The present disclosure relates to bed rails. Bed rails are used with beds to help retain individuals in bed.
According to the present disclosure, a bed rail comprises a side rail and a clamp. The clamp cooperates with the side rail to clamp a mattress to mount the side rail alongside the mattress and to unclamp the mattress. The clamp is configured for foldable movement to move the side rail between a raised position and a fold-down position. The clamp includes a fold controller to control movement between the raised and fold-down positions.
The fold controller includes a leg and a leg receiver. The leg is arranged to be received in the leg receiver to position the side rail in the raised position and to be removed from the leg receiver to position the side rail in the fold-down position. An articulated joint is coupled to the leg and the leg receiver to facilitate movement of the leg relative to the leg receiver between the raised and fold-down positions.
The fold controller includes a lock and a lock release. The lock is used to lock the leg in the leg receiver to position the side rail in the raised position. The lock release is used to release the lock to allow removal of the leg from the leg receiver to position the side rail in the fold-down position.
Additional features of the apparatus will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon consideration of the following detailed description exemplifying the best mode of the disclosure as presently perceived.
The detailed description particularly refers to the accompanying figures in which:
A bed rail 10 is configured to be mounted to a bed 12, as suggested, for example, in
Bed rail 10 includes left and right clamps 18, 118 and a side rail 20 coupled thereto, as shown, for example, in
Left clamp 18 includes a left fixed jaw (or base) 22, a left movable jaw 24, and left fold controller 16, as shown, for example, in
Fixed jaws 22, 122 are adapted to be positioned under mattress 14 in a fixed position between mattress 14 and an underlying box spring unit 26, as shown, for example, in
Movable jaws 24, 124 are coupled to side rail 20 and are arranged to move relative to fixed jaws 22, 122 to clamp and unclamp mattress 14. Movable jaws 24, 124 are arranged to move toward fixed jaws 22, 122 to move side rail 20 toward mattress 14 to clamp mattress 14 between side rail 20 and fixed jaws 22, 122 to mount side rail 20 alongside mattress 14, as shown, for example, in
Left and right clamps 18, 118 are configured for foldable movement to move side rail 20 between the raised and fold-down positions. In the raised position, side rail 20 is positioned higher than fixed jaws (or bases) 22, 122 so that side rail 20 is positioned higher than a top surface 100 of mattress 14. In the fold-down position, side rail 20 is positioned higher than fixed jaws (or bases) 22, 122 so that side rail 20 is positioned higher than top surface 100 of mattress.
Left and right fold controllers 16, 116 are arranged to control such foldable movement of left and right clamps 18, 118. It is within the scope of this disclosure for fold controllers 16, 116 to control foldable movement of clamps 18, 118 between the clamped position and the fold-down position. As such, the clamped position may also be considered to be a “raised” position.
Left and right clamps 18, 118 are similar to one another in structure and function. Thus, further description herein of left clamp 18 and its components applies also to right clamp 118 and its components.
Fold controller 16 includes a leg 30, a leg receiver 32, an articulated joint (or articulated “ankle” joint) 34, a releasable lock 36, and a lock release 38, as shown, for example, in
Leg 30 includes telescoping inner and outer tubes 42, 44 and an attachment 46 to outer tube 42, as shown, for example, in
Leg receiver 32 includes an outer sleeve 53 and an inner sleeve 54, as shown, for example, in
Articulated joint 34 is coupled to leg 30 and leg receiver 32 for movement of leg 30 relative to leg receiver 32 between the raised and fold-down positions. Joint 34 includes an anchor 62, first and second pivots 64, 66, and a link 68 coupled to anchor 62 by first pivot 64 and to attachment 46 by second pivot 66.
Anchor 62 includes an anchor body 74 and a pair of anchor ears 104 coupled to and extending upwardly from anchor body 74, as shown, for example, in
Attachment 46 includes a pair of attachment ears 114 coupled to and extending from attachment body 49, as shown, for example, in
Anchor 62 is used to anchor leg 30, movable jaw 24, and side rail 20 to foot 40 when bed rail 10 assumes the fold-down position. To do so, anchor 62 is positioned in channel 56 to slide in channel 56 longitudinally along an axis 67 of channel 56, as shown, for example, in
Anchor 62 and channel 56 are arranged to facilitate movement of anchor 62 therein. Anchor 62 includes a pair of tabs 76 coupled to and extending outwardly from anchor body 74, as shown, for example, in
Second pivot axle 116 is arranged to move in elongated slot 82 upon movement of leg 30 between the raised and fold-down positions, as suggested, for example, in
Lock 36 is arranged to move between a locking position shown, for example, in
Lock 36 includes a spring 84 and a locking pin 86 coupled thereto, as shown, for example, in
A button 92 included in lock release 38 is arranged to move inwardly through an outer sleeve opening 94 to retract pin 86 inwardly from inner sleeve opening 90 into interior region 88 to the unlocking position upon application of a release force 96 to button 92, as shown, for example, in
To use bed rail 10, fixed jaw 22 is positioned between mattress 14 and box spring unit 26 in a fixed position. Initially, bed rail 10 is in the raised position, as shown, for example, in FIGS. 3 and 8-10. In this position, lower leg end portion 60 is locked in channel 56 by lock 36 so that leg 30 and side rail 10 are rightside-up and side rail 20 is positioned higher than a top surface 100 of mattress 14. Side rail 20 is higher than top surface 100 to inhibit unintended movement of a person off mattress 14 once mattress is clamped. Lower leg end portion 60 remains locked in channel 56 upon clamping and unclamping of mattress 14. Button 92 is actuated to release locking pin 86 from inner sleeve opening 90 to unlock leg 30, as shown, for example, in
Once unlocked, leg 30 and side rail 20 can transition from the raised position to the fold-down position, as shown, for example, in FIGS. 5 and 12-14. During such transitional movement, leg 30 is withdrawn from channel 56 thereby causing second pivot 66 to move through slot 82 and engage link 68. Engagement between second pivot 66 and link 68 causes anchor 62 to start moving upwardly through channel 56 from its lower, at-rest position toward its upper, anchoring position, as shown, for example, in
In the fold-down position, leg 30 and side rail 20 are upside-down and side rail 20 is lower than top surface 100 of mattress 14, as shown, for example, in
Leg 30 and side rail 20 can be moved back to the raised position by inserting lower leg end portion 60 back into channel 56. As such movement occurs, locking pin 86 engages an inclined surface 102 formed in inner sleeve 54 and is retracted into interior region 88 of leg 30 in response to such engagement, as shown, for example, in
Fold controller 16 provides means for controlling movement of side rail 20 relative to a base 22 between a raised position extending higher than base 22 so that side rail 20 extends higher than top surface 100 of mattress 14 when base 22 is positioned under mattress 14 in the fixed position and a fold-down position extending lower than base 22 so that side rail 20 extends lower than top surface 100 of mattress 14 when base 22 is positioned under mattress 14 in the fixed position. Fold controller 116 provides means for controlling movement of side rail 20 relative to a base 122 between a raised position extending higher than base 122 so that side rail 20 extends higher than top surface 100 of mattress 14 when base 122 is positioned under mattress 14 in the fixed position and a fold-down position extending lower than base 122 so that side rail 20 extends lower than top surface 100 of mattress 14 when base 122 is positioned under mattress 14 in the fixed position. It is within the scope of this disclosure for mattress 14 to be unclamped in such a raised position. It is also within the scope of this disclosure for mattress 14 to be clamped in such a raised position.
As shown in
Right clamp 214 includes a right fixed jaw 220, a right movable jaw 222, and a right motion controller 224 and left clamp 314 includes a left fixed jaw 320, a left movable jaw 322, and a left motion controller 324, as shown, for example, diagrammatically in
Movable jaws 222, 322 are configured to be positioned over mattress 216. Right movable jaw 222 is configured to move toward right fixed jaw 220 to clamp mattress between right fixed jaw 220 and right movable jaw 222 and to move away from right fixed jaw 220 to unclamp mattress 216. Left movable jaw 322 is configured to move toward left fixed jaw 320 to clamp mattress 216 between left fixed jaw 320 and left movable jaw 322 and to move away from left fixed jaw 320 to unclamp mattress 216.
