US2500743A

US2500743A - Invalid's bed

Info

Publication number: US2500743A
Application number: US615787A
Authority: US
Inventors: Marvel D Beem; Allan J Taylor
Original assignee: BEEM; BEEM FOUNDATION
Current assignee: BEEM; BEEM FOUNDATION
Priority date: 1945-09-12
Filing date: 1945-09-12
Publication date: 1950-03-14
Anticipated expiration: 1967-03-14

Description

March 14, 195@ M. D. BEEM ET AL. 2,500,743

INVALIDS BED Filed Sept. 12, 1945 3 Sheets-Sheet l 4 INVENTORS MAQVZZ Q 555M A/v AMA/V J TAD L042,

March 114, 1950 M. D. BEEM ET AL 5 9 INVALIDS BED Filed Sept. 12, 1945 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 I WW Imm

INVENTORS 4/42/4 9355M A/Yfl By AMA/VJ 720 102 Patented Mar. 14, 1950 UNITED smras T E NT OF F 1 CE INVALIDS BED 'Applicationseptember 12, 1945, Serial No. 6153787 13 Claims.

This. invention relates to inv'alid: bedsof the type having a fiushable toilet incorporated therein; eliminating thexnecessity for'the use of-"a bed pan. The invent-ion is directed particularlyto the problem of uncovering anopeni'ngin the'bod, to which a toilet bowl is presented from below- The general object of theinvention is to provide a bed wherein the cover for-the toilet opening will be'automatically moved-out of the way when the bowl is elevated to-the' opening.

A specific object' of the invention is to provide an arrangement wherein-- the elevating movement of'the toilet-bowlwill'move the cover to an open position through mechanicallinkage adapted to be engaged by thebOWl' or'a' member associated "therewith, and to :transmit'movement from the bowl to'the cover.

Another object of the invention is to provide-a bed wherein the toilet maybe swung horizontally from beneath the bed-in order to permit of its being used by an ambulatory patient. This necessitates theme of linkage which-is not actually attached to the toilet bowl. The bowl must be capable of swinging away 'fr'om the" linkage in order to reach the horizontally-projected position. Consequently, another of the objects of the inventionis to providea cover elevating mechanismwhich is arranged to receive bowl *movement I from the toilet bowl andyet is not directly-connected thereto.

Another object of the invention is to provide a normally concealed receptacle for toilet tissueand other similar'utilities; A further object'is to provide such a receptacle which'w-ill bemoved to a position where the patientmayhave'read'y access to it upon'usingthet'oilet. 'With these general objects in mind, a further obiect of'the-invention is to provide-a receptacle fo 'toilet'tissue' and the like which is incorporated'directly beneath the cover for thetoilet opening and Which-is adapted to be moved toa position for convenient'use as the result of moving the cover away from the opening.

Another object of the invention is" to provide 'a bed having articulated partsthat' are movable to any of'a number ofnositions (ofva'rie'd degree of elevation) wherein they cooperate to forma reclining seat for supporting a -patient comfortably'for use of'the' toilet; "Some'patients can be brought to a position of maximumnpr ig'htness. Others, because oftheii condition, can lie-elevatcover :raising; mechanismr which, .is adaptedii to iii 2 operateequally as well in-any of the several positions to which thethigh or seat portion ofthese articulated parts can be raised.

Another object is to provide a bed having articulatedparts including'a back rest portion'adapted to be raised to asem'i-upright position andhaving a hinged panel adjacent'a toilet opening, which panel is adapted'to beretracted downwardly and rearwardly as the back rest is elevated, in order to more fully accommodate the moving of the upper portion of the toilet upwardly into the opening.

Otherobjects' of the inventionywill appear in the ensuing specification whenconsidered'in-connection with the-appended drawing; wherein:

Fig. 1 is a plan view ofan invalids bed embodying the invention:

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the bed;

Fig. 3 is a cross sectional view of theseat'raising mechanism, taken on the line 33 of Fig. 1 and showing the n'ie'chanisrn in the closed position in full lines and in theopen position in'dotited lines;

Fig. 4 is a lon itudinalsectional view taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3.

As anexample of one form in which the invention' may be embodied, I have shown in the drawings an invalids bed including a head '3, a foot It, longitudinal rails' [I connected to the headz'Q and foot ill by angle brackets l2, and a'pair of top portions l3 and M'which collectively constitute the top of the bed upon which a patient is supported.

