GB2130083A - Catches and cot sides - Google Patents

Abstract

A catch system 32 comprises an engager 48 to resist pivotting of an engaged part, such as the side member 12 of a cot side, in one direction but not the other, release of the engager permitting pivotting of the engaged part in the one direction. Two such side members 12 each having such a catch system may form part of a collapsible cot side which can undergo parallelogram-type folding; the catch systems are mirror images of one another so that the cot side can be folded in either direction, depending on which of the engagers is released. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Catches and cot sides The invention relates to catches operative to permit or deny rotary or pivotting motion in a prescribed manner, and has application, particularly though not necessarily exclusively, to raisable and lowerable cot sides.

We are aware of a prior proposal for cot sides consisting of parallel bars end-pivotted between side members themselves pivotted at lower positions so that the side members are vertical, or can be inclined thereto in either direction to reduce the spacing between the bars and thus the effective height of the cot side, according to whether or not plungers engage notches in arcuate ends of the side members, such plungers being operated by levers within a bottom one of the parallel bars.

It is an object of this invention to provide a novel and advantageous catch system compared with that just described.

According to this invention there is provided a catch system having an engager to resist pivotting of an engaged part in one direction but not the other, release of said engager permitting pivotting of said engaged part in said one direction.

A suitable engager comprises a pivotable pawl biassed towards engagement of the engaged part.

Preferably, the engaged part is pivotted to a carrier for the engager, which carrier may further carry a connection for attachment to apparatus relative to which the engaged part is to be movable. -One suitable connection comprises a cam-action clamp. Alternatively, the connection may be a screw member through the carrier, rotation of which member clamps the carrier to or releases the carrier from the apparatus. Of course, any other suitable clamp may be provided.

In relation to an assembly, such as that aforementioned for a collapsible cot-side, i.e.

having spaced side or other members to be capable of pivotting on release of catch means, the catches hereof are well-adapted to use in pairs, one to cooperate with one said member in blocking one direction of pivotting and the other associated with a spaced other said member in blocking the other direction of pivotting.

For a cot-side with parallel bars end-pivotted between side members, preferred embodiments of this invention comprise opposite-acting catches associated with the two side members, respectively, such side members being on pivots in corners for engagers of the catches, preferably downwardly movable for release, such carrier aiso bearing clamps for attachment to a bed.

Then, only one of the catches need be operated, and locally thereof, depending on which direction of pivotting is desired or possible.

One embodiment of the invention will now be described specifically, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a diagrammatic side view of a collapsible cot-side; Figure 2 is an end view along arrow A of Figure 1; and Figure 3 is an exploded view of a right-hand catch.

In the drawings, a cot-side comprises two spaced parallel side-members 10, 12 pivotally carrying ends of three spaced parallel bars 14, 1 6, 1 8 via end pivots shown by dashed and doubledashed references. In fact, three different types of end connections are shown, via cranked forks 20 at 14', 14", via simple pivot studs 22 at 1 6', 1 6", and via cranked plates 24 at 18', 1 8". This arrangement is found to be particularly useful for hospital beds.

The side members 10, 12 are themselves pivotted near their lower ends at 26, 28 to combine clamp/catch devices 30, 32 having a carrier part of generally U-configuration to embrace ends of the side members. To one side, opposite to the attachment of bars 1 6, 1 8, the devices 30, 32 are shown with channel extensions 34, 36.

The devices 30, 32 will be described further in relation to Figure 3 and the right-hand device 32.

In Figure 3, even the channel section carrier 38 is shown exploded as though fabricated, say by welding, two components parts 38A, 38B, though it could be bent up from a single plate. Also, the pivot reference 28 is applied specifically to a pin passing through registering holes 40, 42, 44 in the carrier limbs and the side member 12, respectively. Extending beyond the pivot 28, the end of the side member 12 carries a tooth 46 as what we have previously referred to as the engaged part. The engager for the tooth 46 comprises an arm 48 pivotted at 50 by a pin through holes 52, 54, 56 and stepped at 58 to make a stop for the tooth 46 and prevent counterclockwise pivotting of the side member 1 2 unless the arm 48 is moved downwards.

The arm 48 is biassed upwards into stopping engagement with the tooth 46 by a suitable bias, see spring 58 acting between locating notch 60 in the arm 48 and the base 62 of the carrier (38B).

With the carrier 38A, 38B fixed relative to the side member 12, the latter can pivot clockwise, but not anticlockwise unless the arm 48 is depressed.

The arrangement of essentially similar parts of the device 36 is such that only clockwise pivotting of side member 10 is prevented by the equivalent to arm 48 unless the latter is depressed. In terms of a cot-side, as shown, whichever of the arms 48 is pressed down determines whether the cot side will collapse by pivotting to the left or to the right, but oniy one arm 48 need be pressed down for the desired direction of pivotting, and the other direction of pivotting remains blocked.

The devices 30, 32 are shown with cam-type clamps via (see Figure 3) a pivot rod 64, actually screw-threaded for hole 66 in the carrier limb 38A to resist coming loose, carrying fixedly an eccentric cylindrical block 68, a handle 70, and a securing lock-nut 72. The eccentric block 68 has a wear resistant sleeve 74 and is drilled to take a fixing pin 76 for the handle 70 via hole 78.

Such a cam clamp is well suited to affixment of a cot side to a horizontal rail or bar of a hospital bed. Other types of clamp could, of course, be used.

Claims (12)

1. A catch system suitable for a cot side comprising an engager to resist pivotting of an engaged part in one direction but not the other, release of the engager permitting pivotting of the engaged part in said one direction.

2. A catch system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the engager comprises a pivotable pawl biassed towards engagement of the engaged part.

3. A catch system as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the engaged part is pivotted to a carrier for the engager.

4. A catch system as claimed in claim 3 wherein the carrier has a connection for attachment thereof to apparatus relative to which the engaged part to be movable.

5. A catch system as claimed in claim 4 wherein the connection comprises a cam-action clamp.

6. A catch system as claimed in claim 5 wherein the connection comprises a screw member through the carrier rotatable to clamp or release the carrier to or from respectively the apparatus.

7. A collapsible cot-side including at least one catch system as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 6.

8. A collapsible cot-side as claimed in claim 7 having a pair of spaced side or other members each pivotable on release of a said catch, one of said catches cooperating with one said member in blocking one direction of pivotting and the other associated with another said member in blocking the other direction of pivotting.

9. A collapsible cot-side as claimed in claim 7 or claim 8 comprising parallel bars end-pivotted between two said side members and opposite acting said catches associated with the two side members, the side members being on pivots in corners for engagers of the catches.

10. A collapsible cot-side as claimed in claim 9 wherein the engagers are downwardly movable for release.

11. A catch system substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

12. A collapsible cot-side substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and -as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.