Side guard for patient support

• US 5,083,334 A
• Filed: 10/12/1990
• Issued: 01/28/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 10/12/1990
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Hill-Rom Services Incorporated (Baxter International Inc.)
• Original Assignee: SSI Medical Services, Inc.
• Inventors: Huck, Charles M., Guglielmelli, Joseph
• Primary Examiner(s): TRETTEL, MICHAEL
• Application Number:
  US07/596,673
• Time in Patent Office: 473 Days
• Field of Search: 5/60, 5/425, 5/427, 5/430
• US Class Current: 5/430
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/0507 Side-rails
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/0509 sliding or pivoting downwards

Abstract

A side guard apparatus for a bed can be selectively depoloyed between a retracted position alongside the bed and an upright position above the support surface of the bed. A side guard member is pivotally connected to a base support member, which is pivotally connected to the side of the bed. A chain and sprocket linkage constrains rotation of the plane in which the side guard member is disposed during pivoting movement of the side guard member relative to the base support member and the pivoting movement of the base support member relative to the bed. The constant angle of orientation of the side guard member can be selectively changed. The side guard member and the base support member are locked into position and unlocked from this position by a pair of locking members resiliently urged by a pair of springs to insert their respective locking pins into openings defined in a pair of oppositely disposed mounting blocks. An alignment plate defines alignment slots which engage the locking members to ensure aligned translational movement of the locking members in a locking housing during the locking and unlocking movements of the locking members.

Claims

1. An apparatus to be situated along a side of a bed and which can be selectively positioned relative to the support surface of the bed to guard against the occupant rolling off the support surface of the bed, the apparatus comprising:

(a) a base support member,

i) said base support member being configured to be pivotally carried by the bed;

(b) a side guard member,

i) said side guard member being pivotally connected to said base support member;

(c) means for selectively maintaining said side guard member disposed in a plane oriented at a predetermined constant angle relative to a fixed reference plane during pivoting movement of said side guard member relative to said base support member; and

(d) means for changing said constant angle between said plane of said side guard member and the fixed reference plane.

2. An apparatus as in claim 1, wherein:

said fixed reference plane is a vertically disposed plane.

3. An apparatus as in claim 1, wherein:

said constant angle is eleven degrees.

4. An apparatus as in claim 1, further comprising:

(d) means for selectively locking both said side guard member and said base support member against pivoting movement and alternatively unlocking both said side guard member and said base support member to permit said side guard member to move pivotally with respect to said base support member and to permit said base support member to move pivotally with respect to the bed.

5. An apparatus as in claim 1, further comprising:

(d) means for restraining the side guard member and the base support member in a retracted position against the side of the bed.

6. An apparatus as in claim 1, wherein:

said base support member defines a pair of opposed ends, one of said opposed ends being configured to be pivotally carried by the bed; and

said side guard member is pivotally mounted at the end of said base support member opposite said end of said base support member which is configured to be pivotally carried by the bed.

7. An apparatus as in claim 1, further comprising:

(d) means for selectively locking said side guard member against pivoting movement and alternatively unlocking said side guard member to permit said side guard member to move pivotally with respect to said base support member.

9. An apparatus to be situated along a side of a bed and which can be selectively positioned relative to the support surface of the bed to guard against the occupant rolling off the support surface of the bed, the apparatus comprising:

(a) a base support member,

i) said base support member being configured to be pivotally carried by the bed;

(b) a side guard member, p2 (i) said side guard member being pivotally connected to said base support member; and

(c) means for selectively maintaining said side guard member disposed in a plane oriented at a predetermined constant angle relative to a fixed reference plane during pivoting movement of said side guard member relative to said base support member, wherein said means for selectively maintaining said side guard member disposed in a plane oriented at a predetermined constant angle relative to a fixed reference plane during pivoting movement of said side guard member relative to said base support member includes;

(a) a first elongated shaft,

i) said first shaft being configured and disposed to pivotally connect said base support member and the bed;

(b) a second elongated shaft,

i) said second shaft being configured and disposed to pivotally connect said side guard member and said base support member; and

(c) means for linking rotation of said first shaft and said second shaft.

10. An apparatus as in claim 9, wherein said means for linking rotation of said first shaft and said second shaft includes:

(a) at least a first sprocket wheel,

i) said first sprocket wheel being carried by said first shaft; and

(b) at least a second sprocket wheel,

i) said second sprocket wheel being carried by said second shaft.

11. An apparatus as in claim 10, wherein:

said first sprocket wheel and said second sprocket wheel are sized the same.

