US3034152A - Hospital bed - Google Patents

Description

May 15, 1962.

Filed Nov. 20, 1958 H. H. STRYKER HOSPITAL BED 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

I BY :9

s9 ATTOPNE 5 May 15, 1962 H. H. STRYKER HOSPITAL BED 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. 20, 1958 May 15, .1962 H. H. STRYKER HOSPITAL BED 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Nov. 20, 1958 INVENTOR. Hat/[f A4 SIP/WA A 770 PNE V5 May 15, 1962 H. H. STRYKER HOSPITAL BED 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Nov. 20, 1958 ATTOPNEVS United States Patent 3,034,152 HOSPITAL BED Homer H. Stryker, Kalamazoo, Mich, assignor to ()rthopedic Frame Company, Kalamazoo, Mich, a corporation of Michigan Filed Nov. 20, 1958, Ser. No. 775,286 11 Claims. (Cl. 5-62) This invention relates in general to a hospital bed and particularly to a type thereof which can be made relatively inexpensively and yet which is capable of performing a wide variety of useful functions, including those which can be performed by existing hospital beds and many which cannot be performed by existing hospital beds.

In the past, hospital and invalid beds have been designed by adapting the basic structure of conventional beds to the special needs of patients. Thus, in order to place the patient in a variety of clinically desirable positions, it has been necessary to equip existing beds with a variety of auxiliary and special mechanisms. However, even with such added mechanisms, the existing beds are limited primarily to raising or lowering the patients head or his feet. Other functions, such as turning the patient over, removing the patient from the bed or supporting the patient in certain positions, normally have to be periormed manually or with still further and difierent auxiliary equipment.

In many instances, a patient may be capable of taking care of himself, once he is placed in a proper position to exercise such care. For example, if the patient is placed in an upright position, it is often possible for him to negotiate small steps and to walk across the floor. However, this capability of the patient is infrequently used because the average hospital or patient bed is not equipped to place the patient in the upright or erect position. Moreover, none of the existing beds, insofar as I am aware, are arranged so that the patient can adjust the bed and thereby move himself without help into the erect position.

Patient control of his own position presently requires special equipment or a special bed, both of which are expensive, complicated and not suitable for general purpose use. However, many hospital patients, and particularly the post-operative patients, experience a period during convalescence when a bed capable of placing the patient in a variety of positions other than substantially supine will speed recovery, will reduce complications, will ease pain, will facilitate treatment and/ or reduce the work of persons attending the patient. Obviously, if the patient can effect this positioning by himself, the results are in many cases appreciably improved. On the other hand, it is in other cases equally desirable that the patient be unable to change an adjustment made by the hospital personnel, and for such cases the controls should be capable of easy inactivation.

Further, in providing means for changing the patients position, especially where nursing personnel are in attendance, it should be carried out at the maximum possible speed consistent with the reasonable comfort of the patient. Still further the mechanism utilized for efiecting such changes in position, and especially changing the patient from a supine -to a prone position and vice versa, should Patented May 15, 1962 quires overbed structure and/ or special structure along the side of the bed, and which is normally relatively complex and often unavailable in a given instance.

A great many diiferent types of traction devices are now available for attachment to existing hospital beds. However, in many instances it is necessary to provide complicated, expensive and special overbed structures to support such traction devices. tures and the traction devices tend to interfere with, or reduce the effectiveness of, at least some of the other normal functions of the bed. Therefore, it is customary to move the overbed structure and/or traction devices from bed to bed as their need arises. Because of the fact that the overbed structure is normally considered-to be special or auxiliary equipment, it is not unusual for the manufacturer of a special type of traction or other treatment equipment, which employs overbed structure, to design such equipment with his own overbed structure. Thus, the problems of duplication and/or lack of versatility and universal utility of any particular overbed structure become serious.

It will become apparent from the above specific recitations of the limitations in existing hospital type bed constructions that, in order to provide a bed construction according to existing teachings which will fill all of the needs of such a bed which are presently known to exist andplace them in a single bed construction, the resultant bed structure would be so ponderous and complicated as to make its cost prohibitive, its operation extremely difiicult, its weight excessive and, therefore, its value dubious. These considerations probably contribute to the fact that no such single bed is presently known to exist.

Thus, it has long been desirable to provide a relatively simple bed construction which can be manufactured and sold at an acceptable cost and which will perform all of the functions of a conventional hospital bed as well as the many other functions above mentioned but not presently available in a standard hospital bed. Further, it has long been desirable to provide such bed construction wherein, if desirable, the patient can normally make many of the required adjustments of the bed by himself with the several obvious advantages derived therefrom, both in comfort to the patient and in relieving the amount of attention required by the patient from the hospital personnel.

Accordingly, among the objects of the invention are the following:

(1) to provide a hospital bed construction which as a single device is capable of performing all, or at least most, of the ordinary functions of conventional hospital beds having the overbed and other auxiliary equipment frequently used therewith, which bed can be manufactured and sold at a cost not materially, if at all, exceeding the present cost for conventional hospital beds together vw'th be such as to engender a feeling of security and conconsidered to be special equipment which normally rethe overbed and other normal auxiliary equipment;

(2) to provide a hospital bed, as aforesaid, which is also capable of performing a plurality of additional functions which existing conventional hospital beds are not adapted .to perform; 7

(3) to provide a hospital bed, as aforesaid, which can be readily adjusted to change the angular position of its major axis in order to place the patients head either above or below his feet, to place the patients body in a prone or supine position, and which bed can be adjusted to place said body in either a'partially flexed or fully extended position; i

(4) to provide a hospital bed, as aforesaid, wherein the change in angular position may be readily carried out by power means which is easily controlled by the patient;

(5) to provide a hospital bed, as aforesaid, wherein a first, or lower patient supporting member of the bed'can be readily combined with a second, or upper, member capable of holding the patient against said lower rnember,

