US3050744A - Bed construction - Google Patents

Description

5 Sheets-Sheet 1 'H|ll|I.

BED CONSTRUCTION Aug. 28, 1962 Filed June 16, 1959 ,MFIWIIIIIIIIN I IJrI II n II IIIIIHIIIIII I L 1 w wf Aug. 2s, 1962 Filed June 16, 1959 BED CONSTRUCTION 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 to-A559' Il 66 77uv 86 l 703' 26- 26 709 59 "772 705/J 30 i 74M L 703 V92 Aug. 28, 1962 s. N. MANN ErAL BED CONSTRUCTION 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed June 16, 1959 ent Free

3,059,744 BED CNSTEUN Stuart N. Mann, Derby, and Arthur Boyd Doty, Buialo,

NX., assignors to Hard Manufacturing Company, Buffalo, N.Y.

Filed .lune 16, 1959, Ser. No. 820,637 Claims. (Cl. 5-63) This invention relates to beds of the type which may be adjusted to various heights above the door. Beds of this type are particularly desirable for use in hospitals since they may be lowered to a position in which the bed frame would be approximately at the height of a bed in a home, or to an elevation convenient for examination or treatment of a patient by doctors or nurses. It is also desirable to have beds of this kind constructed so that they may be raised and lowered by power or manually.

Gne of the objects of this invention is to provide a bed of this type with improved simplied construction which will provide the maximum comfort for a patier and which may be raised and lowered without shock, noise or vibration.

Another object is to provide beds of this kind with improved counter-balancing springs to compensate at least in part for the weight of the bed. A further object is to provide a bed of this type which may be raised and lowered manually or by power.

It is also an object of this invention to provide a mechanism arranged ina bed and which is readily accessible for inspection, adjustments or repair. Another object is to provide an improved gear box or housing containing a part of the drive by means of which the bed is raised and lowered.

In the accompanying drawings:

FIG. l is a side elevation of a bed provided with raising and lowering mechanism embodying this invention.

FIG. 2 is an end elevation of a bed on an enlarged scale with a panel removed to show the raising and lowering mechanism.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary sectional plan view thereof on lines 3-3, FiG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a sectional elevation thereof on line 4-4, FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view thereof on line 5-5, FIG. 2.

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view thereof on line 6 6, FIG. 3.

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary sectional elevation on line 7-7, FIG. 4.

FIGS. 8 and 9 are fragmentary elevations with certain parts removed of the improved mechanism embodying this invention showing the positions of the parts near opposite portions of their paths of movement.

The bed may be of any usual orsuitable construction, that shown by way of example including end frame members 8 connected by side rails or bars 9 on which a mattress-supporting frame or spring of any desired type may be mounted.

The end frame members S may be of any desired type, and in the particular construction shown by way of example, each has the usual upper and lower transverse members 11 and 12, the opposite ends of which are connected to upper leg parts 14. The legs of the bed each comprise two parts 14 and 15 slidably arranged relative to each other, those shown being telescopically arranged one within the other, the lower parts 15 in the construction shown resting on the door and the parts 14 together with the transverse members secured thereto being adjustable vertically relatively to the leg parts 15.

It will be obvious from the foregoing description that by raising and lowering the upper leg members or parts i4 relative to the parts 15, the bed will be raised or lowered.

The raising and lowering of the end frames relative 5 to the leg parts 15 is preferably accomplished by similar mechanisms located in each end member and consequently the mechanism of only one end member will be described. This mechanism includes a pair of levers which lie within the end members and which are pivoted intermediate of their ends on the bed frame. These levers have their outer ends pivotally connected to the upper ends of the lower legs 15 within the other leg members or parts 14. For this purpose the upper ends of the legs 14 have slots or recesses 22 formed in the inner walls or surfaces thereof through which the outer ends of the levers extend during the up and down movement of these leg parts 14 relatively to the endsof the levers. The pivot connections between the levers and the leg members 15 may be made in any suitable or desired manner, for example, as shown in FIG. 6, 8 and 9 in which the outer ends of the levers extend Vthrough the slots 22 in the upper leg members 14 and have pivot pins 2 extending through upwardly extending parts 25 of the lower leg members i5. Wheels or rollers 26 are pivoted to rotate about the pivot pins 24 and to extend into close proximity to the opposite walls of the upper leg members 14 to facilitate vertical movement of the outer ends of the levers and to guide theseends of the levers in their movement and to guide the said leg members in their relative movements.

