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 is adapted to clamp a mattress to mount the side rail alongside the mattress.
The clamp includes a fixed jaw, a movable jaw, and a motion controller. The fixed jaw is configured to be positioned in a fixed position under the mattress. The movable jaw is configured to be positioned over the mattress and to move toward and away from the fixed jaw to clamp and unclamp the mattress. The motion controller is configured to control movement of the movable jaw relative to the fixed jaw.
The motion controller includes a ratchet and a ratchet engagement device. The ratchet engagement device is configured to move into engagement with the ratchet to facilitate clamping of the mattress and to release the ratchet to facilitate unclamping of the mattress.
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 for use with a bed 12, as suggested, for example, in FIG. 1. Bed rail 10 may be mounted to bed 12 to inhibit undesired movement of an individual (not shown) out of bed 12. Right and left clamps 14, 114 included in bed rail 10 are configured to clamp a mattress 16 included in bed 12 to mount bed rail 10 to bed 12 and to mount a side rail 18 included in bed rail 10 alongside mattress 16, as discussed in more detail herein. When bed rail 10 is no longer needed, it may be removed from bed 12.
Right clamp 14 includes a right fixed jaw 20, a right movable jaw 22, and a right motion controller 24 and left clamp 114 includes a left fixed jaw 120, a left movable jaw 122, and a left motion controller 124, as shown, for example, diagrammatically in FIG. 2. Fixed jaws 20, 120 are configured to be positioned under mattress 16 in a fixed position between mattress 16 and an underlying box spring unit 26.
Movable jaws 22, 122 are configured to be positioned over mattress 16. Right movable jaw 22 is configured to move toward right fixed jaw 20 to clamp mattress between right fixed jaw 20 and right movable jaw 22 and to move away from right fixed jaw 20 to unclamp mattress 16. Left movable jaw 122 is configured to move toward left fixed jaw 120 to clamp mattress 16 between left fixed jaw 120 and left movable jaw 122 and to move away from left fixed jaw 120 to unclamp mattress 16.
Right motion controller 24 is configured to control relative movement of jaws 20, 22. Right motion controller 24 thus provides motion controller means for controlling relative movement of jaws 20, 22 toward one another to clamp mattress 16 and away from one another to unclamp mattress 16.
Left motion controller 124 is configured to control relative movement of jaws 120, 122. Left motion controller 124 thus provides motion controller means for controlling relative movement of jaws 120, 122 toward one another to clamp mattress 16 and away from one another to unclamp mattress 16.
Right and left clamps 14, 114 are similar to one another in structure and function. Thus, the description herein of right clamp 14 and its components applies also to left clamp 114 and its components.
Fixed jaw 20 is configured to inhibit detachment of bed rail 10 from bed 12. Fixed jaw 20 includes a number ridges 28 formed in a top surface of fixed jaw 20 and an anti-slide member 30 formed to include a number of teeth, as shown, for example, in FIG. 1. Ridges 28 and the teeth of anti-slide member 30 are configured to engage a bottom surface of mattress 16 to inhibit withdrawal of fixed jaw 20 from between mattress 16 and box spring unit 26.
A jaw connector 32 interconnects fixed jaws 20 of left and right clamps 16, as shown, for example, in FIG. 1. In the illustrated embodiment, jaw connector 32 includes telescoping tubes 34 configured to be locked in an extended, use position.
Movable jaw 22 includes inner and outer shells 36, 38 coupled to one another by fasteners 40, as shown, for example, in
Motion controller 24 is configured to move between a motion-limiting position shown, for example, in
Motion controller 24 includes a leg 52 shown, for example, in
In the illustrated embodiment, leg 52 includes telescoping inner and outer tubes 56, 58, as shown, for example, in
Motion controller 24 includes a ratchet 64 and a ratchet engagement device 66, as shown, for example, in
Device 66 includes a slidable body 70, a mover 68, and a release 78, as shown, for example, in
Release 78 is coupled to body 70 to move body to the motion-enabling position upon application of a release force 79 to release 78 by a user. Release 78 is configured, for example, as a lug extending from body 70 through an exterior access opening 80 formed in inner shell 36 for external access to release 78 by the user. Body 70 and release 78 cooperate to provide a button.
Body 70 is configured to slide between the motion-limiting and motion-enabling positions. Movable jaw 22 includes a guide 82 and body 70 includes a guide follower 84 configured to follow 82, as shown, for example, in FIG. 4. Guide 82 includes upper and lower guide surfaces 86. Follower 84 includes upper and lower follower surfaces 88 configured to slide against upper and lower guide surfaces 86 for linear movement of body 70.
Spring 68 is positioned in a body interior region 90 shown, for example, in FIG. 4. Spring 68 is captured between a spring retention surface 92 positioned to one side of spring 68 and a pair of spring retention tabs 94 positioned to an opposite side of spring 68. Spring retention tabs 94 are mounted in spaced-apart relation to one another to receive a spring compression tab 96 therebetween.
Spring compression tab 96 is included in movable jaw 22 and configured to extend between spring retention tabs 94 to engage spring 68 for compression thereof upon movement of body 70 in a direction 98, as shown, for example, in FIG. 9. Such movement may occur due to camming engagement between notch member 74 and teeth 76 and may occur due to application of release force 79 to release 78 to move body 70 to the motion-enabling position.
A spring alignment tab 100 shown, for example, in
To use bed rail 10, bed rail 10 is first coupled to bed 12. To couple bed rail 10 to bed 12, right and left clamps 14, 114 are clamped to mattress 16. Side rail 18 is mounted alongside bed 12 upon clamping of clamps 14, 114 to bed 12. Each clamp 14, 114 thus provides means for clamping mattress 16 to position side rail 18 alongside mattress 16.