12. An apparatus as in claim 10, wherein:

said first sprocket wheel and said second sprocket wheel are configured the same.

13. An apparatus as in claim 10, further comprising:

(d) at least a first chain,

i) said first chain engaging said sprocket wheels carried by said shafts.

14. An apparatus as in claim 13, wherein:

said first chain includes means for adjusting the length of said chain.

15. An apparatus as in claim 13, wherein:

i) said first chain being formed of a plurality of connected links, and

ii) each said link being pivotally connected to an adjacent link in said chain.

16. An apparatus as in claim 13, wherein:

said means for changing said constant angle between said plane of said side guard member and the fixed reference plane includes;

means for adjusting the length of said chain.

17. An apparatus as in claim 16, wherein:

said means for adjusting the length of said chain includes;

i) at least one double ended screw,

ii) each opposite end of said screw defining a threaded shaft,

iii) a pair of turnbuckles,

iv) each said turnbuckle defining a threaded opening configured to receive a threaded shaft of said screw, and

v) each said turnbuckle being nonrotatably connected to an end of said chain.

18. An apparatus as in claim 9, wherein:

i) said first shaft being configured to be nonrotatably connected to the bed,

ii) said first shaft being disposed to carry the end of said base support member which is configured to be pivotally carried by the bed,

iii) said second shaft being configured to be nonrotatably connected to said side guard member, and

iv) said second shaft being disposed to be pivotally carried by said base support member.

19. An apparatus to be situated along a side of a bed and which can be selectively positioned relative to the support surface of the bed to guard against the occupant rolling off the support surface of the bed, the apparatus comprising:

(a) a base support member,

i) said base support member being configured to be pivotally carried by the bed;

(b) a side guard member,

i) said side guard member being pivotally connected to said base support member; and

(c) means for selectively maintaining said side guard member disposed in a plane oriented at a predetermined constant angle relative to a fixed reference plane during pivoting movement of said side guard member relative to said base support member, wherein said means for selectively maintaining said side guard member disposed in a plane oriented at a predetermined constant angle relative to a fixed reference plane during pivoting movement of said side guard member relative to said base support member includes;

i) a first elongated shaft, said first shaft being configured and disposed to pivotally connect said base support member and the bed,

ii) a second elongated shaft, said second shaft being configured and disposed to pivotally connect said side guard member and said base support member, and

iii) means for linking rotation of said first shaft and said second shaft, wherein said means for linking rotation of said first shaft and said second shaft includes;

A) at least a first sprocket wheel, said first sprocket wheel being carried by said first shaft, and

B) at least a second sprocket wheel, said second sprocket wheel being carried by said second shaft, wherein;

i) said first sprocket wheel being nonrotatably carried by said first shaft; and

ii) said second sprocket wheel being nonrotatably carried by said second shaft.

20. An apparatus to be situated along a side of a bed and which can be selectively positioned relative to the support surface of the bed to guard against the occupant rolling off the support surface of the bed, the apparatus comprising:

(a) a base support member,

i) said base support member being configured to be pivotally carried by the bed;

(b) a side guard member,

i) said side guard member being pivotally connected to said base support member;

(c) means for selectively maintaining said side guard member disposed in a plane oriented at a predetermined constant angle relative to a fixed reference plane during pivoting movement of said side guard member relative to said base support member;

(d) means for selectively locking said side guard member against pivoting movement and alternatively unlocking said side guard member to permit said side guard member to move pivotally with respect to said base support member, wherein said means for selectively locking said side guard member against pivoting movement and alternatively unlocking said side guard member to permit said side guard member to move pivotally with respect to said base support member includes;

i) a pair of mounting blocks configured to be fixed to one side of the bed,

ii) a locking housing,

A) said locking housing being connected to said base support member,

iii) at least one locking member,

A) said locking member being disposed in said locking housing,

B) said locking member being translatable in said locking housing between a first extreme position wherein said locking member engages said mounting block sufficiently to prevent pivoting movement of said base support member relative to said mounting block and a second extreme position wherein said locking member disengages sufficiently from said mounting block to allow pivoting movement of said base support member relative to said mounting block, wherein;

i) each said mounting block defining at least a first elongated hole,

ii) said locking member defining at least one elongated locking pin configured to extend into said at least one elongated hole of one of said mounting blocks,

iii) said locking member being oriented with said locking pin pointing toward said mounting block hole; and

the apparatus further comprising;

(d) means for resiliently biasing said locking member into said at least one elongated hole of one of said mounting blocks.

