Gf Health Products, Inc.

Graham-Field Health Products, Inc.

John Edgerton

The present invention relates to bed with extendable and retractable extensions. An articulating bed having four sections that articulate in conventional manner is provided. Two side extensions are provided that allow the deck width to be increased in width. Each extension has four pieces that act in unison and that are pivotally connected. The pivotal connections can be made of tabs formed from the side tubes of the respective sections. The first and fourth pieces have extension members that extend into preferably about half way through cross tubes of the first and fourth respective deck sections. The extension members can have glides that assist in the movement within the cross tubes. Pins can be provided to allow for rapid adjustment of the side extensions. Accessories can be removably pinned to the side extension for rapid removal.

Bed with extendable and retractable extensions

The present invention relates to an apparatus, such as a bed, having a vertically adjustable deck that is selectably raised and lowered in a substantially vertical manner. Two leg frames are pivotally and movably connected to rails supporting the deck through a slot in the bottom of the rails. Support frames having a fixed longitudinal position relative the bed frame rail are connected to a central pivot point of the leg frames, respectively. The support frames each have a cross member supporting a connection lever defining a path. Actuators are pivotally connected to the bed frame and to a movable pivotal connection point along the path. A control arm is provided to determine the location of the actuator end relative the path of the connection lever. Wheel assemblies can be pivotally connected to the second end of the leg frames.

Height adjustable apparatus with opposed legs movably and pivotally connected to rails supporting a deck

According to one embodiment of the present invention, a side rail is provided having a body selectably movable from a first up position to a second down position. Two parallel lever arms are also provided. The arms rotate over center when moving the body between the two positions. This increases the horizontal distance through which the side rail moves. A biasing mechanism can be provided to urge the side rail towards either the up or down position, and to bias away from an intermediate toggle position wherein the lever arms are vertical in a preferred embodiment. The biasing mechanism can include a cam and roller. A hard stop can be provided, whereby in the up position there is a strong component to prevent failure. A release lever is also provided. A person can actuate the release lever to move the side rail from the up position.

Side rail selectably movable from a first up position over center to a second down position

The invention has a deck that is supported by a first lever and a second lever. The first and second levers can be connected with a drag link. An actuator can be pivotally connected relative to but not directly to the deck. The location of the actuator relative an arm of the first lever is controlled with a control arm. A caster carriage and four idlers can also be provided. The idlers pivotally interconnect the first and second levers with the caster carriage. A radius arm can be connected to the caster carriage and to an arm of one of the levers. In this regard, the radius arm can be relatively long and can act in tandem with the respective lever and the idlers to minimize the horizontal shifting of the deck as the apparatus is raised and lowered.

Height adjustable apparatus with radius arm and idlers

The present invention has a deck supported by at least one parallelogram. When two parallelograms are used, the first has first and second levers and a drag link, and the second has third and fourth levers and a second drag link. Each parallelogram is raised and collapsed with an actuator. The first lever and the fourth lever each have an arm with an interface. The actuators are pivotally and movably connected to the interfaces and pivotally connected to the drag links. The location of the actuators relative the interfaces is controlled with control arms. The control arms have ends that are connected to the respective drag link and each rotates at an offset circular path about a central point of the adjacent levers.

Height adjustable apparatus with control arm

The present invention has a deck and a mid-frame, connected by first and second levers. An arm of the first lever has an interface. These levers are connected with a drag link. An actuator is pivotally and movably connected to the interface and pivotally connected to the drag link. The location of the actuator relative the interface is controlled with a control arm. The deck, mid-frame and first set of levers comprise a first parallelogram. Third and fourth levers are connected to the mid-frame. The fourth lever has an arm with an interface. These levers are connected with a drag link. An actuator can be pivotally and movably connected to the interface and pivotally connected to the drag link. The location of the actuator relative the interface is controlled with a control arm. The bases, mid-frame and second set of levers comprise a second parallelogram.

Height adjustable apparatus

The present invention has a frame, two articulating structures, a drag link and a linear drive assembly. Each articulating structure has a rigid support, a serpentine support and a caster support. The rigid supports are pivotally connected to the frame and to the caster supports. The serpentine supports are pivotally connected to the frame, the rigid support and the caster support. The drag link makes the first and second articulating structures cooperate. The linear drive assembly is connected to the rigid support of one articulating structure and to the drag link. The linear drive assembly causes the bed to rise by acting in two directions, one to directly push the drag link in a first direction and the second to redirect the linear drive assembly force to indirectly push the drag link in the first direction by rotating the first rigid structure away from the frame.

Support frame with articulating structures

A locking mechanism for a hospital bed is mounted on an undercarriage of the bed. The locking mechanism includes a locking pedal and an unlocking pedal, which are side-by-side one another on the undercarriage. To lock the bed in position to prevent it from rolling, one depresses the locking pedal which, through a mechanical linkage, moves a brake member having a brake pad vertically downward into contact with the floor beneath the bed, and locks the brake pad into that position. By depressing the unlocking pedal, the mechanical linkage is pulled in the opposite direction to raise the brake member and brake pad from the floor, thereby unlocking the bed.

Locking mechanism for a hospital bed

A height adjustable bed includes a sliding hinge mechanism for attaching each of two articulated supports to wheeled bases. A linear actuator is connected between an actuating frame that is attached to each of the articulated supports and a horizontal linkage member that is attached to each of the articulated supports. Extension of the linear actuator raises the bed from a low position with assistance of a mechanical advantage provided by a fulcrum between the articulated support and the actuating frame that results from displacement of downward forces from the sliding hinge to the actuating frame.

Growing community of inventors

Omro, WI, United States of America

John Edgerton