Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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Background of the Invention
, . . .
; Toilet apparatus intended for persons generally con-
fined to their bed, is already known in the art. However,
the conventional apparatus which is available, heretofore,
is not comfortable to the patient, does not allow the patient
to use the toilet in the normal customary manner, and often
requires that the patients leave their beds.
q Conventional devices often used for patients are bed-
pans. These irritate the skin of the patient, and do not
allow the patient to sit upright in the desired normal
.
customary manner. Other conventional devices known in the
art require that the patients be displaced relative to their
beds, or leave their beds, in order to enable them to use
the toilet in a seated normal upright position~ Still other
apparatus available in the art require that hospital aides,
for example, exert considerable effort and carry out
laborious procedures to apply the apparatus to the patient
for use. This is often particularly uncomfortable to the
patient, and requires that the aides possess substantial
i 20 physical strength to carry and position the patient. The
apparatus, ~urtherm~re, does not include provisions for
hygienic cleansing and leaves the patient often in discomfort.
In addition to the disadvantages inherent in the conven- `
tional apparatus or hospital bed, these do not include pro-
visions for transferring a patient from the bed to a wheel
chair without requiring attendants to remove the patient from
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the bed and carry the patient into the wheel chair when the
patient does not have, for example, sufficient muscle control -
or strength.
.! It is among the objects of the invention to provide a method
,',! 5 and apparatus for moving a patient on a bed in contact with a seat
which can be either a toilet seat or wheel chair, while supporting
the calves of the patient so that the patient's posterior does
not apply pressure to a bed section which is removed from the
posterior to facilitate the seating procedure of the patient. A
further object of the invention is to provide for moving the patient
~ together with the seat to an uprigh1: seated position while the
-9~ patient is in direct contact with the seat. ~ -
In its broadest aspect, the invention provides a method ;
for moving a person in contact with a seating member comprising
1 15 the steps of subdividing a bed member into a predetermined number
of se~tions, reclining a person on said bed member, one of said
sections contacting the posterior of said person; moving said
one bed section away from the posterior of said person; supporting `~ ;
the calves of said person so that the posterior does not apply
pressure to said one bed section while said one bed section is
~, moved away from the posterior and bringing said person in direct
' contact with a seating member.
To carry out the method of the invention, there is provided
apparatus for movi~g a person in contact with a seating member,
25 comprising: a bed member subdivided into a predetermined number of ~ ;
sections, a person being reclinable on said bed member, one section
j of said bed member being arranged for contacting the posterior
of a person on said bed member, means for moving said one section
from contact with said person and placing said person in direct
contact wi~h said seating member; and means for supporting the calves
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L0624C~7
~ of said person so that the posterior does not apply pressure to
: said one bed section while said one bed section is moved away
from the posterior.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Figures l to 5 are schematic diagrams and show relative
positions of the essential elements`in carrying out the sequence
of operations in accordance with one embodiment of the present
invention;
; Figure 5a is a perspective view showing the construction
of the arrangement for carrying out the steps of Figs. 1-5 in
combination with a wheel chair;
Figures 6-10 are schematic diagrams and show the relative
; positions of essential elements in carrying out the sequence o~
operations, in accordance with another embodiment of the present
invention;
~ Figure 11 is a perspect;ve view showing the construction
l of the arrangement for carrying out the steps of Figs. 6-10 in
combination with a wheel chair;
Figure 12 is a perspective view of the arrangement ,
corresponding to Figure 10;
Figure 13 is a plan view and shows schematically the
transmission of motion to the bed elevating and lowering device;
gures 14 22 are schematic views and show the relative
positions of the essential elements in carrying out a sequence
of steps according to an additional embodiment of the present
invention;
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Figure 23 is a perspective view and shows the bed
arrangement corresponding to Fig. 20 with the center and oot
sections of the bed extended by rotation along the internal
walls of the bed frame. .
DES~RIPTION O~ THE P~EFERRED EMBODIMENTS - . .
Referring to the drawing, Figures 1 to 5 Lllustrate .:~ -
schematically the steps of moving a patient from a reclined
position to a position in which the patient is seated over the
toilet. In accordance with this arrangement of the present -.
~10 invention,. a mattress 30 carrying a patient i2 is subdivided ;~
into essentially three sections comprised of a head section 34,
central section 36, and foot section 38. The three sections ~.
are pivotable about pivots 40 and 42.
