EP2254538A1

EP2254538A1 - A high security, sliding table top, with protecting headboard, therapeutic bed unit

Info

Publication number: EP2254538A1
Application number: EP08872542A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Kenneth Houselander; Lynne Cheesman
Original assignee: Careful Design Ltd
Current assignee: Careful Design Ltd
Priority date: 2008-02-22
Filing date: 2008-12-15
Publication date: 2010-12-01
Also published as: GB0803224D0; GB2457702B8; GB2457702A; GB2457702B; WO2009103936A1

Abstract

A table top (11), carries bedding (14), heated by ultraviolet (22) and infrared (23) lamps which use recirculated and fresh air (29), and boosted by fans (38). The table moves on rollers (59, 58, 57, 9) in metal tracks to (11), to allow the bed (5) ease of access. Above the lamps are (4) thermostats (24, 25, 26, 27). Thermostat (24) provides air flow for all night temperature control. Thermostat (25) is set to a higher temperature for supplying a boosted temperature for a rapid warm up period, which then releases control back to thermostat (24). In hot weather thermostat (26) controls the air conditioning chiller unit (46) and fans (38). Thermostat (27) is a tamperproof thermostat, that removes all electricity if faulty components expose the users to health or fire risks.

Description

A high security, sliding table top, with protecting headboard, therapeutic bed unit

This invention relates to a device for providing a highly practical bed unit with multiple universal benefits for both young and old, for the able bodied, the handicapped, the elderly, the poor, also with many benefits for the sick.

This high security, sliding table top, with protecting headboard, therapeutic bed unit has many advanced features with advantages that have been developed, tried and tested, over the largely unchanged cold, damp, restrictive normal bed.

For more than a century, there have been many bed designs that in general offer the prospect of getting a good night's sleep for various people. Some of the problems that these designs sought to overcome will now be listed by way of example; contact problems with skin to bed linen, getting in and out of bed problems, temperature problems, too hot or too cold, moisture trapped in bed linen problems, heavy bedding restricting body movements, bedding displacement problems, bed needing to be made very often, bedridden people not getting enough vitamin ¹D' and many more.

The sick may get better, also have a husband, wife or partner who may like to share the bed with them. In which case the bed should be as much like a "normal" bed as possible, and to allow for normal physical relations to occur. Also the bed should be easily maintained and have a long life span. As with all modern medical aids, the bed unit must answer all health and safety regulations, and with holding these ideas in mind much thought has gone into this invention. Some of the old patents would fail on hearth and safety grounds, for example it was commonly not understood that canopies that hold bedclothes above a frail person in bed with metal tubing, or metal parts that under normal circumstances work fine if left alone, may inflect serious injury if a visitor or carer happened to lean on or even worse, were to trip and fall against the apparatus tilting the framing onto the patients body. Other applications show metal parts actually in the bed area carrying a mains powered heater with thermostats etc. The bed unit must allow, for example, a patient having an epileptic fit, or patients with mental problems doing unexpected things. Incontinent people will require to get out of bed quickly, and be able to change the bottom sheet easily, and preferably not having to remake the bed. Handicapped persons with severe mobility problems, should be able to Hop' onto an almost completely exposed mattress and simply pull the bedclothes towards themselves to be as fully covered up as before.

People on low incomes should never become ill or even die from hypothermia, a well designed heated bed can keep the occupants comfortably warm all night on less than one unit of electricity. This bed can act as a zone of safety. From these points it would be reasonable to assume that many people when not sleeping, would like to read in bed, listen to the radio, watch T. V. or converse with visitors etc., these activities may be difficult or even impossible inside an enclosed sleeping capsule. It would be inappropriate for the inventors to comment on the medical advantages of this device, but having conducted a six month trial with the prototype, some interesting things came to light For example it was found to be almost impossible to perspire when using the bed unclothed, even when setting the 'normal' all night thermostat uncomfortably hot. Also arthritic joints stopped aching, and went away when in contact with warm dry aired bedclothes especially around the neck and shoulders. The effects of ultraviolet light and vitamin 'D' deficiency have recently been published; U.V. and deep red light may help; body cramps, bums, skin diseases and many more. It should be understood that the medical uses of this bed should always be with the advice of a patients doctor, and any lamps can be substituted for ordinary red or white lamps for example, or to limit the exposure time for U.V. The upper bedclothes were never found to move out of place, the only time they were removed was to change the bed linen. The design criteria for this invention will now be explained.