The top portion l3ira'lso provides a seat for supporting a patient for'use of the toilet mechanism which includes a bowl [5 that is adapted to be elevated from an inoperative position below the bed to a position in which it is presented to an opening It in the top portion l3. This top portion I3 comnrisesa back rest H andthe thigh section l8 hinged" to each other and to brackets 59' which are attached to the fixed frame rails I I, and a leg'rest 213' which hinged to the thigh section l8 at2l. The back-and leg rests H and 20 are adapted to support mattress members 2 2 and 23'. The opening it, which is-in the thigh section 18, is normally covered by-a cover 24' to which is secured a' mattress section 2'5.

The removable top section It comprises a back rest 2.6 and a thigh: section Zlhinged together and to brackets 29' which are'secured' to a sub frame 28, together with a leg rest 3!]: which is hinged at 3;li totheth'ighi section .21. The sub frame 2 8: has rollers; 32-; which. travel in tracks 33 thatarersecured upon-thozraile H; in positions, ex-

3 tending transversely of the bed. Thus the removable top portion l 4 may be moved horizontally from the bed onto an ambulatory cart having suitable tracks positioned to register with the tracks 33.

The bowl I5 has a trap portion 34 which is hinged at 8| between the spaced arms of a swinging bracket 35. The other end of the bracket 35 is hinged, at 36, to a vertical post 31 which is pivoted in bearings 38 and 39 to permit the entire toilet assembly to swing laterally so as to project the bowl l5 horizontally from beneath the bed. A screwjack unit 40 has one end attached to the post 31 and its other end attached to the bracket 35 or bowl I5. The screwjack unit 40 includes a reversible electric motor 40', operation of which is effective to raise or lower the bowl l5.

The bed is provided with side panels 4|, 42 and 43, the panel 43 being hinged at 44 to the head of the bed so that it may swing outwardly to permit the horizontal projection of the bowl I5 from beneath the bed.

The head rests I1 and 25 are adapted to be raised by a series of arms 45 mounted on a shaft 46 which is journalled in the rails H. The knee areas of the top portions I3 and 14 (the areas where the leg rests 20 and 35 are hinged to the thigh sections l8 and 2'!) are adapted to be lifted by arms 4'! which are mounted upon a shaft 48 journalled in the rails H. The swinging ends of the arms 45 engage the under sides of the back rests I! and 25, and the swinging ends of the arms 41 engage the under sides of the thigh sections l8 and 21. Levers 49 and 50 are attached to the

shafts

46 and 48 respectively, extend downwardly, and are connected at their lower ends to screwjack units 5| and 52. The screwjack units 5! and 52, like the unit 45, embody reversible motors by means of which they may be operated in either direction. Operation of the unit 5! in one direction will cause the arms 45 to move counterclockwise, raising the back rests I! and 26 to inclined positions such as that shown in Fig. 2. Operation of the screwjack 5! in the opposite direction will permit the back rests I! and 26 to return to horizontal positions. Operation of the screwjack 52 in one direction will swing the arms 4? counterclockwise, raising the knee areas of the top portions l3 and I4 to positions such as those shown in Fig. 2. and operation of the screwjack 52 in the opposite direction will permit the knee areas to return to the horizontal positions.

The toilet bowl I5 is adapted to cooperate with the thigh section IS in any position that may be assumed thereby. For the average patient, the thigh section may be elevated to a position of maximum inclination (approximately the position shown in Fig. 2).

For certain conditions, however, it may be desirable to elevate the thigh section l8 to only a portion of the elevation shown in Fig. 2, or in some cases, it may be advisable to leave the thigh section horizontal and elevate only the back rest l1. Suitable mechanism, such as that shown in the pending application of Allen J. Taylor, Serial No. 607,847, filed July 30, 1945, may be employed for causing the bowl l5 to assume the angular position of the thigh section l8. For the sake of simplicity, such mechanism has been omitted from the present disclosure. A feature of the present invention is the arrangement of the mechanism for elevating the cover 24 so as to adapt itself .to operation in any of the various positions of andownwardly and toward the door panel 43.

4 gularity that may be assumed 'by the thigh section l8.