In the normal or usual position of the mattress 30,~
sections 34, 36 and 38 are coplanar, as shown in Figure 1, and
the patient may lie thereon in a.reclined manner.
To-carry out the procedure for placing the patient over
a toilet.44 located.beneath the mattress 30, the central section `.
36 is rotated relative to the head section 34 about pivot 40,
into the position shown in Figure 2. When section 36 is rotated
substantially 90 about pivot 40 with respect to section 34, ,
~ection 38 becomes rotated substantially 90 with respect to
section 36, so that the patient lies in the position shown in ..
Figure 2 with feet supported upwards by the section 38, and i` :-
head and back lying downward on.. :section 34 . ~~
After the conflguration of Figure 2 has been attained, .~ ..
the central section of the mattress 36 is lowered to a.position
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shown in Figure 3, for the purpose of uncovering the area of the
patient's posterior.
A toilet seat 46 resting normally on the toilet 44 is
; then rotated about a pivot 48 to bring the toilet seat 46 into
contact with the patient's posterior as shown in Figure 4. The
linkage connecting the toilet seat 46 to the pivot 48 has been
omitted from thie schematic illustrations of Figures 1 to 5 for
the purpose of clarity. The details of this linkage will be
described subsequently.
Nith the patient lying comEortably in the position shown
in Figure 4, the entire assembly o mattress sections 34, 36, 38,
together with toilet seat 46, are rotated about the pivot 48
until the toilet seat 46 comes into contact with the top rim o~
the toilet 44, as shown in Figure 5. In this position of
i15 Figure 5, the patient is seated directly on the toilet in an
upright and c~mfortable manner.
After the patient has terminated the use of the toilet,
hygienic cleansinq apparatus which may be installed directly
within the toilet, may be actuated. Thereaf*er, the patient
may be returned to~a reclined position by passing through the
sequence~of Figures 4, 3, 2 and 1 in this specific reverse order.
It is an essential feature of the present invention to
rai8e the legs of the patient as shown in Figuxes 2-4, also for i;
the purpose of placing the patient into a wheel chair. When
the patient is positioned as in Figure 3, for example, it is
possible to roll into place a wheel chair beneath the patient ~ ; ;
and over the toilet bowl, and thereafter manipulate the patient
so as to bring the~latter into an upright seated position
directly on the wheel chair. Accordingly, the present invention ; ; ;
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does not only serve the function of seating the patient com :~
fortably over a toilet bowl, but also seating a patient with :.
ease and comfort in a wheel chair. ~:
Referring to Figure 5a for the further construction o~
. S the arrangement, in accordance with the present invention, the
- head mattress section 34 is held within a frame member 49
. linked to pivot 40 and is pivotable therea~out. The frame
~ member 49 is supported by a main stationary frame 51.
The central mattress section 36 is held by a frame 53
also linked to the pivot 40 for pi.voting thereabout relative
to the frame member 49.
The foot section 38 of the mattress 30 is held in a further
f frame member 55 which.is pivotable about pivot 42, relative to ~:
I the frame member 53. The latter holds the pivot 42 about which
;'15 frame member 55 is rotatable. ~:
, To enable the patient to use the toilet 44, frame member
f - 53 is rotated relative to frame member 49 about the pivot 40,
. until the mattress section 36 is substantially at right angles
to mattress section 34,. as shown in.Figure 5a. As frame member ~ -
53 is rotated into the position of Figure.5a, frame member:55
rotates about ~he pivot 42, and assumes the position shown in .
Figure 5a, in which thè mattress section 38 is substantially
at right angles to the longitudinal.axis of the frame member 53.
Whereas power-is required to rotate the frame member 53 relative
to khe frame member 49 about pivot 4Q, the frame member 55
becom~s rotated to the position shown in Figure 5a as a result
of the action of gravity.. The frame member 55 is held in the
position o~ Figure 5a, in which mattress section 38 is .
horizontal, by a stop 57.
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In the process of rotating frame member 53 about the
pivot 40, to attain the configuration of Figure 5a, the frame
member 55 becomes tipped as pi~ot 42 becomes raised from the
level of the horizontal mattress section 34. During this
tipping action of the frame member S5, the let end of ~he fra~e
member 55 remains in contact with ~he main frame 51 by mean~
of a roller 59 riding on a plate 61 secured to the main fxame 51.
