Multi-position support apparatus featuring a movable foot support

• US 8,566,984 B2
• Filed: 02/13/2012
• Issued: 10/29/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 05/17/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Vitalgo Systems Limited
• Original Assignee: Ofer Parezky, Ohad Paz
• Inventors: Parezky, Ofer, Paz, Ohad
• Primary Examiner(s): Kelleher, William
• Assistant Examiner(s): Davis, Richard G
• Application Number:
  US13/371,486
• Publication Number:
  US 20120137437A1
• Time in Patent Office: 624 Days
• Field of Search: 561/1, 560/4, 561/0, 562/4, 561/8
• US Class Current: 5/618
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 2203/34 for pressure
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/015 divided into different adjustable sections, e.g. for Gatch position
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/02 with toilet conveniences, or specially adapted for use with toilets
• 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 7/053 Aids for getting into, or out of, bed, e.g. steps, chairs, cane-like supports

Abstract

Apparatus for supporting a user in a resting position characterized in that it includes a processor programmed to cause a foot support to be in a feet-engaging position, engaging the bottom surface of the user'"'"'s feet, when a tiltable frame assembly is in a resting position, and to maintain the feet-engaging position while the tiltable frame assembly is moving towards a vertical position, to thereby prevent sliding of the user'"'"'s body when the tiltable frame assembly is tilted.

Claims

1. Apparatus for supporting a user in a resting

position and/or a vertical exiting position, comprising:

a tiltable frame assembly tiltably mounted on a base;

a body support carried by said tiltable frame assembly and having a head end for receiving the upper part of the user'"'"'s body, and a foot end for receiving the lower part of the user'"'"'s body;

a foot support extending transversely across the foot end of the body support;

and drive means for driving said tiltable frame assembly to said resting position and to said substantially vertical exiting position;

characterized in that said apparatus further comprises a processor programmed to cause headward movement of the foot support, thereby engaging the bottom surface of the user'"'"'s feet, when the tiltable frame assembly is in said resting position, and to maintain said feet-engaging position while the tiltable frame assembly is moving towards said vertical position, to thereby prevent sliding of the user'"'"'s body when the tiltable frame assembly is tilted.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said foot support includes a foot sensor which senses said feet-engaging position of the foot support and controls said drive means to maintain the foot support in said feet-engaging position while said tiltable frame assembly is moving towards said vertical position.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said resting position includes a substantially horizontal position.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said resting position includes a seating position.

5. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the apparatus further comprises a lifting mechanism between said base and said tiltable frame assembly for selectively supporting the user also in an elevated position.

6. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said foot support is fixed to said tiltable frame assembly to overlie the foot end of said body support, and said body support is driven by said drive means to said feet-engaging position.

7. The apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said foot support is fixed to said tiltable frame assembly by a pair of arms fixing opposite sides of the foot support to said tiltable frame assembly.