Foot controls for a bed

• US 6,691,346 B2
• Filed: 12/29/2000
• Issued: 02/17/2004
• 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: Osborne, Eugene E., Suttman, Glenn C., Wilker, Jack Jr., Visca, Matthew, Koenig, John W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Luu, Teri Pham
• Assistant Examiner(s): SALDANO, LISA M
• Application Number:
  US09/751,031
• Publication Number:
  US 20020002742A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,145 Days
• Field of Search: 560/0, 561/1, 561/0, 561/6
• 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 plurality of foot-operated controls configured to control features of the bed.

Claims

1. A patient support comprising

a frame having a base frame and an intermediate frame configured to move relative to the base frame between first and second positions,

a deck coupled to the intermediate frame, the deck including at least one deck section configured to move relative to the intermediate frame between first and second positions,

a mattress supported by the deck,

a plurality of actuators configured to move between first and second positions to move the intermediate frame relative to the base frame and deck section relative to the intermediate frame, and

a plurality of electrical foot-operated controls supported by the frame, each of the plurality of electrical foot-operated controls being movable to a first position to control movement of at least one of the plurality of actuators to the first position and a second position to control movement of at least one of the plurality of actuators to the second position.

2. The patient support of claim 1, wherein the plurality of actuators includes first and second actuators, the plurality of electrical foot-operated controls includes a first foot-operated control, movement of the first foot-operated control to the first position controls movement of the first and second actuators to the first position, movement of the first foot-operated control to the second position controls movement of the first and second actuators to the second position.

3. The patient support of claim 1, wherein the plurality of actuators are electrically powered.

4. The patient support of claim 1, further comprising a housing supported by the frame and the plurality of electrical foot-operated controls are coupled to the housing.

5. The patient support of claim 4, wherein the housing includes a plurality of cavities and each of the electrical foot-operated controls is positioned in one of the plurality of cavities.

6. The patient support of claim 5, wherein each of the plurality of electrical foot-operated controls includes a pedal pivotably coupled to the housing to move between the first and second positions.

7. The patient support of claim 6, wherein each of the plurality of electrical foot-operated controls further includes a field sensor coupled to the housing to detect a change in a field caused by movement of the pedals.

8. The patient support of claim 7, wherein each of the plurality of electrical foot-operated controls further includes a magnet coupled to each of the pedals, each of the field sensors is configured to detect a change in position of the magnet caused by movement of the pedals.

9. The patient support of claim 6, wherein each of the plurality of foot-operated controls includes a biaser positioned to urge the pedal to third position between the first and second positions.

10. The patient support of claim 9, wherein the biaser includes first and second spaced-apart springs positioned between the pedal and the housing, the first spring urges the pedal in a first direction, and the second spring urges the pedal in a second opposite direction.

11. The patient support of claim 1, further comprising first and second spaced-apart housings supported on opposite sides of the frame, at least one of the plurality of electrical foot-operated controls is coupled to the first housing, and at least one of the plurality of electrical foot-operated controls is coupled to the second housing.

12. The patient support of claim 1, wherein the actuators are configured to move in a first direction when moving to the flint position and a second opposite direction when moving to the second position.

13. A patient support comprising

a frame,

a deck supported by the frame,

a mattress supported by the deck,

an actuator configured to move between first and second positions to move at least one of a portion of the frame and a portion of the deck, and

an electrical foot-operated control movable to a first position activating movement of the actuator to the first position and a second position activating movement of the actuator to the second position.

14. The patient support of claim 13, wherein the actuator includes an electric motor configured to move at least one of the portion of the frame and the portion of the deck.

15. The patient support of claim 14, wherein the electric motor turns in a first direction when the foot-operated control is moved to the first position and in a second opposite direction when the foot-operated control is moved to the second position.

16. The patient support of claim 13, wherein the electrical foot-operated control includes a control member movable between First and second positions and a sensor configured to detect movement of the control member.

17. The patient support of claim 16, wherein the sensor is configured to detect a change in a field caused by movement of the control member and detection of a change in the field causes movement of the actuator.