This tipping action of the frame member 55 continues until the
pivot 42 is raised sufficiently so that the frame member 55 abuts
the stop 57... At that point, in the process, the roller 59 ceases
contact with the plate 61 and kecomes raised upward un~il the
position of Figure 5a is attained. From the instant that the
tipping action of frame member 55 begins, to the instant that the
roller 59 leaves the plate 61, the roller 59 rides lengthwise
along the plate 61. Once the frame member 55 comes against the :
stop 57, the plane of the fxame member 55 supporting mattress
section 3a i s perpendicular to the plane of frame member 53
supporting mattress section 36.
.,
The frame member 53 has a portion extending pastthe
pivot 40 and in the downward direction when viewed in Figure 5a. ~ .. ;
This portion o the ~rame member 53, below the pivot 40, serves .
to hold the central mattress section 36 after the la~ter is ~:~
lowered so as to uncover the posterior area of the patient. -,
When the frame member 53 attains the position shown in
,.,, .: .
Figure 5a after bein~ pivoted relative to frame member 49 about .
pivot 40, the central mattress section 36 is positioned at the : :
top portion of the frame member 53, above the pivot 40.
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Thereafter, the mattress section 36 is lowered to the position
. shown in Figure 5a. The frame member 53 includes tracks
cooperating with rollers on the mattress section 36 to enable .
- the latter to ride along the frame member 53 from the top
. 5 position to the lower-most position shown in Figure 5a.
.-~ After the central mattress section 36 has been lowered
.~ to the extent that it becomes held by the portion 53a of the
frame member 53, the toilet seat 46 is rotated and raised
.~ upwards. until.it contacts the posterior of the patient. To
achieve this motion of the.toilet seat 46, the latter is con-
`i nected to a link 63 rotatable about the pivot 48. In moving
~, the toilet seat 46 from above the toilet bowl 44 and into
contact with the patient's posterior, the toilet seat is rotated
. through an angle of substantially 90. For this purpose, the
, 15 center of the pivot 48 lies at the intersection of the plane
~' of the toilet seat when positioned on the bowl 44 and the plane
, of the seat when Ln contact with the patient's posterior.
After frame members 49, 53 and 55 have attained the
;~ relative positions shown in Figure 5a, they remain locked in . .
~2/ these relative positionsr prior to positioning the patient over ~ :
the toilet.bowl.. For purposes of moving the patient onto ~he
toilet bowl.with the seat 46 in place, the entire configuration
of Figure 5a is rotated about the pivot 48 to the position shown .
in Figure 5. Thus, prior to rotating the assembly of Figure 5a
about pivot 48, the central mattress section 36 is in place on
the portion 53a of the frame member 53, while the sqat 46 is
in contact with the-patient.'s posterior. After rotation about the
pivot 48, the toilet seat 46 is positioned back over the bowl 44,
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106Z~V7
as shown in Pigure 5. At the same tLme, the mattress section
36 attains a horizontal position, as a result of the rotation
about pivot 48 to the position shown in Figure 5.
. When in the position of Figure 5, furthermore, the
. S` mattress section:38 hangs. downward beneath ~he top of the
bowl. 44, and is in contact with the calf of the leg of the
patient. The frame member 55 abuts the ground or floor surface
by means of t~e stop 65 at the end of the ~rame member 55.
Accordingly, the rotation of the assembly of Figure Sa, in
locked position, is carried out t:hrough an angle in which the - .
, stop 65 contacts a. surface of the floor or ground.. At that
; point, the seat 46 is in contact wit~ the top of the bowl 44. . :.
. Ater the patient has completed use of the toilet and
is prepared to be returned to a reclined position, the assembly
lS o Figure S, in locked position,~ is rotated back about pivot 48,
to the position shown in Figure 5a. Thereafte~, the toilet
~! seat 46 ic- returned.to the position over the bowl 44 by being .
rotated about the pivo~ 48 by means of link 63, and the
.i mattress section ~ is raised.upwards so as to return to its ;~
~ 20 position where it is in con~act with: the patient's posterior
Fram~ member S3 is then rotated relative to frame member 49 :.:
about pivot 40 until rollers S9 contact: plates 61 and ride
along these plates 61 to the position shown in ~igure 1. .~.
