IE64611B1

IE64611B1 - An adjustable hospital bed

Info

Publication number: IE64611B1
Application number: IE29191A
Authority: IE
Inventors: Vincent Farrell
Original assignee: Feraspen Co Ltd
Priority date: 1991-01-29
Filing date: 1991-01-29
Publication date: 1995-08-23
Also published as: GB9108336D0; GB2252237A; IE910291A1; GB2252237B; BE1002973A6

Abstract

An adjustable hospital bed 1 has a bed frame 3 with at least two separate spaced apart upwardly directed sockets 40 for reception of complementary tapered spigots 42 depending from a bed fixture 43, 44 to mount the fixture on the frame, each spigot being engagable between a portion of an inner sidewall 45 of a socket and a pin 46 extending across the socket. The pin is spaced apart from the sidewall portion and located intermediate the ends of the socket.

Description

This invention relates to an adjustable hospital bed.

According to the invention, there is provided a hospital bed having a bed frame with at least a pair of separate spacedapart upwardly directed sockets at each end of the bed frame for reception of complementary tapered spigots depending from a bed fixture to mount the bed fixture on the bed frame, each spigot being engagable between portion of an inner sidewall of a socket and a pin extending across the socket, the pin spaced-apart from the sidewall portion and located intermediate the ends of the socket. The bed fixture may be a bed end. Alternatively, the bed fixture may be a patient support frame. Advantageously, the bed fixtures can be quickly and easily changed. Also, when weight is put on the bed fixture, such as, for example, when supporting a patient's limb, the weight tends to urge the bed fixture into engagement with the bed frame.

In a particularly preferred embodiment there is provided an adjustable hospital bed comprising a base frame, a bed frame mounted on the base frame by two spaced-apart link mechanisms, each link mechanism comprising a pair of parallel link arms, each link arm having pivot mountings on both frames, one of the link mechanisms having at least one movable pivot mounting for each link arm, the movable pivot mounting being linearly movable In a vertical plane on one of the frames to tilt the bed frame relative to the base frame, and independent means for vertical movement of the bed frame relative to the base frame while retaining relative orientation between the frames. This advantageously provides a bed of relatively simple construction which is easily operated to raise and lower the bed frame on the base frame and to tilt the bed frame relative to the base frame.

In another embodiment of the invention each movable pivot mounting comprises a laterally projecting pin on the link arm engagable in a plurality of spaced-apart slots on the bed frame. Advantageously, this allows the movable pivot mounting to be quickly and easily adjusted for tilting the bed frame relative to the base frame.

In a preferred embodiment, each of the slots are tapered slots and the slots are vertically arranged on the bed frame. In some cases the slots may be re-entrant slots.

In another embodiment, the slots are formed In brackets pivotally mounted at each side of the bed frame, the brackets depending from a pivot shaft which is rotatable on the bed frame, and biasing means is provided to urge the slots into engagement with the pins on the link arms.

In a further embodiment, the biasing means is formed by elongate operating levers extending radially outwardly at each end of the pivot shaft such that the weight of the levers tends to rotate the pivot shaft on the bed frame for positive engagement between the pins and slots.

In a further embodiment, there is provided a side rail formed from a longitudinally telescopic frame member mounted on supports longitudinally slidable on the bed frame and in which the frame member is height adjustable on its supports.

In another embodiment, the bed frame incorporates a tiltable backrest.

The invention will be more clearly understood from the following description of some embodiments thereof, given by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which; Fig. 1 is a perspective view of an adjustable hospital bed according to the invention, Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the hospital bed showing a bed frame of the hospital bed in a raised and tilted position.

Fig. 3 is a detail, partially cut away perspective view showing a bed frame and base frame of the hospital bed, Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken along the line IV-IV in Fig. 3, Fig. 5 is a detail perspective view of portion of the hospital bed, Fig. 6 is a detail end view of portion of the hospital bed, Fig. 7 is a detail perspective view of the portion of the 10 hospital bed shown in Fig. 5, Fig. 8 is a detail end view of the portion of the hospital bed shown in Fig. 6, Fig. 9 is a detail, partially sectioned view of portion of the hospital bed, Fig. 10 is a detail side view of portion of a tilting mechanism on the hospital bed, Fig. 11 is a view similar to Fig. 10 showing the tilting mechanism in another position, - 6 Fig. 12 is a perspective view of another hospital bed in a second embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 13 is a perspective view of a further hospital bed in a third embodiment of the invention, and Fig. 14 is a perspective view of a still further hospital bed in a fourth embodiment of the invention.

Referring to the drawings and initially to Figs. 1 to 11 thereof, there is illustrated an adjustable hospital bed according to the invention indicated generally by the reference numeral 1. The bed 1 has a ground engaging base frame 2. A bed frame 3 is mounted on the base frame 2 by two spaced- apart link mechanisms 5, 6 each link mechanism 5, 6 comprising a pair of parallel link arms.

