Steering mechanisms for hospital beds

• US 8,327,479 B2
• Filed: 12/02/2011
• Issued: 12/11/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 04/06/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Resolution Bed, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Piedmont Global Solutions, Inc.
• Inventors: Wurdeman, Byron Wade
• Primary Examiner(s): CONLEY, FREDRICK C
• Application Number:
  US13/309,914
• Publication Number:
  US 20120090093A1
• Time in Patent Office: 375 Days
• Field of Search: 5424-430, 561/8, 561/1, 744/92, 280/43, 280/43.1, 180/19.1
• US Class Current: 5/600
• 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 7/015 divided into different adjustable sections, e.g. for Gatch position
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/0507 Side-rails
• 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 7/053 Aids for getting into, or out of, bed, e.g. steps, chairs, cane-like supports
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/1076 Means for rotating around a vertical axis
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/16 converting a lying surface into a chair

Abstract

A vehicle for use in hospitals, and the like, giving better mobility, steering, braking and passenger handling while providing comfort to the passengers from the time they lay down until they are standing on the side through the rotation and tilting ability of the frame.

Claims

1. A hospital bed, comprising:

a base frame;

a plurality of casters, one each attached to a corner portion of the base frame; and

a steering mechanism coupled to the base frame residing under a center portion of the hospital bed, the steering mechanism comprising;

an axle;

first and second spaced apart wheels attached to opposing end portions of the axle;

first and second upwardly extending and laterally spaced apart rods attached to opposing end portions of the axle, residing between the wheels;

a mounting member attached to the main base frame having first and second laterally spaced apart channels, the first channel sized to slidably receive the first rod therein and the second channel sized to slidably receive the second rod therein, wherein the first and second rods reside under the mounting member proximate the wheels; and

a first spring in communication with the first rod and a second spring in communication with the second rod, wherein the first and second springs reside under the mounting member, between the axle and the mounting member and cooperate with the first and second rods to define spring-loaded rods,

wherein the casters at the corner portions of the base frame are in communication with the spring-loaded first and second rods which keep the casters on a floor until they are raised.

2. The hospital bed of claim 1, wherein the mounting member has a length such that each opposing end is fixedly attached to a different long side of the base frame.

3. The hospital bed of claim 1, further comprising a hydraulic cylinder that is attached to the mounting member intermediate the first and second rods to lift the casters off the floor.

4. The hospital bed of claim 1, further comprising:

a first bushing having a receiving channel that slidably receives the first rod therein, the first bushing residing in the first channel of the mounting member; and

a second bushing having a receiving channel that slidably receives the second rod therein, the second bushing residing in the second channel of the mounting member.

5. The hospital bed of claim 1, wherein the wheels have a smaller diameter than the casters.

6. The hospital bed of claim 5, wherein the casters are eight inch casters.

7. The hospital bed of claim 1, further comprising a lift mechanism and rotating sleep surface mechanism attached to the base frame.

8. The hospital bed of claim 7, further comprising an articulating sleep surface frame attached to the lift mechanism the and rotating sleep surface mechanism, and wherein the lift mechanism and the rotating sleep surface mechanism cooperate to convert the bed into a side-exit chair bed.

9. A hospital bed, comprising:

a base frame;

a plurality of casters, one each attached to a corner portion of the base frame; and

a steering mechanism coupled to the base frame residing under a center portion of the hospital bed, the steering mechanism comprising;

an axle;

first and second spaced apart wheels attached to opposing end portions of the axle;

first and second upwardly extending and laterally spaced apart rods attached to opposing end portions of the axle, residing between the wheels;

a mounting member attached to the main base frame having first and second laterally spaced apart channels, the first channel sized to slidably receive the first rod therein and the second channel sized to slidably receive the second rod therein;

a first spring in communication with the first rod and a second spring in communication with the second rod, wherein the first and second springs reside under the mounting member, between the axle and the mounting member and cooperate with the first and second rods to define spring-loaded rods;

a first bushing having a receiving channel that slidably receives the first rod therein, the first bushing residing in the first channel of the mounting member;

a second bushing having a receiving channel that slidably receives the second rod therein, the second bushing residing in the second channel of the mounting member; and

a bar that is attached to an upper surface of the mounting member and resides over the first and second channels.

10. The hospital bed of claim 9, wherein the mounting member comprises a square tube with upwardly extending opposing arms and a laterally extending center section, the center section having the laterally spaced apart channels.

