Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
21 ~361 2
BED HAVING A SUPPORT SURFACE COMPRISING SECTIONS WHICH
CAN BE RECLINED BY MEANS OF A MANUALLY OPERATED
SEMIAUTOMATIC MECHANISM
The present invention relates to a bed in which
the mattress support surface is composed of a plurality
of transverse sections hinged to one another and
reclinable to a plurality of positions, from the
horizontal lying position to a sinuous sitting or
chaise-longue position, by means of a manually operated
semiautomatic mechanism.
It is known that there exist various types of
beds which have a mattress support surface which can be
articulated in three or more transverse sections.
These transverse sections can be variously
reclined by means of manual or electrical mechanisms in
order to ensure the m~x;ml,m comfort of the occupant of
the bed for sleeping and also for reading, writing or
watching television.
In addition, beds composed of reclinable sections
are also the most suitable for correctly solving
positioning problems for persons confined to bed for
health reasons.
The demand for ever increasing comfort has led to
the provision of an increasingly large number of artic-
ulated sections, each of which has associated with it anelectromechanical control device which can be actuated by
means of a pushbutton connected to the structure of the
bed, or by means of remote controls.
On the other hand, these electromechanical
control devices can be used only in rooms provided with
an electricity supply, and in any case they cannot be
used if the electric power supply fails.
Moreover, the cost of- manufacturing these
electrically controlled beds is increased substantially
by the fact that the number of electromechanical control
devices provided corresponds to the number of articulated
sections to be operated.
It should be pointed out that operating costs are
21 9361 2
also substantially increased by the periodic servicing
- operations which these electromechanical devices require
and by the necessary repair of damage which can occur
~ with all electrically operated appliances.
5For the above reasons, the main object of the
invention is that of providing a bed having a support
surface composed of reclinable sections, which offers the
same facilities as electrically controlled beds without
requiring the use of electromechanical control means.
10Another object of the invention is that of
providing a bed of the type described which has
characteristics such as to obviate the limitations and
disadvantages of electrically controlled beds and to
widen the utilizability of this type of bed comprising
articulated sections, thus reducing both the cost of
manufacture and operating costs.
These and other objects are achieved in
accordance with the invention with a bed having a support
surface composed of reclinable surfaces which has the
characteristics claimed hereinbelow.
The objects, characteristics and advantages of
the bed according to the invention will become clear from
the following description given with reference to the
accompanying diagrammatical drawings, in which
25Figure 1 shows a side view of the bed according
to the invention in the horizontal coplanar position;
Figure 2 shows the bed according to the invention
in a slightly sinuous position;
Figure 3 is a side view of the bed in a
moderately sinuous position;
Figure 4 shows, likewise in side view, the bed
according to the invention in a sinuous sitting position;
Figures 5 and 6 show two enlarged details of
Figure l;
35Figures 7 and 8 show two enlarged details of
Figure 2;
Figures 9 and 10 show two enlarged detàils of
Figure 3;
Figures 11 and 12 show two enlarged details of
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_ _ 3 -
Figure 4.
Referring to Figures 1, 2, 3, and 4, the bed 20
is composed essentially of a frame 21 which carries the
~ support surface 22 of the mattress 23.
The frame 21 is made of steel tubing having a
hollow quadrangular section and comprises four vertical
uprights or legs 24 connected by two longitudinal members
25, which extend along the sides of the bed 20, and two
cross members 26 respectively positioned to correspond to
the head and foot of the bed 20.
The frame 21 of the bed carries a support surface
22 for the mattress 23, said support surface consisting
of a plurality of transverse sections articulated to one
another and to the frame 21 in such a manner as to be
reclinable to a plurality of positions included between
a horizontal coplanar position (Figure 1) and a sinuous
sitting position (Figure 4).
Starting from the head of the bed 20, there are
provided a section supporting the head and cervical
lordosis, which in the remainder of the description will
be referred to as the cervical section 27, a dorsal
section 28 to support dorsal cyphosis, a lumbar section
29 to support lumbar lordosis, a sacral section 30 to
support the sacral part, a femoral section 31 to support
the femoral portion of the lower joints, and finally a
section 32 to support the legs and feet of the occupant's
body.
In a manner known per se each section is composed
essentially of two longitudinal sides made of steel
tubing having a hollow quadrangular section and inter-
connected by crossbars (not shown in the drawings).
Each support section is hinged to the adjacent
support section about horizontal axes of rotation
extending transversely along the top edges of the support
sections, with the exception of the ~ection 32 for legs
and feet and of the femoral section 31, which are hinged
along their bottom edges.