Both the overbed struc- T by which thepatient can then be readily turned from a supine to a prone position, or vice versa, by rotationof often otherwise require when getting into or out of existing beds;

' (7) to provide a bed, as aforesaid, having a patient support which can be manually, quickly and easily adjusted by the patientor by attending personnel for moving the patient from a fully extended or supine position to a partially flexed or sitting position, or vice versa, without aid and without materially changing the location of 7 the center of mass of the patient,said patient support being rugged in construction and extremely easy to prepare for use or to change as required;

(8) toprovide' a bed, as aforesaid, wherein the controls may be readily inactivated, if desired, to prevent the [patient or unauthorizedpersonnel from changing them after they have been positioned by hospital personnel;

7 (9) to provide a bed, as aforesaid, which will hold the patient sufl'iciently firmly during the changes in his position so as to engender a feeling of comfort and security in the patient;

(10) to provide a bed, .as aforesaid, which will effect changes in position at a maximum speed consistent with the corn-fort of the patient;

' XIII-XIII in FIGURE 9.

(11) to provide a bed, as aforesaid, having integral carryout the various functions above set forth without detracting appreciably from a basically simple and at- .tractive design; and

-( 13) to provide a hospital bed, as aforesaid, which will FIGURE 14 is a sectional view taken along the line XIV-XIV in FIGURE 13.

FIGURE 15 is a sectional view similar to that shown in FIGURE 3 and including hoist mechanism associated with the bed construction.

FIGURE 16 is a sectional view substantially as taken along the line XIIXII in FIGURE 8 and disclosing an alternate construction for a patient support structure.

FIGURE 17 is a sectional view also substantially as taken along the line XII-XII in FIGURE 8 and showing a' further alternate construction for the patient sup port structure.

FIGURE 18 is a sectional view taken along the line XVIII-XVIII in FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 19 is a sectional view taken along the line XIXXIX in FIGURE 13. i

For convenience in description, the terms upper,

lower and words having a. similar meaning will have reference to the structure embodying the invention in its normal position of operation and as appearing in FIG- URES 1, 3 and 9. V

The terms inner, outer and derivatives thereof will have reference to the geometric center of said bed structure. The terms foot or front and head or rear, and words having similar meanings, will have reference to the left and right ends, respectively, of the patient support structure and base structure asappearing in FIG- URES 1, 2, 3 and 6.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION The objects of the invention have been met by provid ing an entirely new type of hospital bed having a pair of large, spaced and coaxial rings fastened together by suitable cross bars and a patient support structure mounted upon and between said rings so that its lengthwise axis be capable of long and extremely economical operation, I

and will require a minimum of maintenance. e Other objects and purposes of the invention will become apparent to persons acquainted with apparatus of this type upon a reading of the following disclosure and inspection of the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings: a

, FIGURE 1 is a perspectiveview of a bed construction embodying the invention. a

f FIGURE 2 is a broken sectional view taken along the line II-II in FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is a sectional view substantially as taken along the line IIIIII in FIGURE 2. 7

"FIGURE .4 is a sectional view taken along the line IV-IV in FIGURE 1, including a traction device.

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged and broken sectional view taken along the line VV in FIGURE 3.

- FIGURE 6 is a broken sectional view taken along the line VL-VI in FIGURE 3 FIGURE 7 is a fragmentary, end elevational view indicated by the cutting line VII-VII in FIGURE 3.

. :FIGURE 8 is a broken, top plan view of the patient support'structnre with the mattress and mattress support removed from the mattress frame. n

FIGURE 9 is a broken, side elevational view of said bed construction equipped with both anterior and poste-r rior support members for the patient. I I

FIGURE 10 is a sectional view taken along the line X--Xin'FIGURE 6. .1 V v FIGURE :11 .is a sectional view taken along the line XI -XI in FIGURE 6.

. 12 is a sectional view substantially as taken along the line X II XII in FIGURE 8 and showing the patient support in the sitting position. i

is disposed substantially diametrically of said rings. Said rings are supported upon a base structure by suitable rollers, at least one of which may be power driven to effect rotation of said rings and thereby effect tilting of the patient support. By placing a suitable retaining memher over a patient lying fiat on the patient support and fastening said member'fixedly with respect to the rings, a patient may be rotated endwise through approximately 180 degrees and thereby moved from a supine position on the patient support to a prone position upon said retaining member or vice versa.

The rings serve further as an integral overbed structure and may also be utilized in conjunction with the power means of the bed for lifting or transferring the patient into and out of the patient support.

The patient support in this embodiment is arranged for 'manual adjustment, by the patient if desired, from a fiat I adjustment of the patient support do not materially change or extended condition to a seat-shaped condition and vice versa. However, said patient support is so constructed that the changes in the patients position produced by the Detailed Construction The bed construction 10 (FIGURES 1 and 2), which has been selected to illustrate one embodiment of the invention,includesa bed frame 11 and abase structure 12 upon which saidbed frame 11 is supported for movement about a substantially horizontal axis. Thebed frame 11 is comprised of a pair of spaced, circular andcoaxial rings 13 and 14 which are interconnected and held rigidly with respect to each other by crossbars of which some appear at 17, 17a, 17b, 17c and 17d in FIGURE 1. Said rings and crossbars are preferably fabricated from rigid, tubular materials, such as steel or aluminum and secured together by any convenient means, such as screws, bolts or welding.