The top surface should have a smooth unobstructed surface and be of a critical width such that the slope to mattress should allow the bedclothes to fall with a straight line, and hold a good shape when the table top is pushed fully towards the foot board, and when closed again. The total foot board power should be approximately 450 watts, this would allow the bed and occupants to reach a comfortable sleeping temperature when first turned on, or a cold person using the 'boost¹ function to thaw out in good time. The use of six lamps allows the bed to keep heated and working well if several burnt out lamps have not yet been replaced. Also the proportion of ultraviolet to infrared lamps can be better customised. The On' time to Off time, will keep the running power costs about the same. The fan box must be soundproofed, with the fans' speed reducible to produce completely silent running. The under table top surface should be unobstructed, and fabric padded, with the front and side edges more thickly padded. The table top air stream should change from warmed foot board air to the cooler room air when the table top is pushed away to give a quick change in upper body heat, where more body heat is generated. The unit must be exactly controllable for temperature during both boost and normal cycles, and must have an automatic and tamper proof maximum temperature sensor that in the case of failure to the boost or normal thermostats, or overheating of any components will instantly remove all power. Any 'safe' form of heat source e.g. oil filled radiators, I.R. heaters etc., could be used, but would be 'special' parts spoiling the ease of maintenance, also lamps heat up and cool down more quickly, giving a good response time. In the event that both fans fail to operate, all the thermostats must continue to operate perfectly on only converted air. The metalwork for the foot board should be designed to allow for any width of bed e.g. single, double, king-size etc. The invention will now be described solely by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 shows a simplified perspective overview of the bed unit when the table top is in the retracted position,

Figure 2 shows a simplified perspective overview of the bed unit when the table top is in the extended position,

Figure 3 shows a front view the headboard of the bed unit looking from the foot board end, Figure 4 shows a side section view of the headboard of the bed unit, Figure 5 shows a plan view of the headboard of the bed unit

Figure 6 shows a perspective view of the foot board of the bed unit that holds the heating and control assembly, and fresh air bleed grilles,

Figure 7 snows a front section view of the foot board of the bed unit that holds the heating and control assembly, and fresh air bleed grilles,

Figure 8 shows an exploded perspective view of the side panels of the foot board of the bed unit,

Figure 9 shows a perspective view of the air conditioning and light control grilles in the foot board of the bed unit,

Figure 10 shows a front section view of the air conditioning and light control grilles in the foot board of the bed unit, also the front section view of the table top components,

Figure 11 shows a perspective view of the table top and supporting slide runners of the bed unit,

Figure 12 shows a side section view of the table top components and internal foot board components of the bed unit,

Figure 13 shows a schematic circuit diagram for the control box, lamp control, and air conditioning, and safety cutout circuits of the foot board end of the bed unit,

Figure 14 shows a schematic circuit diagram for the headboard lighting unit of the bed unit, Figure 15 shows the control box for the bed unifs air conditioning and safety power cutoff controls,

In figure 1 , is a perspective overview of the bed unit where the metal structure 1 is formed from extruded steel retangular in cross section and braced by 4 cross struts square in cross section and welded as required. The headboard is held upright by side rails 2 and 3 bolted at the headboard and foot board as 4. The foot board is extruded steel square in cross section and is formed and welded to make the shape 5 and both sides having threaded end plates 6 and 7 to fasten the rectangular steel roller support member 8. One of the 4 rollers 9 is shown to indicate how the table top's extended movement is checked by 2 metal studs, one stud 12 is shown. The table top's retracted movement is stopped by a central single bar 13. The bed's canopy 14 is formed from a normal bed sheet and bedclothes draped over the table top on 3 sides and is provided by the purchaser.