Right motion controller 224 is configured to control relative movement of jaws 220, 222. Right motion controller 224 thus provides motion controller means for controlling relative movement of jaws 220, 222 toward one another to clamp mattress 216 and away from one another to unclamp mattress 216.
Left motion controller 324 is configured to control relative movement of jaws 320, 322. Left motion controller 324 thus provides motion controller means for controlling relative movement of jaws 320, 322 toward one another to clamp mattress 216 and away from one another to unclamp mattress 216.
Right and left clamps 214, 314 are similar to one another in structure and function. Thus, the description herein of right clamp 214 and its components applies also to left clamp 314 and its components.
Fixed jaw 220 is configured to inhibit detachment of bed rail 210 from bed 212. Fixed jaw 220 includes a number ridges 228 formed in a top surface of fixed jaw 220 and an anti-slide member 230 formed to include a number of teeth, as shown, for example, in
A jaw connector 232 interconnects fixed jaws 220 of left and right clamps 216, as shown, for example, in
Movable jaw 222 includes inner and outer shells 236, 238 coupled to one another by fasteners 240, as shown, for example, in
Motion controller 224 is configured to move between a motion-limiting position shown, for example, in
Motion controller 224 includes a leg 252 shown, for example, in
In the illustrated embodiment, leg 252 includes telescoping inner and outer tubes 256, 258, as shown, for example, in
Motion controller 224 includes a ratchet 264 and a ratchet engagement device 266, as shown, for example, in
Device 66 includes a slidable body 270, a mover 268, and a release 278, as shown, for example, in
Release 278 is coupled to body 270 to move body to the motion-enabling position upon application of a release force 279 to release 278 by a user. Release 278 is configured, for example, as a lug extending from body 270 through an exterior access opening 280 formed in inner shell 236 for external access to release 278 by the user. Body 270 and release 278 cooperate to provide a button.
Body 270 is configured to slide between the motion-limiting and motion-enabling positions. Movable jaw 222 includes a guide 282 and body 270 includes a guide follower 284 configured to follow 282, as shown, for example, in
Spring 268 is positioned in a body interior region 290 shown, for example, in
Spring compression tab 296 is included in movable jaw 222 and configured to extend between spring retention tabs 294 to engage spring 268 for compression thereof upon movement of body 270 in a direction 298, as shown, for example, in
A spring alignment tab 300 shown, for example, in
To use bed rail 210, bed rail 210 is first coupled to bed 212. To couple bed rail 210 to bed 212, right and left clamps 214, 314 are clamped to mattress 216. Side rail 218 is mounted alongside bed 212 upon clamping of clamps 214, 314 to bed 212. Each clamp 214, 314 thus provides means for clamping mattress 216 to position side rail 218 alongside mattress 216.
Before clamping of mattress 216, fixed jaws 220, 120 are inserted between mattress 216 and box spring unit 226 and side rail 218 and movable jaws 222, 122 are positioned at an elevated position over mattress 216 in a mattress-unclamping position, as shown, for example, in
Clamps 214, 314 are then clamped to mattress 216. Elevation adjustment force 251 is applied to each hand grip 251 to lower side rail 218 and movable jaws 222, 122 into contact with mattress 216 to apply a clamping force thereto, as shown, for example, in
To unclamp mattress 216, release force 279 is applied to releases 278, as shown, for example, in
A bed rail 410 shown, for example, in
Right clamp 414 includes a right fixed jaw 420, a right movable jaw 422, and a right motion controller 424. Similarly, left clamp 514 includes a left fixed jaw 520, a left movable jaw 522, and a left motion controller 524. Fixed jaws 420, 520 are connected by a jaw connector 432 and are configured to be positioned under mattress 216 in a fixed position between mattress 216 and underlying box spring unit 226.
Movable jaws 422, 522 are coupled to side rail 418 and configured to be positioned over mattress. Movable jaws 422, 522 are configured to move toward fixed jaws 420, 520 to move side rail 418 toward mattress 216 to clamp mattress 216 between side rail 418 and fixed jaws 420, 520 to mount side rail 418 alongside mattress 216. Movable jaws 422, 522 are configured to move away from fixed jaws 420, 520 to move side rail 418 away from mattress 216 to unclamp mattress 216.
