Advanced articulation system and mattress support for a bed

• US 20060026765A1
• Filed: 07/29/2005
• Published: 02/09/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 07/30/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hill-Rom Services Incorporated (Baxter International Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hill-Rom Services Incorporated (Baxter International Inc.)
• Inventors: Ganance, Francis C., Hornbach, David W., Branson, Gregory W., Niese, Virgil J., King, Rachel H.
• Granted Patent: US 7,325,265 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 5/618
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 2203/74 for anti-shear when adjusting furniture
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/015 divided into different adjustable sections, e.g. for Gatch position
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/018 Control or drive mechanisms
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/053 Aids for getting into, or out of, bed, e.g. steps, chairs, cane-like supports

Abstract

A bed including an articulation system is provided. The bed includes a frame and an actuator coupled to the frame. The bed further includes an arcuate member and a plurality of deck sections. The arcuate member is coupled to the actuator and one of the plurality of deck sections. The actuator operates to move the arcuate member to rotate the thigh section around a natural hip pivot point of a person positioned on the bed.

Claims

1. A patient support, comprising:

a frame,

an actuator coupled to the frame,

an arcuate member including a first end and a second end, and

a plurality of deck sections including a movable thigh section,

the first end of the arcuate member being coupled to the actuator,

the second end of the arcuate member being coupled to the thigh section, and

the actuator being operable to move the arcuate member to rotate the thigh section around a natural hip pivot point of a person positioned on the patient support.

2. The patient support of claim 1, wherein the arcuate member includes a top portion and a bottom portion, and the bottom portion includes a v-shaped edge.

3. The patient support of claim 1, wherein the arcuate member includes a top portion and a bottom portion, and the bottom portion includes a flat edge.

4. The patient support of claim 1, wherein the arcuate member includes a top portion, a bottom portion, and an arcuately shaped slot located between the top and bottom portions.

5. The patient support of claim 1 further comprising a first rotatable roller located in the slot.

6. The patient support of claim 1, further comprising a support coupled to the frame, and second and third rollers rotatably coupled to the support to movably engage the bottom portion of the arcuate member.

7. The patient support of claim 1, wherein the actuator comprises a drive mechanism, a cylinder, and a movable rod, the movable rod is operable to move outwardly away from the cylinder to move the thigh section upwardly away from the frame, and the movable rod is operable to move inwardly into the cylinder to move the thigh section downwardly toward the frame.

8. A bed, comprising:

a frame,

first and second actuators coupled to the frame,

first and second arcuate members each including a first end and a second end, and

a plurality of deck sections including a movable upper section, a stationary middle section, and a movable lower section,

the first end of the first arcuate member being coupled to the first actuator,

the second end of the first arcuate member being coupled to the lower deck section,

the first actuator being operable to rotate the first arcuate member to pivot the lower deck section around a natural hip pivot point of a person positioned on the bed,

the first end of the second arcuate member being coupled to the second actuator,

the second end of the second arcuate member being coupled to the upper deck section, and

the second actuator being operable to rotate the second arcuate member to pivot the upper deck section around a natural hip pivot point of a person positioned on the bed.

9. The bed of claim 8, wherein the first and second actuators are each supported by a plurality of rollers.

10. The bed of claim 9, wherein the plurality of rollers includes a pair of bottom rollers located substantially underneath each of the first and second arcuate members.

11. The bed of claim 10, wherein the bottom rollers each include a substantially v-shaped groove.

12. The bed of claim 11, wherein the plurality of rollers includes a roller located in an arcuate slot of each arcuate member.

13. A bed, comprising:

a deck including a movable deck section having a first side and a spaced apart second side,

a frame coupled to the deck section,

a first arcuate member coupled to the first side of the deck section,

a second arcuate member coupled to the second side of the deck section,

at least one v-grooved roller supporting the first arcuate member,

at least one flat roller supporting the second arcuate member,

a first support coupled to the at least one v-grooved roller and the frame,

a second support coupled to the a least one flat roller and the frame,

a first actuator coupled to the first arcuate member, and

a second actuator coupled to the second actuator.

14. The bed of claim 13, wherein the at least one v-grooved roller is an eccentric roller.

15. The bed of claim 14, wherein at least one of the flat rollers is an eccentric roller.

16. The bed of claim 13, wherein the deck includes a movable head section, a substantially stationary seat section, and a movable thigh section, further comprising a mattress coupled to the seat section of the deck.

17. The bed of claim 16, further comprising a cover coupled to the mattress.

18. The bed of claim 17, further comprising a flexible panel coupled to the cover.

19. The bed of claim 18, further comprising a plate coupled to a seat section of the cover.

20. The bed of claim 16, wherein the flexible panel includes a low-friction material.