Hospital beds

Claim 2

A hospital bed comprising: a generally rectangular base frame having a head end and a foot end and including floor-engaging support means; an intermediate frame assembly above said base frame; a scissors link mechanism interconnecting said base frame with said intermediate frame assembly, said scissors link mechanism including first and second pairs of scissors links on opposite sides of said bed and extending longitudinally thereof, said links of each pair being adapted to move said intermediate frame assembly between a raised position and a lowered position wherein said intermediate frame assembly rests on said base frame, thereby to prevent a complete closing of said scissors links; elevation adjustment mechanism for said scissors links comprising a subframe pivotally connected to said bed for rotation about an axis transverse of the direction of elongation of said bed, said axis of rotation being below the connection of said scissors links to said base frame and said subframe being inclined when said intermediate frame is in a lowered position, the upper ends of said subframe engaging corresponding links of said pairs of scissors links when said subframe is rotated to open said scissors links and thereby raise said intermediate frame; and power-operated means pivotally connected to said subframe at a location above its axis of rotation for selectively rotating said subframe to raise and lower said intermediate frame assembly to a selected elevation.

Claim 3

The structure of claim 1 wherein said power-operated means comprises an electric motor carried by one of said frames, an elongated threaded screw rotatably mounted to corresponding ones of said pairs of scissors links, means interconnecting said screw with said electric motor, a yoke threadedly received on said screw for moving therealong when said screw is turned by said motor, and link means interconnecting said yoke with said subframe at said location above its axis of rotation, whereby as said screw is turned by said motor, said yoke is moved therealong in determining the angle of inclination of said subframe and the upper edge of said subframe rollably engages the lower surfaces of corresponding ones of said pairs of scissors links to selectively raise and lower the same in determining the elevation of said intermediate frame.

Claim 4

The structure of claim 2 wherein said subframe is pivotally connected at its lower end to corresponding ones of said pairs of scissors links and wherein said means interconnecting said yoke with said subframe includes a link pivotally connected to said subframe and adapted to fold with said subframe as said bed is lowered, said subframe being located between said side pairs of scissors links, whereby said bed may be lowered while maintaining leverage for raising the same.

Claim 5

The structure of claim 1 further comprising a mattress support frame mounted on said intermediate frame assembly and comprising a plurality of articulated panels including a seat panel pivotally mounted at its foot end to said intermediate frAme and a head panel pivotally mounted adjacent its foot end to said intermediate frame and including a foot-end extension beyond said pivotal connection to said intermediate frame, the head end of said seat panel being pivotally connected to said extension; and power-actuated means for raising said head panel about its pivotal connection with said intermediate frame thereby to lower the head end of said seat panel relative to its pivotal connection with said intermediate frame.

Claim 6

The structure of claim 4 wherein said mattress support panel further comprises an upper leg panel pivotally connected to said intermediate frame at the location at which said foot end of said seat panel is connected thereto; and a lower leg panel having its head end pivotally connected to the foot end of said upper leg panel.

Claim 7

The structure of claim 5 further comprising drive means including lever means for raising the foot end of said upper leg panel, support means mounted on said mattress frame and supporting said lower leg panel; and selective latch mechanism movable between the first position and the second position, said latch mechanism, when in said first position selectively engaging said support means for said lower leg panel to maintain said lower leg panel in a generally horizontal disposition when said upper leg panel is raised and when in said second position, permitting the foot end of said lower leg panel to remain lowered as the head end of said lower leg panel is raised, thereby to cause a bend in the knees of a patient resting on said bed.

Claim 8

In a hospital bed, the combination comprising rectangular base frame supported on a floor, an intermediate frame mounted to said base frame for adjustable elevation relative thereto, articulated mattress frame means supported on said intermediate frame including an upper leg panel adapted for rotation about a first horizontal axis transverse of said bed, said horizontal axis being at the head end of said upper leg panel, and a lower leg panel having its head end pivotally connected to the foot end of said upper leg panel; drive means for rotating the upper leg panel about said first transverse axis to raise the same; support means pivotally mounted to said mattress frame for supporting said lower leg panel; a shaft defining a second transverse axis and driven by said drive means when said upper leg panel is raised and lowered, said second transverse axis being located adjacent the pivotal connection of said support means to said mattress frame and including a cam movable therewith; a key member on said support means including a bearing surface, said key member being movable between a first position wherein its bearing surface engages said cam, whereby said support means is rotated when said shaft is driven to raise said lower leg panel in a horizontal disposition, said key means being selectively movable to a second position of disengagement from said cam, whereby said support means is not rotated when said shaft is driven and the foot end of said lower leg panel remains in a lowered position.

Claim 9

In a hospital bed, the combination comprising rectangular base frame supported on a floor, an intermediate frame mounted to said base frame for adjustable elevation relative thereto, articulated mattress frame means supported on said intermediate frame including an upper leg panel adapted for rotation about a first horizontal axis transverse of said bed, said horizontal axis being at the head end of said upper leg panel, and a lower leg panel having its head end pivotally connected to the foot end of said upper leg panel; drive means for rotating the upper leg panel about said first transverse axis to raise the same; support means pivotally mounted to said mattress frame for supporting said lower leg panel; a shaft defining a second transverse axis and driven by said drive means when said upper leg panel is raised and lowered, said second transverse axis being located adjacent the pivotal connection of said support means to said mattress frame and including a cam movable therewith; a key member on said support means including a bearing surface, said key member being movable between a first position wherein its bearing surface engages said cam, whereby said support means is rotated when said shaft is driven to raise said lower leg panel in a horizontal disposition, said key means being selectively movable to a second position of disengagement from said cam, whereby said support means is not rotated when said shaft is driven and the foot end of said lower leg panel remains in a lowered position.

Claim 10

The structure of claim 7 further comprising a crank mounted to said bed and movable between a first and a second position, said crank including a dog adapted to engage said key member of said support means for said lower leg panel to move the same selectively between said first and second positions.

Claim 11

In a hospital bed, the combination of a base frame including floor-engaging support means, an intermediate frame above said base frame, power-driven link means interconnecting said base frame with said intermediate frame for selectively elevating said intermediate frame above said base frame; a telescoping mattress support frame having a fixed member carried by said intermediate frame and located to the side thereof and a movable member telescopically received on said fixed member; crank mechanism for lifting said fixed member of said telescoping mattress support frame above said intermediate frame along a transverse line intermediate the heaD and foot ends of said bed; and latching means for selectively locking one end of the fixed member of said telescoping frame to a corresponding end of said intermediate frame, whereby as said crank mechanism is extended, said telescoping frame will tilt about the locked end thereof relative to said intermediate frame.

Claim 12

In a hospital bed, the combination of a base frame including floor-engaging support means, an intermediate frame above said base frame, power-driven link means interconnecting said base frame with said intermediate frame for selectively elevating said intermediate frame above said base frame; a telescoping mattress support frame having a fixed member carried by said intermediate frame and located to the side thereof and a movable member telescopically received on said fixed member; crank mechanism for lifting said fixed member of said telescoping mattress support frame above said intermediate frame along a transverse line intermediate the heaD and foot ends of said bed; and latching means for selectively locking one end of the fixed member of said telescoping frame to a corresponding end of said intermediate frame, whereby as said crank mechanism is extended, said telescoping frame will tilt about the locked end thereof relative to said intermediate frame.

Claim 13

In a hospital bed having an articulated mattress frame and support means therefor, said mattress frame including a head panel, a seat panel, and upper and lower leg panels, the improvement comprising: means for pivotally mounting said head panel adjacent its foot end to said support means for pivotal movement between a generally horizontal lowered position and an upwardly inclined raised position, said head panel defining a footward extension beyond said pivotal connection to said support means to provide a pivotal connection for the head of said seat panel, said support means being an integral portion of the frame of said bed; means for pivotally mounting the foot end of said seat panel to said support means while preventing relative vertical motion between the foot end of said seat panel and said support means, whereby as said head panel is raised, the footward extension thereof will lower the head end of said seat panel to cause the same to be inclined relative to the horizontal and thereby provide a seat depression in the zone of connection between said head and said panels; said upper leg panel being pivotally connected at its head end to said support means for rotation about a horizontal transverse axis; and a lower leg panel having a head end pivotally connected to the foot end of said upper leg panel, said system further including drive means for rotating said upper leg panel about its transverse horizontal axis of connection with said support means; a lever mechanism mounted on said support means and operatively associated with the foot end of said lower leg panel and including selective latch means movable between a first position of disengagement with said lever thereby permitting the foot end of said lower leg panel to remain in a lowered position as the head end thereof is raised, said selective latch means being movable to a second position of engagement with said lever mechanism for maintaining the foot end of said lower leg panel at substantially the same elevation as the head end thereof.

Claim 14

In a hospital bed having an articulated mattress frame and support means therefor, said mattress frame including a head panel, a seat panel, and upper and lower leg panels, the improvement comprising: means for pivotally mounting said head panel adjacent its foot end to said support means for pivotal movement between a generally horizontal lowered position and an upwardly inclined raised position, said head panel defining a footward extension beyond said pivotal connection to said support means to provide a pivotal connection for the head of said seat panel, said support means being an integral portion of the frame of said bed; means for pivotally mounting the foot end of said seat panel to said support means while preventing relative vertical motion between the foot end of said seat panel and said support means, whereby as said head panel is raised, the footward extension thereof will lower the head end of said seat panel to cause the same to be inclined relative to the horizontal and thereby provide a seat depression in the zone of connection between said head and said panels; said upper leg panel being pivotally connected at its head end to said support means for rotation about a horizontal transverse axis; and a lower leg panel having a head end pivotally connected to the foot end of said upper leg panel, said system further including drive means for rotating said upper leg panel about its transverse horizontal axis of connection with said support means; a lever mechanism mounted on said support means and operatively associated with the foot end of said lower leg panel and including selective latch means movable between a first position of disengagement with said lever thereby permitting the foot end of said lower leg panel to remain in a lowered position as the head end thereof is raised, said selective latch means being movable to a second position of engagement with said lever mechanism for maintaining the foot end of said lower leg panel at substantially the same elevation as the head end thereof.