In a further embodiment of the present invention illus- ~;
~25 trated in E~ures 6-lOt the mattress of. the patient's bed is `
subdivided into two sections 50 and 52. These mattress sections ;.; -~
are supported.on a main bed rame 54 which may be raised and .
lowered with respect to a base stationary frame 56. A bolster~
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1al62407
'
supporting member 58 is placed transversely across the bottom
mattress section 50 and beneath the calves of the patient.
~ To raise the legs of the patient as shown in Figure 7,
the bolster member 58 is raised by being pivoted, for example,
about a pivot 60. At the same time, the head mattress section `
52 is raised to a level above the bottom mattress section 50.
Raising of the mattress section 5~ can also be carried out after
i the bolster 58 has been rotated into the raisPd position shown
in Figure 7. .
After havLng attained the c~onfiguration of Figure 7,
the bottom mattress sec~ion 50 is moved to a location beneath :
the head section 52. During this movement of the mattress ~ .
section 50, the patient remains in the position shown in .
Figure 8 with the legs raised and supported by the boister
member 58.
Thereafter,. the supporting movable frame member 54 is :
lowered, together with the head section 52. In lowering the
head section 52, the latter moves downward on the bottom section :
50 located.directly beneath section 52, until the top surface
of ~he head section 52 is located substantially in the plane of
the top surface of the toilet seat 46. The resultant positions
of sections 50 and 52 are shown in Figure 9. ~he bottom ~. .
mattress section 50 is supported by a frame structure, to be ..
- described, which permits this mattress section to be considerably :. .
lowered beneath the head section 52. .. ;.;
At the time that the head section 52 is lowered to attain
the configuration of Figure 9, the legs of ~he patient are ..
permitted to drop by lowering the bolster member 5~. The latter
is lowered, in this manner, so that the patient will assume the ..
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1062~L07
inclined position shown in Figure 9, in which the posterior of
the patient is positioned directly in contact with the toilet
; seat, as shown in Figure 9. This inclined position shown in
Figure 9, permits patients to remain inclined, if they are
^ not comfortable when seated in the conventional manner over the
. , .
toilet. Figure 9a shows the method step in which the-patient is
allowed to remain in inclined, flat lying position, prior to
arriving at Figure 9, should this be the more comfortable
position for the patient. In this inclined position of the
.i .
~lO patient, furthermore, the upper surface o~ the toilet seat takes
! the place of a conventional bedpan.~ However, with the arrange-
ment o~ the present invention, it is not necessary to move the
patient in the manner required when using a conventional bedpan,
so as to bring the posterior of the patient over the bedpan.
lS The back of the patient in the present invention, moreover, is
also not bent, as it is when using a conventional bedpan.
Accordingly, the coniguration of Figure 9 permits a patient
after an operation, for exampIe, to lie inclined while not
experiencing the discomfort accompanying conventional bedpans.
In the event that the patient is more comfortable in a
seated position over the toilet, the head section 52 is moved
out of the position shown in Figure 9, and into the positlon
shown in Figure lO. The movement o~ this head section 52 is
achieved by applying a rotational force to a guide member 60
attached to the head section 52 and having an arc-shaped
slot 62. Stationary pins 64 and 66 are spaced within the
groove 62 and confine the path of the guide member 60 and hence ~ -
the movement of the head section 52. The guide member 60 shown
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in Figure 10, is omitted from Figures 6-9 ~or the sake of
clarity. When raising the head ;section 52, moreover, the
bolster 58 is further lowered to permit bending of the patient's .
knees, as shown in Figure 10, to enable the patient to be
S comfortably seated. .:~
The provision of rotating the head section 52 into the
position show~ in Figure 10, is also an essential feature when
positioninq the patient so as to seat the patient in a wheel ,-~
chair
To carry out the arrangement of Figures 6-10 in
accordance with the present invention, the mechanism and linkages
or positioning the head section.52 and the bolster member 58 are .-
shown in Figure 11. Attached to the guide section member 60, is
a rod 68 at.the pivot.70. The rod 68 is joined to a sleeve
~lS- member 72 having a~ internal thread~. A threaded rod 74 engages .
the internal thread of~ the sleeve member 72, and is dxiven ..
: rotatably by a motor 76 supported on the movable bed frame . .
member 54............................................................ '
..- .
The bolster member 58 is attached to a link 78 which is
connected to the guide section 60 by means of the connecting .`~
link 80`.
