GB2038617A - Hospital bed - Google Patents

Abstract

A hospital bed including a main frame 11 and a sub-frame 12 which carries the mattress platform 16, these being e.g., pivoted together at 13 towards the foot end. Towards the head end a member, such as a bell crank lever 21 or quadrant plate, is pivoted to the main frame and the sub-frame at separate spaced pivot points 24, 25. The member can be moved by operating means such as a worm arrangement 27, 28 to change the relative positions and/or spacing of the pivot points 24, 25, thereby enabling a slight foot-down tilt to be achieved. <IMAGE>

Description

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GB 2 038 617 A

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SPECIFICATION

This invention relates to beds and couches for medical use which are hereinafter referred to for con-5 venience as "hospital beds"

Hospital beds are frequently provided with adjustments to enable the position and/or orientation of the mattress platform to be modified to assist 10 in the treatment of patients. For example, the mattress platform can usually be raised and lowered relative to ground level by the nursing staff. A facility v is usually provided to enable the mattress platform to be tilted rapidly into a head-down inclined condi-15 tion in cases of sudden cardiac arrest orfainting.

In some cases, the mattress platform itself is so constructed that it can adopt different profiles so as to support the patient in a position which may vary from a flat to a semi-seated position.

20 Some of these functions are power assisted and some are manually operated. In some cases, the weight of the patient assists in providing these facilities. For example, the head-down tilt is usually assisted by the patient's body weight so that the tilt-25 ing movement can be accomplished rapidly.

The provision of these various adjustments greatly complicates the support arrangements for the mattress platform proper and it is for this reason that previous attempts to allow for tilting of the mattress 30 platform to a food-down condition have hitherto proved unsatisfactory. It would be useful to have a foot-down tilt facility to assist in the drainage of fluid from a patient, the required maximum tilt being only ofthe order of 10°.

35 It has previously been proposed, in a "Kings Fund" type bed, to provide the mattress platform with a pair of rigid downwardly extending legs pivoted at their lower ends to the main support structure ofthe bed. In the Kings Fund type bed this 40 main support structure allows for lifting and lowering ofthe mattress platform. By providing the mattress platform on these pivoted legs, it has been possible to arrange to tilt it either head-down or foot-down without fouling the main support struc-45 ture but this has the consequent disadvantage that the overall height ofthe mattress platform is raised by the height of the pivoted legs. Since the minimum . height requirement ofthe Kings Fund Specification * for hospital beds is very low, this requirement can-50 not readily be met using the previously proposed arrangement.

" Height adjustment is sometimes achieved by means of an X or scissor linkage and it has been proposed to provide means for separating the pivot 55 points ofthe respective struts X or scissor linkage at the centre ofthe linkage, by a variable geometry element which enables one pivot point to be raised relative to the other to afford a foot-down tilt. Head-down tilt is achieved by conventional means without 60 reference to the position of the X linkage. However, this arrangement also has a drawback in that, if the nursing staff repeatedly compensate for a foot-down tilt by adjusting the head-down control slightly, or vice-versa, the variable geometry element can over-65 centre and furhter adjustment is then effectively prevented.

It is an object ofthe present invention to provide a hospital bed with a facility for foot-down tilt, which overcomes or reduces these disadvantages and 70 which can be operated without significantly affecting operation of any other adjustment facility with which the bed may be provided.

According to the invention there is provided a hospital bed comprising a main support structure; a 75 sub-frame forming or supporting a mattress platform and associated with said main support structure atoradjacentthefoot end; a linkage interconnecting the sub-frame and main support structure at or adjacent the head end, said linkage affording two 80 spaced pivots to which the sub-frame and main support linkage, capable of changing the relative positions and/or spacing ofthe pivots whereby the angular orientation of the sub-frame relative to the main support structure can be varied.

85 It will be appreciated that the term "head" and "foot" as used in this Specification denote the ends ofthe bed or mattress platform on which the head or feet of a patient respectively would lie in use.

The main support structure may include a main 90 frame with which the sub-frame is associated. It may further include means for lifting and lowering the main frame.

The sub-frame may be associated with the main support structure at or adjacent the foot end via a 95 fixed pivot. Alternatively it may be associated via an extensible connection adapted, on extension, to separate the sub-frame from the main support structure at the foot end and hence to pivot the sub-frame to a head-down condition.

100 The linkage may comprise a bell crank lever adapted to be rotated about the pivot by which it is associated with the main support structure. Alternatively, the linkage may comprise a quadrant plate adapted to be so rotated.

105 The operating means may comprise a telescopic strut mounted on the main support structure. The strut may be manually operated or power operated. For example, the strut may include a manually rotated worm arrangement. The power operated 110 strut may be hydraulic.

The mattress platform may be mounted on the sub-frame and may be formed in sections capable of articulation relative to each other.

The invention encompasses any novel feature or 115 combination of features described in the present description.

One embodiment ofthe invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:— 120 FIGURE 1 is a diagrammatic side elevational view of part of a hospital bed embodying the invention,

FIGURE 2 is a viewsimilarto Figure 1 showing the bed with the mattress platform in a foot-down tilted condition.

