GB2154437A

GB2154437A - Bed

Info

Publication number: GB2154437A
Application number: GB08404531A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Buddy Tak Biu Chan
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1984-02-21
Filing date: 1984-02-21
Publication date: 1985-09-11
Also published as: GB8404531D0; GB2154437B

Abstract

A hospital bed comprises a lower bed portion (11) supported on a stand (12) and an upper bed portion (10) having two parts (13 and 14) which are pivoted to the lower bed portion about axes (15 and 16 respectively) normal to the longitudinal extent of the bed. Each of the two upper bed parts comprises a plurality of elongate members (17) extending in the direction of the longitudinal extent of the bed. The elongate members of the two parts are arranged alternately across the width of the bed so that one part can pass through the other part. Power operated means are provided for effecting angular movement of the upper bed part (14) about axis (16) to enable a patient to exercise muscles and to eliminate bedsores. Also, the angle subtended between the upper bed part (13) and the lower bed portion (11) can be adjusted. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION A bed This invention relates to a bed, and particularly but not exclusively to a bed for use by hospital patients, or convalescent or handicapped persons.

According to the invention there is provided a bed comprising a lower bed portion supported on a stand, an upper bed portion having two parts at least one of which is pivoted to the lower bed portion about an axis normal to the longitudinal extent ofthe bed, each of the two upper bed parts comprising a plurality of elongate members extending in the direction of the longitudinal extent of the bed, the elongate members ofthetwo parts being arranged alternately across the width ofthe bed so that one part can pass through the other part, and power operated means for effecting angular movement of the one upper bed part about its axis.

Preferably, the other upper bed part is also pivoted to the lower bed part and means are provided for adjusting the angle subtended between the other upper bed part and the lower bed portion. In this case the other upper bed part is, advantageously, pivoted to the lower bed portion about an axis closerto the upper end ofthe bed than the pivot axis ofthe one upper bed part.

Preferably, an adjustable foot rest is mounted on the lower bed portion.

Preferably, a strap is provided in the region of the lower bed portion to secure a patient or person on the bed.

Advantageously, both the upper and lower bed portions, comprise a plurality of elongate members, such as tubes, extending in the direction of the longitudinal extent of the bed.

The invention will now be more particularly described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawing, which is a perspective view of one embodiment of a bed according to the present invention.

Referring to the drawing, the bed shown therein comprises upper and lower bed portions 10 and 11, respectively. The lower bed portion 11 is fixed to the upper surface of a stand 12 which contains a power operated unit comprising mechanical hydraulic or electrical devices or any appropriate combination thereof for operating the bed. An instrument panel and control unit9foroperation ofthe bed by a therapist is mounted on the side ofthe stand. The upper bed portion 10 comprises two parts 13 and 14 pivotably connected to the lower bed portion for angular movement relative thereto about axis 15 and 16 respectively.

Theupperandlowerbedportionsl0and 11, respectively, each comprise a plurality of elongate members in the form of metal tubes 17, although they need not necessarily be metal nor indeed tubes. The tubes 17 ofthe lower bed portion are juxtaposed in a single plane and the tubes 17 of the two upper bed parts 13 and 14 are arranged alternately with one another across the width ofthe bed.

As shown,the lower bed portion 11 has nine tubes, the part 13 hasfivetubes andthe part 14 hasfour tubes. The two outertubes ofthe part 13 are interconnected at the upper end of the bed by a cross-member or bracket 18 whilstthe three remaining tubes ofthe part 1 3terminate short of the bracket 18 to allow a cross-member or bracket 19 connecting the free ends of the tubes ofthe part 14to pass through the part 13.

A ground engageable support 20 is pivotably connected to the upper bed part 13. By adjusting the angle ofthe support 20, the angle of inclination ofthe part 13 can be altered as required.

An adjustable foot rest 21 is mounted on the lower bed portion 11 and upstandstherefrom and a strap 22 is provided in the region of the lower bed portion 11 for securing a patient or person on the bed. A control 23 is provided in orderthata patient can operate the bed. The bed will be covered with normal bedding or, for example, with a sheet or cellular plastics material.

Normally, the upper bed part 14will be horizontally aligned with the lower bed portion 11 for when a patient mounts or is placed on the bed. The foot rest 21 is then adjusted in orderthatthe patient's buttocks rest on the bed in the region between the two pivot axes 15and 16. Normally, the upper bed part 13 will be inclined downwards from its pivot axis but it can be adjusted by the support 20 to lie horizontally.

The upper bed part 1 4can then be raised slowly, by the power operated unit, about the pivot axis 16 until the patient sits virtually upright with thighs held by strap 22 and feet firmly against foot rest 21. When sitting up, different areas of the patient's buttocks will rest againsttubes 17 and this will help to eliminate bed sores during the period oftreatment. Ifthe patient is strong enough, the part 14can be lowered and the patient then asked to lie down slowly on his own accord, thereby exercising stomach muscles. If the patient is not strong enough slow operation of the bed by moving the part 14 up and down will provide useful exercise. For stronger patients, the part 14 may be lowered through upper bed part 13.

Thus the bed described herein enables a patientto excercise muscles and by virtue of different pressure points offered by the bed during operation, bed sores are minimised or eliminated.