The inner ends of the levers are pivoted at 23 to nuts 30 which have threaded engagement with upright screw shafts 3l. These nuts have outwardly extending flat arms or webs, a pair of these webs 32 being provided as shown in FlG. 3 at each side of each nut. The inner ends of the levers extend between these pairs of webs and are pivoted thereto by means of the pivot pins 28.

Since the distance between the nut 30 and the ends of the levers varies depending upon the angular positions of the levers with reference to the screw 3l, means are provided for compensating for this variation in the lengths of the lever. In the construction shown for this purpose each lever is made in two parts, an inner part 35 being connected with the pivot pin 28 and the nut 30 and the other or outer part 36 of the lever being connected with the pivot pin 24 and the lower leg member, as has been described. These two parts of each lever are slidably arranged relatively to each other, and in the construction shown for this purpose the lever part 36 is formed of two sides 37 which are arranged at opposite sides of the lever part 35, and the lever part 35 may move lengthwise within the space between the two lever sides 37. In order to reduce the friction Ibetween the two parts of the lever, the part 36 is providedwith a plurality of wheels or disks 49 arranged between the two sides 37 of this lever part and mounted to rotate on pivots or bolts 41 which also serve to connect the sides 37 of this lever part. The outer ends of the two sides of the lever part 36 are preferably bent into contact to extend through the slot in the upper leg part 14 as shown at 39. Any other construction for providing a slidalble connection between the two lever parts may be provided.

Each lever is pivoted intermediate of its ends to a fixed motion, free Yfrom jerking or uneven motion which` would be annoying to a patient occupying the bed.

As a result of this construction, it will be obvious that Y as ythe nut 30 is moved up andjdown by rotation of the screw 31, each lever will be 'swung about its pivot 46 to move the bed end up and down with relation tothe lower leg and during this swinging the two lever parts 3S and 36 will slide relatively to each other.

i In order to counteract to a certain extent the yweight ofthe bed,.I have provided a pair of springs 50 and 51 cooperating with each lever. The upper spring 50 is connected at one end Ythereof -to an upwardly extending yarm or bracket 52 secured to the lever part 36' and at its opposite end to one arm of the lbell crank lever 53 pivoted at 54 on the lever pa-rt 36. The otherv or lower spring 51 is pivoted at its lower end to the transverse frame member 12 and the upper end of this spring is connected tov a link 56 pivoted at 57 to `the `other arm of the bell crank i lever.53. By means of these two springs and their con The swinging of the bell crank about its pivot is lim-V ited by a projection 53' which contacts lthe portion 39 of the leverY part 36, which prevents the bell crank lever from moving into dead center relation to the spring 50.

By means of the arrangement of the springs 50 and 51 and bell crank lever 53, it willY be obvious that the spring 51 will exert a downward pull on the outer end of the two-piece lever at all times, thus exerting an upward force on the bed. When the outer end of this lever is in its lofwest position so that the lower spring 51 would normally be reduced in length, the upper spring 50 will pull the bell crank into the position shown in FIG.,8, thustending to materially lengthen the spring 51 and enableit to Yexert downward pressure on the outer end of the lever Y to a'much greater extent than would be possible if the strip or intermediate transverse frame member 61 con- 45 nected Vat itsl opposite ends to the side rails or bars 9. The motor 58.may be connected with the shaft 60 to rotate the same in either direction in any suitable or usual manner, the motor preferably having a gear reduction mechanism 62 mounted adjacent to one end thereof and which connects with the longitudinal shaft'60. Y

