Patent Publication Number: US-7905242-B2

Title: Bed enclosure

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/356,874, filed Feb. 17, 2006 and titled “BED ENCLOSURE,” which has now issued as U.S. Pat. No. 7,383,849, which is a continuation of prior U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/316,226, filed on Dec. 10, 2002 and titled “BED ENCLOSURE,” which has now issued as U.S. Pat. No. 7,047,991. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     In medical treatment situations, it is sometimes necessary to physically restrain certain persons or patients in order to provide protection for themselves and/or others. For example, adults and children having dementia, psychiatric or mental disorders, or other kinds of physical and/or mental problems may need to be restrained. In the past, these people have been physically restrained by using ties, straps or vests. However, the use of these kinds of restraints can be uncomfortable. In addition, these kinds of restraints are frequently removed during the day for a variety of reasons, such as to allow the person to exercise his or her muscles, or to clean or feed the person. 
     One alternative to using physical restraints involves the use of an enclosure restricting egress to a bed, typically referred to as a bed enclosure. Typically, the bed enclosure includes a supporting frame and a covering which is fitted over the sides and the top of the framework. The covering is provided with zippered side and end panel areas which can be readily opened and closed in order to provide access to the interior of the enclosure. Thus, the bed enclosure provides a more humane, safe and less restrictive environment for the person. 
     Unfortunately, a major problem with the use of such bed enclosures is an inability to move the bed enclosure after it is installed. Typically, specialized personnel must be called in so as to move the bed enclosure. In certain circumstances, the bed enclosure must be disassembled so that the hospital bed (on the interior of the bed enclosure) can be moved. In other circumstances, in order to move a patient from the bed enclosure to another location, the patient needs to be lifted and transferred to a mobile bed. The difficulty in actually moving the bed enclosure has discouraged the use of such enclosure beds. 
     Another problem is that some bed enclosures are not easily removable in emergency situations. For example, if a patient is having a heart attack, the medical personnel need unobstructed access to the patient. In this situation, conventional panels in the walls of the enclosure that allow access to the patent can be burdensome and obstruct medical personnel from their task at hand. 
     Another problem is that there are a variety of different styles of beds. Some bed enclosures are limited in their ability to be securely and easily attached to different beds while remaining capable of easily disassembly from the bed when there is no further need for the enclosure. 
     Another problem with some bed enclosures is that the patient inside of a bed enclosure can easily make contact with frame components that connect the bed enclosure to the bed. 
     Another problem with some bed enclosures is that attachments and adjustments to the enclosure&#39;s frame that attaches to the bed can require an installer to spend time connecting components in a cramped area under the bed. For example, in U.S. Pat. No. 6,216,291 to Eads, the bed enclosure attaches underneath the bed. 
     Another problem with bed enclosures is that many bed enclosures can hamper or limit medical personnel&#39;s ability to effectively use devices to lift a patient into and out of the bed. For example, a patient lifting device (such as one of several models of floor based Hoyer Lifts for patients, manufactured by Sunrise Medical, 2382 Faraday Avenue, Carlsbad, Calif., 92008) requires sufficient clearance under at least one side of the bed to provide stability to properly use the device. 
     Examples of other bed enclosures are U.S. Pat. No. 5,784,732 to Vail, U.S. Pat. No. 5,384,925 to Vail, and U.S. Pat. No. 6,263,529 to Chadwick et al. These bed enclosures suffer from one or more of the above problems. 
     Accordingly, a need exists for a bed enclosure that can be easily and securely attached to a variety of different beds without the need for specialized installers; can be easily and quickly removed from a bed; provides safety in the internal area accessible by the patient; and permits easy access to the patient by medical personnel outside of the bed enclosure. 
     SUMMARY 
     The present invention satisfies this need by providing an enclosure that can be used to restrict egress, such as by a patient, from a bed. The enclosure comprises a frame having a pair of opposed end bars, each having first and second segments, at least one side bar connected to the first end segment of each end bar, and a first and second opposed upright end member. The end bars and upright end members are for placement proximate to the head and foot of the bed. The upright end members are each connected to an opposed end bars. An upper support bar is connected between the opposed upright end members. 
     Preferably there is only one side bar to allow unobstructed access underneath the bottom of the bed. 