1. A bed comprising a lower bed portion supported on a stand, an upper bed portion having two parts at least one of which is pivoted to the lower bed portion about an axis normal to the longitudinal extent ofthe bed, each ofthetwo upper bed parts comprising a plurality of elongate members extending in the direction of the longitudinal extent of the bed, the elongate members ofthetwo parts being arranged alternately across the width of the bed so that one part can pass through the other part, and power operated means for effecting angular movement ofthe one upper bed part about its axis.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION A bed This invention relates to a bed, and particularly but not exclusively to a bed for use by hospital patients, or convalescent or handicapped persons. According to the invention there is provided a bed comprising a lower bed portion supported on a stand, an upper bed portion having two parts at least one of which is pivoted to the lower bed portion about an axis normal to the longitudinal extent ofthe bed, each of the two upper bed parts comprising a plurality of elongate members extending in the direction of the longitudinal extent of the bed, the elongate members ofthetwo parts being arranged alternately across the width ofthe bed so that one part can pass through the other part, and power operated means for effecting angular movement of the one upper bed part about its axis. Preferably, the other upper bed part is also pivoted to the lower bed part and means are provided for adjusting the angle subtended between the other upper bed part and the lower bed portion. In this case the other upper bed part is, advantageously, pivoted to the lower bed portion about an axis closerto the upper end ofthe bed than the pivot axis ofthe one upper bed part. Preferably, an adjustable foot rest is mounted on the lower bed portion. Preferably, a strap is provided in the region of the lower bed portion to secure a patient or person on the bed. Advantageously, both the upper and lower bed portions, comprise a plurality of elongate members, such as tubes, extending in the direction of the longitudinal extent of the bed. The invention will now be more particularly described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawing, which is a perspective view of one embodiment of a bed according to the present invention. Referring to the drawing, the bed shown therein comprises upper and lower bed portions 10 and 11, respectively. The lower bed portion 11 is fixed to the upper surface of a stand 12 which contains a power operated unit comprising mechanical hydraulic or electrical devices or any appropriate combination thereof for operating the bed. An instrument panel and control unit9foroperation ofthe bed by a therapist is mounted on the side ofthe stand. The upper bed portion 10 comprises two parts 13 and 14 pivotably connected to the lower bed portion for angular movement relative thereto about axis 15 and 16 respectively. Theupperandlowerbedportionsl0and 11, respectively, each comprise a plurality of elongate members in the form of metal tubes 17, although they need not necessarily be metal nor indeed tubes. The tubes 17 ofthe lower bed portion are juxtaposed in a single plane and the tubes 17 of the two upper bed parts 13 and 14 are arranged alternately with one another across the width ofthe bed. As shown,the lower bed portion 11 has nine tubes, the part 13 hasfivetubes andthe part 14 hasfour tubes. The two outertubes ofthe part 13 are interconnected at the upper end of the bed by a cross-member or bracket 18 whilstthe three remaining tubes ofthe part 1 3terminate short of the bracket 18 to allow a cross-member or bracket 19 connecting the free ends of the tubes ofthe part 14to pass through the part 13. A ground engageable support 20 is pivotably connected to the upper bed part 13. By adjusting the angle ofthe support 20, the angle of inclination ofthe part 13 can be altered as required. An adjustable foot rest 21 is mounted on the lower bed portion 11 and upstandstherefrom and a strap 22 is provided in the region of the lower bed portion 11 for securing a patient or person on the bed. A control 23 is provided in orderthata patient can operate the bed. The bed will be covered with normal bedding or, for example, with a sheet or cellular plastics material. Normally, the upper bed part 14will be horizontally aligned with the lower bed portion 11 for when a patient mounts or is placed on the bed. The foot rest 21 is then adjusted in orderthatthe patient's buttocks rest on the bed in the region between the two pivot axes 15and 16. Normally, the upper bed part 13 will be inclined downwards from its pivot axis but it can be adjusted by the support 20 to lie horizontally. The upper bed part 1 4can then be raised slowly, by the power operated unit, about the pivot axis 16 until the patient sits virtually upright with thighs held by strap 22 and feet firmly against foot rest 21. When sitting up, different areas of the patient's buttocks will rest againsttubes 17 and this will help to eliminate bed sores during the period oftreatment. Ifthe patient is strong enough, the part 14can be lowered and the patient then asked to lie down slowly on his own accord, thereby exercising stomach muscles. If the patient is not strong enough slow operation of the bed by moving the part 14 up and down will provide useful exercise. For stronger patients, the part 14 may be lowered through upper bed part 13. Thus the bed described herein enables a patientto excercise muscles and by virtue of different pressure points offered by the bed during operation, bed sores are minimised or eliminated. CLAIMS

2. A bed as claimed in Claim 1,wherein the other upper bed part is also pivoted to the lower bed portion and means are provided for adjusting the angle subtended between the other upper bed part and the lower bed portion.

3. A bed as claimed in Claim 2, wherein the other upper bed part is pivoted to the lower bed portion about an axis closerto the upper end ofthe bed than the pivot axis ofthe one upper bed part.

4. A bed as claimed in anyone of the preceding Claims, wherein an adjustable foot rest is mounted on the lower bed portion.

5. A bed as claimed in anyone ofthe preceding Claims, wherein a strap is provided in the region of the lower bed portion to secure a patient or person to the bed.

6. A bed as claimed in anyone ofthe preceding Claims, wherein the both the upper and lower bed portions comprise a plurality of elongate members extending in the direction ofthe longitudinal extent of the bed.

7. A bed as claimed in Claim 6, wherein the elongate members are tubes.

8. A bed substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawing.