Adjustable height bed

• US 20040078894A1
• Filed: 10/25/2002
• Published: 04/29/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 10/25/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Freedom Designs Inc. (Invacare Corporation), Invacare Corporation, Motion Concepts, L.P (Invacare Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Invacare Corporation
• Inventors: Goertzen, Gerold, Loewenthal, Howard, Puckett, Robert, Spriegel, Andrew, Snyder, Steven
• Granted Patent: US 6,983,495 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 5/11
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 19/045 with entire frame height or inclination adjustments
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/012 raising or lowering of the whole mattress frame A61G7/005, A61G7/008 take precedence

Abstract

An adjustable bed includes a universal, or interchangeable, bed end that can be used at either end of the bed and that can be connected with a motor drive assembly. The bed end may include a manual crank that is removably attached to the bed end. The bed end may include an elevating mechanism that includes a cross-beam or similar structure for transmitting motive force between fixed and movable portions of the bed end. The bed end may also include a new slip nut for transmitting motive force from a lead screw. The bed may further include a reversible corner plate for allowing the bed end to be used facing in either direction. The bed end may also include a plastic cover that is washable and scratch resistant.

Claims

1. An adjustable bed for use on a floor, said bed comprising:

a bed spring having a head end portion and a foot end portion;

a first bed end including a height adjustment mechanism that is operable to support said head end portion of said bed spring at a plurality of different heights above a floor;

a second bed end interchangeable with said first bed end and including a height adjustment mechanism that is operable to support said foot end portion of said bed spring at a plurality of different heights above a floor;

an electric motor mounted on said bed spring at a location intermediate said first bed end and said second bed end;

a first drive shaft portion connected between said motor and said first bed end; and

a second drive shaft portion connected between said motor and said second bed end;

said first and second drive shaft portions being rotatable together by said electric motor in a first direction of rotation to raise said head end portion and said foot end portion of said bed spring and in a second direction of rotation opposite said first direction of rotation to lower said head end portion and said foot end portion of said bed spring.

2. A bed as set forth in claim 1 wherein said height adjustment mechanism of said first bed end comprises a gearbox having two different input conditions for receiving rotational force in the first direction of rotation from one of said first and second drive shaft portions and for in response either raising or lowering said head end portion of said bed spring.

3. A bed as set forth in claim 2 wherein said gearbox has first and second input shafts for selectively receiving the rotational force and for in response either raising or lowering said head end portion of said bed spring.

4. A bed as set forth in claim 3 wherein said first and second input shafts include respective first and second gears that are in meshing engagement with each other.

5. A bed as set forth in claim 4 wherein said gearbox includes an output gear for driving a lead screw of said height adjustment mechanism, said output gear being in meshing engagement with one of said first and second gears for transmitting rotational force to said lead screw in a first direction when said rotational force is applied to said first input shaft and in a second direction when said rotational force is applied to said second input shaft.

6. A bed as set forth in claim 2 wherein said gearbox has an input shaft that is selectively movable in a housing between first and second positions relative to said housing for receiving rotational force and for in response either raising or lowering said head end portion of said bed spring.

7. A bed as set forth in claim 1 wherein said height adjustment mechanism comprises a gearbox for receiving rotational force and for in response rotating a lead screw and thereby raising or lowering said movable portion of said bed end.

8. A bed as set forth in claim 1 further including a manual crank for actuating said height adjustment mechanism of said first bed end and of said second bed end, said manual crank being removably attached to one of said first and second bed ends, said manual crank including a securing mechanism for releasably securing said manual crank to said first bed end.

9. A bed as set forth in claim 1 wherein said first bed end further includes a hollow cover for enclosing and covering said height adjustment mechanism, said cover including an interior major side panel and an exterior major side panel each of which is made from a single piece of a washable plastic material.

10. A bed as set forth in claim 1 wherein said first bed end includes at least one leg engageable with the floor for supporting said first bed end on the floor, said height adjustment mechanism includes a nut assembly threadedly engaged with a lead screw, and said nut assembly is rigidly coupled with said at least one leg for transmitting force from said lead screw through said nut assembly to said at least one leg.

11. A bed as set forth in claim 1 wherein said height adjustment mechanism includes a slip nut threadedly engaged with a lead screw, said slip nut being formed in two pieces each extending about 180 degrees around said axis.

12. A bed as set forth in claim 1 wherein said first bed end has first and second opposite major side surfaces and at least one corner plate supported on said first bed ends for helping to support said bed spring;

said first bed end having a first condition in which said first major side surface of said first bed end faces said second bed end and said corner plate faces said second bed end;

said first bed end being movable from the first condition to a second condition in which said second major side surface of said first bed end faces said second bed end and said corner plate faces said second bed end.

