This disclosure relates generally to a siderail assembly coupled to a person-support apparatus. More particularly, but not exclusively, one illustrative embodiment relates to a locking mechanism configured to maintain the siderail assembly in at least one position.
Generally, a person-support apparatus can include a siderail that can be configured to move between a first position and a second position. The siderail can be selectively maintained in various positions by a locking mechanism. While various siderails 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 with a guide member configured to be coupled to a linkage assembly and cooperate with a locking mechanism to maintain the siderail in at least one position. Another illustrative embodiment can include a locking mechanism with a stop member configured to maintain a guide member in a first position in a guide when the siderail is in a first position and selectively allow the guide member to move along the guide when the siderail is moved between the first position and a second position.
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 with a guide member configured to be coupled to a linkage assembly and cooperate with a locking mechanism to maintain the siderail in at least one position. Another illustrative embodiment can include a locking mechanism with a stop member configured to maintain a guide member in a first position in a guide when the siderail is in a first position and selectively allow the guide member to move along the guide when the siderail is moved between the first position and a second position.
A person-support apparatus 10 according to one illustrative embodiment of the current disclosure is shown in
The upper frame 16 can include siderails 20 coupled thereto as shown in
The linkage assembly 24 can be coupled to the siderail body 22 and the upper frame 16 as shown in
The linkage assembly 24 can include a first link assembly 28 with a first link 30 and a second link 32, a second link assembly 34 with a third link 36 and a fourth link 38, a guide member 40, and a linkage base 42 as shown in
The third link 36 can be movably coupled to the siderail body 22 and the fourth link 38 as shown in
The guide member 40 can be coupled to the first link assembly 28 and the second link assembly 34, and can be configured to cooperate with the locking mechanism 26 to maintain the siderail 20 in at least one of the first position and the second position. In one illustrative embodiment, the guide member 40 can coupled to the first link assembly 28 at the second joint 46 and can be coupled to the second link assembly 34 at the fifth joint 52 as shown in
The linkage base 42 can be configured to couple the siderail 20 to the upper frame 16 as shown in
The locking mechanism 26 can be configured to selectively allow the siderail assembly 20 to move between the deployed position and the storage position with respect to the upper frame 16. The locking mechanism 26 can include a housing 60, a handle 62, a stop member 64, and a stop support 66 as shown in
The slot 68 can define a guide 74 that can be configured to be engaged by the guide member 40 as the guide member 40 moves along the guide 74 between a first guide position and a second guide position as shown in
The handle 62 can be slidably retained within the housing 60 and can include a grip 78 and a stop member engaging portion 80 as shown in
The stop member 64 can be movably coupled to the upper frame 16 and can be configured to move between about a first stop position and about a second stop position with respect to the upper frame 16 as shown in
The stop member 64 can include a first end portion E1 and a second end portion E2 as shown in
The second end portion E2 of the stop member 64 can include a guide member engaging surface 84, a stop support engaging surface 86, and a handle engaging portion 88 as shown in
The stop support 66 can be configured to support the stop member 64 when the stop member 64 is in the second stop position as shown in
The second support portion 92 can be spaced apart a distance D2 from the first support portion 90 and can be configured to engage the stop support engaging surface 86 as shown in
The third support portion 94 can be spaced apart a distance D3 from the first support portion 90 and can be coupled to the handle engaging portion 88 of the stop member 64 by a spring 98. The spring 98 can expand from a first distance K1 when the stop support 66 is the first support position and the handle 62 is in the first handle position to a second distance K2 when the stop support 66 is in the first support position and the handle 62 is in the second handle position. The expansion of the spring 98 from the first distance K1 to the second distance K2 can cause the stop support 66 to rotate about the ninth joint 96 toward/away from the second support position and/or can cause the handle 62 to move from the second handle position to the first handle position.
To move the siderail 20 from the deployed position to the storage position, the handle 62 can be moved from the first handle position to the second handle position, which can cause the stop member 64 to move from the first stop position to the second stop position and can cause the spring 98 to expand from the first distance K1 to the second distance K2. Moving the stop member 64 to the second stop position can allow the guide member 40 to move along the guide 74. The expansion of the spring 98 can cause the stop support 66 to rotate about the ninth joint 96 so that the first support portion 90 is positioned proximate the stop support engaging surface 86 of the stop member 64 and maintains the stop member 64 in the second stop position.
With the stop member 64 in the second position, the guide member 40 can be free to move along the guide 74. As the siderail 20 moves from the deployed position to the storage position, the guide member 40 can move toward the upper frame 16 along the guide 74. When the guide member 40 reaches the second guide position, the siderail assembly 20 can be in the storage position and the guide member 40 can contact an end of the guide 74. It should be appreciated that the guide member 40 can contact the end of the guide 74 to prevent further rotation.
To move the siderail 20 from the storage position to the deployed position, the siderail 20 can be rotated clockwise with respect to the frame 16. As the siderail 20 moves from the storage position to the deployed position, the guide member 40 can move along the guide 74 from the second guide position toward the first guide position. As the guide member 40 moves toward the first guide position, the guide member 40 can engage a portion of the stop support 66 and urge the stop support 66 to move about the ninth joint 96 from the second guide position to the first guide position. The movement of the stop support 66 about the ninth joint 96 from the second guide position to the first guide position can cause the first support portion 90 to disengage from the stop support engaging surface 86 of the stop member 64 and can cause the spring 98 to expand from the first distance K1 to the second distance K2. The expansion of the spring 98 can cause the stop member 64 to move from the second stop position to the first stop position, which can move the handle 62 from the second handle position to the first handle position. When the stop member 64 reaches the first stop position, the stop member 64 can engage the guide member 40 and prevent the guide member 40 from moving along the guide 74 to maintain the siderail 20 in the deployed position.
Many other embodiments of the present disclosure are also envisioned. For example, a siderail assembly comprises a siderail body, a siderail linkage, and a locking mechanism. The siderail linkage is configured to movably couple the siderail body to a frame of a person-support apparatus. The siderail linkage is configured to move the siderail body between a first position and a second position with respect to the frame. The siderail linkage includes a guide member. The locking mechanism includes a housing with a slot that defines a guide. The guide member is configured to move along the guide between a first guide position and a second guide position as the siderail body moves between the first position and the second position. The locking mechanism is configured to selectively prevent the guide member from moving along the guide to maintain the siderail body in at least one of the first position and the second position.
In another example, a siderail locking mechanism comprises a housing, a guide member, a stop member, and a stop support. The housing includes a slot defining a guide with a first end and a second end. The guide member is coupled to a siderail linkage assembly and is configured to move along the guide between a first guide position and a second guide position. The stop member is configured to move between a first stop position and a second stop position with respect to the housing. The stop member is configured to selectively prevent movement of the guide member along the guide when the stop member is in the first stop position. The stop support is configured to move between a first support position and a second support position. The stop support is configured to maintain the stop member in the second stop position when the stop support is in the second support position. The guide member is configured to contact the stop support and move the stop support from the second support position to the first support position as the guide member moves along the guide toward the first guide position.
In yet another example, a method of moving a siderail between a first position to a second position comprises moving a handle from a first handle position to a second handle position to actuate a locking mechanism; moving a stop member from a first stop position to a second stop position and a stop support from a first support position to a second support position as the handle moves from a first handle position to a second handle position, the stop support being configured to maintain the stop member in the second position when the stop support is in the second position; and moving a guide member along a guide between a first guide position and a second guide position as the siderail moves between the first position to the second position, the stop member being configured to maintain the guide member in the first guide position when the stop member is in the first stop 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 could 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.