18. The patient support of claim 17, wherein the electrical foot-operated control includes a magnet coupled to the control member to move therewith and the sensor is positioned to detect changes in a magnetic field caused by movement of the magnet.

19. The patient support of claim 16, wherein the foot-operated control includes a circuit board and the sensor is coupled to the circuit board.

20. The patient support of claim 13, further comprising another actuator configured to move between firs:

and second positions to move at least one of a portion of the frame and a portion of the deck, the electrical foot-operated control activates movement of each of the actuators to respective first positions when moved to the first position, and the electrical foot-operated control activates movement of each of the actuators to respective second positions when moved to the second position.

21. The patient support of claim 13, wherein the actuator is configured to move in a first direction when moving from the second position to the first position, and the actuator is configured to move in a second direction opposite the first direction when moving from the first position to the second position.

22. A patient support comprising

a frame,

a deck supported by the frame,

a mattress supported by the deck,

an actuator configured to move at least one of a portion of the frame and a portion of the deck, and

a plurality of spaced, independently operable controls, each of the controls configured to provide a dedicated function and including a control member and a field sensor configured to detect a change in a field caused by a change in position of the control member, one of the controls dedicated to control only operation of the actuator based upon the change in position of the control member.

23. The patient support of claim 22, wherein the field sensor is configured to detect a change in a magnetic characteristic of the field.

24. The patient support of claim 22, wherein the field sensor is spaced apart from the control member.

25. The patient support of claim 24, wherein the control further includes a magnet coupled to the control member and the field sensor is configured to detect a change in position of the magnet caused by a change in position of the control member.

26. The patient support of claim 25, wherein the control member is a pedal positioned to be acted upon by a person'"'"'s foot and the pedal is positioned to pivot between the first and second positions about a pivot axis.

27. The patient support of claim 26, wherein the pedal includes a pedal portion positioned to be acted upon by the person'"'"'s foot and the pivot axis is positioned between the pedal portion and the magnet.

28. The patient support of claim 26, wherein the control includes a circuit board supported by the frame and the field sensor is coupled to the circuit board.

29. The patient support of claim 22, wherein the actuator is configured to move in a first direction when moving to the first position and a second opposite direction when moving to the second position.

30. A patient support comprising

a frame,

a deck supported by the frame,

a mattress supported by the deck,

a first actuator configured to move between first and second positions to move at least one of a portion of the frame and a portion of the deck,

a second actuator configured to move between first and second positions to move at least one of a portion of the frame and a portion of the deck, and

a foot-operated control movable to a first position to simultaneously control movement of the first and second actuators to the first positions and a second position to simultaneously control movement of the first and second actuators to the second positions.

31. The patient support of claim 30, wherein the first actuator is positioned to move a portion of the frame and the second actuator is positioned to move a portion of the frame simultaneously with movement of the other portion of the frame.

32. The patient support of claim 31, wherein the frame includes a base frame and an intermediate frame supported by the base frame and the first and second actuators are positioned move the intermediate frame relative to the base frame.

33. The patient support of claim 30, wherein the frame includes a base frame having first and second ends and an intermediate frame having first and second ends, the first actuator is positioned to move the first end of the intermediate frame relative to the first end of the base frame when the foot-operated control is in the first position and the second actuator is positioned to move the second end of the intermediate frame relative to the second end of the base frame when the foot-operated control is in the first position.

34. The patient support of claim 33, wherein the first actuator is positioned to move the first end of the intermediate frame relative to the first end of the base frame when the foot-operated control is in the second position and the second actuator is positioned to move the second end of the intermediate frame relative to the second end of the base frame when the foot-operated control is in the second position.

35. The patient support of claim 33, wherein the first actuator moves the first end of the intermediate frame toward the first end of the base frame when the foot-operated control is in the first position and the second actuator moves the second end of the intermediate frame toward the first end of the base frame when the foot-operated control is in the first position.

36. The patient support of claim 30, wherein the first and second actuators are configured to move in a first direction when moving to the first position and a second opposite direction when moving to the second position.

37. A patient support comprising

a frame,

a plurality of wheels configured to support the frame and facilitate movement of the frame on the floor,

a deck supported by the frame,

a mattress supported by the deck,

an actuator configured to move at least one of a portion of the frame and a portion of the deck, and

an electrical foot-operated control configured to control movement of the actuator, the electrical foot-operated control including a pedal configured to pivot between a first position and a second position below the first position.

38. The patient support of claim 37, further comprising a housing coupled to the frame, wherein the electrical foot-operated control is coupled to the housing.

39. The patient support of claim 38 wherein the housing is supported by the frame in a position spaced-apart from the floor.

40. The patient support of claim 37, further comprising a first housing coupled to the frame to support the electrical foot-operated control on the frame, a second electrical foot-operated control configured to control movement of the actuator, and a second housing coupled to the frame in a position spaced apart from the first housing, wherein the second housing supports the second electrical foot-operated control.

41. The patient support of claim 40, wherein the first and second housings are coupled to the frame in fixed positions.

42. The patient support of claim 37, wherein the actuator is configured to move between first and second positions and movement of the pedal to the first position activates movement of the actuator to the first position and movement of the pedal to the second position activates movement of the actuator to the second position.

43. The patient support of claim 42, wherein the actuator is configured to move in a first direction when moving to the first position and a second opposite direction when moving to the second position.

44. The patient support of claim 42, wherein the pedal is configured to move to a third position between the first and second positions and the pedal is configured to maintain the position of the actuator when in the third position.

45. A patient support comprising

a frame,

a deck supported by the frame,

a mattress supported by the deck,

an actuator configured to move at least one of a portion of the frame and a portion of the deck, the actuator being configured to move between a first position and a second position, and

an electrical foot-operated control supported by the frame and configured to control movement of the actuator, the electrical foot-operated control including a pedal configured to pivot between an up position to control movement of the actuator to the first position and a down position to control movement of the actuator to the second position.

46. The patient support of claim 45, further comprising a housing coupled to the frame and the electrical foot-operated control is coupled to the housing.

47. The patient support of claim 46, wherein the housing is supported by the frame in a position spaced-apart from the floor.

48. The patient support of claim 46, further comprising another electrical foot-operated control, wherein the housing includes at least two cavities and each of the foot-operated controls is positioned in one of the cavities.

49. The patient support of claim 45, further comprising a first housing coupled to the frame to support the electrical foot-operated control on the frame, a second electrical foot-operated control configured to control movement of the actuator, and a second housing coupled to the frame in a position spaced apart from the first housing, wherein the second housing supports the second electrical foot-operated control.

50. The patient support of claim 49, wherein the first and second housings are coupled to the frame in fixed positions.

51. The patient support of claim 45, wherein the actuator is configured to move in a first direction when moving to the first position and a second opposite direction when moving to the second position.

52. The patient support of claim 45, wherein the pedal is configured to move to a third position between the up and down positions and the pedal is configured to maintain the position of the actuator.

53. A patient support comprising

a frame,

a deck supported by the frame,

a mattress supported by the deck,

an actuator configured to move between first and second positions to move at least one of a portion of the frame and a portion of the deck,

a power source configured to apply power to the actuator to move between the first and second positions, and

a foot-operated control movable to a first position initiating application of power from the power source to the actuator to move the actuator to the first position and a second position initiating application of power from the power source to the actuator to move the actuator to the second position.

54. The patient support of claim 53, wherein the foot-operated control includes a control member positioned to be moved between first and second positions by a person'"'"'s foot and a sensor configured to detect a change in position of the control member to initiate application of power from the power source to the actuator.

55. The patient support of claim 54, wherein the sensor is spaced apart from the control member.

56. The patient support of claim 53, wherein the actuator includes a motor and the power source provides electrical power to the motor to move the actuator between the first and second positions.

57. The patient support of claim 56, wherein the motor moves in a first direction to move the actuator to the first position and a second opposite direction to move the actuator to the second position.

58. The patient support of claim 53, wherein the actuator is coupled to the deck to move a portion of the deck between first and second positions.

59. The patient support of claim 53, wherein the frame includes an intermediate frame supporting the deck and a base frame supporting the intermediate frame and the actuator is positioned to move the intermediate frame relative to the base frame.

60. The patient support of claim 53, further comprising a plurality of wheels supporting the frame on the floor.