Mattress articulation structure

• US 6,012,186 A
• Filed: 04/29/1997
• Issued: 01/11/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 04/29/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Hill-Rom Services Incorporated (Baxter International Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hill-Rom Company Incorporated (Baxter International Inc.)
• Inventors: Kerrigan, Elizabeth D., Ashcraft, David N., Soltani, Sohrab, Romano, James J., Perez, Timothy W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Trettel, Michael F.
• Assistant Examiner(s): CONLEY, FREDRICK C
• Application Number:
  US08/841,125
• Time in Patent Office: 987 Days
• Field of Search: 5/613, 5/614, 5/615, 5/617, 5/618
• US Class Current: 5/614
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 20/048 by fluid means
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 31/008 Use of remote controls
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 2203/12 Remote controls
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/015 divided into different adjustable sections, e.g. for Gatch position
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/05769 with inflatable chambers

Abstract

An apparatus is provided to support a mattress. The apparatus includes a base platform that is formed to rest on a box spring and to include slots therethrough, a plate hinged to the base platform, and a bladder fastened between the plate and the base platform. In addition, the apparatus includes a fastener mechanism coupled to the plate and adapted to block sliding movement of the mattress relative to the plate and a strap coupled to the base platform. The strap extends through the slots and is configured to extend about the box spring to hold the base platform on the box spring.

Claims

1. A structure for converting a platform such as a box spring on a bed to an articulatable platform for the bed, the structure comprising:

a mattress,

a base platform formed to rest on the box spring, the base platform having a head end and an opposite foot end and first and second edges extending between the head and foot ends,

a first top plate and a second top plate each hinged to the base platform,

a head-end bladder fastened between the first top plate and the base platform,

a foot-end bladder fastened between the second top plate and the base platform,

a fastener mechanism for holding the mattress on the top plates, the fastener mechanism being formed to prevent substantial sliding movement of the mattress over the first and second edges of the base platform, and

an attachment mechanism including at least one strap coupled to the base platform and configured to extend around the box spring to hold the base platform on the box spring, the base platform including a head-end bottom plate, a foot-end bottom plate, and a central raised block portion situated between the bottom plates and the top plates being each hinged to the central block portion, and the head-end and foot-end bottom plates being each formed to include a set of spaced-apart slots extending therethrough and the attachment mechanism extending through the sets of slots.

2. The structure of claim 1, wherein the mattress has a head end, a foot end, and a middle portion extending therebetween, and the second top plate includes an inner end hinged on the base platform and an opposite knee end-moving end positioned to lie in a spaced-apart relationship from the foot end of the mattress.

3. The structure of claim 2, wherein the first top plate includes an inside end hinged on the base platform and an opposite head end-moving end positioned to lie adjacent the head end of the mattress.

4. The structure of claim 2, wherein the fastener mechanism includes at least two straps positioned to lie in a spaced-apart relationship to one another, the straps including ties to secure the mattress to the first and second top plates.

5. The structure of claim 4, wherein the first and second top plates are each formed to include spaced-apart apertures and each of the apertures is sized for insertion of one of the ties therethrough.

6. The structure of claim 4, further comprising a buckle coupled to each strap.

7. The structure of claim 5, wherein the first and second top plates each include a first edge, an opposite second edge, a first aperture positioned adjacent the first edge, and a second aperture positioned adjacent the second edge, and apertures are each sized for insertion of one of the ties therethrough.

8. The structure of claim 1, wherein the base platform is formed to include opposite edges and three sets of slots extending therethrough and each set of slots includes one slot that extends through the base platform along one edge and a second corresponding slot that extends through the base platform along the opposite edge.

9. The structure of claim 8, wherein the first set of slots extends through the head-end bottom plate adjacent the head end of the base platform, the second set of slots extends through the foot-end bottom plate adjacent the opposite foot end of the base platform, and the third set of slots extends through the central raised block portion.

10. The structure of claim 1, wherein the raised central block portion includes hinge so that the base platform folds to form a compact folded assembly.

11. The structure of claim 1, further comprising means for inflating and deflating the bladders.

12. An articulatable structure for use with a mattress upon which a person rests, the structure comprising:

a base platform including a hinge to permit folding of the base platform,

a head plate pivotably coupled to the base platform for supporting a head portion of the mattress,

a knee plate pivotably coupled to the base platform for supporting a leg portion of the mattress,

a first bladder located between the base platform and the head plate to raise and lower the head plate,

a second bladder located between the base platform and the knee plate to raise and lower the knee plate,

a controller for selectively inflating and deflating the first and second bladders to raise the head and knee plates and the head and leg portions of the mattress located thereon, the controller being configured to inflate the second bladder each time an operator inflates the first bladder so that the knee plate always moves to an elevated position as the head plate is elevated, and

a fluid conduit coupled to the first bladder, the fluid conduit including a living hinge located over the hinge of the base platform.

