Hospital bed

• US 5,577,279 A
• Filed: 07/19/1994
• Issued: 11/26/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 05/16/1990
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Hill-Rom Services Incorporated (Baxter International Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hill-Rom Company Incorporated (Baxter International Inc.)
• Inventors: Vogel, John D., Reeder, Ryan A., Foster, L. Dale
• Primary Examiner(s): TRETTEL, MICHAEL
• Application Number:
  US08/277,243
• Time in Patent Office: 861 Days
• Field of Search: 5/600, 5/602, 5/604, 5/613, 5/617, 5/618, 5/624, 5/81.1
• US Class Current: 5/618
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2034/742 Joysticks
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/506 using a parallelogram linkage, e.g. panthograph
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 50/13 Trolleys, e.g. carts
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 12/008 mounted on a mobile base, e.g. on a trolley
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 2200/32 lying
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 2200/34 sitting
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 2200/36 standing
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 2203/80 for connecting a trolley to a device, e.g. bed or column table
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 2210/30 for intensive care
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 5/14 Standing-up or sitting-down aids
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/00 Beds specially adapted for nursing; Devices for lifting patients or disabled persons stretchers with facilities for picking up patients or disabled persons A61G1/003
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/0015 having means for attaching a cabinet in order to transport bed and cabinet together
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/002 having adjustable mattress frame
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/005 tiltable around transverse horizontal axis, e.g. for Trendelenburg position rocking beds for physical therapy A61H1/003; hanging patient inclined downwardly for drawing him out A61H2203/0493
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/008 tiltable around longitudinal axis, e.g. for rolling
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/012 raising or lowering of the whole mattress frame A61G7/005, A61G7/008 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/015 divided into different adjustable sections, e.g. for Gatch position
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/02 with toilet conveniences, or specially adapted for use with toilets
• 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 7/0506 Head or foot boards head or foot boards for comfort or ergonomics A47C19/022
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/0507 : Side-rails
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/0509 : sliding or pivoting downwards
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/0513 : covering particular sections of the bed, e.g. one or more partial side-rail sections along the bed
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/0514 : mounted to individual mattress supporting frame sections
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/0524 : characterised by integrated accessories, e.g. bed control means, nurse call or reading lights
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/0527 : Weighing devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/0528 : Steering or braking devices for castor wheels
• 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 7/05769 : with inflatable chambers
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/05784 : with ventilating means, e.g. mattress or cushion with ventilating holes or ventilators
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/08 : Apparatus for transporting beds
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/1021 : Inflatable cushions
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/16 : converting a lying surface into a chair
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 3/04 : Wheeled walking aids for disabled persons A61H3/06 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/00 : Devices for influencing the respiratory system of patients by gas treatment, e.g. mouth-to-mouth respiration; Tracheal tubes stimulating the respiratory movement by mechanical, pneumatic or electrical means, iron lungs combined with gas breathing means A61H31/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 19/445 : in a horizontal position

Abstract

A hospital bed has a base with casters, a main frame mounted above the base, a patient support platform movably mounted on the main frame including a leg panel, and a toilet module disposed beneath the patient support platform and normally concealed by the leg panel. The platform moves toward a head end of the bed retracting the leg panel from over the toilet module exposing the toilet module for use. The leg panel pivots downwardly after exposing the toilet module, and a head panel pivots upwardly to configure the hospital bed into a chair position. Bolsters are located outboard of each lateral edge of the leg panel and provide side support to a patient moving from the platform to the toilet module and back. A pair of pivoting footboard halves or foot gates are operably mounted to the platform and retract with the platform to between the foot and head end casters. Downward forces applied to the foot gates when utilized as hand rails are applied intermediate the foot and head end casters. A frame is mounted to the bed and a travelling harness is mounted to the frame and is adapted to be secured to a patient to provide security and stability as the patient egresses from the bed and moves onto the toilet module.

Claims

1. A hospital bed comprising:

a base with casters;

a main frame mounted above said base;

a patient support platform longitudinally movably mounted on said main frame and including a leg panel; and

a toilet module disposed beneath said patient support platform and normally concealed by said leg panel;

said patient support platform and toilet module being configured such that when said patient support platform is moved toward a head end of said bed said leg panel retracts from over said toilet module to expose said toilet module for use.

2. The hospital bed of claim 1 wherein said leg panel pivots downwardly after retracting from over said toilet module.

3. The hospital bed of claim 2 wherein:

said patient support platform includes an upwardly pivoting head panel;

said bed being configured such that when said leg panel is pivoted downwardly said head panel is pivoted upwardly, said bed assuming a chair position.