11. A hospital bed, comprising:

a base frame;

a plurality of casters, one each attached to a corner portion of the base frame; and

a steering mechanism coupled to the base frame residing under a center portion of the hospital bed, the steering mechanism comprising;

an axle;

first and second spaced apart wheels attached to opposing end portions of the axle

first and second upwardly extending and laterally spaced apart rods attached to opposing end portions of the axle, residing between the wheels;

a mounting member attached to the main base frame having first and second laterally spaced apart channels, the first channel sized to slidably receive the first rod therein and the second channel sized to slidably receive the second rod therein; and

a first spring in communication with the first rod and a second spring in communication with the second rod, wherein the first and second springs reside under the mounting member, between the axle and the mounting member and cooperate with the first and second rods to define spring-loaded rods,

wherein the mounting member comprises a square tube with upwardly extending opposing arms and a laterally extending center section, the center section having the laterally spaced apart channels.

12. The hospital bed of claim 11, wherein the mounting member has a width that is greater than a width of the axle so that the arms of the mounting member reside outside an outer edge of an underlying wheel and extend upwardly above the axle.

13. The hospital bed of claim 11, wherein the mounting member is welded to the base frame.

14. A hospital bed, comprising:

a base frame;

four corner casters, one attached to each corner portion of the base frame; and

a steering mechanism coupled to the main base frame residing under a center portion of the hospital bed, the steering mechanism comprising;

an axle having a first transverse length residing under a center portion of the hospital bed;

first and second spaced apart wheels attached to opposing end portions of the axle, wherein the wheels have a smaller diameter than a diameter of the casters;

first and second upwardly extending and laterally spaced apart rods attached to opposing end portions of the axle, residing between the wheels;

a mounting member attached to the main base frame having a second transverse length that is greater than the first transverse length of the axle, the mounting member having first and second laterally spaced apart channels, the first channel sized to slidably receive the first rod therein and the second channel sized to slidably receive the second rod therein; and

a first spring in communication with the first rod and a second spring in communication with the second rod, the first and second springs residing between the mounting member and the axle and defining spring-loaded rods,

wherein the mounting member is a square tube and has a third channel intermediate the first and second channels, the hospital bed further comprising a hydraulic actuator with an actuator head that extends through the third channel.

15. The hospital bed of claim 14, wherein the first and second wheels can be lifted with the hydraulic actuator.

16. A hospital bed, comprising:

a base frame;

four corner casters, one attached to each corner portion of the base frame; and

a steering mechanism coupled to the main base frame residing under a center portion of the hospital bed, the steering mechanism comprising;

an axle having a first transverse length residing under a center portion of the hospital bed;

first and second spaced apart wheels attached to opposing end portions of the axle, wherein the wheels have a smaller diameter than a diameter of the casters;

first and second upwardly extending and laterally spaced apart rods attached to opposing end portions of the axle, residing between the wheels;

a mounting member attached to the main base frame having a second transverse length that is greater than the first transverse length of the axle and with opposing ends that statically attach to opposing long sides of the base frame, the mounting member having first and second laterally spaced apart channels, the first channel sized to slidably receive the first rod therein and the second channel sized to slidably receive the second rod therein; and

a first spring in communication with the first rod and a second spring in communication with the second rod, the first and second springs residing between the mounting member and the axle and defining spring-loaded rods,

wherein the first and second wheels are located under a mass of weight in a center of the bed, and wherein the four corner casters can be spring-loaded down against a floor using the spring loaded rods that reside under the mounting member.

17. A hospital bed, comprising:

a base frame;

a plurality of casters, one each attached to a corner portion of the base frame; and

a steering mechanism coupled to the base frame residing under a center portion of the hospital bed, the steering mechanism comprising;

an axle;

first and second spaced apart wheels attached to opposing end portions of the axle;

first and second upwardly extending and laterally spaced apart rods attached to opposing end portions of the axle, residing between the wheels;

a mounting member attached to the main base frame having first and second laterally spaced apart channels, the first channel sized to slidably receive the first rod therein and the second channel sized to slidably receive the second rod therein; and

a first spring in communication with the first rod and a second spring in communication with the second rod, wherein the first and second springs reside under the mounting member, between the axle and the mounting member and cooperate with the first and second rods to define spring-loaded rods,

wherein the axle comprises first and second receiving apertures, the first aperture holding a lower end of the first rod and the second aperture holding a lower end of the second rod.

18. The hospital bed of claim 17, wherein the mounting member has a length such that each opposing end is fixedly attached to a different long side of the base frame.

19. The hospital bed of claim 17, wherein the mounting member comprises a square tube with upwardly extending opposing arms and a laterally extending center section, the center section having the laterally spaced apart channels.

20. The hospital bed of claim 17, wherein the mounting member has a width that is greater than a width of the axle so that the arms of the mounting member reside outside an outer edge of an underlying wheel and extend upwardly above the axle.