US3267493A

US3267493A - Adjustable bed

Info

Publication number: US3267493A
Application number: US383573A
Authority: US
Inventors: Pruim Fred; Irvin E Mischler
Original assignee: Borg Warner Corp
Current assignee: B-W HEALTH PRODUCTS INC A CORP OF MO
Priority date: 1964-07-20
Filing date: 1964-07-20
Publication date: 1966-08-23
Anticipated expiration: 1983-08-23
Also published as: GB1091349A; SE331542B

Description

Aug. 23, 1966 F. PRUlM ETAL ADJUSTABLE BED 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 20, 1964 and In verzfi 7:5: Fred Praz'm frvz'nEMz'sckZer F. PRUIM ETAL ADJUSTABLE BED Aug. 23, 1966 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 20, 1964 f red Pru'z'm and 3, 1966 F. PRUIM ETAL 3,267,493

ADJUSTABLE BED Filed July 20, 1964 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 J71. yen Z5715" Fed .Fru 772 and f T'z/z'nEM tat/1Z6? Aug. 23, 1966 F. PRUIM ETAL 3,267,493

I ADJUSTABLE BED File uly 2 1964 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 f 72 Z/eTLZ Z 71s Fred Przzz'm and fraz'rzfiffzlsc'iler Aug. 23, 1966 F. PRUIM ETAL 3,267,493

ADJUSTABLE BED Filed July 20, 1964 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 m e w u rmcm wmm/ 5 rm l mw x If .fl \8 7 j) QTY/4 wfi b H? n W E mi .0 Q L. w L w m l QM N m I: n T @121 H, E w N A r l n 1 1 a fi m i ma1 B @mm 1 m I |.|.||-|1 H W1 4?? n F 5: I at m l|.||1-" HIE: 1 l l I l I l l IILIIFIEHW MN IIIX|IFIILIIII k( F? Elf MR United States Patent 3,267,493 ADJUSTABLE BED Fred Pruim, Chicago, and Irvin E. Mischief, Blue Island, Ill, assignors to Borg-Warner Corporation, Qhicago, Ill, a corporation of Illinois Filed .iuly 20, 1964, Ser. No. 383,573 7 Claims. (Cl. -63) This invention relates to an adjustable bed structure and more particularly, to a bed in which the mattress supporting structure thereof is uniquely adjustably elevated and positioned.

There are many situations in which it is highly desirable and quite beneficial to have an economical adjustable bed wherein the mattress supporting structure thereof may be readily adjustably elevated. The known types of beds of this general nature commonly are provided with extremely complicated and expensive elevation adjusting linkage or else are simple, but somewhat unsafe, unreliable, unstable, limited movement, or are not readily motorized or operated manually.

It is therefore highly desirable to provide a bed having a vertical adjustable mattress supporting frame which is relatively simple and economical in structure, yet one which is sufficiently safe, reliable and stable for hospital standards. Further, it is highly desirable to provide such a bed wherein the elevation linkage thereof is adaptable to manual or motorized operation in which the activating means is substantially positioned in the movable frame portion which is to be vertically positioned.

It is a primary object of this invention to provide a bed having a movable frame which is adjustably supported by adjusting a relatively simple and economical linkage.

Another object of this invention is to provide a bed wherein a movable frame is adjustably supported on a sta tionary frame by adjusting linkage substantially secured and included within the movable frame.

Another object of this invention is to provide a bed having a vertically adjustable movable frame, which by virtue of a unique vertical adjusting linkage, provides a safe, reliable, and stable vertically positioned movable frame.

A further object of this invention is to provide a bed having a movable frame which is vertically adjustably supported on :a relatively fixed frame by a linkage substantially secured to the mattress frame wherein the contemplated embodiments thereof are respectively adapted to manual and motorized actuation.

Another object of this invention is to provide a bed having a movable frame which is vertically adjusted relative to a stationary frame by a linkage which provides a mechanical linkage that facilitates manual or motorized actuation thereof.

