent office on 1975-04-08 for cradling and articulated bed.
Invention is credited to Dean B. Foster, Donald McCluer Martin.
United States Patent |
3,875,598 |
Foster , et al. |
April 8, 1975 |
Cradling and articulated bed
Abstract
An improved hospital or other type bed with included frame, in
which the body-supporting surface, comprising a spring assembly, is
suspended by two journal bearings located at the longitudinal
center of the head and foot of the bed. This bodysupporting surface
can be adjusted from the flat position to a cradle or concave
configuration; and in such cradle position it can be turned from
side to side either by the patient himself, or by caretaking
personnel. The other adjustments of the bed such as raising of
head, feet or thigh sections thereof by motorized or manual means
are unaffected by the construction permitting cradling; and these
other adjustments can be made regardless of whether the
body-supporting surface is in flat or cradling position. This
cradling adjustment is accomplished with novel multiple hinges
provided preferably one at each end of the bed; these hinges serve
to extend or contract related telescoping end rails for the bed
which end rails, in turn, move double side rails inwardly or
outwardly from the center of the bed. Control of patient turning is
effected by (a) a special brake at one end of the bed and also by
(b) cables attaching the side rails to the bed frame. Other
flexible cables are employed for articulation of the bed without
interfering with the lateral turning of the body-supporting surface
along the longitudinal axis of the bed.
Inventors: |
Foster; Dean B. (Lexington,
VA), Martin; Donald McCluer (Middlebrook, VA) |
Family
ID: |
23705515 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/429,971 |
Filed: |
January 2, 1974 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
5/607; 5/618 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A61G
7/008 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
A61G
7/008 (20060101); A61g 007/10 (); A61g 001/02 ();
A61g 007/00 () |
Field of
Search: |
;5/60,61,66,69,70,77,81,85,86,89,202 ;128/33 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Nunberg; Casmir A.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Elder & Elder
Claims
We claim:
1. As a new article of manufacture, a bed with included head and
foot together with connecting bottom structure, which bed is
generally adapted for hospital use and in which bed the patient,
while prone on the patient-carrying portion thereof, can rotate
this latter in its entirety through a vertical angle in either
lateral direction to a continuously-variable, pre-selected limited
extent; which said patient-carrying portion comprises a bed spring
assembly disposed between the head and foot of said bed; multiple,
generally pantograph-like hinge units disposed one at each end of
said bed and pivotally journaled thereon; first means extending
between and connected to said multiple hinge units and which said
first means are in physical association with and carry cooperating
second means which said second means are included in and comprise
part of said bed spring assembly, the association between said
first and second means being such that they are movable into and
out of close physical relationship with each other and such that
when the two means are in fact, in close physical relationship to
each other then, upon opening said multiple hinge units the bed
spring assembly can be moved in either lateral direction to
continuously-variable pre-selected extent from between a nearly
planar or flat position on the one hand, and its fully concave
position on the other hand; and means carried from and related to
said bed, for energizing said multiple hinge units to cause such
pantograph-like opening and closing at the will of either the
patient or the attendant.
2. A bed according to claim 1, wherein adjustable frictional
braking means are interposed at one end of the bed between the bed
itself and its related journal, to provide for selected resistance
against rotation of the bed spring assembly about its longitudinal
axis.
3. As a new article of manufacture, a bed with included head and
foot together with connecting bottom structure, which bed is
generally adapted for hospital use and in which bed the patient,
while reclining on the patient-carrying portion thereof can rotate
this latter from side to side to selected limited extent, which
said patient-carrying portion comprises a bed spring assembly
disposed between the head and foot of said bed; multiple generally
pantograph-like hinge units disposed one at each end of said bed
and pivotally journaled thereon whereby the said multiple hinge
units are freely carried for bodily opening and closing; first
means interconnecting said hinge units and members related thereto,
second means comprising part of bed spring assembly, with which
said second means said members are cooperable in such manner that,
upon opening said multiple hinge units, the bed spring assembly can
be moved to selected extent between its nearly planar or flat
position and its fully concave position, and frictional braking
means interposed between one said multiple hinge unit and its
related journal, providing in continuous adjustment, for selected
resistance against turning of the bed spring assembly about the
longitudinal axis of the latter, up to and closely approaching full
lock of the bed spring assembly against rotation.
4. As a new article of manufacture, a bed with included head and
foot together with connecting bottom structure, which bed is
generally adapted for hospital use and in which bed the patient,
while reclining on the patient-carrying portion thereof, can rotate
this latter from side to side to selected limited extent; which
said patient-carrying portion comprises a bed spring assembly
disposed between the head and foot of said bed; multiple generally
pantograph-like hinge units disposed one at each end of said bed
and pivotally journaled thereon whereby the said multiple hinge
units are freely carried for bodily opening and closing; means
interconnecting said hinge units and related members for imparting
opening and closing motion to said bed spring assembly whereby,
when said multiple hinge units are opened the bed spring assembly
can be moved to selected extent between its nearly planar or flat
position and its fully concave position; and means interposed
between the multiple hinge units and the frame of bed for limiting
the extent to which the bed spring assembly can be rotated in
either direction about its longitudinal axis.
5. As a new article of manufacture, a bed with included head and
foot together with connecting bottom structure, which bed is
generally adapted for hospital use and in which bed the patient,
while reclining on patient-carrying portion thereof, can rotate
this latter from side to side to selected limited extent; which
said patient-carrying portion comprises a bed spring assembly
disposed between the head and foot of said bed; multiple generally
pantograph-like hinge units disposed one at each end of said bed
and pivotally journaled thereon whereby the said multiple hinge
units are freely carried for bodily opening and closing; first
means interconnecting said hinge units and related members of said
bed spring assembly whereby, when said multiple hinge units are
opened, the bed spring assembly can be moved to selected extent
between its nearly planar or flat position and its fully concave
position; and second means so interposed between said multiple
hinge units and said bed as to limit, in dependency upon the extent
of the momentary concavity of this bed spring assembly, the extent
to which this bed spring assembly can be rotated about its
longitudinal axis; the relationship between said second means, on
the one hand, and the related multiple hinge unit and the bed, on
the other hand, being such that the extent of permitted movement of
this bed spring assembly increases with and proportionally to
increase in the extent of concavity of the bed spring assembly.
6. As a new article of manufacture, a bed with included head and
foot together with connecting bottom structure, which bed is
generally adapted for hospital use and in which bed the patient,
while reclining on the patient-carrying portion thereof, can rotate
this latter from side to side to selected limited extent, which
said patient-carrying portion comprises bed spring assembly
disposed between the head and foot of said bed; multiple generally
pantograph-like hinge units disposed one at each end of said bed;
journal bearings disposed one at each end of said bed and each said
journal bearing pivotally carrying a related one of said hinge
units in such manner that the said multiple hinge units are freely
capable of being bodily opened and closed; first means pivotally
interconnecting said hinge units and related members; second means,
comprising part of said bed spring assembly, with which second
means the aforesaid members are cooperable in such manner that,
upon closing said multiple hinge units, the bed spring assembly can
be moved to selected extent between its nearly planar or flat
position and its fully concave position; adjustable, frictional
breaking means interposed between said bed spring assembly and its
related journal for interposing resistance of selected degree
against rotation of the bed spring assembly about its longitudinal
axis; additional means interposed between the frame of the bed and
the hinge units for limiting the extent to which said bed spring
assembly can be rotated about its longitudinal axis, the
interposition of said additional means being such that greater
concavity of the bed spring assembly permits greater freedom of
rotation of the bed spring assembly about its aforesaid
longitudinal axis.
