Lift system for hospital bed
DCFirst Claim
1. A patient support apparatus comprisinga frame including a first frame supported by a floor, a second frame situated above the first frame, a first pair of lift arms, and a second pair of lift arms, the first and second pairs of lift arms supporting the second frame relative to the first frame and movable to raise and lower the second frame relative to the first frame, andat least one actuator operable to move the lift arms between a first position in which the first and second pairs of lift arms extend upwardly relative to the first frame and are inclined relative to the first and second frames to support the second frame in a raised position relative to the first frame, and the frame being configured so that during lowering of the second frame relative to the first frame, the first and second pairs of lift arms move into an orientation substantially parallel with the first and second frames, each of the first and second pair of lift arms has a first end and a second end, the first ends pivot about respective first pivot axes that remain at substantially fixed positions relative to the second frame as the second frame raises and lowers relative to the first frame, and at least one of the second ends of the first and second pairs of lift arms translates along the first frame as the second frame raises and lowers.
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Abstract
A lift system for a hospital bed is disclosed. The lift system includes lift arms that support a frame over a base frame. The lift arms are moved to raise and lower the frame relative to the base frame.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A patient support apparatus comprising
a frame including a first frame supported by a floor, a second frame situated above the first frame, a first pair of lift arms, and a second pair of lift arms, the first and second pairs of lift arms supporting the second frame relative to the first frame and movable to raise and lower the second frame relative to the first frame, and at least one actuator operable to move the lift arms between a first position in which the first and second pairs of lift arms extend upwardly relative to the first frame and are inclined relative to the first and second frames to support the second frame in a raised position relative to the first frame, and the frame being configured so that during lowering of the second frame relative to the first frame, the first and second pairs of lift arms move into an orientation substantially parallel with the first and second frames, each of the first and second pair of lift arms has a first end and a second end, the first ends pivot about respective first pivot axes that remain at substantially fixed positions relative to the second frame as the second frame raises and lowers relative to the first frame, and at least one of the second ends of the first and second pairs of lift arms translates along the first frame as the second frame raises and lowers.
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19. A patient support apparatus comprising
a lower frame including first and second longitudinal frame members and first and second lateral frame members, the first and second longitudinal frame members and the first and second lateral frame members being interconnected to define a rectangle, an upper frame situated above the lower frame, a first pair of lift arms, a second pair of lift arms, the first and second pairs of lift arms supporting the upper frame relative to the lower frame and movable to raise and lower the upper frame relative to the lower frame, a first linear actuator carried by the upper frame and coupled to the first pair of lift arms, the first linear actuator being operable to pivot the first pair of lift arms about a first pivot axis that remains at substantially a first fixed position relative to the upper frame, a second linear actuator carried by the upper frame and coupled to the second pair of lift arms, the second linear actuator being operable to pivot the second pair of lift arms about a second pivot axis that remains at substantially a second fixed position relative to the upper frame, a first pair of channel members, each of the first pair of channel members being coupled to a respective one of the first and second longitudinal frame members near the first lateral frame member, a second pair of channel members, each the second pair of channel members being coupled to a respective one of the first and second longitudinal frame members near the second lateral frame member, a first pair of slide members, each of the first pair of slide members being supported for sliding movement by a respective one of the first pair of channel members, and a second pair of slide members, each of the second pair of slide members being supported for sliding movement by a respective one of the second pair of channel members, wherein lower ends of the first pair of lift arms are coupled to respective ones of the first pair of slide members and lower ends of the second pair of lift arms are coupled to respective ones of the second pair of slide members, wherein, as the upper frame is being lowered relative to the lower frame, the first pair of slide members translate along the first pair of channel members toward the first lateral frame member and the second pair of slide members translate along the second pair of channel members toward the second lateral frame member.
Specification