Invalid bed arrangement with bed pan facility

An invalid bed arrangement with bed pan facility including a bed frame. Also included is a seat assembly for allowing a user to be selectively uprighted. The seat assembly further has a bottom portion with U-shaped cut out formed in an end thereof. Further provided is a leg rest assembly adapted to be selectively positioned remote the seat assembly. The leg rest assembly comprises a U-shaped protrusion, whereby the leg rest assembly may be maneuvered between a first orientation with the leg rest situated adjacent the seat assembly and the U-shaped protrusion thereof engaging the U-shaped cut out of the bottom portion of the seat assembly and a second orientation with the leg rest situated distant the seat assembly. Finally, a bed pan is situated adjacent the U-shaped cut out of the bottom portion of the seat assembly.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
1. Field of the Invention 
The present invention relates to an invalid bed arrangement with bed pan 
facility and more particularly pertains to allowing an invalid to 
conveniently use a bed pan with minimal effort. 
2. Description of the Prior Art 
The use of hospital beds is known in the prior art. More specifically, 
hospital beds heretofore devised and utilized for the purpose of allowing 
the use of bed pans are known to consist basically of familiar, expected 
and obvious structural configurations, notwithstanding the myriad of 
designs encompassed by the crowded prior art which have been developed for 
the fulfillment of countless objectives and requirements. 
By way of example, the prior art includes U.S. Pat. No. 4,631,762 to 
Fugett; U.S. Pat. No. 5,355,540 to Allen; U.S. Pat. No. 4,023,218 to Di 
Matteo; U.S. Pat. No. 4,085,472 to Di Matteo; and U.S. Pat. No. 4,174,547 
to Wetzler. 
In this respect, the invalid bed arrangement with bed pan facility 
according to the present invention substantially departs from the 
conventional concepts and designs of the prior art, and in so doing 
provides an apparatus primarily developed for the purpose of allowing an 
invalid to conveniently use a bed pan with minimal effort. 
Therefore, it can be appreciated that there exists a continuing need for a 
new and improved invalid bed arrangement with bed pan facility which can 
be used for allowing an invalid to conveniently use a bed pan. In this 
regard, the present invention substantially fulfills this need. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known types of 
hospital beds now present in the prior art, the present invention provides 
an improved invalid bed arrangement with bed pan facility. As such, the 
general purpose of the present invention, which will be described 
subsequently in greater detail, is to provide a new and improved invalid 
bed arrangement with bed pan facility which has all the advantages of the 
prior art and none of the disadvantages. 
To attain this, the present invention essentially comprises a bed frame 
with a rectilinear configuration. As shown in FIGS. 4-6, the bed frame 
includes a lower rectangular portion having a pair of parallel lower 
longitudinal rails with a pair of parallel lower lateral rails 
perpendicularly coupled therebetween. Associated therewith is an upper 
rectangular portion having a pair of parallel upper longitudinal rails 
with a pair of parallel upper lateral rails perpendicularly coupled 
therebetween. In order to maintain the relative position of the upper and 
lower rectangular portions, four primary stanchions are vertically coupled 
between corners of the upper rectangular portion and the lower rectangular 
portion of the bed frame. For further support, the bed frame further has a 
plurality of secondary stanchions. Such secondary stanchions include a 
pair of vertical secondary stanchions and a plurality of skewed secondary 
stanchions coupled between the lower longitudinal rails and the upper 
longitudinal rails. For allowing the bed frame to be conveniently 
transported, a plurality of universal wheels are coupled to the lower 
rectangular portion of the bed frame. For allowing a user to be 
selectively uprighted, a seat assembly is provided. As shown in FIGS. 3-6, 
the seat assembly includes a planar backrest hingably coupled between the 
upper longitudinal rails of the bed frame at a point 1/4 the length of the 
bed frame from a foot thereof. In use, the backrest has a first raised 
orientation wherein a plane in which the backrest resides forms a 45 
degree angle with respect to a horizontal. The backrest further has a 
second orientation wherein the plane in which the backrest resides is 
horizontally situated with edges of the backrest positioned contiguously 
with the upper rectangular portion of the bed frame. For supporting the 
posterior of a user, the seat assembly further includes a planar bottom 
portion hingably coupled at a first end thereof between the upper 
longitudinal rails of the bed at a point 1/4 the length of the bed frame 
from the foot thereof. As best shown in FIG. 3, the bottom portion of the 
seat assembly has a U-shaped cut out formed in a second end thereof 
opposite the first end. Further provided is a planar leg rest assembly 
adapted to be selectively positioned remote the seat assembly. The leg 
rest assembly comprises a U-shaped protrusion hingably coupled at a first 
end thereof and a support mechanism with a generally parallelogram 
configuration. The support mechanism has a pair of inboard posts hingably 
coupled to opposite corners of the first end of the leg rest, as best 
shown in FIGS. 4 & 5. Such inboard posts have a first predetermined 
length. The support mechanism further includes a pair of outboard posts 
hingably coupled to opposite corners of a second end of the leg rest with 
a second predetermined length greater than the first length. By this 
structure, the posts are adapted to rotate solely within a vertical plane. 