The link mechanism 5 has a pair of parallel link arms 10, 11.

Lower ends of the link arms 10, 11 are interconnected by a shaft 12 pivotally mounted on the base frame 2. Upper ends of the link arms 10, 11 are mounted by pivot pins 13, 14 to brackets 15, 16 depending from the bed frame 3. A ram 17 extends between a lug 18 on the shaft 12 and the base frame 2, the ram 17 being pivotally mounted on the base frame 2. The ram 17 is controlled by an operating lever 19.

The link mechanism 6 comprises a pair of parallel link arms 20,21 having their lower ends interconnected by a pivot shaft 22. The shaft 22 is pivotally mounted on the base frame 2. Connecting bars 23 extend between radial lugs 24, 25 on the pivot shafts 12, 22 for coordinated pivoting of the link mechanisms 5, 6 by the ram 17.

Laterally projecting pivot pins 26, 27 extend inwardly at an upper end of the arms 20, 21. The pins 26, 27 are engagable with complementary brackets 28, 29 depending from a pivot shaft 30 which is pivotally mounted on brackets 31 which depend from either side of the bed frame 3. Elongate handles 32 form operating levers for pivoting the brackets 28, 29 on the bed frame 3. Each handle 32 extends radially outwardly at each end of the pivot shaft 28. Each bracket 28, 29 has a number of vertically arranged slots 34 for reception of the pins 26, 27. Each slot 34 is slightly tapered, narrowing inwardly of an inlet to the slot 34. It will be noted that, depending on which of the slots 34 are engaged by the pins 26, 27, the bed frame 3 may be either horizontally mounted on the base frame 2, as shown in Fig. 1 and Fig. 4, or tilted on the base frame 2, as shown in Fig. 2. It will also be noted that the weight of the handles 32 tends to rotate the pivot shaft 30 on the bed frame 3 to urge the slots 34 into positive engagement with the pins 26, 27. The shaft 30 is also spring biased to urge the slots 34 into positive engagement with the pins 26, 27 by means of a spring 35 extending between a lug 36 on the bed frame 3 and a radial lug 37 on the pivot shaft 28.

The base frame 2 has ground engaging casters 38. Projecting outwardly at each corner of the bed frame 3 are rollers 39.

Referring now in particular to Figs. 5 to 9, at each end of the bed frame 3 there is provided a pair of separate spacedapart upwardly directed sockets 40 for reception of complementary tapered spigots 42 depending from bed ends 43, 44. As the spigots 42 of the bed end 43, 44 are pushed into the sockets 40, they wedge within the sockets 40 between an inner sidewall 45 of the socket 40 and a pin 46 extending across the socket 40. It will be noted that the pin 46 is spaced-apart from the sidewall 45 and is located intermediate top and bottom ends of the socket 40 thus firmly holding the bed ends 43, 44 in position. A side edge 47 of the spigot 42 abuts against the sidewall 45 of the socket 40 and a tapered edge 48 of the spigot 42 abuts the pin 46. It will be noted that when engaged the spigot 42 extends upwardly of the socket 40. The bed ends 43, 44 can be readily easily removed by knocking them upwardly to disengage the spigots 42 from the sockets 40.

In use, the hospital bed 1 is used in conventional fashion. To raise the bed frame 3 on the base frame 2 the operating lever 19 is operated to extend the ram 17 which rotates the shaft 12, pivoting the link mechanisms 5, 6 upwardly, the rear link mechanism 6 following the front link mechanism 5 thus raising the bed frame 3 evenly on the base frame 2.

In order to tilt the bed frame 3 on the base frame 2 either 5 handle 32 may be pivoted to engage the pins 26, 27 with the required slots 34 in the brackets 28, 29.

It will be appreciated that the invention provides a hospital bed of relatively simple construction which is cheap and easy to manufacture. The mechanism for raising and lowering the bed frame 3 on the base frame 2 is simple and reliable in operation. Further, the bed ends 43, 44 can be quickly and easily removed and replaced at either end of the bed frame 3 or alternatively other bed fixtures may be mounted on the bed frame 3 by means of the sockets 40.

Referring now in particular to Fig. 12, there is illustrated another hospital bed indicated generally by the reference numeral 50. The hospital bed 50 is generally similar to the hospital bed described previously with reference to Figs. 1 to 11 and like parts are assigned the same reference numeral.

In this case, however, the bed frame 3 has a steel mesh 51 extending between sides of the bed frame 3 on which a mattress is supported in use. This ensures improved ventilation to the mattress.

