This disclosure relates generally to a siderail mechanism for a person-support apparatus, such as, a hospital bed. More particularly, but not exclusively, one illustrative embodiment relates to a siderail mechanism that allows the siderail to be moved along a frame between a first position and a second position with respect to the frame
Person-support apparatuses can include siderails coupled thereto. The siderails can be configured to move between a deployed position and storage position. While various person-support apparatuses have been developed, there is still room for development. 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 person-support apparatus with a frame having a first support section movable with respect to a second support section, a first siderail coupled to the first support section and configured to move therewith, and a second siderail positionable adjacent to the second support section in a first position and adjacent to the first support section below the first siderail in a second position. Another illustrative embodiment can include a person-support apparatus with a frame having a guide coupled thereto and a siderail movably coupled to the guide and configured to move along the guide between a first position adjacent a second section of the frame and a second position adjacent a first section of the frame independent of the movement of the first section. Another illustrative embodiment can include a person-support apparatus with a frame having a guide coupled thereto and a siderail movably coupled to the guide and configured to move along the guide between a first position where the siderail is configured to move between a deployed position and a storage position with respect to the frame and a second position where the siderail can only be in the storage position when adjacent to the first section.
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 person-support apparatus with a frame having a first support section movable with respect to a second support section, a first siderail coupled to the first support section and configured to move therewith, and a second siderail positionable adjacent to the second support section in a first position and adjacent to the first support section below the first siderail in a second position. Another illustrative embodiment can include a person-support apparatus with a frame having a guide coupled thereto and a siderail movably coupled to the guide and configured to move along the guide between a first position adjacent a second section of the frame and a second position adjacent a first section of the frame independent of the movement of the first section. Another illustrative embodiment can include a person-support apparatus with a frame having a guide coupled thereto and a siderail movably coupled to the guide and configured to move along the guide between a first position where the siderail is configured to move between a deployed position and a storage position with respect to the frame and a second position where the siderail can only be in the storage position when adjacent to the first section.
A person-support apparatus 10 according to one illustrative embodiment of the current disclosure is shown in
The upper frame 16 can include an upper frame base 22, a deck 24, a movement system 26, a plurality of siderails 28, and endboards EB1 as shown in
The deck 24 can be configured to support a person supported on the person-support apparatus 10 in multiple articulated positions. The deck 24 can include a head portion 38, a seat portion 40, and a foot portion 42 as shown in
The movement system 26 can be configured to move one or more of the head portion 38, the seat portion 40, and the foot portion 42 with respect to one another and/or the upper frame base 22. The movement system 26 can include a head deck movement assembly 58 and a siderail movement assembly 60 as shown in
The head deck movement assembly 58 can be configured to move the head portion 38 of the deck 24 between a first head deck position and a second head deck position with respect to the upper frame base 22. In one illustrative embodiment, the head portion 38 of the deck 24 can be substantially parallel with respect to the upper frame base 22 in the first head deck position and at an angle with respect to the upper frame base 22 in the second head deck position. The head deck movement assembly 58 can include an actuator 62, a pair or rotating links 64, and a slide 66. The actuator 62 can include a base 68 and a plunger 70 that can be configured to extend from the base 68 as shown in
The rotating links 64 can be movably coupled to the upper frame base 22 at a first link joint 76 and can be coupled to the longitudinal members 50 at a second link joint 78 as shown in
The slide 66 can include a first slide portion 80 coupled to the base member 48 and a second slide portion 82 coupled to the siderail movement assembly 60 as shown in