13. A bed as set forth in claim 1 wherein said height adjustment mechanism includes a cable and pulley system for adjusting the height of said head end portion of said bed spring in response to operation of said electric motor.

14. A bed end for an adjustable height bed having a driveshaft that is rotatable in first and second opposite directions of rotation about a first axis to raise and lower said bed, said bed end comprising:

a movable portion for supporting a portion of a bed spring;

an output shaft rotatable about a second axis transverse to said first axis; and

a gearbox connected with said output shaft for transmitting rotational force from the driveshaft to the output shaft;

wherein said gearbox can be coupled with the driveshaft in a first condition receiving rotational force from the driveshaft in a first direction of rotation about said first axis and effecting rotation of said output shaft about said second axis in a direction so as to raise said movable portion of said bed end; and

wherein said gearbox can be coupled with said driveshaft in a second condition receiving rotational force from the driveshaft in said first direction of rotation about said first axis and effecting rotation of said output shaft about said second axis in a direction so as to lower said movable portion of said bed end.

15. A bed end as set forth in claim 14 wherein said gearbox includes first and second input shafts, said first input shaft being coupled with the driveshaft when said gearbox is in the first condition and said second input shaft being coupled with the driveshaft when said gearbox is in the first condition.

16. A bed end as set forth in claim 14 wherein said gearbox has an input shaft that is selectively movable in a housing between first and second positions relative to said housing, said input shaft being in the first position when said gearbox is in the first condition and said input shaft being in the second position when said gearbox is in the second condition.

17. A bed end as set forth in claim 16 wherein said input shaft includes first and second gears spaced along said input shaft and movable into and out of engagement with an output gear in response to movement of said input shaft between the first and second positions.

18. A bed end for a bed that includes a bed spring that is adjustable vertically relative to a floor on which the bed is placed, said bed end comprising:

a movable portion for supporting the bed spring;

a fixed portion for supporting the movable portion of the bed end; and

a height adjustment mechanism operable to receive rotational force and in response to raise or lower said movable portion of said bed end relative to said fixed portion of said bed end;

said height adjustment mechanism being operable to receive rotational force in a first direction of rotation about a first axis and in response to raise said movable portion of said bed end relative to said fixed portion of said bed end, said height adjustment mechanism also being operable to receive rotational force in said first direction of rotation about said first axis and in response to lower said movable portion of said bed end relative to said fixed portion of said bed end.

19. A bed end as set forth in claim 18 wherein said height adjustment mechanism comprises a gearbox having two different input conditions for receiving rotational force in the first direction of rotation and for in response either raising or lowering said movable portion of said bed end.

20. A bed end as set forth in claim 19 wherein said gearbox has first and second input shafts for selectively receiving the rotational force and for in response either raising or lowering said movable portion of said bed end.

21. A bed end as set forth in claim 20 wherein said first and second input shafts are vertically spaced and include respective first and second gears that are in meshing engagement with each other.

22. A bed end as set forth in claim 21 wherein said gearbox includes an output gear for driving a lead screw of said bed end, said output gear being in meshing engagement with one of said first and second gears for transmitting rotational force to said lead screw in a first direction when said rotational force is applied to said first input shaft and in a second direction when said rotational force is applied to said second input shaft.

23. A bed end as set forth in claim 19 wherein said gearbox has an input shaft that is selectively movable in a housing between first and second positions relative to said housing for receiving the rotational force and for in response either raising or lowering said movable portion of said bed end.

24. A bed end as set forth in claim 18 wherein said height adjustment mechanism comprises a gearbox for receiving rotational force and for in response rotating a lead screw and thereby raising or lowering said movable portion of said bed end.

25. A bed end for a bed that includes a bed spring that is adjustable vertically relative to a floor on which the bed is placed, said bed end comprising:

a first portion for engagement with the floor, including at least one leg; and

;

a second portion supported on said first portion for vertical movement relative to said first portion and thereby relative to the floor, said second portion of said bed end including a lead screw extending generally vertically within said bed end, said lead screw being rotatable in first and second opposite directions of rotation about an axis to effect raising and lowering of said second portion of said bed end relative to said first portion of said bed end;

said first portion of said bed end including a nut assembly threadedly engaged with said lead screw, said nut assembly being rigidly coupled with said at least one leg;

said lead screw moving vertically relative to said first portion of said bed end in response to rotation of said lead screw about said axis thereby to effect vertical movement of said second portion of said bed end relative to said first portion of said bed end.