A lever 82 has one arm connected to the link 78, and the
other arm connected to a slotted bar member 84. The lever 82
is supported on the pivot or pin 66. The slotted bar member 84
Z5 is further linked to a bar member 86 which has a pin 88 riding
within the slot 90 of the bar member 84. The bar member 86 is
connected to the stationary bed base frame 56, by the pivot 92.
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, /
To raise the legs of the patient into the position shown
in Figure 7, the head section 52 is raised by raising the movable
bed frame 54 above the stationary base frame 56. The raising
of the bed frame 54, results in raising the pivot 66. Since the
ar~ of the lever 82 which is connected to the slot~e,d bar 84, is
constrained by the pivot 94, rais:ing of the pivot 66 of the
lever 82 results in positioning of the links 78 and 80, as shown
in Figure Il. As a result, in this position of Figure 11, the
i bolster member 58 is substantially horizontal and supports the
;~ 10 calves of the patient.
To effectively constrain the pivot 94 for the purpose
of achieving the position shown in Figure ll after raising the
head section 52, it is essential that the pin 88 abuts the lower
i end of the slot 90, prior to raising the head section 52 by
,15 means of the movable frame 54. In this relative position of ~he
pin 88 and slot 90, the bars 84 and 86 have the maximum overall
length, whereby the distance between pivots 92 and 94 is ~`
' correspondingly maximum. !,:`
;~ The raising and lowering of the movable bed frame 54 is
i~20 achieved by means of elevator columns 96 of conventional ~,
;I construction using a threaded rod in combination with a threaded
:j ,.. ..
sIeeve or nut. Rotation of the threaded rod causes movement
of the sleeve or nut supporting the frame 54.
. .
After the head section 52 has been raised, the bottom or
foot section 50 is moved along the base frame 56 so as to be ~'~
positioned beneath the head section 52, as shown in Figure 8.
For purposes of moving the bed section 50 from one end of the
fr~me 56 to the other end beneath the head section 52, the bed
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section 50 is supported on a frame 114. Levers 115 and 118 are
joined together at a piVQt~20, and are linked to the supporting
frame 114. Lever 116 is pivoted directly on the frame 114, .-~
whereas lever 118 has a pin 124 riding in a slot 126 in the . :
^ S frame 114.- The other ends of the levers 116 and 118 are linked
to a base mova~le support 128. Lever 118 is connected to ..
support 128 by means of a pivot 130, whereas levex 116 has a
pin 132 riding within a slot 134 in the support 128.
The support 128 is movable along the length of the
base frame 56, by means of rollers or wheels 138. Passing
through an opening in the support 128, is a threaded rod 140
driven rotatably by a motor 142. A threaded nut or sleeve :.:
member 144 fixed to the support 128, engages the threaded rod . ... '
140. Consequen~ly, when the threaded rod 1.40 is rotated by the
lS motor 142, the support 128 is moved along the length of the base
frame 56 on the rollers or wheels 138. In view of this
~ construction, it is necessary to operate the motor 142 only in a
ff: predetermined direction so that the support 128 becomes moved or
transferred from the foot section of the bed to a location
beneath the head section 52.
A spring 136 connected to both levers 116 and.118, urges
the pins 124 and 132 against the right-most ends of the slots 126
and 134. In these positions of the pins 124 and 132 relative .-:'
. to slots 126 and 134, respectively, the bed section 50 is held at
its uppermost position, which corresponds to the position that ~
prevails in the state when the patient.lies inclined on the bed, . .-
as shown in Figure 6. The con~iguration.in which ~he foot
section 50 is positioned beneath the head section 52,is shown
schematically in Figure 8.
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106;2407 ;;`
To mo~e ~he patient into the position shown in Figure 9, ';~'.'
in which the posterior of the patient is brought directly into '.. ~.:
contact with the toilet seat, the movable 'set frame 54 is lowered ' ;~
by means of the elevator columns 96. If a conventional toilet ::
bowl 44 is used, it is necessary to lower the patient beneath ~ :
the level corresponding to Figure'6, at which'the'patient lies
normally inclined.. As a result, i~ is also necessary to lower
the foot section 50. beneath the level occupied in the con~
figuration of Figure 8. Such lowaring of the'foot section 50,
as may be required, is made possible by the construction of the ~':
levers 116 and 118,. when taken in combination with the respective ;..
pivots and joints. Thus, as the elevator columns 96 lower the ;:
bed fxame 54, the foot section. 50 becomes depressed to the extent ~
that the pins 124 and 132 move toward the le~t-most ends of the ...
respective slots 126 and 134... Accordingly, the slot and pin `''
combinations 124, 126 and 132, 134 allow the pivot 122' and pin ~ '
124'to be Lowered to the position shown in Figure 9, whereby the ..
foot section 50 is lowered sufficiently to bring the posterior
o~ the patient directly in contact with a conventional toilet. . ~?~.
seat.