For ensuring that the posts rotate coincidentally, the support mechanism 
further includes a rectangular structure coupled between lower ends of the 
posts thereof. Associated therewith is a pair of positioning posts coupled 
between the rectangular structure of the support mechanism and a midpoint 
of the longitudinal rails of the upper rectangular portion of the bed 
frame. As such, the positioning posts ensure the proper maneuvering of the 
support mechanism of the leg rest assembly between a first orientation and 
a second orientation. The first orientation is defined by the leg rest 
being situated in coplanar relationship with the bottom portion of the 
seat assembly and the U-shaped protrusion thereof engaging the U-shaped 
cut out of the bottom portion of the seat assembly. The second orientation 
is defined by the leg rest being situated beneath the bottom portion of 
the seat assembly. As shown in FIG. 3, a bed pan is coupled to the upper 
rectangular portion of the bed frame beneath the bottom portion of the 
seat assembly. In use, the bed pan has a first orientation distant the 
U-shaped cut out of the bottom portion of the seat assembly for allowing 
the maneuvering of the leg rest assembly and a second orientation situated 
within the U-shaped cut out of the bottom portion of the seat assembly for 
use. 
There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features 
of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof that 
follows may be better understood, and in order that the present 
contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are, of course, 
additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter 
and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto. 
In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention 
in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its 
application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the 
components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the 
drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being 
practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood 
that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose 
of description and should not be regarded as limiting. 
As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon 
which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for the 
designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the 
several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, 
that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions 
insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present 
invention. 
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a new and 
improved invalid bed arrangement with bed pan facility which has all the 
advantages of the prior art hospital beds and none of the disadvantages. 
It is another object of the present invention to provide a new and improved 
invalid bed arrangement with bed pan facility which may be easily and 
efficiently manufactured and marketed. 
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a new and 
improved invalid bed arrangement with bed pan facility which is of a 
durable and reliable construction. 
An even further object of the present invention is to provide a new and 
improved invalid bed arrangement with bed pan facility which is 
susceptible of a low cost of manufacture with regard to both materials and 
labor, and which accordingly is then susceptible of low prices of sale to 
the consuming public, thereby making such invalid bed arrangement with bed 
pan facility economically available to the buying public. 
Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new and 
improved invalid bed arrangement with bed pan facility which provides in 
the apparatuses and methods of the prior art some of the advantages 
thereof, while simultaneously overcoming some of the disadvantages 
normally associated therewith. 
Still another object of the present invention is to allow an invalid to 
conveniently use a bed pan. 
Lastly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a new and 
improved invalid bed arrangement with bed pan facility including a bed 
frame. Also included is a seat assembly for allowing a user to be 
selectively uprighted. The seat assembly further has a bottom portion with 
U-shaped cut out formed in an end thereof. Further provided is a leg rest 
assembly adapted to be selectively positioned remote the seat assembly. 
The leg rest assembly comprises a U-shaped protrusion, whereby the leg 
rest assembly may be maneuvered between a first orientation with the leg 
rest situated adjacent the seat assembly and the U-shaped protrusion 
thereof engaging the U-shaped cut out of the bottom portion of the seat 
assembly and a second orientation with the leg rest situated distant the 
seat assembly. Finally, a bed pan is situated adjacent the U-shaped cut 
out of the bottom portion of the seat assembly. 