Before clamping of mattress 16, fixed jaws 20, 120 are inserted between mattress 16 and box spring unit 26 and side rail 18 and movable jaws 22, 122 are positioned at an elevated position over mattress 16 in a mattress-unclamping position, as shown, for example, in FIG. 5. Each body 70 is positioned in its motion-limiting position, as shown, for example, in
Clamps 14, 114 are then clamped to mattress 16. Elevation adjustment force 51 is applied to each hand grip 51 to lower side rail 18 and movable jaws 22, 122 into contact with mattress 16 to apply a clamping force thereto, as shown, for example, in FIG. 8. Bodies 70 cam against teeth 76 of ratchets 64 to allow lowering of side rail 18 and movable jaws 22, 122, a shown in
To unclamp mattress 16, release force 79 is applied to releases 78, as shown, for example, in FIG. 13. Release force 79 moves bodies 70 from the motion-limiting position to the motion-enabling position to allow elevation of side rail 18 and movable jaws 22, 122 away from mattress 16 back to a mattress-unclamping position shown, for example, in FIG. 5. An elevation limiter 102 shown, for example, in
A bed rail 210 shown, for example, in
Right clamp 214 includes a right fixed jaw 220, a right movable jaw 222, and a right motion controller 224. Similarly, left clamp 314 includes a left fixed jaw 320, a left movable jaw 322, and a left motion controller 324. Fixed jaws 220, 320 are connected by a jaw connector 232 and are configured to be positioned under mattress 16 in a fixed position between mattress 16 and underlying box spring unit 26.
Movable jaws 222, 322 are coupled to side rail 218 and configured to be positioned over mattress. Movable jaws 222, 322 are configured to move toward fixed jaws 220, 320 to move side rail 218 toward mattress 16 to clamp mattress 16 between side rail 218 and fixed jaws 220, 320 to mount side rail 218 alongside mattress 16. Movable jaws 222, 322 are configured to move away from fixed jaws 220, 320 to move side rail 218 away from mattress 16 to unclamp mattress 16.
Right motion controller 224 is configured to control relative movement between right fixed jaw 220 and right movable jaw 222. Right motion controller 224 thus provides motion controller means for controlling relative movement between jaws 220, 222 toward one another to clamp mattress 16 and away from one another to unclamp mattress 16.
Left motion controller 324 is configured to control relative movement between left fixed jaw 320 and left movable jaw 322. Left motion controller 324 thus provides motion controller means for controlling relative movement between jaws 320, 322 toward one another to clamp mattress 16 and away from one another to unclamp mattress 16.
Clamps 214, 314 are similar to one another in structure and function. Thus, the description herein of left clamp 314 applies also to right clamp 214.
Motion controller 324 includes a leg 352, a ratchet 364, and a ratchet engagement device 366, as shown, for example, in FIG. 15. Leg 352 is coupled to and extends upwardly from fixed jaw 320 into an interior region 372 formed in movable jaw 322. Ratchet 364 is coupled to leg 352. A sleeve 367 is positioned in interior region 372 to receive and surround leg 352 and ratchet 364 coupled thereto. Sleeve 367 is formed to include a guide channel 354 to guide movement of movable jaw 322 along leg 352.
Ratchet engagement device 366 is coupled to movable jaw 322 for movement therewith as movable jaw 322 moves toward and away from fixed jaw 320. Ratchet engagement device 366 includes a slidable body 370, a mover 368, and a release 378.
Mover 368 causes body 370 to slide along a surface 377 toward ratchet 364 in a ratchet-engagement direction 379 to a motion-limiting position so that body 370 normally engages ratchet 364. Engagement between body 370 and ratchet 364 allows movement of movable jaw 322 toward fixed jaw 320 to clamp mattress 16 but blocks movement of movable jaw 322 away from fixed jaw 320. Body 370 is formed to include a notch member 374 to engage teeth 376 included in ratchet 364. Mover 368 is configured, for example, as a spring.
Release 378 is configured to cause body 370 to slide along surface 377 away from ratchet 364 in a ratchet-release direction 380 to a motion-enabling position so that body 370 releases ratchet 364. Movable jaw 322 is allowed to move away from fixed jaw 320 to unclamp mattress 16 upon release of ratchet 364.
Release 378 includes a pivot 381, a body engagement tab 382, and an actuator tab 384. Pivot 381 is formed to include an axle-receiving opening 398 receiving an axle 396 for pivotable movement of release 378 about an axis 386. Body engagement tab 382 engages body 370 to move body 370 in ratchet-release direction 380 upon movement of actuator tab 384 through an external access opening 394 formed in movable jaw 322 in a first pivot direction 388 about axis 386 due to application of a release force 390 to actuator tab 384. Release force 390 may be applied to actuator tab 384 when the hand of a user grips a lower portion of movable jaw 320 so that the palm of the user's hand presses actuator tab 384 in first pivot direction 388. Release 378 will pivot about axis 386 through opening 394 in a second pivot direction 392 due to operation of mover 368 and engagement between body engagement tab 382 and body 370 when the user's hand is removed from actuator 384. Release 378 is configured, for example, as a plate.
Ratchet engagement device 366 provides means for engaging ratchet 364 to clamp mattress 16 and for releasing ratchet 364 to unclamp mattress 16.
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. Cross-reference is made to co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/734,392 entitled “Bed Rail With Clamping Force Indicator” and U.S. patent application No. 10/734,346 entitled “Bed Rail With Fold Controller” each of which is assigned to the same assignee as the present application, is filed concurrently herewith, and is hereby incorporated by reference herein.
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