     Preferably there is a first attachment bar for placement at an end of the frame. The first attachment bar supported between a first upright end member comprising two substantially upright legs having an upper and a lower portion. The first attachment bar is moveable up and down along at least a portion of the legs. A releasable fastener connects the first attachment bar to the bed, such as to the bed framework, to keep the frame, according to the present invention, from moving out of place. More preferably there is also a second attachment bar on the second opposed upright end member. 
     A tent is supported by the frame, and has opposed side walls, opposed end walls, and an open bottom. Each wall of the tent has a lower edge. Preferably there is a half of a first mated zipper connector along the lower edge of at least one tent wall for connection to a mattress cover having an upper edge with the other half mating of the first mated zipper connector. This allows the tent to be zippered to the mattress cover, providing further structural support for the enclosure, additional protection, and added safety for a patient on the bed. 
     It is preferred that the present invention utilize all of these preferred features, but it is to be recognized that it is advantageous to have only one of these features. Therefore the present invention is not limited to structures that include all preferred features. 
    
    
     
       DRAWINGS 
       These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with regard to the following description, appended claims and accompanying drawings where: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an enclosure for restricting egress to a bed in accordance with the present invention, including an open side allowing unobstructed access underneath the bottom portion of the bed. 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the frame of the enclosure of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the frame of the enclosure of  FIG. 1  installed on a bed and wherein the frame has padding. 
         FIG. 4  is an exploded perspective view of a tent of the enclosure of  FIG. 1  and a mattress cover. 
         FIG. 5  is a top plan view of a bed board fasteners shown along line  5 - 5  in  FIG. 3 . 
         FIG. 6  is a sectional view of the bed board fastener fastened to a bed board of the bed shown along lines  6 - 6  of  FIG. 3 . 
         FIG. 7  shows a sectional view of another version of the invention wherein the frame of the enclosure is attached to an IV pole slot associated with the bed. 
         FIG. 8  is another exploded perspective view of a tent of the enclosure of  FIG. 1  and a mattress cover. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION 
     The following discussion describes embodiments of the invention and several variations of these embodiments. This discussion should not be construed, however, as limiting the invention to these particular embodiments. Practitioners skilled in the art will recognize numerous other embodiments as well. 
     In the following description of the invention, certain terminology is used for the purpose of reference only, and is not intended to be limiting. Terms such as “upper”, “lower,” “above,” and “below,” refer to directions in the drawings to which reference is made. Terms such as “inward” and “outward” refer to directions toward and away from, respectively, the geometric center of the component described. Terms such as “side,” “top,” “bottom,” “horizontal,” and “vertical,” describe the orientation of portions of the component within a consistent but arbitrary frame of reference which is made clear by reference to the text and the associated drawings describing the component under discussion. Such terminology includes the words specifically mentioned above, derivatives thereof, and words of similar import. 
     As used herein “bed” includes the bed&#39;s framework with or without IV pole slots on the framework, the bed board with or without IV pole slots, the mattress support, and the mattress. As used herein “bed board” means the foot board of the bed frame or the head board of the bed frame. The orientation of the person in the bed often determines whether it is deemed to be a foot board or head board. Some beds have bed boards or framework with slots or holes that are often used to insert the poles that hold intravenous fluid bags, traction equipment, head or foot boards, or for other purposes. As used herein these slots are referred to herein as “IV pole slots,” and other interchangeable names for these slots are “trapeze support brace holes” and “traction pole mounting holes.” 
     As used herein, a bed having a “bottom portion,” the “bottom portion” refers to the portion of the bed that is below or underneath the mattress support of the bed. 
     As used herein, “releasable fastener” structure means a fastener that can engage or attach or connect to the bed, and also can disengage or release its engagement or attachment to the bed. When the fastener is engaged or attached or connected to the bed, there is a secure connection. When the fastener is disengaged, the fastener can be removed from the bed. Examples of “releasable fasteners” include bolts, clamps, C-clamps, straps, ratchet straps, screws, and other similar structures. 
     As used herein, the term “bar” means bar, pole, shaft, rod, staff, tube, pipe, and include hollow and solid versions. The term “bar” also includes bars that are composed one piece or have more than one segment to constitute the bar. For example, bars used according to the present invention can be made as a one piece bar or the same bar can be made up of more than one piece. 
     Referring generally to  FIGS. 1-4 , an enclosure  10  embodying features of the present invention comprises a frame  12 , a tent  14  supported by the frame  12 , and a mattress cover  16  having an upper edge that is removably connected to the tent  14 . The enclosure is used with a bed  18  having a bottom portion, which has opposed bed boards  20   a  and  20   b , either of which can serve as a head board and either of which can serve as a foot board, a bed framework  21 , a mattress support  22 , a mattress  24 , wheels  26 , and an open side  28  underneath the mattress support  22 . 