An elongated, substantially rectangular patient support 18 (FIGURES l, 2 and 8), which may also be fabricated primarily from tubular elements, is disposed between saidrings 13 and 14 and is supported at its opposite ends and substantially diametrically of said rings upon the cross bars 17a and 1712. More specifically, thepatient support 18 includes a substantially rectangular, mountingframe 19 comprised of a pair of substantiallyparallel side elements 23 and 24 and a pair of substantiallyparallel end elements 21 and 22 which extend between, and are preferably integral with, the corresponding ends of theside elements 23 and 24. The side elements have similar portions intermediate their ends which are laterally offset in the same direction (normally downwardly) from a plane defined by theend elements 21 and 22. Theend elements 21 and 22 (FIGURE 8), are provided withopenings 26 and 27, respectively, preferably midway between their respective ends, which preferably extend in a direction substantially perpendicular to said plane defined by said end elements. A pair ofparallel studs 28 and 29 (FIGURE 3) are secured to and extend in substantially the same direction from thecrossbars 17a and 17b, respectively, for reception through thestud openings 26 and 27, respectively.Nuts 32 and 33 are threadedly engageable with thestuds 23 and 29 for the purposes of securing the mountingframe 19 with respect to the cross bars 17a and17b, hence with respect to thebedframe 11. Thecentral portion 21a of theend element 21 is pivotally supported with respect to the remainder of the end element for movement around the lengthwise axis thereof, whereby thepatient support 18 can be pivoted around the axis of theend element 21.

The patient support 18 (FIGURE 8) also includes anadjustable mattress frame 34 which is substantially rectangular in shape when in its extended position. The mattress frame includes a pair of substantiallyparallel end elements 36 and 37, and a pair of parallelouter side elements 38 and 39 which are preferably integral with, and extend between the corresponding ends of, theend elements 36 and 37, respectively. Themattress frame 34 also includes a pair ofinner side elements 41 and 42, which are parallel with theouter side elements 38 and 39, respectively, and are secured at their opposite ends to theend elements 36 and 37 and act to give direct support to the patients back.

A mattress 43 (FIGURE 2) is normally supported upon themattress frame 34 in any convenient manner, such as by means of thewebbing 44 which may conveniently be secured at its ends upon theend elements 36 and 37 and theouter side elements 38 and 39 by means of the arcuate spring clips 46. Alternatively, other suitable support means may be used, such as the means shown in FIGURE 14 and hereinafter described with respect to theanterior support 147. Themattress 43 is anchored upon themattress frame 34 by means of the ties 47 (FIGURE 5) which are secured to theinner side elements 41 and 42.

Theinner side elements 41 and 42 are hinged at transversely aligned points between their corresponding ends for movement about a first axis 48 (FIGURES 8 and 12) which is preferably disposed approximately midway between theend elements 36 and 37 and is perpendicular to said side elements. Said side elements are hinged along asecond axis 49 disposed approximately between saidfirst hinge axis 48 and theend element 36, which in this particular embodiment is at the foot of themattress frame 34. Saidsecond hinge axis 49 is parallel with thefirst hinge axis 48 and preferably slightly closer thereto than to theend element 36. Accordingly, the first and second hinge axes 48 and 49 divide themattress frame 34 into aleg portion 52, aseat portion 53 and aback portion 54.

A pair of substantially L-sha ped brackets 56 and 57 (FIGURES l, 8 and 12) are rigidly secured upon theside elements 23 and24, respectively, of the mountingframe 19 near the foot end thereof so that the apexes of saidbrackets 56 and 57 are both spaced substantially equidistantly (and normally upwardly) from the concave side of the mountingframe 19 and lie substantially within a plane defined by theend elements 21 and 22. The said apexes of the L-shapedbrackets 56 and 57 are pivotally secured in this particular embodiment to theinner side elements 41 and 42 about midway between the first and second hinge axes 48 and 49, respectively. Thus, theseat portion 53 is pivoted upon said brackets for movement about an axis approximately midway between and parallel with said first and second hinge axes.

A pair of parallel pivot posts 58 and 59 (FIGURE 8) are pivotally secured at their upper ends to theinner side elements 41 and 42, respectively, at points located between thefirst hinge axis 48 andend element 37. Said posts are equidistant from and relatively close to said first hinge axis. The lower ends of said pivot posts, which are substantially identical, are pivotally mounted upon the inner sides of theside elements 23 and 24 of the mountingframe 19 between the L-shapedbrackets 56 and 57 and theend elements 22. Accordingly, thebackportion 54 of themattress frame 34 is supported upon the pivot posts 58 and 59.

.A pairof rollers 61 (FIGURE 1) and 62 (FIGURE 8) are rotatably supported'by theyokes 63 and 64, respectively, upon the foot ends of theouter side elements 38 and39. Therollers 61 and 62 are continuously engageable with theside elements 23 and 24, respectively, of the mountingframe 19 near the foot'end thereof. Thus, the foot end of theleg portion 52 of saidmattress frame 34 is supported upon the foot end of the mountingframe 19 by means of therollers 61 and 62. Movement of themattress frame 34 from'its extended and relatively flat position of FIGURE 3 into its sitting position of FIGURE 12 is effected by pivoting theseat portion 53 upon thebrackets 56 and 57 so that thesecond hinge axis 49 moves away from the mountingframe 19 and thefirst hinge axis 48 moves toward the mountingframe 19. This causes both theleg portion 52 and backportion 54 ofmattress frame 34 to move toward the center of thepatient support 18.

A rod 66 (FIGURES 1 and 8) extends perpendicularly between theside elements 23 and 24 of the mountingframe 19, preferably along the pivot axis of the pivot posts 58 and 59 upon said mounting frame. A lockingarm 67 is pivotally supported at one end upon theback portion 54 of themattress frame 34 between the side elements, 41 and 42, and adjacent to thefirst hinge axis 48. Thearm 67 has a plurality ofnotches 68 along one edge into which therod 66 is receivable. for preventing relative movement between themattress frame 34 and themountmg frame 19. Resilient means, such as thespiral spring 69, is secured at its opposite ends to the lockingarm 67 and the mounting frame 19 (FIGURE 1) for the purpose of urging the lockingarm 67 continuously into engagement with the rod 6-6. A U-shaped'handle bar 71 is secured to the upper end of the lockingarm 67 so that thearms 72 and '73 extend upwardly alongside themattress frame 34 when the lockingarm 67 is in engagement with therod 66. The upper ends of thearms 72 and 73 are positioned so that they can be manually engaged by a patient reclining in a supine position upon themattress 43 for the purpose of pivoting the lockingarm 67 away from engagement with therod 66 to adjust the position of themattress frame 34.

