Hand-held controller for bed and mattress assembly

• US 6,396,224 B1
• Filed: 11/12/1999
• Issued: 05/28/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 04/22/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Hill-Rom Services Incorporated (Baxter International Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hill-Rom Services Incorporated (Baxter International Inc.)
• Inventors: Luff, Lawrence E., Reeder, Ryan A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ro, Bentsu
• Application Number:
  US09/438,605
• Time in Patent Office: 928 Days
• Field of Search: 318/16,565 388/909 5/600,613,616,618,690,697,706,713
• US Class Current: 318/16
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 2220/0097 Remote control for furniture, e.g. tables or shelves
• 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

Abstract

A hand-held controller is used to control an apparatus that supports a person. The hand-held controller includes a display that displays graphical images pertaining to functions of the apparatus. An illustrative apparatus comprises a frame and a mattress supported by the frame.

Claims

1. A hand-held controller for controlling at least one function of a bed and mattress assembly, the hand-held controller comprising:

a clock operating to keep track of time,

at least one button engageable to program the at least one function of the bed and mattress assembly to occur at a programmed time, and

a display configured to provide feedback to a user regarding the at least one function, the display displaying a graphical image related to the at least one function when the at least one button is engaged to program the at least one function.

2. The hand-held controller of claim 1, wherein the at least one function includes vibrating at least a portion of the bed and mattress assembly.

3. The hand-held controller of claim 1, wherein the at least one function includes producing a wave-effect motion between a head end and a foot end of the bed and mattress assembly.

4. The hand-held controller of claim 1, wherein the at least one function includes articulating a section of the bed and mattress assembly between first and second positions.

5. The hand-held controller of claim 1, wherein the at least one function includes heating at least a portion of the bed and mattress assembly.

6. The hand-held controller of claim 1, wherein the display displays alphanumeric information related to the at least one function when the at least one button is engaged to program the at least one function.

7. The hand-held controller of claim 1, wherein the display defaults to displaying a time-of-day when the at least one button is disengaged.

8. The hand-held controller of claim 1, further comprising a memory button that is engageable to move the bed and mattress assembly into a user-programmed configuration.

9. The hand-held controller of claim 1, wherein the graphical image includes an icon representing articulating sections of the bed and mattress assembly.

10. The hand-held controller of claim 9, wherein the graphical image further includes a bar graph that correlates to an angular position of one of the articulating sections of the bed and mattress assembly.

11. The hand-held controller of claim 9, wherein the graphical image further includes an arrow that indicates directional movement of one of the articulating sections of the bed and mattress assembly.

12. The hand-held controller of claim 1, wherein the graphical image includes an icon representing inflatable zones of a mattress of the bed and mattress assembly.

13. The hand-held controller of claim 12, wherein the graphical image further includes a bar graph representative of a pneumatic pressure within one of the respective inflatable zones.

14. The hand-held controller of claim 1, wherein the graphical image includes an icon representing a massage intensity at which a massage motor of the bed and mattress assembly operates.

15. The hand-held controller of claim 14, wherein the graphical image further includes a bar graph representative of the massage intensity.

16. The hand-held controller of claim 1, wherein the graphical image includes an icon representing zones of a heater coupled to a mattress of the bed and mattress assembly.

17. The hand-held controller of claim 1, wherein the display is configured to display numerical data along with the graphical image.

18. The hand-held controller of claim 17, wherein the numerical data correlates to an angular position of an articulating section of the bed and mattress assembly.

19. The hand-held controller of claim 17, wherein the numerical data correlates to a pneumatic pressure of an inflatable zone of a mattress of the bed and mattress assembly.

20. The hand-held controller of claim 17, wherein the numerical data includes a number that correlates to an intensity at which a massage motor of the bed and mattress assembly operates to vibrate a section of the bed and mattress assembly.

21. The hand-held controller of claim 17, wherein the numerical data correlates to a wave intensity at which a set of vibratory motors operate to alternately vibrate respective sections of the bed and mattress assembly.

22. The hand-held controller of claim 17, wherein the numerical data correlates to a speed with which a set of vibratory motors operate to alternately vibrate respective sections of the bed and mattress assembly.

23. The hand-held controller of claim 1, wherein the display includes an array of pixels to permit the display of both alphanumeric and graphical images.

24. A hand-held controller for controlling at least one function of a bed and mattress assembly, the hand-held controller comprising

a clock operating to keep track of time,

at least one button engageable to program the at least one function of the bed and mattress assembly to occur at a programmed time, and

a display configured to provide feedback to a user regarding the at least one function, the display displaying a graphical image related to the at least one function when the at least one function occurs at the programmed time.