It should be noted that the greater part of the bed unit has an exact left right mirror image symmetry either side of a line from the middle point of the headboard to the middle point of the foot board, and components will be identical both in position and form. Also it should be noted that for clarity, only the item on one side may be shown.

In figure 2, is a perspective overview of the bed unit where the metal structure 1 supports the headboard, and has three protecting fabric covered semi circular dense plastic foam pieces bonded to steel uprights 99, 100, 101. The headboard is fitted with a fluorescent tubular reading light 96 operated by pull switch 95, and an ultraviolet tubular lamp 98, operated by pull switch 97.

The table top shows a lower light weight marine plywood underside 10, and a lightweight marine plywood top 11. The table top is shown in the extended position showing 1 of the 2 studs 12 contacting 1 of the 2 end rollers 9. The bedclothes 14 will be seen to have moved with the table top, and hang down to form an effective air seal to mattress. In figure 3, is a front view of the headboard unit where the metal structure 1 supports the headboard, and shows the foam pieces 99, 100, 101. The position of a light soft density foam mattress 114 is shown supporting two fabric covered plywood panels 108 and 109 that are made such as to have the covering fabric extend 110 and 111 that act as 'grab' handles to turn or adjust the slope of these two reversible backrest panels. The lighting unit is supported on two steel support brackets 102 and 118. Both brackets are screwed to load spreading wooden struts 116 and 117, which carry three sag preventing square timber pieces 104, 105, 106, which are bonded to a rectangular sheet of plywood making the roof 103 which is fabric covered to the top side. Two 'pull' cord light switches 95 and 97 are screwed on timber piece 117.

In figure 4, is a side view of the headboard unit and shows the position of the fluorescent tubular reading light 96 and ultraviolet tubular lamp 98. The person 115 is shown to illustrate the use of backrest's 108 and 109.

In figure 5, is a plan view of the headboard unit and shows the position of the fluorescent tubular reading light 96 and ultraviolet tubular lamp 98. The position of light switches 95 and 97 is also shown.

In figure 6, is a perspective view of the outside wall of the foot board, a sheet of marine plywood 19 is screwed to metal support frame 5 and supports grilles 29 and 30, and a door 20 hinged as 21. The door holds six electric lamps, these lamps may be energy saving fluorescent, or incadescent. Two of the six lamps are numbered and are deep red as 23 and ultraviolet as 22. The door also holds four identical thermostats, thermostat 24 is termed 'normal' and controls the 'all nighf sleeping temperature. Thermostat 25 is termed 'boost¹ and controls the lamps to a higher temperature then hands back control to the 'normal' thermostat when the 'boost¹ temperature is reached. Thermostat 26 is termed 'cooling' and controls the air conditioning. Thermostat 27 is termed 'security¹ and is set to a temperature above the "boost" temperature and will removed all power from the unit in the event of the 'normal' or 'boost¹ thermostats malfunctioning and also acts as fire control when any other unit in the air flow system over heats. The electric power to and from the door is shown by cable 28 which enters the relay box 31.

In figure 7, is a front view, and viewed as in figure 6. The end stop 13 prevents the table top from leaving the support rollers when the table top is in the retracted position. The bed's canopy 14 is shown in cross section. The two air bleed grilles 29 and 30 allow room air to mix with the conditioned air, and are infinitely adjustable from fully open to fully closed.

In figure 8, is an exploded perspective view showing the two foot board side covers 15 and 18, that are formed from sheet metal and fixed to the metal structure with screws 16 received by threaded holes 17.