Thecrossbars 17c and 17d (FIGURE 1), which are secured between therings 13 and 14, are located near to but spaced from thecrossbars 17a and 17b, respectively. Afoot rest 74 is mounted by means of the clamps 76 (FIGURE 1) upon thecrossbar 17a so that said foot rest extends upwardly past the inner side of thecrossbar 17c .and preferably lies entirely within a cylinder defined by therings 13 and 14.

1 T e c ssba s 'a d e b s s r ctu 1 a r e so that, when thepatient support 18 is in a substantially vertical position (FIGURE 15), there is no interference from these members to the free movement of a patient between therings 13 and 14 into and out of a position adjacent to themattress 43. Thefoot rest 74 is disposed very close to the floor ,83 when saidsupport 18 is in its sol d e po nof GURE an e e as a mp- 77 and the mountingframe 19 occurs adjacent to the pivot posts 58 and 59, which extend slightly below the side elements of the mounting frame to limit the move: ment of thebrace member 77 along s id mounting frame.

As shown in FIGURE 9, thebrace member 77 can be pivoted into a position where'theupper side element 79 thereof can be received over the headend of'the frame 19; whereby thepatient support 18 is held in a nona' operative position for reaso s appearing hereinafter.Pins 81 are secured to, and extend upwardly fromthe'side elements 23 and 24 of theframe 19. near the head end thereof for engagement by the upper element 79' when said frame is being held in the non-operative position.

The base structure 12 (FIGURES 1 and 6), is generally U-shaped and comprised of a pair of spaced, substantially parallel side beams 86 and 87, which are preferably metallic and tubular in this embodiment. Atubular cross beam 88 is secured to and extends between said side beams 86 and 87 near the rear ends of each, which are the head end of the bed structure in this embodiment. Said base structure also includes four swiveled andcastered wheels 89 which are mounted upon and extend downwardly from the side beams 86 and 87. A pair ofplates 91 and 92 are supported upon the front ends of the side beams 86 and 87 so that they lie substantially within the same horizontal plane and so that they extend slightly beyond the ends of the respective side beams. The front'casters are preferablysupported upon theplates 91 and 92. i

A ofrollers 93 and 94 (FIGURE 6) ,are rotatably supported upon theplate 91 for the purpose of engaging and partially supporting thering 13. A pair of similar s A pair of stop pins 108 and 109 are mounted upon androllers 96 and 97 are rotatably supported upon the plate 7 92 for the purpose of partially supporting thering 14. A shaft 98 (FIGURE 4) is rotatably supported upon and between thebearings 99 and 100 (FIGURE 4) which are supported upon the lower sides of the side beams 86 and 87, respectively, adjacent to the cross beam 88 (FIGURE 6). A pair of relativelylarge rollers 103 and 104 are mounted upon and rotatable with theshaft 98 adjacent to the side beams 86 and 87, respectively, for

engaging and partiallyfsupporting therings 13 and 14, respectively. Acc0rdingly,therings 13 and 14 are rotatably engaged by andsupported upon therollers 93, 94, 96, 97, 103 and 104 for rotation of thebed frame 11 about the common axis of therings Band 14. Said rollers are all preferably disposed within the zone defined by thecastered wheels 89. Thebed frame 11 is rotated by the large rollers103 and 104, which, for this reason,

are preferably provided with nod-skid material such as relatively soft rubber, on their peripheral surfaces. Other types of more or less positive engaging means may, if

desired, be provided between saidrollers 103 and 104 and therings 13 and 14, respectively.

1A pair of spaced, substantially Z-shapecl positioning members 106 and 107 (FIGURES l and 6) are mounted the head end of thepatient support 18. Thepositioning members 106 and 107 are arranged on saidbeam 86 so that theirflanges 111 and 112 are engageable by the stop pins 108 and 109, respectively, thereby limiting the rotational movement of thebed frame 11 to approximately 270", in this particular embodiment. 1

As show with respect to thepositioning member 107 in FIGURE 10, a hold-downroller 113 is rotatably supported upon the inner side of saidmember 107 for the purpose of engaging the inner surface of thering 13 and holding it firmly against and continuously in engagement with thelarge roller 103. A thrust roller 114'is rotatably supported upon thepositioning member 107 for engaging the outer axial side of thering 13 and thereby limiting the axial movement of said ring toward theside beam 86. Rollers similar to the hold-downroller 113 and thrustroller 114 are mounted upon the posi? tioningmember 106 for positioning thering 13 with re- 1 and 6) which may be and preferably are mirror images of the positioning members 106 'and'107, are mounted upon theside beam 87 for the purpose of positioning thering 14 with respect to therollers 96, 97 and 104, and saidside beam 87.

While the rollers thus far described for the purpose of supporting and positioning therings 13 and 14 are sufficient to provide a satisfactorily operative device, still further guide and/ or supporting rollers may be supplied as desired. For example, theguide rollers 101 and 102 (FIGURE 18) are rotatably mounted in this embodiment upon the cover sheet 136 (FIGURE 1) for and holding thering 13 accurately within the groove of the drivingroller 103. A similar set of guide rollers may perform the same function with respect to thisring 14.