When moving the frame membex 54 downward to the'position ;'.;
shown in Figure 9, the pin or pivot 66 moves downwardly corres- ;'
pondingly because the head section 52' moves' down along.with'the ~." '
f~ame 54... As a result, the bar member 84 attached' to the .
lever 82 at the pivot 94,. is also moved in the downward
direction, and when the head section 52 has attained' its lower~
most level, the pin 88 is in contact with the upper end of the
slot 90. The movement of the lever-82 ~n the 'downward direction ...
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~` causes, therehy the links 78 and sa to assume the po~itions shown
; in Figure 9, in which the bolster 58 is horizontal and supports ~.
the calves of the patient when in inclined position over the
toilet bowl. In this position shown in Figure 9, the spring 136
. 5 is also ~ensioned and eLongated to its maximum length of travel.
The configuration of Figure 9 allows the patien~ to be :
.l in an incli~ed position while beirlg in contact with the toilet . .
.' seat... This avoids the use of a bed pan which is generally ..
uncomfortable to the patient, particularly when the latter has
sub~tantial weight. Tf, on the other hand, the patient prefers . .
, to be positioned on ~he toilet sèat while being seated upright in
-, the conventional manner,the head se~tion 52 is rotatably moved
into the position shown in Figure 10, and corresponding Fig. 12.
.. To attain this posLtion of section 52, the motor 76 is driven so ..
lS as to rotate threaded rod 74 in the direction that will move the
threaded sle.eve 72 and thereby pivot 70 toward the motor. ~s a
1 result of such motion of the pivot 70 on the guide section 60,
~ the.latter is forced to move along a path dictated by the arc- ~
,~ . shaped slot 62 constrained by pins 64 and 66. The latter pins ~.
are fixed to.the movable frame member 54. In view of the
: cooperation between the arc-shaped slot 62 and the pins or pivots
64 and 66,. the guide section 60 and hence the head section 52 of
. the bed are positioned in accordance with the con~iguration shown
in Figure 10... In this configuration, furthermore, the bolster ::
~25 member 58 becomes drawn.downward and towards the right, as shown .:
in Fi.gure 12, so as to permit the legs of the patient to drop
and become vertical, whereby the patient may be comfortably
seated over the toilet bowl. In this position, the foot
section 50 is returned to its uppermost position, since the head
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~06Z4~)7
section 52 no longer con~trains the freedom of the section 50 to
move upward. As a result of the tension in spring 136 the levers
116 and 118 are rotated relative to each other whereby pins 124
and 132 ride in slots 126 and 134, respectively, to return the
section 50 to the position shown in Figure 10. ~;
After the patient has used the toilet, the patient may
be returned to an inclined position on the bed shown in Figure 6
by reversing the operational procedures from Figures 10 to 6, as
described above.
The co~figuration of Figure ll in which the legs of the
patient are rais~, permits a wheeI chair 146 to be rolled in
place beneath the patient preparatory to seating the patient
thereinto. For this purpose, the back~ rest 148 of the wheel chair ;,
is lowered to permit- the wheel chair to be rolled close to the
patient while having the Legs raised. To seat the patient
thereafter into the wheel chair 146, thé head section 52 is
positioned as shown in Figures 10 and 12. Thus, when it is
desired to seat the patient in the wheel chair-, the latter may be
rolled directly over the toiIet bowl 44, and the patient may
become seated into the wheel chair by movement o~ the head section
52 as illustrated in Eigures lO and 12. As a result, the
arrangement~ in accordance with the present invention, permits
the pa~ient to be seated either on a toilet or in a wheel chair
with ease and comfort. -
A stop 150 ~Figure 12) may be provided so as to prevent
the lever 82 and connected mechanism to move further than its
as~igned end position.
