Bed apparatus

Abstract: A pair of sliders (4, 5) are mounted on both end portions of a bed body (3) along its longitudinal direction to be slidable along the cross direction of the bed body 93). Upright bars (6, 7) are mounted on the respective sliders (4, 5) to upwardly extend from the sliders (4, 5). Support members (8, 9) are mounted on the respective upright bars (6, 7) to be movable along the upright bars (6, 7) and stoppable at moved positions. Two parallel side bars (10, 11) are provided to couple the pair of support members (8, 9) with each other. The respective upright bars (6, 7) are rendered movable with respect to the sliders (4, 5) along the cross direction of the bed body (3), whereby the upright bars (6, 7) can be moved to ends of the sliders (4, 5), extending from the bed body (3), which are separated from the bed body (3). As the result, the bed body (3) will not hinder nursing of a sick person or the like, who is held through the side bars (10, 11) and tended at the side of the bed body (3).

Description: The present invention relates to a bed apparatus which is suitable for nursing a sick, physically handicapped or bed-ridden old person (hereinafter simply referred to as "sick person or the like"), and more particularly, it relates to a bed apparatus which can be easily applied to home use with capability for a wide range of application modes. With development of medical equipment, there have been proposed bed apparatuses or nursing apparatuses, which are combined with beds, having various functions. The applicant has proposed an improved bed apparatus in JP-A-2215462. Considering the housing circumstances in Japan, this bed apparatus is suitable for a narrow room such as a 6-mat room (about 360 x 270 cm²) or a 4.5-mat room (about 270 x 270 cm²), for example, and is provided with a means for easily raising or lowering a sick person or the like onto or from a bed body. Further, this bed apparatus is devised to be of help for rehabilitation of the sick person or the like. The aforementioned bed apparatus comprises a pair of guides, which are fixedly provided one on each end portion of the bed body to extend in the cross direction of the bed body. A pair of sliders are mounted to slide along these guides in the cross direction of the bed body. The sliders thus slide along the guides to outwardly extend from a side of the bed body. Upright bars are fixedly mounted on the sliders respectively, to upwardly extend from the sliders. Support means are mounted to be movable along the upright bars. The support means are fixable at selected positions along the upright bars. In the aforementioned bed apparatus, the pair of upright bars are moveable between positions within and outside of the cross-directional dimension of the bed body, consequent on the sliding movement of the sliders along the guides. The support means are vertically moveable along the upright bars and fixable at positions therealong, regardless of the positions of the upright bars. Consequently, the pair of support means can be located at a range of positions above the bed body and at the side thereof. Thus, it is possible to move a sick person or the like, who is laid down on the bed body, to a side portion of the bed body and vice versa, through such movement of the support means. According to this bed apparatus, therefore, it is possible to easily take the sick person or the like down from the bed body for bathing him or helping him into a wheelchair, and vice versa. In order to move the sick person or the like as described above, two parallel side bars couple the pair of support means with each other so that the sick person or the like is laid between the side bars, and appropriate hanger members, which are laid under the body of the sick person or the like, are hung on the side bars. In this case, the side bars coupling the pair of support means enable hanging of various configurations or structures of hanger members. Thus, it is Possible to move the sick person or the like in a condition such as a lying or sitting condition by selecting appropriate types of hanger members. The aforementioned sliders are preferably kept within the cross-directional dimension of the bed body when not in the sidewardly extending state. Thus, the lengths of the sliders along the cross direction of the bed body must be substantially equal to or shorter than the cross-directional dimension of the bed body. Therefore, the sliders cannot extend from the bed body by more than the cross-directional dimension of the bed body, even when fully extending from the bed body. On the other hand, the upright bars are fixedly mounted on the sliders, as hereinabove described. These upright bars are adapted to guide the support means for vertical movement. The side bars are adapted to support the hanger members for carrying the sick person or the like. In order to enable carriage of the sick person or the like who is laid on the bed body, therefore, the side bars must be locatable substantially at central positions along the cross direction of the bed body, and the support means as well as the upright bars must accordingly be locatable at substantially central positions of the bed body. In order to enable movement of the sick person or the like who is carried by the hanger members to a position sidewardly displaced from the bed body, the side bars, the support means and the upright bars must be sidewardly moveable beyond the range of the cross-directional dimension of the bed body. As hereinabove described, the range of movement of the upright bars is consequent on the sliding operation of the sliders. The upright bars are most typically located at substantially central positions along the cross direction of the bed body when the sliders are retracted with respect to the bed body, while the same are located at the side of the bed body when the sliders fully extend sidewardly from the bed body. According to the aforementioned structure, however, it is impossible to sufficiently sidewardly displace the upright bars from the bed body, since the upright bars are fixedly mounted on the sliders. In more concrete terms, the lengths of the sliders are increased to be substantially equal to the cross-directional dimension of the bed body so that the sliders sidewardly extend from the bed body by dimensions substantially equal to the cross-directional dimension of the bed body, at the maximum possible degrees of extension for the sliders. On the other hand, the upright bars must be mounted on substantially central positions along the longitudinal directions of the sliders, to be locatable at substantially central positions along the cross direction of the bed body. Thus, the upright bars cannot be moved sidewardly from the bed body beyond half the cross-directional dimension of the bed body even if the lengths of the sliders are maximized. To this end, the bed body itself may hinder nursing of the sick person or the like at the side of the bed body. An object of the present invention is to provide a bed apparatus, which can sufficiently move upright bars sidewardly from a bed body without increasing the cross-directional dimension of the bed body and longitudinal dimensions of sliders. US-A-2125546 cited in the examination of this application and considered to represent the closest prior art with regard to the present invention discloses an apparatus for use with a bed body having a longitudinal dimension and a cross-directional dimension. This apparatus comprises a pair of sliders positionable one at each end portion of the bed body and slidable in the cross-direction of the bed body, a pair of upright bars mounted one on each of Said sliders so as to extend upwardly from said sliders, a pair of support means mounted one to each upright bar for movement along said upright bars and fixable at positions therealong, and coupling bar means for coupling said pair of support means with each other, said coupling bar means engaging with means for engaging a sick person or the like. The present invention provides a bed apparatus comprising: a bed body having a longitudinal dimension and a cross-directional dimension; a pair of sliders mounted one on each end portion of said bed body to be slidable in the cross direction of said bed body for extending in the cross direction of said bed body upon such sliding movement; a pair of upright bars mounted one on each of said sliders so as to extend upwardly from said respective sliders and be moveable in the cross direction of said bed body with respect to said sliders; a pair of support means mounted one to each upright bar for movement therealong and fixable at positions therealong; and coupling bar means for coupling said pair of support means with each other, said coupling bar means being engageable with means for engaging a sick person or the like. Preferably, the sliders are provided with leg portions and wheels mounted on lower ends thereof. The bed apparatus preferably further comprises means for interlocking sliding movement of the sliders relative to the bed body with movement of the upright bars relative to the sliders. Preferably, the interlocking means comprises a respective endless transmission means arranged on each slider, means for fixing each endless transmission means at a first position thereon to the bed body, and means for fixing each endless transmission means at a second position thereon to its respective upright bar, the second position being disposed on an opposite path of the endless transmission means to the first position. Each endless transmission means preferably comprises a chain. Preferably, the bed apparatus further comprises a respective motor for driving each endless transmission means. Each support means preferably comprises a sliding member moveable along an upright bar, a bracket fixed to the sliding member, and a pair of arms oppositely extending from the bracket in the cross direction of the bed body. Preferably, the pair of arms is upwardly rotatable with respect to the bracket, and the support means further comprises means for fixing the arms in an upwardly rotated state. The coupling bar means preferably comprises two side bars which are mounted on the arms, one to each side of the brackets. Preferably the positions of the side bars along the length of the arms are adjustable. The bed apparatus preferably further comprises a means for engaging a sick person or the like, which means comprises a plurality of hanger shovels each having a hook portion engageable with a respective one of the side bars. Each hanger shovel preferably includes a portion which is substantially L-shaped in section. The apparatus disclosed in US-A-2125546, already mentioned above, comprises a device for a bed comprising a structure nestable with the bed so as not to extend substantially therefrom in the longitudinal direction and the cross-direction thereof, and supporting means, which is engageable with means for engaging a sick person or the like, mounted on said structure, said structure being moveable in the cross-direction of the bed for moving said supporting means to a position to a side of the bed. The present invention includes a device as defined in the last preceding paragraph in combination with or for a bed, which device is characterised in that said support means is mounted on said structure for relative sliding movement thereto in at least the cross-direction of said bed whereby said supporting means is moveable to said side of the bed by movement of the structure in the cross-direction of the bed and sliding movement of the supporting means relative to the structure in said cross-direction of the bed. In order that the invention may be well understood, an embodiment thereof, which is given by way of example only, will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a front elevational view showing a bed apparatus; Fig. 2 is a plan view of the bed apparatus; Fig. 3 is a left side elevational view of the bed apparatus; Fig. 4 is a plan view of the apparatus showing a state wherein a pair of sliders extend fully from a bed body; Fig. 5 is a left side elevational view showing the state shown in Fig. 4; Fig. 6 is a left side elevational view showing a state wherein the sliders are fully retracted with respect to the bed body; Fig. 7 is a left side elevational view corresponding to Fig. 3, showing a mechanism for making one of the sliders slide relative to the bed body; Fig. 8 is a left side elevational view corresponding to Fig. 5, showing the mechanism shown in Fig. 7; Fig. 9 is a left side elevational view corresponding to Fig. 6, showing the mechanism shown in Fig. 7; Fig. 10 is a right side elevational view showing a support means of the apparatus; Fig. 11 is a plan view showing the support means shown in Fig. 10; Fig. 12 is a front elevational view showing the support means shown in Figs. 10 and 11; Fig. 13 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a sliding block of the support means and an upright member; Fig. 14 is an enlarged sectional view taken along the line XIV - XIV in Fig. 13; Fig. 15 is a front elevational view showing a hanger shovel; Fig. 16 is a right side elevational view showing the hanger shovel of Fig. 15; Fig. 17 is a plan view partially showing the hanger shovel of Figs. 15 and 16; Fig. 18 is a sectional view taken along the line XVIII - XVIII in Fig. 15; Fig. 19 is a front elevational view showing a hammock; Fig. 20 shows an alternative support means; Fig. 21 shows another alternative support means; and Fig. 22 shows another alternative support means. Figs. 1 to 6 show the overall structure of a bed apparatus 1. Figs. 1 to 3 show a first state of the bed apparatus 1 and Figs. 4 and 5 show a second state thereof, while Fig. 6 shows a third state of the bed apparatus 1. The bed apparatus 1 generally comprises a bed body 3 and a mattress 2 which is supported thereon. The bed body 3 is hinged so that it is possible to partially incline the mattress 2. As described later, Fig. 19 shows a partially inclined state of the mattress 2 with phantom lines. A structure comprising a pair of sliders 4 and 5 is mounted, one slider on each end portion of the bed body 3, to be slidable in the cross direction of the bed body 3. Upon such sliding movement, the sliders 4 and 5 extend in the cross direction of the bed body 3, as most clearly shown in Figs. 4 and 5. A pair of upright bars 6 and 7 are mounted one on each slider 4 and 5 to extend upwardly from the sliders 4 and 5 respectively. A pair of support means 8 and 9 are mounted one to each upright bar, for movement along the upright bars 6 and 7 respectively, and are fixable at positions therealong. Coupling bar means comprising two parallel side bars 10 and 11 are provided to couple the pair of support means 8 and 9 with each other. These bars 10, 11 are engageable with hook portions 62 of hanger shovels 61 for engaging a sick person or the like, as will be described in more detail hereinafter. The bed apparatus 1 is now described in more detail. First, an arrangement for driving the slider 4 or 5 to slide in the cross direction of the bed body 3 is described. Figs. 7, 8 and 9, which correspond to Figs. 3, 5 and 6 respectively, show the first slider 4. The second slider 5 is provided with an arrangement which is substantially identical to that for the first slider 4. It is noted here that Figs. 7 to 9 are partially fragmented