EP2537501A1 - Method for improving a nursing bed - Google Patents

Abstract

The method involves modifying a position of anchoring points (34, 36) of actuators (30, 32) on articulated legs (18, 20), where each of the anchoring points is moved away or brought to the articulated legs, and a portion of one of the articulated legs receives the anchoring point of the actuator. A spacer to move away the anchoring point of the leg is brought back to a part of the articulated leg. The anchoring point of the actuator is located on a cross beam of the leg. The spacer is brought back to the part of the leg or a cross beam by a removable fixing unit e.g. screw.

Description

The present invention relates to a method of improving a medical bed to adapt the bed to different patients with different pathologies.

In the case of medical accommodation, the beds must meet different requirements.

First, the beds must be adapted to the residents.

Indeed, patients have different morphologies and pathologies, more likely to evolve during the patient's accommodation.

Thus, in the case of a patient with Alzheimer's disease or strongly agitated, it is recommended to use a bed with a low position closest to the ground to reduce the risk of injury due to falls.

Conversely, for other people with a low disability, a higher bed facilitates the rise and descent of the bed, and thus improve the comfort of use and independence of the people accommodated.

Secondly, the medical beds must also facilitate the work of the care teams.

Ergonomically, it is more interesting to give care to have the patient in height, even if the latter must stay closest to the ground the rest of the time. Also, in order to meet these first requirements, medical beds generally have a variable height frame.

As presented in the American document US 2007/0234477 , the frame of a medical bed can be in the form of a mechanical assembly of different parts articulated together and set in motion by one or more actuators.

Such an articulated frame allows to adjust, via appropriate control means, the height of the bed between a high position and a low position depending on the needs of the patient and care to practice.

According to a first disadvantage of the prior art, the heights of the high and low positions are fixed characteristics dependent on the kinematics of the articulated chassis.

Also, the heights of the high and low positions of existing beds are less and less adapted to the different pathologies and morphologies of the residents of a medical facility.

Secondly, in the context of long-term medicalized accommodation, the beds are not used for patient stretches, and it is necessary to preserve the aesthetic appearance of the beds in order to offer patients a less medicalized environment possible. .

Also, in such a long-term accommodation environment, articulated bed frames are generally not equipped with rolling devices, such as wheels or bogies on wheels.

However, especially when cleaning the accommodation, it may be necessary to move the bed.

Given the weight of these medical beds articulated chassis, it is difficult to move without rolling them.

Therefore, there is now a need for beds equipped with rolling devices to move the bed occasionally but unusable regardless of the height at which is set the articulated frame for daily use of the bed.

Indeed, it is preferable that the hinged frame beds remain indestructible regardless of the height of adjustment of the articulated frame between the high positions and low, in order to preserve the stability of the bed and prevent patients from being unbalanced when going up or down the bed.

Also, the method of improving a medical bed according to the invention aims to facilitate the modification of the initial characteristics, and more particularly the heights of the high and low positions of the articulated frame, of an existing medical bed, this in order to adapt the bed easily and quickly to different patients with different pathologies.

For this purpose, the subject of the invention is a method for improving a hospital bed equipped with an articulated frame with adjustable height, the articulated frame comprising a frame connected to the bedding plane of the bed and supporting two articulated legs whose feet are intended to rest on the ground, the first leg being pivotally mounted towards the front of the frame and the second leg being pivotally mounted towards the rear of the frame, each articulated leg being respectively driven between a high position and a low position by an actuator articulated between the frame and an anchor point of said leg, said method being characterized in that it consists in modifying the position of the anchor point of the actuator on the articulated leg.

