Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
5629-2 CJL June 6, 1990 D3
TITLE OF THE INVENTION
,. BED RESTRAINT
FIELD OF TFIE INVENTION
This invention relates to the field of bed ;
restraints. More particularly thus invention relates to
a patient restraining device mountable on a hospital
bed for restraining and controlling patient movement.
B,t~CKOROUND OF TILE INVENTION
Patient restraint is often necessary in a health
care setting to prevent a patient from wandering and to
prevent self injury by falling or climbing out of bed.
This is a particular problem with unattended patients
who are unconscious, confused or otherwise mentally
incapacitated or violent.
Belts, straps and other body restraints have
traditionally laeen used to achieve patient
immobilization. However, there are known physical and
psychological disadvantages to such restraints. Many
patients are angered and frustrated by the forcible
restraint achieved by belts and straps which could lead
to a delayed recovery.
Known prior art devices have attempted to overcome
these disadvantages. The known prior art in this area
includes U.S. 2,603,210 (Taylor), U.S.1,892,378
(Berns~tein), U.S. 2,035,343 (Riley), U.S. 1,916,016
(Riley), U.S. 1,708,855 (Thompson}, U.S. 4,017,917
(Brown), U.S. 1,120,621 (McLaird), U.S. 1,216,720
(Morrill), U.S. 3,878,570 (Donnelly), U.S. 1,087,804
(Metzenbacher}, U.S. 4,541,387 (Bondy et al.). The most
relevant piece of prior art is found in U.S. 4,641,387
(Bandy et al., 2087).
Bandy et al. discloses the principle of a screened
bed enclosure which forms a housing over a hospital bed
yet still alls~ws for ready patient access through
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zippered openings around the perimeter of the
screening. Bondy also recognizes the attendant
advantages such an enclosure provides by reducing mental
and/or physical intimidation.
However, the device disclosed by Bondy et al.
includes a ground or floor engaging means. The
patient's bed is effectively parked on this means much
in the same way as a car would be parked in a garage.
Both the hospital bed and the patiewt are unable to be
1o transported freely while the restraining device is in
use. Further means militating against any relative
movement between the bed and the framework is also
required when the Bondy restraint is in use.
It is a feature of the present invention to provide
a tent-like restraining device for a bed and which is
moveable with the bed as it moves.
It is another feature of the present invention to
provide a restraining device which is adaptable to and
mountable on most hospital beds.
It is a further feature of the present invention to
provide a tent-like restraint which is readily affixed
to any bed in a simple, cost-effective manner.
The present invention provides a patient restraint
which is adaptable to most beds, easily maintained and
cleaned and is easily assembled, dismantled and
transferred to other beds or placed into storage. The
restraint of the present invention is aesthetically
pleasing which has psychological benefits to both the
user and the family of the user.
SUP~lARX ~F TH&~ INVENTIOivT
According to the present invention a patient
restraining device is provided, comprising:
(aj frame means removably mounted to a bed;
(b) a fabric tent attached to the frame means such
that the fabric tent defines a fully enclosed
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space for receiving a patient upon interaction
with the bed, the enclosed space having twa
side portions, an end portion, a head portion
,and a roof portion; and
(c) said fabric tent also having screen mesh
portions centrally located on and
encompassing at least fifty percent of the
surface area of the side portions or the
fabric tent and the screen mesh portions being
detachably joined to the surrounding fabric
such that egress out of the enclosure is
inhibited when joined.
In accordance with another aspect of the invention
a patient restraining and controlling device is provided
wherein the frame means comprises a
(a) first pair of vertical frame members
removably attached to the headboard of the
bed,
(b) a second pair of vertical frame members
removably attached to the footboard of the
bed, and
(c) a pair of horizontal frame members joining
the first pair of vertical frame members to
the.second pair of vertical .frame members.
In accordance with another aspect of the present
invention a restraining and controlling device is
provided wherein a pair of horizontal frame members are
slidably positioned within sleeves positioned along the
length of a roof portion of a fabric tent such that the
fabric tent is suspended from the horizontal frame
members.
