GB2293970A

GB2293970A - Bed with article mounting rail

Info

Publication number: GB2293970A
Application number: GB9520732A
Authority: GB
Inventors: John Charles Miller
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1994-10-10
Filing date: 1995-10-10
Publication date: 1996-04-17
Also published as: GB9520732D0; GB9420396D0

Abstract

A profiled rail runs all round a bed frame for mounting accessories thereto such as a table 25, hand rail 24 or steps 23. The accessories have a corresponding profiled part (Fig 2) which slides detachably on the rail and may be secured in position by a screw knob 35. The bar may carry electric cabling. The steps disclosed have treads which graduate from horizontal at the bottom to near vertical at the top which assists a patient sitting on the bed to get their feet into and out of the bed. <IMAGE>

Description

Red System The present invention relates to a bed arrangement and particularly it relates to a bed system useful with disabled or elderly people.

It is known to have beds in Hospitals and old peoples homes to which various attachments can be fixed, such as trays, tables etc. However existing bed systems are cumbersome, specialised and expensive and are not suitable for use in a home environment. In Hospitals and other institutions existing bed arrangements are specialised and are not flex1ble, requiring the maintenance of expensive stocks to cater for possible demand.

In particular existing arrangements to assist disabled people into and out of bed are difficult to use with existing beds or are motorised.

I have now devised an improved bed system which reduces these difficulties.

According to the invention there is provided a bed system which comprises a bed which has a mounting bar attached to it above the level of the ground, which mounting bar is adapted to have attachments fixed to it by means of an fitting incorporated in the attachment which fitting is adapted to co-operate with the mounting bar.

The attachments can be fixed at any point or optionally the attachments can slide along the mounting bar.

Preferably the mounting bar runs along both sides of the bed and more preferably it runs around the bed. The mounting bar can be in the form of a plastic or metal extrusion or can be formed in other suitable material e.g. from wood.

The mounting bar preferably has a profile such that the fitting incorporated in the attachment can fit into the mounting bar to take the weight of the attachment and the attachment can then be fixed to the mounting bar in the correct position where it can be locked in place by a locking means.

Optionally the attachment can be slid along the mounting bar to the correct position when the attachments are slidably mounted on the mounting bar.

Preferably the mounting bar fits to the bed at or below the level of the top of frame ofthe bed and the bed sides taper inwards in a downward direction so that it is easy to make the bed etc. and the mounting bar does not interfere with patients getting into and out of bed or with patients being attended to.

Attachments which can be used in conjunction with the system of the present invention include cot sides, hand rails, seats, tables, tray supports, bedheads, commodes and conventional attachments to existing beds. A particular attachment is a steps arrangement which can assist patients getting into and out of bed and which can be folded out of the way and/or slid along the mounting bar when not in use.

The mounting bar can be used to carry cabling e.g. for lighting, radio, television, alarm signals etc. particularly if the mounting bar is a hollow extrusion or includes a channel for this purpose.

The invention also provides a set of steps which can be used in the present invention, the set comprise a series of steps arranged so the angle of each step in relation to the floor progressively is arranged from the lowermost step being substantially parallel to the floor to the uppermost step being more perpendicular to the floor.

Preferably the set of steps are shaped in the form of a curve so that when the set of steps are positioned adjacent to a bed they curve upwards towards the bed.

In use the set of steps are positioned adjacent to the bed and a person sits on the bed with his or her feet on the lowermost step. The person can then raise his or her feet from step to step and the feet are thus gradually brought into a position where they can be easily moved onto the bed.

It is a feature of the invention that it enables one standard bed to have a range of different attachments fixed to it according to need, thus avoiding the need for different types of beds. It also facilitates the use of very specialed attachments which might not otherwise be available.

The invention is illustrated with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Fig. 1 shows a schematic view ofthe bedstead Fig.2 shows a fitting means Figs. 3 and 4 show a schematic views of a bed ofthe invention incorporating various attachments and Fig. 5 shows a set of steps for use in the bed system.

Referring to fig.l the bedstead comprises four sides (11) which taper inwards beneath the bed. The sides are attached to corner units (12) by screws, or bolts. The telescopic legs (13) are housed in the corner units (12) and are fitted with castors (14) and also taper inwards.

