Patent Grant
11022193
The subject matter described herein relates to a linkage assembly which is tolerant of dimensional variations that arise during manufacture of an article that employs the linkage assembly. One example article in which the linkage assembly may be beneficially applied is a hospital bed.
The production of many articles involves the fabrication of its constituent parts and subsequent assembly of those parts. The parts themselves are subject to manufacturing inaccuracies. Acceptable inaccuracies are referred to as tolerances and are usually expressed as an allowable deviation from a nominal value. For example the required diameter of a hole in a metal part might be expressed as 10 mm (the nominal value) plus or minus 0.1 mm (the tolerance). Additional inaccuracies may be introduced when the parts are assembled to produce the finished product. For example if a bolt hole in a host component is intentionally oversized in order to facilitate ease of bolting another component to the host, the uncertainty in the exact location of the bolted connection is a source of assembly inaccuracy. Additional inaccuracies may be introduced as a result of production process steps not related to component fabrication or assembly. For example, if the bed includes a scale for determining patient weight, one step in the production sequence may be to apply a known weight to the bed in order to calibrate the scale. The application of the weight may cause product components to “settle out” or become seated relative to each other thereby contributing to or reducing the previously accumulated inaccuracies.
The operation of certain components and subassemblies of a product may be adversely affected by the accumulation of inaccuracies such as those described above. Taking a typical hospital bed as an example, the bed includes a set of four casters, one at each corner the bed frame. The casters enable a caregiver to easily roll the bed from place to place. The bed also includes a braking system. On most beds the braking system is not intended to decelerate a moving bed but instead is intended to lock one or more of the casters to immobilize the bed against inadvertant or unauthorized movement. When it is desired to move the bed, the caregiver releases the brake. The braking system includes one or more brake effectors. Each brake effector is associated with one of the casters. The braking system also includes at least one brake pedal operable by a user to apply and release the brake. In the interest of operational convenience and efficiency hospital beds customarily include a brake pedal at each of two or more locations. A linkage and/or other components connects each brake pedal to all of the brake effectors so that operation of any brake pedal actuates all of the brake effectors. However, the accumulation of inaccuracies as described above can adversely affect operation of the braking system. For example, applying a force to one of the brake pedals may result in satisfactory actuation of some of the brake effectors but unsatisfactory actuation of others. An unsatisfactorily actuated brake effector may not engage the caster, may engage the caster in a way that is inadequate for immobilizing the bed, or may engage the caster in a way that seems to be satisfactory but can be easily disengaged from its caster by a minor disturbance. Even if all the effectors engage their casters satisfactorily, the engagement may be noticeably unsynchronized causing the caregiver to lack confidence in the braking system and to form a negative impression of the product.
The present invention may comprise one or more of the features recited in the appended claims and/or one or more of the following features or combinations thereof. Features similar to or the same as features already described may be identified by the same reference numerals already used or by similar reference numerals. The described embodiments exhibit considerable left to right symmetry. Therefore, the following description uses the same reference numeral for corresponding left and right elements, with a suffix L or R appended when necessary to distinguish between them.
An embodiment of an actuation assembly system includes a torque input element, a torque output element longitudinally spaced from the input element, and a transfer assembly connecting the torque input element to the torque output element. The transfer assembly includes a connector assembly which includes a first connector having a proximate end closer to either the torque input element or the torque output element and a connector portion further from that same element. The connector assembly also includes a second connector having a proximate end closer to the other of the torque input element and the torque output element and a connector portion further from that same element. The connector portions are selectively joinable to each other to either permit or resist relative longitudinal translation of the first and second connectors.
In one embodiment, the selective joinability of the connectors causes the connector assembly to have first and second lengths. The first length LV is variable between a short length LVSHORT and a long length LVLONG. The second length LF is a fixed length whose dimension is no shorter than LVSHORT and no longer than LVLONG.
An embodiment of an article which employs the linkage includes a frame having rolling elements extending therefrom to impart movability to the article. The article also includes a torque input element, a torque output element longitudinally spaced from the torque input element, and a brake effector responsive to the torque output element to apply a braking influence to one of the rolling elements. The embodiment of the article also includes a transfer assembly connecting the torque input element to the torque output element. The transfer assembly includes a first connector extending longitudinally away from either the input element or output element and a second connector extending longitudinally away from the other of the input element and output element. The first and second connectors are loosely joinable to each other to accommodate variation in longitudinal separation between the torque input element and the torque output element, and tightly joinable to each other to synchronize operation of the output element with the input element.
When the linkage is used as a component of a product, the connector portions are initially joined together loosely during product production. The loose connection, and the accompanying longitudinal translatability of the connectors relative to each other, allows the connector assembly to self-adjust to the accumulation of inaccuracies. After production has proceeded to a production threshold, the connectors are tightly joined together to resist relative longitudinal translation of the first and second connectors thereby “locking in” the self adjustment. As used herein, the production threshold is the stage of production after which no additional accumulation of inaccuracies that would adversely affect the operation of the linkage are expected to emerge.
The foregoing and other features of the various embodiments of the linkage assembly, article using the linkage assembly, and method of producing the article described herein will become more apparent from the following detailed description and the accompanying drawings in which:
Referring to
Referring now to
The bed also includes a braking system. The components of the braking system are described below. These components include an actuation assembly, a brake effector for applying a braking influence to an associated caster, a set of head end pedals 84 each of which includes an upper and lower footpad 86, and a set of foot end pedals 88 each of which includes a pair of upper and lower footpads 90.
The actuation assembly includes a laterally extending head end rod 92 and a laterally extending foot end rod 94. Each rod 92, 94 has a hexagonal cross section and therefore may be referred to as a hex rod. Each hex rod of the illustrated embodiment is a two section rod comprised of a left section 92L or 94L and a right section 92R or 94R. The left and right sections of each rod are corotatably coupled together by a coupler 96 fastened by screws to the left and right rod sections.
The braking system actuation assembly also includes a transfer linkage assembly comprising head end hex clamp 100 (
An example braking system brake effector 112 is shown schematically in
Each head end pedal 84 is pivotably supported on a bracket 140 extending downwardly from the head end cross beam 76 and is pivotable about head end pedal pivot axis 142. A bellcrank arm 144 extends radially away from the pivot axis. The transfer linkage assembly includes two parallel links 148. One end of each of the two parallel links is connected to the bellcrank arm at a location on the arm remote from the pedal axis. The other end of each of the parallel links is connected to clevis portion 106 of clamp 100 by clevis pin 150. The transfer linkage assembly also includes a head end turnbuckle link 160 having a ball joint at each end thereof. Clevis pin 150 extends through the ball joint at one end of the turnbuckle link to connect the turnbuckle link to clamp 100. The other end of the turnbuckle link is connected to a mounting bracket 164 which projects laterally from a longitudinally extending first connector 166. Referring to
Each foot end pedal 88 is mounted on foot end hex rod 94. The transfer linkage assembly includes a foot end turnbuckle link 180 having a ball joint at each end thereof. A clevis pin 182 extends through the ball joint at one end of the turnbuckle link to connect the turnbuckle link to the clevis portion 106 of foot end clamp 102. The other ball joint of the turnbuckle link is connected to a mounting bracket 188 which projects laterally from a longitudinally extending second connector 190. As seen best in
As described in more detail below, the first and second connectors are selectively joinable to each other to either permit or resist longitudinal translation of the first and second connectors relative to each other. When joined together the first and second connectors make up a connector assembly 200. The connector assembly, together with parallel links 148, turnbuckle links 160, 180 and hex clamps 100, 102 make up the transfer linkage assembly. The transfer assembly connects the head end hex rod to the foot end hex rod.
A user, such as a caregiver, may operate the braking system from any one of the four brake pedals by applying a substantially vertical force (i.e. an input force) to the brake pedal of choice. If he uses one of the head end pedals 84, head end hex rod 92 is considered to be and can be referred to as a torque input element. The input force rotates the head end hex rod about its axis 96. The transfer assembly transfers force and motion to the foot end hex rod 94 causing the foot end hex rod to rotate about its axis 98. Accordingly, the foot end hex rod is considered to be and can be referred to as a torque output element. Rotation of the torque input element causes the brake effectors associated with the head end casters to apply a braking influence to those casters. Similarly, rotation of the torque output element causes the brake effectors associated with the foot end casters to apply a braking influence to those casters.
If the user chooses to use one of the foot end brake pedals, the foot end hex rod is considered to be and can be referred to as a torque input element, and the head end hex rod is considered to be and can be referred to as a torque output element.
The selective joinability of the first and second connectors is illustrated in
The connector portion 170 of the first connector 166 is an external or female portion which receives the male connector portion of the second connector. Connector portion 170 includes an elongated hole 220 for each of the one or more threaded holes 214 in the second connector portion. Each hole 220 is longitudinally elongated in comparison to the threaded hole, i.e. the long dimension LLONG of the elongated hole exceeds the diameter of the threaded hole. Each elongated hole is positioned on the first connector so that the entirety of the threaded hole, when viewed in the nonlongitudinal direction in which it extends, is circumscribed by a projected perimeter of the elongated hole irrespective of whether the connector portions are joined to each other to permit or to resist relative longitudinal translation between them. In other words, as seen in
A threaded fastener such as a screw 224 extends through the elongated hole 220 and into the threaded hole 214 in order to effect the selective joinability of the connector portions. The screw may be loosely installed to loosely connect the connectors to each other. In this context “loosely” means loose enough to permit the first and second connectors to translate longitudinally relative to each other when connectors 166, 190 are subject to forces such as FT which tends to pull the connectors away from each other or FC which tends to push the connectors toward each other. The concept of loose screw installation and a loose connection includes installing the screw with a modest amount of torque as well as the limit case of simply installing the screw a few turns into the threaded hole but not so far as to tighten its head against the first connector (i.e. the modest torque is essentially zero newton-meters). Applicants believe that the zero torque limit case is at least as satisfactory as the option of applying a non-zero torque. The screw may also be tightened with a greater amount of torque to tightly connect the connectors to each other. In this context “tightly” means tight enough to prevent the first and second connectors from translating longitudinally relative to each other when connector assembly 200 is subject to a compression FC or tension FT of at least the magnitude expected to be encountered when the bed frame is in service and being used for its intended purpose.
As seen in
Referring to
Alternatively, as seen in
The steps of manufacturing the bed include constructing a subassembly which includes frame 22, a laterally extending torque input element 92, a laterally extending torque output element 94 longitudinally spaced from the torque input element, and a transfer assembly which connects the torque input element to the torque output element. The transfer assembly includes first and second connectors 166, 190, which are joined together longitudinally intermediate the torque input and torque output elements and which, when initially joined together, are loosely joined together to accommodate relative longitudinal movement of the first and second connectors.
The steps of manufacturing the bed also include installing additional components of the bed. For example installing the elevatable frame 34, deck 42, headboard 46 and footboard 48.
Assembly inaccuracies and fabrication inaccuracies in the constituent parts accumulate during the constructing and installing steps described above. However the loose connection between the first and second connectors allows the connector assembly to self adjust to these inaccuracies by undergoing a change of length as production progresses.
Once the production process progresses to the stage where any further production steps are not expected to result in any meaningful additional accumulation of inaccuracies that would adversely affect operation of the brake system, the connectors are tightly joined together to “lock in” the self adjustment. Because the self-adjustment compensates for the accumulation of inaccuracies that would otherwise compromise operation of the braking system, the braking system will operate more satisfactorily than if the inaccuracies were allowed to accumulate. In particular the self adjustment increases the likelihood that all the brake effectors will be satisfactorily actuated, and ensures that the operation of the output element will be more closely synchronized with the operation of the input element.
The bed may be subject to one or more additional processing steps prior to being released to a customer. For example, in the case of a bed with a scale function, i.e. with load cells and other components necessary to measure occupant weight, the bed may be subject to the application of a known weight in order to calibrate the load cells and gain confidence in their accuracy. Such application of weight or other processing may cause components of the bed to “settle out” or become seated relative to each other thereby contributing to or reducing the previously accumulated inaccuracies. Therefore the method of manufacture of the bed may also include the processing step subsequent to the installing step and prior to the step of tightly joining the connectors together. In the example of a bed with load cells, the step of installing additional components may include installing components which are necessary to carry out the weighing function such as elevatable frame 34 and deck 42, and connecting wiring between the load cells 80 and a destination for the load cell output signals such as a microprocessor. The processing step of applying weight to the bed would not be carried out until at least these and other components necessary to carry out the weighing function were installed. The step of tightly joining the connectors together is carried out after the processing step.
Referring to
In
In view of the foregoing description, certain other features of the invention can now be better appreciated.
First, fastener 224 need not be a threaded fastener. Any fastener or fastening system which connects the connector portions of the connectors together in a first state of securement which permits relative longitudinal translation of the first and second connectors and a second state of securement which resists relative longitudinal translation of the first and second connectors, is satisfactory.
Second, and referring to
Alternatively, dimension LLONG may be sized exactly with respect to the expected deviation/tolerance so that in the case of the maximum positive or negative allowable variation from nominal the headward or footward edge of the elongated hole (dash-dot edges) is line-on-line with the headward or footward edge of the threaded hole. (In the illustration, the dash-dot edges are slightly offset from the dashed lines showing the extreme positions of the elongated hole to ensure that both lines are visible to the reader.) In other words the longitudinal dimension of the elongated hole is greater than the diameter of the threaded hole by an amount large enough that the threaded hole remains exactly within the projected perimeter of the elongated hole when the actuation assembly exhibits an inaccuracy substantially equal to a tolerance of a pre-specified magnitude
Third, although the above example assumes that the accumulated inaccuracies are symmetrically distributed about a mean (in which case the centers of the holes coincide with each other) the long dimension of the elongated hole can instead be established based on a nonsymmetrical distribution of inaccuracies.
Although this disclosure refers to specific embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and detail may be made without departing from the subject matter set forth in the accompanying claims.
The terms “substantially” and “about” may be used herein to represent the inherent degree of uncertainty that may be attributed to any quantitative comparison, value, measurement or other representation. These terms are also used herein to represent the degree by which a quantitative representation may vary from a stated reference without resulting in a change in the basic function of the subject mater at issue.
| Number | Name | Date | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1394331 | Monroe | Oct 1921 | A |
| 3368423 | Fazekas | Feb 1968 | A |
| 3797051 | Evans | Mar 1974 | A |
| 3900269 | Pavlot | Aug 1975 | A |
| 3902817 | Meir | Sep 1975 | A |
| 3926531 | Gostling | Dec 1975 | A |
| 4094330 | Jong | Jun 1978 | A |
| 4189249 | Gaines | Feb 1980 | A |
| 4251105 | Barker | Feb 1981 | A |
| 4462625 | Barnhill | Jul 1984 | A |
| 4594743 | Owen | Jun 1986 | A |
| 4768259 | Roeck et al. | Sep 1988 | A |
| 5078534 | White | Jan 1992 | A |
| 5112044 | Dubats | May 1992 | A |
| 5779283 | Kimura | Jul 1998 | A |
| 5915712 | Stephenson | Jun 1999 | A |
| 6183167 | Ruiz | Feb 2001 | B1 |
| 6321878 | Mobley | Nov 2001 | B1 |
| 6371496 | Balolia | Apr 2002 | B1 |
| 6783147 | Green, Sr. | Aug 2004 | B1 |
| 6865969 | Stevens | Mar 2005 | B2 |
| 7037045 | Jones | May 2006 | B2 |
| 7261114 | Karasin | Aug 2007 | B2 |
| 8342544 | Blewett | Jan 2013 | B1 |
| 8424899 | Larson | Apr 2013 | B1 |
| 9131779 | Jin | Sep 2015 | B2 |
| 9364093 | Williams | Jun 2016 | B2 |
| 9629770 | Dyer | Apr 2017 | B1 |
| 20020033307 | Mobley et al. | Mar 2002 | A1 |
| 20030079518 | Tolkamp | May 2003 | A1 |
| 20050254889 | Roepke et al. | Nov 2005 | A1 |
| 20070029747 | Islo | Feb 2007 | A1 |
| 20070039786 | Willis | Feb 2007 | A1 |
| 20100044164 | Thorne | Feb 2010 | A1 |
| 20100044983 | Panigot | Feb 2010 | A1 |
| 20110120815 | Frolik et al. | May 2011 | A1 |
| 20120126085 | Johnson | May 2012 | A1 |
| 20120199423 | Heidlage | Aug 2012 | A1 |
| 20130160237 | Shih | Jun 2013 | A1 |
| 20140086701 | Lacroix et al. | Mar 2014 | A1 |
| 20150284040 | Dombrowsky | Oct 2015 | A1 |
| 20160272229 | Buckner | Sep 2016 | A1 |
| 20160296388 | Hertz | Oct 2016 | A1 |
| 20160352195 | Verardi et al. | Dec 2016 | A1 |
| 20170325445 | Mitchell | Nov 2017 | A1 |
| Number | Date | Country |
|---|---|---|
| 360163 | Feb 1962 | CH |
| 360163 | Mar 1962 | CH |
| 2015085379 | Jun 2015 | WO |
| Entry |
|---|
| European Search Report for EP Application No. 17186416.8; dated Dec. 20, 2017; Place of Search—Munich; Date of completion of the search—Dec. 7, 2017. |
| Response to European Search Report dated Aug. 17, 2018 for EP Application No. 17186416.8. |
| Response to European Search Report dated Aug. 17, 2018 for EP Application No. 17186416.8—Claims—Tracked. |
| Response to European Search Report dated Aug. 17, 2018 for EP Application No. 17186416.8—Claims—Clean. |
| Response to European Search Report dated Aug. 17, 2018 for EP Application No. 17186416.8—Description—Tracked. |
| Response to European Search Report dated Aug. 17, 2018 for EP Application No. 17186416.8—Description—Clean. |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20180051762 A1 | Feb 2018 | US |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 62375655 | Aug 2016 | US |
