Siderail accessory charging system

• US 8,143,846 B2
• Filed: 04/09/2010
• Issued: 03/27/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 04/09/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hill-Rom Services Incorporated (Baxter International Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hill-Rom Services Incorporated (Baxter International Inc.)
• Inventors: Herman, Fred, Heil, Thomas F., Howell, Charles A., Kovach, Michelle, Stanley, Timothy
• Primary Examiner(s): Assouad, Patrick
• Assistant Examiner(s): Chung, Steve T.
• Application Number:
  US12/757,272
• Publication Number:
  US 20110248672A1
• Time in Patent Office: 718 Days
• Field of Search: 561/8
• US Class Current: 320/108
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/0507 Side-rails
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/0509 sliding or pivoting downwards
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/0514 mounted to individual mattress supporting frame sections
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/0524 characterised by integrated accessories, e.g. bed control means, nurse call or reading lights

Abstract

A charging system comprises an accessory module and a charging system. The accessory module includes a housing with a coupling portion and a power source. The coupling portion includes an engagement surface and a coupler configured to removably couple the accessory module to a person-support apparatus. The power source is positioned within the housing and includes a recharging assembly. The charging station includes a docking portion configured to receive the accessory module and a charging assembly configured to communicate power to the recharging assembly.

Claims

1. A charging system, comprising:

an accessory module including a housing with a coupling portion and a power source, the coupling portion including an engagement surface and a coupler configured to removably couple the accessory module to a person-support apparatus, the power source being positioned within the housing and including a recharging assembly; and

a charging station including a docking portion configured to receive the accessory module and a charging assembly configured to communicate power to the recharging assembly, wherein the charging station is not coupled to the person-support apparatus when the power source is being recharged.

2. The charging system of claim 1, wherein the charging assembly includes a first connector configured to engage a first end of a cable and the recharging assembly includes a second connector configured to engage a second end of the cable, the charging assembly being configured to communicate power to the recharging assembly via the cable.

3. The charging system of claim 1, wherein the charging station is configured to transmit power to the accessory module wirelessly.

4. The charging system of claim 1, wherein the charging assembly includes at least one contact configured to engage at least one corresponding contact on the accessory module to transmit power to the accessory module.

5. The charging system of claim 4, wherein the contacts on the accessory module are positioned on the engagement surface, a portion of the engagement surface being configured to engage a portion of the docking portion of the charging station.

6. The charging system of claim 5, wherein the contour of the engagement surface is configured to mimic the contour of the portion of the docking portion configured to receive the accessory module.

7. The charging system of claim 1, wherein the charging assembly is configured to inductively couple to the recharging assembly to transmit power to the accessory module.

8. The charging system of claim 1, wherein the accessory module is configured to couple to a siderail of the person-support apparatus.

9. The charging system of claim 8, wherein the siderail includes a body with a perimeter edge and a grip portion, the grip portion including an opening through the body that cooperates with the perimeter edge to define a grip, at least a portion of the accessory module being positionable within the opening when the accessory module is coupled to the siderail.

10. The charging system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the accessory module and the charging station have a light source positioned thereon, the light source being configured to emit a first color when the power source in the accessory module is being charged and emit a second light when the accessory module is not being charged.

11. The charging system of claim 1, wherein the accessory module is configured to at least one of transmit and receive at least one of a data signal and a power signal to a device in communication therewith.

12. A kit, comprising:

a power source;

a front portion of an accessory module configured to removably couple to a rear portion of the accessory module housing, the front portion including a power communication device electrically coupled to the power source, the power communication device being configured to facilitate communication of power from the power supply to a personal electronic device in communication therewith; and

a charging station configured to recharge the power source.

13. The kit of claim 12 further comprising at least one rear portion of an accessory module configured to removably couple to the front portion.

14. The kit of claim 12, wherein the charging station is configured to recharge the power source wirelessly.

15. The kit of claim 12, wherein the charging station includes a charging system with an inductive coil configured to inductively couple with an inductive coil of a recharging system coupled to the power source to communicate power to the power recharging system and recharge the power source.

16. The kit of claim 12 further including a cable, the charging station being configured to recharge the power source via the cable.

17. The kit of claim 12, wherein the charging station includes at least one contact configured to engage a corresponding contact of a recharging system coupled to the power source to communicate power to the power recharging system and recharge the power source.

18. The kit of claim 12 further comprising a second front portion configured to at least one of retain an object at least partially within a space formed when the second front portion is coupled to a rear portion, dispense an antimicrobial substance, dispense a tissue, and generate a flow of air.

19. A charging system, comprising:

an accessory module including a housing including a coupling portion, a communication interface, and a power source, the coupling portion being configured to removably couple the accessory module to a person-support apparatus, the communication interface being configured to communicate at least one of data and power to a personal electronic device in communication therewith, the power source being positioned within the housing and including a recharging assembly, the power source being electrically coupled to the communication interface; and

a charging station including a docking portion configured to receive the accessory module and a charging assembly configured to communicate power to the recharging assembly.

20. The charging system of claim 19, wherein the charging assembly is configured to be coupled to the recharging assembly via a cable.

21. The charging system of claim 19, wherein the charging station is configured to transmit power to the accessory module wirelessly.

22. The charging system of claim 19, wherein the charging assembly includes at least one contact configured to engage at least one corresponding contact on the accessory module to transmit power to the accessory module.

23. The charging system of claim 19, wherein the charging assembly is configured to inductively couple to the recharging assembly to transmit power to the accessory module.

24. The charging system of claim 19, wherein the accessory module is configured to couple to a siderail of the person-support apparatus.

25. The charging system of claim 19, wherein at least one of the accessory module and the charging station have a light source positioned thereon, the light source being configured to emit a first color when the power source in the accessory module is being charged and emit a second light when the accessory module is not being charged.