With this and other objects in view, the present invention contemplates an adjustable bed having a relatively fixed frame, and a movable frame for supporting an articulated mattress supporting frame wherein a unique linkage is provided between the movable frame and the stationary frame, which provides a linkage for vertically adjusting the movable frame with respect to said fixed frame in a safe, reliable, stable and relativel simple manner when said linkage is actuated.

Other objects, advantages, and novel aspects of the invention will become apparent upon consideration of the following detailed description of a representative embodiment in conjunction with the accompanying drawings herein:

FIG. 1 is a side view of the first embodiment of the invention with the movable frame in the down position.

FIG. 2 is a partial cutaway top view of the first embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 3 is a partial sectional view taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 1 showing the vertical lateral position of the structures of the elevation linkage of the first embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 4 is a partial sectional view of the first embodiment of the invention taken along line 44 of FIG. 3 showing the longitudinal position and configuration of the adjusting linkages thereof.

FIG. 5 is a partial top view of the second embodiment of the invention showing the horizontal lateral position and structure of the elevation linkage thereof.

FIG. 6 is a partial side view of the second embodiment of the invention taken along line 6-6 of FIG. 5 showing the longitudinal position and configuration motorized elevation linkage thereof.

FIG. 7 is a partial sectional view taken along line 7--7 of FIG. 5 showing further particular longitudinal position and configuration of the elevating linkage of the second embodiment of the invention.

PEG. 8 is a partial sectional view taken along line 3-8 of FIG. 7 showing the particular vertical lateral configuration and positioning of the elevation linkage of the second embodiment of the invention.

An illustrative example of the first embodiment of the adjustable bed of this invention is shown in FIGS. 1-4, and is designated generally by the numeral 20. The bed 20 includes generally a relatively stationary base frame 21, a movable frame 22, a jointed or articulated mattress support frame 23, and an adjustable linkage assembly generally designated by the numeral 24, which adjustably interconnects and supports the movable frame 22 with respect to the stationary frame 21.

The adjustable linkage assembly 24 includes generally, among other things, a pair of head or first elevation links 3ft and a pair of foot or second elevation links 31. The head and foot elevation links 3% and 31 are each rigidly secured to

tube shafts

33 and 35. The

shafts

33 and 35 are pivotally mounted on the movable frame 22 and the stationary frame 21 respectively. The

links

30 and 31 are provided with upper extensions 36 that are rigidly secured to the shaft 33.

The upper ends of the head and

foot link extensions

30 and 31 are pivotally interconnected by the third link 32 by pins 37. The head and

foot links

30 and 31 are shown, for purposes of illustration, to be of such configuration and to be so positioned on the movable and

stationary frames

22 and 21, that when the

links

30 and 31 are pivoted, the movable frame 22 will be moved substantially vertically and parallelly with respect to the stationary frame 21.

The elevation linkage assembly 24 further includes, among other things, an actuating mechanism generally designated by the numeral 40 (FIGS. 2-4), and includes, generally, limit support or guide brackets 41 secured to the interconnecting links 32 on

pins

42 and 37. A pulley 43 is rotatably mounted on the pin 42 between the brackets 41, and the brackets are provided with aligned slots 44.

A yoke 4-5 is pivotally connected to a bracket 46 of the movable frame 22 by a screw or pin 47 (FIG. 4) in the bracket 46 and has a cable 43 secured to the left end thereof (FIGS. 2 and 4). The cable 48 extends leftward around the pulley 43 and then to the right, and is secured to a pin 49 adapted to move in the aligned slots 44 of the brackets 41. A manual crank is provided which is axially secured to a threaded shaft 56 that is held against longitudinal movement in a tubular member 57 in a manner well known in the art.

A shaft 58 is slidalbly and telescopically positioned Within the tubular member 57 and is provided with a screw engaging means of any well-known variety (not shown), which is adapted to engage and follow the threads of the threaded shaft 56. The telescoping shaft 58 is pivotally connected to the pin 49 and thus to the cable 48.

