Adjustable support apparatus

• US 6,134,731 A
• Filed: 04/01/1999
• Issued: 10/24/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 04/01/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Bel-Art Products Incorporated (ATS Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Bel-Art Products Incorporated (ATS Corp.)
• Inventors: Thom, Paul, Landsberger, Kurt
• Primary Examiner(s): Melius, Terry Lee
• Assistant Examiner(s): CONLEY, FREDRICK C
• Application Number:
  US09/283,935
• Time in Patent Office: 572 Days
• Field of Search: 5/662, 5/663, 5/659, 5/658, 5/424, 5/425, 5/426, 5/81.1, 211/119.006, 211/119.007, 211/86.07, 206/326
• US Class Current: 5/662
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/0507 Side-rails
• 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 7/0518 quickly removable
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/0524 characterised by integrated accessories, e.g. bed control means, nurse call or reading lights
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/053 Aids for getting into, or out of, bed, e.g. steps, chairs, cane-like supports

Abstract

An adjustable support apparatus for facilitating movement of a person from one position to another includes one or more upright support units and an adjustable frame assembly for connecting or mounting the support unit(s) to a structure. Each support unit includes a compartment with a hollow interior and a handle connected to the compartment. A pocket with an opening is formed in the compartment for providing access to the hollow interior. The handle includes an elongate bar spaced from the compartment portion and sized to be grasped by the hand of a person. Two or more upright support units may be arranged in tandem and/or opposite each other. The distance between the support units is adjustable through the frame assembly.

Claims

1. A support apparatus for facilitating movement of a person from one position to another, the apparatus comprising:

a compartment portion having a front wall connected to a rear wall by opposing side walls and upper

and lower walls to thereby form a hollow interior, an opening being formed in the compartment portion for permitting access to the hollow interior;

a handle portion connected to the compartment portion, the handle portion including an elongate bar spaced from the compartment portion and sized to be grasped by the hand of a person; and

a frame assembly having a pair of spaced frame members connected to the compartment portion and extending downwardly therefrom for mounting the support apparatus to a structure;

each said frame member is L-shaped and includes a first leg telescopically received in the compartment portion and a second leg extending substantially perpendicular from the first leg.

2. A support apparatus according to claim 1, and further comprising a pocket formed in the compartment portion, the pocket extending outwardly from one of the compartment walls, and wherein the opening is formed in the pocket for permitting access to the hollow interior through the pocket.

3. A support apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the pocket includes a front wall that extends outwardly and upwardly from a location at least proximal to the bottom wall of the compartment.

4. A support apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the pocket includes an upper wall that extends outwardly and downwardly toward the front wall of the pocket from the front wall of the compartment, and further wherein the opening is formed in the upper wall of the pocket.

5. A support apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the handle portion includes a hollow interior that is in communication with the hollow interior of the compartment portion.

6. A support apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the compartment portion and handle portion are integrally formed as a unitary structure.

7. A support apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the compartment portion and handle portion are integrally formed as a unitary structure.

8. A support apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the frame assembly further comprises a U-shaped extension having a pair of spaced extension legs extending from opposite ends of a cross member, each of the extension legs being in telescopic engagement with one of the second legs to thereby adjust the distance between the cross member and the compartment portion.

9. A support apparatus according to claim 8, and further comprising a strap connected to the U-shaped extension for securing the support apparatus to a structure.

10. An adjustable support apparatus for facilitating movement of a person from one position to another, the apparatus comprising:

a compartment portion having a front wall connected to a rear wall by opposing side walls and upper and lower walls to thereby form a hollow interior;

a handle portion connected to the compartment portion, the handle portion including an elongate bar spaced from the compartment portion and sized to be grasped by the hand of a person; and

a frame assembly having a pair of spaced frame members connected to the compartment portion and extending downwardly therefrom for mounting the support apparatus to a structure, each said frame member is L-shaped and includes a first leg telescopically received in the compartment portion and a second leg extending substantially perpendicular from the first leg.

11. An adjustable support apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the first leg of each frame member comprises a plurality of securing positions for lockably adjusting the height of the handle and compartment portions with respect to the second legs.

12. An adjustable support apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the frame assembly further comprises a U-shaped extension having a pair of spaced extension legs extending from opposite ends of a cross member, each of the extension legs being in telescopic engagement with one of the second legs and having a plurality of securing positions for lockably adjusting the distance between the cross member and the handle and compartment portions.

13. An adjustable support apparatus according to claim 12, and further comprising a strap connected to the U-shaped extension for securing the support apparatus to a structure.

14. An adjustable support apparatus for facilitating movement of a person from one position to another, the apparatus comprising:

at least two upright support units arranged substantially parallel to each other, each unit including a compartment portion having a front wall connected to a rear wall by opposing side walls and an upper and lower wall to thereby form a hollow interior, and a handle portion connected to the compartment portion, the handle portion including an elongate bar spaced from the compartment portion and sized to be grasped by the hand of a person; and

a frame assembly including a pair of spaced upright frame members connected to each compartment portion and extending downwardly therefrom, and at least one transverse frame member connected to the pairs of spaced upright frame members, thereby connecting the at least two upright support units together.

15. An adjustable support apparatus according to claim 14, wherein each upright frame member is L-shaped and includes a first leg telescopically received in the compartment portion and a second leg extending substantially perpendicular from the first leg.

16. An adjustable support apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the rear walls and the second legs of the upright support units face each other in opposing relationship, and further wherein the at least one transverse frame member comprises a plurality of transverse frame members, each transverse frame member being in telescopic engagement with a set of opposing second legs.

17. An adjustable support apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the upright support units are arranged in tandem.

18. An adjustable support apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the at least one transverse frame member includes a first tubular segment connected to one of the pairs of upright frame members and a second tubular segment connected to the other of the pairs of upright frame members, the first tubular segment being in telescopic engagement with the second tubular segment to thereby adjust the distance between the upright support units.

19. An adjustable support apparatus according to claim 18, wherein the first segment includes a plurality of securing positions for lockably adjusting the length of the transverse frame member and thus the distance between the upright support units.

20. An adjustable support apparatus according to claim 14, and further comprising a pocket formed in each compartment portion, the pocket extending outwardly from one of the compartment walls, and an opening being formed in the pocket for permitting access to the hollow interior through the pocket.

21. A support apparatus according to claim 20, wherein the pocket includes a front wall that extends outwardly and upwardly from a location at least proximal to the bottom wall of the compartment.

22. A support apparatus according to claim 21, wherein the pocket includes an upper wall that extends outwardly and downwardly toward the front wall of the pocket from the front wall of the compartment, and further wherein the opening is formed in the upper wall of the pocket.

23. A support apparatus according to claim 22, wherein the handle portion includes a hollow interior that is in communication with the hollow interior of the compartment portion.

24. A support apparatus according to claim 23, wherein the compartment portion and handle portion are integrally formed as a unitary structure.