The trap 34 has an outlet to which is connected one end of a flexible drain tube 53. The other end of the tube 53 is connected to a sewer outlet which is indicated at 54.

The cover 24 is carried by a pair of arms 55 which, in the closed position of the cover, extend The ends of the arms 55 are hinged, at 55, to the lower ends of a pair of brackets 51 which are secured to and depend from the outer side member of the thigh section I8. It will now be apparent that the axis of the hinges 56 will at all times remain parallel to the thigh section [8, that the cover 24 may swing about this axis from the closed position shown in full lines in Fig. 3 to the open position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 3, irrespective of the angularity of the thigh section 18, and that the relationship between the cover 24 and the thigh section I8 in the open position of the cover will be the same in all cases. In the open position, the arms 55 will contact the brackets 5'! to support the weight of the cover 24 and the mattress section 25 which, in that position will hang over the side of the thigh section E8 as indicated in Fig. 3.

Movement is transmitted from the bowl trap 34 to the cover 24 through linkage including an arm 58 which is mounted in a stub shaft 59 journalled in a bracket 60 that is secured at its upper end to the outer longitudinal rail II. Thus the axis of the shaft 59 remains fixed at all times. The swinging end of the arm 58 carries a roller 6| which, in the lowered position of the bowl I5, is spaced slightly above the upper surface of the trap 34 as shown in Fig. 3. As the bowl is elevated, the upper surface of the trap 34 will engage the roller BI and swing the arm 58 upwardly. This upward movement is transmitted from the arm 58 to the cover 24 through a link 52 having a universally pivotal connection at 63 with the arm 58 and having a universally pivotal connection 64 with one of the arms 55.

The upward swinging movement of the arm 58 is resisted by a coil spring 65 one end of which is hooked above the arm 58 and the other end of which is hooked into the bracket 65. The coil spring 65 encircles the stub shaft 59 and urges the arm 58 downwardly.

In the lowered position of the bowl I 5, the arm 58 is suspended out of contact with the upper surface of the trap 34, thus permitting the bowl to be swung horizontally from beneath the bed, without interference from the cover elevating mechanism as the bowl is elevated.

The back rest I! is provided with a panel 10 which is hinged thereto at H. A link 72 is pivoted at 13 to the panel .10 and at 14 to the outer longitudinal rail 1 I, in such a manner as to cause the panel Hi to drop below the plane of the back rest H when the latter is elevated. This is indicated in full lines in Fig. 2 and in broken lines in Fig. 4. When the back rest H is returned to its normal horizontal position, the panel To will be moved back into the plane of the back rest H.

The panel In supports the end of the mattress section 22 which lies adjacent the opening l6, and when the panel is dropped below the plane of the back rest l7, it permits this end portion of the mattress 22 to recede from the opening I6, thereby providing additional space to receive the upper section of the bowll5. I

As the bowl elevated, thetrap 34 will come tinto-tcontact' with the: roller 6i. ""l'lhewcontinued -a1elevation =of the bowlaw'ill cause the ar-m' 58 to .z' swing upwardly,1.the roller t l iol liiig ag-ainst first 4 the upper surface and-then the side: surfaces-hf the trap 34, .until, in the fully raised'. position of thetoilet .bowlythe cover and -the -raisi-ng linkage will have assumed the position-shown in brokenlines in Fig. 3. It may be noted=-=at this point that the movement of the cover"linkage will terminate when' the-roller -ii I has movedto aposition in engagement withthe side iace oi the trap, and that further upward movement ofthe bowlis therefore possible without causing further-movement of the cover 24. This makes it possible to'arrange the mechanism-to move 'the'l 'cover to the'full open position irrespective' iof the height of elevationof the thigh section -18 and the height 'to which the -bowl' i5 is 'raised. The opening" movement isa-ac'complished in an initial stage of bowl elevating movement, -and a;

final stage of bowl elevating movement talees place'after the cover hasbeen iully'opene'd.

As the bowl is lowered 'back to its inoperative position, the springtfiwillact'tomove 'thecover 24 back to'its closed position,-mainta-ining thepi.

roller 6! in engagement withthe trap stand the connecting linkage in a taut condition so that the return movement of the cover may be smooth and continuous.

