Apparatus and method for closing hospital bed gaps

• US 20030093860A1
• Filed: 08/22/2002
• Published: 05/22/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 08/22/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hill-Rom Services Incorporated (Baxter International Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hill-Rom Services Incorporated (Baxter International Inc.)
• Inventors: Salvantini, Benjamin, Hornbach, David W., Wiggins, Brian T., Hakamiun, Reza, Stacy, Richard B., Branson, Gregory W., Minnelli, Patrick J., Kramer, Kenneth L., Welling, Jeffrey R., Ulrich, David J., Biondo, John P., Bolden, Michael V., Smith, Doug H., Doyle, Kendra K., Gilbert, James E., Robertson, Jackie, Mobley, Donald L., Flessate, Dennis S., Ferdon, Gary W., Fussner, Robert T., Niese, Virgil J., Gosmeyer, Michael J., Koerber, Clement J. Sr.
• Granted Patent: US 7,028,352 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 5/600
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 2200/32 lying
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/05 Parts, details or accessories of beds devices for prevention against falling out A47C21/08, A47D7/00 ; mattresses A47C27/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/0507 Side-rails
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/0509 sliding or pivoting downwards
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/0514 mounted to individual mattress supporting frame sections
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/052 characterised by safety means, e.g. to avoid injuries to patient or caregiver
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/0524 characterised by integrated accessories, e.g. bed control means, nurse call or reading lights
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/0525 Side-bolsters rests specially adapted for beds A61G7/065; non-medical devices for prevention against falling-out A47C21/08
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/053 Aids for getting into, or out of, bed, e.g. steps, chairs, cane-like supports
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/103 Transfer boards
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 9/03 rechargeable by exposure to light
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 21/06 Bases for movable standing lamps; Fixing standards to the bases F21V21/08 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 21/0824 Ground spikes
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 21/30 Pivoted housings or frames
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2131/10 Outdoor lighting
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 20/72 in street lighting
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/31616 Next to polyester [e.g., alkyd]

Abstract

A patient support is provided. The patient support includes a frame, a mattress supported by the frame, and a set of siderails configured to block egress of a patient from the patient support. The siderails are configured to reduce gaps defined between the siderails and the other components of the patient support.

Claims

1. A method of altering a perimeter profile of a siderail including the steps of:

removing a first perimeter cover from a location on a rail member; and

coupling a second perimeter cover to the location of the rail member to alter a perimeter profile of the siderail.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the coupling of the second perimeter cover increases the dimensions of the perimeter profile of the siderail compared to the perimeter profile before the first perimeter cover was removed.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein coupling the second perimeter cover to the rail member decrease a gap defined between the siderail and an adjacent siderail.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein coupling the second perimeter cover to the rail member changes a portion of the perimeter profile from substantially flat before the first perimeter cover was removed to substantially curved.

5. A siderail for use with a patient support comprising:

a rail member;

a first perimeter cover configured to couple to the rail member at a first location to define a first perimeter profile of the siderail; and

a second perimeter cover configured to couple to the rail member at the first location when the first perimeter cover is removed to define a second perimeter profile that is different than the first perimeter profile.

6. The siderail of claim 5, wherein a portion of the first perimeter profile has a substantially flat portion adjacent the first location of the rail member and the second perimeter profile has a substantially curved portion adjacent the first location.

7. The siderail of claim 5, wherein the second perimeter profile has a greater height and length than the first perimeter profile.

8. The siderail of claim 5, wherein the second perimeter profile includes a convex portion.

9. The siderail of claim 8, wherein the second perimeter profile further includes a concave portion.

10. A patient support including

a frame including a pair of posts,

a headboard including a pair of apertures,

an adapter configured to mount to the posts of the frame, the adapter including a pair of post, the apertures of the headboard being sized to fit over the posts of the adapter.

11. The patient support of claim 10, wherein the posts of the adapter are spaced apart by a first distance and the posts of the frame are spaced apart by a second distance that is greater than the first distance.