In figure 9, is a perspective view to the front and inside of the foot board, a sheet of marine plywood 34 supports two grilles 47 and 48 which operate exactly the same as the figure 7 air bleed grilles 29 and 30, but are used to control the amount of light as well as the amount of air entering the bed canopy. It will be clear that if both grilles are closed the air would still flow over the top of the board 34 and into the bed. The air flow is effected by sucking the air from both sides of the canopy through wall vents 35 and 40 then through flexible hose 36 and 41 to wall vents 37 and 42, then into fan box 32 where two low noise mains axial fans 38 and 43 blow the extracted air out via wall vents 39 and 44 taking a proportion of the bleeded fresh air (figure 7. 29 and 30) and pass thereby around the six heating lamps which not only heat the air but also output therapeutic light radiation to the occupants of the bed. The heated air then passes over the four thermostats which act together to maintain a high level of air quality and safety. The air flow and control circuits are designed to operate safely if one or both fans cease to operate, due to the action of convected air currents. The fan box 32 is soundproofed, and bolted 33 to the side frames at both ends. The wall vent 45 and flexible hose 46 supplies blown 'chilled' air from a suitable commercial unit to the fan box 32 and is controlled by the 'cooling' thermostat and will be detailed in the electrical circuit.

In figure 10, is a front view of figure 9 and shows retracted end stop 13 also a cross section of the table top shows the lower table top board 10, fixed to table top board 11 with support beams 49 53 and 54 and 73. The beams 73 and 49 each screwed to a one piece roller track as 60. The whole table top is supported by 4 rollers as 9, 57, 58, 59 to both sides. The canopy is shown by 14. In figure 11 , is a perspective view of the table top. Roller attachment bar 8 is bolted to the metal frame 5 with bolts 55 and 56. Two rollers 59 and 9 contact the upper side of track 60, and two rollers 58 and 57 contact the lower side of track 60, and is repeated to other side as shown. The table top is shown extended, and shows the action of the end stop studs as 12. The upper and lower boards 11 and 10 are bonded and screwed to the beams 49, 73, and 53 and 54, and braced by cross beams 50, 51, and 52. A magazine shelf space is shown by the patterned area 67. The table top air conditioning will now be described: When the table top is retracted, warm air from the foot board rises up by the action of the fans and heat convection through the four holes as 61 and 62 passing through four holes as 63 and 64 then through a further 4 holes as 65 and 66. This throughput of air is also aided by the suction in the canopy as describe in figure 935, and 40. It will be seen that if the occupants of the bed feel too warm, by intuitively pushing the table top with bedding away will move the four holes as 61 and 62 away from above the warm air stream and allow the canopy suction to progressively bring in cooler fresh air from the room.

In figure 12, is a side view of the table top and foot board. Roller attachment bar 8 is bolted to the metal frame 5 with bolts 55 and 56, the line of roller wheels 9, 57, 58, and 59 are shown. The retaining spindle bolts for rollers 57 and 58 are bolted into elongated holes to allow for vertical adjustment to remove vertical 'play¹ in the tracks. The action of the retracted end stop 13 will now be described: The table top unit is first placed on the mattress figure 4 114, the foot board end of the table top is lifted and pushed onto the two front rollers as 9, then the headboard end is lifted until horizontal and gently pushed onto the other rollers until the end stop 13 meets the stop plate 72. The end stop 13 is free to rotate in an anti clockwise direction and so rides over the stop plate 72. As soon as the end stop 13 is clear of the the stop plate 72 the end stop 13 swings down by gravity then it is again as shown in 13. It will be seen that there is a protuberation to the left hand side of 13 that prevents the end stop from revolving in a clockwise direction which makes the end stop 13 unable to pass the stop plate 72 when table top is pulled towards the headboard. The table top is rarely removed as almost the whole of the mattress can be exposed to change the lower bed sheet etc., however, when this is necessary, the table top is pushed in until end stop 13 contacts stop plate 72 then the table top is pulled back a little and the end stop 13 is lifted e.g. rotated anti clockwise to clear the stop plate 72, then the table top is pushed foreword just enough to clear the stop plate 72, then the table top is pulled from the headboard end which allows the foot board end to drop safely onto the mattress. This side view shows the the action of the door by a curved arrow 68 and the lamps as 22 and 23 with thermostats 24 to 27 shown twice to show their position with the door open and closed. The door is a plywood sandwich construction; the outer part 20 covers the door aperture. Part 69 is rectangular in shape and has a smaller rectangular area cut away similar to a picture frame that is to form a space cavity for the internal wiring. The top part 70 of the sandwich is screwed to the picture frame cavity, and all door components are screwed to 70 as shown. The power cable 28 bends with the door. Other numbered components will show the thickness and position of grilles etc. as described in the previous figures. In operation the lamps are of the American screw type, and are held by fire proof ceramic light box holders. The thermostats are high reliability units with a circular scale as supplied for home heating systems etc. that can operate to+35 degrees C.

