US2632898A - Invalid bed with fluid operated sections - Google Patents

Description

vMan-ch 31, 1953 N. H. PARDOE INVALID BED WITH FLUID OPERATED SECTIONS 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. a, 1956 1) Norman H. Far doe ATTORNEYS.

March 31, 1953 N. H. PARDOE INVALID BED WITH FLUID OPERATED SECTIONS 's Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Aug. 8, 1950 INVENTOR. Norman. 1-1.? 5.1T dc: E1

ATTORNEYS.

raised.

Patented Mar. 31, 1953 IUNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE INVALID BED WITH FLUID OPERATED SECTIONS Norman H. Pardoe, Lusby, Md., assignor to Albert J. MacDonald, Malden, Mass.

Substituted for abandoned application Serial No.

498,105, August 10, 1943. This application August 8, 1950, Serial No. 17 8,223

justmentof the sections to any number of temporarily fixed positions, and auxiliary means for preventing changes of the adjustment by the invalid Thus, a nurse or attendant may make a suitable adjustment .of the sections and then secureithe adjustment against change thereof by theinvalid. I

Still .another'important object is to provide a hydraulically-operated, adjustable head and/or foot section invalid bed wherein the adjustment may be made'without jars or jerks on the part of the section elevating and lowering means.

Yet another object is to provide a hydraulically-operated, adjustable head and/or foot section invalid bed, the, operating means for the sections being compact and within easy reach without stooping.

Another object is to provide manipulating means for an adjustable head and/or foot section invalid bed, which means may be readily attached to either side of a bed.

Still another important object is to provide an invalid bed, wherein a doubly adjustable foot section is provided, since the foot section comprises two portions, pivoted together, so that there may be an angular adjustment of the two portions as well as an angular adjustment of the entire foot section with reference to any other section, or so that the foot section may be raised and the two portions thereof be in substantially the same plane.

Q Other objects and advantages of this invention will be apparent during the course of the following detailed description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, and in which drawings- Figure 1 is a side elevation of the novel bed with the head and foot sections lowered.

Figure-2 is a fragmentary top plan of the same, with operating mechanism partly bracket-supported thereby.

Figure 3 is a view, somewhat similar to Figure 1, but with portions of the operating means in vertical section, and the head and foot sections Figure 4 is a fragmentary portion of the novel bed, with the two portions of the foot section in fsustantially the same plane.

- Figure I5 is a fragmentary portion of the bed, and with the two portions of the foot section in a position different from those of Figures 1 to 4 inclusive.

Figure 6 is a horizontal section substantially;

on the line 6-6 of Figure 3. b

Figure 7 is a vertical section on substantially the line 1-1 of Figure 3.

Figure 8 is a vertical section thru a bracket adapted to be attached to the bed and the oper- Figure 10 is a fragmentary elevation, with two: portions in section, of a supporting band for part of the operating mechanism.

1 Figure 11 is a pivotal connection between cylinders of the operating mechanism and the bedframe, also employed in the novel bed.

Figure 12 is a section thru a portion of a pump cylinder, and side elevations of check valves employed in the pump with their housings in section.

Figure 13 is a vertical section of a cylinder ernployed in the operating mechanism of the novel;

bed assembly.

- In the drawings, wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown a preferred embodiment of the invention and wherein similar reference characters designate corresponding parts thruout the several views, the letter A may designate the novel bed as a whole, the letter B the bed frame; C a mattress supporting means; D means for adjusting the mattress supporting means; and E means for rendering the means D inoperative.

The bed frame B may include a conventional head board It], foot board II, a pair of side rails I2 connecting the head and foot boards I0 and II, and there may be provided preferably two pairs of horizontally-disposed stubs or members I3 and I4 extending inwardly from the side rails [2 at spaced apart intervals between the head and foot boards Ill and II, the stubs I3 facing each other and the stubs [4 also facing each other.

A mattress supporting means C is provided and preferably comprises a fixed section l5, a first movable or pivoted section It and a second movable or pivoted section II, spaced inwardly of the gertical planes of the side rails I2, as in Figure The fixed section I5 may be supported in any approved way to the side rails I2, as by brackets I8 and the section I5 includes side bars or members I9 having tongues 20 at their ends. Suitable supporting wires ZI may extend from one bar I9 to the opposite bar I9. The fixed section I5 disposed intermediate the head and foot boards 10 and II and, in the example shown, is substantially midway these boards.

At the head board end of the means. C is. the first movable section Hi. It is provided with side bars or members 22, which may be similar to the bars I9 and an end bar or member 23 joining the side bars 22 at the head board end of the section l6. Preferably, a rigid stub or member 24 extends inwardl fromeachv of; the side bars 22 intermediate the ends of the. side bars. At their free ends, the side bars 22 are slotted, as at 25 to accommodate. the. tongues 20, so that suitable pivot pins may connect the sections and I6. Supporting wires 26 may extend from one side bar 22 to the other and be disposed above the rigid stubs 24. Pivoted as shown andv described, the first movable section may assume various inclined planes. If desired, a pair of bumpers 21 may extend outwardly and downwardly from the side bars 22 to the, side rails l2.

The second movable section. I! is disposed at thefootboard end of the means C and is, preferably, in two portions 28 and 29, these portionsbeing pivoted together, at. the ends of their respective side bars or members 30v and SI, in the. tongue, slot and pivot pin manner of pivotallyconnecting the first movable section IE to the fixed section l5, and the portion 28, being nearest the fixed section I5 is pivotally connected thereto in the same tongue, slot and pivot pin manner. The side bars 3| of the portion 29 are joined together by an end bar 32. Depending from the. side bar 3| may be a pair of conventional rollers 54 contacting the uppermost faces of the side rails l2. Supporting wires 35- may extend from one side bar 30 to the other and from one side bar- 31 to the other as well as from one side bar '30 tothe other side bar 3! as in- Figure 2, where it will also be noticed that, in places, the various supporting wires 21, 26 and 35 overlap. Depending from each of the side bars 36 is a pair of spaced-apart perforated ears 36; and: from each of the side bars 3|, a pair of spacedapart perforated earsBl, these pairs of ears-being nearest the pivotal connection oftheportions 28 and 29, all for a purpose later to be described.

' Means D foradjustingthe mattress supporting means C so that the movable sections Hi and IT, as well as the portions 28 and 29 may be moved to assume various inclined positions as well as to lay flat, includes, preferably, a pair of cylinders' 40, for the movable section i6; pivotally connected to the bed frame B at adjacent the side rails [2, as by hangers 4| pivotally carried by the stubs l3. Normally, these cylinders are inclined from the vertical, with their lower ends nearest the head board l0. Each cylinder 46 is provided with a piston 42 and a piston rod 43 extending from a piston 42, upwardly thru a cylinder 40' to the rigid stub. 24', where it is preferably pivotally connected thereto as, for example, as shown in Figure 9, where a conventional split coupling is shown, of two portions 44 and 45 each having a semi-circular depression 46, adapted to loosely embrace the bar 24, secured together as by bolts 41 and nuts 48.

Suitable supported from the bed frame 13 is a plate 54'. The support for this plate 54 may be a removable clamp portion and associated bracket portion 55, shown particularly in Figure 8-, where a split clamp portion 56 embrace a side rail 12' and the bracket portion 51 extends upwardly as at 58 and outwardly as at 59 and is attached to the underside of'the plate 54 as by screws 60 as in Figures 8 and 2. Since there are similar arcuate rows of screw threaded sockets 6| adjacent each side edge of the, plate. 54, the support for the plate 54 may be attached thereto at either side, whereby the plate may be positioned at either side of the bed.

This plate 54 is preferably flat and horizontally disposed and provided with a perforation 62, shown in Figure 3, and four screw threaded perforations 63, as the example in Figure 7, for a purpose to be described. It will be noted in Figure 2 that the plate 54 is wholly outside the vertical planes of the bed frame B and means C. While its main function is to support portions of the means D to be described, it may be employed as a table top tofadvantage. Extending upwardly from the plate 54 is, a pivot means, 64 for apump handle to be subsequently described.

Secured to its in any approved, way, as by the screw t5,v and depending from the. bottom of the. plate. 54 is a. tank or reservoir 66, for fluid 61, disposed intermediate the ends of the plate, From, this reservoir extends a. pipe 58 leac'lingv to the bottom portion of a pump cylinder or housing 69 with a suitable check valve. 10 adapted to admit fluid 61 to the pump housing 69 from the tank 66 but prevent. its return thereto thru the pipe 68. The. pump mechanism may include. a pump piston H, and a pumpv rod 12 secured thereto at one end and with its other end ex-. tending upwardly thru the perforation 62 in the plate 54, for reciprocation, therethrough.