7. As a new article of manufacture, a bed with included head and
foot together with connecting bottom structure, which bed is
generally adapted for hospital use and in which bed the patient,
while reclining on the patient-carrying portion thereof, can rotate
this latter from side to side to selected limited extent, which
said patient-carrying portion comprises a bed spring assembly
disposed between the head and foot of said bed; multiple generally
pantograph-like hinge units disposed one at each end of said bed;
journal bearings disposed one at each end of said bed and each said
journal bearing pivotally carrying a related one of said hinge
units in such manner that the said multiple hinge units are freely
capable of being bodily opened and closed; paired and lower,
longitudinally extending rails disposed one on each side of spring
assembly and which rails are pivotally carried by the hinge units
near the outer extremities of these hinges, there being one such
rail along each longitudinal side of the spring assembly; said bed
spring assembly including channelized upper rails disposed one on
each side thereof, said upper rails normally closely overlying the
lower rails and being bodily carried and movable by these related
lower rails towards and away from each other as viewed along the
longitudinal horizontal axis of said bed spring assembly, as and
when these lower rails are moved by the hinge units.
8. As a new article of manufacture, a bed with included head and
foot together with connecting bottom structure, which bed is
generally adapted for hospital use and in which bed the patient,
while reclining on the patient-carrying portion thereof, can rotate
this latter from side to side to selected limited extent, which
said patient-carrying portion comprises a bed spring assembly
disposed between the head and foot of said bed; multiple generally
pantograph-like hinge units disposed one at each end of said bed;
journal bearings disposed one at each end of said bed and each said
journal bearing pivotally carrying a related one of said hinge
units in such manner that the said multiple hinge units are freely
capable of being bodily opened and closed; paired and lower,
longitudinally extending rails disposed one on each side of spring
assembly and which rails are pivotally carried by the hinge units
near the outer extremities of these hinges, there being one such
rail along each longitudinal side of the spring assembly; said bed
spring assembly including channelized upper rails disposed one on
each side thereof, said upper rails normally closely overlying the
lower rails and being bodily carried and movable by these related
lower rails towards and away from each other as viewed along the
longitudinal horizontal axis of said bed spring assembly, as and
when these lower rails are moved by the hinge units; and means
operably comprising part of the structure of the bed spring
assembly and operably related to the upper rails in such manner as
to interpose limited resistance to movement of these upper rails
towards and away from each other.
9. As a new article of manufacture, a bed with included head and
foot together with connecting bottom structure, which bed is
generally adapted for hospital use and in which bed the patient,
while reclining on the patient-carrying portion thereof, can rotate
this latter from side to side to selected limited extent, which
said patient-carrying portion comprises a bed spring assembly
disposed between the head and foot of said bed; multiple generally
pantograph-like hinge units disposed one at each end of said bed;
journal bearings disposed one at each end of said bed and each said
journal bearing pivotally carrying a related one of said hinge
units in such manner that the said multiple hinge units are freely
capable of being bodily opened and closed; paired and lower,
longitudinally extending rails disposed one on each side of spring
assembly and which rails are pivotally carried by the hinge units
near the outer extremities of these hinges, there being one such
rail along each longitudinal side of the spring assembly; said bed
spring assembly including channelized upper rails disposed one on
each side thereof, said upper rails normally closely overlying the
lower rails and being bodily carried and movable by these related
lower rails towards and away from each other as viewed along the
longitudinal horizontal axis of said bed spring assembly, as and
when these lower rails are moved by the hinge units; means operably
comprising part of the structure of the bed spring assembly and
operably related to the upper rails in such manner as to interpose
limited resistance to movement of these upper rails towards and
away from each other; said upper rails each being divided
transversely along their lengths into a plurality of sections, the
sections of each rail being of the same length as the like sections
of the other upper rail; means provided on said bed for raising and
lowering at will, certain of the sections into which the upper
rails have been transversely divided; and an overriding lockout
switch provided between the upper and lower rails, and interposed
in the electrical circuitry of the powering means for said bed in
manner such that the hinge units cannot be energized when the upper
rails are moved out of their position closely overlying the related
lower rails.
10. As a new article of manufacture, a bed with included head and
foot together with connecting bottom structure, which bed is
generally adapted for hospital use and in which bed the patient,
while reclining on the patient-carrying portion thereof, can rotate
this latter from side to side to selected limited extent, which
said patient-carrying portion comprises a bed spring assembly
disposed between the head and foot of said bed; multiple generally
pantograph-like hinge units disposed one at each end of said bed;
journal bearings disposed one at each end of said bed and each said
journal bearing pivotally carrying a related one of said hinge
units in such manner that the said multiple hinge units are freely
capable of being bodily opened and closed; paired and lower,
longitudinally extending rails disposed one on each side of said
bed spring assembly and which rails are pivotally carried by the
hinge units near the outer extremities of these hinges, there being
one such rail along each longitudinal side of the spring assembly;
said bed spring assembly including channelized upper rails disposed
one on each side thereof, said upper rails normally closely
overlying the lower rails and being bodily carried and movable by
these related lower rails towards and away from each other as
viewed along the longitudinal axis of said bed spring assembly, as
and when these lower rails are moved by the hinge units; means
operably comprising part of the structure of the bed spring
assembly and operably related to the upper rails in such manner as
to interpose limited resistance to movement of these upper rails
towards and away from each other; and means interposed between the
head section of each upper rail and the related lower rail, for
facilitating bodily movement of the head supporting portion of bed
spring assembly during swing of this portion of the bed spring
assembly through vertical angle extending transversely of the
bed.
11. As a new article of manufacture, a bed generally adapted for
hospital use and in which bed the patient, while reclining prone on
the patient-carrying portion thereof, can rotate this latter from
side to side; which said bed comprises a frame with included head
and foot together with interconnecting bottom stretcher; which said
patient-carrying portion comprises a bed spring assembly disposed
between the head and foot of said bed and pivotally journaled
therefrom for rotation through a vertical angle to limited extent
about the longitudinal, horizontal axis of the bed, the transverse
ends of said bed spring assembly being telescopic, permitting the
said bed spring assembly, as desired, either to be collapsed
inwardly, to cradle the patient, or to be fully extended, into
planar position; mechanisms provided for and also carried by said
bed frame, one at each end thereof, which said mechanisms serve for
opening and closing the bed spring assembly, along with its
telecopic ends; and energizing means with included controls
therefor, mounted on said bed and connected with said opening and
closing mechanisms for operating these latter to cause opening and
closing of the bed spring assembly to desired extent through a
range delineated between fully extended and fully collapsed
positions thereof.
12. A bed according to claim 11 wherein the telescopic transverse
ends of bed spring assembly are of multi-part construction with a
friction element interposed between parts of the telescopic ends,
for interposing limited resistance to movement of the transverse
ends away from any position into which they may have been
adjusted.
13. An article of manufacture according to claim 11 in which the
bed spring assembly comprises side rails which are articulated
along their length to provide head, middle and bottom segments of
the bed spring assembly; and a plurality of thin, flexible slats,
each said slat being connected at each end thereof to a related one
of said rails in such manner as to extend therebetween and to
provide for pivotal movement of each such slat, separate and apart
from each other, relative to the rails.