25. The hand-held controller of claim 24, wherein the at least one function of the bed and mattress assembly includes vibrating at least a portion of the bed and mattress assembly.

26. The hand-held controller of claim 24, wherein the at least one function includes producing a wave-effect motion between a head end and a foot end of the bed and mattress assembly.

27. The hand-held controller of claim 24, wherein the at least one function includes articulating a section of the bed and mattress assembly between first and second positions.

28. The hand-held controller of claim 24, wherein the at least one function includes heating at least a portion of the bed and mattress assembly.

29. The hand-held controller of claim 24, wherein the display defaults to a clock mode and displays a time-of-day when the button is disengaged and when the at least one function is in an off state.

30. The hand-held controller of claim 24, wherein the graphical image includes an icon representing articulating sections of the bed and mattress assembly.

31. The hand-held controller of claim 30, wherein the graphical image further includes a bar graph that correlates to an angular position of one of the articulating sections of the bed and mattress assembly.

32. The hand-held controller of claim 30, wherein the graphical image further includes an arrow that indicates directional movement of one of the articulating sections of the bed and mattress assembly.

33. The hand-held controller of claim 24, wherein the graphical image includes an icon representing inflatable zones of a mattress of the bed and mattress assembly.

34. The hand-held controller of claim 33, wherein the graphical image further includes a bar graph representative of a pneumatic pressure within one of the respective inflatable zones.

35. The hand-held controller of claim 24, wherein the graphical image includes an icon representing a massage intensity at which a massage motor of the bed and mattress assembly operates.

36. The hand-held controller of claim 35, wherein the graphical image further includes a bar graph representative of the massage intensity.

37. The hand-held controller of claim 24, wherein the graphical image includes an icon representing zones of a heater coupled to a mattress of the bed and mattress assembly.

38. A hand-held controller for controlling at least one function of a bed and mattress assembly having a portion that moves during operation of the at least one function, the hand-held controller comprising

a button engageable to control the at least one function, and

a display configured to provide feedback to a user regarding the at least one function during operation of the at least one function, the display displaying a graphical image having an image portion that moves on the display as the portion of the bed and mattress assembly moves.

39. The hand-held controller of claim 38, wherein the portion of the bed and mattress assembly that moves includes an articulated frame section.

40. The hand-held controller of claim 38, wherein the portion of the bed and mattress assembly that moves includes a massage motor.

41. The hand-held controller of claim 38, wherein the portion of the bed and mattress assembly that moves includes an air bladder.

42. The hand-held controller of claim 38, wherein the display is configured to display numerical data along with the graphical image.

43. The hand-held controller of claim 42, wherein the numerical data correlates to an angular position of an articulating section of the bed and mattress assembly.

44. The hand-held controller of claim 42, wherein the numerical data correlates to a pneumatic pressure of an inflatable zone of a mattress of the bed and mattress assembly.

45. The hand-held controller of claim 42, wherein the numerical data includes a number that correlates to an intensity at which a massage motor of the bed and mattress assembly operates to vibrate a section of the bed and mattress assembly.

46. The hand-held controller of claim 42, wherein the numerical data correlates to a wave intensity at which a set of vibratory motors operate to alternately vibrate respective sections of the bed and mattress assembly.

47. The hand-held controller of claim 42, wherein the numerical data correlates to a speed with which a set of vibratory motors operate to alternately vibrate respective sections of the bed and mattress assembly.

48. The hand-held controller of claim 38, wherein the display defaults to a clock displaying a time-of-day when the button is disengaged.

49. The hand-held controller of claim 38, wherein the graphical image includes an icon representing articulating sections of the bed and mattress assembly.

50. The hand-held controller of claim 49, wherein the graphical image further includes a bar graph that correlates to an angular position of one of the articulating sections of the bed and mattress assembly.

51. The hand-held controller of claim 49, wherein the graphical image further includes an arrow that indicates directional movement of one of the articulating sections of the bed and mattress assembly.

52. The hand-held controller of claim 38, wherein the graphical image includes an icon representing inflatable zones of a mattress of the bed and mattress assembly.

53. The hand-held controller of claim 52, wherein the graphical image further includes a bar graph representative of a pneumatic pressure within one of the respective inflatable zones.

54. The hand-held controller of claim 38, wherein the graphical image includes an icon representing a massage intensity at which a massage motor of the bed and mattress assembly operates.