A suitable, preferably removable, pump handle 13 is provided, pivoted at one end to. the pivot; means 64, extending thru an eye 14. in the upper end of the. rod 12 and disposed, normally substantially horizontally and projecting toward the head of the bed, so as to be within reach, of an invalid or other person in the bed. A.

The pivoted end of the pump handle '13 may be inwardly curved as at 15, and provided with a spring-y metal snap 16 secured to'the end of the curve, providing, in effect, a snap hook extending thru an eye 11 in the means 64, so that the handle may be slid toward the foot of the. bed and readily removed, whereupon it would be very difiicult to operate the pump.

Pivotally secured to each pair of dependingears 36 of the side bars 30, is a cylinder 18, shown particularly in Figure 13, having a piston 19 and piston rod extending through the cylinder 18 and pivotally connected at its free end to and between one pair of the ears 3'! of the side bars 3|. So disposed, the two cylinders 13 lie mainly underneath portions of the side bars 30 and 3! and are adapted to operate to provide the adjustments shown in Figures 4 and 5, as wellas many other adjustments, of the portions 2-8 and 29, when the movable section I! is raised with the rollers 34 out of contact with the side rails l2. At the base of each cylinder 78 is a conventional nipple 8| leading to the chamber 82 within the cylinder;

From the bottom of the pump housing 69- extends a suitable perforation surrounded; by a pipe coupling for a conduit section 83- which may extend under the tank 66 and then upwardly to a valve block to be described. A suitable check valve 84 maybe provided at the pump. end of the conduit section 83 to prevent return flow of fluid to the pump, as shown in Figure 12.

The valve block 85 shown particularly in Figures 6- and- 7, may be made up of two sections, an upper section 86- and lower section 8], together having suitable spaced-apart recesses for five tions may-be joined together by suitable screws 88 and secured to the side of the tank as by an encircling clamp ring 99, extending around the tank 96 and one end of the valve block 81, having a pair of outwardly extending perforated ears 89,as in Figures Sand through which extend a bolt 99 having a nut'9I for tightening and loosening the clamp ring 99, as is well known. A suitable gasket may be disposed between the valve block 85 and tank 66, in order to excludefluid from leaking out.

More specifically, there is provided in the block sections 86 and 81 a horizontally-disposed valve recess and valve 92 which controls the passage of fluid 61 from the pump to valves 93, 94 and 95. There is a suitable horizontally-disposed recess and a three-way valve 99 therein to control the passage of'fiuid 61 from the valve 92 to the cylinders 49, a suitable horizontally-disposed recess and a three-way valve 94 to control passage of fluid61 from the valve 92 to the cylinders59, and a horizontally-disposed recess and a threeway valve 95 to control the passage of fluid 61 fromthe valve 92 to the cylinders 18.

From an end of the conduit section 93 which end is coupled to the bottom of the valve block 85 in any approved way, extends a conduit section 96 to one side of the valve 92; from a position 45 from where the conduit section 96 opens into thevalve 92, extends a conduit section 91 tonne side of the valve 93, from substantially 45 around'the valve 93 from this conduit section 91 extends a conduit section 98 to the exterior of the valve block and to a suitable nipple 99 secured to the block. From a position substantially 150 around the valve 92 from the conduit section 96 is a conduit section I99 leading to one side of the valve 94; from a position substantially 90 around the valve '94 from the conduit section I99 is a conduit section I9I leading to the exterior valve block and terminatin in a nipple I92; and from a positionsubstantially 210 around valve 92 from the conduit section 96 is a conduit section I99 leading to one side of the valve 95. It will be noted in Figure 6 that there is also an arcuate opening I94 in thevalve 92 of somewhat greater than 90.

Extending from a position around the valve 95 1 from a location about 90 from the conduit I93 is an L-shaped conduit I94 leading to the bottom of the valve block 85 and to a conventional nipple I94 extending from the bottom.

