Modular high-low adjustable bed bases retrofitted within the volumes of, and cooperatively operative with, diverse existing contour-adjustable beds so as to create high-low adjustable contour-adjustable beds
First Claim
1. A high-low base for use in raising and lowering an existing contour bed in elevation above a floor, the contour bed havinga contour-adjustable upper surface upon which is supported a mattress,a box frame open to the bottom, the box frame and the upper surface and the floor defining in combination a volume, anda contouring mechanism, and a contour mechanism motive means for powering the contouring mechanism to adjust the upper surface in contour, that are located within only a portion of the volume, a remainder of the volume being a void, the high-low base comprising:
- a high-low frame, insubstantially larger in area than is the box frame of the contour bed, on which suitably fits and rests the box frame of the contour bed so that the contour bed is carried upon the high-low frame; and
an elevation means, fitting within the void, for variably elevating the high-low frame, and the contour bed resting upon the frame, in height above the floor, the elevation means being capable of positioning the high-low frame so that the bottom of the box frame of the contour bed carried upon the high-low frame is substantially at a level of the floor;
wherein because the high-low frame is insubstantially larger in area that is the box frame of the contour bed, because the elevation means fits within the void, and because the elevation means is capable of positioning the high-low frame so that the carried contour bed is upon the floor, the entire high-low base is both insubstantially larger in area than, and is substantially fitted within, the box frame of the contour bed, and the contour bed, that it serves to variably elevate.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Various high-low bases including (i) a frame, and (ii) various lift mechanisms for supporting and for variably elevating the frame above a floor, fit completely under, and within the pedestal base, of a conventional contour bed. In one embodiment a motorized hydraulic drive mechanism variably controllably elevates the entire contour bed, including its pedestal base, in height above the floor, thereby to order to facilitate transfer of a user of the bed to and from a wheelchair, or the provision of care to the user who lies supine upon the bed. In another embodiment the lift mechanism is a motorized screw drive acting through cables to control lifting lever arms. In still another embodiment the screw drive of the lifting lever arms is direct. An upper surface of the contour bed is mechanically adjustable to contour a mattress that rests upon this upper surface independently of the hydraulic adjustment of the height of the bed. Various combinations of height-and-contour-adjustable, height-adjustable, contour-adjustable, and non-adjustable bed units may be harmoniously aesthetically and functionally combined, particularly for use in the home.
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Citations
26 Claims
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1. A high-low base for use in raising and lowering an existing contour bed in elevation above a floor, the contour bed having
a contour-adjustable upper surface upon which is supported a mattress, a box frame open to the bottom, the box frame and the upper surface and the floor defining in combination a volume, and a contouring mechanism, and a contour mechanism motive means for powering the contouring mechanism to adjust the upper surface in contour, that are located within only a portion of the volume, a remainder of the volume being a void, the high-low base comprising: -
a high-low frame, insubstantially larger in area than is the box frame of the contour bed, on which suitably fits and rests the box frame of the contour bed so that the contour bed is carried upon the high-low frame; and an elevation means, fitting within the void, for variably elevating the high-low frame, and the contour bed resting upon the frame, in height above the floor, the elevation means being capable of positioning the high-low frame so that the bottom of the box frame of the contour bed carried upon the high-low frame is substantially at a level of the floor; wherein because the high-low frame is insubstantially larger in area that is the box frame of the contour bed, because the elevation means fits within the void, and because the elevation means is capable of positioning the high-low frame so that the carried contour bed is upon the floor, the entire high-low base is both insubstantially larger in area than, and is substantially fitted within, the box frame of the contour bed, and the contour bed, that it serves to variably elevate. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A high-low base retroffitable to and susceptible of integration with a contour-adjustable bed having a peripheral space frame to the end of raising and lowering the contour-adjustable bed in elevation above a floor, the high-low base comprising:
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a lower member (i) fitting completely within a volume and an area of the peripheral space frame of the contour adjustable bed while (ii) resting on the floor, the lower member subtending sufficient area while so resting so as to form a stable base; an upper member attaching to the underside of the peripheral space frame of the contour adjustable bed within the volume and within the area of this peripheral space frame; a plurality of linkage arms pivoting relative to each of the upper member and the lower member and connecting therebetween so as to, upon forcibly assuming different positions, locate the upper member and the lower member to different distances of separation one to the other, a cable for transmitting force to plurality of linkage arms, and a motor for providing the force transmitted through the cables to the linkage arms in order to, by locating the upper member and the lower member to different distances of separation one to the other, raise and lower the contour-adjustable bed; wherein each and all of the lower member, the upper member, and the elevation means fit within the volume and within the area of the peripheral space frame of the contour-adjustable bed. - View Dependent Claims (21)
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22. A high-low base retroffitable to and susceptible of integration with a contour-adjustable bed having a rectangular peripheral space frame to the end of raising and lowering the contour-adjustable bed in elevation above a floor, the high-low base comprising:
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four upper members each of which fits to a respective corner of the rectangular peripheral space frame of the contour-adjustable bed so as to insubstantially increase a volume and an area of this peripheral space frame, the four members essentially being within the volume and within the area of the peripheral space frame; a first plurality of lower members disposed on the floor under the four upper members substantially in a shadow of the peripheral space frame; and a second plurality of elongate elevation means, connecting between the first plurality of lower members and the four upper members within the volume and within the area between them, for variably controllably extending in length so as to locate the four upper members at different distances of separation from the plurality of lower members thereby to raise and to lower the contour-adjustable bed having the peripheral space frame that is attached to the four upper members; wherein because the four upper members insubstantially increase the volume and the area of the peripheral space frame, because the first plurality of lower members are substantially in the shadow of the space frame, and because the second plurality of elongate elevation means connect between the first plurality of lower members and the four upper members, the entire high-low base is insubstantially larger in area upon the floor than the contour-adjustable bed that it serves to lift. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26)
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Specification