In operation, the movable frame 22 of the first embodiment of this invention is elevated by rotating the crank 55 to telescopically drive the shaft 58. When the crank 55 is rotated to draw the shaft 58 to the right (FIGS. 2 and 4), the pin 49 will be moved from left to right in the slots 44 to move the movable frame 22 from the down position as it is shown. For every unit of lineal distance thereby transversed by the pin, the upper portion of the cable 48 between the yoke 45 and the pulley 43 will be shortened by one-half that distance to provide a 2:1 mechanical advantage between the force exerted on the crank actuated pin 49 connected to the cable 48, and the pin 42 supporting the pulley.

Thus, by rotating the crank 55 to drive the shaft 58 and the pin 49 to the right within the slots 44-, the pulley pin 42 and the interconnecting links 32 will be moved to the right relative to the movable frame. The head and foot linkages and 31 will thereby be rotated clockwise (FIGS. 1 and 4) about the axis of the

shafts

33 and 35 to vertically and parallelly raise the movable frame 22 with respect to the stationary frame 21 under the 2:1 mechanical advantage from the action of the shaft 5 8, the pulley 42, and the cable 48.

Similarly, when the crank is rotated in the opposite direction, the shaft 58 will be urged to the left (FIGS. 2 and 4), to allow the pin 49 to move likewise in the aligned slots 44 of the brackets 41 under the force provided by the weight of the movable frame 22 acting downwardly on the shafts 33. It should be noted that the pin 49 is confined by the bracket slots 44 and thereby the actuation linkage 40 is held against rotation that would otherwise tend to result from the reaction of the screw 56.

The mattress supporting frame 23 is provided with a stationary mid-panel portion rigidly secured to the movable frame 22 by brackets 66, and upper and lower

leg panel portions

67 and 68. The

panels

67 and 68 are interconnected at 69, and the upper leg panel 67 is pivotally connected to the midpanel portion 65 at 70. A head frame portion 71 of the frame 23 is pivotally connected to the mid-panel portion 65 at 72. The head panel 71 and upper leg panel 67 are pivotally actuated about the pivot points 72 and (FIGS. 1, 2 and 4) by head and foot articulating linkages 73 and 74 respectively.

The articulating linkages 73 each include a shaft 75, an upper extended portion 76 with a roller 77 (FIGS. 2 and 4) in respective engagement with the head 71 and upper leg panel portions 67, and a lower extended portion 78 (FIGS. 1 and 4) secured to the shaft and pivotally connected to a screw-driven shaft 79 (-FIG. 4). The left or head linkage shaft is pivotally mounted in the frame 22 and the right or foot linkage is pivotally mounted in brackets 66.

The shaft 79 is moved axially by rotation of the crank 80 (FIG. 2) of the crank operated screw drive (not shown in detail) as generally described above and as is wellknown in the art of providing linear motion from rotational motion. Therefore, the shaft 75 may be moved to the left or the right by rotating the crank 80. The articulating links will be pivoted clockwise or counterclockwise respectively to correspondingly lower or raise the head 71 and the upper leg panel portions 67.

The lower leg panel portion 68 is additionally pivotally supported by a pair of ratchet arms 811 (FIGS. 1 and 4) pivotally connected thereto at 82 and provided with a roller 83 in rolling engagement with the movable frame 22. A manually adjustable pawl 84 is pivotally connected to frame 68 at 85 and is provided with an engaging portion 86 (FIGS. 2 and 4) for engaging the ratchets 87 of the arm 81 to angularly adjust the lower foot frame 68.

A support 90 is pivotally connected to a bracket 91 at 92 and is adapted to be placed in an upward position to engage the head 71 and upper leg panel portions 67 of the articulated frame 23 to retain those portions of the frame 23 horizontal (FIG. 1). The link 90 may also be pivoted about 92 out of the vertical position shown and thereby out of engagement with the head and upper leg pane-l portions 711 and 67 of the articulated frame 23 to selectively allow these frames to be pivoted downwardly about their

pivotal connections

72 and 70 with respect to the fixed mid-panel portion 65. Thereby, with appropriate selective adjustment of the articulating linkages 74, the pivoted supports 90 and the lower leg ratchet supports 81 and 84, the articulated frame 23 may be positioned horizontally (FIG. 1); in a bent-knee position (FIG. 4); or in a general slanted position with the head panel 71 down and both the

foot panels

67 and 68 up, or with the head panel 71 up and both

foot panels

67 and 68 down to provide reverse Trendelenburg or Trendelenburg positions respectively. Also, both the head panel 7:]. and upper and

lower leg panels

67 and 68 can be lowered to provide a low head and foot position.

An illustrative example of the second embodiment of the adjustable bed of this invention is shown in FIGS. S8, and is designated generally by the numeral 95. The bed 95 includes generally the same basic structures included in the first embodiment 20 of the adjustable bed, namely, a relatively stationary base frame 21, a movable frame 22, a jointed or articulated mattress support frame 23, and an adjustable linkage assembly generally designated by the numeral 24, which adjustably interconnects and supports the movable frame 22 with respect to the stationary frame 21.

The adjustable linkage assembly 24 in the second embodiment 95 of the adjustable bed of this invention includes generally, among other things, a pair of head or first elevation links 30 and a pair of foot or second elevation links 31. The head and foot elevation links 30 and 31 are interconnected by a third link portion 32 and are each rigidly secured to

tube shafts

33 and 35. The

shafts

33 and 35 are pivotally mounted on the movable frame 22 and stationary frame 21 respectively. The

links

The upper ends of the head and

foot link extensions

30 and 31 of the second embodiment 95 of the adjustable bed of this invention are pivotally interconnected by the third link 32 that is pivotally connected thereto by pins 37. The head and

foot links

stationary frames

22 and 21, that when the

links

30 and 31 are pivoted, the movable frame 22 is moved substantially vertically and parallelly with respect to the stationary frame 21.

The elevation linkage assembly 24 of the sec-0nd embodiment 95 of the adjustable bed of this invention (FIGS. 5-8) includes, among other things, an actuating mechanism generally designated by the numeral 96 and is provided with pairs of plates 97 respectively secured to the interconnecting links 32 by the

pins

37 and 98 extending therethrough.

An elevation drive motor 99 is rigidly secured to the movable frame 22 and is drivingly coupled with a screw 100 mounted in bearings 101 and 102 which in turn are secured to the frame 22. The bearing 102 also acts to hold the screw against axial movement. A pair of substantially parallel guide channels 103 are rigidly secured to the movable frame and are provided with a slot 104 adapted to receive a guide pin link yoke 105. The guide pin link yoke 105 is rigidly secured to a nut 106 which in turn is in threaded engagement with the screw 100. A pair of interconnecting links 107 are provided for interconnecting the plates 97 and the pin and

nut

105 and 106. One end of each of the links 107 is pivotally connected to the plates 97 by a pin 108. The other end of each of the links 107 is pivotally connected to the nut 106 by the pin 105.

The actuation mechanism 96 is further provided. wi h a switching arrangement to limit the movement of the mechanism. In particular, a pair of normally closed switches 110 and 111 are secured to the movable frame 22 adjacent the path of the pin 105, and a source of power is provided which is connected to the motor 99, the switches 110 and 111, and a switch 112 having neutral elevation and lowering positions. A switch bracket 113 is rigidly secured to the pin 105 and is provided with switch actuating arms 114 and 115.