The cervical section 27 and the dorsal section 28
are also interconnected by a device, known per se and not
~ _4 2193612
described, capable of permitting various inclination
~ positions of the cervical section 27 relative to the
dorsal section 28.
- Removably laid on the support surface 22 of the
bed 20 is a mattress 23 constructed to follow the move-
ments of the transverse sections on which it is
supported.
A regulating bar 34 is slidably disposed inside
each longitudinal member 25 of the frame 21 of the bed
20.
The head end of the regulating bar 34 is
connected to the end of a tension spring 35, which is
arranged coaxially in the longitudinal member 25. The
other end of the tension spring 35 is anchored, by means
of fastening systems known per se, to that end of the
longitudinal member 25 which is connected to the vertical
leg 24 at the head end of the frame 21. The front end,
facing the head of the bed 20, and the rear end, facing
the foot of the bed 20, of each regulating bar 34 are
provided with respective pairs of cross pins 36 and 37,
which project horizontally from the sides of the
regulating bar 34. The pair of front pins 36 and the pair
of rear pins 37 of the regulating bar 34 can slide in
respective pairs of horizontal guide and stop slots 38
and 39 formed in the side walls of the longitudinal
member 25.
As can be seen in Figures 5, 7, 9, ll, keyed
around the front cross pins 36 of the regulating bar 34,
in such a manner as to be free to rotate, are both the
bottom end of a connecting rod 40 and the horizontal
rotating shaft of a sliding roller 41, which is slidably
arranged in the longitudinal member 25.
The top end of the connecting rod 40 is
articulated to the dorsal support section 28 and
cooperates, in a manner known per se, with the de~ ce
permitting various inclined positions of the cervical
section 27 relative to the dorsal section 28.
Fixed in the top side of each longit--~;n~l member
25, so as to project vertically, are not only a
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trapezoidal bow 42 but also a triangular bow 43, which
- are respectively positioned to correspond to said front
and rear guide and stop slots 38, 39 for the regulating
- bar 34 in the longitl-~;n~l member 25.
The trapezoidal bow 42 has a guide slot 44, which
extends on a substantially arcuate path (Figures 5, 7, 9,
11), and two cross pins 45, 46 which are respectively
keyed to a top lobe of the bow 42 and to the bottom side
of the bow 42, for reasons which will be described
further on below.
The triangular bow 43 has a guide slot 47, which
extends on a substantially sinuous path on which a
concave portion, facing the foot of the bed 20, is
followed by a convex portion facing the head of the bed
20.
Hinged in the top vertex of the triangular bow
43, in such a manner as to be free to rotate about a
horizontal axis, is a connecting arm 48 which has a
substantially conical shape.
The middle portion of the connecting arm 48 has
a rectilinear longitudinal slot 49.
Formed in the bottom end of the conical arm 48 is
an open slot 73 in which is slidably engaged a rear cross
pin 37 of the regulating bar 34, said pin also being at
the same time slidably guided in a rear horizontal slot
39 of the longitudinal member 25.
Provided on the top side of each longitudinal
member 25, next to said trapezoidal bow 42, is a
retaining device for the regulating bar 34 housed in the
longitudinal member 25 disposed therebeneath.
The retaining device comprises essentially a pawl
50 which is positioned on each longitll~;n~l member 25 to
correspond to indentations 51, 52, 53, 54 formed in the
surface of the regulating bar 34. One end of the pawl 50
is pivoted about a rotating shaft 55, which firmly
connects the pawls 50 provided on the longitll~;n~
members 25.
The free end of each pawl 50 is provided with a
hook 56 which, passing through an opening 57 formed in
~ _ - 6 - 2193612
the top side of the longitudinal member 25, can engage in
- the indentations 51, 52, 53, 54 of the regulating bar 34.
The pawls 50 are continuously urged to turn into
- the position of engagement with the indentations 51, 52,
53, 54 of the regulating bar 34 by appropriate torsion
springs (not shown in the drawings).
A vertical lever 58 is connected to the rotating
shaft 55 of the pawls 50 to enable the user to disconnect
the pawls 50 manually from the indentations 51, 52, 53,
54 of the regulating bar 34, against the action of the
torsion springs.
In Figures 5, 7, 9, 11 it can be seen that on the
inside of the longitll~;nAl sides of the dorsal section 28
there are also fixed two longitudinal sectional members
59 which extend in cantilever fashion towards the lnmhar
section 29.
Anchored to each cantilever portion of said
longitudinal sectional members 59 is a rectangular guide
bow 60 provided with a guide slot 61 following an
undulating path in which a long curved portion follows a
shorter curved portion.