The siderail movement assembly 60 can be configured to move the headrail assembly 30 and/or the footrail assembly 32 in response to the head deck frame 44 moving with respect to the upper frame base 22. In one illustrative embodiment, the siderail movement assembly 60 can be configured to cooperate with the head deck movement assembly 58 to maintain the horizontal orientation of the headrail assembly 30 and move the footrail assembly 32 to maintain a gap G1 between the headrail assembly 30 and the footrail assembly 32 as the head deck frame 44 moves with respect to the upper frame base 22 as shown in
The siderail movement assembly 60 can be implemented a number of ways. In one illustrative embodiment, the siderail movement assembly 60 can include an actuator (not shown) movably coupled to the upper frame base 22 and movably coupled to a portion of the headrail assembly 30 to move the headrail assembly 30 with respect to the head deck frame 44 as the head deck frame 44 moves with respect to the upper frame base 22. It should be appreciated that the actuator can be movably coupled to the head deck frame 44. It should also be appreciated that the actuator can be controlled by the control system 18 as a function of an input signal generated by an angle sensor (not shown) or inclinometer corresponding to the angle of inclination of the head deck frame 44 with respect to horizontal. In another illustrative embodiment, the siderail movement assembly 60 can include an electric motor (not shown) coupled to the head deck frame 44 and configured to engage a portion of the headrail assembly 30 to move the headrail assembly 30 with respect to the head deck frame 44 as the head deck frame 44 moves with respect to the upper frame base 22. It should be appreciated that a gear reduction technique can be used to move the headrail assembly 30 with the motor. It should also be appreciated that the motor can be controlled by the control system 18 as a function of an input signal generated by an angle sensor (not shown) or inclinometer corresponding to the angle of inclination of the head deck frame 44 with respect to horizontal. In another illustrative embodiment, an actuator, such as, a linear actuator, can be used to move the headrail assembly 30 with respect to the head deck frame 44 as the head deck frame 44 moves with respect to the upper frame base 22.
In another illustrative embodiment, the siderail movement assembly 60 can be implemented using a 4-bar mechanism as shown in
The extension plate 86 can include a first plate end 94 that can be configured to be coupled to the second slide portion 82 of the slide 66 and a second plate end 96 that can be configured to be coupled to the extension member 88 as shown in
The extension member 88 can include a first extension member end 98 that can be coupled to the second plate end 96 and a second extension member end 100 that can be movably coupled to the headrail link 90 and the footrail link 92 as shown in
The headrail link 90 can be configured to coordinate movement of the head deck frame 44 and the headrail assembly 30 as shown in
The footrail link 92 can be configured to coordinate movement of the head deck frame 44 and the footrail assembly 32 as shown in
The headrail assembly 30 can include a headrail body 120, a headrail linkage 122, and a headrail base 124 as shown in
The headrail body 120 can be movably coupled to the headrail linkage 122 and can be configured to selectively move the headrail body 120 between a deployed position or raised position and a storage position or lowered position. The headrail linkage 122 can include a first headrail linkage portion 134 coupled to the headrail body 120 at a first headrail joint 132, a second headrail linkage portion 136 coupled to the headrail base 124 at a second headrail joint 137, and a headrail latch mechanism 138. The headrail linkage 122. The headrail base 124 can include a first headrail base portion 140 movably coupled to the head deck frame 44 at a first base joint 142 and a second headrail base portion 144 movably coupled to the second headrail link end 104 at the first headrail link joint 106.
The footrail assembly 32 can include a footrail body 146, a footrail linkage 148, and a footrail base 150 as shown in
The footrail body 146 can be movably coupled to the footrail linkage 148 and can be configured to selectively move the footrail body 146 between a deployed position or raised position and a storage position or lowered position. The footrail linkage 148 can include a first foortail linkage portion 160 coupled to the footrail body 146 at a first footrail joint 158, a second foortail linkage portion 162 coupled to the footrail base 150 at a second footrail joint 163, and a footrail latch mechanism 164 as shown in
The footrail base 150 can include a first footrail base portion 166 configured to be movably coupled to the second guide 36, and a second footrail base portion 168 coupled to the footrail link 92 at the second footrail link joint 116 as shown in
The first footrail base portion 166 can include a slot 170 that can be configured to engage the second guide 36 and allow the footrail assembly 32 to slide along the second guide 36. It should be appreciated that the footrail base 150 can include wheels (not shown) configured to engage the second guide 36. The second footrail base portion 168 can include a coupling member 172, such as, for example, a peg or pin, that can extend from the footrail base 150 and can be engaged by the footrail link 92.
