GB2329111A

GB2329111A - Collapsible/mobile hospital bed

Info

Publication number: GB2329111A
Application number: GB9719190A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Roger Bernard John
Original assignee: ALL CARE NEEDS
Current assignee: ALL CARE NEEDS
Priority date: 1997-09-10
Filing date: 1997-09-10
Publication date: 1999-03-17
Also published as: GB9719190D0

Abstract

A bed is provided comprising a platform formed by first and second portions pivotally joined together along an axis extending transversely of the bed and supported by upright members at either end of said platform, and arranged such that the bed may be collapsed by pivoting the respective undersides of said first and second portions towards one another about said axis whilst the support members are maintained in an upright orientation.

Description

COLLAPSIBLE IMMOBILE HOSPITAL BED The present invention relates to a collapsible / mobile bed suitable for the use in hospitals and medical treatment units, and yet able to be transported and erected for use in domestic dwellings or other locations for patient care where the need arises.

The need for specific facilities in the design of patient beds for hospital and medical units is well established, there is a need for the same facilities within a bed which is capable of being easily collapsible and erected by a single operative the unit also requires to be of a light weight construction for ease of mobility and transportation, to enable the patient to have the same facilities of such a bed within their own home, or other outcare location, beds currently available for this purpose are heavy, and require partial disassembly and do not collapse to a size as an integral unit for ease of access and transportation According to the present invention, the collapsible /mobile bed is constructed in such a way as to enable the units overall size in the collapsed mode to fit into an average family estate car or van, to be of such a designed construction as to be rigid and stable when extended in its working mode, yet be lightweight for ease of handling and transportation.

Hospital beds are fitted with wheels or castors to aid mobility in working operation, as is the present invention. It is a part of the design of the proposed collapsible bed that this facility of mobility is available to the bed when in the fully collapsed state, whilst still giving complete stability and mobility.

The functions of the collapsible bed, when in operation, will be: 1 The ability to raise and lower the overall height of the mattress Platform.

2 To raise or lower the head and foot of the bed independently of each other.

3 To be able to angle, raise and lower the top third of the mattress platform from the headboard.

4 To operate all mobile parts of the mattress platform either manually or mechanically by use of electric motors, electric pumps or hydraulic power.

5 To achieve a change of state from operational mode through the transient state to the collapsible mode by a single operation capable of being carried out by an operative.

6 The ability to override the mechanical functions to raise or lower the bed by means of a quick release device returning the mattress platform to a flat position.

Fig 1: Shows the bed extended in operational mode with the top third of the mattress in the lowered position.

Fig 2: Shows the bed extended in operational mode with the top third of the mattress in the raised position.

Fig 3 Shows three drawings of the bed in: a) the fully collapsed position b) the transient position c) the fully operational position Referring to the drawings, the main sub frame of the bed is constructed from a series of support beams, bolted in such a way as to produce a parallelogram configuration of the main bed platform the action of a lateral force applied to one or both of the described parallelograms will implement the change of state of the bed between collapsed, transient, and operational mode. This lateral force can be the product of mechanical means such as a winch mechanism by example or electrical means or any suitable power source that may prove suitable. Within the diagrams 4 and 5 a number of mechanical and electrical means are shown.

Claims

A bed which can change its overall dimensions from an operational state to a portable collapsed state, as a single unit component for ease of transportation, access into structures and buildings such as domestic houses, etc.
2 A bed as described in claim 1, but which is specific to medical needs for patient care, and having the facilities to include such embodiments as found in such medical treatment beds, with the ability to change its overall shape and size to achieve ease of storage, transportation and access into structures and domestic houses.
3 A bed as described in claims 1 and 2 which, whilst being supported on wheels or castors for ease of mobility, can still maintain this facility in its collapsedlstorage mode.
4 A bed as described in claims 1, 2 and 3 which can change its overall dimension and state from operational mode to collapsed mode, as a single component, by mechanical or other means as a single operative operation.