Slidably engaged in the undulating slot 61 is
said cross pin 45 keyed to the top lobe of the
trapezoidal bow 42.
Also articulated to each cantilever portion of
said longitudinal sectional members 59, for rotation
about a horizontal axis, is the top end of a rectilinear
connecting arm 62.
The bottom end of the connecting arm 62 is
articulated, for rotation about a horizontal axis, to
said cross pin 46 keyed in the bottom part of the
trapezoidal bow 42.
Slidably connected to the dorsal section 28 is
also an elbow bow 63, whose curved end 64 protends
longi~udinally towards the lumbar section 29.
The curved end 64 of the elbow bow 63 is provided
with a pin 65 which is slidably engaged in the arcuate
slot 44 of the trapezoidal bow 42 in order to cooperate
with the articulation device of the cervical section 27
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- 7
relative to the dorsal section 28.
-In a manner known per se the elbow bow 63 is
connected by appropriate lever mechanisms (not shown) to
~the articulation device of the cervical section 27 for
the purpose of varying the inclination of the latter on
variation of the inclination of the dorsal section 28.
Fixed to the longitudinal sides of the femoral
section 31 are two longitudinal plates 66, which extend
over approximately half the longitudinal length of the
femoral section 31 from the edge adjacent to the leg and
foot section 32.
Articulated at the respective ends of each of the
plates 66, for rotation about a horizontal axis, are the
top end of an upright 67, which rises vertically from the
longitudinal member 25, and the top end of a rectilinear
connecting arm 68.
The foot of the upright 67 is fixed to the
longitudinal member 25, while the bottom end of the
connecting arm 68 is provided with a pivot pin 69 which
is slidably engaged both in the sinuous slot 47 of the
triangular bow 43 and in the rectilinear slot 49 of the
conical connecting arm 48.
On the inside of each longitudinal side 33 of the
leg and foot section 32 is fixed a longitudinal plate 70
which is provided with a longitudinal rectilinear slot
71.
Slidably pivoted in said slot 71 is the top end
of an upright 72, which extends vertically from the
longitudinal member 25 in a position correspo~;ng to the
foot of the bed 20.
In the horizontal position of the bed 20 (Figure
1) the support sections 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32 are
coplanar.
The retaining pawl 50 (Figure 5) engages in the
first indentation 51 of the regulating bar 34 and holds
the latter in the position of m~;ml~m displacement
~towards the foot of the bed 20, neutralizing the return
action of the tension spring 35.
The pairs of front and rear cross pins 36, 37 of
219361~
the regulating bars 34 are located at the stroke-limiting
ends of the respective front and rear guide and stop
slots 38,39.
- The cervical section 27 is held in the horizontal
position by the elbow bow 63, whose slidable pin 65 is
situated at one stroke-limiting end of the arcuate slot
44 in the trapezoidal bow 42.
The dorsal section 28 is locked in the horizontal
position by the rod 40 connecting it to the regulating
10bar 34 and by the cross pin 45 of the trapezoidal bow 42,
which is now in a position correspo~ing to one
stroke-limiting end of the undulating slot 61 of the
rectangular bow 60.
The femoral section 31 (Figure 6) is locked in
the horizontal position both by the fixed pin of the
upright 67 and by the pin 69 of the connecting arm 68,
which is now in a position corresponding to one end of
the sinuous slot 47 in the triangular bow 43.
The pin 69 is held in this position by the
longitudinal slot 49 of the conical arm 48, which in turn
is locked in position by the rear cross pins 37 of the
regulating bar 34, which are engaged in the open slot 73.
The leg and foot section 32 is locked in the
horizontal position by the pin of the upright 72, lying
at one stroke-limiting end of the longitudinal slot 71 in
the plate 70.
Starting from the horizontal position illustrated
in Figures 1, 5 and 6, the user can recline the bed 20
into a slightly sinuous position (Figures 2, 7 and 8) by
carrying out the following operations:
Firstly, the user operates the lever 58 to
disengage the pawl 50 from the first indentation 51 of
the regulating bar 34.
After this, the user moves the upper part of his
body towards the sacral section 30, Ol exerts pressure on
the sacral section 30, and releases his hold on the lever
58.
The regulating bar 34, released from the pawl 50,
mo~es towards the head of the bed 20, both through the
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return action of the tension spring 35 and through the
load which the user has transferred towards the sacral
section 30.
At the same time, the lever 58 is shifted by its
torsion spring to a position in which its hook 56 comes
into contact with the surface of the regulating bar 34
until it engages in the second indentation 52 and blocks
the movement of the bar 34 (Figure 7).