Right motion controller 424 is configured to control relative movement between right fixed jaw 420 and right movable jaw 422. Right motion controller 424 thus provides motion controller means for controlling relative movement between jaws 420, 422 toward one another to clamp mattress 216 and away from one another to unclamp mattress 216.
Left motion controller 524 is configured to control relative movement between left fixed jaw 520 and left movable jaw 522. Left motion controller 524 thus provides motion controller means for controlling relative movement between jaws 520, 522 toward one another to clamp mattress 216 and away from one another to unclamp mattress 216.
Clamps 414, 514 are similar to one another in structure and function. Thus, the description herein of left clamp 514 applies also to right clamp 414.
Motion controller 524 includes a leg 552, a ratchet 364, and a ratchet engagement device 566, as shown, for example, in
Ratchet engagement device 566 is coupled to movable jaw 522 for movement therewith as movable jaw 522 moves toward and away from fixed jaw 520. Ratchet engagement device 566 includes a slidable body 570, a mover 568, and a release 578.
Mover 568 causes body 570 to slide along a surface 577 toward ratchet 564 in a ratchet-engagement direction 579 to a motion-limiting position so that body 570 normally engages ratchet 564. Engagement between body 570 and ratchet 564 allows movement of movable jaw 522 toward fixed jaw 520 to clamp mattress 216 but blocks movement of movable jaw 522 away from fixed jaw 520. Body 570 is formed to include a notch member 574 to engage teeth 576 included in ratchet 564. Mover 568 is configured, for example, as a spring.
Release 578 is configured to cause body 570 to slide along surface 577 away from ratchet 564 in a ratchet-release direction 580 to a motion-enabling position so that body 570 releases ratchet 564. Movable jaw 522 is allowed to move away from fixed jaw 520 to unclamp mattress 216 upon release of ratchet 564.
Release 578 includes a pivot 581, a body engagement tab 582, and an actuator tab 584. Pivot 581 is formed to include an axle-receiving opening 598 receiving an axle 596 for pivotable movement of release 578 about an axis 586. Body engagement tab 582 engages body 570 to move body 570 in ratchet-release direction 580 upon movement of actuator tab 584 through an external access opening 594 formed in movable jaw 522 in a first pivot direction 588 about axis 586 due to application of a release force 590 to actuator tab 584. Release force 590 may be applied to actuator tab 584 when the hand of a user grips a lower portion of movable jaw 520 so that the palm of the user's hand presses actuator tab 584 in first pivot direction 588. Release 578 will pivot about axis 586 through opening 594 in a second pivot direction 592 due to operation of mover 568 and engagement between body engagement tab 582 and body 570 when the user's hand is removed from actuator 584. Release 578 is configured, for example, as a plate.
Ratchet engagement device 566 provides means for engaging ratchet 564 to clamp mattress 216 and for releasing ratchet 564 to unclamp mattress 216.
Siderail 20 includes a rectangular rim and a fabric panel coupled to the rim as shown in
This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119(e) to U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/433,113, filed Dec. 13, 2002, which is hereby incorporated by reference herein. This application is a continuation and claims benefit of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/003,641 filed Dec. 3, 2004 now U.S. Pat. No. 7,028,354 the subject matter of which is hereby incorporated by reference. U.S. application Ser. No. 11/003,641 is a continuation and claims benefit of U.S. application Ser. No. 10/734,346 filed Dec. 12, 2003, (now U.S. Pat. No. 6,886,196) and is a continuation and claims benefit of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/735,356 filed Dec. 12, 2003 now U.S. Pat. No. 7,024,708. Cross-reference is made to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/734,392 entitled “Bed Rail With Clamping Force Indicator” (now U.S. Pat. No. 6,934,984), which is assigned to the same assignee as the present application, and which is incorporated by reference in the above-noted U.S. Pat. No. 6,886,196.
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Number | Date | Country | |
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Parent | 11003641 | Dec 2004 | US |
Child | 11276487 | US | |
Parent | 10734346 | Dec 2003 | US |
Child | 11003641 | US | |
Parent | 10735356 | Dec 2003 | US |
Child | 10734346 | US |