GB2419519A

GB2419519A - Safety barrier for a bed

Info

Publication number: GB2419519A
Application number: GB0402628A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Garry Partington
Original assignee: Vernacare Ltd
Current assignee: Vernacare Ltd
Priority date: 2004-02-07
Filing date: 2004-02-07
Publication date: 2006-05-03
Anticipated expiration: 2024-02-07
Also published as: GB0402628D0; GB2419519B

Abstract

A safety device (10) for a bed (12) has a flexible retaining wall (30) which can be releasably secured between two upstanding posts (20) of the bed frame by means of securing sleeves (34). Each end of the flexible wall is provided with a zip fastener (50). By unzipping the zip fasteners (50), the flexible side wall is supported, which allows access to an occupant of the bed. When the zip fasteners (50) are zipped up, the flexible wall (30) prevents an occupant from inadvertently falling out of the bed. Straps (42) may be used to releasably attach the wall to the bed frame (14).

Description

:: 2419519

DESCRIPTION

SAFETY DEVICE FOR A BED

The present invention relates to safety devices which can be fitted to a bed to prevent an occupant from falling out of the bed, and to a bed fitted with such a safety device.

In hospitals, nursing homes and the like there is often a significant risk that the occupant of a bed will fall out, potentially resulting in serious injuries. There is a particular risk if the occupant is elderly or recovering from the effects of a general anaesthetic.

In such cases a bed with rigid sides which are slidable into a deployed position is often used but this is costly and can also impede access to the occupant of the bed by medical staff Alternatively, rigid metal side walls can temporarily be fixed to a bed but this encounters the same drawbacks.

In accordance with a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a safety device for a bed, comprising a generally planar wall, means for connecting the wall between two spaced-apart portions of a bed and fastener means for releasably connecting a first, flexible portion of the wall with a second portion of the wall along an elongate joint line.

The fastener means of such a safety device can be unfastened to release the flexible portion of the wall which can then be folded out of the way to allow access to an occupant of the bed to which the safety device is fitted.

The second portion of the wall may also be flexible. Preferably, the safety device comprises a plurality of fastener means.

In one embodiment, the planar wall is elongate and the device comprises a fastener means located at or adjacent to an end of the wall. The device may comprise two fastener means, each located at or adjacent to a respective end of the wall.

In another embodiment, the device comprises a fastener means located remote from the end of the wall.

Preferably, the device comprises means for attachment to a bed frame, preferably means for releasable attachment to a bed frame.

The attachment means may comprise a portion which can be wrapped around part of the bed frame and retainer means for retaining the wrapped portion in position around the bed frame.

The securing means may comprise an openable sleeve which can be opened to wrap it around part of the bed frame and having retainer means for retaining the sleeve in a wrapped condition around the bed frame.

The securing means is preferably attached to, or extends from, the planar wall.

Preferably, the fastener means comprises a zip fastener.

Conveniently, the elongate joint line is substantially straight. Moreover, the plane of the planar wall preferably extends generally vertically in use.

Preferably, the planar wall is gas-permeable. Also, preferably substantially the whole of the planar wall is flexible.

The planar wall may conveniently be elongate and in one embodiment is generally rectangular.

The present invention also includes a bed fitted with or comprising a safety device in accordance with the present invention.

By way of example only, specific embodiments of the present invention will now be described, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:Fig. I is a perspective view of a safety device for a bed in accordance with the present invention, the device being fitted on a bed; and Fig. 2 is an enlarged perspective view a variation of the safety device of Fig. Referring firstly to Fig. 1, a safety device 10 is secured to a bed 12 having two parallel side rails 14 and two identical opposed bed heads 16, 18 located one at each end of the side rails 14, each bedhead 16, 18 having two parallel uprights 20 each located at a respective corner of the bed, two parallel horizontal rails 22, 24 each extending between the parallel uprights 20 of the bedhead and a plurality of vertical parallel bars 26 extending between the upper and lower cross members 22, 24 of the bed head.

In essence, the safety device 10 comprises a flexible rectangular sheet 30 formed from nylon-coated polypropylene mesh to which is stitched a flexible reinforced border 32 around the entire periphery made from breathable plastics such breathable polyurethane or polyester.

At each of the longitudinal ends of the border 32 the border is formed into a tubular securing sleeve 34 which can be opened up to wrap it around one of the uprights 20 of the bedhead and secured in position around the bedhead by means of a plurality of press-stud fasteners 36 which releasably interengage the overlapping edges of the sleeve.

Similarly, the lowermost edge of the breathable boarder of the safety device is provided with a series of downwardly-projecting flaps 40a, 40b, 40c which are wrapped underneath a side rail 14 of the bed and are releasably held in position by means of one or more woven fabric straps 42, the ends of which are releasably coimectible by means of springloaded plastic buckles 44.

In order to ensure a firm connection of the safety device to the bed, each of the securing sleeves 34 is provided with a series of further straps 46 whose ends may be releasably connected by means of spring- loaded plastic buckles 48. Two of the straps 46a, 46b are adapted to wrap around the upper and lower ends of the sleeve 34 and the third strap 46c is adapted to wrap around the end of the upper cross bar 22 of the bedhead 96, 98 adjacent the upright 20.