In figure 13, is a schematic circuit diagram will be described through the operations from the users point of view. The power for the the table top bed is from a standard 13A socket, the plug is fitted with a 13A fuse (not shown) the wires from the plug enter the control box and both the Live and Neutral wires go to an isolation switch 76 and 94 both switches are 'ganged' to operate as one as shown by the dashed line, this ensures complete safety when changing lamps, or adjusting thermostats etc. When the switch is turned 'on' the live wire passes through the 'push' to turn off 77 push button and passes from the control box area shown as dashed line 74 then to the foot board area 75 to the 'cooling' thermostat 26 via relay box (figure 1231 ) and then goes two ways; one way supplies power to the 'chiller* air conditioning 13A socket switch 79 and the second way goes back to the control box to the fan speed controller 78. The speed controller is electronic and has an OfT position, then when rotated gives a variable amount of power to fans 43 and 38 their neutral lines go to 93 and if no over heating problems through the 'security¹ thermostat 27 to 94 and mains neutral. The mains socket 79 is a switched 13A socket, and during very hot days the switch can set to 'on^* allowing the commercially supplied 'chiller^* unit to activate via the 13A plug 80 the Air Conditioning unit 81. The air supply is controlled in two ways; in the winter months the thermostat 26 should be set to activate when the temperature is about 5 degrees, this will ensure that the fans can operate at all times to provide good heated air circulation. In the summer months the thermostat 26 should be set to about 26 degrees C. thereby causing the fans to be 'on' only when the temperature exceeds 26 degrees C. The 'chiller¹ AC unit can have it's own thermostat that will operate at 28 degrees for example giving a really powerful cooling control in hot summers. The system is very efficient because only the bed area has to be cooled. In the summer months, the heating 'normal' thermostat can also be left On' because the lamps will only warm the bed if for example, at night, the temperature should fall below the 'normal' thermostat's setting the lamps will warm the bed without the fans operating due to the convected air currents. In cold conditions the heating is activated by pressing the 'normal' push button 83 that will pass live current to energise the 'normal' relay coil 85 which will move contacts 86 and 87 from normally closed to normally open, so that contact 86 feeds the coil 85 and lighting the green neon indicator light 84, and allowing the push button 83 to be released. The Live mains will pass through isolating contacts 87 and if 'normal' thermostat senses too cold' will illuminate the six lamps as 23 and 22 returning to neutral 93 but only if 'security¹ thermostat 27 has no overheating problems, then to mains. The lamps as 22 and 23 will turn on and off to maintain a constant all night temperature but can be turned completely off by push button 77 or mains switch 76 94. The preferred way to turn off the 'normal' heating is by button 77 because the tens will remain on. When a body first enters the table top bed, their temperature is very often far below a comfortable sleeping temperature, and may well find that the 'normal' thermostat is turned off. The solution to this problem was to have what the inventors call a 'boost¹ thermostat, that is a thermostat that will by-pass the 'normal' thermostat and hand over control to the 'boost' thermostat. It is the intention of this device that at all times the temperature of the bed be strictly controlled for the health care of even the most frail elderly patient. The "boost" circuit will now be described: When when the red push button 88 is pressed, the 'boost^* relay coil 90 is energised and will move contacts 91 and 92 from normally closed to normally open, so that contact 91 can supply current to the 'boost¹ thermostat 25. If the bed temperature is still at boost heat as when 'boost^* was last used, the 'boost¹ thermostat will fail to latch' the boost coil 90, so preventing exposure to an over boost heat. If the boost thermostat is below boost heat, the relay coil 90 will be 'latched' on, and the red 'boost^* neon 89 will light, the live current will then pass to isolating contacts 92 and illuminate the six lamps as 22 and 23 to neutral 93, and if no malfunctions, through the 'security^* thermostat to 94 N. During the 'boost^* heat cycle it is preferred that the 'normal' circuit will be 'on' so that when the boost heat turns off, the 'normal' thermostat will resume heat control if the occupants are by then asleep. From the above description, it will noted that the 'security¹ thermostat is tamper proof, and will only allow a one off temperature over limits, and that would be worse case not more than +35 degrees C. When the faulty part is replaced the system will operate again, e.g. does not require any resetting.