12. The patient support of claim 10, wherein the posts of the frame and the posts of the adapter extend upwardly.

13. A method of altering a patient support including the steps of:

removing a first headboard from a frame of a patient support;

attaching an adapter to frame of the patient support; and

attaching a second headboard to the adapter.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the adapter includes a body and a plurality of posts coupled to the body, the body includes a plurality of voids defined therein sized and spaced to receive posts of the frame.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the first headboard is of a different width than the second headboard.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the first headboard is substantially wider than the second headboard.

17. A method for altering a patient support includes a deck support, an articulating deck, a first siderail coupled to the articulating deck, and a second siderail, the method comprising the steps of:

uncoupling the first siderail from the articulating deck and

coupling the first siderail to the deck support.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising the steps of

providing a sub-frame, and

coupling the sub-frame to the deck support, wherein the first siderail is coupled to the deck support through the sub-frame.

19. A sub-frame for supporting at least one siderail of a patient support, the patient support including at least one siderail, an articulating deck and a deck support having at least one post, the sub-frame comprising:

a body member;

a first deck support mount including an aperture adapted to receive at least one of the posts of the deck support of the patient support therein,

a second deck support mount adapted to couple to the deck support, the body member extending between the first deck support mount and the second deck support mount, and

a rail mount adapted to support at least one siderail of the patient support.

20. The sub-frame of claim 19, wherein the rail mount includes a pair of spaced-apart rods configured to permit sliding of the siderail thereon.

21. The sub-frame of claim 19, further comprising a lateral member configured to extend laterally from the body member which is extending longitudinally.

22. The sub-frame of claim 21, further comprising another body member, another first deck support mount including an aperture adapted to receive at least one post of the deck support of the patient support therein, a second deck support mount adapted to couple to the deck support, and a rail mount adapted to support at least one siderail of the patient support, wherein the lateral member couples the body members together.

23. A patient support including:

a frame,

a mattress supported by the frame,

a first siderail coupled to the frame and including a first rail member having a first edge that is substantially straight;

a second siderail coupled to the frame and including a second rail member having a second edge that is substantially straight and parallel with the first edge and a third edge that is tangential with the second edge, the third edge being rounded and having a radius of curvature of about 8.5 inches, the first edge and the second and third edges defining a minimum gap therebetween such that the minimum gap remains of a substantially constant width as the mattress is moved from one configuration to another by the frame.

24. A siderail for use with a patient support, the siderail being configured to move between a raised position and a lowered position, the siderail comprising:

a rail member; and

a rail extension coupled to the rail member, the rail extension moves between an extended position relative to the rail member when the siderail is in a raised position and a non-extended position relative to the rail member when the siderail is in a lowered position.

25. The siderail of claim 24, further comprising a linkage, wherein the linkage causes the rail extension to move between the extended and non-extended positions.

26. The siderail of claim 25, wherein the linkage directly contacts the rail extension to cause the rail extension to move between the extended and non-extended positions.

27. The siderail of claim 25, wherein the linkage contacts an actuator that causes the rail extension to move between the extended and retracted positions.

28. The siderail of claim 25, wherein the linkage is a clocking linkage.

29. The siderail of claim 25, wherein the rail extension is pivotably coupled to a lower edge of the rail member.

30. The siderail of claim 29, further comprising a linkage configured to permit raising and lowering of the rail member, wherein the rail extension is positioned above the linkage.

31. The siderail of claim 29, further comprising a linkage configured to permit raising and lowering of the rail member, wherein the rail extension extends below an upper-most portion the linkage.

32. A method of altering patient support gaps including the steps of:

providing a gap within a siderail; and

coupling a transparent plastic sheet to the siderail so as to cover the gap.

33. A patient support comprising:

a frame including a deck support and an articulating deck having a head section,

a mattress supported by the deck,

a siderail supported by the frame; and

a patient assist arm coupled to the head section of the deck between a head end of the head section and the siderail.

34. The patient support of claim 33, wherein the siderail is of a length greater than fifty percent of the overall length of the patient support.

