US 4,559,656 A · Hospital bed with a weight-distributing lever system

Abstract

A bed uniformly distributes the weight of a bed-ridden patient to minimize the occurrence of bedsores. The bed comprises a frame and a plurality of support assemblies mounted on the frame. Each support assembly comprises a plurality of elongate support slats extending transversely of the fore-aft direction, and a pair of transversely spaced lever modules carrying opposite ends of the slats. Each lever module comprises a plurality of levers which are so mounted as to be swung in response to the downward action of heavier portions of the patient, whereupon opposite ends of the levers swing upwardly to transfer some of that weight to the lighter portions of the patient's body. The levers disposed on one side of the bed are rotatable relative to the corresponding levers on the opposite side of the bed, whereby the support slats may assume positions inclined relative to horizontal and thereby maintain a greater degree of contact with the patient. The area immediately beneath the slats is vacant, whereby an air-circulating channel can be formed for circulating drying/warming air to the patient. Moisture can gravitate from the patient into the channel and be collected upon a moisture collector for removal. Some of the support modules can be mounted for movement relative to an articulated bed frame in the fore-aft direction to avoid colliding with the frame and/or one another as the bed is articulated upwardly. A highly porous mattress can be utilized which facilitates the upward circulation of air to the patient and the downward gravitation of moisture away from the patient.

Claims30

Dependent claims

A bed comprising:

a frame including a head section mounted for articulation,
motor-driven means for articulating said head section,
a plurality of support assemblies mounted on said frame and spaced apart in the fore-aft direction of said bed, at least one of said support assemblies being mounted on said head section, each support assembly comprising:
a plurality of elongate support elements extending transversely of said fore-aft direction and spaced apart in said fore-aft direction, and
a pair of transversely spaced lever modules carrying opposite ends of said transverse support elements by a pivotable connection, each lever module comprising:
a first lever swingable about a transversely extending first axis disposed intermediate its ends, and
a pair of second levers mounted on said first lever on opposite sides of said first axis, each of said second levers being swingable relative to said first lever about a transversely extending second axis disposed itermediate its ends;
each lever module being interconnected with the other lever module solely by said pivotably connected transverse support elements so that the first and second levers of each lever module of said pair of modules is swingable relative to the corresponding first and second levers, respectively, of the other lever module of said pair.

5 more elements

A bed comprising:

a frame including:
a stationary seat section;
a head section and a thigh section aritculatedly connected to opposite ends of said seat section, and
a leg section articulatedly connected to said thigh section,
means for articulating said head, thigh and leg sections relative to said seat section,
a plurality of support assemblies mounted on said head, thigh, and leg sections, each support assembly comprising:
a plurality of slats extending transversely of the fore-aft direction of the bed, and
a pair of transversely spaced lever modules carrying opposite ends of said slats, each lever module comprising:
a first lever pivotable about a transversely extending first axis disposed intermediate its ends,
a pair of second levers mounted on said first lever on opposite sides of said first axis, each of said second levers being pivotable relative to said first lever about a transversely extending second axis disposed intermediate its ends,
a pair of third levers mounted on each of said second levers on opposite sides of said second axis, each of said third levers being pivotable relative to said second levers about a transversely extending third axis disposed intermediate its ends, and
two of said slats being mounted on each of said third levers and defining the sole means of directly interconnecting said third levers, each slat being pivotable relative to its respective third lever about a transversely extending fourth axis;
said first, second and third levers of each lever module of said pair of modules being rotatable relative to the corresponding first, second, and third levers, respectively, of the other lever module of said pair of modules,
the ones of said lever modules located immediately adjacent said seat section having their first levers mounted for translating movement relative to said frame, and means for displacing said last-named first levers away from said seat section in response to upward articulation of said head and thigh sections.

11 more elements

A bed comprising:

a frame including
a stationary seat section,
a head section and a thigh section articulatedly connected to opposite ends of said seat section, and
a leg section articulatedly connected to said thigh section,
means for articulating said head, thigh and leg sections relative to said seat section,
a plurality of support assemblies mounted on said head, thigh, and leg sections, each support assembly comprising
a plurality of slats extending transversely of the fore-aft direction of the bed, and
a pair of transversely spaced lever modules carrying opposite ends of said slats, each lever module comprising
a first lever pivotable about a transversely extending first axis disposed intermediate its ends,
a pair of second levers mounted on said first lever on opposite sides of said first axis, each of said second levers being pivotable relative to said first lever about a transversely extending second axis disposed intermediate its ends,
a pair of third levers mounted on each of said second levers on opposite sides of said second axis, each of said third levers being pivotable relative to said second levers about a transversely extending third axis disposed intermediate its ends, and
two of said slats being mounted on each of said third levers, each slat being pivotable relative to said third levers about a transversely extending fourth axis;
said first, second , and third levers of each lever module of said pair of modules being rotatable relative to the corresponding first, second, and third levers, respectively, of the other lever module of said pair of modules,
the ones of said lever modules located immediately adjacent said seat section having their first levers mounted for translating movement relative to said frame, and
means for displacing said last-named first levers away from said seat section in response to upward articulation of said head and thigh sections.

12 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Hospital bed with a weight-distributing lever system

Life of this patent

Hospital bed with a weight-distributing lever system

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims30