ES1304369U - MOBILE BED WITH BRAKE ACTUATOR (Machine-translation by Google Translate, not legally binding) - Google Patents

Abstract

Clinical bed with mobile wheels, the bed having at least one mobile position in which the wheels can roll on the floor and a braked position in which the bed cannot roll, and a drive control that allows changing the position. movable to the braked position and vice versa, and said control comprising a bar bent in the shape of a U and connected in a tilting manner with the bed, said bar presenting a main section for operating the control that runs parallel to one side of the bed, characterized by that said bar runs through the entirety of said side of the bed, presenting tilting connections with the bed at separate intermediate points of separate sections of bar corresponding to the sections of said U perpendicular to said side, and presenting at the free ends of the said sections have respective pedal areas for operating the control, said pedal areas being located on sides adjacent to said side, in such a way that the control can be operated for tilting from said pedal areas or from said section of drive bar. (Machine-translation by Google Translate, not legally binding)

Description

DESCRIPTION

Mobile bed with brake actuator

The present invention relates to mobile beds, in particular to beds that have a frame with wheels for movement that has a control device to operate said wheels, preferably braking the bed.

Clinical beds, normally used in hospitals, have a frame with wheels for transport. The function of these wheels is twofold. On the one hand, they constitute the supports of the bed on the floor. On the other hand, they act as rolling means that facilitate the movement of the bed and determine the direction of movement. Usually, these beds have four main wheels in correspondence with the vertices of the bed. These beds may also have a fifth wheel, usually located in the center of the bed and/or equidistant from the aforementioned four wheels. The fifth wheel is intended to improve the maneuverability of the bed. To do this, sometimes it may have characteristics that are somewhat different from those of the main wheels.

Said clinical beds have at least one control that allows changing the position of at least one of the wheels, in such a way that the mobile bed has at least two positions, a braking position and another mobile position in which the bed can roll on. soil. This allows the client to be moved from one point of the hospital to another without having to remove them from their bed and at the same time the bed remains fixed during medical examinations or when the patient rests in their room.

Usually, this type of bed has two mobile positions. In one of the mobile positions, at least one of the wheels can tilt freely around a vertical axis, allowing the direction of movement of the bed to change while it rolls (free position). In another of the mobile positions, only rectilinear movement of the bed is possible, facilitating its rectilinear translation (directional position).

The change of braked-mobile position (and, where applicable, directional mobile or free mobile) is carried out using a command. Usually, this control is located on the lower frame of the bed and is operated with the foot. Document ES1055849U discloses a pedal-shaped control. A drawback of this type of pedal is that the user must Move to the specific point where the pedal is located to change the bed position. Furthermore, since the pedal has a single localized point of actuation, the user must visually search for the pedal to ensure that it is going to be actuated correctly, which implies an additional loss of time. Therefore, the most widespread type of control is a tilting bar that extends along one of the short lakes of the bed. Documents ES1046276U and ES1065160U show drive bars of this type, composed of a bent tube pivotally connected to the lower frame of the bed. The advantage of the bar is that as it extends longer than the pedal, it is not necessary to search for the specific position of the control. However, if the user is on one of the long sides, or on the short side of the bed opposite where the bar is located, they must move to the short side to operate the control.

It is an objective of the present invention to provide a control that presents a solution to the aforementioned drawbacks.

More particularly, the present invention relates to a clinical bed with mobile wheels, the bed having at least one mobile position in which the wheels can roll on the floor and a braked position in which the bed cannot roll, and a actuation control that allows changing from the mobile position to the braked position and vice versa, and said control comprising a bar bent in the shape of a U and connected in a tilting manner with the bed, said bar presenting a main section for operating the control that runs parallel on one side of the bed. Said bar runs along the entirety of said side of the bed, presenting tilting connections with the bed at separate intermediate points of separate sections of bar corresponding to the sections of said U perpendicular to said side, and presenting at the free ends of said respective sections and respective pedal areas for operating the control, said pedal areas being located on sides adjacent to said side, in such a way that the control can be operated for tilting from said pedal areas or from said section of bar. drive.