• la figure 1 illustre la position haute des jambes articulées d'un lit médicalisé susceptible d'être amélioré avec le procédé selon l'invention,
• la figure 2 illustre la position basse des jambes articulées d'un lit médicalisé susceptible d'être amélioré avec le procédé selon l'invention,
• la figure 3 illustre une vue de dessous partielle et en perspective d'un lit médicalisé susceptible d'être amélioré avec le procédé selon l'invention,
• les figures 4A et 4B illustrent respectivement l'éloignement et le rapprochement d'un point d'ancrage d'un actionneur sur la jambe articulée d'un lit médicalisé susceptible d'être amélioré avec le procédé selon l'invention,
• la figure 5 illustre la position de repli maximal des jambes articulées d'un lit médicalisé susceptible d'être amélioré avec le procédé selon l'invention.

Other characteristics and advantages will emerge from the following description of the device of the invention, a description of a preferred embodiment given by way of example only, with reference to the appended drawings in which:

• the figure 1 illustrates the high position of the articulated legs of a medical bed that can be improved with the method according to the invention,
• the figure 2 illustrates the low position of the articulated legs of a medical bed that can be improved with the method according to the invention,
• the figure 3 illustrates a partial bottom view in perspective of a medical bed that can be improved with the method according to the invention,
• the Figures 4A and 4B illustrate respectively the distance and the bringing together of an anchor point of an actuator on the articulated leg of a medical bed that can be improved with the method according to the invention,
• the figure 5 illustrates the maximum folding position of the articulated legs of a hospital bed that can be improved with the method according to the invention.

The figure 1 represents a medical bed 10 equipped with an articulated frame 12 with adjustable height that can be improved in accordance with the method according to the invention.

Thus, the articulated frame 12 comprises a frame 14 connected to the bedding plane 16 of the bed and supporting two articulated legs (18,20) whose feet (22,24) are intended to rest on the floor S.

In order to raise, lower or incline the bed, the first leg 18 is pivotally mounted forward 26 of the frame 14 while the second leg 20 is pivotally mounted rearwardly 28 of the frame 14.

As illustrated respectively by Figures 1 and 2 each articulated leg (18,20) is respectively driven between a high position and a low position by an actuator (30,32) articulated between the frame 14 and an anchor point (34,36) of said leg.

Feet (22,24) can take various forms known to those skilled in the art.

However, as illustrated and in the context of a long-term nursing home, one leg 18 is preferably equipped with fixed feet 22 while the other leg 20 is preferably equipped with 24 feet, this to maintain the bed motionless regardless of the position of the legs articulated between the high and low positions.

According to a preferred kinematic for lowering the bed to the maximum, the upper end (40,42) of each leg (18,20) slides relative to the frame 14 and a connecting rod (44,46) is articulated between each leg (18,20) and the frame 14.

However, the present improvement method can also be applied to beds whose chassis legs are pivotally mounted and articulated in a different kinematic, the present invention obviously covering these applications.

Also preferably, the actuators (30,32) are cylinders, for example electric.

To easily and quickly adapt the bed to different patients with different pathologies, the present method is to allow the modification of the initial characteristics of an existing medical bed, and more particularly the heights of the high and low positions of the articulated frame.

For this purpose, and as illustrated in Figures 3, 4A and 4B , the improvement method according to the invention consists in modifying the position of the anchor point (34,36) of the actuator (30,32) on the articulated leg (18,20).

This change in the position of the anchor point of the actuator causes a change in the inclination of the articulated leg in its high and low positions, and therefore a change in the height (H, B) of the articulated frame in the positions high and low articulated legs.

Specifically, the improvement method provides to move away or closer the anchor point (34,36) of the actuator (30,32) of the articulated leg (18,20).

Thus, when the anchor point (34,36) is brought closer to the articulated leg (18,20), the heights (H, B) of the high and low positions of the articulated leg increase, and when the point of anchorage (34,36) is remote from the articulated leg (18,20), the heights (H, B) of the high and low positions of the articulated leg decrease.

Whatever the kinematics of the articulated leg (18,20), a portion (48) of the articulated leg receives the anchor point (34,36) of the actuator, this portion (48) being approximately half -length of the articulated leg (18,20). Also, as illustrated by Figure 4A , the method according to the invention provides that a spacer (50) for moving the anchor point (34,36) away from the articulated leg is attached to said portion 48.