In the operation of the second embodiment 95 of the adjustable bed of this invention, the movable frame 22 is elevated by closing the elevation contact portion of the switch 112 to actuate the motor 99 in the elevation rotational direction through the normally closed limit switch 111. When the motor 99 is thus actuated, the screw 100 is rotated by the motor 99 so that the nut and the

guide pin link

106 and 105 are urged axially along the slots 104 to the right. Consequently, the link 107 connected to the plates 97 will pivot the first and

second elevation linkages

30 and 31 clockwise about the axis of the

shafts

33 and 35, and elevate the movable frame 22 with respect to the stationary frame 21. As the movable frame is thus elevated, the pin 105 will move to the right (FIGS. 57) in the slot 104 and the switch bracket 113 will likewise be moved to the right. At the upper limit of elevational movement, the switch actuating arm 114 of the bracket 113 will engage and open the limit switch 110 to deactuate elevational rotation of the motor 99 and thereby automatically limit the elevational movement of the movable frame 22.

In the operation of the second embodiment 95 of the adjustable bed of this invention, the movable frame 22 is lowered by closing the lowering contact portion of the switch 112 to actuate the motor 99 in the lowering rotational direction through the normally closed limit switch 110. When the mot-or 99 is thus actuated, the screw 100 is rotated by the motor 99 so that the nut and the

guide pin link

106 and 105 are urged axially along the slots 104 to the left. The movement of the pin and

nut

105 and 106 to the left will urge the interconnecting link 107 and the plates 97 to the left and, consequently, cause the first and second elevation links 30 and 31 to be pivoted counterclockwise about the axis of the

shafts

33 and 35 to lower the movable frame 22 relative to the stationary frame 21. At the selected lower limit of the elevational movement of the movable frame 22, the switch actuating arm 115 will engage and open the switch 111 to disconnect the lowering rotational actuation of the motor 99 so as to prevent further lowering of the movable frame 22.

Thus, it can be seen that the movable frame 22 of the second embodiment of this invention can be raised or lowered by rotating and reversing the motor 99 by appropriately positioning the switch 112, and that the movable frame 22 can be raised or lowered from any elevated position, except at the limits of the elevational movement whereupon the movement is controlled by the switches 110 and 111. Also, it should be noted that the elevation action can be manually controlled by selectively and appropriately positioning the switch 112.

It is to be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the specific constructions and arrangements shown and described, except only insofar as the claims may be so limited, as it will be understood to those skilled in the art that changes may be made Without departing from the principles of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. An adjustable bed comprising a relatively fixed frame, a movable frame, first and second link means pivotally interconnecting said fixed frame and said movable frame to move said movable frame substantially parallelly with respect to said fixed frame when said first and second link means are pivoted relative to said movable frame, a third rigid link means pivotally interconnecting said first and second link means, and means for 6 pivoting said first and second link means whereby said movable frame will be moved with respect to said fixed frames.

2. An adjustable bed comprising a relatively fixed frame, a movable frame, first and second link means pivotally interconnecting said fixed frame and said movable frame to move said movable frame substantially parallelly with respect to said fixed frame when said first and second link means are pivoted relative to said movable frame, a third link means pivotally interconnecting said first and second link means, a pulley rotatably secured to said third link means, a guide means secured to said third link means having a substantially horizontal slot therein for receiving and limiting the movement of a guide pin, a guide pin positioned in said slot and adapted to move therein, a flexible member extending around a portion of said pulley and having the ends thereof respectively horizontally and parallelly secured to said movable frame and said pin, and means for urging said pin to thereby pivot said first and second link means relative to said movable frame.

3'. An adjustable bed comprising a relatively fixed frame, a movable frame, first and second link means pivotally interconnecting said fixed frame and said movable frame to move said movable frame substantially parallelly with respect to said fixed frame when said first and second link means are pivoted relative to said movable frame, said first and second link means respectively extending vertically upwardly beyond said movable frame, a third link means pivotally interconnecting said upper extended portions of said first and second link means, a pulley rotatably secured to said third link means, a guide means secured to said third link means having a substantially horizontal slot therein for receiving and limiting the movement of a guide pin, a guide pin positioned in said slot and adapted to move therein, a flexible member extending around a portion of said pulley and having the ends thereof respectively horizontally and parallelly secured to said movable frame and said pin, and means for urging said pin to thereby pivot said first and second link means relative to said movable frame.