There are cross stretchers (13). The mounting bar is formed from the sides (11) with a groove or lip shown in more detail in figs. (2). There is a cable channel (18) formed in the mounting bar (11) to carry cables for electricity etc. to connect electric power to equipment such as lights, radio, television etc. used by the patient.

Referring to, fig.2 the mounting bar is shown in profile as (30) and attachment (31) can fit into it by means of hook shaped portion (32) hooking into slot (33) formed in the mounting bar (30). The bed accessory (34) is attached to attachment (31). There is a screw mounted fixing knob (33) forming part of attachment (31) which can be screwed into the attachment (31). In use the hook shaped portion (32) is placed in slot (33) and the attachment positioned as shown in fig. 2b so that the end of the fixing knob is aligned with a lower slot (36) in the attachment (31).

The fixing knob is then screwed in place so that its end engages with slot (36) and holds the attachment (31) in'place as shown in fig. 2c. The weight ofthe accessory (34) is taken by means of the engagement of hook shaped portion (32) with slot (36). Referring to fig.3 the bedstead of fig. 1 has four accessories attached to it, a set of bed steps (23), a handrail (24), a table (2S) a headboard (26) and a commode (27) (fig.4). These are fitted by means of the fitting shown on fig.(2) into the mounting bar so they can be held rigidly in place when correctly positioned by tightening the fixing knobs (35).The steps (23) are a set of steps reaching from the ground nearly to the level of the mattress top, so that can the patients feet can be walked up and down these steps to help into and out of bed.

Referring to fig. 5 the set of steps comprise a series of steps (41), (42), (43) etc positioned so that the lowermost step (41) is substantially parallel to the floor. The steps progressively move nearer to the perpendicular the higher they go and the set of steps curves inwards. In use a patient can sit on the bed, place his or her feet on the lowermost step and then raise his or her feet upwardly from step to step so that when the feet are level with the top ofthe bed they naturally move onto the bed with minimal effort, this process is reversed when the patient wishes to get out ofthe bed.

Thus it can be seen that the present invention provides a bed which is flexible and easily adapted to a range of needs.

Claims

1. A bed system which comprises a bed which has a mounting bar attached to it above the level of the ground, which mounting bar is adapted to have attachments fixed to it by means of an fitting incorporated in the attachment which fitting is adapted to co-operate with the mounting bar.

2. A bed system as claimed 1 in which the mounting bar is detachable from the bed.

3. A bed system as claimed in claim 1 or 2 in which the attachments can slide along the mounting bar.

4. A bed system as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3 in which the mounting bar runs along both sides of the bed and around the bed.

5. A bed system as claimed in any on of claims 1 to 4 in which the mounting bar has a profile such that the fitting incorporated in the attachment can fit into the mounting bar to take the weight ofthe attachment and the attachment can then be fixed to the mounting bar in the correct position where it can be locked in place by a locking means.

6. A bed system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the attachment can be slid along the mounting bar to the correct position when the attachments are slidably mounted on the mounting bar.

7. A bed system as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 6 in which the mounting bar fits to the bed at or below the level of the top of frame of the bed and the bed sides and/or the bed legs taper inwards in a downward direction.

8. A bed system as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 7 in which the attachment is selected from cot sides, hand rails, seats, tables, tray supports, bedside light, call or alarm switch, electrical control panel, bedheads and commodes.

9. A bed system as claimcd in any one of claims 1 to 7 in which the attachment is a steps arrangement which can assist patients getting into and out of bed.

10. A bed system as claimed in claim 9 in which the steps arrangement can be folded out ofthe way and/or slid along the mounting bar when not in use.

11. A bed system as claimed in any one ofclaims 1 to 9 in which the mounting bar is used to carry cabling.

12. A set of steps for use with a bed system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims which comprise a series of steps arranged so the angle of each step in relation to the floor progressively is arranged from the lowermost step being substaltially parallel to the floor to the uppermost step being more perpendicular to the floor.

13. A set of steps as claimed in claim 12 in which the set of steps are shaped in the form of a curve so that when the set of steps are positioned adjacent to a bed they curve upwards towards the bed.

14. A bed system as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.