The cover 24 is-provided with a receptacle-sew.

tion 65 on its under side. The receptacle section 66 is divided into a compartment 6i for-toilet paper 68 and a compartment 69 which-may--be used for holding other-articles of convenience to a bed-ridden patient.

The-receptacle portion'tt'of theco'ver-is brought to an operative position wherein its oontents- "are accessible to the patient, 1 when the -feover--=24 =-is raised to'the'open position. It may be noted-that in this position, approximatelyhalf" ofthecover open positionpfzthe*cover; also serve as an-iarmmh.

rest.

We claimas our invention:

1. In an invalids bed, a toilet seat section occupying an area at one-side of the bedgsa'id sectionv having an opening, a; toilet bowLi-means for elevat ngsaid -bowlfroma lowered, inoperative position to a-position' presentedto saidxopening, a cover hinged upon said toilet-seat section on an axis disposed below said section and at the outer side thereof, and means-actuated byraising of-- said toilet bowl for raisingsaidcover and 'swing- -ing it overthe-sideof the bed to a positiona removed from above said opening.

2. In an invalids bed, a fixed frame, a toilet seat section including a thigh portion and a back rest portion hinged to each other and to said fixed frame, and a leg portion hinged to said thigh portion, said thigh portion being adapted to be elevated to provide a reclining seat, said thigh portion having an opening, a toilet bowl, means for elevating said toilet bowl from a lowered, inoperative position below the bed to an operative position presented to said opening, a cover for said opening, and means actuated by elevating movement of said bowl for raising said rcover' and:moving sit to= a position removedifrom above said opening. 7

3.3Inan invalids' bed a fixed-frame,- a toilet seat'section including a: thigh portion and a back rest portion hinged toeach other and to said fixed "frame; and aleg portion hingedlto said thigh por- I tion, the respective portions-of said seat section -:being adaptedto beelevated to-prov'ide a'reclini-ng seat' arrangement, said thigh portion having an openingpa toilet bowl, means'for elevating said 'toiletbowl from a lowered, inoperative position-below thebdC-to an'operative position 'premsente'd to said opening; a cover hinged to said thigh "portion on -anaxis therebelow and atthe'outer side thereof, and-means actuated by elevating movement of=saidbowl for raising said-cover and 'swinging it'outwardly to aposition beyond the side of the bed.

4. In an invalids bed, a fixed fra-rne,-a toilet seatsectioninclud-ing a backrest portion and a thigh portion hinged toeach other and to- 'sa-id .fixe'd frameand aleg ==portion hinged "to =sa2id thigh portion, said=several portions being adapted 'to'be -raised to'-positions collectively defininga reclining seatarrangement, "said thigh portion having an openingg-a' toilet bowl,-means upon *which said toilet bowl is suspended for-movement from a loweredfinoperative' position toeither a raised position presented to said "opening or a position projected horizontally beyondthe side ofthe'bed for use byan-ambulatory patient, a

cover for said "opening, hinged 'to said thigh 'portion' and means connectedto said cover'and "adapted to'be engagedby said toilet bowl-as the latter moves upwardly andto transmit to'said cover, upward and lateral swinging movement to "-aposition imv'vhichsaid opening is uncoveredjthe "last mentioned means being'supported'outof con- "portion hinged to each other and to said fixed frame, and a leg'portion'hinged to '"said" thigh portion, said; thigh portion having an opening,

a cover hinged upon said" thigh portion and normally' covering said opening, a toilet/bowl, means for elevating'said toilet bowl from a lowered,

inoperative position to a position "presented 1 to uncovered, the "last mentioned means being op- *"erative irrespective of the position of inclination of said thigh section.

6. In an invalids bed, a normal occupany' sectiontand a" toilet seat section including. a back rest, a' thighp'ortion and. a leg portion hinged .to

.each other in the order named, afixed frame to which said back rest and thigh "portion/are .hinged, said thigh portion. having anopening,

.a toilet bowl, means for. .elevatingsaid toilet .bowl

from an inoperative position below the bed to a position presented to said opening, a cover for said opening, hinged to said thigh portion for swinging movement from a normal position covering said opening to a position projected beyond the side of the bed and extending downwardly, and mechanism carried by said cover and thigh section in a position to be engaged by said toilet bowl as the latter is elevated, said mechanism being operated, upon elevation of the bowl, to move said cover from said normal, closed position, to said open position, and being free of en- 7 gagement with the bowl when the latter is in its lowered position.

