Bed with mechanism for assisting an occupant to stand up

Abstract

A bed comprises: a height-adjustable lying surface; a head part, a foot part, and/or at least one side part; a motor to adjust the height of the lying surface; and a control system to control the motor. The control system comprises at least one sensor and at least one actuator. The sensor includes: at least one actuating element actuatable to generate a control signal; an interface to emit the control signal; and a fastening element by which the sensor is attachable to the head, foot, or side part of the bed without a tool. The actuator includes: an interface to receive the control signal; and a switching element to switch at least one current path or an adjusting element to set at least one voltage, one current, or another physical variable based on the control signal.

Claims

1. A bed, comprising: a height-adjustable lying surface, upon which a mattress rests; a head part, a foot part, and/or at least one side part, wherein at least one of the parts in at least one state of the bed projects beyond the mattress of the bed; a motor to adjust the height of the lying surface as a mechanism for assisting standing up; a control system to control the motor to adjust the height, wherein the control system comprises: at least one sensor including: at least one actuating element that can be actuated to generate a control signal; an interface to emit the control signal; and at least one fastening element by which the sensor can be attached to the head part, the foot part, and/or the side part of the bed, wherein the head part, the foot part and/or the side part comprise support structure on which the sensor can be mounted without a tool by interaction with the at least one fastening element; and at least one actuator including: an interface to receive the control signal; and a switching element to switch at least one current path or an adjusting element to set at least one voltage, one current or another physical variable on the basis of the control signal; and a handle as a mechanism for assisting standing up, wherein the handle and the sensor are parts of a handle-sensor unit of the bed.

2. The bed of claim 1, wherein the interface of the sensor and the interface of the actuator are radio interfaces.

3. The bed of claim 2, wherein the sensor comprises at least one element to produce energy, by which energy needed to generate and transmit the control signal can be generated via actuation of the sensor from the outside.

4. The bed of claim 3, wherein the at least one element to produce energy is a piezo element or an electrodynamic energy converter.

5. The bed of claim 4, wherein the actuating element is configured for mechanical actuation and is operatively connected to the piezo element or to the electrodynamic energy converter.

6. The bed of claim 5, wherein the actuating element can be actuated by a rocker and/or a key or forms a rocker or a key.

7. The bed of claim 1, further comprising at least one further motor to adjust the inclination of the lying surface or a part of the lying surface.

8. The bed of claim 1, wherein the sensor comprises one or more fastening elements which form a receptacle with undercut edges.

9. The bed of claim 8, wherein, in one direction, the receptacle has a clear cross section which is uniform at least in sections.

10. The bed of claim 8, wherein the receptacle is configured to be plugged, clipped, or pushed onto the support structure and the support structure is designed to be complementary to the receptacle.

11. The bed of claim 1, wherein the handle comprises a foot comprising the fastening element or elements, and a head rotatably connected to the foot.

12. The bed of claim 1, wherein the at least one actuating element is provided in or on the head.

13. The bed of claim 1, wherein the head substantially has a spherical shape or a barrel shape.

14. The bed of claim 1, wherein the bed is a hospital bed or a nursing care bed.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) Further features and advantages of the present invention are described with reference to the accompanying drawing. The figures show:

(2) FIG. 1 is a view of a handle-sensor unit from the front.

(3) FIG. 2 is a view of the handle-sensor unit from the rear.

(4) FIG. 3 is a view of the handle-sensor unit from the side.

(5) FIG. 4 is a view of the handle-sensor unit from below.

(6) FIG. 5 is a view of the handle-sensor unit from above.

(7) FIG. 6 is a section through the handle-sensor unit along the line VI-VI in FIG. 1.

(8) FIG. 6a is a detail VIa from FIG. 6.

(9) FIG. 6b is a detail VIb from FIG. 6.

(10) FIG. 7 is a section through the handle-sensor unit along the line VII-VII in FIG. 1.

(11) FIG. 8 is a section through the handle-sensor unit along the line VIII-VIII in FIG. 1.

(12) FIG. 9 is a side view of a bed diagrammatically illustrating the handle-sensor unit of FIGS. 1-2 mounted to support structure of the bed according to an example embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(13) The handle-sensor unit, also referred to in the following text as a unit, of a bed according to the invention comprises a head 2 and a foot 1. The head 2 is rotatably mounted on the foot 1.

(14) The foot 1 has a fastening element 11, which forms a receptacle A. A support structure of the bed can be placed into the receptacle A for the purpose of mounting the unit to a bed according to the invention. The fastening element 11 comprises two projecting limbs 111, which are disposed at a distance from one another on a first end of the foot 1. The two limbs 111 and a support 112 connecting them delimit the approximately C-shaped receptacle. The limbs 111 comprise ends 1111 facing towards one another, which results in undercuts.

(15) The support structure of a bed according to the invention or of another object, for example a patient vehicle, in particular a wheelchair, or a walking aid, in particular a crutch or a rollator, placed into the receptacle A is enclosed by the limbs. Since the receptacle is laterally open, elongated support structures can also be placed into the receptacle, in particular a handrail or an end bar on a head part, a foot part, or a preferably lowerable or extendable side part. If the handrail or the end bar has a cross section that is uniform at least in sections and the clear cross section of the fastening element 11, i.e., the receptacle, is uniformly shaped at least in sections, the foot 1 can be shifted on the support structure to fix its position. The clear cross section of the receptacle A is preferably adapted to the outer cross section of the support structure.

(16) In addition to the fastening element 11, the foot 1 comprises a slewing ring 12. This slewing ring 12 is formed by an edge that is circular in cross-section. A crown gear toothing 13 is provided within, and coaxial to, the slewing ring 12. A pin 14 is disposed within, and coaxial to, the crown gear toothing 13. The pin 14 has a central hole through which a screw 3 is guided, the screw head 31 of which rests against a ledge 141 of the bore. Away from the ledge 141, the hole has a hexagonal cross-section, so that an external hexagon of the screw head can be accommodated in the hole in a rotationally fixed manner.

(17) Inside the ledge through which the shaft of the screw 3 is guided, the hole preferably has a circular cross section. The screw 3 projects out of the pin 14.

(18) The head 2 of the unit comprises a housing with two symmetrical housing shells 21, 22. The housing shells 21, 22 are connected by adhesive bonding, but can also be connected to one another in any other suitable manner, for which constructive modifications to the housing shells 21, 22 may be necessary. The housing shells 21, 22 form a base which serves to connect the head 2 to the foot. The base comprises a ring 25 with a peripheral ledge, which engages in the slewing ring 12 or sits on the slewing ring 12 with the interposition of an O-ring 4. A crown toothing 26 is provided on the ring, which is coaxial to the ring 25 and engages in the crown toothing 13 of the foot. The crown toothings 13, 26 are toothed in the same manner.

(19) The pin 14 engages in the ring 25 and forms a pivot bearing for the pin 14.

(20) The assembled housing shells 21, 22 form a barrel-shaped handle piece, which can be clasped by a hand in order to hold onto, find support, or pull up on the unit.

(21) The housing further comprises a housing insert 23. The housing insert is inserted into an opening cleared by the assembled housing shells 21, 22. The housing insert 23 is formed in the manner of a trough and accommodates a sensor 5 of the unit. The housing insert 23 and the sensor 5 disposed therein are covered to the outside by operating elements 6, namely two rocker switches 61, 62 and a pushbutton 63.

(22) The rocker switches 61, 62 are pivotably mounted on pins and/or axes of the sensor, and are supported on restoring and energy generating elements 51 of the sensor 5 via first pins 621. The rocker switches 61, 62 can be deflected out of a rest position defined by the restoring and energy-generating elements 51 by an actuation. The restoring and energy generating elements 51 of the sensor are thereby likewise deflected. The energy required for generating and transmitting a control signal is thereby generated in the sensor 5. If there is then no actuation, the restoring and energy generating elements 51 push the rocker switches 61, 62 into their rest position. Second pins 622 of the actuating rockers 61, 62 rest against actuating elements 52 of the sensor. A deflection of the rocker switches 61, 62 causes the second pins 622 to move the actuating elements 52, which leads to the generation and transmission of the control signal that can be received by an actuator of the control system of the bed to then switch a switching element, if a receiver side part of a control system of a bed according to the invention is activated. No switching elements are switched if the receiver side part of the control system, which among other things comprises the actuators, is not activated.