In accordance with a further aspect of the
invention the fabric and screen enclosure has a floor
which rests on top of the bed and into which the bed
mattress is inserted thereby fixing the shape of the
tent.
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Other and further advantages and features of the
invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art
from the following detailed description 'taken in
conjunction with the following drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTI~N OF THE DRAWINGS
Figure 1 is a footboard perspective view of one
embodiment of a bad restraint of the invention fully
mounted onto a hospital bed in the closed '°restraint°'
position, with a patient resting inside;
Figure 2 is a perspective view of a hospital bed
illustrating the attachment of vertical frame members
to the headboard and footboard in one embodiment of the
bed restraint;
Figure 3 is a perspective view of one embodiment of
the present invention illustrating the fabric and screen
Cant-like enclosure and the positioning of the
horizontal support bars from which the enclosure is
suspended; and
Figure 4 is a headboard perspective view of one
embodiment of the bed restraint fully mouwted on a
hospital bed in the open "unrestrained" position.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION ~F THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS -
In accordance with an aspect of the present
invention, 'the bed restraint of the present invention is
adaptable for mounting to any standard bed. In the
preferred embodiment illustrated in the figures the
invention has been adapted and mounted onto a standard
D.M.I. (Dominion Metalware Industries Ltd., Patent No.
905056) hospital bed. This preferred embodiment is
known to the applicant by the trade-mark DAVROL TENT.
In this particular embodiment, with reference to
the figures, the fabric tent 10 of the restraint farms a
fully enclosed fire-proof structure made of a polyester
core with polyvinyl. chloride (PVC) coating (V-650).
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Along the longitudinal side portions, 12 and 14, of
the restraint and in the roof portion, 16, at least 500
of the fabric is replaced in the central areas of the
side and roof portions by mesh screening 18 which may or
may not be of the same material as the non-mesh fabric
in the walls of the restraint. On the side portions the
mesh screening is detachably attached to the surrounding
non-mesh fabric of the restraint by way of a zipper 20.
Other detachable attachment means could also be used.
The zipper 20 need not be accessible to the patient.
The screened enclosure ensures the safety of the patient
while maintaining the patient's dignity and permitting
same movement within the bed. Optional locking devices
could be incorporated depending on patient requirements.
The zippered screened sides allow access to the bed
from either side and when closed the patient still
remains highly visible.
The screens can be fully opened (see Figure 3)
allowing patient access by medical staff with minimal,
if any, interference by the restraint structure.
The side screens combined with the screened roof
allow ample lighting and air circulation.
In the preferred embodiment illustrated in the
figures adjustable locking screw knobs 22 and 24 allow
for dismantling, reassembling and adjusting to suitable
sizes and needs of the bed. These also allow for easy
transfer of the restraint from one bed to another. When
not in use the restraint can easily be stored in its
dismantled state to use a minimum of storage space.
The simple frame structure of the present invention
also minimizes manufacturing costs associated with the
manufacture of such a restraint. In the embodiment of
the present invention, which can be disassembled, the
horizontal frame members 26 and the vertical frame
members 28 and 30 are simple to construct and simple to
store. If necessary the horizontal and vertical frame
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members of the restraint can be replaced without
replacing the fabric tent, and vice versa. These
features particularly suit the use of this restraint by
institutions such as hospitals.
Turning to the Figures in more detail, a standard
hospital bed 32 has been provided with a patient
restraint and controlling device 34 which is mountable
thereon and adaptable thereto. Vertical frame members
28 and 30 are mounted onto the headboard 36 and
footboard 38 respectively by way of channel means 40 and
42 mounted on the headboard 36 and footboard 38
respectively. One skilled in the art would appreciate
that other suitable mounting means could be used.
Optional screw knobs 24 allow the vertical frame
members 28 and 30 to be adjusted upwards or downwards as
required.