It will also be observed that the safety device is provided with two zip fasteners 50, one located at each end of the device adjacent the securing sleeve and extending generally vertically. In normal use, with the safety device 10 secured to the bed frame, the zip fasteners 50 are in their fastened position as illustrated in Fig. 1. In this condition, the flexible sheet 30 is held firmly in place with the plane of the flexible sheet 30 extending vertically on the side of the bed and thereby prevents an occupant from inadvertently falling out of the bed.

However, if access to the occupant of the bed is required then it is merely necessary to undo the spring-loaded plastic buckle 48 securing the ends of the strap 46a connecting the sleeve 34 and the border 32 at each end of the safety device and to unzip the zip fasteners 50 to their lowermost position. The flexible sheet 30 will then be unsupported by the securing sleeves 34 and the bedheads 16, 18 and can thus be folded out of the way to allow unimpeded access to the occupant of the bed.

When access to occupant is no longer required, the zip fasteners 50 are zipped up to their full height and the two plastic buckles 48 of the straps 46a are snapped shut, which results in the flexible sheet 30 being finnly supported on the bed, in order to prevent the occupant from falling out of the bed.

A variation to the embodiment of Fig. 1 is illustrated in Fig. 2. The embodiment is extremely similar to that of Fig. 1 and for that reason only a portion of the variation has been shown, at a magnified scale. The same features are identified by the same reference numerals in the two figures.

The variation of Fig.2 is identical to that of Fig. 1, with the exception that a third vertical zip fastener 52 is provided approximately mid-way along the side wall.

Unzipping the central zip fastener 52 allows limited access to an occupant of the bed without the necessity for unfastening the top buckles 48 of the straps 46a and each of the zip fasteners 50 at the ends of the flexible side wall and may allow sufficient access to the occupant in certain circumstances.

Fig. 2 also shows one of the vertical end zips 50 in a partially unzipped condition and shows one of the sleeves 34 and the flaps 40a, 4-b, 4-c in an unfastened condition, to illustrate the construction and operation of both embodiments in more detail.

The invention is not restricted to the details of the foregoing embodiments.

In particular, fasteners other a the zip fastener may be used, if desired. For example, zip fasteners may be replaced with hook and loop fastening strips (e.g. Velcro strips) if desired. Similarly, the press studs 36 which releasably hold together the overlapping ends of the securing sleeves 34 may be replaced with other fasteners, such as zip fasteners, hook and loop fasteners, etc. Indeed, the releasable buckles may be replaced with other fasteners, such as hook as loop fasteners (e.g. Velcro fasteners).

Moreover, although the embodiment of the Fig. 2 has been illustrated as having three vertical zip fasteners, it would be possible to have a single zip fastener (or other fasteners as described above) located either at or towards one end of the flexible wall 30 or part way along the flexible wall 30.

Claims

I. A safety device for a bed, comprising a generally planar wall, means for connecting the wall between two spaced-apart portions of a bed and fastener means for releasably connecting a first, flexible portion of the wall with a second portion of the wall along an elongate joint line.
2. A safety device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the second portion of the wall is flexible.
3. A safety device as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, comprising a plurality of said fastener means.
4. A safety device as claimed in any of claims I to 3, wherein the planar wall is elongate and the device comprises a fastener means located at or adjacent to an end of the wall.
5. A safety device as claimed in claim 3, comprising two fastener means, each located at or adjacent to a respective end of the wall.
6. A safety device as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the planar wall is elongate and the device comprises a fastener means located remote from the end of the wall.
7. A safety device as claimed in any of the preceding claims, comprising means for attachment to a bed frame.
8. A safety device as claimed in claim 7, comprising means for releasable attachment to a bed frame.
9. A safety device as claimed in claim 7 or claim 8, wherein the attachment means comprising a portion which can be wrapped around part of the bed frame and retainer means for retaining the wrapped portion in position around the bed frame.
10. A safety device as claimed in claim 9, wherein the securing means comprises a openable sleeve which can be opened to wrap it around part of the bed frame and having retainer means for retaining the sleeve in a wrapped condition around the bed frame.
11. A safety device as claimed in any of claims 7 to 10, wherein the securing means is attached to, or extends from, the planar wall.
12. A safety device as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the fastener means comprises a zip fastener.
13. A safety device as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the elongate joint line is substantially straight.
14. A safety device as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein, in use, the plane of the planar wall extend generally vertically.
15. A safety device as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the planar wall is gas-permeable.
16. A safety device as claimed in claim 15, wherein substantially the whole of the planar wall is flexible.
17. A safety device as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the planar wall is elongate.
18. A safety device as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the planar wall is generally rectangular.
I 9. A safety device for a bed, substantially as herein described with reference to, and as illustrated in, the accompanying drawings.
20. A bed fitted with or comprising a safety device as claimed in any of the preceding claims.