These together with other objects of the invention, along with the various 
features of novelty which characterize the invention, are pointed out with 
particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this 
disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating 
advantages and the specific objects attained by its uses, reference should 
be had to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there 
is illustrated preferred embodiments of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to FIG. 1 thereof, a 
new and improved invalid bed arrangement with bed pan facility embodying 
the principles and concepts of the present invention and generally 
designated by the reference numeral 10 will be described. 
The present invention, the new and improved invalid bed arrangement with 
bed pan facility, is comprised of a plurality of components. Such 
components in their broadest context include a bed frame, seat assembly, 
seat assembly drive mechanism, leg rest assembly, leg rest assembly drive 
mechanism, and bed pan. Such components are individually configured and 
correlated with respect to each other so as to attain the desired 
objective. 
More specifically, it will be noted that the system 10 of the present 
invention includes a bed frame 12 with a rectilinear configuration. As 
shown in FIGS. 4-6, the bed frame includes a lower rectangular portion 14 
having a pair of parallel lower longitudinal rails with a pair of parallel 
lower lateral rails perpendicularly coupled between corners thereof. 
Associated therewith is an upper rectangular portion 16 having a pair of 
parallel upper longitudinal rails with a pair of parallel upper lateral 
rails perpendicularly coupled therebetween. In order to maintain the 
relative position of the upper and lower rectangular portions, four 
primary stanchions 18 are vertically coupled between corners of the upper 
rectangular portion and the lower rectangular portion of the bed frame. 
For further support, the bed frame further has a plurality of secondary 
stanchions 20. Such secondary stanchions include a pair of vertical 
secondary stanchions coupled between the lower longitudinal rails and the 
upper longitudinal rails at midpoints thereof. A plurality of skewed 
secondary stanchions are also coupled between the lower longitudinal rails 
and the upper longitudinal rails. A web 19 is included to provide 
additional strength on top ends of the secondary stanchions. For allowing 
the bed frame to be conveniently transported, a plurality of universal 
wheels 20 are coupled to the lower rectangular portion of the bed frame. 
For allowing a user to be selectively uprighted, a seat assembly 22 is 
provided. As shown in FIGS. 3-6, the seat assembly includes a planar 
backrest 24 hingably coupled between the upper longitudinal rails of the 
bed frame at a point 1/4 the length of the bed frame from a foot thereof. 
In use, the backrest has a first raised orientation wherein a plane in 
which the backrest resides forms a 45 degree angle with respect to a 
horizontal. The backrest further has a second orientation wherein the 
plane in which the backrest resides is horizontally situated with edges of 
the backrest positioned contiguously with the upper rectangular portion of 
the bed frame. For supporting the posterior of a user, the seat assembly 
further includes a planar bottom portion 26 hingably coupled at a first 
end thereof between the upper longitudinal rails of the bed at a point 1/4 
the length of the bed frame from the foot thereof. As best shown in FIG. 
3, the bottom portion of the seat assembly has a U-shaped cut out 28 
formed in a second end thereof opposite the first end. Such U-shaped cut 
out functions as a toilet structure. 
With reference to FIGS. 4-6, a seat assembly drive mechanism 30 is included 
with a hydraulic arm 32. The hydraulic arm is coupled between a central 
portion of the backrest and the lower rectangular portion of the bed 
frame. Positioned adjacent the bed frame is a lever 34 adapted to 
selectively extend the hydraulic arm thereby selectively maneuvering the 
backrest between the first orientation and the second orientation thereof. 
Further provided is a planar leg rest assembly 36 adapted to be selectively 
positioned remote the seat assembly. The leg rest assembly comprises a 
U-shaped protrusion 38 hingably coupled at a first end thereof and a 
support mechanism with a generally parallelogram configuration. The 
support mechanism has a pair of inboard posts 40 hingably coupled to 
opposite corners of the first end of the leg rest, as best shown in FIGS. 
4 & 5. Such inboard posts have a first predetermined length. The support 
mechanism further includes a pair of outboard posts 42 hingably coupled to 
opposite corners of a second end of the leg rest with a second 
predetermined length greater than the first length. By this structure, the 
posts are adapted to rotate solely within a vertical plane. For ensuring 
that the posts rotate coincidently, the support mechanism further includes 
a rectangular structure 44 coupled between lower ends of the posts 
thereof. Associated therewith is a pair of positioning posts 46 coupled 
between the rectangular structure of the support mechanism and a midpoint 
of the longitudinal rails of the upper rectangular portion of the bed 
frame. As such, the positioning posts ensure the proper maneuvering of the 
support mechanism of the leg rest assembly between a first orientation and 
a second orientation. The first orientation is defined by the leg rest 
being situated in coplanar relationship with the bottom portion of the 
seat assembly and the U-shaped protrusion thereof engaging the U-shaped 
cut out of the bottom portion of the seat assembly. The second orientation 
is defined by the leg rest being situated beneath the bottom portion of 
the seat assembly. 