During the movement of the regulating bar 34, the
connecting rod 40 follows the bar 34 and brings about the
displacement of the dorsal section 28. The latter moves
to a slightly reclined position in which the pin 45 keyed
in the top lobe of the trapezoidal bow 42 has been moved
into an indentation interposed between two curved parts
of the undulating slot 61 in the rectangular bow 60
(Figure 7).
The elbow bow 63 follows the displacement of the
dorsal section 28 and is pushed towards the interior of
the dorsal section 28 through the sliding of the pin 65
in the arcuate slot 44.
By means of lever mechanisms known per se the
movement of the elbow bow 63 brings about the displace-
ment of the cervical section 27 to a position slightly
inclined relative to the dorsal section 28 (Figure 2).
The ll~har section 29 is moved downwards, follow-
ing the lowering of the sacral section 30 and turning
towards the head of the bed 20 the top end of the con-
necting arm 62 to which it is pivoted.
The sacral section 30 is moved downwards by the
thrust exerted by the user.
The femoral section 31 swings about the fixed pin
of the upright 67 to a slightly inclined position (Figure
8).
The movement of the femoral section 31 is due to
the rotation which the conical arm 48 has made about its
top pin because of the thrust applied by the rear cross
pin 37 in its open slot 73 during the movement of the
regulating bar 34.
The rotation of the conical arm 48 has brought
2 1 936 1 2
-- -- 10
the pivot pin 69 of the connecting arm 68 to a position
- between the concave portion and the convex portion in the
sinuous slot 47 of the triangular bow 43.
~ The leg and foot section 32 is swung about the
pin of the upright 72 in order to follow the swinging of
the edge of the femoral section 31 to which it is
pivoted.
The position of the pin of the upright 72 in the
longituinal slot 71 of the plate 70 remains substantially
unchanged.
Starting from the slightly sinuous position shown
in Figure 2, the user can recline the sections of the bed
20 to obtain the moderately sinuous position shown in
Figures 3, 9 and 10 by operating the lever 58 and releas-
ing the pawl 50 from the second indentation 52 of the bar34.
After this, the user moves the upper part of his
body further towards the sacral section 30, or exerts
further pressure on the sacral section 30 and releases
his hold on the lever 58.
The return action of the tension spring 35 and
the load applied by the user to the sacral section 30
bring about a movement of the regulating bar 34 towards
the head of the bed 20.
The pawl 50 of the lever 58, on which in the
meantime the user has released his hold, comes into
engagement with the third indentation 53 of the
regulating bar 34 and blocks the movement of the latter
(Figure 9).
During the movement of the regulating bar 34 the
connecting rod 40 has brought about a further enlargement
of the angle of inclination of the dorsal section 28.
The pin 45 keyed in the top lobe of the
trapezoidal bow 42 ha~ moved into the shorter curve of
the undulating slot 61 of the rectangular bow 60.
The pin 65 of the elbow bow 63 has moved in the
arcuate slot 44 of the trapezoidal bow 42 to a position
which leaves the position of the elbow bow 63
substantially unchanged, so that the inclination of the
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11
cervical section 27 relative to the dorsal section 28
consequently also remains unchanged.
The lumbar section 29 has been further lowered to
follow the downward displacement of the sacral section 30
and has turned the top end of the connecting arm 62, to
which it is pivoted, further towards the head of the bed
20.
The femoral section 31 swings further about the
pin of the upright 67 to assume a moderately reclined
position (Figure 10).
The swinging of the femoral section 31 is brought
about by the further rotation of the conical arm 48,
which in turn is caused to rotate by the rear cross pin
37 of the regulating bar 34, said pin being engaged in
its open slot 73.
The rotation of the conical arm 48 has moved the
pivot pin 69 of the connecting arm 68 into the convex
portion of the sinuous slot 47 of the triangular bow 43.
The leg and foot section 32 has swung about the pin of
the upright 72 to bring about the swinging of the edge of
the femoral section 31 to which it is pivoted.
The pin of the upright 72 is positioned
approximately halfway along its path of movement in the
longitudinal slot 71 of the plate 70.
25Starting from the moderately sinuous position
shown in Figure 3, the user can recline the sections of
the bed 20 to the sinuous sitting position shown in
Figures 4, 11 and 12 by operating the lever 58 and
releasing the pawl 50 from the third indentation 53 of
the bar 34.
After this, the user concentrates the weight of
his upper body on the sacral section 30, or exerts
equivalent pressure on the sacral section 30, and
releases his hold on the lever 58.