According to a preferred kinematics of the articulated frame 12, the anchorage point (34,36) of the actuator is located on a transverse beam 52 of the articulated leg, this transverse beam 52 lying approximately midway along the articulated leg (18,20).

Also, as illustrated by Figure 4A , the method according to the invention provides that a spacer 50 for moving the anchor point (34,36) away from the articulated leg is attached to said transverse beam 52.

The spacer 50 is preferably attached to the portion 48 or the transverse beam 52 by removable fastening means 54 such as screws and nuts, the portion 48 or the transverse beam 52 comprising receiving means 56 of the spacer 50 and the actuator (30,32) such as two parallel plates 58, pierced and integral with the portion 48 or the transverse beam 52. Still preferably, the spacer 50 takes the form of two parallel plates 60, drilled and mounted on the plates 58 of the receiving means 56 using the fixing means 54.

Thus, the spacer 50 can be easily set up or removed with the aid of simple tools by a technician or another employee of the nursing home.

In a first variant illustrated in Figure 4B , the method provides for removing the spacer 50 to bring the anchor point (34,36) of the articulated leg (18,20).

In a second variant not shown, the spacer 50 is mounted movably relative to the portion 48 or to the transverse beam 52 between a lowering position in which the anchor point (34,36) of the actuator (30,32 ) is close to the articulated leg and an elevating position in which the anchor point (34,36) of the actuator (30,32) is remote from the articulated leg (18,20), the attachment means 54 the spacer 50 being configured to allow a rotational mobility of the spacer 50 relative to the portion 48 or to the transverse beam 52.

Moreover, in this second variant, the spacer 50 is equipped with gripping means, such as a handle, for tilting the spacer 50 manually between the lowering position and the lifting position, stop means being provided to immobilize the spacer 50 in the lowering position and in the raising position.

Finally, the improvement method according to the invention provides to equip a medical bed 10 with rolling means for moving the bed occasionally but unusable during daily use of the bed.

As previously, a medical bed 10 that can be improved by the method according to the invention is equipped with an articulated frame 12 with adjustable height, the articulated frame 12 comprising a frame 14 connected to the bedding plane 16 of the bed 10 and supporting two articulated legs (18,20) whose feet (22,24) are intended to rest on the ground S, a first leg 18 being pivotally mounted towards the front 26 of the frame and a second leg 20 being pivotally mounted to the rear 28 of the frame, each articulated leg (18,20) being animated between a high position and a low position by an actuator (30,32) articulated between the frame 14 and an anchor point (34,36) of said leg .

In more detail, the legs (22,24) of each articulated leg (18,20) rest on the ground S in all the positions ranging from the high position to the low position of each articulated leg (18,20), these positions corresponding to the daily use of the bed.

Preferably, one leg 18 is equipped with fixed feet 22 while the other leg 20 is equipped with 24 feet, this to maintain the bed motionless regardless of the position taken by the legs articulated between the high and low positions.

In addition, it is necessary that each articulated leg (18,20) of the articulated frame 12 pivots beyond the low position and is driven by the actuator (30,32) beyond this low position.

More precisely, and as illustrated in figure 5 each leg (18, 20) is driven to a maximum retracted position in which other parts of the hinged frame 12 than the legs (22, 24) of the hinged legs (18, 20) substantially come into contact with the ground. .

Of course, this maximum fallback position is not a position of daily use of the bed, and its implementation will be secured by any appropriate means to prevent its use by patients.

Also, in order to equip such a medical bed 10 with rolling means to move the bed occasionally but unusable during daily use of the bed, the improvement process provides to bring a wheel 62 on both sides of the bed each articulated leg (18,20).

• le point d'appui 64 sur le sol de chaque roulette 62 est plus proche du bâti 14 que le point d'appui 66 des pieds (22,24) de la jambe articulée dans toutes les positions allant de la position haute à la position basse de la jambe articulée,
• et que le point d'appui 64 sur le sol de chaque roulette 62 est plus éloigné du bâti 14 que le point d'appui 66 des pieds (22,24) de la jambe articulée lorsque la jambe articulée (18,20) est entraînée par l'actionneur (30,32) au-delà de sa position basse.