125 Referring to the drawings, a bed generally indicated at 10 is provided with a main frame 11. The main frame 11 is part of a main support structure, the remainder of which is not shown. This main support structure may comprise fixed supports such as 130 legs or may include, for example, a lifting and lower

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GB 2 038 617 A 2

ing mechanism capable of lifting and lowering the main frame in generally known manner.

A sub-frame 12 is mounted on the main frame so as to be associated with the main frame towards the 5 foot end ofthe bed. In the example shown, this is achieved by mounting an extension of the sub-frame on a lug ofthe mainframe at a pivot 13. The foot end ofthe bed can be seen at the right hand side of the drawings, where the sub-frame supports a footboard 10 14 and the usual resilient buffer wheels 15.

The sub-frame 12 carries a mattress platform 16 which is in the three sections, articulated with respectto each other atthe points 17 and 18. The lower part ofthe mattress platform 16 is supported 15 by a parallelogram linkage comprising a pairof struts 19, whilst the articulation points 17 is connected to a jack 20, movement of which can change the relative positioning ofthe sections ofthe mattress platform.

20 The articulation ofthe sections ofthe mattress platform does not form part of the present invention but is described to illustrate that the features of the invention can be applied to this type of bed, in addition to being applicable to beds having rigid flat mat-25 tress supports.

As referred to above, the sub-frame 12 is pivoted at 13 towards the foot-end ofthe bed, to the main frame 11. Towards the head end, the main frame and sub-frame 11 and 12 are also connected together via 30 a linkage generally indicated at 21. In the example shown, this linkage comprises a bell crank lever having a pairof arms 22,23. The bend ofthe bell crank lever is pivoted at 24 to the head end of the main frame 11. The remote end of the arm 22 is pivoted at 35 25 to the sub-frame 12.

The other, slightly longer arm 23 ofthe bell crank lever is pivotally connected at 26 to an extensible strut 27 which, in the example shown, comprises a worm rotated by means of a manually rotatable 40 handle 28 and enclosed within a sleeve incorporating a threaded collar which can move along the worm in generally known manner to extend orcon-tractthe strut 27.

The strut 27 is pivotally mounted at 29 towards the 45 foot end ofthe bed, to the sub-frame 12. The handle 28 is shown in a condition where it is concealed beneath the foot ofthe bed but it can be extended in generally known mannerto a position free from the end ofthe bed to enable it to be rotated and hence to 50 extend or contract the strut 27.

In Figure 1 ofthe drawings, it will be seen thatthe mattress platform 16 is generally horizontal, the main frame 11 is also generally horizontal and is spaced below the mattress platform. The strut 27 is 55 relatively contracted and the pivot point 25 by which the bell crank lever is secured to the sub-frame 12 is drawn down to a position below the head end ofthe main frame 11.

In Figure 2 of the drawings, it will be seen thatthe 60 strut 27 has been relatively extended, thereby rotating the bell crank lever clockwise from the condition shown in Figure 1 of the drawings. The pivot point 25 has now been raised relative to the pivot point 24, so as to tend to raise the head end ofthe sub-frame 12 65 relative to the, still horizontal, main frame 11. Consequently, the mattress platform has now adopted a slightly inclined, foot-down conditon.

It will be appreciated that operation ofthe foot-down tilt described above does not in any way affect the operation of any other facilities which may be provided on the bed, for example the contoured mattress platform 16 can be operated quite independently. Furthermore, the main support structure including the main frame 11 can, if the bed is so adapted, be raised and lowered in generally conventional manner.

If the bed is so adapted, the mattress platform can be tilted head-down quite independently ofthe s operation ofthe foot-down tilt, by providing means which separate the foot end of the sub-frame 12 from the foot end ofthe mainframe 11. Such means , are not shown in the drawings but could comprise, for example, an extensible strut linking the two frames atthe approximate position of the pivot 13.

It wilf be appreciated that the extreme head end of the bed is not shown and, in fact, it is to be expected thatthe patient's body weight would be concentrated at a position to the left ofthe pivot 24 when the bed is in use. This is utilised where a head-down tilt is provided since the bed tends to adopt a head-down condition underthe patient's body weight.

This factor also assists in operating the contoured mattress support briefly described above. However, the patient's body weight tends to act against the raising ofthe head end relative to the foot end ofthe bed in accordance with the present invention and hence it is desirable that some mechanical advantage is afforded by the operating means which rotate the bell crank lever. This is achieved by the use of the worm and threaded collar arrangement described. However, if desired, a power assisted operating mechanism could be provided.

Clearly, the bell crank lever could be replaced by, for example, a quadrant plate which might be operated directly off the worm. Various other means are possibleto alterthe relative positioning ofthe main frame 11 and sub-frame 12 towards the head end of the bed. The main feature which is necessary in order to achieve foot-down tilt according to the present invention is some facility for changing the relative positions and/or spacing of a pair of spaced pivots of a linkage to which the main frame or main support structure and the sub-frame are respectively pivoted.