Theshaft 98 has a gear 121 (FIGURE 11) mounted thereon and engageable by aworm 122, both of which are disposed thehousing 123. Thehousing 123 is held against rotation around and with respect to theshaft 98 by means of thebracket 124 which is secured to and between saidhousing 123 and the cross beam 88 (FIGURE 11). Theworm shaft 125 extends through the side ofthehousing 123 where it supports and is se-. cured to apulley 126. V

A pair ofmotor support brackets 127 and 128 (FIG- URE 6 are mounted uponthecross beam 88 and extend rearwardly therefrom for the purpose of supporting the,motor 129 in an inverted position so that themotor shaft 132 extends forwardly beneath saidcross beam 88. A pulley 133is mounted upon themotor shaft 132 so that it is substantially radially aligned with theworm pulley 126. Abelt 134 drivingly connects themotor pulley 133 with theworm pulley 126. It will be apparent that thepulleys 126 and 133 and thebelt 134 may be replaced by a pair of sprockets and a chain or some other type of driving connection.

A cover-sheet 136 (FIGURE 1) is supported upon and between the side beams 86 and 87 so that it extends from a line located forwardly of theshaft 98 over thecross beam 88 and themotor 129 to the rearward ends of the side beams 86 and 87. Themotor 129 is electrically connectible to a source of electrical energy, not shown, by

9 129, hence thebed frame 11, and an off-onswitch 144 for energizing saidmotor 129 and thereby efiecting rotation of saidbed frame 11. Themotor 122 is, therefore, preferably of the relatively slow speed type capable of reversible operation. Separate motors may, of course, be used if preferred.

Under normal circumstances, thepatient support 18 serves as a posterior support upon which the patient is placed in the supine or sitting position. A retaining member 147 (FIGURES 9 and 13) provides an anterior support for said patient when in the prone or partially erect position. Said retainingmember 147 has a substantially rectangular andelongated frame 148 which is preferably fabricated from tubular steel and is of about the same length and width as the mountingframe 19. Saidframe 148 includes apair of substantiallyparallel end elements 149 and 151 which are supported, respectively, upon thecrossbars 17c and 17d (FIGURE 1) in a manner similar to that set forth above With respect to the mountingframe 19 and thecrossbars 17a and 17b.Studs 152 and 153, which are engageable bynuts 154 and 156, respectively, are provided on thecrossbars 17c and 17d for the purpose of securing saidframe 148 with respect to thebed frame 11.

The frame 148 (FIGURES 9 and 13) includes a pair of side elements 157- and 158 which are preferably integral with, and extend between the corresponding ends of, theend elements 149 and 151. Brace bars 159 (FIG- URE 9) may be provided between and secured to saidside elements 157 and 158 for strengthening purposes. A pad supporting sheet 161 (FIGURE 14), which is preferably fabricated from a resiliently flexible material is stretched between and around the central portions of theside elements 157 and 158 and held under tension byelastic bands 162 which extend between and are secured to the lateral edges of thesheet 161. Apad 163 is sup ported upon thesheet 161 and held thereon by means of acover sheet 164 which is secured by means ofties 166 along its lateral edges to thebands 162. It will be understood that other types of pads and pad supports may be provided as desired. For example, the mattress support structure of FIGURE 2 may be used. Moreover, it will be recognized that thepad support sheet 161 in combination with theelastic bands 162 may be used upon themattress frame 34 for the purpose of supporting themattress 43 with only minor modifications to allow for passing theties 47 through the support sheet.

Ahead rest 167 is mounted upon theside elements 157 and 158, in substantially the same manner as set forth above with respect to thebody support 168 and is spaced from thebody support 168. A foot board orplate 168 is adjustably mounted upon and between theside elements 157 and 158 adjacent to the foot of thebody support 169. Accordingly, the patient shown in broken lines at 169 in FIGURE 9 can be supported upon thefoot plate 168,body support 160 andhead rest 167 in a prone or partially tilted position so that he is able to look through the space between thehead rest 167 and thebody support 160.

Thefoot board 168 is disclosed herein as adjustable and consists of a flat, substantially rectangular member 231 (FIGURE 19) havingnotchm 232 and 233 in adjacent corners thereof. A pair ofparallel pins 234 and 235 are mounted upon saidmember 231 in any convenient manner so that they extend along one side each of saidnotches 232 and 233, respectively. One desirable arrangement for securing said pins to saidmember 231 includes the provision of further notches 236 and 2-37 in opposite edges of themember 231 adjacent to thenotches 232 and 233, respectively. Thepins 234 and 235 are tightly held within saidnotches 236 and 237 bystraps 238 and 238a which overlay said pins and are fastened to themember 231 in any convenient manner, such as by therivets 239.

A plurality ofopenings 241 and 242 (FIGURE 13) are provided within the tubular side of elements'157 and 158, respectively, for reception of thepins 234 and 235 whereby the adjustable foot board may be placed in a variety of positions as desired. A pair ofdetents 243 and 244 are mounted upon themember 231 so that they extend into thenotches 232 and 233, respectively. Said detents are arranged to engage theside elements 157 and 158 and releasibly hold thefoot board 168 in engagement therewith; Means, such as thespring 246 shown with thedetent 243, resiliently urge the detents into their extended positions.

