Patent Application
20120054961
This disclosure relates generally to a siderail assembly. More particularly, but not exclusively, one illustrative embodiment relates to a siderail assembly with a grip portion that is movable between a deployed position and a storage position with respect to the siderail body.
Siderails can be used with person-support apparatuses, such as, hospital beds, stretchers, etc. The siderails can be moved between a deployed position and a storage position. In some storage positions, a portion of the siderail can come into contact the lower extremities of a person ingressing/egressing to/from the side of the person-support apparatus. While various siderail assemblies have been developed, there is still room for improvement. Thus a need persists for further contributions in this area of technology.
The present disclosure includes one or more of the features recited in the appended claims and/or the following features which, alone or in any combination, may comprise patentable subject matter.
One illustrative embodiment of the present disclosure can include a siderail assembly having a siderail body and a grip movably coupled to the siderail body that can be configured to rotate between an upper position and a lower position with respect to the siderail body.
Additional features alone or in combination with any other feature(s), including those listed above and those listed in the claims and those described in detail below, can comprise patentable subject matter. Others will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon consideration of the following detailed description of illustrative embodiments exemplifying the best mode of carrying out the invention as presently perceived.
Referring now to the illustrative examples in the drawings, wherein like numerals represent the same or similar elements throughout:
While the present disclosure can take many different forms, for the purpose of promoting an understanding of the principles of the disclosure, reference will now be made to the embodiments illustrated in the drawings, and specific language will be used to describe the same. No limitation of the scope of the disclosure is thereby intended. Various alterations, further modifications of the described embodiments, and any further applications of the principles of the disclosure, as described herein, are contemplated.
One illustrative embodiment of the present disclosure can include a siderail assembly having a siderail body and a grip movably coupled to the siderail body that can be configured to rotate between an upper position and a lower position with respect to the siderail body.
A person-support apparatus 10 according to one illustrative embodiment of the current disclosure is shown in
The upper frame 16 includes a plurality of siderails 20 and endboards EB1 coupled thereto as shown in
The siderail body assembly 26 includes a first body 32, a second body 34, and a body locking mechanism 36 as shown in
The first body 32 includes a first end 38, a second end 40, a grip portion 42, and a first body mount 44 as shown in
The second body 34 includes a first surface 52, a second surface 54, a perimeter edge 56 extending between the first surface 52 and the second surface 54, lower stops 58, and an upper stop 60 as shown in
The body locking mechanism 36 is coupled to the upper stop 60 and is configured to selectively engage the first body mount 44 to maintain the first body 32 in the first position with respect to the second body 34. It should be appreciated that the lower stops 58 and/or the lower portion LP1 of the second body 34 can include a body locking mechanism 44 configured to maintain the first body 32 in the second position with respect to the second body 34. The body locking mechanism 36 includes a button 62, a spring 64, and a latch bolt 66 as shown in
In operation, the siderail 20 is initially positioned in the deployed position with the first body 32 in the first position with respect to the second body 34. The button 62 is pressed to retract the latch bolt 68 and allow the first body 30 to move with respect to the second body 34. As the first body 32 is rotated from the first position above the second body 34 to a second position below the second body 34, the height of the siderail body assembly 26 with respect to the upper frame 16 is reduced from the first height H1 to the second height H2. The change in height can help provide caregivers better access to a person supported on the person-support apparatus.
Also, in operation, the siderail 20 is initially positioned in the storage position with the first body 32 in the first position with respect to the second body 34. The button 62 is pressed to retract the latch bolt 68 and allow the first body 30 to move with respect to the second body 34. As the first body 32 is rotated from the first position above the second body 34 to a second position below the second body 34, the height of the siderail body assembly 26 with respect to the ground is reduced from the third height H3 to the fourth height H4. The change in height can help reduce incidences of the siderail body assembly 26 contacting the lower extremities of a person, such as, the underside of the person's thighs, when the person is seated along the edge of the person-support apparatus 10 and/or ingressing/egressing to/from the person-support apparatus 10.
Many other embodiments of the present disclosure are also envisioned. For example, a siderail assembly comprises a first siderail body and a second siderail body. The second siderail body is movably coupled to the first siderail body and configured to rotate between a first position and a second position with respect to the first siderail body about a rotational axis passing through the first siderail body. The second siderail body is positioned above the first siderail body in the first position and below the first siderail body in the second position.
In another example, a siderail assembly comprises a siderail body and a grip. The siderail body has an upper perimeter edge located along an upper portion of the siderail body. The grip has an upper grip edge located along the upper portion of the grip. The grip is movably coupled to the siderail body and configured to rotate between an first position and a second position with respect to the siderail body about a rotational axis. The upper grip edge is positioned above the upper perimeter edge of the siderail body in the first position and below the upper perimeter edge in the second position.
In yet another example, a person-support apparatus comprises a frame and a siderail. The siderail is movably coupled to the frame and includes a siderail body with a grip portion movably coupled thereto. The grip is configured to rotate between a deployed position and a storage position with respect to the siderail body about a rotational axis. The grip defines an uppermost surface of the siderail when the grip is in the first position and an upper portion of the siderail body defines the uppermost surface when the grip is in the second position.
Any theory, mechanism of operation, proof, or finding stated herein is meant to further enhance understanding of principles of the present disclosure and is not intended to make the present disclosure in any way dependent upon such theory, mechanism of operation, illustrative embodiment, proof, or finding. It should be understood that while the use of the word preferable, preferably or preferred in the description above indicates that the feature so described can be more desirable, it nonetheless can not be necessary and embodiments lacking the same can be contemplated as within the scope of the disclosure, that scope being defined by the claims that follow.
In reading the claims it is intended that when words such as “a,” “an,” “at least one,” “at least a portion” are used there is no intention to limit the claim to only one item unless specifically stated to the contrary in the claim. When the language “at least a portion” and/or “a portion” is used the item can include a portion and/or the entire item unless specifically stated to the contrary.
It should be understood that only selected embodiments have been shown and described and that all possible alternatives, modifications, aspects, combinations, principles, variations, and equivalents that come within the spirit of the disclosure as defined herein or by any of the following claims are desired to be protected. While embodiments of the disclosure have been illustrated and described in detail in the drawings and foregoing description, the same are to be considered as illustrative and not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the disclosure to the precise forms disclosed. Additional alternatives, modifications and variations can be apparent to those skilled in the art. Also, while multiple inventive aspects and principles can have been presented, they need not be utilized in combination, and various combinations of inventive aspects and principles are possible in light of the various embodiments provided above.