55. The hand-held controller of claim 54, wherein the graphical image further includes a bar graph representative of the massage intensity.

56. The hand-held controller of claim 38, wherein the display includes an array of pixels to permit the display of both alphanumeric and graphical images.

57. An apparatus comprising

a frame,

a mattress supported by the frame, and

a hand-held controller for controlling at least one function of at least one of the frame and the mattress, the hand-held controller including at least one button engageable to control the at least one function and a display configured to provide feedback regarding the at least one function, the display displaying a graphical image when the button is engaged.

58. The apparatus of claim 57, wherein the frame includes a base and an articulating deck supported with respect to the base, and the mattress is supported by the articulating deck.

59. The apparatus of claim 57, wherein the hand-held controller includes a memory button that is engageable to move at least one of the frame and the mattress into a user-programmed configuration.

60. The apparatus of claim 57, wherein the display defaults to a clock displaying a time-of-day when the button is disengaged.

61. The apparatus of claim 60, further comprising a casing to which the button and the display are coupled and a stand coupled to the casing, the stand being moveable between a first position in which the stand is adjacent to the casing and a second position in which at least a portion of the stand is spaced apart from the casing, and the stand cooperating with the casing to support the display at an angle that facilitates observing the clock when the stand is in the second position.

62. The apparatus of claim 57, wherein the graphical image includes an icon representing articulating sections of at least one of the frame and the mattress.

63. The apparatus of claim 62, wherein the graphical image further includes a bar graph that correlates to an angular position of one of the articulating sections.

64. The apparatus of claim 62, wherein the graphical image further includes an arrow that indicates directional movement of one of the articulating sections.

65. The apparatus of claim 57, wherein the graphical image includes an icon representing inflatable zones of the mattress.

66. The apparatus of claim 65, wherein the graphical image further includes a bar graph representative of a pneumatic pressure within one of the respective inflatable zones.

67. The apparatus of claim 57, further comprising a massage motor coupled to the frame and the graphical image including an icon representing a massage intensity at which the massage motor operates.

68. The apparatus of claim 67, wherein the graphical image further includes a bar graph representative of the massage intensity.

69. The apparatus of claim 57, wherein the mattress includes a heater and the graphical image includes an icon representing zones of the heater.

70. The apparatus of claim 57, wherein the display is configured to display numerical data along with the graphical image.

71. The apparatus of claim 70, wherein the numerical data correlates to an angular position of an articulating section of at least one of the frame and the mattress.

72. The apparatus of claim 70, wherein the numerical data correlates to a pneumatic pressure of an inflatable zone of the mattress.

73. The apparatus of claim 70, further comprising a massage motor coupled to the frame and the numerical data including a number that correlates to an intensity at which the massage motor operates.

74. The apparatus of claim 70, further comprising a set of vibratory motors coupled to the frame and the numerical data correlating to a wave intensity at which the set of vibratory motors operate.

75. The apparatus of claim 70, further comprising a set of vibratory motors coupled to the frame and the numerical data correlating to a speed with which the set of vibratory motors operate.

76. The apparatus of claim 70, wherein the display includes an array of pixels to permit the display of both alpha numeric and graphical images.

77. An apparatus comprising

a frame,

a mattress supported by the frame, and

a hand-held controller configured to control at least one function of at least one of the frame and the mattress, the hand-held controller including a clock operating to keep track of time, at least one button engageable to program the at least one function to occur at a programmed time, and a display configured to provide feedback to a user regarding the at least one function, the display displaying a graphical image related to the at least one function when the at least one function occurs at the programmed time.

78. The apparatus of claim 77, wherein the at least one function includes vibrating at least a portion of at least one of the frame and the mattress.

79. The apparatus of claim 77, wherein the at least one function includes producing a wave-effect motion between a head end and a foot end of the mattress.

80. The apparatus of claim 77, wherein the at least one function includes articulating a section of the frame between first and second positions.

81. The apparatus of claim 77 wherein the at least one function includes heating at least a portion of the mattress.

82. The apparatus of claim 77, wherein the display defaults to a clock mode and displays a time-of-day when the button is disengaged and when the at least one function is in an off state.

83. The apparatus of claim 77, wherein the frame includes a base and an articulating deck supported with respect to the base, and the mattress is supported by the articulating deck.

84. The apparatus of claim 77, further comprising a casing to which the button and the display are coupled and a stand coupled to the casing, the stand being moveable between a first position in which the stand is adjacent to the casing and a second position in which at least a portion of the stand is spaced apart from the casing, and the stand cooperating with the casing to support the display at an angle that facilitates observing the display when the stand is in the second position.