14. A bed according to claim 13 wherein piano hinges are interposed
between and serve to pivotally connect the ends of said slats to
the related rails, the said piano hinges themselves each comprising
longitudinally extending multiple segments, which are swingable
relative to each other about horizontal axes; and in which bed,
each slat is loosely pinned to the related hinge segment, for
limited rotation of these slats through vertical angle.
15. A bed according to claim 11 wherein multiple hinge units,
provided one at each end of said bed spring assembly, serve to
facilitate collapsing the bed spring assembly, which said multiple
hinge units are connected to and are powered by said energizing
means; and means interconnecting said bed frame and the multiple
hinge units for limiting the transverse rotation of said bed spring
assembly in either direction of rotation.
16. An article of manufacture according to claim 11 wherein pivotal
mounts serve to carry the bed spring assembly through limited
rotation; and in which manufacture is included an adjustable
frictional brake cooperating with said pivotal mounts, for
controlled braking of said bed spring assembly and for fixing the
same in selected attitude to the vertical.
17. A bed according to claim 14 in which bearing shafts extended
longitudinally and horizontally inwardly from the head and foot
portions of said bed and serve to carry the opening and closing
mechanisms and through these, the bed spring assembly, and in which
the bed carries a braking system, which latter frictionally engages
about one said bearing shaft, said braking system including means
for adjusting its frictional engagement about its related bearing
shaft.
18. A bed according to claim 16 in which the adjusting means for
the braking system permits continuous adjustment thereof.
19. An articulated cradling apparatus for incapacitated patients,
comprising a bed frame with included head and foot portions; a
patient-carrying bed spring assembly with included telescopic end
rails, provided one at each end of said bed spring assembly, said
assembly having included top side rails extending longitudinally
along the length of the bed, one on each side thereof, and each
said top rail being articulated at several intermediate points
along its length into multiple segments so pivoted together that
they can be separately raised into position partly folded with
respect to each other, thereby to provide for transverse adjustment
of the spring assembly at selected points along the length thereof,
for nice accommodation of the patient; the said telescopic end
rails each being fast in the region of their ends to the adjacent
ends of the related top rail; multiple hinge units provided one at
each end of the bed spring assembly and respectively pivotally
mounted on and carried from the head and foot portions of the bed
and the outer ends of each of which said multiple hinge units are
pivotally connected to and carry respective lower rails, one along
the length of each side of the bed, and serve to physically and
bodily, laterally move such lower rails towards and away from each
other; each said top rail, when none of the segments thereof are
raised into their partly folded position, normally closely nesting
over the corresponding lower rail; these lower rails serving, when
nested with and under the top rails, to open and close these
latter; and drive means and their associated controls on said bed
and connected to said multiple hinge units for opening and closing
the same and along with them and through the intermediary thereof,
the bed spring assembly itself.
20. As a new article of manufacture, a bed with included head and
foot together with connecting bottom structure, which bed is
generally adapted for hospital use and in which bed the patient,
while prone on the patient-carrying portion thereof, can rotate
this latter in its entirety through a vertical angle in either
lateral direction to a continuously-variable, pre-selected limited
extent; which said patient-carrying portion comprises a bed spring
assembly disposed between the head and foot of said bed; multiple,
generally pantograph-like hinge units disposed one at each end of
said bed and pivotally journaled thereon; first means extending
between and connected to said multiple hinge units and which said
first means are in physical association with and carry cooperating
second means, which said second means are included in and comprise
part of said bed spring assembly, the association between said
first and second means being such that they are movable into and
out of close physical relationship with each other and such that
when the two means are in fact, in close physical relationship to
each other then, upon opening said multiple hinge units the bed
spring assembly can be moved in either lateral direction to
continuously variable pre-selected extent from between a nearly
planar or flat position on the one hand, and its fully concave
position on the other hand; means, carried from and related to said
bed, for energizing said multiple hinge units to cause such
pantograph-like opening and closing at the will of either the
patient or the attendant; and means associated with said
pantograph-like hinge multiple units for enabling patient-serving
auxiliary equipment to be freely supported from, carried by and
movable with the bed spring assembly regardless either of the
degree of concavity or angle of rotation of the latter.
21. As a new article of manufacture, a bed with included head and
foot together with connecting bottom structure, which bed is
generally adapted for hospital use and in which bed the patient,
while prone on the patient-carrying portion thereof, can rotate
this latter in its entirety through a vertical angle in either
lateral direction to a continuously-variable, pre-selected limited
extent; which said patient-carrying portion comprises a bed spring
assembly disposed between the head and foot of said bed; multiple,
generally pantograph-like hinge units disposed one at each end of
said bed and pivotally journaled thereon; first means extending
between and connected to said multiple hinge units and which said
first means are in physical association with and carry cooperating
second means which said second means are included in and comprise
part of said bed spring assembly, the association between said
first and second means being such that they are movable into and
out of close physical relationship with each other and such that
when the two means are in fact, in close physical relationship to
each other then, upon opening said multiple hinge units the bed
spring assembly can be moved in either lateral direction to
continuously-variable pre-selected extent from between a nearly
planar or flat position on the one hand, and its fully concave
position on the other hand; means, carried from and related to said
bed, for energizing said multiple hinge units to cause such
pantograph-like opening and closing at the will of either the
patient or the attendant; and means associated with said
pantograph-like hinge multiple units for enabling patient-serving
auxiliary equipment to be freely supported from, carried by and
movable with the bed spring assembly regardless either of the
degree of concavity or angle of rotation of the latter; which said
last-mentioned means comprises vertically disposed arm portions
carried from said multiple hinges in freely slidable, linear and
pivotal manner, one at each end of the bed, said arm portions at
their outer ends being physically and rigidly interconnected in
manner such as they partially outline and together partially form a
generally rectangular frame-like structure.
Description
Our invention, relating generally to articles of furniture which
can be made to assume a variety of positions, has particular
application to hospital beds and generally similar equipment
through the use of which and following the practice of our
invention, the patient himself, while he is reclining upon the bed,
can readily adjust the same into a variety of positions conforming
with his own precise desires and needs. As well, and when
desirable, the bed can be locked against patient-turning, in such
instance being subject to turning only by the attendant.
For more ready and thorough understanding of our invention, it
should be noted that while non-ambulatory and bedridden patients,
of whom those requiring long hospital stays are typical, must be
frequently turned upon the bed from one side to another, and this
for any one or more of a number of reasons, illustratively
including comfort, to avoid cramping, to prevent bed sores, or to
permit making up the bed, nevertheless the patient of impaired
physical well being, though he suffers from the need to turn,
ordinarily cannot accomplish such turning by himself without
assistance from an attendant. On the contrary, such turning
heretofore could usually be accomplished only by or with the aid of
a nurse or nurses, depending upon the weight of the patient.
Without private nursing then, and with the floor nurse at her hall
station or the like, the patient must, for such turning, await the
pleasure and availability of hospital attendants.
Those skilled in the medical arts, and having particular reference
to the field of orthopedics, have long been fully aware of this
problem; and over many years they have directed concentrated study
and efforts towards its resolution. Illustrative of these efforts
are water beds, pulsating beds, beds using a flexible and at least
a semimoldable filler of viscosity substantially greater than that
of water, of which gels are illustrative; and generally similar
resorts and practices. Both forced air and bead beds have also been
resorted to and, following trial, have in general, been discarded.
Turning frames, with attendant necessity of strapping the patient
thereto, have only specialized application. Even more serious,
however, is the fact that turning a patient in such a frame often
hurts him; or as others turn him, he feels insecure, even to the
point of fear and fright.