By arranging the tilting connections of the bar at intermediate points of the sections perpendicular to the main one, it is possible to have separate pedal-type actuation zones at the free ends of the U, which allows operation from the main section of the bar or from the pedal area. Furthermore, as the bar runs along the entire side, the pedal areas are located on sides of the bed adjacent to the side on which the pedal is located. main section of the bar. Therefore, the control according to the present invention can be operated from three sides of the bed, expanding the area from which it is possible to operate the control and, therefore, reducing the times necessary for the bed to go from one position to another. to another.

Furthermore, the present invention is applicable to beds with one or two mobile positions (directional and free), and to different types of wheel drive.

Preferably, the bed has two mobile positions: a directional position in which the bed rolls in a rectilinear direction and a free position in which the bed rolls freely, the directional position, the free position and the braking position corresponding to three positions. different from the aforementioned command.

Preferably, said bent bar has, in said sections, separate holes for introducing a tilting axis and separate areas for connecting a pedal piece.

Preferably, said tilting axis is an axis with a polygonal section.

Preferably, the bed has a fifth wheel located approximately in the center of the lower frame.

Preferably, said tilting axis connects with a drive bar that transmits the movement of the control to main wheels located at the opposite end of the bed and/or, where appropriate, to the fifth wheel. The bar can be connected to the tilt axis, for example via a cam. The movement of the bar allows driving the main wheels opposite the control and/or the fifth wheel. In certain embodiments, it is possible for all drive to be produced from the fifth wheel. For example, the movement of the bar can cause the fifth wheel to go from a free position to a directional position, which means that the bed can only be moved in a straight direction, and the braking action can be generated on the fifth wheel. and/or on the main wheels from a brake mechanism located in the fifth wheel area (for example, transmitting the action via cables).

Preferably, said tilting axis connects with a drive bar that transmits the movement of the control to main wheels located at the end. opposite the bed and/or, if applicable, the fifth wheel.

Preferably, the tilting axis acts on a main wheel located below it, for example to brake it, or to change its directional position to a free position. It is also possible that the tilt axis does not act directly on the aforementioned main wheel located under it.

For your better understanding, some drawings of an embodiment of the object of the present invention are attached as an explanatory, but not limiting, example.

Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a lower frame of a bed according to the present invention.

Figure 2 shows a side elevation view of the lower frame.

Figure 3 is a detail of one of the corners of the lower frame.

Figure 4 is a detailed view of another corner of the lower frame, in which elements seen have been removed to observe part of the driving mechanism.

Figures 5 and 6 show perspective views of the bent bar that is part of the control of the example shown.

Figure 7 is a perspective view of a cam piece belonging to the control.

Figure 8 are three side elevation views of a detail of the lower frame with the control in the three operating positions.

Figures 9, 10, 11 and 12 are respective side elevation, rear, bottom plan and perspective views of the fifth wheel in its free position, showing the elements of the fifth wheel drive.

Figures 13, 14 and 15 are respective side elevation, rear and bottom plan views of the fifth wheel in its directional position.

An example of an embodiment of a bed 1 according to the present invention is shown in the figures. In order to promote clarity of presentation, only the lower frame 2 of the bed has been represented, which includes the rolling system and its actuation control and the lifting system 3 of the bed. The upper frame, which includes the bed, and its auxiliary elements (headboard, footboard, side protection elements, etc.) have not been represented to promote clarity of presentation.

The rolling system comprises four main wheels 4 located in the corresponding corners of the bed, also corresponding to the corners or vertices of the lower frame 2. The bed of the example also has a fifth wheel 5 intended to contact the ground. The fifth wheel is located approximately in the center of the lower frame, at a distance approximately equidistant from the four main wheels 4. The presence and location of the fifth wheel may vary for the purposes of the present invention.

The bed also comprises a control 6, which has three operating positions. In Figure 2, the three operating positions have been represented simultaneously. With numeral 6 the control has been represented in free position, in which the bed can move and rotate freely, with numeral 6' the braking position has been represented, in which the bed does not roll on the floor, while With the numeral 6'' the directional position has been represented, in which the bed rolls but only moves in one direction. The control 6 comprises a bar bent in a general U shape with a main section 61 that runs along one of the short sides of the bed, preferably the foot of the bed, as in the example shown.

As seen in Figure 3, the control 6 is joined in a tilting manner to the lower frame 2 through the connection piece 21. The tilting connection point of the control 6 with the lower frame 2 is located at an intermediate point of the section secondary 62 of control 6. This allows control 6 to be operated from the main section 61 of the bar or from the pedals 63 located at the respective free ends of the secondary sections 62.