In figure 14, is a schematic circuit diagram of the headboard lighting. A 13A mains plug (not shown) supplies the live neutral and earth as shown. The Live wire goes to bathroom style cord light switches 97 and 95. A 4 foot long tubular fluorescent light unit 96 (see figure 4 96 and 98) is for a reading light, and a 4 foot long tubular ultraviolet lamp 98 is for therapeutic light radiation for the face, shoulders and neck. It should be noted that all the ultraviolet lamps used in this bed are of the low power types, that are commonly used in discotheques etc., and are safe for constant use. It should also it noted that the lamps for the foot board should be 75W for ultraviolet lamps, and 6OW for the deep red lamps. If dressings etc., need to be checked during the night, one or two white lights may be used in place of one or two ultraviolet lamps.

In figure 15, is a plan view of the control box 112. The power cables are represented by 119. A red neon light 113 shows when the mains switch 7696 is turned 'on'. The 'Panic' or turn 'off normal and boost heat 77 is a push to break switch. The fan control 78 has a click to completely Off then when turned clockwise will increase the speed of both fans. It should be noted that the fans in this design are silent at most speeds, and are only heard when fans are set to maximum. The 'normal' all night sleeping temperature is selected by green push to make switch 83 and shows when working by lighting green neon 84. The 'boost' heat is selected by red push to make switch 88 and shows when working by lighting red neon 89.

Claims

1. A high security, sliding table top, with protecting headboard, therapeutic bed unit, with the table top supporting a flexible covering that overhangs to both sides to make an air seal with the bed mattress, to form a removable canopy that encloses, but does not restrict, the bodies of users from the neck downwards to form a cavity space wherein currents of air are able to pass, both directly from the foot board cavity via an air grille with bypass, but also through air ducts in the table top, to flow from the headboard end of the table top cavity into the users canopy to be sucked back into the foot board cavity where this air can be mixed with fresh air, then light radiated, conditioned, and regulated, such that the air is caused to rise and recirculate through the users cavity space area, the area of which is controlled by the action of a slide mechanism attached to both sides of the table top and supported by the foot board such that the users canopy can be pushed away by the users in a direction perpendicular from the headboard to the foot board, the users canopy then rides over the foot board to form a large, unobstructed area of the mattress for ease of access protected from hard surfaces on the bed unit and headboard unit.

