Beds – Invalid bed or surgical support
Reexamination Certificate
1999-12-21
2002-04-23
Browne, Lynne H. (Department: 3628)
Beds
Invalid bed or surgical support
C005S425000, C005S426000, C005S430000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06374437
ABSTRACT:
The present invention relates to a bed, in particular to a medical or care bed, which is provided with safety side elements for defining the lying surface laterally.
A bed of the above type is known form DE 44 00 802 A1. This known bed is provided with a movable lower frame on which an upper frame is arranged. The upper frame comprises a bed frame formed by a head element, a foot element and two side elements. Disposed in the frame is a preferably adjustable mattress supporting device on which a mattress rests that defines the lying surface. Both side elements of the bed frame are mounted with grid-like safety side elements. Each of the safety side elements has a longitudinal bar extending in parallel to the relevant side element and above this side element, the bar being connected to the bed frame side elements through a plurality of mutually parallel connecting bars. All connections between the connecting bars, on the one hand, and the bed frame side element, as well as the longitudinal bar, on the other hand, are articulated and have pivot axles extending across the longitudinal extension of the bed. Thus, it is possible to lift and thereby pivot the safety side element into an upright position in which it projects upward beyond the lying surface, and to pivot it into a lowered position im which the longitudinal bar rests on the side element of the bed frame and is thus disposed below the lying surface so that a patient can readily get out of the bed.
The known safety side element structure has generally proven successful. However, its structure is rather complicated.
Further, medical beds are known from prior art wherein the safety side elements are disposed, according to the above structure, on the outside of the bed frame or the lying surface, respectively, the side elements of the bed frame or the lying surface, respectively, and the longitudinal bar being arranged on opposite sides of the connecting bars. Thus, it is possible to also pivot the safety side element downward to below the lying surface and, possibly, to below the bed frame.
From DE-U-17 18 671, a bed is known that is provided with lateral plates pivotally arranged below the lying surface and adapted to be folded up for use as a shield or screen. When those screen or shield plates are not needed, they are pushed underneath the lying surface from both sides and are stored there. The position of the plates of the known bed is more or less stable only when the plates are pushed in or folded up. As a consequence, the usefulness of the plates is limited to serving as a shield or a screen.
From DE-U-73 24 686, a children's bed is known where the side elements are provided at the bed frame adjustable in height. Finally, U.S. Pat. No. 5,381,571 describe a bed wherein a head-end safety side element and a foot-end safety side element are provided on each side of the lying surface. The gap between these two safety side elements can be closed with a third safety side element articulated to one of the two other safety side elements.
It is the object of the invention to provide a bed, in particular a medical or care bed, equipped with a safety side element of simpler structure and providing a safe support, which, in its function as a side element, is particularly suited for use in the care and the nursing of people lying in the bed.
To solve this object, the invention provides a bed, in particular a medical or care bed, comprising:
a lower frame having at least one leg or support element for support on a ground,
an upper frame connected with the lower frame and having a head element and a foot element, as well as at least one connecting element connecting the same,
a lying surface having two longitudinal edges extending between the head element and the foot element, and
at least one safety side element supported in particular at the upper frame.
In the present bed, it is provided
that the at least one safety side element is slidable, beneath the lying surface, in a pull-out plane, which is in particular substantially parallel to the lying surface, between an insert position, in which it is substantially flush with one of the longitudinal edges or offset inward therefrom, and a maximum pull-out position in which it protrudes outward beyond one of the longitudinal edges,
that the at least one safety side element (preferably automatically) remains extending substantially in the pull-out plane in any intermediate position between (preferably including) the insert position and the maximum pull-out position, and
that the at least one safety side element, in its maximum pull-out position, can be pivoted about a pivot axis substantially parallel to the longitudinal edges of the lying surface into an upright position in which the safety side element extends upward beyond the lying surface, a locking device fixing the at least one safety side element in the upright position against unintentional movement.
In the present bed, the safety side element, when not needed to laterally limit the lying surface, may be moved into a pull-out plane underneath the lying surface. Within this pull-out plane, the safety side element may be pulled out sideward from underneath the bed or it may be pushed sideward underneath the lying surface of the bed. This pull-out movement is limited by a maximum pull-out position. In this maximum pull-out position, the safety side element may be pivoted about a pivot axis extending substantially parallel to the lying surface, so as to be moved into its upright position. The pivot axis is disposed in the immediate vicinity of the lying surface so that the safety side element extends vertically upward when in the upright position close to the longitudinal edge of the lying surface. In the upright position, the safety side element is locked to the upper frame by an activatable and deactivatable locking device and, thus, is secured against unintentional movements.
The invention provides a structurally simple and still stable structure of a safety side element of a bed. The safety side element is extremely simple and reliable to operate. A particular advantage lies with the compact arrangement of the safety side element underneath the lying surface or underneath the upper frame of the bed considering the cleaning thereof and other manipulations, e.g., in caring for a patient. The area beneath the lying surface of the bed is freely accessible and is not obstructed by safety side elements. This allows to travel underneath the bed form the longitudinal sides, e.g., with a lift, a wheelchair, and the like, to transport a patient, this possibility of traveling underneath the bed also being given in the lowest height position of the bed (should it be provided with height adjustment means, e.g.).
The range of application of the safety side element is even enlarged by the fact that, in any of its pull-out positions, the safety side element is supported on the upper frame in a manner automatically secured against folding down or any other pivoting and/or tilting movements. This means that the safety side element is supported on the upper frame in the manner of a drawer or a pull-out tray. Pulling out the safety side element, the nursing staff can provide an additional depositing surface at the bed. This is again advantageous for the purpose of therapy or other nursing operations regarding the patient. Preferably, the pull-out plane extends substantially parallel to the lying surface.
In an advantageous development of the invention, the safety side element is locked automatically when moved into the upright position. This automatic locking may, for example, be effected by a pawl or a similar movable locking element engaging the safety side element.
An alternative to the previously described design of the locking device provides that it is activated automatically due to the dead weight of the safety side element. In this case, the safety side element, when fully pivoted upward, moves slightly downward due to its dead weight to insert the safety side element into locking blocking elements to secure it against unintentiona
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