4. An adjustable bed comprising a relatively fixed frame, a movable frame, a first and second link means pivotally interconnecting said fixed frame and said movable frame to move said movable frame substantially parallelly with respect to said fixed frame when said first and second link means are pivoted relative to said movable frame, said first and second link means respectively extending vertically upwardly beyond said movable frame, a third link means pivotally interconnecting said upper extended portions of said first and second link means, and means for pivoting said upper extended link portions relative to said movable frame whereby said first and second link means are pivoted to move said movable frame with respect to said fixed frame.

5. An adjustable bed comprising a relatively fixed frame, a movable frame, first and second link means pivotally interconnecting said fixed frame and said movable frame to move said movable frame substantially parallelly with respect to said fixed frame when said first and second link means are pivoted relative to said movable frame, said first and second link means respectively extending vertically upwardly beyond said movable frame, a third link means pivotally interconnecting said upper extended portions of said first and second link means, and means interconnecting said fixed frame and said upper extended link portions for pivoting said extended link portions relative to said movable frame whereby said first and second link means are pivoted to move said movable frame with respect to said fixed frame.

6. An adjustable bed comprising a relatively fixed frame, a movable frame, first and second link means pivotally interconnecting said fixed frame and said movable frame to move said movable frame substantially parallelly with respect to said fixed frame when said first and second link means are pivoted relative to said movable frame, said first and second link means respectively extending vertically upwardly beyond said movable frame, a third link means pivotally interconnecting said upper extended portions of said first and second link means, and a linear drive means secured to said movable frame and pivotally connected to said third link mean-s for driving said third link means whereby said first and second link means are pivoted to move said movable frame with respect to said fixed frame.

7. An adjustable bed comprising a relatively fixed frame, a movable frame, first and second link means pivotally interconnecting said fixed frame and said movable frame to move said movable frame substantially parallelly with respect to said fixed frame when said first and second link means are pivoted relative to said movable frame, said first and second link means respectively extending vertically upwardly beyond said movable frame, a third link means pivotally interconnecting said upper extended portions of said first and second link means, a horizontal guide bracket secured to said movable frame and having a substantially horizontal guide slot formed therein adapted to slidably receive a guide link, a guide link positioned in said slot and adapted to move therein, a drive link pivotally connected to said guide link and said third link means to interconnect said movable frame with said guide link, and a linear drive means secured to said movable frame and pivotally connected to said guide link to drive said guide link in said slot whereby said first, second and third link means are pivoted to raise said movable frame relative to said fixed frame.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,827,641 3/ 1958 Reichert et al 563 3,036,314 5/1962 WetZlBr 563 3,081,463 3/ 1963 Williams et al. 5-63 3,184,765 5/1965 Katz 567 FRANK B. SHERRY, Primary Examiner.

C. A. NUNBERG, Assistant Examiner.

Claims

1. AN ADJUSTABLE BED COMPRISING A RELATIVELY FIXED FRAME, A MOVABLE FRAME, FIRST AND SECOND LINK MEANS PIVOTALLY INTERCONNECTING SAID FIXED FRAME AND SAID MOVABLE FRAME TO MOVE SAID MOVABLE FRAME SUBSTANTIALLY PARALLELLY WITH RESPECT TO SAID FIXED FRAME WHEN SAID FIRST AND SECOND LINK MEANS ARE PIVOTED RELATIVE TO SAID MOVAABLE FRAME, A THIRD LINK MEANS PIVOTALLY INTERCONNECTING SAID FIRST AND SECOND LINK MEANS, AND MEANS FOR PIVOTING SAID FIRST AND SECOND LINK MEANS WHEREBY SAID MOVABLE FRAME WILL BE MOVED WITH RESPECT TO SAID FIXED FRAMES.