The invention relates to an adjustable enclosure for an area. In particular, the enclosure can be used with a hospital bed to enclose the bed and a patient within the area.
Various illnesses and conditions such as brain trauma, dementia and Alzheimer's disease often leave people in such a condition that constant management of the patient is necessary to prevent further injury and mishap. Traditional systems and methods for monitoring and controlling patients with such needs have included bed straps or restraints, strait jackets, sedation, monitoring device(s), dedicated supervision, isolation rooms and the like, both alone and in combination. Many of these methods and systems are burdensome to all concerned and expensive. For example, bed straps immobilize a patient on a bed. When the patient desires to move or change position, the restraints prevent such shifting. As a result, a restrained patient can become very uncomfortable and/or agitated in addition to suffering medical complications. For another example, a dedicated person to attend to the restrained person's needs on an “all day, every day” basis is costly.
Several techniques for addressing confining a patient to an area, e.g., a bed, while allowing free movement have been developed to address the needs of the patient and caregiver. Some examples are illustrated in U.S. Pat. No. 6,216,291 to Eads et al. and U.S. Pat. No. 6,263,529 to Chadwick et al., each of which is incorporated herein by reference. However, there are problems associated with these prior art enclosure bed apparatuses. Often, the condition that requires restraint may be temporary and, as a result, transportation, assembly and disassembly of the enclosure may be common. These prior art systems require extensive manpower for assembly and disassembly. When disassembled, loose parts can be lost and transport and storage is cumbersome and difficult. To assemble, tools and excessive know-how and manpower are needed. When assembled, excessive bulk prevents easy transport and storage.
Commonly, a patient enters the hospital at the emergency room experiencing symptoms that convince the staff that some form of isolation is in order. Following initial evaluation, a determination may be made indicating that additional tests, evaluation, admission, surgery, or more acute care is required. As a result, the patient may require transfer to multiple locations within the hospital facility, each requiring some form of isolation or restraint.
In addition to the complexity of the prior systems, those systems also have not been able to accommodate adjustable beds or side rails of the beds. For example, hospital bed sizes are relatively uniform. However, the mechanisms of the side rails of the bed may vary between different manufacturers. Specifically, the side rails of some beds extend beyond the end of the bed, and therefore require additional space in the length direction of the bed. Furthermore, wider beds may be necessary for heavier patients, such as bariatric patients. Enclosures made in uniform dimensions to accommodate the standard bed cannot be adjusted to function with different length or width beds that vary from the norm.
The present invention is directed to an adjustable enclosure, e.g., for isolating a person to an area about a bed. The bed is adapted, for example, to support the person and includes a frame and a mattress overlying the frame. In some embodiments, the enclosure comprises a frame adapted to be positioned about an area, and a canopy assembly connectable to the frame for defining an enclosed area. The canopy assembly extends over the frame and is sufficiently large to allow a person located within the isolation chamber to be supported on the bed and to move freely within the area.
In certain embodiments, the frame includes at least an upper laterally extending support and first and second upstanding supports coupled to first and second ends of the upper laterally extending support. The upper laterally extending support is adjustable in a length direction of the support between at least a first position and a second position. The canopy assembly includes a plurality of collars configured to removably connect to canopy to the upper laterally extending support and the first and second upstanding supports. The canopy further includes at least one panel coupled to the plurality of collars such that the panel is held in a plane defined by the upper laterally extending support and the first and second upstanding supports. At least one of the plurality of collars is configured to be adjustable between at least a first circumference and second circumference.
In one embodiment a frame is adapted to be positioned about an area, the frame includes an upper laterally extending support, a first upstanding support coupled to a first end of the upper laterally extending support, and a second upstanding support coupled to a second end of the upper laterally extending support. The upper laterally extending support is adjustable in a length direction of the support between at least a first position and a second position. The canopy assembly is connectable to the frame for defining an enclosed area, and the canopy includes a plurality of collars configured to removably connect the canopy to the upper laterally extending support, the first upstanding support, and the second upstanding support, and at least one panel coupled to the plurality of collars such that the panel is held in a plane defined by the upper laterally extending support, the first upstanding support, and the second upstanding support. At least one of the plurality of collars is adjustable between at least a first circumference and a second circumference, and when the upper laterally extending support is adjusted from the first position to the second position, at least one of the plurality of adjustable collars attached to one of the first upstanding support or the second upstanding support is correspondingly adjustable from the first circumference to the second circumference for said collar to be connected to said at least one of the first upstanding support and the second upstanding support.