Extending from the nipple 99 is a conduit section195 provided with two branches I96 and I91 to each of the cylinders 49, from the nipple I92 extends a conduit section I98 having two branches I99 and H9 to cylinders 59 and from the nipple I94'e'x'tends a conduit section III having two branches [I2 and H3 leading to the cylinders 18. From the arrangement described and illustrated in Figures 2 and 3, it isapparent that fluid 61 may be controlled to flow to and from either'the cylinders 59 to elevate or lower the movable section I1, to the cylinders 49 to elevate or lower the movable section I6, to the cylinders 19 to adjust them as desired or may flow to elevate and lower both sections I6 and. I1 as well as hold the portions 28 and 29 of the section I1 rigid, all at the same time. Of. course, with a proper valve manipulation, the cylinders 18.may be operated inde-' pendently of the other cylinders. Preferably suitablevalve stems for control of the valves 92, 93, :94 and 95 extend upwardly thru the valve block and'plate 54, and terminate in handles 5, H6, H1 and H8. These handles or the upper face of the plate 54 may contain suitable indicia for manipulation of the valves. In order to relieve the system of an excessive fluid pressure, if

such excessive pressure might develop a suitable by-pass is provided, which may comprise an L- shaped conduit I29 extending from intermediate the ends of the conduit section 96 to the interior of the tank 66. Interposed in this conduit I29 is a suitable pressure valve, shown as a spring-urged ball valve I2 I.

In order to prevent lowering of the movable sections I6 and I1 even when the valve handles I15, I I6 and H1 are manipulated (of course raising of the sections I6 and I1 is prevented by removal of the handle 13) a valve assembly is provided, with its stem and handle, remote from the head of the bed and beneath the plate 54, substantially out of reach of the occupant of the bed.l

one side of the valve I25 extends a conduit sec-.

tion I21 to the side of the block adjoining the tank 66 where a perforation in the gasket between the block and tank and a perforation in the tank wall provides a passageway for fluid back to the tank. Substantially 45 around the valve I25 from this conduit section I21 is a conduit section I28 to the valve 93,-aligning at the point it reaches the velve 93, with the conduit section 98, substantially around the valve I 25 from the conduit section I28 is a conduit section I29 to the valve 94, aligning at the point it reaches the valve 94, with the conduit section IIII, and substantially 90 from the conduit sections I21 and I29 is a conduit section I39 to the valve 95, aligning at the point it reaches the valve with the conduit section I94.

From Figure 7 will be seen that an eight turn of valve I25 will close off all conduit sections I28, I29 and I39, while the position of the valve I25- in Figure 7 and positions of valves 93, 94 and 95 as in Figure 6 will permit fluid to slowly drain back into the tank due to the weight of the occupant upon the elevated movable section I6 and/or I1. Of course, some steady pressure of any kind upon the sections I6 and I! will cause back-flow of fluid, but such back-flow can be prevented by manipulation of valve I 25, as ex-' plained. Of course, manual adjustment of the degree of angularity of the portions 28 and 29 may be effected when valve I25 is in the position shown in Figure 7.

When the movable section I1 rises it will form various inverted Vs in cross section, as shown in; Figures 3 and 5 so that an occupant of the bed A; may bend his legs.

Since there is no ratchet nor wholly manual operation of raising and lowering the movable sections, but a steady even movement, freeof'jars or jerks, there is no abrupt movement imparted to the bed occupants body.

With the pump handle 13 within easy reach of the bed occupant, he may raise the sections as desired, and both manipulation of the handle, as well as the consequent bending of the body, pro-; vides slow, even movements to the body, if such exercise is desirable, since the occupant may alternately raise and lower the movable sections Omthe: other" hand, byremoval. of; the pump. handle 13: and; proper manipulation of the valve 1.2.5,. the movable sections may be-fixed into position against change by the.- bed occupant, for they valve handle. [26 of the valve 125 is both belowthe plate M and faces: away from the occupant, being: concealed. by the intervening pump 6 9 tank, Eli and. valve block 85,, as. Well as by the plate.- 54.,

- While. the degree of angularity of the portions 28 and .29 may be varied... it is. possible to make av hydraulic adjustment as shown in Figure 4,, which could not be readily efiected without the use of. the: cylinders 18.

' Various. changes in the shape, size and arrangement of. parts may be made, without departing. from. the, spirit. of. the. invention. or the scope of. the. claims.

.- I. claim :1

- 1. In. aninvalid bed, a bed frame including-a head board, a foot board and side rails: a. mattressrsupporting means, including a fixed section. carried by said rails and disposed. intermediate the. head and foot boards, a. first movable; section extending from said head board to an end. of said fixed section andpivoted at, said fixed section, and a second movable section extending.

from the. opposite end of said fixed section to said foot. board and pivoted atsaid fixed section; opcrating means for swinging said movable sections into various planes above the. horizontal planes. of'said'rails, including a substantially horizontaldisposedi plate supported by oneof' said side rails inaposition-outwardly of the vertical planes of said frame, a fluid, a reservoir for said fluid, carried by said plate, a pump for said fluid, op-- erati-vely connected with said reservoir and carried by-said plate, apump'handle pivoted at oneend to said plate, operatively connected with said pump, substantially paralleling said rails and extending toward said head board, a cylinder carried by said frame adjacent said first movable section, a cylinder carried by said frame adjacent said second movable section, a piston and a piston rod for each cylinder with theireeend of one rod operatively connected withsaid first movablesection, and the free end of the other rod operative- 1y connected with saidsecond movable section, a conduit from said pump to adjacent the bases of said cylinders and a conduit opening into said first'conduit and extending to said reservoir,

means to'direct fluid from said pump selectively to eitherorboth of. said cylinders, and releasable means to prevent return of fluid to said reservoirfrom said, cylinders, said means being interposed at the juncture of said conduits and disposed below said plate and at a location remote from the free, end ofsaid pump handle.

21 In an invalid bed, a bed frame including a head board, a foot. board and side rails," a mattress supporting' means, including a fixed section carried by said rails and disposed intermediate the head and foot boards, a first movable section extending from said head board to an endof said; fixed section and pivoted, at, said fixed section, and; a. second movable section extending from the. Opposite end of 'saidfixed section to said foot board and pivoted. at. said fixed, section; operating meansior swinging said movablesections into. various. planes, above thehorizontal planes oi said. side rails, including a. substantially horizontall'y-disposed plate-supported by one of said siderails. in a position outwardly of thevertical planes of. said frame, av fluid, a reservoir for said fluid, carried by,- said plate a pump for said, fluid, operatively connected with aid reservoirandcarried by said; plate, a pump handle. pivotediat. one end to said plate, operatively connected with said pump, substantially paralleling said rails and extending toward said head board, a. cylinder carried by said frame adjacent said first movable section, a cylinder carried by said frame. adjacent. said; second movable section, a. piston and a. piston rod for eachcylinder withthe. free. end of onerod operatively connected with said first movable section, and the free end of the other rod operatively connected with said. second movable section, a conduit from said pump to adjacent, the bases of said cylinders and a conduit. opening into said. first conduit and extending to said reservoir; valve means to direct fluid from said pump to either or both of said cylinders; and releasable means to preventreturn; of fluidv to said reservoir from. said cylinders.v said last means being-inter-- posed at. the. juncture of said conduits and dis-- posed at a location remote from the. free end of said pump handle.

3., In an invalid bed, a bed. frame including a headboard, a foot board and side rails; a mat-- tress-supporting means, including a fixed section carried by said rails and disposed intermediate. the head and foot. boards, a first movable section extending from said head boardto an end of said fixed section and pivoted to said fixed. section,.and a. second movable section extending from the opposite end of; said fixed section to said foot board. and pivoted at, said fixed section; operating means for swinging said, movable sections into various planesv above the horizontal planes of said rails, including a substantially horizontally disposed plate supported by one of said rails in a. position, outwardly of the vertical planes. of said, frame, a fluid, a. reservoir for said fluid, carried by said plate, a, pump for said fluid, operatively connected with said reservoir and carried by said plate, a pump handle. pivoted to said plate, op.- eratively connected with said pump, extending, toward said head board, a cylinder pivotally carried by said frame adjacent said. first movable section, a. cylinder pivotally carried by said frame adjacent said second movable. section, a, piston. and a piston rod for each cylinder with the free end of one rod operatively connected with said first movable section, and the free end of. the other rod operatively connected with said. second movable section, a conduit. from. said pumpto adjacent the bases. of said cylinders, a. conduit. opening into said first. conduit. and. extending to. said reservoir, valve means. to direct fluid from. said pump selectively to either or both of said cylinders, and releasable, means to prevent return of said fluid to said reservoir from said cylinders. and render said operatingmeans inoperative, said. last means being interposed at the juncture of said conduits.

H. PARDOE:

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

UNITED. STATES PATENTS. Number

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