The bed frame 3 also incorporates a tiltable backrest 54 pivoted at 55 to sides of the bed frame 3. A bracket 56 depends from a hinge end 57 of the backrest 54. A ram 58 extends between the bracket 56 and the bed frame 3 and is operable to support the backrest 54 in a tilted position.

Referring now to Fig. 13, there is illustrated another hospital bed 60. Parts similar to the hospital bed described previously with reference to Figs. 1 to 11 are assigned the same reference numeral. In this case, a patient support frame 62 is mounted on the bed frame 3. The patient support frame has uprights 63 at each end interconnected by cross members 64. Lower ends of the uprights 63 have tapered spigots to engage the sockets 40 at each end of the bed frame 3 in similar fashion to the bed ends on the hospital bed shown in Figs. 1 to 11. In this case also the bed frame 3 is rigidly mounted on a wheeled chassis 65. It is envisaged, however, that in some cases the bed frame 3 may be mounted on a base frame as described for the bed of Figs. 1 to 11.

Referring now to Fig. 14, there is illustrated another hospital bed according to the invention indicated generally with the reference numeral 70. Parts of the hospital bed 70 similar to the hospital bed described previously with reference to Figs. 1 to 11 are assigned the same reference numerals. In this case side rails 71, 72 are provided. Each side rail 71, 72 comprises a longitudinally telescopic frame member mounted on supports 73 which are mounted on the bed frame 3. Each support 73 has a tubular sleeve 74 to receive uprights 75, 76 on the rails 71, 72 to adjust the height of the side rails 71, 72 on the bed frame 3. Spring loaded plungers 78 are provided on each sleeve 74 and are engagable with holes in the uprights 75, 76 to fasten the side rails 71, 72 at any desired position. In this case also, the bed frame 3 is shown fixed to a wheeled chassis 79, however, it will be appreciated that the bed frame 3 may alternatively be mounted on a base frame in the same manner as that shown for the bed of Figs. 1 to 11.

The invention is not limited to the embodiments hereinbefore described which may be varied in both construction and detail.

Claims

1. (TT.ATMS

1. An adjustable hospital bed having a bed frame with at least a pair of separate spaced-apart upwardly directed sockets at each end of the bed frame for reception of 5 complementary tapered spigots depending from a bed fixture to mount the bed fixture on the bed frame, each spigot being engagable between portion of an inner sidewall of a socket and a pin extending across the socket, the pin spaced apart from the sidewall portion 10 and located intermediate the ends of the socket.

2. An adjustable hospital bed as claimed in claim 1 in which the fixture is a bed end.

3. An adjustable hospital bed as claimed in claim 1 in which the fixture is a patient support frame. 15

4. An adjustable hospital bed as claimed in any preceding claim comprising: a base frame; a bed frame mounted on the base frame by two spaced-apart link mechanisms, each link mechanism comprising a pair of parallel link arms, each link arm having pivot mountings on both frames, 20 one of the link mechanisms having at least one movable pivot mounting for each link arm being linearly movable in a vertical plane on one of the frames to tilt the bed frame relative to the base frame, and independent means for vertical movement of the bed frame relative to the base frame while retaining relative orientation between the frames.

5. An adjustable hospital bed as claimed in claim 4, in 5 which each movable pivot mounting comprises a laterally projecting pin on the link arm engagable in a plurality of spaced-apart slots on the bed frame.

6. An adjustable hospital bed as claimed in claim 5, in which the slots are tapered slots and are vertically 10 arranged.

7. . An adjustable hospital bed as claimed in claim 5 or claim 6 wherein the slots are formed in brackets pivotally mounted at each side of the bed frame, the brackets depending from a pivot shaft which is rotatable on the 15 bed frame, and biasing means is provided to urge the slots into engagement with the pins on the link arms.

8. An adjustable hospital bed as claimed in claim 7 wherein the biasing means is formed by elongate operating levers extending radially outwardly at each end of the pivot 20 shaft such that the weight of the levers tends to rotate the pivot shaft on the bed frame for positive engagement between the pins and slots.

9. An adjustable hospital bed as claimed in any preceding claim in which there is provided a side rail formed from a longitudinally telescopic frame member mounted on supports mounted on the bed frame and in which the frame 5 member is height adjustable on its supports.

10. An adjustable hospital bed as claimed in any preceding claim in which the bed frame incorporates a tiltable backrest.

11. An adjustable hospital bed substantially as described 10 herein with reference to and as illustrated in Figs. 1 to 11 of the accompanying drawings.

12. An adjustable hospital bed substantially as described herein with reference to and as illustrated in Fig. 12 of the accompanying drawings. 15

13. An adjustable hospital bed substantially as described herein with reference to and as illustrated in Fig. 13 of the accompanying drawings.

14. An adjustable hospital bed substantially as described herein with reference to and as illustrated in Fig. 14 of 20 the accompanying drawings.