GB2397569A

GB2397569A - Bed elevator

Info

Publication number: GB2397569A
Application number: GB0300104A
Authority: GB
Inventors: William James Elliott
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2003-01-06
Filing date: 2003-01-06
Publication date: 2004-07-28
Anticipated expiration: 2023-01-06
Also published as: GB0300104D0; GB2397569B

Abstract

A bed elevator for elevating one end of a bed, comprises a rectangular frame which is made of four members 10, 12, each member 10, 12 having a horizontal part 16 inwardly directed and an upright part 18 extending proud there from. The frame has a supporting leg 20 at each of two corners at a first end, each leg 20 being provided with a pivoted foot 22. A brace member 24 extends between the two longitudinal members 12 near to the other end of the frame and support means are connected to the brace member 24, the support means having a lifting facility to raise or lower one end of the frame relative to the first end. The lifting mechanism may be a manually operable scissor jack mechanism comprising two jacks 26 arranged on a common threaded spindle 28. The frame maybe adjusted to allow for different widths and lengths of beds.

Description

BED ELEVATORS

s This invention relates to a bed elevator for use in elevating one end of a bed and is for converting a non-elevating bed into an elevating bed. For health reasons, it is sometimes necessary to sleep in an elevated bed. This can be a temporary or a pemmanent requirement and for use, for example, by people who have difficulty in breathing during colds or influenza or suffering from chest complaints such as asthma. The bed hereinafter referred to is one having, for example, a bed base supported by feet with or without castors or simply by castors, and a mattress thereover. The bed may be of any width, i.e. single, three-quarter, .... Àe..

double or king size. .. . . Accordingly, this invention is a bed elevator comprising a rectangular frame formed having two end members spaced apart by two longitudinal members defining four corners, À... . Is the members being of similar angle section, each member having horizontal part inwardly directed and an upright part extending proud therefrom, the frame having a supporting leg at A-: or near to each of two comers at a first end, each leg being provided with a pivoted foot, a brace member extending between the two longitudinal members near to the other end of the frame, and support means being connected to said brace member and having a lifting facility to raise or lower the other end of the frame relative to the first end.

Preferably, the lifting facility is a manually-operable scissor jack mechanism.

Altematively, the lifting facility is an electrically or pneumatically operated scissor jack mechanism or a ram and cylinder arrangement.

Preferably also, the support means includes a plate member to which the lifting facility 2s is secured, the plate member being floor or ground engagable.

Preferably also, the end members and brace members and/or the longitudinal members are capable of length-adjustment to enable the frame to be used to support any one of a selection of bed sizes, both in a width measurement and a length measurement.

Preferably further, the frame may be provided in separate components with each end of an end member and brace members or a longitudinal member having a gusset plate to assist in securing the members together to form a frame with the use of bolt fasteners.

A bed elevator is positioned under a conventional bed to convert it into an elevating bed. There are two arrangements, either the feet of the bed (with any castors fitted being removed) are positioned at or near the corners of the frame resting on the horizontal parts lo and prevented from slipping therefrom by the upright parts, or the feet of a bed are removed and the base is set into the frame with the marginal edges of the bed base resting on the À À - horizontal parts and again held from slipping by the upright parts. The selected arrangement..

is determined, for example, by the required height of the bed suitable for the patient to get into or out of. ....:.

An embodiment of the present invention will now be described, by way of example, .... Àe

with reference to the accompanying drawing which shows a perspective view of a bed. . elevator.

Referring to the drawing, a bed elevator comprises a rectangular frame formed having two end members 10 spaced apart by two longitudinal members 12 defining four comers 14.

The members 10, 12 are of similar angle section. Each member 10, 12 has a horizontal part 16 inwardly directed and an upright part 18 extending proud therefrom. The frame has a supporting leg 20 at or near to each of two comers 14 at a first end. Each leg 20 is provided with a pivoted foot 22. This allows the foot to remain in full contact with the floor or ground when the bed elevator is raised or lowered. A brace member 24 extends between the two longitudinal members 12 nearer to the other end of the frame. Support means are connected to said brace member 24 and have a lifting facility to raise or lower the other end of the frame relative to the first end.

The lifting facility is a manuallyperable scissor jack mechanism comprising two jacks 26 arranged on a common threaded spindle 28, the tops of the jacks 26 being anchored to the brace member 24, and the bottom of the jacks 26 being anchored to a plate member 30 which is floor or ground engagable. The plate member 20 spreads the load of the elevator, the bed and any patient in the bed across its dimensions onto the ground or floor.

In use, a bed elevator is positioned under a conventional bed to convert it into an elevating bed. There are two arrangements, either the feet of the bed (with any castors fitted 0 being removed) are positioned at or near the corners of the frame resting on the horizontal parts 16 and prevented from slipping therefrom by the upright parts 18, or the feet of a bed À are removed and the base is set into the frame with the marginal edges of the bed base À resting on the horizontal parts 16 and again held from slipping by the upright parts. The selected arrangement is determined, for example, by the required height of the bed suitable.

for the patient to get into or out off. . . In a first modification, the lifting facility is an electrically or pneumatically operated. . scissor jack mechanism or a ram and cylinder arrangement.

In a second modification, the end members and brace members and/or the longitudinal members are capable of length-adjustment to enable the frame to be used to support any one of a selection of bed sizes, both in a width measurement and a length measurement. This capability is provided by each end and brace member being in two parts connected by a third part by bolt fasteners, there being a selection of alignable apertures on each part with the third part into which the bolt fasteners can be secured to provide the necessary width to complement the bed. Similarly, the longitudinal members may have a 2s similar capability.

In a third modification, the frame may be provided in separate components with each end of an end member and brace members or a longitudinal member having a gusset plate to assist in securing the members together to form a frame with the use of bolt fasteners Variations and other modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention described above. Àee. À Àe- À. À À - À . À A.. À À.- À À À Àe.e s

Claims

Claims Bed frame elevator A rectangular frame including two pivoted feet

connected to a support member, in which a bed can be set into and elevated about the pivoting feet A mechanical manual lifting device which lifts one end of the bed frame and acts as the support for that end of the frame A frame where the end members can be adjusted to allow different widths of beds :': : . . : i: :: :.. . '' 19