In the present embodiment the vertical frame
members 28 and 30 have been paired. Other
configurations would be understood by one skilled in the
art. The uppermost portion of mach of the vertical
frame members 28 and 30 is bent at a ninety degree
angle to form an inverted "L'°, 43. Each '°L" terminates
in a housing 44 having an opening 46 therethrough which
supports the horizontal frame members 26 from which the
fabric tent 10 is suspended. Optional screw knobs 22
allow the horizontal frame members 26 to be adjusted as
required.
In this preferred embodiment channels 40 are
standard features of a D.M.I. hospital bad as are the
hand grips 48 and bumpers 50 attached to the headboard
36. In other embodiments it may be necessary to mount
appropriate channels on to the headboard and footboard.
The fabric tent 10 has sleeves 52 attached (or
integrally formed therewith) to either side of the roof
portion 54. As illustrated in Figure 3, horizontal
frame members 26 are slidably inserted into sleeves 52
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and fixed in position by way of screw knobs 22 or by any
other suitable locking means. The temt fabric 10 so
mounted is suspended in position from the horizontal
frame members 26, hanging in position over the bed
surface 56 and between vertical frame members 28 and
30. Other ways of mounting the fabric tent onto the
frame would be understood by one skilled in the art.
Fabric tent 10 is fully enclosed in the present
embodiment and when suspended on horizontal frame
members 26 the floor 58 of the fabric tent 10 should
rest on the bed surface 56 with a small slack in the
tent walls 60, 62, 64 and 66. The degree of slack in
the walls of the fabric tent 10 is adjustable by
lowering or raising the vertical frame members 28 and 30
appropriately. These vertical frame members may be
fixed in place by way of screw knobs 22 and 24 or other
suitable locking means.
A mattress 68 is then placed on top of the floor 58
of the fabric tent 10. The fabric tent can be made to
any size mattress depending on the bed size. The
contiguous floor 58 of the fabric tent 10 offers the
advantage that the tent is fixed in position once the
mattress 68 is inserted> Other means for fixing the
position of the tent would be known to one skilled in
the art.
Fabric tent 10 is the entire tent enclosure. It
mounts onto horizontal frame members 26 (ar other
suitable support). The fabric tent 10 has two side
portions 62 and 64 and two end portions 60 and 66,
which combine to form the walls of the enclosure, and a
roof portion 54. Each side portion may contain one or
mare mesh screens 18 of which one or more may be
zippered, detachably joining it to the surrounding non-
mesh fabric. The purpose of the detachable join being
to allow access into and egress out of the restraint.
The join is devised such that a patient cannot readily
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get out of the tent on his own or on her own. The roof
portion 16 may also contain screen mesh 18.
In the illustrated embodiment, optional head and
foot support panels are provided, 70 and 72
respectively. In this embodiment the panels are made of
plywood but any other suitable material could be used.
Ideally the surface of the panels could be finished so
as to match the surface finish of the headboard 36 and
footboard 38.
One advantage of panels 70 and 72 is 'that they
restrict outward distortion of the tent. This aids in
the stability of the tent in the event that the patient
kicks or punches the ends from within.
Another advantage of the end panels 70 and 72 is
that they can be used as supports far intravenous (IV)
equipment and other types of medical technplogy.
~rommets, 74, of varying sizes, may be positioned
in the fabric tent 10 to allow for installation of IV
tubing, catheter tubing or other medical devices.
To prevent patient injury, panels 70 and 72 may be
padded on the inside and covered, for example, with a
Pvc coating (v-65n).
The preferred embodiment described herein relates
to a hospital bed however the invention could be adapted
for use as a restraining and/or controlling device for
any bed. ~ther examples of use would include persons
receiving homecare who have been mentally incapacitated
by stroke or Alzheimer's disease. The device could also
be adapted for use on an upper bunk bed to prevent
children from falling out or getting naught in the side
bar.
Although preferred embodiments of the invention
have been described herein in detail, it will be
understood by those skilled in the art that variations
may be made thereto without departing from the spirit of
the invention or the scope of the appended claims.