Figure 4 shows the tilting connection of control 6 with the rest of the elements. As you can see, the tilting connection is made, in this case, by means of a bar 64 with a prismatic section. The prismatic section allows the rotation of control 6 to be converted into actions directed to the wheels. In this case, the control acts both on the fifth wheel as well as on the main wheels 4 on the side on which the control is located. In particular, in Figure 4 it can be seen how the bar 64 with a prismatic section passes through both a braking piece 41 of the main wheel 4 and a cam 51 that connects, on the one hand, with the bar 64 with a prismatic section and, on the other hand, the other with a fifth wheel drive bar 52 (not shown in Figure 4). The braking piece 41 of the example shown converts the rotating movement of the prismatic bar 64 into a movement that allows the main wheel 4 to be braked/released. The cam 52 converts the rotation of said bar 64 into a movement of the bar 52 that will actuate the fifth wheel

Figures 5 and 6 show the control 6 without the piece that constitutes the pedal 63. We can see that the control has a generally U-shaped bending bar with a main section 61 and two secondary sections 62 parallel to each other. For ergonomic reasons, the secondary sections are, in turn, bent. As an extension of the secondary sections 62, there are two folded sheets 621 that each have a polygonal hole 622 to receive the aforementioned bar 64 with a prismatic section and another hole 623 to receive the piece that makes up the pedal. 63 (not shown in figures 5 and 6)

Figure 7 shows in greater detail the cam 52 shown in Figure 4. In the example, it is formed by a cut laminar piece. Cam 52 has two holes. A first hole 521 has a polygonal shape conjugated with that of the prismatic bar 64 (shown in Figure 4). A second hole 522 is intended to receive a pin for connection with the bar 52 that will drive the fifth wheel (shown in Figure 4).

Figure 8 shows three sectional side views of the lower frame 2 of the bed. Each of the side views corresponds to one of the operating positions of the bed. The top view corresponds to the directional position. It is observed that the main section 61 of the control bar 6 is in its uppermost position, and that the fifth wheel drive bar 52 is in its lowermost position and close to the main wheel 4. The bar 52 The drive of the fifth wheel can be extended to the main wheels 4 located on the opposite side to the side on which the main section of the bar 61 is located or only to the fifth wheel. The first case allows to operate said main wheels 4 located on the opposite side to the side on which the main section of the bar is located, via corresponding cams 51, in the second the bar 52 transmits the action to the fifth wheel. The intermediate view of Figure 8 corresponds, in the example shown, to the free position, in which both the main wheels and the fifth wheel can roll on the ground and, in addition, rotate freely around a vertical axis. The bottom view of Figure 8 corresponds to the braked position, in which at least one main wheel is braked. Preferably, two main wheels can be braked, preferably the two main wheels 4 closest to the control 6. It is also possible to brake the main wheels furthest from the control 6 and/or the fifth wheel. On the other hand, the actuation mechanism can be varied in such a way that the control positions vary. For example, the drive could be such that the braked position corresponds to the top view of Figure 8 and the directional position corresponds to the bottom one, or any other configuration.

As can be seen, the three positions (free, directional and braking) can be achieved either by activating the main section 61 of the bar, located on a short side, or the pedals 63 located on the adjacent sides. Therefore, the control 6 of the present invention allows double operation and is accessible from different points of the bed 1.

Figures 9 to 15 show an example of implementation of the fifth wheel applicable to the example shown in Figures 1 to 8. Figures 9 to 12 correspond to the drive on the fifth wheel in the free position, while in Figures 13 to 15 shows the fifth wheel mechanism in the directional position.

In the free position (figures 9 to 12) the control 6, in the example, is placed in its intermediate position. The position of the control 6 is transmitted to the bar 52 which transmits the action of the control 6 to the fifth wheel 5, located approximately in the center of the lower frame 2. The fifth wheel 5 has the capacity to rotate around a vertical axis 57. The vertical axis 57 has a flange 59 integral with the vertical axis 57. The flange 59 has a recess 591. The mechanism also comprises a locking piece 58 that rotates around a horizontal axis 582 and has a projection 581 whose dimensions allow it to be inserted. in the recess 591 of the flange 59. Alternatively, the flange 59 could have a projection and the locking piece a conjugate recess. Because the flange 59 can only rotate around the vertical axis 57 and the locking piece 58 can only rotate around the horizontal axis 582, when the projection 581 is inserted into the recess 591, the rotation of the vertical axis 57 is prevented, and with this the rotation of the fifth wheel around said axis (see figures 13, 14 and 15).