Claims (15)

1. A hospital bed comprising a main support structure; a sub-frame forming or supporting a mattress platform and associated with said main support structure at or adjacent the foot end; a linkage interconnecting the sub-frame and main support structure at or adjacent the head end, said linkage affording two spaced pivots to which the sub-frame and main support respectively are pivoted; and operating means for the linkage, capable of changing the relative positions and/or spacing ofthe pivots whereby the angular orientation of the sub-frame relative to the main support structure can be varied.

2. A bed according to Claim 1 wherein the main support structure includes a main frame.

3. A bed according to Claim 2 wherein the main

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GB 2 038 617 A

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support structure includes means of lifting and powering the main frame.

4. A bed according to any preceding claim wherein the sub-frame is associated with the main

5 support structure at or adjacent the foot end via a fixed pivot.

5. A bed according to any one of Claims 1 to 3 wherein the sub-frame is associated with the main support structure at or adjacent the foot end via an

10 extensible connection adapted, on extension, to separate the sub-frame from the main support structure foot end and hence to pivot the sub-frame to a ' head-down condition.

6. A bed according to any preceding claim 15 wherein the linkage comprises a bell crank lever

% adapted to be rotated about the pivot by which it is associated with the main support structure by operation ofthe operating means.

7. A bed according to any one of Claims 1 to 5 20 wherein the linkage comprises a quadrant plate adapted to be rotated about the pivot by which it is associated with the main support structure by operation ofthe operating means.

8. A bed according to any preceding claim

25 wherein the operating means comprises a telescopic strut mounted on the main support structure.

9. A bed according to Claim 8 wherein the operating means is manually operable.

10. A bed according to Claim 9 wherein the 30 operating means comprises a manually rotatable worm arrangement.

11. A bed according to Claim 8 wherein the operating means is power operated.

12. A bed according to Claim 11 wherein the

35 operating means comprises a hydraulically extendable strut.

13. A bed according to any preceding claim wherein the mattress platform is mounted on the sub-frame and is formed in sections capable of

40 articulation relative to each other.

14. A bed according to any preceding claim wherein the mattress platform is mounted on the sub-frame and is formed in sections capable of articulation relative to each other.

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15. A hospital bed substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

Printed for Her Majesty's Stationery Office by The Tweeddale Press Ltd., Berwick-upon-Tweed, 1980.

Published atthe Patent Office, 25 Southampton Buildings, London, WC2A1 AY, from which copies may be obtained.

14. Any novel feature or combination of features set out in the foregoing description.

15. A hospital bed substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the

45 accompanying drawings.

New claims or amendments to claims filed on 7.1.80.

♦ Superseded claims 1-15.

New or amended claims:—

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.CLAIMS

1. A hospital bed comprising a main support structure; a sub-frame forming or supporting a mattress platform and associated with said main sup-55 port structure at or adjacent the foot end; a linkage interconnecting the sub-frame and main support structure at or adjacent the head end, said linkage including two pivot points disposed at a fixed separation from each other, to which the sub-frame and 60 main support respectively are pivoted; and an operating means for the linkage, capable of altering the angle defined by an imaginary line linking the pivot points with respect to a fixed horizontal plane, whereby the angular orientation ofthe sub-frame 65 relative to the main support structure can be varied.

2. A bed according to Claim 1 wherein the main support structure includes a main frame.

3. A bed according to Claim 2 wherein the main support structure includes a means for lifting a low-

70 ering the main frame.

4. A bed according to any preceding claim wherein the sub-frame is associated with the main support structure at or adjacent the floor end via a fixed pivot.

75 5. Abed according to any one of Claims 1 to 3 wherein the sub-frame is associated with the main support structure at or adjacent the foot end via an extensible connection adapted, on extension, to separate the sub-frame from the main support struc-

80 ture at the foot end and hence to pivot the sub-frame to the head-down condition.

6. A bed according to Claim 5 wherein the pivoting ofthe sub-frame to a head-down condition takes place about that one of said two pivots at which the

85 sub-frame is pivoted to the linkage.

7. A bed according to any preceding claim wherein the linkage comprises a bell crank lever having a pairof arms, the two pivot points being provided at spaced positions on one arm ofthe bell

90 crank lever and the other arm being acted on the by the operating means.

8. A bed according to any one of Claim 1 to 6 wherein the linkage comprises a quadrant plate carrying said two pivots and adapted to be rotated

95 about that one of said two pivots by which it is associated with the main support structure, on operation ofthe operating means.

9. A bed according to any preceding claim wherein the operating means comprises a treles-

100 copic strut mounted on the main support structure.

10. A bed according to Claim 9 wherein the operating means is manually operable.

11. A bed according to Claim 10 wherein the operating means comprises a manually rotatable

105 worm arrangement.

12. A bed according to Claim 9 wherein the operating means is power operated.

13. A bed according to Claim 12 wherein the operating means comprises a hydraulically extend-

110 able strut.