PERSON SUPPORT APPARATUS POWER DRIVE SYSTEM

• US 20140041119A1
• Filed: 03/12/2013
• Published: 02/13/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 08/11/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hill-Rom Services Incorporated (Baxter International Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hill-Rom Services Incorporated (Baxter International Inc.)
• Inventors: Thodupunuri, Mahesh Kumar, Guthrie, Brian, Byers, John G.
• Granted Patent: US 9,707,143 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 5/510
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 2203/40 for distance
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 2203/42 for inclination
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 2203/44 for weight
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 2203/726 for automatic deactivation, e.g. deactivation of actuators or motors
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/012 raising or lowering of the whole mattress frame A61G7/005, A61G7/008 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/018 Control or drive mechanisms
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/0524 characterised by integrated accessories, e.g. bed control means, nurse call or reading lights
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/0527 Weighing devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/08 Apparatus for transporting beds

Abstract

A person support apparatus comprises a lower frame, an upper frame, a drive structure, and a control system. The upper frame is movably supported above the lower frame. The drive structure is coupled to the upper frame and configured to selectively engage a surface to, when activated, propel the person support apparatus along the surface. The control system is configured to determine an engagement status of the drive structure with the surface and trigger a response based on the engagement status.

Claims

1. A person support apparatus, comprising:

a lower frame;

an upper frame movably supported above the lower frame;

a drive structure coupled to the upper frame and movable therewith, the drive structure being configured to selectively engage a surface to, when activated, propel the person support apparatus along the surface; and

a control system configured to determine an engagement status of the drive structure with the surface and trigger a response based on the engagement status.

2. The person support apparatus of claim 1, wherein the response includes the control system causing the upper frame to move to a predetermined position with respect to the lower frame so that the drive structure engages the surface.

3. The person support apparatus of claim 1, wherein the response includes the control system communicating the engagement status to a user.

4. The person support apparatus of claim 1, wherein the control system causes a light to be illuminated to indicate that the drive structure engages the surface.

5. The person support apparatus of claim 1, wherein the control system causes a light to be illuminated to indicate that the upper frame must be lowered.

6. The person support apparatus of claim 5, wherein the light flashes until the drive structure engages the surface.

7. The person support apparatus of claim 1, wherein the drive structure is movable with respect to the upper frame to maintain engagement of the drive structure with the surface as the drive structure moves along the surface, wherein the surface is a non-uniform surface.

8. The person support apparatus of claim 1, wherein the control system determines the engagement status when the control system receives an input indicative of a user'"'"'s desire to activate the drive structure.

9. The person support apparatus of claim 1, wherein the engagement status is determined as a function of the position of the upper frame with respect to a reference.

10. The person support apparatus of claim 9, wherein the reference includes a surface of the lower frame.

11. The person support apparatus of claim 9, wherein the reference includes a floor surface.

12. The person support apparatus of claim 9, wherein the control system alerts a user that the drive structure system does not engage the floor when the distance between the upper frame and the reference exceeds a predetermined distance.

13. The person support apparatus of claim 12, wherein the predetermined distance includes the distance between the upper frame and the lower frame when the upper frame is in its lowest position with respect to the lower frame.

14. The person support apparatus of claim 9, wherein the control system includes a sensing element configured to sense the distance between the upper frame and the reference surface.

15. The person support apparatus of claim 14, wherein the sensing element includes a hall effect sensor.

16. The person support apparatus of claim 14, wherein the sensing element includes a limit switch.

17. The person support apparatus of claim 14, wherein the sensing element includes an ultrasonic sensing mechanism.

18. The person support apparatus of claim 1, wherein the response includes the control system causing the upper frame to move to a predetermined position with respect to the lower frame so that the drive structure is disengaged from the surface.

19. The person support apparatus of claim 1, wherein the response includes the control system determining a weighing status of the upper frame as a function of the engagement status of the drive structure, and communicating the weighing status to a user.

20. The person support apparatus of claim 1, wherein the response includes the control system causing a light to be illuminated to indicate that a person supported on the person support apparatus is able to be weighed when the drive structure is disengaged from the surface.

21. The person support apparatus of claim 1, wherein the response includes the control system causing a light to be illuminated to indicate that the upper frame must be raised.

22. The person support apparatus of claim 21, wherein the light flashes until the drive structure is disengaged from the surface.

23. The person support apparatus of claim 1, wherein the control system includes a limit switch that is in a first state when the drive structure engages the surface and is in a second state when the drive structure is disengaged from the surface.

24. The person support apparatus of claim 1, wherein the control system determines the engagement status when the control system receives an input indicative of a user'"'"'s desire to weigh a person.

25. The person support apparatus of claim 1, wherein the control system includes a force sensor configured to sense when the drive structure engages the surface.

26. The person support apparatus of claim 1, wherein the drive structure is pivotably connected to the upper frame at a first joint and pivotably connected to the upper frame via a biasing element at a second joint, wherein the biasing element biases the drive structure toward engagement with the surface.

27. The person support apparatus of claim 26, wherein the control system includes a sensor coupled to the biasing element and configured to sense a characteristic of the biasing element indicative of an amount the biasing element is biasing the drive structure.

28-59. -59. (canceled)