GB2310800A

GB2310800A - Bed footboard assemblies

Info

Publication number: GB2310800A
Application number: GB9700462A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Raymond Michael Sargent
Original assignee: EPEC Ltd
Current assignee: EPEC Ltd
Priority date: 1996-03-06
Filing date: 1997-01-10
Publication date: 1997-09-10
Anticipated expiration: 2017-01-10
Also published as: GB9700462D0; GB2310800B

Description

BED FOOTBOARD ASSEMBLIES This invention relates to bed footboard assemblies for persons confined to bed.

It is a common problem that when persons, such as hospital patients, are in bed for any period of time, they will want to assume a position somewhere between laying down and sitting up. Maintaining the desired position is extremely difficult to achieve due to the natural way the body tends to work its way down towards the generally horizontal position. As this occurs, patients will try and reposition themselves toward the upright position using their hands, arms or feet. However, in doing this, they inevitably create sores which in time become extremely uncomfortable.

Some beds, and in particular hospital beds, have some form of structure overhanging the bed whereby patients can manhandle themselves back to the desired upright position, but such structures are fairly expensive. In addition, they invariably can not be easily moved from one bed to another.

Also, if for instance a patient has arm or upper body deficiencies they will be unable to lift their own weight.

The present invention provides a bed footboard assembly whereby patients are able to push themselves into a more upright position on the bed.

According to the present invention, a bed footboard assembly is provided for removable placement on the mattress of a bed, the assembly comprising a footboard structure for resting cross-wise on the upper surface of the mattress, together with support structure, part of which is insertable beneath the mattress, whereby a force applied to the footboard structure by the feet of the occupier of the bed causes the mattress to resist said force.

The footboard assembly is preferably made adjustable in width so as to accommodate mattresses of differing width.

Embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1 is a view in perspective of one embodiment of a bed footboard assembly, Figure 2 is a side view of the assembly in use, Figure 3 is a view in perspective of the assembly disposed on the mattress of a bed, Figure 4 is a front view of a footboard structure according to a second (modified) embodiment, Figure 5 is an end view thereof, Figure 6 is a view in perspective and to an enlarged sale, of an end cap, Figure 7 is a front view of the support structure employed by the second embodiment, and Flgures 8 and 9 are end and plan views, respectively, of the said support structure.

In the Figures, like reference numerals refer to like components and features.

With reference to the figures, a bed footboard assembly 1 is provided, for removable placement on be mattress 2 of a bed 3.

The assembly 1 comprises a footboard structure 4 for resting cross-wise, (as in Figure 3), on the upper surface 5 of the mattress 2, together with support structure 6, parts of which, namely tubular frame parts 7, are insertable beneath the mattress 2.

The footboard structure 4, which is of elongate form, comprises upper and lower tubular frame parts 10. 11 enclosed in padding 12.

The support structure 6 is also of elongate form and comprises a pair of upper, elongate frame parts 13, as well as a pair of lower, laterally-spaced and generally aligned elongate frame parts 7. Only one frame part 7 is shown; the other is hidden behind the footboard structure 4 when reference is made to Figures 1 and 3. The outer ends of the aligned frame parts 7, 13, are connected to substantially U-shaped end frame parts 14, which have inwardly directed extensions 15, 16. These extensions are slidably located, in a telescopic manner, by the bores of the tubular frame parts 10, 11, so as to be connected thereto. The upper and lower frame parts 13, 7, are enclosed in rubber sheathing 17, 18.

The telescopic, interfitting, relationship of the tubular frame parts 10, 11 and interfitting extensions 15, 16, makes the footboard assembly 1 adjustable in width, as indicated by the arrow 19, so as to accommodate bed mattresses of differing widths.

All the frame parts 7, 10, 11, 13, 15, 16 are substantially parallel to each other. Frame part pairs 7 and 13 are spaced apart by a distance corresponding to the approximate thickness of the mattress 2.

The lengths of the extensions 15, 16 take into account the varying widths of bed mattresses, as well as the need to have firm inter-engagement with the tubular frame parts 10, 11.

Clearly, for use with very large width beds, the lengths of the extensions 15, 16 may vary according to requirements.

The footboard assembly 1 is employed by sliding extensions 15, 16 into the tubular frame parts 10, 11 and then placing the footboard structure 4 and its support structure 6 on to the mattress 2, with the frame parts 13 resting on the upper surface 5 of the mattress, and the frame parts 7 below the mattress.

The assembly 1 is positioned cross-wise on the mattress 2, in the most desirable position, with the footboard structure in a substantially upright position, as shown in Figure 2.

In use, the occupier of the bed 3 can push, with his feet, against the footboard structure 4, whereby a force 25 is applied to the structure, causing the mattress 2 to resist the force.

Resistance to force 25 occurs because the force causes the frame parts 13 to extend downwardly into the mattress 2, and the frame parts 7 to extend upwardly into the mattress 2. The downwardly and upwardly acting movements tend to compress the mattress. The result is the generation of a couple 26 whereby the assembly 1 is frictionally locked to the mattress 2.

