Patent Application
20070083994
The present disclosure relates generally to mobility assistance devices. More specifically, the present disclosure relates to assistance devices, such as bed rail devices, that can assist individuals in positioning themselves onto and securing themselves in beds or similar furniture.
The embodiments disclosed herein will become more fully apparent from the following description and appended claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. These drawings depict only typical embodiments, which will be described with additional specificity and detail through use of the accompanying drawings in which:
It will be readily understood that the components of the embodiments as generally described and illustrated in the Figures herein could be arranged and designed in a wide variety of different configurations. Thus, the following more detailed description of various embodiments, as represented in the Figures, is not intended to limit the scope of the invention, as claimed, but is merely representative of various embodiments. While the various aspects of the embodiments are presented in drawings, the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale unless specifically indicated.
The phrases “connected to,” “coupled to” and “in communication with” refer to any form of interaction between two or more entities, including mechanical, electrical, magnetic, electromagnetic, fluid, and thermal interaction. Two components may be coupled to each other even though they are not in direct contact with each other. For example, two components may be coupled to each other through an intermediate component.
The assistance device 100 may include a support rail portion 102, a base portion 104, and a securement strap 106. In one embodiment, the base portion 104 of the assistance device 100 is designed to fit between a mattress and box spring of a bed, or underneath the cushion of a couch, or similar furniture. The base portion 104 provides support for the support rail portion 102 when a user pulls or pushes thereon.
According to the embodiment depicted, the base portion 104 may include legs 108 that are optionally parallel to each other and optionally interconnected by a crossbar 110. However, in alternative embodiments, the base portion 104 may include a planar member having dimensions to fit between a mattress and box spring of a bed. Those having skill in the art with the aid of the present disclosure will recognize that various configurations and designs of the base portion may be used to provide the necessary support for the rail portion 102, including, but not limited to, a base portion 104 designed to extend down to the floor, or underneath both the mattress and box spring, or coupled to a bed frame.
The securement strap 106 may be a strap of nylon, fabric, or similar construction that is coupled to the base portion 104, for example, at the end furthest away from the support rail portion 104, such as adjacent the crossbar 110. The securement strap 106 may be used as an anchoring mechanism to prevent the base portion 104 from slipping out from between the mattress and the box spring of the bed. The securement strap 106 may be designed to extend between the mattress and box spring and be secured to the bed frame or similar structure at an anchoring member 112. Alternatively, the securement strap 106 may be anchored to the mattress and/or box spring. The strap 106 may also include an adjustment buckle 114 to adjust the length of the strap 106 so that it may fit various sizes and types of beds. The strap 106 may then be tightened through the adjustment buckle 114 in a manner that prevents the base portion 104 from slipping out from between the mattress and box spring.
According to the embodiment depicted in
The support rail portion 102 of the mobility assistance device 100 includes multiple rail support bars 118 for providing support for an individual during ingress and egress to and from the bed or similar furniture. For example, once the base portion 104 is positioned in the bed as described herein, the user may grip the rail support bars 118 at any point and lower himself onto the bed. The user may also maintain contact with the rail support bars 118 in order to position himself on the bed. Likewise, if the user desires to get out of the bed, the user may grip the rail support bars 118 to swing his legs off the bed. Once in this position, the user may pull on the support bars 118 in order to rise into a standing position. While moving to a standing position, the support bars 118 assist the user in establishing his balance.
As would be apparent to those having skill in the art, the distance between rail support bars 118 may be selected such that a portion of an individual's body, such as a user's head, would be unable to fit between two adjacent rail support bars 118. Consequently, the support rail portion 102 also may function to prevent users from falling out of bed.
The rail support bars 118 may comprise a first rail member 120 slidably coupled to a second rail member 122. In alternative embodiments, more than two rail members may be used. In the embodiment depicted, the first rail member 120 comprises four rail support bars 118, each having a coupling opening 124 to receive the second rail member 120 which also comprises four rail support bars 118. By way of example, the rail support bars 118 of the first rail member 120 are sleeves that have a slightly larger diameter than the rail support bars 118 of the second rail member 122. The sleeves of the second rail member 122 may slide within those of the first rail member 120 so that the sleeves are coaxially oriented. Telescopic movement of the first and second rail members 120, 122 can cause the longitudinal dimension 126 to expand or contract as desired.
The support rail portion 102 may further include a securing mechanism, such as a detent mechanism 128 comprising a protrusion 130 disposed on the second rail member 122 that engages one of a plurality of orifices 132 disposed on the first rail member 120. In order to alter the longitudinal dimension 126 of the support rail portion 102, a user may depress the protrusion 130, such that it is deflected out of its position in one of the orifices 132. The two rail members 120, 122 may then be slid apart from one another until the protrusion 130 engages a different orifice 132, which secures the two rail members 120, 122 in a position relative to each other that coincides with the desired longitudinal dimension 126 of the support rail portion 102. A similar action may be used to shorten the longitudinal dimension 126 of the support rail portion 102 by sliding the two rail members 120, 122 toward one another.