21. An apparatus as in claim 20, wherein:

said means for resiliently biasing said locking member into said at least one of said elongated holes of said mounting block includes a biasing spring disposed to produce a force that urges said locking member toward said first extreme position.

22. An apparatus to be situated along a side of a bed and which can be selectively positioned relative to the support surface of the ed to guard against the occupant rolling off the support surface of the bed, the apparatus comprising:

(a) a base support member,

i) said base support member being configured to be pivotally carried by the bed;

(b) a side guard member,

i) said side guard member being pivotally connected to said base support member;

(c) means for selectively maintaining said side guard member disposed in a plane oriented at a predetermined constant angle relative to a fixed reference plane during pivoting movement of said side guard member relative to said base support member;

(d) means for selectively locking said side guard member against pivoting movement and alternatively unlocking said side guard member to permit said side guard member to move pivotally with respect to said base support member, wherein said means for selectively locking said side guard member against pivoting movement and alternatively unlocking said side guard member to permit said side guard member to move pivotally with respect to said base support member includes;

i) a pair of mounting blocks configured to be fixed to one side of the bed,

ii) a locking housing,

A) aid locking housing being connected to said base support member,

iii) at least one locking member,

A) said locking member being disposed in said locking housing,

B) said locking member being translatable in said locking housing between a first extreme position wherein said locking member engages said mounting block sufficiently to prevent pivoting movement of said base support member relative to said mounting block and a second extreme position wherein said locking member disengages sufficiently from said mounting block to allow pivoting movement of said base support member relative to said mounting block; and

(e) an alignment plate,

i) said alignment plate being configured to cover part of said locking housing, and

ii) said alignment plate defining at least one elongated alignment slot therethrough; and

wherein;

i) said locking member defining means for engaging said alignment slot, and

ii) said alignment plate being disposed to align said alignment slot parallel to the path of translation of said locking member in said locking housing.

23. An apparatus to be situated along a side of a bed and which can be selectively positioned relative to the support surface of the bed to guard against the occupant rolling off the support surface of the bed, the apparatus comprising:

(a) a base support member,

i) said base support member being configured to be pivotally carried by the bed;

(b) a side guard member,

i) said side guard member being pivotally connected to said base support member;

(c) means for selectively maintaining said side guard member disposed in a plane oriented at a predetermined constant angle relative to a fixed reference plane during pivoting movement of said side guard member relative to said base support member;

(d) means for selectively locking both said side guard member and said base support member against pivoting movement and alternatively unlocking both said side guard member and said base support member to permit said side guard member to move pivotally with respect to said base support member and to permit said base support member to move pivotally with respect to the bed, wherein said means for selectively locking both said side guard member and said base support member against pivoting movement and alternatively unlocking both said side guard member and said base support member to permit said side guard member to move pivotally with respect to said base support member and to permit said base support member to move pivotally with respect to the bed includes;

i) a pair of mounting blocks configured to be fixed to one side of the bed,

A) each said mounting block defining at least a first elongated hole;

ii) a locking housing,

A) said locking housing being connected to said base support member;

iii) at least one locking member,

A) said locking member defining at least one elongated locking pin configured to extend into said at least one elongated hole of one of said mounting blocks,

B) said locking member being disposed in said locking housing and oriented with said locking pin pointing toward said mounting block hole, and

C) said locking member being translatable in said locking housing between a first extreme position wherein said locking pin extends into said mounting block hole sufficiently to prevent pivoting movement of said base support member relative to said mounting block and a second extreme position wherein said locking pin is withdrawn sufficiently from said mounting block hole to allow pivoting movement of said base support member relative to said mounting block.

24. An apparatus as in claim 23, further comprising:

(d) means for resiliently biasing said locking member into said at least one elongated hole of one of said mounting blocks.

25. An apparatus as in claim 24, wherein:

said means for resiliently biasing said locking member into said at least one of said elongated holes of said mounting block includes a biasing spring disposed to produce a force that urges said locking member toward said first extreme position.

26. An apparatus as in claim 23, further comprising:

(d) an alignment plate,

i) said alignment plate being configured to cover part of said locking housing, and

ii) said alignment plate defining at least one elongated alignment slot therethrough; and

wherein;

i) said locking member defining means for engaging said alignment slot, and

ii) said alignment plate being disposed to align said alignment slot parallel to the path of translation of said locking member in said locking housing.