Each end'fofV the shaft 60 has Ian extension 73' which extends into va gear box 63 and is connected by means of a pair of bevel gears 64 and 65 with an upright shaft 66, the upper end of which is suitably connected with the screw shaft 31 inany suitable or desired manner. For example, the shaft '66 extends upwardly through an upright sleeve 67 havinga disk or'plate 68 covering the upper endthereofand radial Vbearings 701are provided at thev upper Vand lower ends ofthe sleeve 67. A thrust bearing 71 lis provided which Yrests on Ythe disk orgplate 68 and supports the lowerend of thescrew shaft 131. The screw shaft is of larger diameter than the upright shaft 66 andfconsequently theV part'of the screw shaft which'V extendsl outwardly beyond the upright shaft rests'upon the thrust bearing. The lowerV end of'the screw shaft has a ilat sided extension which extendsinto a Vslot in the upper ably housed within tubular housing members or shells,V

Y each including an upright tubular'part 77 and a hor-izontally extending lower tubular part 78, both'of these parts Vbeing preferably integral with each other. The hon'zon- Ytally extending part 78 has'a pairV of radialV bearings 80 and Y driven projections or beads 82 whichcooperate with parts end of the upright shaft 66, thus forming a driving connec- Ition between these two shafts and also making it readily possible to disconnect the two shafts.V A similar slotted connection is provided between the shaft 60land its ex, tensions 73, one of which isA shown at the lower Vend of FIG. 4.

The various parts of the drive connections between the longitudinal shaft'60 and fthe `serewshafts 31 are preferof the radial bearings and 81v to secure them inY place. An end cap 85 is provided to exclude dust and foreign matter from this bearing housing. Y

The upwardly extendingrtubular part of this4 bearing housing preferably also has inwardly extending projections 86 which extend into recesses of the tube or sleeve 67 to hold the same in place on the bearing housing,

The tubular housing for the bearings and bevel gears. is suspended from a Vsleeve or stud'90 which is suitably secured to the traansverse frame member 12 in any desired manner, for example, by turning or Hanging over portions 91 of this sleeve or collar against the 4interior of the frame member 12 -which,'if desired, may be provided with reinforcing channel or insert 92, FIGS. 4 and 7. VrI 'he vstud. or sleeve 901is provided with an annular recess or'rgroove, and the upwardlyV extending tubular housing part 77.isv

provided with apertures facing the recess Vso that `keys Y94` may extend through these holesinto the recessjin the' sleeve or studV 90. The keys are'suitably held against turning and in turn hold the tubular housing against turning.

secured by means of cap screwsV 96 to the frame member 12. This construction also forms a secure Vsupport for theV drive mechanism contained in this tubular housing, and facilitates removal of this part of the'mechanism by removing the keys 94, whereupon the tubular housing may be moved downwardly out Yof' engagement with studsV for inspection and repairs. Similarly thek construction described greatly facilitates the assembly of 'the drive mechanism on a bed. The detachable connections between the upright shaft 67 and screw shaft 31 and Ybetween A 'Y the extension 73 thereofV the main drive shaft 60 and facilitate this removal.

As before stated, the main longitudinal shaft 60 and the screw shafts in the bed ends may be rotated manually if desired, in which case a sprocket chain v100 is'provided the upper, transverse frame member 11. This bracket, as shown in FIG. 5, has a bearing sleeve 106 secured thereto in such a manner that the bracket and the panel 103 support this sleeve to form a bearing for a crank shaft 107 to which the sprocket gear 102'is secured. 'Ihe crank arm 59 is also secured to this shaft 107 and is provided at the outer `end thereof with a handle 10`9"for turning the upper sprocket wheel .102 and actuating' the chain to rotate -theshaft '60 `throughthe medium ofthe; lower sprocket wheel 101. A guard 112 may be arranged j, Y about the sprocket chain and gears and is suitablyr secured to panel 103 at the lower bed end.

Y It will -be understood, ofcourse, that either the motor Y drive for the shaft 60 or thehand-operated drive' may be omitted in case it is not desired to. provide both of these parts onV a bed. The crank 59 ispreferably removable when the Ibed is to be operated by motor, v.but may be Y readily inserted in placein case of power failure. f When' the mechanism'is to 'be actuated only byA hand, the motor 58 is omitted. When the bed is` to be operated only by power, the lower sprocket wheel 101 is removed or omitted from the shaft extension 73y and the other parts-,ofY

In the particular construction shown forrthisj purpose, the keys are provided with offset extensions 951 spears/i friction is present when the mechanism is actuated and there is very little tendency of the mechanism to bind. The springs have the advantage of greatly facilitating the raising ofthe bed by requiring less torque for this purpose. Also the arrangement of the springs and the bell crank levers to which they are attached cause the springs to exert the greatest force when the mechanical advantage of leverage is the least.