Alternative embodiments may include a different securing mechanism such as a locking nut mechanism, where a locking nut is disposed adjacent at least one coupling opening and can be twisted to secure the two rail members 120, 122 at a particular position relative to each other. In such an embodiment, the longitudinal dimension 126 of the support rail member 102 may be altered along any desirable length instead of a particular length as depicted in the embodiment illustrated in
Referring still to
The orthogonal supports 136 may further be maintained adjacent the elbows 116 of the base portion 104 through a securing member such as engagement pins 138. Engagement pins 138 may be movably coupled to the orthogonal supports 136, and in turn engage with corresponding retaining holes on the elbows 116. When at least one pin 138 is engaged with an elbow 116, the support rail portion 102 is secured in an upright configuration. When both pins 138 are disengaged from the elbows 116, the support rail portion 102 may pivot to a lowered position as will be described in greater detail hereinafter. In alternative embodiments, a single engagement pin 138 or more than two pins 138 may be used. The functionality of the pins will be described in greater detail in conjunction with
The base portion 104 may be maintained in its position between the mattress 12 and box spring 14 through the securement strap 106. As described herein, the securement strap 106 may be used as an anchoring mechanism to prevent the base portion 104 from slipping out from between the mattress 12 and the box spring 14 of the bed 10. The securement strap 106 extends to the side of the bed 10 opposite the assistance device 100 and may be secured to a bed frame 16 or similar structure at an anchoring member 112.
If a user desires to increase the longitudinal dimension 126 of the rail portion 102, the second rail member 122 is pulled away from the first rail member 120 in a telescopic fashion. According to the embodiment depicted, when the longitudinal dimension 126 is increased, such as in
If a user desires to decrease the longitudinal dimension 126 of the rail portion 102, the second rail member 122 is pushed toward the first rail member 120 in a telescopic fashion. The expansion or contraction of the longitudinal dimension 126 of the support rail portion 102 may occur while the base portion 104 is disposed between the mattress and box spring as shown in
According to the embodiment depicted in
When a user desires to lower the support rail portion 102 of the assistance device 100, the user may disengage the pins 138 from engagement with the elbows 116 of the base portion 104. The support rail portion 102 may then pivot about the transverse shaft 134, so that the rail portion 102 swings away from the bed 10 while moving to the lowered position. This may all be accomplished while the base portion 104 is disposed between the mattress 12 and box spring 14.
The support rail portion 102 in the lowered position extends in a direction that is substantially opposite from the support rail portion 102 in the upright position. In other words, the rail portion 102 moves from the upright position (
Once in the lowered configuration, the support rail portion 102 may be pivoted about the transverse shaft 134 to the upright configuration as desirable. The support rail portion 102 may pivot at all possible longitudinal dimensions of the rail portion 102, i.e., in an extended or contracted configuration. Alternative methods of pivoting may also be used in light of the present disclosure. For example, the rail portion 102 in alternative embodiments could pivot to the lowered position within the plane created by the rail portion 102 in the upright position.
The engagement pins 138 may be coupled to the orthogonal supports 136 in a manner that allows the pins 138 to move perpendicular to the orthogonal supports 136 while not becoming uncoupled from the orthogonal supports 136. Consequently, the engagement pins 138 may engage the elbows 116 as illustrated with the left engagement pin 138 of
When either pin 138 is engaged with its respective elbow 116, the support rail portion 102 is maintained in the upright configuration. However, when both pins 138 are disengaged from the elbows 116, the support rail portion 102 may pivot about the transverse shaft 134 to the lowered configuration as illustrated in
In the embodiment depicted in
Alternative securement mechanisms would be apparent to those having skill in the art with the aid of the present disclosure. For example, threaded screws having a hand knob at one end may be used to interconnect the orthogonal supports 136 and the corresponding base elbows 116. Alternatively, a detent mechanism may also be used to secure the support rail portion 102 in an upright configuration.
While specific embodiments of mobility assistance devices have been illustrated and described, it is to be understood that the invention claimed hereinafter is not limited to the precise configuration and components disclosed. Various modifications, changes, and variations apparent to those of skill in the art may be made in the arrangement, operation, and details of the methods and systems disclosed.
Without further elaboration, it is believed that one skilled in the art can use the preceding description to utilize the present disclosure to its fullest extent. The examples and embodiments disclosed herein are to be construed as merely illustrative and exemplary and not a limitation of the scope of the present disclosure in any way. It will be apparent to those having skill in the art that changes may be made to the details of the above-described embodiments without departing from the underlying principles of the invention as claimed hereinafter. In other words, various modifications and improvements of the embodiments specifically disclosed in the description above are within the scope of the appended claims. Note that elements recited in means-plus-function format are intended to be construed in accordance with 35 U.S.C. § 112 ¶6.