27. An apparatus to be situated along a side of a bed and which can be selectively positioned relative to the support surface of the bed to guard against the occupant rolling off the support surface of the bed, the apparatus comprising:

(a) a base support member,

i) said base support member being configured to be pivotally carried by the bed;

(b) a side guard member,

i) said side guard member being pivotally connected to said base support member;

(c) means for selectively maintaining said side guard member disposed in a plane oriented at a predetermined constant angle relative to a fixed reference plane during pivoting movement of said side guard member relative to said base support member; and

(d) means for restraining the side guard member and the base support member in a retracted position against the side of the bed, wherein said means for restraining the side guard member and the base support member in a retracted position against the side of the bed includes;

i) a detent mechanism.

28. An apparatus to be situated along a side of a bed and which can be selectively positioned relative to the support surface of the bed to guard against the occupant moving across the edge of the support surface of the bed, the apparatus comprising:

(a) a base support member,

i) said base support member being configured to be pivotally carried by the bed;

(b) a side guard member,

i) said side guard member being pivotally mounted to said base support member;

(c) means for linking pivoting movement of said base support member to pivoting movement of said side guard;

(d) a pair of mounting blocks configured to be fixed to one side of the bed,

i) each said mounting block defining at least a first elongated hole;

(e) a locking housing,

i) said locking housing being connected to said base support member; and

(f) at least one locking member,

i) said locking member defining at least one elongated locking pin configured to extend into said at least one elongated hole of one of said mounting blocks,

ii) said locking member being translatable in said locking housing between a first extreme position wherein said locking pin extends into said mounting block hole sufficiently to prevent pivoting movement of said base support member relative to said mounting block and a second extreme position wherein said locking pin is withdrawn sufficiently from said mounting block hole to allow pivoting movement of said base support member relative to said mounting block.

29. An apparatus as in claim 28, wherein:

said means for linking pivoting movement of said base support member to pivoting movement of said side guard includes;

(a) a first elongated shaft,

i) said first shaft being configured and disposed to pivotally connect said base support member and the bed;

(b) a second elongated shaft,

i) said second shaft being configured and disposed to pivotally connect said side guard member and said base support member;

(c) at least a first sprocket wheel,

i) said first sprocket wheel being nonrotatably carried by said first shaft;

(d) at least a second sprocket wheel,

i) said second sprocket wheel being nonrotatably carried by said second shaft;

(e) at least a first chain,

i) said first chain engaging said sprocket wheels carried by said shafts.

30. An apparatus to be situated along a side of a bed and which can be selectively positioned relative to the support surface of the bed to guard against the occupant rolling off the support surface of the bed, the apparatus comprising:

(a) a pair of mounting blocks configured to be fixed to one side of the bed,

i) each said mounting block defining three elongated holes,

ii) said holes of each said block being defined in said block so that the central longitudinal axes of said holes are parallel,

iii) said holes of each said block being disposed in said block so that a straight line is formed by the three points defined where a flat plane intersects the central longitudinal axes of said holes,

iv) one of said holes in each block being configured with a noncircular transverse cross section,

v) each said noncircular transverse cross section hole being disposed adjacent only one of said other holes in said block,

vi) each said block defining a mounting surface for engaging one side of the bed,

vii) each said block mounting surface being configured so that a flat plane containing the central longitudinal axes of said three elongated holes is disposed at an angle of eleven degrees from a vertically disposed plane;

(b) a base support member,

i) said base support member being pivotally connected to said mounting blocks,

ii) said base support member including a pair of opposed side flanges,

iii) each said base support member side flange defining a bearing surface at each opposite end of each said side flange,

iv) said side flange bearing surfaces being configured to rotatably receive and support an elongated shaft,

v) said base support member including a connecting member extending between and maintaining a constant separation distance between said pair of opposed side flanges,

vi) said connecting member including a pair of opposed side edges,

vii) one of said side edges of said connecting member being connected to one of said side flanges and said opposite side edge of said connecting member being connected to the other of said side flanges;

(c) a first elongated shaft rotatably carried by said pair of bearing surfaces defined at one respective end of each said side flange,

i) one end of said elongated first shaft being configured to be held against rotation by one of said mounting blocks,

ii) the opposite end of said elongated first shaft being configured to be held against rotation by said other one of said mounting blocks,

iii) each end of said elongated first shaft being configured with a noncircular transverse cross sectional shape which is nonrotatably receivable by one of said noncircularly configured holes of said mounting blocks;

(d) a side guard member pivotally mounted at the end of said base support member opposite said end configured to be pivotally carried by the bed,

i) said side guard member defining a first opening and a second opening disposed opposite said first opening;