35The action of the tension spring 35 and the
pressure exerted by the user on the sacral section 30
bring about the displacement of the regulating bar 34
towards the head of the bed 20 until the pawl 50 of the
lever 58, on which in the meantime the user has released
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_ - 12 -
his hold, engage~ in the fourth indentation 54 of the
regulating bar 34 and locks the movement of the latter
(Figure 11).
The front cross pins 36 of the regulating bar 34
have reached the other stroke-limiting end of the front
guide and stop slots 38.
During the movement of the regulating bar 34, the
connecting rod 40 has brought the dorsal section 38 into
the position of m~ximllm inclination shown in Figure 11.
The pin 45 keyed in the top lobe of the
trapezoidal bow 42 has been brought to the other
stroke-limiting end of the undulating slot 61 in the
rectangular bow 60.
The pin 65 of the elbow bow 63 has been moved to
the other stroke-limiting end of the arcuate slot 44 of
the trapezoidal bow 42, leaving unchanged both the
position of the elbow bow 63 and the inclination of the
cervical section 27 relative to the dorsal section.
The ll~mhar section 29 and the sacral section 30
have been moved further downwards, leaving substantially
unchanged the position of the connecting arm 62 to which
the lumbar section 29 is pivoted.
The femoral section 31 swings further about the
pin of the upright 67 until it reaches its position of
m~x;mllm inclination illustrated in Figure 12.
The swinging of the femoral section 31 is brought
about by the rotation of the conical arm 48, which in
turn is caused to rotate by the rear pin 37 of the
regulating bar 34, which has now reached the other
stroke-limiting end in the respective guide and stop Rlot
39. The rotation of the conical arm 48 has brought the
pivot pin 69 of the connecting arm 68 to the other
stroke-limiting end of the sinuous slot 47 in the tri-
angular bow 43.
The leg anc foot section 32 has followed the
swinging movement of the edge of the femoral section 31
to which it is pivoted for rotation about the pin of the
upright 72 until it reaches its position of m~;mllm
inclination (Figures 4 and 12).
21 9361 2
- 13 -
The pin of the upright 72 is positioned at the
other stroke-limiting end of the longitudinal slot 71 in
the plate 70.
From the sinuous sitting position shown in Figure
4 the user can bring the sections of the bed 20 back to
- any other of the resting positions previously described.
After operating the lever 58 and thereby
releasing the pawl 50 from the fourth indentation 54 in
the regulating bar 34, the user exerts an appropriate
thrust on the cervical section 27, the dorsal section 28
and the lumbar section 29 to bring about a rotation in
the direction of the head of the bed 20. The connecting
rod 40 moves the regulating bar 34 towards the foot of
the bed 20, overcoming the resistance of the tension
spring 35.
The pins 45 and 65 slide respectively in the
undulating slot 61 of the rectangular bow 60 and in the
arcuate slot 44 of the trapezoidal bow 42 in order to
guide the turning of the cervical, dorsal and lumbar
sections 27, 28, 29.
The rear cross pins 37 of the regulating bar 34
bring about the rotation of the conical arm 48 and the
movement of the pin 69 in the sinuous slot 47 of the
triangular bow 43.
The connecting rod 68 swings towards the foot of
the bed 20 and moves the femoral section 31 and the leg
and foot section 32 in the downward direction.
Once the desired position of the bed 20 has been
reached, the user releases his hold on the lever 58.
The lever 58 and the appertaining pawl 50 are
turned by the torsion spring to the position of engage-
ment with the regulating bar 34 to enable the hook 56 of
the pawl 50 to engage in that indentation in the
regulating bar 34 which corresponds to the position
desired by the user.
From the description given it is clear that the
bed 20 according to the invention achieves the main
object of providing the facilities of traditional
electrically controlled beds without re~uiring the use of
2193612
- - 14 -
electromechanical control devices.
In addition, the bed 20 according to the
invention makes it possible to reduce substantially the
manufacturing and operating costs of this type of
reclinable bed, eliminating the use of expensive
electrical equipment and m;n;m; zing servicing and poss-
ible repair work, such as is frequently required for
electrically operated beds.
Modifications and variations can obviously be
made to the bed 20 according to the invention without
thereby departing from the scope of the principal
characteristics claimed hereinbelow.
For example, instead of the regulating bar 34,
the appertaining tension springs 35 and the retaining
means (50-58) it is possible to provide manually operated
gear units consisting of a worm and a gear.
It is also obvious that the bed 20 can be adapted
in a simple and economical manner for use by users who
are disabled or immobilized for health reasons.
In such cases it is sufficient to connect the
abovedescribed gear units to a single electric geared
motor device enabling the user to change the resting
position without varying the distribution of body weight
on the support surface 22 of the mattress 23.