The control system 18 can include a controller 174 and a user interface 176. The user interface 176 can be coupled to the siderails 28 and can be configured to receive an input from a person as shown in
In operation, the head portion 38 of the deck 24 is initially positioned in a substantially horizontal position with the headrail assembly 30 in a substantially horizontal orientation such that the second longitudinal axis X2 is substantially parallel to the first longitudinal axis X1. The controller 174 can receive an input from the user interface 176 corresponding to inclining the head portion 38 of the deck 24. The controller 174 can actuate the actuator 62, causing the plunger 70 to extend from the base 68 and push on the bracket 54 coupled to the base member 48 of the head deck frame 44. As the plunger 70 pushes on the bracket 54, the slide 66 can move along the first guide 34 from a first slide position to a second slide position to translate the base member 48 along the first longitudinal axis X1 and the rotating links 64 can rotate about the rotational axis R1 with respect to the upper frame base 22 and about the rotational axis R2 with respect to the longitudinal members 50. The movement of the slide 66 along the first guide 34 and the rotation of the rotating links 64 can cause the head deck frame 44 to rotate about the rotational axis R3 and increase the angle of inclination of the head portion 38 of the deck 24 with respect to the upper frame base 22. As the slide 66 moves along the first guide 34, the extension plate 86 and extension member 88 can move with the slide 66 and pull the footrail link 92 to move the footrail assembly 32 along the second guide 36 and cooperate with the headrail link 90, headrail assembly 30, and head deck frame 44 to maintain the angular orientation of the headrail assembly 30 with respect to the upper frame 16 such that the second longitudinal axis X2 is substantially parallel to the first longitudinal axis X1.
Also, in operation, the footrail link 92 can be decoupled from the footrail base 150 and the footrail assembly 32 can be manually moved between a third position and a fourth position independently of the movement of the head portion 38. In the third position, the footrail base 150 can be positioned adjacent to the foot portion 42. It should be appreciated that the footrail body 146 can be in the deployed position or the storage position in the third position. In the fourth position the footrail body 146 is moved to the storage position and the footrail base 150 is positioned adjacent to the head portion 38 and below the headrail assembly 30.
Many other embodiments of the present disclosure are also envisioned. For example, a person-support apparatus comprises a frame, a first siderail; and a second siderail. The frame includes a first support section and a second support section. The first support section is configured to pivot between a first support position and a second support position with respect to the second support section. The first siderail is coupled to the first support section and configured to move therewith. The second siderail is coupled to the frame and is configured to move along the frame between a first position and a second position. The second siderail is configured to be positioned adjacent to the second support section in the first position, and adjacent to the first support section and below the first siderail in the second position.
In another example, a person-support apparatus comprises a frame, a guide, and a siderail. The frame includes a first section and a second section and defines a longitudinal axis that passes through the first section and the second section. The first section is configured to pivot between a first position and a second position about a rotational axis substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis. The guide is coupled to the frame and extends longitudinally there along. The guide is adjacent to the first section and the second section. The siderail assembly is configured to be movably coupled to the guide and configured to move along the guide between a first position and a second position independent of the movement of the first section. The siderail assembly is positionable adjacent the second section in the first position and positionable adjacent the first section in the second position.
In yet another example, a person-support apparatus comprises a frame, a guide, and a siderail. The frame includes a first section and a second section and defines a longitudinal axis that passes through the first section and the second section. The first section is configured to pivot about a rotational axis substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis between a first position and a second position. The guide is coupled to the frame and extends longitudinally there along. The siderail is configured to be moved between a deployed position where a portion of the siderail is positioned above the frame and a storage position where the portion is positioned below the deployed position. The siderail is movably coupled to the guide and configured to move along the guide between a first position and a second position. The siderail is configured to move between the deployed position and the storage position when adjacent to the second section in the first position and configured to be in only the storage position when adjacent to the first section 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 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.