In sum, then, each of these prior proposals have, for one reason or
another, uniformly fallen short of the attempted goals, still
leaving it necessary for the attendant to turn the bedridden
patient, or alternatively, for the patient to suffer. As well,
those devices heretofore proposed and of which these applicants
have knowledge, cannot be readily mounted on and operably connected
with the present-day hospital bed. Rather, they require highly
specialized bed assemblies and mechanisms, each costly in itself
and quite expensive in the aggregate; they are costly to an extent
such as to make them unfeasible from an economic standpoint. In
short, these prior devices are simply too expensive, too incomplete
or too ineffective for universal acceptance.
Through our new construction we make it possible for the first time
that the bedridden patient can, with ready facility, and while
reclining therein, himself turn the bed about its longitudinal,
horizontal axis, and hence, to either side, the bed thereupon
remaining in its adjusted position thus reached, and into which it
has been turned.
Particularly important is the fact that through our new
construction, embodied in hospital bed, the recumbent patient can
readily turn the bed even though the bed itself may already have
been adjusted (a) to raise the patient's upper body or torso, (b)
to bend the patient's legs, or (c) any combination of these
adjustments.
Accordingly, an object of our invention is to provide apparatus
whereby the patient, prone upon a hospital bed or the like, can
nevertheless, provided only he can move some portion of his body,
readily rotate the bed from side to side through substantial
angular movement about its horizontal axis.
Moreover, and with bed embodying our new construction, this bed,
with patient resting thereon, will still, and it is an object of
our invention to, in large measure retain its usual adjustability,
such as vertical bodily displacement thereof, together with tilting
of bottom and top portions of the bed or both, through transverse
horizontal axis. Thus, for example, the patient's head and chest
can be raised or lowered, or his legs bent, all to achieve a
position of maximum comfort. We accomplish all the foregoing in
ready and efficacious manner.
Another object is to provide apparatus of the type described,
wherein either the recumbent patient or the attendant can make
longitudinal adjustments, to furnish comfortable cradling for the
patient upon the bed.
Another object is to provide an apparatus of the type described
that positively accommodates as to the magnitude of the angle
relative to the horizontal through which the patient-carrying
portion of the bed can be rotated about its longitudinal axis.
Another object is to provide apparatus whereby and as desired, the
attendant can restrict the same against manipulation by the
patient.
Further, our invention has as a major objective, the safe and
inexpensive adaptation of an existing manual or
electrically-controlled hospital bed so that, unlike present beds,
the patient can lower himself or be lowered by others into a
concave or cradled position in which he can readily and safely turn
or be turned, to a series of different and nicely selected
positions relative to the horizontal - all without ever changing
his placement relative to the supporting surface of the bed.
A further object is to provide a method for allowing the patient or
occupant of such a bed to rest at will, while in supine position on
either his right or his left side, without any necessity whatsoever
of materially shifting his weight or body alignment.
Another object is to provide control of all positions of the bed,
relative to the horizontal, either by the patient himself or by his
caretaking-personnel, such as doctor, nurse or others, when the
patient either is unable or cannot be permitted this option. Thus
the caretaking-personnel can, when required, restrict
patient-turning of the bed from and out of any desired and
preselected position of this latter.
Still another object is to provide the patient with different
degrees of cradling concavities upon the bed, ranging from the
lowest or fully cradled position on the one hand, to the highest,
single plane and fully horizontal position of the typical bed on
the other hand, all in dependence upon the patient's needs or
comfort of the moment.
A still further object is to assure, in the design of our new
apparatus, full strength and durability of every component thereof,
together with complete reliability of function, all easily
maintainable and with full safety for both the patient and the
caretaking-personnel.
Another object is to maintain the appearance of the typical or
standard bed; this, in order to relieve any possibility of the
patient's fear of or resistance to the use of our new bed.
Yet another object is to provide for diversity of use beyond
present hospital beds, as in the bed's employment as a
patient-carrying stretcher, in the course of which use the concave
position of the bed spring adds materially to the safety of the
patient in transport, while reducing the width of the bed for
easier wheeling through hospital doors and corridors. Furthermore,
with bed at rest and with bed spring in the same concave position,
the bed can serve as a safe and comfortable sofa or chair for use
by several people, quite unlike the hospital beds as presently in
use.
Finally, it is an object of our invention to adjust the bed
closely, not only for the degree of horizontal rotation of the body
about the longitudinal axis of the bed, but also for the size of
the occupant, be such occupant a baby, a broad-shouldered and heavy
adult male, an obese adult, whatever may be the patient's condition
(whether he be burned, splinted, in traction, in a cast, or under
sedation), and this either for brief or protracted periods,
enduring even up to several months.
All the foregoing, as well as many other highly practical objects
and advantages attend the practice of our invention and will be
readily apparent to those skilled in the art, the scope of the
application of all of which is more fully set forth in the claims
at the end of the following description.
And now, having reference to the several views of the drawings
attached hereto as part of this application, wherein we have
disclosed, solely for purposes of illustration, and not as
limitative, that embodiment of our invention which we presently
prefer:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of our new bed, disclosing the
body-supporting surface or bed spring assembly in a cradled
position and at full concavity, with the head, thigh and foot (i.e.
the top, intermediate and bottom) sections of this spring assembly
in lowered positions;
FIG. 2 is an end view of the bed, with the spring assembly in the
same cradled position as shown in FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 presents a detail of the multiple hinge already disclosed in
FIGS. 1 and 2;
FIG. 3A discloses, on enlarged scale, the drive mechanism with
included, elongated screw, for actuating the multiple hinge unit as
disclosed in FIGS. 1 through 3;
FIG. 4, comprising a side elevation, is a detail of the friction
brake shown in FIGS. 1 and 2;
FIG. 5 discloses, in fragmentary perspective, the multiple spring
assembly, with its head and thigh sections in raised positions;
FIG. 6 discloses a fragmentary plan, a detail of the
body-supporting multiple spring assembly, already depicted in FIGS.
1 and 5;
FIG. 7, a side view, is a detail of the mechanism which raises the
head segment of the transversely split spring assembly of FIGS. 1
and 6, the head section of the upper side rail 26 being disclosed
in lowered position, (the raised position of which upper side rail
is shown in FIG. 5);
FIG. 8 illustrates the mounting for special patient handling or
control equipment, such as overhead frames for traction and/or
exercising.
THE BED
And now, having particular reference to the several views of the
drawings, we disclose (FIG. 1) a bed, typically a hospital bed,
indicated generally at 10. And this hospital bed may be manipulated
through any convenient power source, as through electrical (as for
example, one or more electric motors), hydraulic or pneumatic
drive; or it may be operated manually or through any other suitable
and available powering means.
The frame of bed 10 (FIGS. 1 and 5) includes head 14 and foot 16.
As will be seen, head 14 usually has greater height than does the
foot 16. At the tops of each thereof, the head and foot of the bed
are provided with rigid stretchers 14a and 16a, respectively (FIG.
1).
Through the intermediary of a multiple hinge structure, with
included, suitable anit-friction bearings all to be later described
with particularity, bed spring assembly 24 is pivotally swung from
the rigid bed assembly 10, 14 and 16. The lower part of bed 10
carries the operating gearing essential for imparting requisite
motion to the component elements of the bed and the elements of
which, be they apparatus or mechanisms, will shortly be described
in greater detail.
As is both customary and requisite with hospital beds, we provide
(FIG. 1) legs 15, four in number, which support the bed itself in
such manner that the bed can (a) be moved vertically in its
entirety, or (b) either end thereof can be moved individually, to
typical Trendelenburg positions.