2. A high security, sliding table top, with protecting headboard, therapeutic bed unit according to claim 1, in which the foot board consists of two metal frames, located to the left and right of the foot board cavity, and are mirror symmetrical about a line from middle bottom, and middle top of the foot board, the upper extremity ending in bolt retaining bulkheads that supports a flat metal bar carrying two upper rounded rollers and two bottom rounded rollers for supporting the table top and canopy, the distance between the bolt retaining bulkheads is used to define the width of the bed unit, such that any size of bed unit of single, double, king size, or other custom size as required may be manufactured, the metal frames are faced to the front and back with plywood or composite boards attached to said metal frames with cover plates to complete and enclose the foot board cavity, the said back wall holds a door hinged to the bottom to allow access to six electric lamps, and four thermostats, also on said wall and located under the door are two adjustable air bleeding grilles, inside said wall is mounted the relay box, the front wall of the foot board cavity holds two adjustable air grilles, these grilles are directly in front of the said six electric lamps, that can adjust the light and air entering the said users canopy, to the left and right at a point above the said mattress height are located two wall air extraction vents, these two vents carry flexible hoses that terminate to the left and right sides of a long soundproofed fan box that is located and bolted on the said metal frames, to the inside of said fan box cavity, are located two electric fans, and on the top side of said fan box are located two wall vents that allow the air to enter the foot board cavity.

3. A high security, sliding table top, with protecting headboard, therapeutic bed unit, according to claim 1, claim 2, in which the table top consists of an upper member and a lower member, both rectangular in shape, and joined by beams and struts, to form a sandwich construction by the use of suitable materials such as timber, plywood, or other composite materials, also the said table top slide mechanism consists of a left hand side track, and a right hand side track, each track is attached to a supporting beam, and is curved in a semi circle to the top and bottom edges, to retain rounded rollers that each rotate about a central axis, with each track confining four rollers set in a line, two of these four rollers in contact with the inner top part of each track, and with the remaining two rollers in contact with the inner bottom part of each track, these two bottom rollers are spindle bolted in elongated holes to allow for vertical adjustment to remove vertical play between tracks and rollers.

4. A high security, sliding table top, with protecting headboard, therapeutic bed unit, according to claim 1, claim 2, in which the foot board air circulation system unit consists of two extract holes above the said mattress to the left and right sides of the said front wall where each said wall vent hole is attached to a flexible hose that passes through the said front wall and drops down inside the foot board unit to two wall vent holes either end of a long transverse soundproofed fan box that has two axial vertically mounted fans at each end to suck air from the bed cavity, and blow it out from two wall vent holes to the middle top of the fan box, then the rising air currents are mixed with the said air bleed grilles to flow past six electric lamps to pass over the said four thermostats to flow over an air by-pass over the said front wall, and back into the said users canopy.

5. A high security, sliding table top, with protecting headboard, therapeutic bed unit, according to claim 1, claim 3, in which the air passage through the table top cavity is by four medium sized said input air holes through the lower table top member, located on a line parallel to and above the foot board cavity such that the rising air currents pass through said input holes to the interior of the table top cavity, that when the users canopy is pushed away from the users, the said four input holes move out from over the foot board cavity, to pass into the fresh room air, thereby sucking new fresh air through the table top cavity to pass through four smaller holes in two struts to flow over the shoulders of the users, thereby affording an intuitive and instant way to increase cooling. Claims /

6. A high security, sliding table top, with protecting headboard, therapeutic bed unit, according to claim 2, claim 4, in which a user control box is powered by the current mains voltage such that a mains plug supplies a live, neutral, and earth supply to an isolating switch, for safety when replacing lamps, or adjusting thermostats, the said user control box has a variable and off electronic fan speed control knob, a panic all off push to break switch, a push to make on normal push button that activates the Normal all night control Thermostat with indicator green neon light, a boost push to make push button that activates the Boost Thermostat that is set to a higher temperature than the said Normal Thermostat so that the said six heating lamps remain on until the higher boost temperature is reached when it then turns off and the heating control is returned to the said Normal Thermostat by this action cold users attain a sleeping temperature more quickly, the said boost operation will not operate again until the boost control button is further activated, when the boost circuit is in operation a red neon light lights on the control box.