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The ele~ator columns 96' at the foot o the bed may also ;
be provided with supporting elements 152 (Figure 11) which serve -~ '
to fix the horizontal position of the foot section S0 when the
patient is to rest in an inclined position as shown in Figure 6.
For this purpose, rollers 154 may be provided on the section 50
to facilitate-'relative movement and contact with th~ support
el'ements lS2.
The bQlster 58 may be constructed in the form of a rigid
supporting member 156 (Figure 11) which supports one end of a
sheet or s~rip of cloth,; for exampl.e. Such cloth or fabric is
light in weight and comfortabIe to the patient when supporting ;'
the legs. As a result of being ~igh~ in weight, the fabric 158
does no~ require substantiaI force to become positioned in
accordance'with'the'configuration of Figures 6-10.
For the comfort of the patient, furthermore, arm rests 160
may be attached to the levers 82.
When using the' wheel chair, and the patient has been
positioned in accordance with the configuration of Figure 10, '
it is necess-ary to remove the fabric or cloth 158 to permit the '
patient with'the wheeL chair to move away ~rom the bed. For this ~'
purpose, one end of the fabric or cloth 158 may be removed from
one of the supporting mem~ers 156, and the removed end may be
attached or stored on the other supporting member.
To carry out the operational procedures of Figures 11-16, ~'
it is necessary to operate motors 76 and 142 in predetermined
sequence.' A motor 176 i9 also provided for purposes of raising
and lowering the movable bed frame 54. This motor 176 may be
connected by conventional linkage, not shown, to the shaft 112
of the elevating column 96. ;
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Figure 13 shows the arrangement in which the el.evator
. columns 96 at ea~h corner o the bed are operated by the motor 176.
The sha~t of the motor is connected to a direction changing unit ~.
230 having bevel gears which allow the axis of the motor shaft .
j~ S . to be perpe~dicular to the axis of the shaft 112 driving the
elevator column 96. ~urther bevel gears (not shown) in column 96
transmit the motion of shaft 112 t:o s~aft 112a, for example.
~! The direction changing unit 230 with b.evel gears is commercially . :
~' available and known.in the art. :. -
An advantageous. variation o~ the configuration of
Fi.gures 1-5 is the arrangement o~ Figures 14-22 which show ..
` diagrammatically the relative positions o the bed elements,,~j the patient, and the. toilet.
' Starting from Flgure 14 which shows the patient reclined
.'15 .on the bed 30 prior to being positioned for seating on the toilet, . .i
Figure 15 shows the next step.in which a frame holder 370 is
rotated:about the pivot 40 and.produces bending of the patient's :;
, ~,
knees.. A supporting member 372 linked to the frame holder 370
at the pivot 42, ¢auses rotation-of the foot section 38 about a
~20. pivot 374... Figure 16 shows the oot section 38 sliding on the
supporting member 372 as the knees of the patient are raised.
Fi.gure 17 shows the relative positions o~ the section 38 and the : :
. .:
supporting membe`r 372 af~er. these two elements have separated. .. :.`
. In Figure 18, the ~oot section 38 has dropped back in place and -.
25 . in alignment with the sections-34 and 36, after elemen~s 370
and 3.72 are substantially at right angles to each other.;:
In the next step, shbwn in Figure 19, the center and foot
' sections 36 and 38 become positioned in front of the toilet bowl
,- 44 in superimposed manner. Thereafter the sections 36 and 38 are
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moved out of the superimposed position and become located on
respective sides of the toilet bowl so that the front area of the
bowl is free for accommodating the legs of the patient when seated
upright over the bowl. This is hown in Figure 20. In Figure 21,
the toilet seat 46 is brought into contact with the patient while .
the latter's back is still horizon~al. The patient, together
. with the head section 34, toilet seat, and members 37Q, 372 are
then rotated about pivot 48 for the purpose of seating the patient
in upright position over the toilet bowl, as shown~n Figure 22.
Z 10 In the above description o Figures 14-22, foot section
38 is rotated about pivot 374 by m~tor means connected to this
pivot, for example, so that section 38 may be positioned
rotatably independent of the motion of link 372.
It is also possible to carry out the step of Figure 15 .
after the foot section 38 has been moved in front of the toilet
- bowl, as shown in Figure 19, so that this section does not have
to be: rotated in proceeding from the step of Figure 15 to
Figure 18.