By adding the suspension device 172 (FIGURE 15) to thebed frame 11, thebed construction 10 may be used for lifting or transferring a patient into or out of a position upon or adjacent to themattress 43. Thesuspension device 172 comprises a sling 173 suspended from acrossbar 174 which is pivotally and removably supported at its opposite ends upon adjacent portions of therings 13 and 14. The sling 173 includes a pair of elongated support elements, one of which is shown -at176 in FIG URE 15, which are secured at one end of, each to thecrossbar 174. In thisembodimennsaid support element 176 is shown as a chain. The lower ends of each support element are removably engageable by means, such as the stiffeningrod 178, which is secured to each end of asling seat 177, said sling seat maybe an elongated sheet of relatively stiff material,,such as canvas, which is flexible and durable. Thesuspension device 172 is arranged so that when the patient support is in its FIGURE 1 position, thesling seat 177 will be resting upon themattress 43; Thus, when thepatient support 18 is in its solid line position of FIGURE 15, thesling seat 177 will be adjacent to means, such as the seat of awheel chair 179, from which or onto which the patient may be moved. Thesling seat 177 can be removed from its support elements and placed under the patient, often by himself, either while said patient is on the wheel chair or on themattress 43, after which it is connected to said support elements. Thesuspension device 172 andmattress 43 are moved respectively through their broken line positions 172a and 43a in FIG- URE 15 during the transfer operation.

The bed frame 11 (FIGURES 3, 4 and 7) can be utilized for supporting various types of traction apparatus. In FIGURES 3 and 7, ahead sling 182 is secured to one end of an elongatedflexible element 183, such as a rope, the other end of which is secured to aweight 184.

Apulley 191 is supported upon thecrossbar 17d so that it hangs downwardly therefiom when the patient support is in the substantially horizontal position. Therope 183 may be of such length that the patient can control the period of traction by operating theswitch 141 so that theweight 184 is either suspended above oris supported upon, thefloor 83. Where greater flexibility of movement is desired for thebed frame 11 while the patient is in traction, the apparatus shown in FIGURE 4 may .be used.

Afirst pulley 186 is supported upon thecrossbar 17d for rotation about an axis substantially perpendicular to the plane defined by thecrossbars 17c and 17a. Arod 187 is also supported upon saidcrossbar 17d by means including thestud 153 andnut 156 so that it is substan tially parallel with thecrossbar 17d and extends substantially beyond one end thereof. Asecond pulley 188 is supported upon the outer end of therod 187 by means of abracket 18? for rotation about an axis transverse of the lengthwise axis of therod 187. Thebracket 189 is preferably arranged so that it permits limited pivotal movement of thepulley 188 around the axis of therod 187. The rope 183a is threaded around thepulleys 186 and 188 so that the weight 184a is suspended below thesecond pulley 188. It will be apparent that by placing thesecond pulley 188 sidewardly of thebed frame 11, said bed frame can be rotated about its axis without materially, if at all, changing the traction tension on the head sling 182 (FIGURE 3). Accordingly, the position of the patient can be changed materially for comfort in a predetermined position with respect to thepatient support 18, particularly whensame is in a position of extreme tilting, such as that indicated in FIGURES 9 or 15. In such case, a shorter mattress'43 would be used in order to insert the adjustable foot board between the mattress and the end element 37 (FIGURE 8) and also to expose theside elements 41 and 42 for engagement by said adjustable foot board.

7 Operation The castered and swiveled wheels 89 (FIGURE 1) perhit easy movement of thebed construction 10 around and upon a supporting surface such as afloor 83, by manual asses m n o he b d me 11. Rotational mo rnent of thebed frame 11 with respect to the base strucs ture 12 is also easily effected by operation of thecontrol switch 141. The contour of themattress 43 can be changed by the patientwhile supported upon thematt ess 43 by pus in one--' f t s '72d 73 t w r th oot o e s ppoufr mc, w reby e a '7 s sen age r m t e rod 6- J By proper operation of theswitch 141, thebed frame 11 can be moved about its axisiso that the lengthwise extent of themattress 43 is disposed at any desired angle with respect to thefloor 83, Accordingly, it is possible for; a partial invalid reclining upon themattress 43 to pivot said mattress into the substantially vertical position (FIG- brake to positively prevent movement of therings 13 and 14 about their common axis, except when so driven by themotor 129.

. When the patient desires to return to a recliningposition upon themattress 43, said patient steps upon thefootrest 74 and leans, back against saidmattress 43 after which thecontrol switch 141 maybe operated by the patient so that themattress 43 is pivoted back through the broken line position shown at 43a in FIGURE 15 and then into the substantially. horizontal position shown in FIGURE 1. Thus, the patient or partial invalid who is able to walk slightly, but is unable to, bend without pain or aid, can get into and out of thebed construction 10 without I assistance and without exerting nearly the effort required to, getfinto or'out of a conventional bed, particularly of the hospital type, when it is disposed in a substantially 1 conventional position, as appearing in FIGURE 1.

The retaining;member 147 permits quick and easy movement of the patient from'the supine position upon themattress 43 to a. prone position upon the retainingmember 147 or any intermediate position such as that shownin FIGURE 9, simply by rotating thebed frame 11 about its axis. The position and arrangement of thebed frame 11 in FIGURE 9 permits the patient. with-a hip and neck cast or a neck traction to watch a conventional television set, a moving picture or the like. The weight 1 84 used in traction can swing freely as thebed frame 11 rotates, Without changing the traction tension.

The portions of'the rings 13 and 14 above thepatient support 18 provide overbed structure to support an oxygen tent, pr-ivacy shields, traction equipment, transfusion and intravenous feeding apparatus, toys for children, exercising equipment and the like. The patient can control intermittent traction without any aid by moving the bed frame into and out of a position where theweight 184 or 1844 issupported upon the floor. Themotor 129 7 12 can also be connected to means for effecting automatic oscillation of the bed frame in order to aid breathing, for example;

Thesuspension device 172 can be mounted upon thebed frame 11 so that it can be used to move a convalescing patient or invalid between themattress 43 and another supporting device, such as thewheel chair 179. In so doing, theseat 177 of the sling 173 is placed beneath said patient while reclining upon themattress 43 or seated upon the wheel chair. This can be accomplished in many cases by the patient without help. Theseat 177 is then connected to thesupport elements 176 of the sling 173 and thecontrol switch 141 is operated so that the patient is, for example, moved from themattress 43 into a position upon thewheel chair 179. Movement from the wheel chair to the bed proceeds similarly in reverse. Thus, thesuspension device 172 and thebed frame 11 can be used by an otherwise dependent patient or invalid to move himself between a bed and a Wheel chair either with no aid or with much less help than is presently required with conventional types of beds. It will be seen that this greatly reduces the amount of attention which must be given to convalescent patients or invalids and, by giving greater mobility to such patients, provides a therapeutic effect.