85. The apparatus of claim 77, wherein the graphical image includes an icon representing articulating sections of at least one of the frame and the mattress.

86. The apparatus of claim 85, wherein the graphical image further includes a bar graph that correlates to an angular position of one of the articulating sections.

87. The apparatus of claim 85, wherein the graphical image further includes an arrow that indicates directional movement of one of the articulating sections.

88. The apparatus of claim 77, wherein the graphical image includes an icon representing inflatable zones of the mattress.

89. The apparatus of claim 88, wherein the graphical image further includes a bar graph representative of a pneumatic pressure within one of the respective inflatable zones.

90. The apparatus of claim 77, further comprising a massage motor coupled to the frame and the graphical image including an icon representing a massage intensity at which the massage motor operates.

91. The apparatus of claim 90, wherein the graphical image further includes a bar graph representative of the massage intensity.

92. The apparatus of claim 77, wherein the mattress includes a heater and the graphical image includes an icon representing zones of the heater.

93. The apparatus of claim 77, wherein the display is configured to display numerical data along with the graphical image.

94. The apparatus of claim 93, wherein the numerical data correlates to an angular position of an articulating section of at least one of the frame and the mattress.

95. The apparatus of claim 93, wherein the numerical data correlates to a pneumatic pressure of an inflatable zone of the mattress.

96. The apparatus of claim 93, further comprising a massage motor coupled to the frame and the numerical data including a number that correlates to an intensity at which the massage motor operates.

97. The apparatus of claim 93, further comprising a set of vibratory motors coupled to the frame and the numerical data correlating to a wave intensity at which the set of vibratory motors operate.

98. The apparatus of claim 93, further comprising a set of vibratory motors coupled to the frame and the numerical data correlating to a speed with which the set of vibratory motors operate.

99. The apparatus of claim 93, wherein the display includes an array of pixels to permit the display of both alphanumeric and graphical images.

100. An apparatus comprising

a frame,

a mattress supported by the frame, at least one of the frame and the mattress having a movable portion, and

a hand-held controller having at least one button that is engageable to control movement of the movable portion and a display that is configured to provide feedback to a user regarding the movement of the movable portion, the display displaying a graphical image having an image portion that moves on the display as the movable portion moves.

101. The apparatus of claim 100, wherein the movable portion includes an articulated frame section of the frame.

102. The apparatus of claim 100, wherein the movable portion includes a massage motor.

103. The apparatus of claim 100, wherein the movable portion includes an air bladder of the mattress.

104. The apparatus of claim 100, wherein the display is configured to display numerical data simultaneously with the graphical image.

105. The apparatus of claim 104, wherein the numerical data correlates to an angular position of the movable portion.

106. The apparatus of claim 104, wherein the numerical data correlates to a pneumatic pressure of an inflatable zone of the mattress.

107. The apparatus of claim 104, wherein the numerical data includes a number that correlates to an intensity at which a massage motor of one of the frame and the mattress operates.

108. The apparatus of claim 104, wherein the numerical data correlates to a wave intensity at which a set of vibratory motors of one of the frame and the mattress operate.

109. The apparatus of claim 104, wherein the numerical data correlates to a speed with which a set of vibratory motors of one of the frame and the mattress operate.

110. The apparatus of claim 104, wherein the display includes an array of pixels to permit the display of both alphanumeric and graphical images.

111. The apparatus of claim 100, wherein the display defaults to a clock displaying a time-of-day when the button is disengaged.

112. The apparatus of claim 100, wherein the graphical image includes an icon representing articulating sections of at least one of the frame and the mattress and the movable portion is one of the articulating sections.

113. The apparatus of claim 112, wherein the graphical image further includes a bar graph that correlates to an angular position of the movable portion.

114. The apparatus of claim 112, wherein the graphical image further includes an arrow that indicates directional movement of the movable portion.

115. The apparatus of claim 100, wherein the graphical image includes an icon representing inflatable zones of the mattress and the movable portion is one of the inflatable zones.

116. The apparatus of claim 115, wherein the graphical image further includes a bar graph representative of a pneumatic pressure within the movable portion.

117. The apparatus of claim 100, wherein the frame includes a massage motor, the graphical image includes an icon representing a massage intensity at which the massage motor operates, and the movable portion is moved by the massage motor.

118. The apparatus of claim 117, wherein the graphical image further includes a bar graph representative of the massage intensity.