7. In an invalids bed, a toilet seat section including a thigh portion having an opening and a back rest and a foot rest hinged to respective ends of said thigh portion,'a fixed frame to which said back rest and thigh portion are hinged, a cover supported for upward and lateral swinging movement from a position covering said opening to a position displaced to one side of said opening, a toilet bowl, means for elevating said bowl from a lowered, inoperative position beneath the bed to a position presented to said opening, an arm hinged to said fixed frame, and a push rod universally pivoted to said arm and to said cover and adapted, upon elevation of said bowl, to transmit to said cover movement to said displaced position in which said opening is uncovered.

8. In an invalids bed, a toilet seat section ineluding a thigh portion having an opening and a back rest and a foot rest hinged to respective ends of said thigh portion, a fixed frame to which said back rest and thigh portion are hinged, a cover supported for upward and horizontal swinging movement from a position covering said opening to a position displaced from above said opening, a toilet bowl, means for elevating said bowl from a lowered, inoperative position beneath the bed to a position presented to said opening, means including an arm hinged to said fixed frame, and linked to said cover and adapted, upon elevation of said bowl, to transmit to said ,cover, movement to said displaced position in which said opening is uncovered, and spring means acting between said fixed frame and said arm for moving the arm and said "cover back towards a closed position upon lowering of the bowl to its inoperative position.

9. In an invalids bed, a toilet seat portion including a thigh section having an opening, a leg rest and a back rest hinged to said thigh section at the respective ends thereof, a fixed frame to rhich said thigh section and said back rest are hinged, a toilet, means for elevating said toilet from a lowered, inoperative position Ibelow the bed to a raised position presented to said opening, said back rest including a hinged panel having an edge defining a portion of the margin of i said opening, and means for causing said panel i to shift in a direction to increase the area of said opening when said back rest portion is elevated. 10. An invalids bed as defined in claim 9 wherein said last means comprises a link forming a connection between said hinged panel and said fixed frame.

11. In a bed, a fixed frame, a toilet seat section including a thigh portion and a back rest portion hinged to each other and to said fixed frame and a leg portion hinged to said thigh portion, said thigh portion being adapted to be elevated to provide a reclining seat, said thigh portion having an opening, a toilet bowl, means for elevating said-toilet bowl from a lowered, inoperative position below the bed to an operative position presented to said opening, a cover for said opening, and means actuated by elevating movement of said bowl for moving said cover to a position removed from above said opening.

12. In a bed, a fixed frame, a toilet seat section including a thigh portion and a back rest portion hinged to each other and to said fixed frame and a leg portion hinged to said thigh portion, said thigh portion being adapted to be elevated to provide a reclining seat, said thigh portion having an opening, a toilet bowl, means for guiding said bowl from a lowered, inoperative position below the bed to an operative position presented to said opening, a cover for said opening, means for moving said cover from a position covering said opening to a position removed from above said opening, and common control means for simultaneously efiecting the raising of said bowl and the actuation of said cover moving means to effect movement of said cover to its last mentioned position.

13. In a bed, a fixed frame, a toilet seat section including a back rest and a thigh portion hinged to each other and to said fixed frame and a leg portion hinged to said thigh portion, said thigh portion having an opening, a cover mounted upon said thigh portion for movement from a normal position covering said opening to an inoperative position in which said opening is uncovered, a toilet bowl, means for guiding said toilet ibowl from a lowered, inoperative position to a position presented to said opening, means for moving said cover from said normal position to said inoperative position and back to said normal position, and common control means for simultaneously effecting the raising movement of said bowl and the actuation of said cover moving means to eifect movement of said cover to its inoperative position and for simultaneously effecting the lowering of said bowl back to its inoperative position and releasing said cover moving means to permit said cover to move back to its normal position.

MARVEL D. BEEM. ALLAN J. TAYLOR.

' REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 127,070 Kuhn May 21, 1872 557,614 Schmitt Apr. 7, 1896 659,308 Lemmons et al Oct. 9, 1900 1,096,981 Witt May 19, 1914 1,257,072 Fazakerley Feb. 10, 1918 1,525,605 Dry Feb. 10, 1925 2,369,447 Dry Feb. 13, 1945 2,384,325 Marsan Sept. 4, 1945