In another embodiment, when the upper laterally extending support is adjusted from the first position to the second position, at least one of the plurality of adjustable collars attached to one of the first upstanding support or the second upstanding support is adjusted from the first circumference to the second circumference.
The frame may further include an adjustable lower laterally extending support that is configured to be adjusted between the first and second positions.
In some embodiments, the adjustable frame elements may be expansion joints or other formers of expanders. For example, the expansion joint may be in the form of a telescoping bar, a splice bar, and/or overlapping plates or other adjustable means. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that other various forms of expansion may be used without departing from the scope of the invention.
In some embodiments, the at least one adjustable collar includes a fastener and a collar extension. The fastener may include first and second connectors defining third and fourth positions, respectively, with the collar extension disposed between the first and second connectors. When the upper laterally extending support is in the first position, the adjustable collar is in the third position, and when the upper laterally extending support is in the second position the adjustable collar is in the fourth position, and the third position corresponds to the first circumference and the fourth position corresponds to the second circumference.
In another embodiment an enclosure for enclosing an area includes a frame adapted to be positioned about an area and a canopy assembly connectable to the frame. The frame includes an upper laterally extending support, a first upstanding support coupled to a first end of the upper laterally extending support, and a second upstanding support coupled to a second end of the upper laterally extending support. The upper laterally extending support is adjustable in a length direction of the support between at least a first position and a second position. The canopy includes a plurality of collars configured to removably connect the canopy to the upper laterally extending support, the first upstanding support, and the second upstanding support, and at least one adjustable panel coupled to the plurality of collars such that the panel is held in a plane defined by the upper laterally extending support, the first upstanding support, and the second upstanding support. When the upper laterally extending support is adjusted from the first position to the second position, the at least one adjustable panel is correspondingly adjustable from a first length to a second length for at least one of the plurality of collars to be connected to at least one of the first upstanding support and the second upstanding support.
In another embodiment an enclosure for enclosing an area, includes a frame adapted to be positioned about an area. The frame includes first means for supporting and for adjusting in length between at least a first position and a second position, a first upstanding support coupled to a first end of the first means, and a second upstanding support coupled to a second end of the first means. A canopy assembly is connectable to the frame for defining an enclosed area, the canopy includes second means for removably connecting the canopy to the first means, the first upstanding support, and the second upstanding support, third means for coupling to the second means such that the third means is held in a plane defined by the first means, the first upstanding support, and the second upstanding support, and fourth means for adjusting from a third position to a fourth position. When the first means is adjusted from the first position to the second position, the fourth means is correspondingly adjustable from the third position to the fourth position for at least one of said second means to be connected to at least one of the first upstanding support and the second upstanding support.
In another embodiment the first means is a length-adjustable laterally extending support, the second means is a plurality of collars, and the third means is a panel, and the fourth means is at least one of an adjustable portion of the panel and an adjustable portion of at least one of the plurality of collars.
In another embodiment a method for enclosing an area is provided. The method includes positioning an enclosure about an area, the enclosure including an adjustable frame comprising an upper laterally extending support, a first upstanding support coupled to a first end of the upper laterally extending support, and a second upstanding support coupled to a second end of the upper laterally extending support, wherein the upper laterally extending support is adjustable in a length direction of the support between at least a first position and a second position. The enclosure also includes an adjustable canopy configured to removably attach to the adjustable frame, the adjustable canopy comprising a plurality of collars configured to removably connect the canopy to the upper laterally extending support, the first upstanding support, and the second upstanding support, and at least one panel coupled to the plurality of collars such that the panel is held in a plane defined by the upper laterally extending support, the first upstanding support, and the second upstanding support. At least one of (i) the panel and (ii) at least one of the plurality of collars is adjustable between a third position and a fourth position. When the upper laterally extending support is adjusted from the first position to the second position, said at least one of said adjustable panel and said at least one adjustable collar is correspondingly adjustable from the third position to the fourth position for the canopy to be connected to at least one of the first upstanding support and the second upstanding support, and adjusting at least one of the adjustable frame and the adjustable canopy to change an area enclosed by the enclosure.
In another embodiment, adjusting at least one of the adjustable frame and the adjustable canopy includes adjusting the length of the upper laterally extending support in the length direction between the first position and the second position, and/or adjusting at least one of the adjustable panel and said at least one adjustable collar between the third position and the fourth position.
The fastener may be formed from zippers, complementary hook and loop fasteners (Velcro), or other means of fastening, such as ties, eyelets, snaps, buttons, or any other fastening means. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the fastener may take any form of fastener without departing from the scope of the invention.
Accordingly, an advantage of one aspect of the present invention is found in an adjustable enclosure for surrounding and enclosing an area. The enclosed area may be varied in size as the frame and canopy of the enclosure are adjusted.
Another advantage of the present invention is found in the ability to contain or enclose various size beds and/or various types of bed functions without resorting to using two or more distinct enclosures.
Yet another advantage of the present invention is found in flexibility in application. Accordingly, it should be appreciated that the present invention can be implemented and utilized in numerous ways, including without limitation as a process, an apparatus, a system, a device and a method for applications now known and later developed. These and other unique features of the apparatus and method disclosed herein will become more readily apparent from the following description and the accompanying drawings.
Yet another advantage of the present invention is that the enclosure can be dimensioned to fit through doorways and hallways, such as conventional doorways and hallways and/or those encountered in hospitals. Thus, the enclosures are uniquely configured to transport an isolated patient throughout different locations, for example, within a hospital, without having to remove the patient from the enclosure area.
Yet another advantage of the present invention is to prevent “never events,” or events that should never occur in a hospital. An example of a “never event” is a bed exit fall when a patient attempts to exit a bed and falls, potentially leading to injury to the patient. Embodiments of the present invention allow for prevention of such falls, or other never events, by isolating the patient to the bed or bed area, but still retaining some amount of freedom for the patient.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to overcome one or more of the above-described drawbacks and/or disadvantages of the prior art. The enclosure can safely confine a patient to an area, such as on or around a bed. The enclosure permits the patient to be free to move within the area and/or on the bed, without the need for other types of restraints. In some embodiments, caregivers and attendants can see into the restrained area. In certain embodiments, caregivers and attendants can access the patient through selectively accessible and/or operable openings. In some embodiments, the patient has the ability to see and interact with the general environment around the enclosure. In some embodiments, when not in use, the enclosure can be removed and collapsed for easy storage and transport. As will be recognized by those of ordinary skill in the pertinent art based on the teachings herein, the canopy and enclosure of the present invention are equally usable with frames that are not collapsible, and/or frames that are mountable on the bed frame, or otherwise fixedly securable to the bed frame, or otherwise fixedly secured.
So that those having ordinary skill in the art to which the disclosed invention appertains will more readily understand how to make and use the same, reference may be had to the drawings wherein:
The present invention overcomes many of the prior art problems associated with enclosures for restraining or isolating patients to a bed area. The advantages, and other features of the invention disclosed herein, will become more readily apparent to those having ordinary skill in the art from the following detailed description of certain embodiments taken in conjunction with the drawings that set forth representative embodiments of the present invention and wherein like reference numerals identify similar structural elements.
A canopy assembly 102 is draped about the frame 110 and secured thereto to prevent a person from leaving the area of restraint 180. An opening 170 in the canopy 102 leaves access to a portion of the bed 200 for adjustment of the bed within the enclosure 100. The canopy 102 can be secured in place on or over the frame 110 by zippers, fabric sleeves or collars which slide over or wrap around the frame components, complementary hook and loop fasteners (Velcro™) snaps, ties, and the like, or combinations thereof as would be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art based upon review of the subject disclosure.
The canopy 102 can be fabricated from a combination of vinyl and/or nylon portions 104 and netting 106, such as, e.g., black nylon netting. Dark colors, such as black, brown, blue and the like, allow for improved see-through capability and greater stain resistance. Further, nylon material is substantially lighter than vinyl and therefore easier to handle. However, those skilled in the art will appreciate that other materials or configurations of the canopy may be used without departing from the scope of this disclosure.
As shown in
Lower corner brackets 116 (four in the case of a rectangular shape or four frame members) secure the lower supports 115 and lower transverse supports 117 of the base portion 113 in such a manner that both lower supports 115, 117 can selectively rotate upwards at the lower corner brackets 116. Accordingly, each bracket 116 can have a pivot or pivot construction in a known manner that allows for the selective upward rotation of the lower supports 115, 117. Further, each coupling 115c may provide a rotational pivot in the middle of lower support 115 such that the frame 110 may be folded and/or collapsed for storage, transport, or other purpose.
As shown, the eave portion 111 is supported above the base portion 113 by upstanding supports 118. Upper supports 121 extend between a head end 111h and a foot end 111f of the eave portion 111. Upper transverse supports 123 extend between the upper supports 121 to form a shape substantially the same as the shape formed by the base portion 113, here, substantially a form of a rectangle approximately the size of, or slightly larger than, the bed 200. As will be appreciated, like the base portion, the eave portion 111 may be constructed to form any desired shape, even one different from the base portion 113. Upper corner brackets 120 (e.g., four in the case of a rectangular shape) secure the upper supports 121 and the upper transverse supports 123 of the eave portion 111.
Similar to the construction of lower supports 115, 117, upper supports 121, 123 may include pivots or pivot constructions (brackets 120 and coupling 121c) that allow for selectively folding the upper supports 121, 123, albeit downwardly instead of upwardly. Further, as shown in
Still referring to
As illustrated in
As noted, frame 110 is an adjustable frame. As shown in
Referring now to
As shown in
To engage the support elements 319a, 319b with the splice bar 340, the support elements 319a, 319b have holes 342 and the splice bar 340 has a corresponding hole(s) 344 to accommodate a locking mechanism 341, such as a pin or bolt or other type of locking mechanism. The locking mechanism 341 allows for the adjustment of the support elements 319a, 319b to be adjusted to an appropriate length and then locked in place with locking mechanism 341 such that the expansion joint 319 does not further adjust when in use, one should also note that with locking mechanism 341 removed, the frame elements can be completely separated at that location for disassembly of the frame 110.
Referring now to
As shown in
To facilitate the adjustability of the frame 310, the upper support 321 includes one or more expansion joints 330, substantially similar to expansion joints 319, 115c, 117c, 121c, 123c, such that the upper support 321 is adjustable in a length direction of the upper support 321 between at least a first length, corresponding to the first position of the enclosure 300, and a second length, corresponding to the second position of the enclosure 300. The lower support 315, when included, also includes one or more expansion joints 331, substantially similar to expansion joints 319, 115c, 117c, 121c, 123c, such that the lower support 315 is adjustable in a length direction of the lower support 315 between at least a first length and a second length, corresponding to the first and second lengths of the upper support 321 and first and second positions of the enclosure 300. In such manner, the length of the frame 310, and therefore enclosure 300, can be adjusted to accommodate different length beds. Similarly, supports extending in the width direction of the frame may be adjustable to accommodate different width beds, as described above. Specifically, a width extending support may include an expansion joint similar to expansion joints 319, 115c, 117c, 121c, 123c to facilitate width expansion of the frame. Moreover, the upstanding supports 118 may also include expansion joints similar to expansion joints 319, 115c, 117c, 121c, 123c to facilitate adjustment in the vertical direction.
As shown in
To facilitate the adjustability of the canopy, along with the adjustable frame described herein, as shown in
An expandable collar 360 having fasteners or connectors, herein zippers 361, 362, and 365, as shown in
The collar 360 is attachable to a panel 305 along attachment line 364. Line 364 may be a sew line, such that collar 360 is sewn to the panel 305, as shown in
Similar in function to the expansion joints used in the extension of the frame, the adjustable collars allow for multiple lengths, dimensions or circumferences of the panel 305. Accordingly, when the frame 310 is adjusted in size or dimension, the panel 305 may also be adjusted in size or dimension.
A use of the adjustable collar(s) 360, as is shown in detail in
The adjustable collar(s) 360 can have additional fasteners such that the collar(s) 360 can be adjustable as desired. Further, a lockable drawstring-type configuration may be used for essentially continuous adjustment to the collar(s)/panel(s) size, to, e.g., minimize gaps between the panel and the frame elements. Moreover, collars that attach at the top and bottom of the frame may also be used at the top and bottom of the canopy such that the panel is expandable/adjustable in height, to accommodate different frames, or to be adjusted with an adjustable frame in height.
In view of the above, when operated in conjunction, the adjustable frame 310 and the adjustable canopy assembly 302 are adjustable between various dimensions, to accommodate for different length and/or width beds that may need to be enclosed, and/or to accommodate for bed rails that may need additional room or space to operate.
As will be recognized by those of ordinary skill in the pertinent art based on the teachings herein, the illustrated canopy assemblies are usable with any of numerous different types of frames that are currently known, or that later become known. For example, the canopies may be used with frames that are collapsible, non-collapsible, or that are adjustable in size. In addition, the canopy assemblies equally may be usable with frames that are not foldable or otherwise collapsible, but rather are fixed in position and moved whole, or require the fixedly secured parts of the frame to be disassembled to transport or store the enclosure.
As described, one or more supports or upstanding supports of the adjustable frame may be telescopic with securing elements for enabling the frame to be adjustably sized as desired to accommodate different sized beds (e.g., infant, toddler, twin, full, queen, and king sized beds). Such telescopic supports may be employed either in a collapsible frame or in a non-collapsible frame. Further, although described herein as having a first and second position, and therefore only two sizes, those of skill in the art will appreciate that the frame (and enclosure) may be configured to have many dimensions in length, width, and height, and therefore the above disclosure merely provides examples. For example, the adjustment of the splice bar of embodiments described herein may allow for more than two adjustable positions of the support bars. Such non-collapsible frames may be mounted on the floor surrounding the bed as illustrated in
In addition, the canopy may define a sealed enclosure for isolating a patient therein, wherein a base wall of the canopy overlies the bed, and if desired, the mattress of the bed, to prevent contamination of the bed and mattress, and wherein the canopy and frame are transportable with the bed to transport the patient within the enclosure from one location to another. Further, although described herein with only two adjustable zippers, this is merely for illustrative purposes, and those skilled in the art will appreciate that many zippers or fastening mechanisms may be used with the collars and panels of the canopy to allow for various sizes, lengths, and dimensions of the canopy without departing from the scope of the present disclosure.
As would be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the pertinent art upon review of the subject disclosure, the figures and associated detailed description are representative of embodiments of the invention and various modifications can be made thereto. While the invention has been described with respect to certain embodiments, those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that various changes and/or modifications can be made to the disclosed embodiments without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention as disclosed herein and as claimed.
The application is a continuation of co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/194,269, filed Feb. 28, 2014, which claims benefit under 35 U.S.C. § 119 to U.S. Ser. No. 61/771,298 filed Mar. 1, 2013, entitled “Portable Enclosure For a Bed,” which is incorporated in its entirety as if fully set forth herein.
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Number | Date | Country | |
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20160242563 A1 | Aug 2016 | US |
Number | Date | Country | |
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61771298 | Mar 2013 | US |
Number | Date | Country | |
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Parent | 14194269 | Feb 2014 | US |
Child | 15144779 | US |