If it is desired to locate the patient relatively close to the floor, thebrace member 77 may be rotated out of its FIGURE 1 position and thepatient support 18 may be then rotated about theend element 21 and brought to rest against thecrossbar 78, therings 13 and 14 being rotated so that the patient support will be at whatever angle to the horizontal as is desired.

In certain instances it will be desirable to limit the rotation of the apparatus so that the patient will be unable to rotate himself beyond a predetermined point. This may be readily accomplished by securing any kind of temporary stop device at any desired position on eitheror both of therings 13 and 14. For example, it may be undesirable for the patient to rotate himself forwardly beyond the position shown by the broken lines at 43a in FIGURE 15; In such case, an ordinary C-clamp can be secured to either or both of therings 13 and 14 in such position that they will engage theroller 93 and/or theroller 96 at the point where rotation of the rings '13 and 14 is to be limited. 1

Alternate SII'LZCZMIES While one particular preferred embodiment of the posterior orpatient support 18 has been above described and illustrated in detail, it will be recognized that a variety of other posterior supports may be utilized Within the scope of the invention, such supports being designable particularrly to accomplish a variety of different purposes. For example, some posterior supports may be designed primarily to move the leg portion of a patient while others are designed to move the back portion, or to provide a combination of both movements. All such designs will, however, preferably be of such nature that the adjustment thereof does not materially shift the patients center of gravity with respect to the common axes of therings 13 and 14. Thus, although some unbalance will be normal, the operation of the apparatus of the invention will be facilitated by maintaining the patients center of gravity as close as possible to the said axes of said rings. Further, in such modified posterior. support designs, said shifting will move the patients body around the center of gravity substantially coincident with a pivot point on the posterior support. In this way the adjustment of the patients position with respect to the posterior support can be. carried out easily, often by the patient himself and at least with a minimum of external assistance. The following described modified posterior supports are illustrative of some of these possibilities.

Thepatient support 196 of FIGURE 16 may be generallysimilar to thepatient support 18 of FIGURE 12.

The major difference resides in the fact that the locations of the L-shaped brackets, one of which is indicated at 197, and the pivot posts, one of which is shown at 198, are reversed from their positions as appearing in thepatient support 18. That is, the back portion 199 of the mattress frame 2 11 is mounted upon the L-shapedbracket 197 and the seat portion 292 of said mattress frame is mounted upon thepivot post 198. The operation and adjustment of thepatient support 196 is substantially the same as set forth hereinabove with respect to thepatient support 18. However, when themattress frame 201 is moved from the extended position to the sittingposition 201a, theleg portion 203 of the frame 2M moves toward the center of the support 196' more than does theleg portion 52 of theframe 34 under similar circumstances. The back portion 199, on the other hand, moves less toward the center than does theback portion 54 under the same conditions.

The patient support 296 (FIGURE 17) includes a mounting frame 297 andmattress support frame 208 which may be identical to the mountingframe 19 and themattress frame 34, respectively, in thepatient support 18. The back portion 269 of themattress frame 208 is pivotally supported upon the upper ends of pivot posts, one of which is shown at 211, in substantially the same manner as set forth hereinabove with respect to the pivot posts 58 and 59 of thepatient support 18. The leg portion 212 of themattress frame 203 is rigidly secured to the mounting frame 269 by support bars, two of which are shown at 213 and 214. Accordingly, adjustment of the mattress frame 298 into the sitting position, as indicated in broken lines at 208a, results in a substantial movement of theback portion 209 toward the center of the patient support 206 while the leg portion 212 of the mattress frame remains in its original position.

Accordingly, it will be seen that in thepatient support 18, both the back and leg portions of theframe 34 tend to move about the same amount toward the center of the patient support, whereas the patient supports 1% and 266 tend to emphasize the movement of the leg and back portions, respectively, toward the center of their respective structures. However, none of this movement is sufficient to displace the patients center of gravity materially with respect to the common axes of therings 13 and 14,

and hence the basic organization of the apparatus is maintained.

Although the patient supports 18, 196 and 296 have been described in detail for illustrative purposes, it will be recognized that other forms of patient support structures, either with or without the type of adjustment shown herein, may be utilized in conjunction with thebed frame 11 for the purpose of carrying out at least a sub stantial number of the objects of the invention. A

One or more side rails, such as that shown at 216 in FIGURE 17, may be removably supported upon the ends of asupport member 217, which may be included in any one of the forms of patient support discussed above.

Although a particular preferred embodiment of the invention has been disclosed in detail above for illustrative purposes, it will be understood that variations or modifications of such disclosure, which lie within the scope of the appended claims, are fully contemplated.

What is claimed is:

1. A hospital bed for supporting a patient for movement around a substantially horizontal axis extending transverse to the lengthwise extent of his body, comprising: a base and wheels supporting same; a pair of coaxial, circular rings supported on said base for rotation about a substantially horizontal axis; a plurality of connecting elements extending between and rigidly connecting said rings, two adjacent connecting elements being sufficiently spaced from each other to define an unobstructed zone between said rings so that a patient in a substantially erect position can be moved between said rings through said zone; a jointed mattress support including a frame located between and extending substantially across said rings and means releasably securing the respective ends of said frame to selected ones of said connecting elements for holding said frame in one position substantially diametrical of said rings, said frame being pivotally movable around one end thereof into another position; a mattress mounted on said mattress support and having a patient receiving surface facing said zone; adjustable linkage means on said mattress support for holding said mattress in selected positions so that the contour of the mattress may be adjusted; holding means mounted on said rings and releasably engageable with said mattress support near the other end of said frame for holding said frame in said other position when said other end thereof is detached from its associated connecting element.