It will be understood that various changes in the details, materials and arrangements of parts, which have been herein described and illustrated in order to explain the nature of the invention, may be made by those skilled in the art, within the principle and scope of the invention, as expressed in the appended claims.

We claim:

1. In a vertically adjustable bed comprising a bed frame including bed ends having legs each of which comprises two connected parts slidable vertically relatively to each other, one part of each leg resting on the floor and the other part being secured to a bed end, that improvement which includes a pair of levers pivoted to each other on each end frame in spaced relation to said legs, and eX- tending from the middle of the bed end in opposite directions to said legs, each lever comprising two parts slidably connected with each other to vary the length of the lever and held in alinement with each other, one end of the lever being connected with the leg part resting on the oor, means for raising and lowering the other end of said lever, and a pivoted link for each lever, said link having a pivotal connection with the bed end and a pivotal connection With its lever.

2. A bed end for an adjustable bed including a pair of legs formed in two telescopically arranged parts, one of which is formed to stand on the oor and the other of which is secured to said bed end, a pair of levers pivoted' intermediate of their ends on said bed end and each comprising two parts slidably connected with each other, Y

parts standing on the floor being arranged Within the other leg parts, antifriction rollers pivoted on the upper end of said leg part which stands on the oor in its movement within said other leg part and having a rolling contact with said other leg part, and a pivot member which connects said leg part which stands on the floor with said lever and on which said rollers are pivotally mounted to guide said lever in its movement. Y

3. In a vertically adjustable =bed comprising a bed frame including bed ends having legs each comprising two connected parts slidable vertically relatively to each other part being secured to a bed end, that improvement which includes a pair of levers pivotally mounted on each bed end and each having an end thereof connected with said first leg part, means for moving the other ends of said levers to swing about their pivotal connections for raising and lowering said lbed, and spring means connecting said bed end with the end of the lever adjacent to the iirst mentioned leg part, said spring means including a spring secured at one end to said lever andextending substantially parallel to said lever, a bell crank lever pivoted on said tirst mentioned lever and having said spring connected to an arm thereof, andanother spring connected with the other arm of said bell crank lever and with said bed end.

4. A bed construction according to claim 3, in which said lever comprises two parts slidable relatively to each other, one of said parts being connected with said iirst mentioned leg part, said rst mentioned spring and said `bell crank lever being mounted on said irst mentioned lever part. v

5. In a vertically adjustable bed comprising a bed frame including bed ends having legs each of which comprises two connected parts slidable vertically'relatively to each other, one part of each leg resting on the oor and the other part being secured to a bed end, that improvement which includes a pair of levers pivoted on each end frame in spaced relation to said legs and extending from the middle of the bed and in opposite directions to said legs,

each lever comprising two parts slidably connected with each other to vary the length of the lever and held in alinement with each other, one end of the lever being connected wtih the leg part resting on the floor, means for raising and lowering the other end of said lever, one of the parts of said lever having two sides between which the other lever part slides, and rollers pivoted between the sides and engaging the upper and lower edges of the other lever part.

References Cited in the lile of this patent UNlTED STATES PATENTS 974,495 Jones et al Nov. 1, 1910 1,096,316 Noble May 12, 1914 1,594,835 HOE et al. Aug. 3, 1926 2,179,171 Boho Nov. 7, 1939 2,526,466 Friesen Oct. 17, 1950 2,651,785 Berner Sept. 15, 1953 2,681,454 Tallman lune 22, 1954 2,714,922 McKibban et al Aug. 9, 1955 2,827,641 Reichert et al Mar. 25, 1958 2,870,460 Sanford Jan. 27, 1959 2,892,486 Herring June 30, 1959

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