(23) The sensor 5 has four actuating elements 52, whereby each of the two rocker switches 61, 62 can actuate two of the actuating elements 52.

(24) The pushbutton 63 comprises a knob 631, which projects outward in a recess between the rocker switches 61, 62. The pushbutton 63 comprises first pins 633, which are supported on the restoring and energy generating elements 51 of the sensor. The pushbutton 63 further comprises four second pins 632, each of which rests against one actuating element 52 of the sensor. The pushbutton 63 is mounted in a linearly displaceable manner. If the pushbutton 63 is pressed, all four second pins push onto the actuating elements 52 of the sensor 5, which results in the generation and transmission of an activation signal. The reception of this activation signal causes the receiver side part of the control system, which also includes the actuators of the control system, to be activated.

(25) The simultaneous pushing of all four actuating elements 52 upon actuation of the pushbutton 63 therefore results in an activation of the receiver side part of the control system. The receiver side part of the control system is capable of processing the control signal transmitted by the sensor 5 on the basis of the actuation of a single actuating element 52 by the rocker switches 61, 62, and switching elements in accordance with the control signal, only in an activated state of the receiver side part of the control system. If the receiver side part of the control system is not activated, there is no discernible reaction to the control signals triggered by the actuation of a single actuating element 52 at the switching elements.

(26) If the receiver side part of the control system is activated, control signals for controlling the switching elements can be received within a defined period of time. If there is no actuation within this defined period of time, the receiver side part of the control system falls back into the non-activated state.

(27) The activation of the receiver side part of the control system by the simultaneous actuation of all or many of the actuating elements of the sensor is also possible with a differently designed sensor of a bed according to the invention, and is not possible only with the handle-sensor unit shown in the figures.

(28) The head 2 is secured to the foot 1 by a nut 7. For this purpose, the nut 7 is screwed onto the screw 3, which projects into the head 2. A spring 8 is inserted between the nut 7 and the ring 25 of the head 2 and is supported on the nut 7 on the one side and on the ring 25 on the other side. The head 2 can be pulled away from the foot 1 in the direction of the screw 3 against the pressure of the spring 8. The crown toothings 13, 26 of the foot 1 and the head 2 are thus released from one another and the head 2 can be freely rotated relative to the foot 1. If the head 2 is released in the desired position, the spring 8 pulls the head 2 toward the foot 1. The crown toothings 13, 26 come into engagement and the head 2 is fixed to the foot 1.

(29) Referring now to FIG. 9, an example embodiment of a bed 100, particularly (but not limited thereto) a hospital bed or nursing bed having a handle-sensor unit mounted to support structure of the bed for assisting a bed occupant to stand up, is depicted and will now be described.

(30) As shown in FIG. 9, the bed 100 comprises a head part 102, a foot part 104, at least one side part 106, and a height-adjustable lying surface 108 upon which a mattress 110 may rest. In FIG. 9, a part of the lying surface 108 is shown to be in an inclined position. The head part, the foot part, and/or the at least one side part of the bed may comprise support structure or support structures for supporting the handle-sensor unit, as previously described herein. The handle-sensor unit (generally denoted by reference character 120 in FIG. 9) may be releasably mounted to either support structure 113 of the head part, support structure 114 of the foot part or support structure 116 of the at least one side part by a fastening element (shown in more detail in FIGS. 1-2). In the embodiment of the bed shown in FIG. 9, the handle-sensor unit is mounted to support structure 116 (which, for example, may be a handrail) of the at least one side rail 106, as previously described herein. In alternative embodiments of the bed, however, the handlesensor unit may be releasably mounted to support structure 113 of the head part or support structure 114 of the foot part, as shown by the phantom line form depiction of the handle-sensor unit.

(31) Referring again to FIG. 9, the bed further includes a motor 117 to adjust the height of the lying surface, as shown by directional arrow 122, and another motor 118 to adjust the inclination of a part of the lying surface, as shown by directional arrow 124. In the embodiment of the bed illustrated in FIG. 9, a part the lying surface of the bed is shown in an inclined state with head part 102 and foot part 104 projecting beyond the mattress 110 of the bed.