Beds – Invalid bed or surgical support – Sectional user supporting surface
Reexamination Certificate
1998-05-12
2001-01-16
Browne, Lynne H. (Department: 3628)
Beds
Invalid bed or surgical support
Sectional user supporting surface
C005S613000, C005S616000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06173461
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
This invention relates to a support unit. It is in particular concerned with a support unit for an individual suffering from spinal or other incapacitating injuries to enable them to be supported in various attitudes. For such a person there frequently arises a need to provide for parts of the body to be capable of relative changes in position and for changes to occur at frequent intervals. Thus for comfort and for physio-therapeutic benefits there can be advantages in providing for relative difference in alignment between the three main body sections: the head and trunk, the thighs and the legs. In addition alignment changes of the head relative to the trunk and of the feet relative to the legs provide advantages. In a completely reclined posture it is necessary to maintain the three main body sections in line on what amounts to a flat surface (though this need not necessarily be horizontal). As recovery occurs or for nursing requirements there can arise a need to raise, while maintaining full support for, the trunk so as to align it at an angle relative to the thighs and legs. A further need can arise for a patient to sit up so that the trunk and legs are near vertical and the thighs near horizontal. Finally there are benefits to be had from supporting the patient in a vertical or near vertical position.
BACKGROUND ART
European Patent Publication 0 178 951 (Grantham) shows a convertible hospital bed in which an upper bed frame, bearing a mattress, which is movable over a lower bed frame towards the foot of the bed while elevating the trunk of the occupant. In this way the occupant arrives at the foot of the bed in an upright seated position. In this case the bed serves as a stable framework on which the occupant can readily be moved. Grantham acknowledges that the invention is for beds of the ‘hospital’ type ‘being particularly designed for use in hospitals and nursing homes or for residential use with patients who are possibly ambulatory but too weak or incapacitated to get into and out of bed without assistance’. Grantham does not suggest that the bed can usefully be operated by the occupant.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,613,997 (Langdale) discloses a convalescent bed with a base frame and support frame for a mattress pivotally mounted for movement between horizontal and vertical positions. The support frame provides a support portion for the trunk and legs and a hinged portion for the head. The bed is provided with power mechanism to move the support frame as a unit between horizontal and vertical positions. No seating position is provided. As in EPO 0178951 Langdale relies on the structural support provided by a full size bed frame during movement of the support frame. The bed disclosed by Langdale also requires operation by skilled staff.
DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION
According to the present invention there is provided a support unit comprising:
(1) a chassis,
(2) a working carrier for a human body comprising
a first section for the trunk,
a second section for the thighs, and
a third section for the legs;
a waist coupling between the first section and the second section enabling the first and second section to rotate relative to one another about a waist axis;
a knee coupling between the second section and the third section enabling the second section and third section to rotate relative to one another about a knee axis;
the waist axis being parallel to the knee axis and separated substantially by the length of the second section;
the working carrier, at least with the first, second and third sections lying in a substantially common horizontal plane, having overall dimensions substantially greater than the overall dimensions of the chassis;
(3) a frame member slidably retaining the first section and to support the working carrier at least when the working carrier is at or near the horizontal;
(4) a column of variable length extending between the chassis and the frame member to support the frame member and to provide for height adjustment of the frame member;
(5) a link having a first end pivotably attached to the frame member and the other end to the first end pivotably attached to the second section or an extension thereof in the region of the knee axis; the link serving to limit rotation of the second section towards the first at least when the first section is tilted from the horizontal;
(6) a first longitudinal actuator having a first end pivotably attached to the column or an extension thereof and the other end to the first end pivotably attached to the frame member; the first actuator being of variable length between the first end and the other end to the first end to enable the frame member, and so the working carrier, to be rotated relative to the chassis about a horizontal main axis;
(7) a second longitudinal actuator having a first end pivotably attached to the frame member or an extension thereof and the other end to the first end pivotably attached to the first section; the second actuator being of variable length between its first end and its other end to the first to enable the first section to be displaced linearly relative to the working carrier;
(8) control means regulating operation of the column and the alignment means; and
(9) means for energising the column and alignment means.
According to a first preferred version of the present invention the third section is provided with a foot rest.
According to a second preferred version of the present invention or the first preferred version thereof there are provided arm or shoulder supports or rests mounted on the first section.
According to a third preferred version of the present invention or any preceding preferred version thereof including retaining means such as a belt for retaining an occupant relative to the working carrier.
According to a fourth preferred version of the present invention or any preceding preferred version thereof the means for energising is a mains electrical supply, storage battery or a source of compressed fluid.
According to a fifth preferred version of the present invention or any preceding preferred version thereof the chassis is provided with ground engaging means such as wheels or tracks providing for mobility of the unit.
According to a sixth preferred version of the present invention or any preceding preferred version thereof there is provided a stabilising member which can be extended from the chassis or an extension thereof into ground engagement to increase stability of the unit; the stabilising member being retractable into the chassis or the extension thereof to enable the chassis alone to support the remainder of the unit, typically the chassis is provided wherein the stabilising member comprises a longitudinally extendible beam and an associated ground engaging means such as a wheel so that, at least with the three sections substantially horizontally, the extendible beam is automatically or otherwise deployed so that the associated ground engaging means contacts the ground at some distance from the remainder of the chassis to increase stability of the unit.
According to a seventh preferred version of the present invention a support unit according to the fifth preferred version includes at leats one motor adapted for powering by the means for energising some or all of the ground engaging means to provide for propulsion of the support unit.
According to an eighth preferred version of the present invention or any preceding preferred version thereof there is provided an anchoring means, such as a jack, which is automatically or otherwise deployed with the unit in a given configuration to resist displacement of the unit relative to the ground.
According to a ninth preferred version of the present invention or any preceding preferred version thereof the control means includes a control unit providing for the input of signals for controlled operation of the unit whether by manual manipulation, breath control, muscle or nerve sensing or in some other way compatible with the ability of an occupant of the support unit.
According to a tenth preferred vers
Browne Lynne H.
Davis and Bujold
Hewitt James
LandOfFree
Support unit does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Support unit, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Support unit will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2467712