System for tandem bed communication

• US 8,909,357 B2
• Filed: 01/23/2012
• Issued: 12/09/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 09/14/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Martin B. Rawls-Meehan
• Original Assignee: Martin B. Rawls-Meehan
• Inventors: Rawls-Meehan, Martin B
• Primary Examiner(s): Ali, Mohammad
• Assistant Examiner(s): LAUGHLIN, NATHAN L
• Application Number:
  US13/355,931
• Publication Number:
  US 20120186019A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,051 Days
• Field of Search: 700/17, 700/65, 700/83, 700/275, 700/276, 345/173
• US Class Current: 700/17
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 17/86 Parts or details for beds, sofas or couches only not fully covered in a single one of the sub-groups A47C17/02, A47C17/04, A47C17/38, A47C17/52, A47C17/64, or A47C17/84; Drawers in or under beds
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 20/041 by electric motors
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 21/003 Lighting, radio, telephone or the like connected to the bedstead
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 21/006 Oscillating, balancing or vibrating mechanisms connected to the bedstead for children's beds A47D9/02
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 21/04 Devices for ventilating, cooling or heating
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 31/008 Use of remote controls
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1115 Monitoring leaving of a patient support, e.g. a bed or a wheelchair
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4815 Sleep quality
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 2203/16 Touchpads
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 2203/36 for motion
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 2203/726 for automatic deactivation, e.g. deactivation of actuators or motors
• 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 7/0514 mounted to individual mattress supporting frame sections
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/0138 incorporated in furniture
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/0142 Beds
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/0149 Seat or chair
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/5002 Means for controlling a set of similar massage devices acting in sequence at different locations on a patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/5046 Touch screens
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/5097 wireless
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2203/0443 : substantially horizontal
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 23/0254 : with rotary motor
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/63 : for local operation
• CPC Class Codes: G16Z 99/00 : Subject matter not provided for in other main groups of this subclass

Abstract

This disclosure concerns a communication system adapted to communicate between a handheld remote control and a first adjustable bed controller of a first adjustable bed facility, and a second communication system adapted to communicate between the first adjustable bed controller of the first adjustable bed facility and a second adjustable bed controller of a second adjustable bed facility.

Claims

1. A control system, comprising:

a first communication system adapted to communicate between a handheld remote control and a first adjustable bed controller mounted to a first adjustable bed facility, the first adjustable bed controller adapted to adjust, following receipt of a repositioning command from the handheld remote control, a position of a first adjustable bed facility bed segment; and

a second communication system adapted to communicate between the first adjustable bed controller of the first adjustable bed facility and a second adjustable bed controller mounted to a second adjustable bed facility, the second adjustable bed controller adapted to adjust, following receipt of the repositioning command transmitted from the first adjustable bed controller, a position of a second adjustable bed facility bed segment;

wherein;

the first adjustable bed facility and the second adjustable bed facility are arranged in an adjacent, side-by-side arrangement; and

the second communication system is adapted to communicate information related to synchronizing a motion of the first and second adjustable bed facilities to move as a single object and optionally one or more of implementing a safety feature, communicating an error, communicating a software update, communicating a preference, communicating a setting, and communicating a report.

2. The control system of claim 1, wherein communication between the first and second adjustable bed controllers is via at least one of a standard wireless connection, RF, IR, Bluetooth, cellular, or WiFi.

3. The control system of claim 1, wherein, upon receiving the communication from the first adjustable bed facility, the second adjustable bed facility interprets the communication as a command.

4. The control system of claim 1, wherein the first and second adjustable bed facilities are twin size adjustable bed facilities that are adjacent to one another to form a king size adjustable bed facility.

5. The control system of claim 1, wherein the second communication system is further adapted to:

communicate when at least one of the adjustable bed facilities has encountered an obstruction to allow the adjustable bed facility to function to ensure safety of a user.

6. The control system of claim 1, wherein the second communication system is further adapted to:

communicate a position error sensed by at least one adjustable bed facility.

7. The control system of claim 1, wherein the second communication system is further adapted to:

implement a software update of at least one adjustable bed controller.

8. The control system of claim 1, wherein the second communication system is further adapted to:

communicate a user preference.

9. The control system of claim 1, wherein the second communication system is further adapted to:

communicate operational setting.

10. The control system of claim 1, wherein the second communication system is further adapted to:

communicate at least one of the group consisting of;

error information, diagnostic information, and general usage history information.

11. The control system of claim 1, wherein the handheld remote control comprises a touch screen display adapted to receive user input for the command to adjust the position of the bed segment.

12. The control system of claim 1, wherein the handheld remote control is a cell phone or a smart phone.

13. The control system of claim 1, further comprising a second handheld remote control adapted to transmit a second command to the second adjustable bed controller, wherein the second adjustable bed controller is adapted to adjust a position of a bed segment of the second adjustable bed facility following receipt of the second command and independently from motion of the first adjustable bed facility.

14. An adjustable bed system comprising:

a first remote control adapted to transmit a repositioning command to a first adjustable bed controller of a first adjustable bed facility;

a first adjustable bed facility comprising a first adjustable bed controller mounted thereto, the first adjustable bed controller being adapted to (i) receive the repositioning command from the first remote control, (ii) adjust a position of a first adjustable bed facility bed segment according to the repositioning command, and (iii) transmit the repositioning command to a second adjustable bed controller of a second adjustable bed facility; and

a second adjustable bed facility comprising a second adjustable bed controller mounted thereto, the second adjustable bed controller being adapted to (i) receive the repositioning command from the first adjustable bed controller and (ii) adjust a position of a second adjustable bed facility bed segment according to the repositioning command;

wherein;

the first adjustable bed facility and the second adjustable bed facility are arranged in an adjacent, side-by-side arrangement; and

the first adjustable bed controller and the second adjustable bed controller are adapted to communicate information to each other related to synchronizing simultaneous motion of the first adjustable bed facility bed segment and the second adjustable bed facility bed segment according to the repositioning command.

15. The adjustable bed system of claim 14, wherein the first adjustable bed controller and the second adjustable bed controller are adapted to communicate information wirelessly to each other.

16. The adjustable bed system of claim 14, wherein the first adjustable bed facility and second adjustable bed facility are twin size adjustable bed facilities that are adjacent to one another to form a king size adjustable bed facility.

17. The adjustable bed system of claim 14, wherein the first remote control comprises a touch screen display adapted to receive user input for the repositioning command.

18. The adjustable bed system of claim 14, wherein the first remote control is a cell phone or a smart phone.

19. The adjustable bed system of claim 14, wherein the first adjustable bed controller and the second adjustable bed controller are adapted to communicate information wirelessly to each other.

20. The adjustable bed system of claim 14, wherein the first adjustable bed controller and the first remote control are adapted to communicate wirelessly to each other.

21. The adjustable bed system of claim 14, wherein the first adjustable bed controller and the second adjustable bed controller are further adapted to communicate information to each other related to at least one of implementing a safety feature, communicating an error, communicating a software update, communicating a preference, communicating a setting, and communicating a report.