Hospital bed

• US 6,658,680 B2
• Filed: 12/29/2000
• Issued: 12/09/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 12/29/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Hill-Rom Services Incorporated (Baxter International Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hill-Rom Services Incorporated (Baxter International Inc.)
• Inventors: Valvano, Dean M., Dickman, Bruce E. Jr., Kinker, Robert A. Jr., Findlay, James K., Osborne, Eugene E., Ganance, Francis C., Suttman, Glenn C., Branson, Gregory W., Kramer, Kenneth L., Wilker, Jack Jr., Welling, Jeffrey R., Visca, Matthew, Jacques, William L. II, Koenig, John W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Santos, Robert G.
• Application Number:
  US09/750,741
• Publication Number:
  US 20020066142A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,075 Days
• Field of Search: 560/0, 561/6, 542/4, 542/5, 565/8, 566/2, 550/31
• US Class Current: 5/600
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 19/045 with entire frame height or inclination adjustments
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1115 Monitoring leaving of a patient support, e.g. a bed or a wheelchair
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6891 Furniture
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 2203/12 Remote controls
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 2203/16 Touchpads
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 2203/20 Displays or monitors
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 2203/34 for pressure
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 2203/36 for motion
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 2203/40 for distance
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 2203/44 for weight
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 2203/726 for automatic deactivation, e.g. deactivation of actuators or motors
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 2203/74 for anti-shear when adjusting furniture
• 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 7/001 with means for turning-over the patient
• 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 7/018 Control or drive mechanisms
• 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 7/051 : pivoting sideward
• 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 7/052 : characterised by safety means, e.g. to avoid injuries to patient or caregiver
• 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 7/05715 : with modular blocks, or inserts, with layers of different material
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/05769 : with inflatable chambers
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/0755 : for the legs or feet
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/08 : Apparatus for transporting beds
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 19/445 : in a horizontal position

Abstract

A bed for a person is provided. The bed includes a frame, a deck, a mattress, a pair of head end siderails, and a pair of foot end siderails. The bed further includes a controller configured to be coupled to the head and foot end siderails.

Claims

1. A patient support comprising

a frame,

a mattress supported by the frame,

a barrier positioned to block egress of a patient from the mattress, the barrier including first and second spaced-apart rails, and

a controller positioned to slide along the first and second rails simultaneously.

2. The patient support of claim 1, wherein the first and second rails cooperate to define an opening in the harder and the controller is positioned in the opening.

3. The patient support of claim 2, wherein the opening is curved.

4. The patient support of claim 1, wherein at least one of the rails includes a convex surface and the controller includes a concave surface positioned adjacent to the convex surface of the rail.

5. The patient support of claim 1, wherein first rail includes a first convex surface, the second rail includes a second convex surface, and the controller includes a first concave surface positioned adjacent to the first convex surface of the first rail and a second concave surface positioned adjacent to the second convex surface of the second rail.

6. The patient support of claim 1, wherein the controller is removably coupled to the barrier.

7. The patient support of claim 6, wherein the controller includes a housing and a retainer coupled to the housing to removably couple the housing to the barrier.

8. The patient support of claim 7, wherein the retainer contacts one of the first and second rails when the controller is coupled to the barrier.

9. The patient support of claim 6, wherein the controller is supported by the first and second rails.

10. A patient support comprising

a frame,

a mattress supported by the frame,

a barrier positioned to block caress of a patient from the mattress, the barrier including first and second spaced-apart rails, the first and second rails cooperate to define an opening in the barrier, the first rail including a first surface, the second rail including a second surface, the first and second surfaces cooperating to define the opening, and

a controller positioned to slide along the first and second rails, the controller being positioned in the opening, the controller contacting the first and second surfaces when positioned to slide on the first and second rails.

11. The patient support of claim 10, wherein the controller further includes a housing and a retainer coupled to the housing to removably couple the housing to the barrier.

12. The patient support of claim 11, wherein the retainer contacts one of the first and second rails when the controller is coupled to the barrier.

13. The patient support of claim 10, wherein the opening is curved.

14. The patient support of claim 10, wherein at least one of the rails includes a convex surface and the controller includes a concave surface positioned adjacent to the convex surface of the rail.

15. The patient support of claim 10, wherein the rails are vertically spaced apart by a distance and the controller has a maximum vertical height that is greater than the distance.

16. The patient support of claim 10, wherein the controller is indexed to inhibit improper placement of the controller in the opening.

17. A patient support comprising

a frame,

a mattress supported by the frame,

a barrier positioned to block egress of a patient from the mattress, the barrier including upper and lower surfaces that cooperate to define an opening, and

a controller positioned to slide along the lower surface defining the opening in the barrier.

18. The patient support of claim 17, wherein the controller is removably coupled to the barrier.

19. The patient support of claim 17, wherein the controller is coupled to the barrier to slide along the upper edge defining the opening in the barrier.

20. The patient support of claim 17, wherein the upper and lower edges are convex and the controller includes upper and lower edges that are concave to complement the upper and lower edges of the barrier.

21. The patient support of claim 17, wherein the controller includes a housing and a retainer configured to couple the housing to the barrier.

22. The patient support of claim 21, wherein the retainer is a latch.

23. The patient support of claim 22, wherein the latch is biased into contract with the barrier.

24. The patient support of claim 21, wherein the retainer is a flexible tab.

25. The patient support of claim 24, wherein the controller includes another retainer configured to couple the housing to the upper edge defining the opening in the barrier.

26. A patient support comprising

a frame,

a mattress supported by the frame,

a barrier positioned to block egress of a patient from the mattress, the barrier including a curved opening, and

a controller positioned in the curved opening to move along the barrier.

27. The patient support of claim 26, wherein the barrier includes a longitudinally-extending first curved surface and a spaced-apart longitudinally extending second curved surface that cooperates with the longitudinally extending first curved surface to define the curved opening.

28. The patient support of claim 27, wherein the first curved surface has a first radius of curvature, the second curved surface has a second radius of curvature, the controller has a first curved surface having a radius of curvature generally equal to the first radius or curvature of the first curved surface and a second curved surface having a radius of curvature generally equal to the second radius of curvature of the second curved surface.

29. The patient support of claim 26, wherein the barrier includes a first curved surface cooperating to define the curved opening and the controller includes a first curved channel positioned adjacent to the first curved surface of the barrier.

30. The patient support of claim 29, wherein the barrier includes second curved surface spaced apart from the first curved surface that cooperates to define the curved opening and the controller includes a second curved channel positioned adjacent to the second surface of the barrier.

31. The patient support of claim 26, wherein the barrier includes a pair of rails cooperating to define the curved opening and at least one of the rails is curved.

32. The patient support of claim 31, wherein the controller includes a curved channel sized to receive a portion of the curved rail.

33. The patient support of claim 26, wherein the controller is configured to slide along the length of the barrier.

34. The patient support of claim 26, wherein controller is configured to slide along the barrier.

35. The patient support of claim 26, wherein the controller is removably received in the curved opening.

36. A patient support comprising

a frame,

a mattress supported by the frame,

a barrier positioned to block egress of a patient from the mattress, the barrier including an outer perimeter surface defining a perimeter of the barrier and an inner surface defining an opening in the barrier, and

a controller having a housing and a retainer coupled to the housing, spaced apart from the outer perimeter surface of the barrier, and configured to contact the inner surface of the barrier to couple the housing to the barrier to permit selective removal of the housing from the barrier.

37. The patient support of claim 36, wherein the retainer includes a latch positioned to removably couple the housing to the barrier.

38. The patient support of claim 37, wherein the latch is movable between a first position coupling the housing to the barrier and a second position permitting removal of the housing from the barrier.

39. The patient support of claim 37, wherein the latch is biased into contact with the inner surface of the barrier.

40. The patient support of claim 37, wherein the housing includes an opening and the latch is positioned to extend through the opening.

41. The patient support of claim 40, wherein the latch includes a stop configured to limit movement of the latch through the opening.

42. The patient support of claim 37, wherein the latch is pivotably coupled to the housing.

43. The patient support of claim 36, wherein the controller includes a corner edge and the retainer is positioned along the corner edge.

44. The patient support of claim 36, wherein the retainer and the housing cooperate to define a first width of the controller when the retainer is in a first position relative to the housing and a second width of the controller when the retainer is in a second position relative to the housing, the first width is less than a width of the opening and the second width is greater than the width of the opening.

45. A patient support comprising

a frame,

a mattress supported by the frame,

a barrier positioned to block egress of a patient from the mattress, the barrier including an outer perimeter surface defining a perimeter of the harder and an inner surface defining an opening in the barrier, and

a controller having a housing and a retainer coupled to the housing, spaced apart from the outer perimeter surface of the barrier, and configured to contact the inner surface of the barrier to removable couple the housing to the barrier, the retainer including a latch positioned to removably couple the housing to the barrier, the latch including a ramp portion configured to ride over the inner surface of the barrier during removal of the controller from the barrier.

46. The patient support of claim 45, wherein the controller further includes a biaser positioned to urge the latch into contact with the inner surface of the barrier.

47. The patient support of claim 45, wherein the opening in the barrier is curved.

48. The patient support of claim 45, wherein the controller follows a horizontal path during removal from the barrier.

49. The patient support of claim 45, wherein the latch is pivotably coupled to the housing.

50. The patient support of claim 45, wherein the latch is longitudinally centered on the housing.

51. A patient support comprising

a frame,

a mattress supported by the frame,

a barrier positioned to block egress of a patient from the mattress, and

a controller removably coupled to the barrier, the controller being movable from a first position spaced apart from the barrier to a second position coupled to the barrier, the controller being movable along a substantially horizontal path from the first position to the second position to couple the controller to the barrier, the controller being movable along the barrier when the second position.

52. The patient support of claim 51, wherein the controller includes a housing and a retainer configured to removably couple the housing to the barrier.

53. The patient support of claim 52, wherein the barrier includes an opening and the controller is positioned in the opening.

54. The patient support of claim 53, wherein the controller is movable along the horizontal path to position the controller in the opening.

55. The patient support of claim 53, wherein the housing and the retainer cooperate to define a first width when the retainer is in a first position relative to the housing and a second width when the retainer is in a second position relative to the housing and the opening has a width that is greater than the first width and less than the second width.

56. The patient support of claim 52, wherein the path is completely horizontal.

57. The patient support of claim 52, wherein the bonier includes a side defining a substantially vertical plane and the controller is inserted through the vertical plane when coupled to the barrier.

58. The patient support of claim 57, wherein the barrier includes an opening and the controller is positioned in the opening.

59. The patient support of claim 58, wherein the opening extends completely through the barrier.

60. A patient support comprising

a frame,

a mattress supported by the frame, the mattress having a first side and a second side transversely spaced-apart from the first side,

a first barrier positioned to block egress of a patient from the first side of the mattress, the first barrier including a first opening formed therein,

a second bonier positioned to block egress of a patient from the first side of the mattress, the second barrier including a second opening formed therein, and

a controller configured to be removably received in the first opening of the first barrier and removably received in the second opening of the second barrier.

61. The patient support of claim 60, wherein the controller is configured to move along the first barrier when received in first opening.

62. The patient support of claim 61, wherein the controller is configured to move along the second barrier when received in the second opening.

63. The patient support of claim 62, wherein the controller is slidably coupled to the first and second siderails when received in either of the first and second openings.

64. The patient support of claim 60, wherein the first and second openings are curved.

65. The patient support of claim 64, wherein the controller includes a housing have a curved portion that complements the curvature of the first and second openings.

66. The patient support of claim 60, wherein the controller includes a housing and a retainer configured to couple the housing to the first and second barriers.

67. A patient support comprising

a frame,

a mattress supported by the frame,

a barrier positioned to block egress of a patient from the mattress, the barrier having a longitudinal axis, and

a controller, the barrier including a guide configured to direct movement of the controller along the barrier in a path having longitudinal and transverse components.

68. The patient support of claim 67, wherein the guide includes first and second spaced-apart longitudinally and transversely-extending curved surface that cooperate to guide controller along the path.

69. The patient support of claim 68, wherein the first curved surface has a first radius of curvature, the second curved surface has a second radius of curvature, the controller has a first curved surface having a radius of curvature generally equal to the first radius of curvature of the first curved surface and a second curved surface having a radius of curvature generally equal to the second radius of curvature of the second curved surface.

70. The patient support of claim 67, wherein the harder includes a first curved surface and the controller includes a first curved channel positioned adjacent to the first curved surface of the barrier.

71. The patient support of claim 70, wherein the harder includes second curved surface spaced apart from the first curved surface and the controller includes a second curved cannel positioned adjacent to the second ace of the barrier.

72. The patient support of claim 71, wherein the guide includes a pair of rails cooperating to guide the controller.

73. The patient support of claim 72, wherein at least one of the rails is curved.

74. The patient support of claim 73, wherein the controller includes a curved channel sized to receive a portion of the curved rail.

75. The patient support of claim 67, wherein be guide includes an opening and the controller is positioned in the opening.

76. The patient support of claim 67, wherein controller is configured to slide along the barrier.

77. The patient support of claim 67, wherein the controller is removably coupled to the guide.

78. A patient support comprising

a frame,

a mattress supported by the frame,

a pair of spaced-apart barriers positioned to block egress of a patient from the mattress,

a controller removably coupled to the barrier, the controller including a housing, a cord coupled to the housing, and a first connector coupled to the cord,

a second connector supported by the frame, the first connector being configured to couple to the second connector to provide communication for the controller through the first and second connectors when the first connector is coupled to the second connector, and

a third connector supported by the frame in a location spaced apart from the second connector, the first connector being configured to couple to the third connector to provide communication for the controller through the first and third connectors when the first connector is coupled to the third connector.

79. The patient support of claim 78, wherein the second and third connectors are coupled to the frame.

80. The patient support of claim 78, wherein the frame includes a first frame supported by the floor and a second frame supported above the second frame and configured to be raised and lowered relative to the first frame, the mattress is supported by the second frame, and the second and third connectors are coupled to the second frame.

81. The patient support of claim 78, wherein the first, seconds and third connectors are plug connectors.

82. The patient support of claim 81, wherein the first connector includes at least one of a plurality of plugs and a plurality of sockets and the second and third connectors includes at least one of a plurality of sockets and a plurality of plugs.

83. The patient support of claim 78, wherein the frame includes a first side and a second opposite side, the second connector is supported by the frame on the first side, and the third connector is supported by the frame on the second side.

84. The patient support of claim 83, wherein the second connector is coupled to the first side of the frame and the third connector is coupled to the second side of the frame.

85. The patient support of claims 78, wherein the second connector is coupled to a first plurality of wires, the third connector is coupled to a second plurality of wires, and first and second plurality of wires meet at a junction.