Thus the occupier of the bed 3 can push himself along the mattress 2, away from the footboard structure 4, so as to place himself in a more desirable position.

The footboard assembly 1 may be provided with a flexible strap 30, (Figure 3), secured to the upper edge of the footboard structure 4, which may be used by the occupier of the bed to haul himself towards the footboard structure, as indicated by the arrow 27.

Alternatively, the strap 30 may be secured to the rear side of the footboard structure 4, so that it extends under the lower edge of the structure 4.

Figures 4 to 9 illustrate a modified bed footboard assembly 101. Figures 4 and 5 show a footboard structure 104 comprising a pair of inter-fitting aluminium extrusions 50, 51, disposed one above the other, and secured together by a back plate 52 held in place by rivets 53. The back plate 52 is also used to secure the end of a flexible strap, not shown, but corresponding to strap 30 of Figure 3. Removable end plates 54 (Figure 6) are used to blank off the ends A and B of the footboard structure 104 except for part-circular bores 55, 56 in the extrusions 50, 51 thereof. The end plates 54 are of channel section. Figure 6 shows the right-hand end plate 54. The bores 55, 56 slidably locate frame parts 115, 116 in telescopic, inter-fitting relationship.

Figures 7, 8 and 9 illustrate a support structure 106. Frame part 107, which is insertable beneath the mattress 2 (Figures 2 and 3) is secured to the lower end of a square section hollow are 60, slidable, in a telescopic manner, within a hollow tube 61 welded, at 62, to the U-shaped frame parts 114. The bars 60 can be releasably secured to the tube 61 by a star-handle locking screw (not shown which engages with the internal screw threads of a boss 64. Telescopic movement of the frame part 107 is indicated by arrow 65. Thus the position of each frame part 107 can be adjusted to accommodate mattresses of different thicknesses.

The cross-wise disposed frame parts 115, 116 have pins 66, 67 secured thereto. When the end plates 54 are in place they form internal stop means so as to prevent the support structures 106 from being pulled out of the footboard structure 104. The pins 66, 67 extend through slots 70, 71 (Figure ) in the bores 55, 56 and are slidable relative thereto. The end plates 54 are removably secured to ends A and B of the footboard structure 104 by screws located by holes 75 (Figure 6).

The rear face of the footboard structure 104 (or 4) may have a laterallyextending strip of VELCRO (not shown) attached thereto, to hold a sheet draped over the front face of the structure, so as to keep the user's feet out of direct contact with the structure.

The footboard structure 104 (or 4) may be used to support a canopy (not shown) over which the bed sheets are draped, so as to keep the sheets out of contact with the bed user's feed and/or legs. This use avoids the expense of providing the bed user with a separate leg-protecting canopy.

Claims

1. A footboard assembly for removable placement on the mattress of a bed, wherein the assembly comprises a footboard structure for resting cross-wise on the upper surface of the mattress, together with support structure, part of which is insertable beneath the mattress, whereby a force applied against the footboard structure by the feet of the occupier of the bed, causes the mattress to resist said force.

2. A footboard assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the footboard structure is adjustable in width, so as to accommodate mattresses of differing widths.

3. A footboard structure as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the footboard support structure comprises upper and lower pairs of laterallyspaced and generally aligned cross-wise frame parts for placement above and below the mattress respectively.

4. A footboard assembly as claimed in claim 3 wherein the cross-wise frame parts for placement below the mattress are adjustably movable to accommodate mattresses of different thicknesses.

5. A footboard assembly as claimed in claim 3 or 4, wherein the crosswise frame parts of each pair are connected to end frame parts.

6. A footboard assembly as claimed in claim 4 or 5, wherein the end frame parts are slidably connectable to the footboard structure.

7. A footboard assembly as claimed in claim 5 or 6, wherein the end frame parts and the footboard structure have a telescopic, interfitting, relationship.

8. A footboard assembly as claimed in claim 7 provided with stop means so as to prevent the end frame parts from being pulled out of the footboard structure.

9. A footboard assembly as claimed in claim 8 wherein the stop means are internal.

10. A footboard assembly as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 9, provided with means whereby the occupier of the bed can pull himself along the mattress and towards the footboard structure.

11. The combination of a footboard assembly as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 10, and a bed sheet supporting canopy whereby the bed sheets are kept out of contact with the bed user's feed and/or legs.

12. A footboard assembly, substantially as hereinbefore described, with reference to Figures 1 to 3 the accompanying drawings.

13. A footboard assembly, substantially as hereinbefore described, with reference to Figures 4 to 9 the accompanying drawings.

Amendments to the claims have been flled as follows 1. A footboard assembly for removable placement on the mattress of a bed, wherein the assembly comprises a footboard structure for resting cross-wise on the upper surface of the mattress, together with support structure, part of which is insertable beneath the mattress, whereby a force applied against the footboard structure by the feet of the occupier of the bed, exerts a pivotal lock on the mattress, which causes the mattress to resist said force.