     As best shown in  FIG. 2 , the frame  12  comprises a pair of opposed end bars  30   a  and  30   b , one side bar  32 , a first and second opposed upright end members  34   a  and  34   b , an upper support bar  36 , a first attachment bar  38   a  and a second attachment bar  38   b , and a bed board fastener  40 . Each of the opposed end bars  30   a  and  30   b  has a first end segment  42   a  and a second end segment  42   b . Each upright end member  34   a  and  34   b  comprises two substantially upright legs  44   a  and  44   b  having an upper portion  46   a  and a lower portion  46   b ; and a substantially V-shaped connector segment  48  connecting the legs  44   a  and  44   b  at the upper portion  46   a.    
     The interrelationship of the components of the frame  12  is best seen in  FIG. 2 . The opposed end bars  30   a  and  30   b  provide locations for connections at the bottom of the frame  12  for the side bar  32  and the first and second opposed upright end members  34   a  and  34   b . The side bar  32  is connected to the first end segment  42   a  of each opposed end bar  30   a  and  30   b , and there is no side bar  32  connected to the second end segments  42   b  to define a generally rectangular shape with an open side  28  allowing unobstructed access underneath the bottom portion of the bed  18 . The end bars  30   a  and  30   b  are also connected to each opposed upright end members  34   a  and  34   b . The legs  44   a  and  44   b  of each upright end member  34   a  and  34   b  are connected at the lower portion  46   b  to the opposed end bars  30   a  and  30   b . The first and second attachment bars  38   a  and  38   b , as shown in  FIG. 2 , are connected between the legs  44   a  and  44   b  of each upright end member  34   a  and  34   b , and are moveable up and down along at least a portion of the length of the legs  44   a  and  44   b . Two bed board fasteners  40  are shown as attached to each attachment bar  38   a  and  38   b . The upper support bar  36  extends between and connects to the substantially V-shaped connector segments  48  of each upright end member  34   a  and  34   b.    
     Preferably, there is only one side bar to allow unobstructed access underneath the bed. Preferably, there is only one upper support bar. 
     While most frames of a bed enclosure have two sides under the bed that form a generally rectangular shape, it is not necessary that the frame of the bed enclosure form a rectangular shape. A preferred version of the invention contemplates any shape that has the requisite open side underneath the bed allowing unobstructed access to the bottom of the bed. However, the generally rectangular shape of the frame of the bed enclosure is consistent with the current shape of most beds as generally rectangular. 
     In an embodiment of the invention shown in the drawings, a substantially V-shaped connector segment connects the upper portion of the legs of each opposed upright end members, and also connects between the first and second opposed end members. The use of the substantially V-shaped connector segment is optional. For example, the legs of each opposed upright end members could be bent to form a V-shape or U-shape, and not require a connector to connect the legs of the opposed upright end members. 
     While the drawings and descriptions of connector segments of each upright end member show a substantially V-shaped connector segments, the invention contemplates that other shapes of connector segments can be used without deviating from the invention claimed in this patent. The substantially V-shaped connector segment is a preferred connector segment, and “substantially V-shaped” as used herein, refers to triangle shaped, or U-shaped, and includes variations with rounded apexes or pointed apexes. 
     In  FIG. 2 , two bed board fasteners  40  on each attachment bar  38   a  and  38   b  are releasable fasteners for fastening the frame  12  to the bed  18 . It is preferable to use one attachment bar on each end of the frame, and to use one or more fasteners on each bed board  20   a  and  20   b  of the bed  18  for greater stability.  FIG. 5  and  FIG. 6  show different views of the bed board fastener  40  connected to the attachment bar  38   a  and fastened to the bed boards  20   a  and  20   b  depicted in  FIG. 3 .  FIG. 5  shows a top plan view of the bed board fastener depicted in  FIG. 3  along lines  5 - 5 . The bed board fastener  40  fastens the bed board  20   a  to the first attachment bar  38   a.    
     As shown in  FIG. 6 , a bed board screw  50  fastens the bed board fastener  40  to the bed board  20   a , and an attachment screw  52  fastens the bed board fastener  40  to the first attachment bar  38   a . The first attachment bar  38   a  is outside of the bed board  20   a , and the bed board screw  50  and the attachment screw  52  are also positioned outside of the bed board  20   a . The installer can easily access the screws  50  and  52  to fasten or disengage the frame  12  of the enclosure  10  from the bed  18 . 