to facilitate easy understanding of the operation of the slider 4. Each slider 4, 5, having an L-shaped configuration, includes a respective vertically extending leg portion 12, 13 and a respective wheel 14, 15 mounted on the lower end thereof. The sliders 4 and 5 are respectively driven to slide by traverse motors 16 and 17, which are fixed to the sliders 4 and 5 respectively. Mainly with reference to Figs. 7 to 9, the arrangement for driving the first slider 4 is now described. In the illustrated apparatus, the upright bar 6 is also moved on the slider 4 relative thereto upon sliding movement of the slider 4. An endless chain 18 is arranged on a horizontally extending portion of the slider 4. This endless chain 18 may be replaced by a belt or the like. The chain 18 extends around sprocket wheels 19 and 20, which are supported by the slider 4. Rotation of the motor 16 is transmitted to the first sprocket wheel 19 through a belt 21, for example. A fixture 22 is fixed at a prescribed position to the chain 18 on a lower path for the chain 18. This fixture 22 is also fixed at a prescribed position to a guide 23 which is provided on the bed body 3. When the rotation of the motor 16 is transmitted to the sprocket wheel 16 through the belt 21, and the chain 18 turns in response, the slider 4 slides along the guide 23 since the chain 18 is fixed to the guide 23 through the fixture 22. The sliding direction of the slider 4 can be varied with the direction of rotation of the motor 16. In such sliding movement of the slider 4, the wheel 14 rolls on a floor surface 24. Another fixture 25 is fixed at a prescribed position to the chain 18 on an upper path for the chain 18. This fixture 25 is also fixed to a base portion 26 of the upright bar 6. When the chain 18 turns in the aforementioned manner, therefore, the base portion 26 is displaced with respect to the slider 4, since the chain 18 is fixed to the base portion 26 through the fixture 25. When the slider 4 slides relative to the bed body 3, therefore, the upright bar 6 is displaced in the same direction on the slider 4. In this case, the amount of displacement of the slider 4 with respect to the bed body 3 is equal to that of the upright bar 6 with respect to the slider 4. In the state shown in Fig. 7, the upright bar 6 is located at the cross-directional center of the bed body 3. In this state, the slider 4 extends slightly sidewardly from the bed body 3. When the slider 4 extends fully sidewardly from the bed body 3 as shown in Fig. 8, the upright bar 6 is in a position close to the leg portion 12 on the slider 4. The upright bar 6 is moved through twice the displacement of the slider 4 with respect to the bed body 3. Thus, it is possible to sufficiently separate the upright bar 6 sidewardly from the bed body 3 while reducing the amount of extension of the slider 4 from the bed body 3 over that necessary if the upright bar were fixed to the slider. On the other hand, when the slider 4 is further retracted towards the bed body 3 as shown in Fig. 9 from the state of Fig. 7, the upright bar 6 is brought into a position at a side of the bed, close to the motor 16 on the slider 4. The state shown in Fig. 9 is generally implemented when the aforementioned side bars 10 and 11 are not used, thus protecting the sick person or the like, who is laid on the bed body 3, against oppressive moods caused by the proximity of side bars 10 and 11, the support means 8 and 9 and the upright bars 6 and 7. The support means 8 or 9 is now described in detail. The support means 8 and 9 mirror each other in structure. The support means 8 comprises a sliding member 27 which is moveable along a related upright bar 6. The relation between the sliding member 27 and the upright bar 6 is described later with reference to Figs. 13 and 14. A bracket 28 having a U-shaped section, for example, is fixed to the sliding member 27. This bracket 28 is also shown in Fig. 14, as described later. A pair of arms 29 and 30 are mounted on the bracket 28. These arms 28 and 29 oppositely extend from the bracket 28 in the cross direction of the bed body 3. As shown by phantom lines in Fig. 10, the arms 29 and 30 are upwardly rotatable about pins 31 and 32 with respect to the bracket 28. Further, the sliding member 27 rotatably holds two hook links 33 and 34 by a common pin 35. Hook portions 36 and 37 are provided on respective free ends of the hook links 33 and 34. On the other hand, engaging pins 38 and 39, which are engageable with the hook portions 36 and 37 respectively, are provided on respective free ends of the arms 29 and 30. When the arms 29 and 30 are upwardly rotated as shown by phantom lines in Fig. 10, the hook portions 36 and 37 of the hook links 33 and 34 engage with the engaging pins 38 and 39 respectively, to fix the arms 29 and 30 in the upwardly rotated state. The two side bars 10 and 11 are mounted on the arms 29 and 30 respectively. Thus, the side bars 10 and 11 can be located at upper and lower positions, following the aforementioned rotation of the arms 29 and 30. Fig. 10 shows the lower and upper positions of the side bars 10 and 11 with solid