Person support apparatuses with selectively coupled foot sections

• US 9,038,218 B1
• Filed: 01/15/2014
• Issued: 05/26/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 01/15/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hill-Rom Services Incorporated (Baxter International Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hill-Rom Services Incorporated (Baxter International Inc.)
• Inventors: Heil, Thomas F., Suttman, Glenn C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Santos, Robert G
• Assistant Examiner(s): Davis, Richard G
• Application Number:
  US14/155,787
• Time in Patent Office: 496 Days
• Field of Search: 561/8, 561/0, 561/2, 561/3, 561/4, 561/6, 55031-5071
• US Class Current: 5/618
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 2203/32 for force
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 2203/40 for distance
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 2203/42 for inclination
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 5/006 convertible to stretchers or beds
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/008 tiltable around longitudinal axis, e.g. for rolling
• 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 7/0506 Head or foot boards head or foot boards for comfort or ergonomics A47C19/022
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/08 Apparatus for transporting beds
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/16 converting a lying surface into a chair
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2023/0411 Squatting exercises
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/00047 Exercising devices not moving during use benches A63B21/4029; isometric exercising devices A63B21/0023; step exercisers A63B23/0458; walk exercisers A63B23/0464
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2210/04 incorporated in beds, sofas

Abstract

Person support apparatuses with selectively coupled foot sections are disclosed. In one embodiment, the person support apparatus includes a base frame, a primary support frame supported on the base frame, and a foot section coupled to the primary support frame. The person support apparatus also includes a carriage that is freely translatable between a head end of the primary support frame and a foot end of the primary support frame, the carriage comprising a torso portion and a seat portion having a thigh segment and a gluteal segment. The person support apparatus further includes a selectable trunnion that selectively and severally couples the foot section to the primary support frame and the thigh segment of the seat portion.

Claims

1. A person support apparatus comprising:

a base frame;

a primary support frame supported on the base frame;

a foot section coupled to the primary support frame;

a carriage that is freely translatable between a head end of the primary support frame and a foot end of the primary support frame, the carriage comprising a torso portion and a seat portion having a thigh segment and a gluteal segment; and

a selectable trunnion that selectively and severally couples the foot section to the primary support frame and the thigh segment of the seat portion.

2. The person support apparatus of claim 1, wherein the foot section is pivotable around the selectable trunnion with respect to the primary support frame or the thigh segment of the seat portion.

3. The person support apparatus of claim 1, wherein the torso portion is inclined with respect to the seat portion when the person support apparatus is in an exercise configuration.

4. The person support apparatus of claim 3, wherein the thigh segment is pivoted towards the gluteal segment when the person support apparatus is in the exercise configuration.

5. The person support apparatus of claim 1, wherein the foot section comprises an extendable foot section coupled to the primary support frame, wherein:

the extendable foot section has a retracted position and an extended position; and

the extendable foot section is in the retracted position when the person support apparatus is in an exercise configuration.

6. The person support apparatus of claim 1, wherein the primary support frame is pivotable with respect to the base frame.

7. The person support apparatus of claim 6, further comprising lift linkage coupled to the primary support frame and the base frame, the lift linkage allowing the primary support frame to be pivotable with respect to the base frame.

8. The person support apparatus of claim 1, wherein the selectable trunnion is repositionable between a first position in which the selectable trunnion couples the foot section to the primary support frame and a second position in which the selectable trunnion couples the foot section to the thigh segment of the seat portion.

9. The person support apparatus of claim 8, wherein the selectable trunnion comprises a stub shaft that translates between the first position and the second position to selectively and severally couple the foot section to the primary support frame and the thigh segment respectively.

10. The person support apparatus of claim 9, wherein the selectable trunnion comprises a linear-acting actuator that translates the stub shaft between the first position and the second position.

11. The person support apparatus of claim 9, wherein the stub shaft comprises a bearing portion that is coupled to the foot section when the selectable trunnion is positioned in the second position, such that the foot section is pivotable relative to the thigh segment by pivoting around the bearing portion of the stub shaft, and the stub shaft is uncoupled from the foot section when the selectable trunnion is positioned in the first position.

12. The person support apparatus of claim 9, wherein the primary support frame comprises a cradle that supports the stub shaft as the selectable trunnion translates from the first position to the second position.

13. The person support apparatus of claim 12, wherein when the selectable trunnion is position in the second position and the cradle limits translation of the stub shaft in directions other than a direction corresponding to translation between the first position and the second position.

14. The person support apparatus of claim 12, wherein the stub shaft comprises a plurality of keyways extending in a generally parallel direction with one another that, when the selectable trunnion is positioned in the second position, allow the stub shaft to translate away from the cradle in a direction generally parallel with the direction that the keyways extend in the stub shaft.

15. A person support apparatus comprising:

a primary support frame;

a foot section coupled to the primary support frame;

a carriage that is freely translatable between a head end of the primary support frame and a foot end of the primary support frame, the carriage comprising a torso portion and a seat portion having a thigh segment and a gluteal segment; and

a selectable trunnion that selectively and severally couples the foot section to the primary support frame and the thigh segment of the seat portion, wherein the selectable trunnion is repositionable between a first position in which the selectable trunnion couples the foot section to the primary support frame and a second position in which the selectable trunnion couples the foot section to the thigh segment of the seat portion.

16. The person support apparatus of claim 15, wherein the foot section is pivotable around the selectable trunnion with respect to the primary support frame or the thigh segment of the seat portion.

17. The person support apparatus of claim 15, wherein the torso portion is inclined with respect to the seat portion when the person support apparatus is in an exercise configuration.

18. The person support apparatus of claim 17, wherein the thigh segment is pivoted towards the gluteal segment when the person support apparatus is in the exercise configuration.

19. The person support apparatus of claim 15, wherein the foot section comprises an extendable foot section coupled to the primary support frame, wherein:

the extendable foot section has a retracted position and an extended position; and

the extendable foot section is in the retracted position when the person support apparatus is in an exercise configuration.

20. The person support apparatus of claim 15, wherein the selectable trunnion comprises a stub shaft that translates between the first position and the second position to selectively and severally couple the foot section to the primary support frame and the thigh segment respectively.

21. The person support apparatus of claim 20, wherein the selectable trunnion comprises a linear-acting actuator that translates the stub shaft between the first position and the second position.

22. The person support apparatus of claim 20, wherein the stub shaft comprises a bearing portion that is coupled to the foot section when the selectable trunnion is positioned in the second position, such that the foot section is pivotable relative to the thigh segment by pivoting around the bearing portion of the stub shaft, and the stub shaft is uncoupled from the foot section when the selectable trunnion is positioned in the first position.

23. The person support apparatus of claim 20, wherein the primary support frame comprises a cradle that supports the stub shaft as the selectable trunnion moves from the first position to the second position.

24. The person support apparatus of claim 23, wherein when the selectable trunnion is position in the second position and the cradle limits translation of the stub shaft in directions other than directions corresponding to translation between the first position and the second position.

25. The person support apparatus of claim 23, wherein the stub shaft comprises a plurality of keyways extending in a generally parallel direction with one another that, when the selectable trunnion is positioned in the second position, allow the stub shaft to translate away from the cradle in a direction generally parallel with the direction that the keyways extend in the stub shaft.