For controlling the maneuvering of the leg rest assembly, a leg rest 
assembly drive mechanism 50 is included. The leg rest assembly drive 
mechanism includes a pair of L-shaped drive arms 52 each with an elongated 
first leg 54 pivotally coupled at a first end thereof to the upper 
rectangular portion of the bed frame adjacent an interconnection of the 
backrest and the bottom portion of the seat assembly. Each drive arm 
further includes a second end pivotally coupled to a central portion of 
the rectangular structure. Each L-shaped drive arm also has a second short 
leg 56 extending perpendicularly from the first elongated leg. A hydraulic 
arm 58 is coupled between a head of the upper rectangular portion of the 
bed frame and the second short leg of the drive arms. Positioned adjacent 
the bed frame next to the previous lever is another lever 60 adapted to 
extend the hydraulic arm thereby selectively maneuvering the leg rest 
between the first orientation and the second orientation thereof. As shown 
in FIG. 6, the U-shaped protrusion may be engaged within the U-shaped cut 
out and further the drive mechanism may be extended to its maximum extent 
for elevating both the bottom portion of the seat assembly and the leg 
rest assembly above a horizontal plane. 
The hydraulic arms of the present invention have an associated pump which 
is powered by a battery, as shown in FIG. 10. While hydraulics are 
employed in the present invention, it should be noted that other sources 
of mechanical work may be employed such as electrical motors and the like. 
As shown in FIG. 3, a bed pan 62 is coupled to the upper rectangular 
portion of the bed frame beneath the bottom portion of the seat assembly. 
In use, the bed pan has a first orientation distant the U-shaped cut out 
of the bottom portion of the seat assembly for allowing the maneuvering of 
the leg rest assembly and a second orientation situated within the 
U-shaped cut out of the bottom portion of the seat assembly for use. As 
shown in FIG. 9, it is shown that the bed pan mounted on a retracting 
mechanism which allows both vertical and horizontal movement thereof. 
Finally, a pair of mattresses 64 are included comprising a first mattress 
66 and a second mattress 68. The first mattress is capable of covering 
both the backrest and the bottom portion of the seat assembly wherein the 
first mattress has a U-shaped cut out situated contiguously with the 
U-shaped cut out of the bottom portion of the seat assembly. The second 
mattress is capable of covering the leg rest assembly. The second mattress 
has a U-shaped protrusion situated contiguously with the U-shaped 
protrusion of the leg rest assembly. For allowing the removable coupling 
of mattresses to the respective assembly, the mattresses, seat assembly 
and the leg rest assembly are equipped with pile fasteners 70 situated 
thereon. 
As shown in FIGS. 1 & 2, an alternate embodiment 80 is set forth which 
employs an alternate method of situating the leg rest assembly distant the 
seat assembly during use of the bed pan. Such method takes the place of 
the support mechanism of the leg rest assembly and further the leg 
assembly drive mechanism. In such embodiment, the seat assembly is 
situated on a first bed frame 82 with universal wheels situated thereon. 
The bed pan is fixed below the U-shaped cut out of the seat assembly. See 
FIG. 1. The leg rest assembly is situated on a second bed frame 84 with 
universal wheels situated thereon, wherein the leg rest assembly may be 
slidably situated distant the seat assembly for allowing use of the bed 
pan. Further provided is a coupling mechanism 86 for maintaining the leg 
rest within the proximity of the seat assembly during use of the bed pan. 
Such coupling mechanism includes a pair of members 88 extending 
perpendicularly from the bed frames of each assembly, wherein the members 
are pivotally coupled at ends thereof. 
As to the manner of usage and operation of the present invention, the same 
should be apparent from the above description. Accordingly, no further 
discussion relating to the manner of usage and operation will be provided. 
With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the 
optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to 
include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of 
operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to 
one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those 
illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are 
intended to be encompassed by the present invention. 
Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the 
principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and 
changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired 
to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and 
described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may 
be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.