On the contrary, if the locking piece 58 rotates around its axis of rotation 582, the projection 581 leaves the recess 591 and the rotation of the vertical axis 57 is permitted (see figures 9, 10, 12). In the example shown, this makes the fifth wheel able to rotate around the vertical axis 57. Since the main wheels can also rotate around their respective vertical axes, this makes the bed able to roll in any position (free position).

In order to change from the directional position to the free position, and vice versa, the locking piece receives two opposite actions. On the one hand, a spring 56 produces an action that tends to move the locking piece 58 towards the locking position of the vertical axis 57, in which the respective recess and the respective projection are crimped together. On the other hand, the locking piece 58 receives the action of a cable 55. The cable 55 is connected to the bar 52 through a connection piece 552 and a guide system 551. The actions of the spring and the cable can also be reversed for the purposes of the present invention.

In the position corresponding to Figure 15, the cable does not have enough tension to overcome the action of spring 56 (not seen in Figure 15). However, if the bar 52 moves to the position of Figure 11, the bar 52 drags the cable 55, which overcomes the action of the spring and the locking piece opens, unlocking the rotation of the axis 57.

In this position shown in Figure 11, an actuator 553 located on the connection piece 552 contacts an actuator button 541 of a main wheel locking mechanism 554. If bar 52 continues its movement towards the right of the image (braking position), the actuator 553 activates the actuator button 541 and the mechanism 541 tensions respective braking cables (not shown in the figure) that transmit a braking action to one several main wheels. In the case shown, the action is transmitted over two cables not shown. This allows you to brake or block the desired number of main wheels.

An advantage of the spring-cable antagonist system is that, when moving to the directional position from the free position, it is not necessary for the fifth wheel to be in a specific position. The spring performs a constant action that will cause the corresponding projection to automatically enter the corresponding recess into the moment at which the fifth wheel passes through the orientation corresponding to the directional position.

Although the invention has been presented and described with reference to embodiments thereof, it will be understood that these are not limitations of the invention, so multiple construction details or others could be variables that may be evident to technicians in the sector after interpret the matter disclosed in this description, claims and drawings. Thus, all variants and equivalents will be included within the scope of the present invention if they can be considered within the broader scope of the following claims.

Claims (7)

1. Clinical bed with mobile wheels, the bed having at least one mobile position in which the wheels can roll on the floor and a braked position in which the bed cannot roll, and a drive control that allows changing the position. movable to the braked position and vice versa, and said control comprising a bar bent in the shape of a U and connected in a tilting manner with the bed, said bar presenting a main section for operating the control that runs parallel to one side of the bed, characterized by that said bar runs through the entirety of said side of the bed, presenting tilting connections with the bed at separate intermediate points of separate sections of bar corresponding to the sections of said U perpendicular to said side, and presenting at the free ends of the said sections have respective pedal areas for operating the control, said pedal areas being located on sides adjacent to said side, in such a way that the control can be operated for tilting from said pedal areas or from said section of drive bar. 2. Bed, according to the preceding claim, characterized in that it has two mobile positions: a directional position in which the bed rolls in a rectilinear direction and a free position in which the bed rolls freely, the directional position corresponding to the free position. and the braking position to three different positions of the aforementioned control. 3. Bed, according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that said bent bar has, in said sections, separate holes for introducing a tilting axis and separate areas for connecting a pedal piece. 4. Bed, according to the previous claim, characterized in that said tilting axis is an axis with a polygonal section. 5. Bed, according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that it has a fifth wheel located approximately in the center of the lower frame. 6. Bed, according to any of claims 3 to 5, characterized in that said tilting axis connects with a drive bar that transmits the movement from the control to the main wheels located at the opposite end of the bed and/or, if applicable, to the fifth wheel. 7. Bed, according to any of claims 3 to 6, characterized in that the tilting axis acts on a main wheel located under it.