7. A high security, sliding table top, with protecting headboard, therapeutic bed unit, according to claim 2, claim 6, in which the heat source is supplied by six incandescent, or energy saving light bulbs, that can be set up to produce three kinds of light radiation, in the first case is an ordinary white light needed to inspect or adjust surgical dressings, in the second case is a deep red and infrared light emitter for muscular cramps, aches, and pains, and in the third case is an incandescent or energy saving ultraviolet light emitter to provide a safe source of vitamin D and as a sterilizing agent.

8. A high security, sliding table top, with protecting headboard, therapeutic bed unit, according to claim 2, claim 6, claim 7, in which the Normal Thermostat is set to the all night normal sleeping temperature such that if the temperature inside the said users canopy is lower than the set temperature, the six lamps will light heating the airflow until the set temperature is reached, the said Normal Thermostat will turn off until the temperature drops again in the bed cavity, by the action of rising air currents due to convection, together with fresh air bled into the system, the Normal Thermostat can be used without the said fans and chiller to provide satisfactory air circulation, such that the Cooling Thermostat can be set to a high day time temperature, such that the said electric fans and chiller will only operate during uncomfortably hot moments, then when the temperature drops at night the Cooling Thermostat will turn off, and the Normal Thermostat will operate, thereby providing day and night environmental protection.

9. A high security, sliding table top, with protecting headboard, therapeutic bed unit according to claim 2, claim 6, claim 7, in which the Boost Thermostat is set to a higher temperature to override the Normal Thermostat until the boost temperature is reached, when the Boost Thermostat turns off, the boost heating will not come on again until the boost control button is pushed, but re-activation will not happen unless the said users canopy air temperature has fallen below the boost setting, thereby making for a highly secure, highly controlled environment dressings can be checked by turning on lights using boost.

10. A high security, sliding table top, with protecting headboard, therapeutic bed unit according to claim 2, claim 6, claim 8, in which the Cooling Thermostat is set to a low temperature in cold weather to keep the two axial fans in the fan box working at all times, this is to enhance the action of the Boost Thermostat to draw away the cold air around a cold user's body when first getting into bed, or if a patient has a high temperature from time to time during the night when in Normal Thermostat operation, but if the weather is hot the Cooling Thermostat is set to turn on when the users canopy temperature is higher than the Cooling Thermostat temperature causing the Cooling Thermostat to turn on the two axial fans in the fan box, these air currents mix, together with the fresh air bled from the two air grilles open to the room atmosphere act to cool the users body by surface evaporation, also for moving hot air away from the users canopy, if the weather is very hot, the said external 13A socket can be switched on to operate the A/C chiller unit it should noted that the bedclothes can be folded back to rest on the top surface of the table top canopy for extra cooling.

11. A high security, sliding table top, with protecting headboard, therapeutic bed unit according to claim 1, claim 6, claim 9, in which the Security Thermostat must be set a temperature at least as high as the currently existing temperature in the foot board cavity before the heating lights, fans, relay box, and air conditioning chiller unit will operate, this is because the mains neutral return has to flow through the contacts of the Security Thermostat, to complete the mains power supply circuit however when the Boost Thermostat is activated, the temperature inside the foot board will rise even more, thus causing, as before, a power shut down, thus the Security Thermostat must be set to a temperature higher than the boost temperature, allowing the Security Thermostat to guard against a possible fire, or a serious over temperature health risk that must always be avoided, to this end, the Security Thermostat is such that it cannot be by-passed, and by having encapsulated terminals is completely tamper proof.

12. A high security, sliding table top, with protecting headboard, therapeutic bed unit according to claim 1, in which the said flexible canopy over the said table top consists of the users own normal bedclothes. Claims

13. A high security, sliding table top, with protecting headboard, therapeutic bed unit, according to claim 1, in which the said protecting headboard is a metal frame structure that supports three protecting fabric covered semi circular dense plastic foam pieces bonded to steel uprights, to the top of the headboard is fitted with a fluorescent tubular reading light operated by a pull switch, and an ultraviolet tubular lamp, also operated by pull switch, this ultraviolet light is rated as safe for constant use, and under medical advice has many therapeutic benefits.