THE BED SPRING ASSEMBLY
Novelty attends the bed spring assembly (this assembly is sometimes
termed simply "bed spring" or "spring") for our new construction,
and this bed spring assembly 24 is indicated in its entirety in
FIG. 1.
As well, certain details of the structure and arrangement of the
supporting surface of this bed spring assembly are disclosed in
FIG. 6. This spring 24 can be topped by any mattress which has
requisite flexibility in all three linear dimensions. For most
comfortable support it should be of relatively thin construction,
since its component slats of spring steel 24a nicely and closely
accomodate to the weight and contours of the patient's body, either
when these slats are in their flat, fully extended positions or
when they are inclined, through collapse, at various degrees of
concavity. For while spring steel responds resiliently to the
bending caused by the patient's body, yet it is stiff enough to
assume and maintain desired concave or cradle position, at the same
time displaying requisite strength to support the heaviest person.
After considerable experimentation, we find preferable the use of
slats, on the one hand, to one or more and again for convenience
say, four sheets of spring steel, on the other hand. This, because
we find slats to conform more readily to changes in positions of
the patient during articulation of the spring. Nevertheless, other
flexible supporting materials can be utilized, so long as the hinge
of choice is a piano-type hinge 25 (FIG. 6) which links the spring
24 to all segments 26a, 26b and 26d (FIG. 5) of the upper side
rails 26, this piano hinge being loosely affixed at 24b (FIG. 6) to
the slats 24a of bed spring assembly 24, at the one side of the
hinge, while being firmly affixed to the side rail 26 at the other
side of the hinge. It thus will be noted that in the embodiment
disclosed, the spring 24 is comprised of a plurality of slats 24a
(FIG. 6), each said slat being pivotally and loosely connected to
stud 24b. These studs 24b are, in turn, mounted on and made fast to
an elongated segment 25b of the piano-type hinge 25 (FIG. 6), the
other portion of which hinge 25 is shown at 25a. Thus, and as has
already been suggested, each end of slat 24a is made pivotally fast
to a related hinge 25 (FIG. 6). And in this construction the slats
are capable of limited rotational motion through an angle related
to the vertical and about their related studs 24b, while movement
about a horizontal axis at each end of the slats is provided by
hinge 25.
MECHANISMS AND CONTROLLED STRUCTURES FOR MOVING THE BED SPRING
ASSEMBLY INTO AND OUT OF POSITIONS OF SELECTED CONCAVITY
It becomes appropriate at this point to recall that we provide
upper side rails 26, 26 at each end of the slat elements 24a of
spring 24, and extending the length of the bed (see FIG. 1 and 6).
Further, and to permit the bed to be adjusted to the typical
hospital bed positions whereby various portions of the patient's
anatomy can be raised and lowered at will, we recall that these
rails 26 are transversely broken and hinged at various points along
this length, as perhaps best disclosed in FIG. 5, i.e. into
segments 26a, 26b, 26c, and 26d.
We employ the slats 24a of spring 24 to provide adjusted degrees of
concavity for cradling the patient - who, of course, will be
directly carried upon a suitable and flexible mattress, not shown,
and all as hereinbefore more fully discussed. To this end, we
provide that the upper side rails 26, 26 (as are also, of course,
the lower side rails 28, 28) are movable towards and away from each
other. Illustratively, concavity is increased by moving the rails
26, 26 transversely inwardly and towards the longitudinal center
line of the bed, while concavity is reduced to a limiting, fully
horizontal plane position, by moving these upper side rails 26, 26
outwardly and away from each other.
The mechanisms for accomplishing this movement are disclosed in
FIG. 1 at each end of the bed 10. For emphasis, it is repeated that
these mechanisms, disposed one at each end of the bed 10, serve the
ultimate purpose of raising and lowering (i.e. opening and closing)
spring assembly 24 to and from its full planar position. When the
spring 24 is in this full planar position with mattress atop
thereof, bed 10 closely resembles the typical hospital bed and can
be fully employed as such. Each such mechanism, indicated generally
at 18, may be considered as including as part thereof, tubular and
channelized, extensible end rails 20, 20, the details of which will
shortly be discussed. Other components of the mechanisms 18, 18
will be disclosed hereinafter in connection with multiple hinge
units 22, 22, which latter will be described at a later point
herein along with their related control elements 30 et seq. As can
be seen from FIGS. 1 and 2, these end rails 20, 20 extend
transversely across the spring assembly 24, one at each end
thereof, and in effect comprise part of the spring assembly 24
itself, as do the upper side rails 26, 26 (FIG. 1). So that spring
24 may be adjustably collapsed to desired extent for requisite
concavity, and so that it will be held with requisite rigidity, as
by completing a structure which is of generally rectangular
configuration as viewed in top plan, with this requisite rigidity
being achieved regardless of whether the head and foot section of
the spring 24 is moved in transverse articulation either upwardly
or downwardly with respect to the other parts of the spring
assembly, we make each end of the rail assemblies 20, 20 fast to
its related upper side rail 26.
As best seen in FIG. 2, these end rail assemblies 20, 20 each
include a pair of elongated, channelized, tubular sleeves 20a, 20a.
As just hereinbefore suggested, each sleeve 20a is made fast at its
outer end to the adjacent end of the related upper rail 26 (see
FIG. 1). These tubular sleeves 20a engage about and carry between
them, a channel member 20b. The tubular sleeves 20a, 20a telescope
about this intermediate channel member 20b at such times as the
spring assembly 24 is collapsed, while becoming fully extended when
the spring 24 is opened into planar position.
Although it is not absolutely essential, we prefer to provide
frictional drag between the channel member 20b and sleeves 20a,
20a, thereby providing limited restraint against the relative
movements between these parts. To that end we provide a leaf spring
20C (FIG. 2) which is made fast to one of the tubular members 20a,
on the interior thereof, while frictionally engaging the exterior
of channel member 20b.
This leaf spring 20c insures that the bed spring 24 tends to remain
in the same configuration into which it has been adjusted,
retaining this position until it is next again adjusted. Such
tendency towards retention of adjustment is characteristic of the
use of our bed at all degrees of concavity of spring 24.
In addition to the upper rails 26, 26 (see for example, FIG. 1) we
provide paired and longitudinally extending lower rails 28, 28
(FIG. 5 - see also, FIG. 3), carried by and pivotally pinned one to
each structural element 22a at the related outer ends of these
latter. We note that end rail assemblies 20, 20 serve to restrain
the side rails 28 against rotation about their horizontal axes, the
purpose of which will be developed at a later point in this
disclosure.
As previously stated, the bed spring assembly 24 is pivotally
carried from bed 10 in such manner that, not only can the bed
spring assembly be both collapsed and/or extended along a
longitudinally horizontal axis, but as well, it can be rocked from
side to side about that same longitudinal axis. To achieve
requisite adjusted concavity, we provide, mounted on the bed 10, a
suitable source of power, conventionally but not necessarily one or
more electric motors. We observe that alternatively, hydraulic or
pneumatic motive power may readily be resorted to. Or manual power
may be utilized, if desired. Conveniently this motive power,
comprised of one or more motors, as the case may be, together with
related reduction gearing, may be located on bed 10. One such
outwardly projecting motor shaft is coupled to a related flexible
drive shaft 34 at each end of bed 10 (FIG. 2), with each such drive
shaft 34 powering a related rightangle drive 36 (FIGS. 1 and 2). A
related threaded shaft or screw 30, powered by drive 36, extends
upwardly therefrom in a vertical or nearly vertical direction. We
provide one such power take off assembly, comprised of flexible
shaft 34, right-angle drive 36 and screw 30, for each of the two
power take off shafts extending from opposite ends of the motor,
where a single motor is employed. One such assembly is provided at
each end of the bed, and is ultimately carried from and supported
by the frame of the bed 10.
