Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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ABED
FIELD
[0001] The present invention relates to beds and more particularly to beds
that provide
movement for the person occupying the bed.
BACKGROUND
[0002] Beds generally consist of a platform that is to support a person in a
lying or reclining
position.
[0003] In addition to supporting the person on the bed, some beds also provide
a vibration
function, as well as being able to adjust various portions of the platform so
as to locate the
occupant of the bed in a desired position.
[0004] However the above described beds suffer from the disadvantage that they
do not provide
a rocking motion.
OBJECT
[0005] It is the object of the present invention to overcome or substantially
ameliorate the above
disadvantage.
SUMMARY OF INVENTION
[0006] There is disclosed herein a bed assembly including:
a platform to support a person in a lying and/or reclined position;
a support member fixed to the platform so as to extend downwardly therefrom;
a base;
a linkage assembly supporting the member on the base for movement about two
space
first pivots providing first pivot axes that are generally parallel,
horizontal and transversely
spaced about which the member moves to cause movement of the platform.
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[0007] Preferably, the bed assembly includes a motor means to cause movement
of the linkage
assembly and therefore cause movement of the platform.
[0008] Preferably, the assembly includes two spaced second pivots providing
second pivot axes
that are generally parallel, horizontal and transversely spaced, and parallel
to the first pivot axes,
with the platform being supported so as to move angularly about the first and
second pivot axes.
[0009] Preferably, the first pivots are upper pivots, and the second pivots
lower pivots, with the
first pivots being transversely spaced by a predetermined distance, with said
distance being
adjustable.
[0010] Preferably, the assembly includes an adjustment mechanism to alter said
distance, the
adjustment mechanism moving the first pivot in unison either toward or away
from each other.
[0011] Preferably, the adjustment mechanism includes springs that maintain the
adjustment
mechanism in tension.
[0012] Preferably, the assembly includes a plurality of links, with each link
extending between a
respective one of the upper pivots and a respective one of the lower pivots.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0013] Preferred forms of the present invention will now be described by way
of example with
reference to the accompanying drawings wherein:
[0014] Figure 1 is a schematic end elevation of a bed assembly;
[0015] Figure 2 is a schematic end elevation of a modification of the bed
assembly of Figure 1;
[0016] Figure 3 is a schematic end elevation of a linkage assembly employable
in the bed
assemblies of Figures 1 and 2;
[0017] Figure 4 is a modification of the linkage assembly of Figure 3;
[0018] Figure 5 is a further modification of the linkage assembly of Figure 3;
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[0019] Figure 6(A) is a schematic top plan view of the bed assembly of Figures
Ito 5;
[0020] Figure 6(B) is a schematic side elevation of the assembly as shown in
Figure 6(A)'
[0021] Figure 7 is a schematic end elevation of a modification of the linkages
of Figure 3:
[0022] Figure 8(A) is a schematic top plan view of a modification of the
assembly as shown in
Figure 6(A);
[0023] Figure 8(B) is a schematic side elevation of the assembly as shown in
Figure 8(A);
[0024] Figure 9 is a schematic end elevation of a modification of the linkage
assembly shown in
Figure 3;
[0025] Figure 10 is a further schematic end elevation of the linkage of Figure
3;
[0026] Figure 11 is a schematic end elevation of the linkage assembly of
Figure 3:
[0027] Figure 12 is a schematic end elevation of the linkage assembly of
Figure 11;
[0028] Figure 13 is a schematic top plan view of portion of the bed of Figure
1;
[0029] Figure 14 is a schematic side plan view and side elevation of the bed
assembly of Figure
1;
[0030] Figure 15 are schematic end and side elevations of portions of the bed
assembly of Figure
1;
[0031] Figure 16 are schematic side and end elevations of a modification of
the assembly as
shown in Figure 16;
[0032] Figure 17 are schematic end elevations of portions of the assemblies as
shown in Figures
16 and 17;
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[0033] Figure 18 is a schematic end elevation of a modification of the bed
assembly of Figure 1;
and
[0034] Figure 19 is a schematic side elevation of the bed assembly of Figure
18.
DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS
[0035] In Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings there is schematically
depicted a bed assembly
10. The assembly 10 includes a platform 11 that would typically receive a
mattress so that the
platform 11 can support a person in a lying position. In that respect it
should be appreciated the
platform Ii could be shaped so that the person is supported in a reclining
position or any other
desired position.
[0036] The assembly 10 also includes a base 12, that would rest on a floor
surface, having end
members 13 providing at their upper portions pivot brackets 18. The pivot
brackets 18 engage a
linkage assembly 14 that includes a beam 15. Fixed to the beam 15 is at least
one post 16 that
extends upwardly from the beam 15 to be fixed to an under portion of the
platform 11 so that the
platform 11 is supported thereby.
[0037] It should be appreciated that in this embodiment, and the following
embodiments, the
assemblies illustrated are located at one longitudinal end of the bed, with an
identical assembly
being provided at the opposite end of the bed. In such an arrangement the
platform 11 sways
transversely of the longitudinal direction of extension of the bed. In
alternative embodiments,
the assembly 10 could be arranged so that the platform 11 moves in the
longitudinal direction of
the bed.