and phantom lines. Fig. 6, above described, shows a state corresponding to the state shown with the phantom lines in Fig. 10. The side bars 10 and 11 are thus brought into the upper positions to protect the sick person or the like, who is laid on the bed body 3, against oppressive moods, as well as to facilitate medical examination of the sick person or the like with no hindrance. A further use of the illustrated apparatus is described later with reference to Fig. 19, wherein the side bars 10 and 11 are in the upper positions as shown with the phantom lines in Fig. 10. While Figs. 10 to 12 show the first support means 8, Figs. 1 to 6 and Fig. 19 show the second support means 9. Elements of the second support means 9 which mirror those of the first support means 8 are denoted by the same reference numerals with subscripts "a", to omit redundant description. As shown, the positions of the side bars 10 and 11 are adjustable along the arms 29, 29a, 30 and 30a. Clamps 40 and 41 having U-shaped sections are mounted on respective end portions of the side bars 10 and 11, and the arms 29 and 30 have T-shaped sections. Further, guide blocks 42 and 43 for holding lower portions of the arms 29 and 30 having the T-shaped sections are mounted on the clamps 40 and 41, as shown in Fig. 12 with reference to the clamp 40. Thus, the clamps 40 and 41, which are moveable along the arms 29 and 30, are inhibited from displacement laterally of the arms 29 and 30. The clamps 40 and 41 are provided with clamp screws 44 and 45 respectively. These clamp screws 44 and 45 are tightened so as to fix the positions of the clamps 40 and 41 on the arms 29 and 30. The aforementioned structure is also employed on the other ends of the side bars 10 and 11 respectively. Thus, the distance between the pair of side bars 10 and 11 can be varied by varying the positions of the side bars 10 and 11 with respect to the arms 29 and 30. For example, the distance between the side bars 10 and 11 shown in Fig. 2 is greater than that shown in Fig. 4. The distance between the side bars 10 and 11 may thus be changed in response to the physical constitution of the sick person or the like, for example, as hereinafter described. A structure for making the support means 8 or 9 moveable along the upright bar 6 or 7 and fixable at positions therealong is now described. Fig. 13 is a longitudinal sectional view showing the sliding member 27 which is included in the first support means 8 and the related upright bar 6. Fig. 14 is an enlarged sectional view taken along the line XIV - XIV in Fig. 13. As to the relation between the sliding member 27a, which is included in the second support means 9, and the upright bar 7 related thereto, a structure (not shown) which mirrors that shown in Figs. 13 and 14 is employed. Therefore, only the relation between the sliding member 27 which is included in the first support means 8 and the related upright bar 6 is described in detail. Referring to Figs. 13 and 14, the upright bar 6 has a C-shaped section to receive the sliding member 27 and to enable mounting of the bracket 28 (Fig. 14) on the sliding member 27. A lead screw 46 is arranged in the upright bar 6, to be rotatable about its central axis. Fig. 13 shows brackets 47 and 48 for rotatably holding both ends of the lead screw 46. The base portion 26 of the upright bar 6 has a hollow structure, to contain a motor 49 for vertical movement of the support means 8. This motor 49 is reciprocally rotatable. Rotation of the motor 49 is transmitted to the lead screw 46 through successive gears 50, 51 and 52. A female screw block 54 is fixed to the sliding member 27 through a mounting plate 53. This female screw block 54 is provided with a female screw thread, which is engaged with the lead screw 46. When the lead screw 46 is rotated upon rotation of the motor 49, therefore, the sliding member 27 is vertically moved. When the motor 49 is stopped, the lead screw 46 is also stopped, whereby the sliding member 27 is fixed in its position. Fig. 14 shows some elements for smoothly guiding the movement of the sliding member 27 within the upright bar 6. A plurality of rotatable guide rollers 55, 56, 57 and 58 and guide shoes 59 and 60 are supported by the sliding member 27. The guide rollers 55 to 58 and the guide shoes 59 and 60 come into contact with the inner surface of the upright bar 6 from various directions, thereby facilitating smooth vertical movement of the sliding member 27 within the upright bar 6. Although Fig. 14 shows four guide rollers 55 to 58 and two guide shoes 59 and 60, appropriate numbers of such guide rollers and guide shoes (not shown) may be vertically distributed along the sliding member 27. The bracket 28 (not shown in Fig. 13) of the support means 8 is mounted on the lower end of the sliding member 27. The lower end of the sliding member 27 is moveable to downwardly project from the upright bar 6 beyond the gear 52 and the lower end of the upright bar 6. The support means 8 may thus be positioned as shown by phantom lines in Fig. 5. Figs. 1 to 5 illustrate hanger shovels 61, engaged with the side bars 10 and 11. These hanger