These elongated screws or rods 30, 30 are oppositely threaded with
respect to each other, i.e. screw 30 at one end of the bed will
have right-hand threads, while the screw 30 at the other end of the
bed will have left-hand threads. Moreover, and to insure identical
travel at both ends of bed 10, the screws 30, 30 must be of the
same diameter and same pitch, i.e. must have both the same bevel
and the same thread count. As already alluded to, requisite
sychronous movement of the two ends of the bed can be achieved
through the use of power sources other than electric motors and
gearing.
MULTIPLE HINGE STRUCTURE - DETAILS OF
It now becomes apparent that each mechanism 18 (FIGS. 1 and 3) for
raising and lowering the bed spring 24 and provided, one at each
end of the bed, is in reality a coherent structure comprised of end
rail assembly 20, multiple hinge structure 22, in the nature of a
scissors mechanism (see FIG. 3) and upper and lower side rails 26,
28. It is these mechanisms 18, 18 which, together, fold and unfold
bed spring 24.
Referring, then, with greater particularity to this multiple hinge
22, and now having particular reference to the disclosure of FIG.
3, we first observe that there is one such multiple hinge 22 at
each end of the bed 10. This hinge 22 is comprised of four
elongated structural elements 22a, 22a and 22b, 22b (each of which
is here and for convenience indicated as tubular), each of which
four elements is hinged at its ends. More specifically, the outer
ends of the elements 22a, 22a as shown in FIG. 3 are hinged, as by
hinge pins 22c, 22c, to the related lower side rails 28, 28, while
the innermost ends of these two elements 22a, 22a are hinged
together as by another such hinge pin 22c.
Conveniently, the structural elements 22b, 22b are angled or bent
intermediate their lengths so that while the outermost ends
thereoff (FIG. 3) are hinged to the elements 22a, 22a preferably
toward the midpoints of these latter, as by other such hinge pins
22c, the inner ends of these arms 22b, 22b rapidly approach each
other, and are mounted for rotation on a bearing shaft 23. The
bearing itself for each bearing shaft 23, conventional in nature
(typically, it may be some form of the well-known pillow block
bearing), and therefore not itself shown, is carried at the head 14
and foot 16, respectively, of bed 10. Thus, and in typical
embodiment the upper elements 22b, 22b serve to support the lower
elements 22a, 22a in manner such that these elements 22a, 22a form
a wide angle between each other. The geometry thus narrated insures
fulfillment of an essential requirement, that at all times lower
side rails 28, 28 and horizontal shaft 23 are located in fixed
relationship with respect to each other in any transverse vertical
plane. Moreover, to add structural rigidity and to reduce stress
during operation, a rod member 50 connects the bases of the two
sets of multiple hinges 22, 22 (FIG. 3).
DETAILS OF BED OPENING AND NARROWING THROUGH DRIVE ROD 30 AND
RELATED MECHANISM
For ready understanding of the detailed description now to follow,
it is to be noted that the threaded screw or rod 30 threads through
the related driven nut 32 and, guided in manner shortly to be
described serves, through this driven nut 32 (FIGS. 2 and 3A),
(which latter is made pivotally fast to the right-hand, lower
element 22a of multiple hinge 22), to lift these base arms 22a, in
manner similar to an opening scissors, thereby spreading apart and
straightening the slats 24a of the bed spring assembly. Conversely,
of course, when the screw 30 is rotated in the opposite direction,
as by reversing the driving means, not shown, the base arms 22a,
22a of the scissors or more accurately generally pantograph-like
mechanism are swung downwardly, thereby lowering that hinge pin 22c
which is disposed therebetween, and thereby, through inward
movement of lower side rails 28, 28 and related upper side rails
26, 26 dropping the center of the bed slats 24a to the desired
extent of concavity.
With the foregoing in mind, and having attention to the enlarged
detail of FIG. 3A, it will be seen that near its upper end, screw
30 extends through a cylindrical sleeve 33b with which it is
loosely associated, so that it is free for relative rotation with
respect thereto. And this sleeve 33b is carried by pin 33e which
extends through rod 22b for rotation relative thereto. Pinned
collars 33d, 33d closely encircle threaded rod 30, one on each end
of cylindrical sleeve 33b, and are made fast to rod 30 as by pins
33f, 33f. Anti-friction bearings, typically roller bearings 33g,
33g (FIG. 3A), encircle screw 30, one on each side of cylindrical
sleeve 33b.
MOTION LIMITING ASSEMBLIES - A FIRST, FRICTION-TYPE BRAKING
SYSTEM
It will be seen from the foregoing that, without the provision of
suitable restraint, the patient might inadvertently rotate the bed
spring assembly 24 about its longitudinal axis without limit and to
an extent such that he may well be dumped to the floor. To guard
effectively against this, we provide two motion limiting means. The
first such limiting means comprises the variable braking system
indicated generally at 38 in FIGS. 1, 2 and 4, and which, generally
of the friction type, is adjustable to infinite degree, so that
closely controlled resistance can be interposed to rotation of this
bed spring assembly 24. Thus the bed can be adjusted closely
according to the differing weights of the individual patients. As
well, the hospital or other attendant can himself make suitable
adjustment to preclude patient-controlled rotation. Finally, the
attendant can rotate the spring assembly 24, with patient reclining
thereon, to desired extent, so adjusting the brake 38 (FIG. 2) that
the spring will remain in its adjusted and frictionally restrained
position, thereby permitting retention of the patient in a
particular position for such ample time as may be required.
Describing brake 38 in greater detail, it will be recalled that
bearing shaft 23 (FIG. 4) carries bed spring assembly 24, to this
end being mounted, one such shaft at each end of the bed 10, on the
pillow block bearings or other suitable, conventional bearings, not
shown. Still having reference to FIG. 4, it will be seen that a
drum 38b encircles this bearing shaft 23, preferably provided with
outwardly projecting hub 38c. Pin 38d extends through hub 38c,
thereby making drum 38b fast to shaft 23. We make generally
rectangular plate 38e fast, in any suitable manner, to the upper
portion of bed 10. A brake band 38a fits about drum 38b and is made
fast at one end to plate 38e, as by pin 38f, while at its other end
this band 38a is made fast to pin 38g. This pin 38g is itself made
fast to a generally jaw-shaped connector 38h.
Screw 38i (which preferably has lefthanded threads for proper
operation) threads through drive nut 38j. This drive nut is
pivotally secured by pin 38k to connector 38h. Connector 38h fits
loosely about and is carried by shaft 23, behind the brake drum
38b, (FIG. 4.). Movement of connector 38h in clockwise direction
will cause the brake band 38a to tighten around drum 38b, making
bed spring assembly 24, carried on bearing shaft 23, frictionally
fast to bed 10, to desired extent. Conversely, when screw 38i is
operated so as to turn connector 38h in counterclockwise direction,
the pin 38g which is mounted on connector 38h and to which one end
of the brake band 38a is attached, is moved counterclockwise from
pin 38f which itself is mounted on plate 38e. By result, the brake
band 38a is relaxed. Plate 38p is made fast to bed 10. We make
collar 38m pivotally fast to plate 38p as by pin, not shown.
