Invalid bed system

• US 4,067,005 A
• Filed: 10/12/1976
• Issued: 01/03/1978
• Est. Priority Date: 04/29/1975
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Frank H. Klein, Isaac Levy, Joshuah Levy
• Original Assignee: Frank H. Klein, Isaac Levy, Joshuah Levy
• Inventors: Levy, Isaac, Klein, Frank H., Levy, Joshuah
• Primary Examiner(s): Swann, III, Glen R.
• Application Number:
  US05/731,366
• Time in Patent Office: 448 Days
• Field of Search: 340/279, 340/272, 340/311, 340/312, 5/92, 240/4, 200/85 R
• US Class Current: 340/573.4
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0247 Pressure sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1115 Monitoring leaving of a patient support, e.g. a bed or a wheelchair
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6891 Furniture
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/22 responsive to presence or absence of persons

Abstract

An alarm system for an invalid in a hopsital bed includes electric switches placed on top of the side rails and foot rail so that a force applied to any of said switches by a patient results in activation of a warning device. In addition, means is provided for selectively illuminating the hospital bed. Two basic configurations of electric switches are provided, both of which are characterized by the provision of a first switch member which is actuated by light pressure or force, and a second switch member which is actuated by heavier pressure, e.g. when the patient attempts to climb or crawl out of the bed, which could result in injury to the patient due to a fall from the bed to the floor. The switch members when actuated serve to close electric circuits which may sound a buzzer, and/or a call bell, and/or illuminate the bed, so that a nurse or attendant is amply alerted to give attention to the patient.

Claims

1. A warning system for a hospital bed comprising a hospital bed, said hospital bed including at least two opposed side rails, a weight sensitive electric switch located on the top of at least one side rail, a first electric warning device located in the vicinity of said hospital bed, a second electric warning device located at a desired location, a source of electric power, means for selectively connecting said source of power to either of said warning devices or for connecting said source of power to both said first warning device and said second warning device upon said weight switch being activated, a patient call button, means for connecting said patient call button to said selective connecting means so said patient call button can be used to selectively connect said source of electric power to both said first electric warning device and said second electric warning device or only to said first electric warning device or only to said second electric warning device, a third warning device, said weight sensitive switch including a first pair of contacts and a second pair of contacts, said first pair of contacts being closed upon sensing a first predetermined force and said second pair of contacts being closed upon sensing a second predetermined force, said second predetermined force being greater than said first predetermined force, and means connecting said third warning device to said source of electric power when said second pair of contacts close.

2. A warning system according to claim 1 wherein a second weight sensitive electric switch is located over the remaining side rail, said second switch being identical to said first switch, and means connecting said second weight sensitive electric switch to said selective connecting means.

3. A warning system according to claim 2 wherein said hospital bed includes a foot rail, and a third weight sensitive electric switch located on top of said foot rail, said third weight sensitive electric switch being identical to said first and second weight sensitive electric switches, and connected to said selective connecting means.

4. A warning system according to claim 3 wherein said selective connecting means includes a first circuit leg and a second circuit leg, means for selectively connecting said source of electric power to both said first circuit leg and said second circuit leg or individually to said first circuit leg or individually to said second circuit leg, said first warning device being in said first circuit leg and the first pair of contacts of said first, second and third weight sensitive electric switches being connected to said first warning device.

5. A warning device according to claim 4 wherein the second pair of contacts of said first, second and third weight sensitive electric switches are in said second circuit leg, said third warning device being connected to said second pair of contacts of said first, second and third weight sensitive switches.

6. A warning system according to claim 4 wherein said second warning device is connected to said first circuit leg and to said second circuit leg.

7. A warning system according to claim 6 further including a control box, said control box including a first, second, third and fourth sockets connected to said first circuit leg, said patient call button connected to said first socket and said first pair of contacts of said first, second and third weight sensitive electric switches being connected to said second, third and fourth sockets, respectively.

8. A system according to claim 7 wherein said control box includes at least one light socket, said one light socket being connected to said source of electric power and illuminating means for illuminating said hospital bed being connected to said first light socket..

9. A warning system according to claim 7 wherein said control box includes fifth, sixth and seveth sockets, said second pair of contacts of said first, second and third weight sensitive electric switches being connected to said fifth, sixth and seventh sockets, respectively and said fifth, sixth and seventh sockets connected to said third warning device.

10. In a hospital having a bed with at least one rail, a nurse'"'"'s station located at a distance from said bed, a wall terminal in proximity to said bed and means connecting said wall terminal to said nurse'"'"'s station, the warning system combination of first and second elongated pressure sensitive switches on top of said rail, said first pressure sensitive switch being actuatable by light pressure, said second pressure sensitive switch being actuatable by heavy pressure, a first warning device at said nurse'"'"'s station, a first lead connecting said first warning device to said connecting means, a control box, a second warning device in said control box, a second lead connecting said control box to said switches, and a third lead connecting said control box to said wall terminal, so that actuation of said first switch serves to actuate said first warning device and actuation of said second switch serves to actuate said second warning device.

11. The warning system of claim 10 in which lighting means are provided on said rail below said switches, said lighting means being connected to the control ox through the second lead, together with means in the control box to regulate said lighting means.

12. The warning system of claim 10 in which switch means are provided in the control box to control the connection between the first switch and the first warning device.

13. The warning system of claim 10 together with a call button at the bed and a lead extending from the button to the control box, so that pressing of the button actuates the first warning device.

14. The warning system of claim 10 in which means are provided to continuously actuate the second warning device when one actuated by the closing of the second switch, together with pressure-sensitive reset means to interrupt and stop the acutation of the second warning device until the second switch is again closed.

15. In a hospital having a bed with at least one rail, a nurse'"'"'s station located at a distance from said bed, a wall terminal in proximity to said bed and means connecting said wall terminal to said nurse'"'"'s station, the warning system combination of first and second elongated pressure sensitive switches on top of said rail, said first pressure sensitive switch being actuatable by light pressure, said second pressure sensitive switch being actuatable by heavy pressure, a first warning device at said nurse'"'"'s station, a first lead connecting said first warning device to said connecting means, a second warning device at said nurse'"'"'s station, and a second lead connecting said second warning device to said connecting means so that actuation of said first switch serves to actuate said first warning device, and actuation of said second switch serves to actuate said second warning device.