shovels 61 are adapted to raise the sick person or the like in a lying condition. Figs. 15 to 18 show the structure of each hanger shovel 61 in detail. The illustrated hanger shovel 61 is formed of a relatively rigid material such as hard plastic, aluminum or stainless steel, for example. The hanger shovel 61 is curved to provide a substantially L-shaped configuration, and provided with a hook portion 62 which is engageable with one of the side bars 10 or 11. A plurality of ribs 63 are distributed on the hanger shovel 61, in order to ensure at least a prescribed level of strength while reducing the thickness and weight. As clearly shown in Fig. 18, such ribs 63 are preferably formed to have rounded sections. In use, horizontally extending bottom portions 64 of the hanger shovels 61 are inserted under the body of the sick person or the like, who is laid on the bed body 3. In this case, the hanger shovels 61 are distributed on both sides of the body of the sick person or the like according to the weight of the sick person or the like. The height of and the distance between the side bars 10 and 11 are adjusted in accordance with the positions of the hook portions 62 of the hanger shovels 61. Then, the hook portions 62 of the hanger shovels 61 are made to engage with respective side bars 10 and 11. The hanger shovels 61 can be inserted under the body of the sick person or the like, without raising him. After the hook portions 62 of the hanger shovels 61 engage with the side bars 10 and 11, the side bars 10 and 11 are displaced to move the sick person or the like to a desired position. Fig. 19 shows a hammock 65 for raising the sick person or the like, for use in place of the hanger shovels 61. The hammock 65 is made of thick cloth or the like and configured for covering the sick person or the like in a sitting condition. The hammock 65 is suspended from the side bars 10 and 11 through a suspender 66. In the state shown in Fig. 19, the arms 29, 30, 29a and 30a are fixed in an upwardly rotated state, so that the side bars 10 and 11 are sufficiently raised. Thus, it is possible to use the hammock 65. The hammock 65 is preferably used when the illness of the sick person or the like is relatively slight. In order to cover the sick person or the like with the hammock 65, it is preferable to first bring the sick person or the like into a sitting condition. If the bed body 3 is hinged, the mattress 2 is partially inclined as shown in phantom lines in Fig. 19 to bring the sick person or the like into a sitting condition, thereby reducing the burden on the nurser. Typical states of the bed apparatus 1 in use are now described with reference to Figs. 1 to 6. With the sliders 4 and 5 and the upright bars 6 and 7 in the state shown in Figs. 1 to 3, the sick person or the like who is laid on the mattress 2 is raised and the hook portions 62 of the hanger shovels 61 inserted under his body. The support means 8 and 9 and the side bars 10 and 11 are then lowered from the state shown in Figs. 1 to 3, to positions engageable with the hook portions 62 of the hanger shovels 61. Further, the distance between the pair of side bars 10 and 11 is adjusted according to the physical constitution of the sick person or the like. This distance may be adjusted only during an initial stage of employment of the bed apparatus 1. Then the support means 8 and 9, and thus the side bars 10 and 11, are raised so that the hanger shovels 61 are separated from the mattress 2. A bed sheet or the like, which is spread on the mattress 2, may be exchanged in this state, and the bed apparatus 1 may be returned to its former state after such exchange. Operation for moving the sick person or the like sidewardly from the bed body 3 for bathing him, for example, is now described. In this case, the sliders 4 and 5 are fully extended sidewardly from the bed body 3, as shown in Figs. 4 and 5. Thus, the sick person or the like is moved sidewardly from the bed body 3 at a constant height. Then, the support means 8 and 9 and the side bars 10 and 11 are lowered, thereby lowering the sick person or the like at a position adjacent the side of the bed body 3. The illustrated apparatus is so designed that the support means 8 and 9 can be lowered to bring the sick person or the like into contact with the floor surface 24, as shown by phantom lines in Fig. 5. The sick person or the like thus placed on the floor is then brought into a bathtub for bathing. In the state shown in Figs. 4 and 5, the vertical position of the support means 8 and 9 may be selected in response to the type of care required for the sick person or the like. For example, the sick person or the like may be temporarily placed on the floor in an operation similar to that described above, but a bathtub may be arranged immediately under the side bars 10 and 11 in the state shown in Figs. 4 and 5, so that the sick person or the like can be brought into the bathtub at an intermediate position of the side bars 10 and 11. The above operation may be carried out in reverse to return the sick person or the like onto the bed body 3. In the aforementioned method of using the bed