2. A hospital bed according to claim 1 in which a locking device is mounted on said linkage and extends therefrom toward said frame and including means on said frame for engaging said locking device in a plurality of.

selectable positions so that the linkage can be held in a plurality of arrangements with respect to said frame; and manually operable means for moving said locking device between said positions.

3. A hospital bed according to claim 1 wherein said holding means includes a pivotally mounted brace memher having a pair of legs extending parallel with the planes defined by said rings and a central portion extending transverse to said planes, said central portion in one position of said brace member extending into engagement with the underside of said frame to support same, said central portion in another position thereof being received over an end of said frame to hold said frame in said other position.

4. A hospital bed for supporting a patient for movement around a substantially horizontal axis extending transversely of the lengthwise extent of the patient, comprising: a base structure and wheels supporting same; a pair of coaxial, circular rings supported upon said base structure for rotation around a substantially horizontal axis; a plurality of connecting elements extending between and rigidly connecting said rings, two adjacent connecting elements being spaced from each other to define an unobstructed zone between said rings through which a patient can be moved in "a direction substantially perpendicular to the lengthwise extent of said patient; a support frame located between and extending across said rings, and means for releasably securing the ends of said frame to selected ones of said connecting elements for holding said support frame in a first position substantially diametrical of said rings, said support frame being pivotable around a connecting element near one end thereof into a second position'spaced from said first position; holding means mounted upon and between said rings and releasably engageable with said support frame near the other end thereof for holding same in said second position; an elongated, jointed mattress frame extending lengthwise of said support frame and having three sections hingedly connected together for movement around a pair of spaced, hinged axes parallel with said axis of rotation; support members connecting said mattress frame to said support frame whereby said sections of said mattress frame can be relatively moved into a plurality of positions with respect to each other, two adjacent sections of said mattress frame being simultaneously movable with respect to said support frame; and lock means for posi tively holding said mattress frame in said positions.

5. The structure of claim 4 wherein one of said hinge axes is approximately midway between the ends of the mattress frame and the other hinge axis is approximately midway between the one hinge axis and one end of the mattress frame; and wherein said support members include first support elements rigidly securing with respect to the support frame the section of said mattress frame adjacent to said one end thereof, and second support elements pivotally secured near their opposite ends upon and V tress -frarne'adjacent to the other end thereof.

6. The structure of claim 4 wherein one of said hinge axes is approximately midway between the ends of the mattress frame and the other hinge axis is approximately midway between the one hinge axis and one end of the mattress frame; wherein said support members include first support elements rigidly 'secured to said support frame and pivotally engaging the middle section of said mattress frame approximately midway between said hinge axes for movement about a pivot axis parallel with said hinge axes, and second support elements pivotally secured near their opposite ends upon and between the support frame and the section of said mattress frame adjacent to the other end thereof; and including means for movably supporting said one end of said mattress frame with respect to said support frame.

7. The structure'of claim 4 wherein one of said hinge axes is approximately midway between the ends of the mattress frame and the other hinge axis is approximately midway between the one hinge axis and one end of the mattress frameywherein said support members include first support elements rigidly secured to said support frame and pivotally engaging that section of said mattress frame between the other end thereof and said one hinge axis, and second support elements pivotally secured near one end thereof upon said support frame and pivotally secured near the other end thereof to said mattress frame subs stantially at said other hinge axis, the pivot axes of said second elements being substantially parallel with said other hinge axis; and means movably supporting said 7 one end of said mattress frame with respect to said support frame.

' 8. A hospital bed according to claim 4 wherein one of bers include first and second support elements, said first.

support elements being rigidly secured to said support frame and pivotally engaging said mattress frame between the other end thereof and said one hinge axis for movement of said mattress frame around an axis parallel with said one hinge axis, said second support elements being pivotallysecured near one end thereof upon said support frame and pivotally secured near the other end thereof to said mattress frame between, said hinge axes, the pivot axes of said second support elements being subs stantiallyparallel With said hinge axes; and means movably supporting said mattress frame adjacent said one end thereof upon said support frame. g

9. A hospital bed for supporting a patient for movement around a substantially horizontal axis extending 16 a transversely of the lengthwise extent of said patient, comprising: a pair of spaced, coaxial rings having substantially the same diameter, and a plurality of connecting elements secured to and extending between said rings; an elongated patient support having a patient engaging surface, and means for supporting said patient support between andsubstantially diametrically across said rings, the space between said rings substantially opposite the entire patient engaging surface being unobstructed; a base frame including a pair of substantially parallel, elongated side members and cross members secured to and extending between said side members near 'one end thereof; a plurality of ground engaging wheels secured to and projecting downwardly from said base frame; a plurality of circular elements rotatably supported upon and between said side members for rotatably engaging and supporting said rings for rotation around a substantially horizontal axis; drive means on said base frame connected to said rings for effecting rotation thereof; and holding means secured to said side members and extending at least partially through said rings for engaging same and thereby obstructing movement of said rings away from said circular elements in a direction substantially radially of said rings.

10, The structure of claim'9 wherein said base frame is U-shaped so that the space between the other ends of said side members is unobstructed; and including remotely controllable, manually operable means connected to said drive means for operation thereof by a patient disposed on said patient engaging surface.

11. A hospital bed according to claim 9 including a relatively large roller drivingly engaging each of said rings; an electric motor mounted on said base frame and connected for simultaneously rotating said rollers at the same speed; and a manually operable switch for energizing said motor.

ReferencesCited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

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