Hospital bed

• US 7,454,805 B2
• Filed: 10/24/2005
• Issued: 11/25/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/29/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hill-Rom Services Incorporated (Baxter International Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hill-Rom Services Incorporated (Baxter International Inc.)
• Inventors: Findlay, James K., Osborne, Eugene E., Suttman, Glenn C., Branson, Gregory W., Wilker, Jack Jr., Welling, Jeffrey R., Visca, Matthew, Jacques, William L. II, Koenig, John W., Ganance, Francis C., Kramer, Kenneth L., Valvano, Dean M., Dickman, Bruce E. Jr., Kinker, Robert A. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Santos; Robert G
• Application Number:
  US11/257,438
• Publication Number:
  US 20060096029A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,128 Days
• Field of Search: 560/0, 561/0, 561/1, 5 1/1, 561/3, 5616-618
• US Class Current: 5/618
• 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 including a seat section and a foot section movable relative to the seat section. The bed further including a mechanism that control movement of the foot section relative to the seat section.

Claims

1. A patient support comprising

a base,

a frame supported by the base,

an articulating deck supported by the frame, the deck including a back section, a seat section, and a leg section,

a first linkage coupled to the seat section to move the seat section between first and second positions relative to the frame, and

a second linkage coupled to the leg section to move the leg section between first and second positions relative to the seat section, wherein the leg section remains substantially horizontal in the first position when the seat section moves from the first position to the second position and the leg section deviates from being substantially horizontal in the second position when the seat section moves from the first position to the second position, and wherein the second linkage is operable to vary an angle between the seat section and the leg section when the seat section is in the second position.

2. The patient support of claim 1, further comprising a pair of first links pivotably coupled to the leg section of the deck and a pair of second links pivotably coupled to the frame and the first links, the first and second links being configured to move between first position and second positions, when in the first position, the first and second links are rigidly coupled to provide a rigid link between the leg section and the frame so that the leg section remains substantially horizontal when the seat section moves from the first position to the second position, when in the second position, the first link is free to pivot relative to the second link so that the leg section deviates from being substantially horizontal when the seat section moves from the first position to the second position, the mechanism further includes a transversely extending link couple between the pairs of first and second links to coordinate movement thereof.

3. The patient support of claim 2, wherein the mechanism includes a link, the frame includes a pin, the link includes a first end pivotably coupled to the leg section of the bed and a second link having a notch sized to receive the pin of the frame, the link is movable from a first position with the pin positioned in the notch and second position with the pin spaced apart from the notch, when the link is in the first position, the leg section remains substantially horizontal when the seat section moves from the first position to the second position, when the link is in the second position, the leg section deviates from being substantially horizontal when the seat section moves from the first position to the second position.

4. A patient support comprising

a base

a frame supported by the base,

an articulating deck supported by the frame, the deck including a back section, a seat section configured to support at least a seat section of a patient positioned on the patient support, and a leg section,

a first linkage coupled to the seat section to move the seat section between first and second positions relative to the frame, and

a second linkage coupled to the leg section to move the leg section between first and second positions relative to the seat section, the second linkage comprising a linear actuator, wherein the leg section remains substantially horizontal in the first position when the seat section moves from the first position to the second position and the leg section deviates from being substantially horizontal in the second position when the seat section moves from the first position to the second position.

5. The patient support of claim 4, further comprising a plurality of lift arms configured to raise and lower the frame relative to the base.

6. A patient support comprising

a base,

a frame supported by the base,

a deck supported by the frame, the deck including a seat section pivotable relative to the frame to move between first and second positions and a leg section pivotable relative to the seat section to move between first and second positions, and

a linkage having a first end and a second end coupled to the leg section of the deck, the linkage having a first configuration wherein a distance between the first and second ends remains substantially constant during movement of the seat section between the first and second positions and a second configuration wherein the distance substantially decreases during movement of the seat section between the first and second positions.

7. The patient support of claim 6, wherein the linkage includes a first link pivotably coupled to the leg section of the deck, and a second link pivotably coupled to the first link.

8. The patient support of claim 7, wherein the second link is pivotably coupled to the frame.

9. The patient support of claim 6, wherein the leg section has an adjustable length.

10. The patient support of claim 6, wherein the linkage has an adjustable length.

11. The patient support of claim 10, wherein the linkage includes telescoping members.

12. The patient support of claim 6, further comprising lift arms configured to raise and lower the frame relative to the base.

13. A patient support comprising

a base,

an elongate frame supported by the base,

a deck supported by the frame, the deck including a back section, a seat section pivotable relative to the frame to move between first and second positions, the seat section being located adjacent the back section, and a leg section pivotable relative to the seat section, the seat section and leg section cooperating to define an angle when the seat section is in the second position, the deck not being longitudinally movable relative to the frame when the seat section moves from the first position to the second position, and

a selector to select the angle defined between the seat and leg section when the seat section is in the second position.

14. The patient support of claim 13, wherein the selector includes a linkage having first and second links.

15. The patient support of claim 13, wherein the selector includes a linear actuator.

16. The patient support of claim 13, wherein the selector extends to the leg section.

17. The patient support of claim 16, wherein the selector extends to the frame.

18. The patient support of claim 17, further comprising a mattress supported by the frame, a siderail coupled to the frame, and a controller to articulate sections of the deck to move the patient support from a substantially horizontal position to a chair-like position.

19. The patient support of claim 18, wherein the mattress includes a back portion, a seat portion, and a leg portion, and the leg portion is adjustable in length.

20. The patient support of claim 19, wherein the leg portion includes a plurality of transversely extending members.