apparatus 1, the hanger shovels 61 may be replaced by the hammock 65 shown in Fig. 19. When the support means 8 and 9 and the side bars 10 and 11 are not in use, as shown in Fig. 6, it is preferable to slide the sliders 4 and 5 further towards the bed body 3 while moving the upright bars 6 and 7 towards a side of the bed body 3. Preferably, the arms 29a and 30a are fixed in an upwardly rotated state, to raise the side bars 10 and 11. The hammock 65 can be employed for helping the sick person or the like to defecate, or helping him into a wheelchair. When the bed apparatus 1 is in the state shown in Figs. 4 and 5 and the hanger shovels 61 are removed from the side bars 10 and 11, the sick person or the like may stand between the side bars 10 and 11 for taking walking exercise while gripping the side bars 10 and 11. With the arms 29a and 30a fixed in an upwardly rotated state and the sliders 4, 5 and upright bars 6, 7 in the state shown in Figs. 1 to 3, a pulley may be mounted on at least one of the side bars 10 and 11 and a rope extended around this pulley. The sick person or the like can then exercise his hands and/or feet whilst lying on the bed body 3. He can grip both ends of the rope with his left and right hands respectively for alternately training his hands. Alternatively, he can fit one end of the rope with a foot, grip the other end of the rope and move his hand to raise the foot, thereby exercising a hand and a foot. Figs. 20, 21 and 22 illustrate alternative support means 8, 9. Fig. 20 shows a pair of arms 67 and 68, which are mounted on a bracket 69 to rotate about pins 70 and 71. Similarly to the aforementioned support means (8, 9), the bracket 69 is fixed to a sliding member 27. Gears 72 and 73 are fixed to these arms 67 and 68 respectively. The gears 72 and 73 are rotatable about the pins 70 and 71 with the arms 67 and 68, and intermeshed. Therefore, when either one of the arms 67 and 68 is rotated upwardly as shown by phantom lines, the other one of the arms 67 and 68 consequently rotates upwardly. In order to fix the arms 67 and 68 in the upwardly rotated state, hook links 33 and 34, disclosed in relation to the support means 8, 9 of Fig. 10, may be used. Alternatively, key members (not shown) may be fitted, common to gears 72 and 73, which can be engaged and disengaged with gears 72 and 73. Fig. 21 shows a pair of arms 74 and 75, which are rotatably held by pins 77 and 78 with respect to a bracket 76. Similarly to the aforementioned support means, the bracket 76 is fixed to a sliding member 27. Pulleys 79 and 80 are fixed to the arms 74 and 75, to be rotated about the pins 77 and 78 with the arms 74 and 75. A belt 81 is extended in a figure of eight about the pulleys 79 and 80. When either one of the arms 74 and 75 is rotated upwardly as shown by phantom lines, the other one of the arms 74 and 75 is consequently rotated upwardly. In order to fix the arms 74 and 75 in the upwardly rotated state, members such as the hook links 33 and 34 are employed similarly to the aforementioned support means 8, 9. Fig. 22 shows a pair of arms 82 and 83, which are mounted on the bracket 84 to rotate about pins 85 and 86 respectively. Similarly to the aforementioned support means, this bracket 84 is fixed to a sliding member 27. Links 87 and 88 are rotatably mounted on the arms 82 and 83 respectively. These links 87 and 88 are rotatably coupled to a coupler 89, which is moveable along the sliding member 27. In such a structure, the coupler 89 is vertically moved along the sliding member 27, so as to rotate both of the arms 82 and 83. In order to fix the arms 82 and 83 in the upwardly rotated state as shown by phantom lines, for example, a pin 90 is inserted to pass through the coupler 89 and the sliding member 27. In the structure shown in Fig. 22, a compression spring may be arranged between the coupler 89 and the bracket 84, to constantly urge the arms 82 and 83 into the state shown by the phantom lines. Although, as illustrated, the movement of the upright bars 7 and 8 relative to the sliders 4 and 5 is interlocked with the sliding movement of the sliders 4 and 5 relative to the bed body 3, the movement of the sliders relative to the bed body may be independent of the movement of the upright bars relative to the sliders. Further, the sliders or the upright bars may be moved manually. This also applies to the support means, which are moved along the upright bars. In the illustrated apparatus it is possible to move the upright bars to ends of the sliders extending from the bed body, which are separated from the bed body, therefore it is possible to sufficiently separate the upright bars sidewardly from the bed body. Thus, the bed body itself will not hinder nursing of a sick person or the like who is moved sidewardly from the bed body to a position to the side of the bed body. Although the illustrated apparatus has been described and illustrated in detail it is clearly understood that the same is by way of illustration and example only and is not to be taken by way of limitation, the scope of the present invention being limited only by the terms of the appended claims.