The~c~n~truction for carrying out the procedure of
~0 Figures 14-22 is shown in Figure 23. The supporting member 372
carries substantially plate-shaped elements 378 and 380 which are .
pivoted a~ their ends onhinges 381. These elements 378, 380
serve to support the lower leg portions of the patient when the
. . . knees are raised. The hinges 381 allow the elements 378,380
25- to be turned against the internal walls of the main frame 376
for the purpose of permitting the passage of the wheel chair.
At the ends of the supporting member 372, are rollers
382 which ride on a bearing surface 384 during the initial
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106Z4~7
rotation o~ the frame holder 370.. The bearing surface 384 lies
on top of a traok section 386 along which the center section 36 . :
is moved into position in front of the bowL 44. Another track
section 388 serves to guide the foot section 38 during the
. 5 movement to the position in ront o~ the bowl 44. The tracks ~.-
386 and 388 are mounted on the internal walls of the main frame
376. The positions of the structural elements in Figure 23
correspond to the diagrammatic view of Figure 20.
To move the sections 38 and 36 so that their upper planar
. 10 surfaces become located parallel to the internal walls of the
.
main rame 376, corresponding to the view of Figure 23, these
.
sections are mounted on frames 390carrying, at one end, rollers
392 w~ich ride within their respective track sections 386, 388.
The other ends of the frame 390 carry hingeunits 394 on which are
mounted further rollers 396 used to guide the respective section .
36, 38 in the tracks 386, 388.
Aftex the foot and center sections 38 and 36, respectively, ` .
. . .
are located in the positions shown in Figure 19, in front of the .,
bowl 44, the section 38 is turned about its hinge unit 394 so
20 as to bring the upper surface of this section 38 parallel to the .
internal wall sur*ace of the main frame 376. The resultant
position of this section 38 is shown in Figure 23. Section 36 i5,
thereafter al30 turned about its hinge unit 394 for the purpose ~.
of bringing it into the extended position shown in Figure 23.
25 To permit turning of the section 3~ to the position shown in
. Figure 23, openings 398 communicating with the respective track
section 388, are provided to permit free passage of the rollers
396 out of the track.
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1~624~)7
To allow free 'turning of secti.on 36 to the position shown
in Figure 23, on the other hand, the frame 390 has an attached
end member 400 provided with projecting pins 402. These pins
engage the slots 404 of a carrying plate 406. The latter has
mounted thereon rolIers 392 which ride in the respective track
section 386. In turning the section 36, the plate 406 together
with associated rollers 392 remains in position on track 386,
while the pins 402 are withdrawn from the slots 4Q4 and thereby
- allow free passage of the section 36 ~rom in front of the bowl 44 '.
; lû to the position in. Fi.gure 23. The constr.uction of Figure 23,
corresponds to the diagrammatic view of Figure 20. Turning o~
the sections 36 and 38 on the hinge units 394,. may be achieved
by means of geared motors 408 mounted on the units.
,i ..
To pernùt tipping or turning of the section 38 during the
steps of Figures 15-17 ~ the frame 39û holding the foot section
38, has attached thereto a pivot pin. 374. An auxiliary pin 410,
alsc~ attached to the frame 390,. moves ou~ of the slot 412 in a
plate 414 carrying the rollers 392 riding in the guide track 3B8.
i's -construction is s~hown in Figure 23.. Accordingly, during the ',
j 2a : tipping or turn-ing of the foot section 38, the rollers 392 remain
in the-'guide track'383, while the section 38 ~ogether with frame ."
390 pivot about pin 374 and pin ~10 is withdrawn from the slot 412. ~ iIn view of the different height locations of the.tracks
........... .386 and 388 on the walls of the main rame 376, the plate 406 is
dimensioned suf~iciently wide for the purpose of raising the .'''
center section 36 the proper amount sa that the top surfaceS of
. the sectioAs 36 and 38 are substantially coplanar
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~O~iZ407
Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully
reveal the gist of the present invention that others can, by
applying current knowLedge, readily adapt it ~or various
applications without omitting features that, from the stand- .
point of prior art, fairly constitute essential characteristics
of the generic or a specific aspect of this invention, and
therefore such adaptations sh~uld .md are intended to be com- :
prehended within the meaning and range o~ equivalence of the
. .following claims-.
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