1994-06-15
1995-05-30
Trettel, Michael F.
Beds
Adjustable height
5611, 52151, 5312, A47C 1902
Patent
active
054189870
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to a bed apparatus capable of changing its height.
BACKGROUND ART
The height of a bed apparatus is normally predetermined. That is, the height of the bed apparatus is set to a predetermined height which allows convenient use for a user having an average physical construction.
For example, a user lies or sits on such a bed apparatus every day. The user repeatedly gets on/off the bed apparatus every time he lies or sits on the bed apparatus.
Various users such as tall, short, young, old, and healthy persons and a patient use such bed apparatuses.
Of these users, for example, a short person who tries to sit on a bed apparatus whose mattress surface is set high, finds it difficult to do so.
It is, similarly, too difficult for an old person or patient to get on/off a bed apparatus whose mattress surface is set high. The optimal height of a bed apparatus varies depending on users. Strong demand has arisen for developing a bed apparatus capable of changing the height depending on the need of a user.
To solve this problem, a hospital bed apparatus used in a hospital is available. In a height-adjustable hospital bed apparatus, a complicated link mechanism mounted on the lower surface of a base is actuated by a power source to vertically move the base.
A conventional bed apparatus capable of changing its height by means of a power source has a very complicated structure. For this reason, this bed apparatus is too expensive.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide a simple, inexpensive bed apparatus capable of facilitating height adjustment.
According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a bed apparatus capable of changing the support height of a base having an upper surface on which a mattress is placed, comprising a support link having two end portions, one end portion being pivotally coupled to the base, a reception link having a storage portion surrounded by side walls along a longitudinal direction, the storage portion pivotally receiving the other end portion of the support link, and the reception link having two end portions, one end portion of said reception link being pivotally coupled to the base at a position spaced apart from the one end portion of the support link by a predetermined distance, a guide portion having a plurality of engaging portions on at least one side wall of the reception link from one longitudinal end to the other longitudinal end, an engaging pin at the other end portion of the support link and slidably inserted in the guide portion, and a slider which is slidable relative to the reception link when a larger force than a weight of the slider acts on the storage portion of the reception link, the slider being slid upon engagement with the engaging pin, the slider inhibiting engagement of the engaging pin with the engaging portions when the engaging pin is slid from one end to the other end of the guide portion, and the slider allowing engagement of the engaging pin with an engaging portion when the engaging pin is slid from the other end to the one end of the guide portion.
With the above structure, when the engaging pin supports the base in a state wherein the engaging pin is located at the other end, i.e., the lower end portion of the guide portion, and the reception link is pivoted to stand up by its own weight, the engaging pin tends to slide from the other end to one end of the guide portion together with the slider. The base is moved downward at an appropriate slide position to bring the reception link into contact with the ground. The reception link is then pivoted in a direction opposite to the pivot direction of its own weight. The engaging pin engages with one of the engaging portions of the guide portion at an appropriate position, thereby preventing pivotal movement of the reception link. Therefore, the base is supported at the current pivot angle of the reception link.
When the base is kept lifted and the base is moved downward to bring the reception link into cont
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patent: 3003159 (1961-10-01), Hebert et al.
patent: 4087872 (1978-05-01), Smirle
patent: 4224704 (1980-09-01), Nowell
patent: 4942633 (1990-07-01), Thomas et al.
France Bed Co. Ltd.
Trettel Michael F.
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