(e) a second elongated shaft,

i) said second elongated shaft being rotatably carried by said pair of bearing surfaces defined at the opposite respective ends of each said side flange,

ii) said second elongated shaft defining a first end and a second end disposed opposite said first end,

iii) said first end of said elongated second shaft being configured to be received within said first opening defined in said side guard member,

iv) said second end of said elongated second shaft being configured to be received within said second opening defined in said side guard member,

v) said elongated second shaft being held against rotation relative to said side guard member;

(f) means for maintaining said side guard member disposed in a plane oriented at a predetermined constant angle relative to a fixed reference plane during pivoting movement of said side guard member relative to said base support member,

i) said side guard plane orientation means including two pairs of sprocket wheels and one pair of chains,

ii) a first pair of said two pairs of sprocket wheels being nonrotatably carried by said first elongated shaft,

iii) a second pair of said two pairs of sprocket wheels being nonrotatably carried by said second elongated shaft,

iv) one sprocket wheel of said first pair of said two pairs of sprocket wheels being disposed near one end of said first elongated shaft,

iii) a second sprocket wheel of said first pair of said two pairs of sprocket wheels being disposed near the opposite end of said first elongated shaft,

v) one sprocket wheel of a second pair of said two pairs of sprocket wheels being nonrotatably carried near said first end of said second elongated shaft,

vi) a second sprocket wheel of said second pair of said two pairs of sprocket wheels being nonrotatably carried near said first end of said second elongated shaft,

vii) each of said pair of chains being formed of a plurality of connected links, each said link being pivotally connected to an adjacent link in said chain,

viii) a first one of said pair of chains extending between said first and second elongated shafts and engaging said sprocket wheels disposed toward one of the ends of said shafts,

ix) a second one of said pair of chains extending between said first and second elongated shafts and engaging said sprocket wheels disposed toward the opposite ends of said shafts;

(g) means for selectively locking said side guard member against pivoting movement and alternatively unlocking said side guard member to permit said side guard member to move pivotally with respect to said base support member,

i) said selective locking and alternative unlocking means including a locking housing, at least one locking member, means for accessing from said locking housing by said locking member said elongated holes of one of said mounting blocks, and means for resiliently biasing said locking member into at least one of said elongated holes of one of said mounting blocks,

ii) said locking housing being disposed between said side flanges of said base support member,

iii) said locking member defining at least one elongated locking pin configured to extend into one of said elongated holes of one of said mounting blocks,

iv) said locking member being disposed in said locking housing and oriented with said locking pin pointing toward said mounting block hole,

v) said accessing means including an access hole defined through one of said side flanges disposed between and aligned with both said elongated mounting block hole and said locking pin of said locking member disposed in said locking housing,

vi) said locking member being translatable in said locking housing between a first extreme position wherein said locking pin extends through said access hole and into said mounting block hole sufficiently to prevent pivoting movement of said base support member relative to said mounting block and a second extreme position wherein said locking pin is withdrawn sufficiently from said mounting block hole to allow pivoting movement of said base support member relative to said mounting block,

vii) said means for resiliently biasing said locking member into said at least one of said elongated holes of said mounting block includes a biasing spring disposed to produce a force that urges said locking member toward said first extreme position,

viii) an alignment plate defining at least one elongated alignment slot therethrough,

ix) said alignment plate being disposed to cover part of said locking housing and to align said alignment slot parallel to said locking pin,

x) said locking member defining means for engaging said alignment slot; and

(h) means for restraining the side guard member and the base support member in a retracted position against the side of the bed,

i) said retracted position restraining means including a bearing plate and a rounded head formed on the free end of said locking pin,

ii) said bearing plate being disposed between one of said mounting blocks and said base support member,

iii) said bearing plate defining along a lower edge thereof a cut out, and

iv) said cut out being configured and disposed for receiving said rounded head of said locking pin to form a detent when said side guard member and said base support member are disposed in the retracted position alongside the bed.

8. An apparatus as in claim 30, wherein said means for selectively locking said side guard member against pivoting movement and alternatively unlocking said side guard member to permit said side guard member to move pivotally with respect to said base support member includes:

(a) a pair of mounting blocks configured to be fixed to one side of the bed;

(b) a locking housing,

i) said locking housing being connected to said base support member;

(c) at least one locking member,

i) said locking member being disposed in said locking housing;

ii) said locking member being translatable in said locking housing between a first extreme position wherein said locking member engages said mounting block sufficiently to prevent pivoting movement of said base support member relative to said mounting block and a second extreme position wherein said locking member disengages sufficiently from said mounting block to allow pivoting movement of said base support member relative to said mounting block.