35. A patient support comprising:

a head end siderail having a notch defined in an upper edge; and

a foot end siderail having a notch defined in an upper edge.

36. The patient support of claim 35, wherein the upper endge of the head end siderail includes an S-shaped portion.

37. A patient support comprising:

a frame;

a mattress supported on the frame; and

a head board pivotably coupled to the frame, the head board including longitudinally extending portions positioned to block egress of a patient from longitudinal sides of the mattress.

38. A siderail for use with a patient support comprising:

a rail member defining gaps therein, and

a plurality of bumpers positioned within the gaps to lessen the size of the gaps.

39. The siderail of claim 38, wherein the bumpers are circular.

40. The siderail of claim 38, wherein the bumpers are shaped as half cylinders.

41. The siderail of claim 38, wherein rail member includes a corer and at least one of the bumpers is positioned in the corner.

42. The siderail of claim 38, wherein at least one of the bumpers includes a channel sized to receive a portion of the rail member.

43. The siderail of claim 38, wherein at least one of the bumpers is tubular.

44. A patient support comprising:

a frame;

a mattress supported by the frame;

a siderail coupled to the frame; and

a blocker pivotably coupled to the mattress to block access to a gap defined between the mattress and the siderail.

45. The siderail of claim 44, wherein the blocker includes a strap coupled to the mattress.

46. A patient support comprising:

a frame including a deck support and a deck; and

a mattress having a plurality of magnets coupled thereto, the deck including a plurality of magnet-receiving voids configured to receive the magnets of the mattress therein.

47. The patient support of claim 46, wherein the magnet-receive voids are defined by ferrous metal portions.

48. A patient support comprising:

a deck;

a mattress supported by the deck;

a siderail; and

a rigid flap hingedly coupled to the deck and positioned between the siderail and the mattress.

49. The patient support of claim 48, wherein the flap includes a main flap and an auxiliary flap pivotally coupled to the main flap.

50. The patient support of claim 48, wherein the flap has a raised first position and a lowered second position.

51. The patient support of claim 48, wherein the flap is in a raised position when the siderail is in a raised position and the flap is in a lowered position when the siderail is in a lowered position.

52. A patient support comprising:

a deck;

a mattress supported by the deck;

a siderail coupled to the deck; and

a mattress retainer coupled to the deck laterally between the siderail and the mattress, the mattress retainer being movable between a raised first position and a lowered second position.

53. The patient support of claim 52, wherein the mattress retainer is in the first position when the siderail is in a raised position and the mattress retainer is in the second position when the siderail is in a lowered position.

54. A siderail for use with a patient support comprising:

a rail member configured to block egress of a patient from the patient support, the rail member including an inwardly facing surface and an outwardly facing surface;

a linkage configured to permit raising and lowering of the patient support; and

a horizontal extension coupled to the rail member and extending laterally inwardly away from the inwardly facing surface of the rail member.

55. The siderail of claim 54, wherein the horizontal extension is triangular.

56. The siderail of claim 54, wherein the horizontal extension is pivotably coupled to the rail member.

57. The siderail of claim 56, wherein the horizontal extension is coupled to an upper portion of the rail member.

58. A patient support comprising:

a frame;

a mattress supported by the frame; and

a substantially U-shaped patient assist arm coupled to the frame.

59. The patient support of claim 58, wherein the frame includes a deck support and a deck supporting the mattress and the patient assist arm is pivotally coupled to the deck.

60. The patient support of claim 58, further including a rail member that is removably coupled to the patient assist arm.

61. The patient support of claim 60, wherein the removable rail member provides greater longitudinal coverage against egress of a patient than the patient assist arm.

62. A patient support comprising:

a frame;

a mattress supported by the frame; and

a siderail positioned to block egress from the mattress;

the siderail including a wedge-shaped member, a bracket positioned between the mattress and the frame, a linkage pivotably coupling the wedge-shaped member to the bracket, a hinge pivotably coupling the wedge-shaped member to the bracket, and a lock configured to block movement of the wedge-shaped member relative to the bracket.