13. The structure of claim 12, wherein the controller is configured to permit independent inflation and deflation of the second bladder to raise and lower the knee plate independently of the head plate.

14. The structure of claim 12, wherein the first and second bladders include at least one mounting loop tab extending through slots formed in the head plate and knee plate, respectively, and mounting fasteners extending through the tabs and coupled to the head plate and the knee plate to secure the first and second bladders to the head plate and knee plate, respectively.

15. The apparatus of claim 12, further comprising an attachment mechanism for securing the base platform to a foundation.

16. A bed comprising:

a base platform including a first bottom plate and a second bottom plate coupled to the first bottom plate by a hinge,

first and second top plates, each top plate having opposite edges and an inner hinged end extending between the opposite edges and being pivotally coupled to the base platform,

a first bladder positioned between the first top plate and the base platform,

a second bladder positioned between the second top plate and the base platform,

an air mattress positioned to lie on the first and second top plates,

a first source of pressurized fluid coupled to the air mattress,

a second source of pressurized fluid,

a first tube extending between the second source of pressurized fluid and the first bladder, the first tube including a living hinge that extends across the hinge between the first and second bottom plates, and

a second tube extending between the second source of pressurized fluid and the second bladder.

17. The bed of claim 16, wherein the top plates include apertures therethrough and the air mattress includes ties sized for extension through the apertures to couple the air mattress to the top plates.

18. The bed of claim 16, wherein the air mattress is a low air loss mattress.

19. A structure for converting a platform to an articulatable platform that supports a mattress thereon, the structure comprising:

a base platform having a first bottom plate, a second bottom plate, and a hinge coupled to the first and second bottom plates to permit folding of the first and second bottom plates,

first and second top plates, each top plate having opposite edges and an inner hinged end extending between the opposite edges and being pivotally coupled to the base platform,

a first bladder positioned to lie between the first top plate and the first bottom plate,

a second bladder positioned to lie between the second top plate and the second bottom plate,

a first conduit coupled to the first bladder for supplying fluid to the first bladder, and

a conduit assembly coupled to the second bladder for supplying fluid to the second bladder, the conduit assembly including a tube and a living hinge extending across the hinge between the first and second bottom plates.

20. The structure of claim 19, wherein the first conduit is positioned to lie between the first top plate and the first bottom plate.

21. The structure of claim 20, wherein the first bladder includes bladder segments, inlet tubes coupled to the bladder segments, a joint coupled to the inlet tubes, and the first conduit is coupled to the joint.

22. The structure of claim 21, wherein the tube of the conduit assembly is positioned to lie between the first and second top plates and the first and second bottom plates.

23. The structure of claim 22, wherein the living hinge includes opposite ends and the tube includes a first segment coupled to the second bladder and to one end of the living hinge and a second segment coupled to the opposite end of the living hinge.

24. The structure claim 20, wherein the first bladder is coupled to the first top and bottom plates and the second bladder is coupled to the second top and bottom plates.

25. A structure for converting a platform to an articulatable platform that supports a mattress thereon, the structure comprising:

a base platform being formed to include at least one mounting slot therethrough,

first and second top plates, each top plate being formed to include opposite edges, an inner hinged end extending between the opposite edges and being pivotally coupled to the base platform, and at least one mounting slot extending therethrough,

a first bladder positioned to lie between the first top plate and the base platform and including at least one top tab sized for extension through the at least one mounting slot in the first top plate and at least one bottom tab sized for extension through the at least one mounting slot in the base platform,

a second bladder positioned to lie between the second top plate and the base platform and including at least one top tab sized for extension through the at least one mounting slot in the second top plate and at least one bottom tab sized for extension through the at least one mounting slot in the base platform, and

mounting brackets coupled to the top and bottom tabs, the mounting brackets being configured to prevent the top and bottom mounting tabs from sliding through the mounting slots and to hold the first and second bladders between the first and second top plates and the base platform.

26. The structure of claim 25, wherein the mounting tabs are formed as a loop and the mounting brackets are sized for insertion through the loop of each tab.

27. The structure of claim 26, wherein the top plates are formed to include a recessed portions therein and the mounting tabs are positioned to lie within the recessed portion.

28. The structure of claim 26, wherein the base platform is formed to include bottom recessed portions therein and mounting tabs are positioned to lie within the bottom recessed portions.