We provide paired pin collars 38r, 38r concentric with collar 38m,
and one on each side thereof and rotable relative thereto. Pins
38n, 38n serve to make the pin collars 38r, 38r fast to screw 38i.
As well, we provide suitable means for rotating screw 38i, such
means, in the embodiment illustrated, comprising a hand crank
38v.
TO SUMMARIZE
By means of the foregoing construction, when the spring assembly 24
is adjusted to its cradle position as shown in FIG. 1, it is free
to rotate about its longitudinal axis. Through use of adjustable
brake 38, however, which we provide at one end - preferably the
foot - of the bed 10, this bed spring assembly 24 can, to desired
extent, be restricted against rotation.
It is to be noted that the construction of this brake 38 is such
that it restricts transverse rotation of spring assembly 24 through
a vertical sweep equally well in either direction of rotation of
the spring. It is to be further noted that the restriction of
motion is to selected and adjusted extent, as distinquished from a
fixed and single magnitude of restriction. Thus, it is possible for
caretaking personnel, where desired, to over-ride the brake which
has previously been set to selected adjusted frictional braking
position. Illustratively, this permits personnel to turn the
patient and leave him in any desired stationary position, without
the necessity of releasing the brake 38 each time the patient is
moved.
MOTION-LIMITING STOP ASSEMBLY
Consideration will now be directed to the second means of restraint
against undue rotation, which second means comprises an assembly
including the flexible cables 40, 40 (FIG. 2), there being one pair
of such flexible cables at each of the head and bottom ends of the
bed 10, and one cable of each pair being made fast at one, upper
end and in desired manner, to a related arm 22a of the multiple
hinge assembly 22; the other, lower end of each such flexible cable
being made fast to suitable points on bed 10, typically at both the
head 14 and foot 16 thereof. With spring assembly 24 adjusted to
the cradle position of FIGS. 1 and 2, the limit of rotation of this
spring assembly 24 about its longitudinal axis is determined
through one or the other of the cables 40 of each pair thereof
becoming taut, thereupon effectively restraining against further
rotation in that direction.
As well, and when spring assembly 24 is spread and elevated to the
single plane position of the usual hospital bed - which is
accomplished through the energization and interplay of screws 30,
30 and multiple hinge units 22, 22 - the cables 40, 40 (FIG. 2)
become taut at each end of the bed, automatically levelling and
locking the bed spring into position parallel to the floor, and
thereby effectively preventing all rotation whatsoever, a condition
enduring until the spring assembly 24 is again collapsed into an
adjusted, cradled position. When the two cables 40 of each pair
thereof are taut, no reliance need be placed on brake 38. This is
because, when spring assembly 24 is in its fully extended position,
the cables 40, 40 effectively lock this spring against longitudinal
rotation through vertical sweep.
When, however, bed spring assembly 24 is adjusted to any
intermediate position, resulting in a selected degree of concavity,
the cables 40 thereupon become slack. And these cables then serve
to impede turning of spring assembly 24 through vertical angle to
an extent controlled by and in inverse proportion to, the degree of
concavity which the operator has caused to be imparted to the bed
spring 24.
REQUIREMENT THAT TOP AND BOTTOM RAILS 26, 28 CLOSELY NEST, ONE UPON
THE OTHER, DURING ROTATION OF BED SPRING ASSEMBLY 24 ABOUT ITS
LONGITUDINAL AXIS - REASON THEREFOR
It is to be noted that when none of the transverse sections into
which the bed is divided - the head portion 26d, the intermediate
portion 26b, or the bottom portion 26a, or any combination thereof
- is either raised or lowered, i.e. the surface of the bed is
completely flat, then each segmental top rail 26, closely overlies
and nests about its corresponding lower rail 28. Both rails have
generally channel section (FIG. 5). And it is to this lower rail 28
(FIGS. 2 and 3) that motion is imparted by screws 30, action
through the generally scissors-like multiple hinge units or
assemblies 22, 22 (FIG. 3). Now, the telescopic arms 20a, 20a (FIG.
1) are made fast at their outer ends to these upper rails 26, 26.
Accordingly, when any of the transverse sections 26a, 26b or 26d
(with particular reference to head section 26d) of the bed is
raised or lowered, then the outer ends of the upper rails 26, 26
will be raised above and will be free from the corresponding
portion of the under rails 28. And since it is the force imparted
by the lower rails 28, transmitted through the upper rails 26, that
serves to collapse and open, as the case may be, the telescopic
elements 20a, 20b, 20a, accordingly any transverse opening or
closing movement of the lower rails 28, 28 while the upper rails
26, 26 (particular upper rail sections 26d, 26d) are raised
therefrom, will be accompanied by an unresisted torque or twist
which will tend to severely damage the head assembly of the
bed.
FAIL SAFE SWITCH
To prevent this we provide a two-part, fail safe, overriding and
normally closed switch 46 (FIG. 5). This normally closed switch is
disposed within one set of rails, which set is composed of an upper
rail 26 with its related lower rail 28 (FIG. 5) preferably near the
head end of the bed. The electrical circuitry of this switch is
such that with the switch 46 closed, it will override, by-pass and
maintain de-energized, that one or more motors which power the
drive screws 30, 30 for the multiple hinge assemblies 22, 22. Thus,
with the particular lower side rail 28 separated from any portion
of its related upper side rail 26 (particularly the head section
26d), the bed spring assembly 24 cannot be powered into opening or
closing. As part of this fail safe switch 46 the portion 26d of one
of the upper side rails 26, 26 is provided with a plunger which
cooperates with a related striker plate in the underlying lower
rail 28, so that when the upper portion of the bed 10 is lowered to
a horizontal position, with the particular top rail 26 fitting
closely about its corresponding lower rail 28, the plunger will
press against the striker plate, opening switch 46. With switch 46
in open position, its electrical circuitry will no longer by-pass
the power source for drive screw 30, 30, whereby the latter are
freed to energize the multiple hinge units 22, 22, thereby causing
these latter to move bottom side rails 28, 28 inwardly or
outwardly, as the case may be. In turn, these lower side rails 28,
28, acting through the snugly enclosing upper rails 26, 26, are
free to move the telescopic assemblies 20a, 20b, 20a inwardly or
outwardly, as described.
Although usually not necessary it is within the contemplation of
our invention that a similar switch assembly 46 may be provided for
the side rail assembly at the foot of the bed 10.
PROVISION FOR TRACTION BAR
Since our invention will frequently be employed in conjunction with
traction bars or similar orthopedic appurtenances, it becomes
necessary, particularly when the patient's body is lowered to
substantial extent upon collapse of the bed spring 24 to full
concavity, for the traction bar to be lowered by like amount. So
too, and when bed spring assembly 24 is rocked through vertical
angle about its horizontal axis to either side, then to avoid
injury to the patient the traction bar must thereupon be swung
along with the spring.
We have resolved this difficulty with the provision as perhaps best
shown in FIG. 8. Here, and as referred to the multiple hinge
assembly 22, the traction bar has generally vertical arm portion
48a. For supporting this traction bar, we provide related sleeve
members. One such sleeve member 50a is pivotally hinged, as by pin
50b, to and is carried by a selected one of the base or bottom arms
22a of multiple hinge 22. By reason of this hinged connection,
sleeve member 50a may be maintained in vertical position regardless
of whether multiple hinge 22 is opened or closed. Sleeve member 50a
loosely receives the lower end of traction bar 48a, holding the
same in adjusted position through suitable releasable securing
means such as wing nut 50c. If desired, sleeve 50a may be provided
with closed bottom, comprising a cup.