In addition, as illustrated by Figures 1, 2 and 5 each roller 62 is positioned on the articulated leg (18,20) so that:

• the fulcrum 64 on the floor of each wheel 62 is closer to the frame 14 than the fulcrum 66 of the legs (22,24) of the articulated leg in all positions from the high position to the low position of the articulated leg,
• and that the bearing point 64 on the floor of each wheel 62 is further from the frame 14 than the fulcrum 66 of the legs (22,24) of the articulated leg when the articulated leg (18,20) is driven by the actuator (30,32) beyond its low position.

Then, and as illustrated in figure 3 , according to a preferred kinematics of the articulated chassis 12, the anchoring point (34,36) of the actuator (30,32) is located on a transverse beam 52 of the articulated leg, this transverse beam 52 lying approximately at mid -length of the articulated leg (18,20).

Also, in the case where the anchor point (34,36) of the actuator (30,32) is located on a transverse beam 52 of the articulated leg (18,20), the improvement method according to the The invention provides for bringing a wheel 62 to each end (68,70) of the transverse beam 52 of each articulated leg (18,20).

Of course, the present invention covers a hospital bed obtained from the method as just described.

Claims (8)

A method of improving a hospital bed (10) equipped with an articulated frame (12) with adjustable height, the articulated frame comprising a frame (14) connected to the sleeping surface (16) of the bed and supporting two articulated legs ( 18,20) whose feet (22,24) are intended to rest on the ground (S), the first leg (18) being pivotally mounted towards the front (26) of the frame and the second leg (20) being mounted pivoting rearwardly (28) of the frame, each articulated leg (18,20) being respectively animated between a high position and a low position by an actuator (30,32) articulated between the frame (14) and a point d anchoring (34,36) of said leg, said method being characterized in that it consists in modifying the position of the anchor point (34,36) of the actuator (30,32) on the articulated leg (18, 20). The method of improving a hospital bed according to claim 1, wherein the anchor point (34,36) of the actuator (30,32) is remote or close to the articulated leg (18,20). A method of improving a hospital bed according to claim 1 or 2, a portion (48) of the articulated leg receiving the anchor point (34,36) of the actuator (30,32), wherein a spacer (50) to move the anchor point (34,36) away from the articulated leg is attached to said portion (48). Method of improving a hospital bed according to one of claims 1 to 3, the anchor point (34,36) of the actuator (30,32) being located on a transverse beam (52) of the leg articulated (18,20), wherein a spacer (50) for moving away the anchor point (34,36) of the articulated leg (18,20) is attached to the transverse beam (52). A method of improving a hospital bed according to claim 3 or 4, wherein the spacer (50) is attached to the portion (48) or the beam transverse section (52) by removable fixing means (54) such as screws and nuts, the portion (48) or the transverse beam (52) comprising means (56) for receiving the spacer (50) and the actuator (30,32) such as two plates (58) parallel, drilled and integral with the portion (48) or the transverse beam (52), and the spacer (50) taking the form of two plates (60) parallel , drilled and mounted on the plates (58) of the receiving means (56) by means of the fixing means (54). A method of improving a hospital bed according to claim 5, wherein the spacer (50) is removed to bring the anchor point (34,36) closer to the articulated leg (18,20). A method of improving a hospital bed according to claim 3 or 4, wherein the spacer (50) is movably mounted relative to the portion (48) or to the transverse beam (52) between a lowering position in which the anchor point (34,36) of the actuator (30,32) is close to the articulated leg and an elevating position in which the anchor point (34,36) of the actuator (30,32) is away from the articulated leg (18, 20). A method of improving a hospital bed according to claim 7, wherein the spacer (50) is equipped with gripping means for tilting the spacer (50) manually between the lowering position and the lifting position, means of stopping being provided to immobilize the spacer (50) in the lowering position and in the raising position.

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