4. The hospital bed of claim 2 wherein:

said patient support platform further includes a pair of bolsters, one of which is located outboard of each lateral edge of said leg panel;

said leg panel and bolsters being configured such that after said leg panel has been pivoted downwardly said bolsters provide side support to a patient moving from said patient support platform to said toilet module and back.

5. A hospital bed comprising:

a base with casters;

a main frame mounted above said base; and

a patient support platform longitudinally movably mounted on said main frame and including a seat panel, a downwardly pivoting leg panel and an upwardly pivoting head panel;

said bed being configured such that when said patient support platform is moved toward a head end of said bed said seat panel moves longitudinally in a plane substantially parallel to a plane of the main frame, said leg panel pivots downwardly after said patient support platform has traveled a predetermined distance and said head panel pivots upwardly, said bed assuming a chair position.

6. A hospital bed comprising:

a base with casters;

a main frame mounted above said base; and

a patient support platform longitudinally movably mounted on said main frame and including a downwardly pivoting leg panel and an upwardly pivoting head panel;

said bed being configured such that when said patient support platform is moved toward a head end of said bed said leg panel pivots downwardly after said patient support platform has traveled a predetermined distance and said head panel pivots upwardly, said bed assuming a chair position;

said patient support platform further including a pair of bolsters, one of which is located outboard of each lateral edge of said leg panel;

said leg panel and bolsters being configured such that after said leg panel has been pivoted downwardly said bolsters provide side support to a patient moving from said patient support platform to a patient care module located at a foot end of said bed and back.

7. A hospital bed comprising:

a base with casters; and

a main frame mounted above said base, said main frame including a pair of spaced, longitudinal, generally parallel rails, each said rail having a foot end which diverges laterally outwardly;

said laterally outwardly diverging foot ends of said main frame rails providing structure for guidingly docking therebetween a rollable toilet module to said main frame.

8. A hospital bed comprising:

a base with casters;

a main frame mounted above said base, said main frame including a pair of spaced, longitudinal, generally parallel rails, each said rail having a foot end which diverges laterally outwardly;

said laterally outwardly diverging foot ends of said main frame rails providing structure for guidingly docking therebetween a rollable patient care module to said main frame; and

a patient support platform longitudinally movably mounted on said main frame and including a leg panel;

said patient support platform being configured such that when a rollable patient care module is docked to said main frame and said patient support platform is moved toward a head end of said bed said leg panel retracts from over the patient care module to expose the patient care module for use.

9. The hospital bed of claim 8 wherein:

said leg panel pivots downwardly after retracting from over said patient care module; and

wherein

said patient support platform includes an upwardly pivoting head panel;

said bed being configured such that when said foot panel is pivoted downwardly said head panel is pivoted upwardly, said bed assuming a chair position.

10. A hospital bed comprising:

a base having head and foot ends and casters mounted on said head and foot ends;

a main frame mounted above said base;

a patient support platform longitudinally movably mounted on said main frame; and

a pair of pivoting footboard halves operably mounted to said patient support platform one of which is located on each lateral side of said patient support platform at a foot end thereof, said footboard halves when oriented laterally to said bed functioning together as a footboard and when oriented longitudinally to said bed functioning separately as sideguards/handrails;

said base and footboard halves being configured such that when said patient support platform is moved toward a head end of said bed said footboard halves are retracted to between said foot end casters and said head end casters.

11. The hospital bed of claim 10 wherein:

said patient support platform includes a downwardly pivoting leg panel and an upwardly pivoting head panel;

said bed being configured such that when said patient support platform is moved toward a head end of said bed said foot panel is pivoted downwardly and said head panel is pivoted upwardly, said bed assuming a chair position;

whereby a patient egressing from said chair configured bed and moving from a sitting position to a standing position while utilizing said sideguards/handrails applies a downward force via said sideguards/handrails intermediate said foot end casters and said head end casters.

12. A hospital bed comprising:

a base with casters;

a main frame mounted above said base;

a patient support platform mounted on said main frame and including a seat panel, a downwardly pivoting leg panel and an upwardly pivoting head panel, and a pair of bolsters one of which is located outboard of each lateral edge of said leg panel;

said bolsters being moveable from a position forward of and in a plane defined by said seat panel to a position above and along each lateral edge of said seat panel when said leg panel is pivoted downwardly and said head panel is pivoted upwardly to provide armrests for a patient situated atop said bed configured as a chair.