29. A structure for converting a platform such as a box spring on a bed to an articulatable platform configured to receive a mattress, the structure comprising:

a base platform formed to rest on the box spring, the base platform having a head end and an opposite foot end, and first and second edges extending between the head and foot ends, the base platform being formed to include at least one set of spaced-apart slots extending therethrough,

a first top plate and a second top plate each hinged to the base platform,

a head-end bladder fastened between the first top plate and the base platform,

a foot-end bladder fastened between the second top plate and the base platform, and

an attachment mechanism configured to hold the base platform on the box spring, the attachment mechanism extending through the at least one set of slots.

30. The structure of claim 29, wherein the base platform includes a head-end bottom plate, a foot-end bottom plate, and a central raised block portion situated between the bottom plates and the top plates are each hinged to the central block portion.

31. The structure of claim 30, wherein the mattress has a head end, a foot end, and a middle portion extending therebetween and the second top plate includes an inner end hinged on the base platform and an opposite knee end-moving end positioned to lie in a spaced-apart relationship from the foot end of the mattress.

32. The structure of claim 30, wherein the first top plate includes an inside end hinged on the base platform and an opposite head end-moving end positioned to lie adjacent the head end of the mattress.

33. The structure of claim 32, wherein the attachment mechanism includes belts positioned to lie in a spaced-apart relationship to one another.

34. The structure of claim 33, wherein the inflating and deflating means is an air pump.

35. An apparatus configured to support a mattress thereon, the apparatus comprising:

a base platform adapted to rest on the box spring, the base platform being formed to include at least one set of spaced-apart slots extending therethrough,

a plate hinged to the base platform,

a bladder fastened between the plate and the base platform,

a fastener mechanism coupled to the plate and adapted to block sliding movement of the mattress relative to the plate, and

at least one strap coupled to the base platform, the at least one strap extending through the at least one set of slots and being configured to extend around the box spring to hold the base platform on the box spring.

36. The apparatus of claim 35, wherein the fastener mechanism includes a belt.

37. The apparatus of claim 35, wherein the plate is formed to include spaced-apart apertures and each of the apertures is sized for insertion of the fastener mechanism therethrough.

38. The apparatus of claim 35, further comprising a second plate hinged to the base platform and the fastener mechanism includes two belts positioned to lie in a spaced-apart relationship to one another to couple the mattress to the first and second plates.

39. The apparatus of claim 38, wherein the plates each include a first edge, an opposite second edge, a first aperture positioned adjacent the first edge, and a second aperture positioned adjacent the second edge, and apertures are each sized for insertion of one of the belts therethrough.

40. The apparatus of claim 35, further comprising a first reinforcement bar coupled to the base platform, and a second reinforcement bar coupled to the plate.

41. An apparatus configured to support a mattress, the apparatus comprising:

a base platform having a first plate, a second, plate, and a hinge coupled to the first and second plates to permit folding of the first and second plates,

a first bladder located on the first plate,

a second bladder located on the second plate,

a first conduit coupled to the first bladder to supply fluid to the first bladder, and

a second conduit coupled to the second bladder to supply fluid to the second bladder, the second conduit including a living hinge extending across the hinge between the first and second plates, the living hinge being foldable with the first and second plates.

42. The apparatus of claim 41, wherein the living hinge includes first and second ends, and the second conduit includes a first tube segment coupled between the second bladder and the first end of the living hinge and a second tube segment coupled to the second end of the living hinge.

43. An articulatable apparatus configured to support a mattress thereon, the apparatus comprising:

a base platform formed to include a first mounting slot extending therethrough,

a plate pivotably coupled to the base platform, the plate being formed to include a second mounting slot extending therethrough,

a bladder positioned to lie between the plate and the base platform, the bladder including a first portion sized for extension through the first mounting slot and a second portion sized for extension through the second mounting slot,

first and second mounting brackets coupled to the first and second portions of the bladder, respectively, the mounting brackets being configured to prevent the first and second portions of the bladder from sliding through the first and second mounting slots, to hold the bladder between the plate and the base platform.

44. The apparatus of claim 43, respectively, wherein the first and second portions of the bladder are each formed as a loop and the first and second mounting brackets are sized for insertion through the loops of first and second portions, respectively.

45. The apparatus of claim 43, wherein the plate is formed to include a recessed portion therein and the second mounting bracket is configured to lie within the recessed portion.

46. The structure of claim 45, wherein the base platform is formed to include a recessed portion therein and the first mounting bracket is configured to lie within the recessed portion of the base platform.

47. The structure of claim 43, further comprising a first reinforcement bar coupled to the base platform, and a second reinforcement bar coupled to the plate.

48. The structure of claim 47, wherein the first and second reinforcement bars are generally U-shaped.

49. The apparatus of claim 43, further comprising an attachment mechanism for securing the base platform to a foundation.