Claims: A bed apparatus comprising: a bed body (3) having a longitudinal dimension and a cross-directional dimension; a pair of sliders (4, 5) mounted one on each end portion of said bed body (3) to be slidable in the cross direction of said bed body (3) for extending in the cross direction of said bed body (3) upon such sliding movement; a pair of upright bars (6, 7) mounted one on each of said sliders (4, 5) so as to extend upwardly from said respective sliders (4, 5) and be movable in the cross direction of said bed body (3) with respect to said sliders (4, 5); a pair of support means (8, 9) mounted one to each upright bar (6, 7) for movement therealong and fixable at positions therealong; and coupling bar means (10, 11) for coupling said pair of support means (8, 9) with each other, said coupling bar means (10, 11) being engageable with means (61) for engaging a sick person or the like. A bed apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said sliders (4, 5) are provided with leg portions (12, 13) and wheels (14, 15) mounted on lower ends thereof. A bed apparatus as claimed in claim 1 or 2, further comprising means for interlocking sliding movement of said sliders (4, 5) relative to said bed body (3) with movement of said upright bars (6, 7) relative to said sliders (4, 5). A bed apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein said interlocking means comprises a respective endless transmission means (18) arranged on each said slider (4, 5) means (22) for fixing each said endless transmission means (18) at a first position thereon to said bed body (3) and means (25) for fixing each said endless transmission means (18) at a second position thereon to its respective said upright bar (6, 7), said second position being disposed on an opposite path of said endless transmission means (18) to said first position. A bed apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein each said endless transmission means comprises a chain (18). A bed apparatus as claimed in claim 4 or 5, further comprising a respective motor (16) for driving each said endless transmission means (18). A bed apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein each said support means (8, 9) comprises a sliding member (27, 27a) moveable along a said upright bar (6, 7), a bracket (28, 28a, 69, 76, 84) fixed to said sliding member (27, 27a), and a pair of arms (29, 30; 29a, 30a; 67, 68; 74, 75; 82, 83) oppositely extending from said bracket (28, 28a, 69, 76, 84) in the cross direction of said bed body (3). A bed apparatus as claimed in claim 7, wherein said pair of arms (29, 30; 29a, 30a; 67, 68; 74, 75; 82, 83) is upwardly rotatable with respect to said bracket (28, 28a, 69, 76, 84), and said support means (8, 9) further comprises means (33, 34; 33a, 34a; 90) for fixing said arms (29, 30; 29a, 30a; 67, 68; 74, 75; 82, 83) in an upwardly rotated state. A bed apparatus as claimed in claim 7 or 8, wherein said coupling bar means comprises two side bars (10, 11), which are mounted on said arms (29, 30; 29a, 30a; 67, 68; 74, 75; 82, 83) one to each side of said brackets. A bed apparatus as claimed in claim 9, wherein the positions of said side bars (10, 11) along the length of said arms (29, 30; 29a, 30a; 67, 68; 74, 75; 82, 83) are adjustable. A bed apparatus as claimed in claim 9 or 10, further comprising said means for engaging a sick person or the like, which means comprises a plurality of hanger shovels (61) each having a hook portion (62) engageable with a respective one of said side bars (10, 11). A bed apparatus as claimed in claim 11, wherein each hanger shovel (61) includes a portion which is substantially L-shaped in section. A bed apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 7 to 12, wherein each of said sliding members (27, 27a) is provided with a female screw thread (54), and each of said upright bars (6, 7) is provided with a lead screw (46) which is engaged with said female screw thread (54). A bed apparatus as claimed in claim 13, further comprising a respective motor (49) for rotating each said lead screw (46). A device for, or in combination with, a bed (3), comprising a structure (4, 5) nestable with the bed so as not to extend substantially therefrom in the longitudinal direction and the cross-direction thereof, and supporting means (6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11), which is engageable with means (61) for engaging a sick person or the like, mounted on said structure (4, 5), said structure being moveable in the cross-direction of the bed (3) for moving said supporting means to a position to a side of the bed (3), characterised in that said supporting means is mounted on said structure (4, 5) for sliding movement relative thereto in at least the cross-direction of said bed, whereby said supporting means is moveable to said side of the bed (3) by (i) movement of said structure in the cross-direction of the bed and (ii) sliding movement of said supporting means relative to said structure in the cross-direction of the bed.

Inventors: KASSAI KENZOU, KASSAI, KENZOU
Applicants: APRICA KASSAI KK, APRICA KASSAI KABUSHIKIKAISHA
Application year: 1991
Main classification: A61G7
IPC codes: A61G7