In generally similar manner, sleeve 50d is made hingedly fast, as
by hinge pin 52b, to the corresponding upper and elongated
structural element 22b of multiple hinge 22 so that, regardless of
the degree of opening and closing of this multiple hinge 22, the
sleeve or collar 50d can be maintained in anti-friction alignment
with and encirclement about the arm 48a of the traction bar.
With this construction, the traction bar will faithfully and
closely follow movements of the bed spring 24, eliminating
possibility of damage to the patient from relative movement between
the traction bar and bed spring 24.
MECHANICAL ADVANTAGE FOR CHANGING RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN TOP RAILS 26
AND BOTTOM RAILS 28
A problem of importance encountered in the use of the hospital bed
in accordance with our new construction, is to provide, with
powering equipment of but moderate capacity, a ready mode of
elevating and lowering the head portion of the top rail 26 (which
is hingedly pinned to bottom rail 28 at hinge pin 26e),
particularly where an extremely heavy patient is carried thereon.
To resolve this difficulty, we provide relatively simple means,
powered from motivating means already provided. And we accomplish
this by obtaining mechanical advantage in novel manner. Thus, we
provide hangers 27, 27 (FIG. 7) made fast to and depending from the
underside of each of the lower side rails 28. Describing one such
disc 29 and its related structure, disc 29 is suspended from and is
rotatably carried by anti-friction hanger bearing 27a. One end of
flexible cable 31 is made fast to the periphery of disc 29. Near
its other end this cable passes through a multiplicity of
motion-changing pulleys, conventional in nature and hence not
shown, terminating in a conventional powering device also not
shown. As the flexible cable 31 is pulled to the right in FIG. 7,
it remains at a fixed distance from the center of disc 29, i.e. it
gives rise to a fixed force couple. A push arm 37 is made fast to
the head end of upper side rail 26 and while it is not necessary
that such be the case, we employ a hinged pin connector 37a for
that purpose. That end of the push rod 37 remote from upper rail 26
is made hingedly fast, as by pin 39b, to an arm 39. Arm 39 is made
fast to, is carried by, and extends outwardly from the disc 29,
beyond the periphery thereof and to such extent that the ratio
between the radial distance from the center of disc 29 to hinge pin
39b, to the radius of the disc 29 itself, will give rise to the
requisite mechanical advantage. With this structure we find it
possible to elevate the head portion 26d of the top rail 26 of the
bed 10 with relatively little difficulty. While it is apparent that
the construction of FIG. 7 is by no means the only manner by which
the head of the bed can be elevated, we find the construction
disclosed to be relatively simple, fool proof and entirely
adequate.
Also in FIG. 7 we disclose in alternate form a second means for
gaining additional mechanical advantage for raising the head
portion 26d of side rail 26. A second cable is shown,
illustratively attaching to the strap 39. If hanger 27 were
extended to include strap 39, the resulting power would be
sufficient to permit raising patients of all but extreme weight. In
other words, rather than the use of disc 29, in this alternative
embodiment we employ a single lever in the form of an extended
hanger strap 27, to effect greater mechanical advantage.
DETAILS OF RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN UPPER RAILS 26 AND LOWER RAILS
28
Returning to consideration of the construction disclosed in FIG. 1,
we must bear in mind that, where hospital or similar bed 10 is
employed, this latter either may be mechanically operated, or it
may be otherwise partially or fully powered. This bed 10 according
to FIG. 1 being motorized, the various degrees of concavity or
cradling of bed spring assembly 24, as well as all transverse
articulation of head, thigh and foot sections of this assembly,
together with the raising or lowering of one or both ends of the
bed frame 12, is managed either by the patient himself with his
conventional control switch 42 (FIG. 1) at the head 14 of the bed
10, or by the nurse or other attendant through her control switch
44 (FIG. 2) at the foot 16 of the bed 10.
From the foregoing, it becomes readily apparent that while in the
ordinary bed, such as the typical hospital bed as previously known,
the patient's act of turning can ofttimes be fraught with danger
and as well, is both painful and will quite likely require more
energy than the bedridden patient can safely expend (indeed, the
situation is frequently encountered in the case of the patient who,
say, is in traction or who otherwise is in diseased or helpless
state, that-self turning of his body is impossible), need strongly
exists for a bed, the patient-bearing portion of which turns while
the patient is reclining thereon. And this is in strong contrast to
forcing the patient to turn on the bed's surface, and relative
thereto.
All this we accomplish through safe and comparatively inexpensive
construction, simple in itself, of long useful life, substantially
free of malfunctions and maintenance over continued use, with
component parts which are readily available in the market place at
minimal cost. And through our new construction the patient can
himself, and while prone thereon, readily alter the flat surface of
the bed, and thereby and without expenditure of appreciable effort,
lower himself into a selected position of concavity or cradling, in
which position he can either turn or be turned about a generally
horizontal axis to a selected one of many different positions of
which supine, right or left side, are but illustrative. Moreover,
the patient can accomplish this without changing his placement
relative to the supporting surface of the bed 10. Thus, so long as
the patient remains in the same position in relation to the bed
spring assembly 24, he can avoid unwanted stress on any part of his
body.
Viewed from the standpoint of the attendant, our construction
permits ready changing of bed clothing by nursing personnel in
manner virtually painless to the patient, while permitting the
attendant readily and easily to turn the patient, first to one side
and then the other. Thus the bed clothing can be changed without
requiring the nurse to rotate the patient's body relative to the
bed spring 24, and without necessity of change in the alignment of
the patient's spine or extremities during such change of bedding.
At the same time, and when our new construction is embodied in a
hospital bed, the motions conventional in such beds are retained
almost in their entirety, such as those raising and lowering the
upper portion of the body, the thighs, the feet, all coupled with
total bed elevation. And such total elevation, in turn, may be
accomplished without regard to and either with or without raising
either the head or the foot of the bed. Maximum patient comfort is
assured. The substance of the last two paragraphs, this included,
as well as the scope of this application, may be synopsized in the
following abbreviated
SUMMARY
In many cases of illness or injury the patient cannot turn over or
cannot even be turned. The result is bed sores, cramping and
cumulative forms of discomfort. In the past, nurses or other
caretaking personnel have laboriously turned such patients
periodically or where this was impossible, as with casts, traction,
and other bone or circulatory disorders, the suffering deriving
from immobility simply must be endured.
When occupying the present bed, the patient can turn or be turned
without changing his position relative to the surface of the bed.
In short, when this bed is caused to assume a cradling position,
the occupant can turn or be turned with full impunity. Thus he can
change position relative to and against the earth-pull of gravity
without dangerous or painful shifting upon the mattress itself.
And this cradling adjustment to any desired degree and turning to a
desired lateral angle does not affect the other normal operations
of hospital or other beds such as raising of upper or lower body,
Trendelenberg positions, and the like. Thus the patient need not
lift his weight, or be lifted by others, in order to achieve the
relief which can be achieved through a shift in position. Nor need
the patient be transferred from bed to rotating frames nor be
removed from traction or casts to achieve relief. Provided only he
can move head or hand, he can turn at will to a new body attitude,
remaining there until again he wishes to change positions.
All the foregoing, as well as many other practical fields of
application and advantages, will be readily apparent to those
skilled in the art, falling within the direct ambit of our
invention, the scope of the application of all of which is more
fully set forth in the following claims.
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