[0038] The linkage assembly 14 provides pivots 19 and 20, with the pivots 19
and 20 providing
generally horizontal parallel and transversely spaced pivot axes including an
upper two axes
provided by the pivots 19, and lower axes provided by the pivots 20. The
assembly also
provides links 17 that extend between pivots 19 and 20 so as to support the
beam 15.
[0039] Extending between the base 12 and the beam 15 is a motor means 21 that
causes
reciprocation in the direction 22 of the beam 15 thereby providing the
platform 11 with a similar
motion.
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[0040] The motor means 21 may be an electric, pneumatic or hydraulic motor, or
a linear
actuator.
[0041] Preferably the motor means 21 would be operatively associated with a
controller 23 that
is programmable to provide adjustment of the displacement of the beam 15, that
is amplitude and
frequency of the rocking motion of the platform 11.
[0042] In Figure 2 there is schematically depicted a modification of the bed
assembly 10. In this
embodiment a crank assembly 24 is provided that includes a crank member 25
that is pivotally
supported for rotation about a generally horizontal axis. Extending from the
crank member 25 so
as to be fixed to the beam 15 is a linkage 26 so that upon rotation of the
crank member 25 the
beam 15 is caused to oscillate in the direction 22. There is also provided a
resistance member 27
to resist motion of the beam 15 to provide a resistance in respect of the
movement thereof to
compensate for any lost motion in the drive mechanism in respect of the beam
15.
[0043] In Figure 3 (and Figures 10 to 12) there is schematically depicted a
modified linkage
assembly 28. The linkage assembly 28 has the purpose of providing an
adjustment for the
position of the pivots 19, to thereby adjust the amplitude the beam 15, and
therefore platform 11
moves through. Additionally the slope of the platform 11 changes with the
movement of the
pivots 19.
[0044] The linkage assembly 28 includes a pair of flanges 29 that are
pivotally fixed to the base
12 for angular movement about pivots 30.
[0045] Joining the flanges 29 are linkages 31, 32 and 33, with the linkages 31
to 33 being
pivotally attached, and in turn being pivotally attached to the flanges 29.
The linkage 31 is of an
"L" configuration and cooperates with the linkages 32 and 33 to couple the
flanges 29 so that the
flanges 29 move in unison when being adjusted. The adjustment of the assembly
28 is provided
by angular movement of the shaft 34. Angular movement of the linkage 31 causes
movement of
the flanges 29 angularly along the paths 35. By operation of the shaft 34, the
amount of angular
movement (amplitude) the platform 11 can be adjusted.
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[0046] If so required springs 36 may be provided (Figure 4). The springs 36
extend between the
flanges 29 and the base 12 to urge the assembly 28 to a desired position, that
is the assembly 28
would be preloaded. Preferably, and as shown in Figure 5, a linear actuator 37
may act on a
lever 38 fixed to the shaft 34 to (a) in taking up lost motion, and in
particular inhibiting backlash.
[0047] In Figure 6(A) there is schematically depicted in plan view the
modification as shown in
Figure 3, with a linear actuator or other drive mechanism 39, used to push or
pull a lever 40 fixed
to the shaft 34. By operation of the mechanism 39, preferably via the control
23, the degree of
angular movement (amplitude) of the platforms 11 can be adjusted.
[0048] In Figure 7 there is schematically depicted a threaded rod 41 that is
angularly operated
either by motor or manually, to cause angular movement of a lever 42 to cause
angular
movement of the shaft 34 and therefore angular movement of the flanges 29 to
adjust the
position of the pivots 19. This arrangement is shown in plan view in Figure
8(A) and the side
elevation in Figure 8(B).
[0049] In a still further embodiment as shown in Figure 9, a flange 42 may be
provided, and a
lever 43 fixed to the shaft 34 and moved angularly relative to the flange 32
so that a pin may
pass through the flange 42 and lever 43 to fix the shaft 34 in a desired
position and therefore
have the pivots 19 located in a desired position.
[0050] With reference to Figures 13 and 14, there is extending between the
base 12 and platform
11, stabilising bars 45 that are pivotally attached to the platform 11 and
base 12 to aid in
stabilising movement of the platform 11.
[0051] In Figures 15 and 16 there is schematically various safety strips or
covers 46 that extend
between the platform 11 and base 12 to inhibit access to any gaps therebetween
that may cause
injury should a persons hand or foot become located therein.
[0052] In Figure 18 there is schematically depicted a modification of the
assembly 28. In this
embodiment there is provided a pivotally mounted flange 49 attached to the
flanges 29 by
linkages 48. By operation of a lever 49 and connecting rod 50, the flange 47
is moved angularly
to adjust the position of the flanges 29 and therefore the position of the
pivots 19.
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[0053] As best seen in Figure 19, the linkage assembly 28 may be arranged so
that the platform
11 is suspended thereby, with the assemblies 28 located in enclosed chambers
51.