26. A bed end as set forth in claim 25 wherein said first portion of said bed end includes a cross-beam rigidly coupling said nut assembly with said at least one leg.

27. A bed end as set forth in claim 25 wherein said first portion of said bed end includes first and second legs engageable with the floor, said nut assembly including a slip nut mounted in a nut housing and threadedly engaged with said lead screw, said nut housing being rigidly coupled between said first and second legs.

28. A bed end as set forth in claim 27 wherein said first portion of said bed end includes a cross-beam rigidly coupling said nut assembly and said first and second legs.

29. A bed end for a bed that includes a bed spring that is adjustable vertically relative to a floor on which the bed is placed, said bed end comprising:

a first portion for engagement with the floor, including at least one leg;

a second portion supported on said first portion for vertical movement relative to said first portion and thereby relative to the floor;

said second portion of said bed end including a lead screw extending generally vertically within said bed end, said lead screw being rotatable in first and second opposite directions of rotation about an axis to effect raising and lowering of said second portion of said bed end relative to said first portion of said bed end;

said first portion of said bed end including a nut assembly, said nut assembly including a slip nut threadedly engaged with said lead screw, said slip nut being formed in two pieces each extending about 180 degrees around '"'"'said axis.

30. A bed end as set forth in claim 29 wherein said two pieces of said slip nut are identical to each other.

31. A bed end as set forth in claim 30 wherein each one of said two pieces of said slip nut has an axially extending portion for engagement with a projecting portion of said lead screw, said axially extending portions of said two slip nut pieces extending in opposite axial directions.

32. A bed comprising:

a bed spring;

first and second bed ends at opposite ends of said bed supporting said bed spring, each one of said bed ends having first and second opposite major side surfaces; and

at least one corner plate supported on each one of said bed ends for helping to support said bed spring;

each one of said bed ends having a first orientation in which said first major side surface of said bed end faces the opposite bed end and said corner plate faces the opposite bed end;

each one of said bed ends being movable from the first orientation to a second orientation in which said second major side surface of said bed end faces the opposite bed end and said corner plate faces the opposite bed end.

33. A bed as set forth in claim 32 wherein said bed end includes a first corner plate projecting from said first major side surface of said bed end, a second corner plate projecting from said second major side surface of said bed end, and a wall protector for selectively covering either said first corner plate or said second corner plate.

34. A bed as set forth in claim 32 wherein said bed end includes first and second corner plates hingedly connected with said bed end, said first corner plate being movable between a first position projecting from said first major side surface of said bed end and a second position lying flat against said first major side surface of said bed end, said second corner plate being movable between a first position projecting from said second major side surface of said bed end and a second position lying flat against said second major side surface of said bed end.

35. A bed as set forth in claim 32 wherein said bed end includes a plurality of support pins projecting from a side of said bed end, said corner plate supportable on said support pins in a first position projecting from said first major side surface of said bed end and in a second position projecting from said second major side surface of said bed end.

36. A bed end for a bed that is adjustable in at least one operational aspect, such as elevation, said bed end comprising:

an operational and structural assembly including an operating mechanism for controlling the at least one operational aspect of the bed;

at least one leg for supporting the bed end on a floor; and

a hollow cover for enclosing and covering said operational and structural assembly, said cover including an interior major side panel and an exterior major side panel each of which is made from a single piece of a washable plastic material.

37. A bed end as set forth in claim 36 wherein said hollow cover has an open bottom edge portion for enabling sliding movement of said hollow cover over said operational and structural assembly in a direction between the upper and lower edge portions of the cover.

38. A bed end as set forth in claim 37 wherein said hollow cover comprises a single piece of blow molded plastic material.

39. A bed end as set forth in claim 38 wherein said cover includes an interior major side panel, an exterior major side panel, an upper edge portion interconnecting said interior and exterior major side panels, and first and second opposite side edge portions interconnecting said interior and exterior major side panels.

40. A bed end as set forth in claim 37 wherein said hollow cover comprises a generally U-shaped central panel and two end caps secured to said central panel.

41. A bed end as set forth in claim 40 wherein said central panel is made from a single piece of extruded plastic material.

42. A bed end as set forth in claim 40 wherein said central panel is made from three pieces of extruded plastic material.

43. A bed end as set forth in claim 36 wherein said cover has two openings extending through said cover between said interior major side panel and said exterior major side panel, said two openings being disposed adjacent an upper edge portion of said cover.

44. A bed end as set forth in claim 43 wherein said cover has a lower edge portion extending between said first and second opposite side edge portions, and each one of said two openings has a lower edge that extends parallel to said lower edge portion of said cover.