     In addition to the bed board fasteners  40 ,  FIG. 7  shows a sectional view of an IV pole fastener  54  connected to the attachment bar  38   a  and fastened on the bed framework  21  having an IV pole slot  56 . The IV hole fastener  54  has a downward member  58  that fits into the IV pole slot  56  located on the framework  21  of the bed, and an attachment screw  52  outside of the framework fastening the first attachment bar  38   a  to the IV pole fastener  54 . The installer can easily access the attachment screw  52  to fasten or disengage the frame  12  of the enclosure  10  from the bed  18 . In  FIG. 7 , the IV pole slot  56  is located on the framework  21  of the bed  18 . An IV pole slot  56  can be found on bed board  20   a  and  20   b  of certain beds, and the IV pole fastener  54  also works with those types of beds (not shown in  FIG. 7  or any other figures). 
     The bed board fasteners and IV fasteners described and shown in detail in the drawings are examples of fasteners adapted to fasten the frame to the bed. Other releasable fasteners can be used or adapted to fasten the frame to the bed, such as bolts, clamps, C-clamps, straps, ratchet straps, screws, and similar structures. 
     The frame&#39;s components can be constructed of any suitable rigid material, such as metal tubing. The preferred material used in the construction of the frame  12  was mild steel tubing. However, other materials that can be used include aluminum or cold rolled seamless steel. 
     As best shown in  FIG. 3 , the frame is  12  fastened to bed boards  20   a  and  20   b  of the bed  18  with bed board fasteners  40 , and padding  60  covering the legs  44   a  and  44   b  of each opposed upright end members  34   a  and  34   b  and the upper support bar  36 . The mattress  24  is seated on the mattress support  22  of the bed  18 . It is preferable to use padding  60  to cover the metal bars that can come in contact with the patient inside of the tent for added safety. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 4 and 8 , the tent  14  has a three dimensional interior section  61 . The tent  14  comprises opposed side walls  62   a  and  62   b  with zippered side panels  64 ; opposed end walls  66   a  and  66   b  with zippered end panels  68 ; an open bottom  70 , wherein each wall of the tent has a lower edge  72  on the open bottom  70  connected to one half of a first mated zipper connector  74   a ; a third mated zipper connector  76  between material covering the upper support bar and the tent  14 , and a fourth pair of mated zipper connectors  78   a  and  78   b  and fifth pair of mated zipper connectors  80   a  and  80   b  between material covering the upright end members and adjoining material on the side walls  62   a  and  62   b  and end walls  66   a  and  66   b  of the tent  14 . One of the fifth pair of mated zipper connectors  80   b  is not visible in the view shown in  FIG. 4 ; but is located on the back rear corner of the tent  14  opposite  78   b  as shown in  FIG. 4  and in the same relative position. The zippered side panels  64  and zippered end panels  68  have netting  82 . The mattress cover  16  comprises the upper edge of the mattress cover  16  connected to other half of the first mated zipper connector  74   b ; side walls  86 ; and a second mated zipper connector  84  that permits the removal and insertion of a mattress  24 . 
     The tent  14  can be made of any suitable material such as vinyl of varying thicknesses, canvas, laminated materials, cotton duck, polyester, heavy denier nylon, propylene, nylon mesh or cotton netting. 
     In the embodiments of the tent shown and described in this patent, each wall of the tent has a lower edge on the open bottom connected to one half of a first mated zipper connector that can be mated with the other half of the first mated zipper connector attached to the upper edge of the mattress cover to allow the tent to be removably connected to the mattress cover. The invention also contemplates that the lower edge of at least one wall of the tent is removably connected to the upper edge of the mattress cover, and that not all walls of the tent necessarily need to be connected to the mattress cover. 
     While the only depiction in the drawings is that of the first mated zipper connector, the invention contemplates that other types of connectors, would be encompassed by the invention if the substituted connectors would allow the tent to be removably connected to the mattress cover. For example, mated velcro strips, mated snaps, or other connectors could be used in place of the mated zipper connectors, as these could be removably connected between the tent and mattress cover. A preferred embodiment in the invention is the use of mated zipper connectors, including the first mated zipper connector, and the other mated zipper connectors. 
     Embodiments of the invention can include the frame having at least one side bar and an upper support bar that are adjustable in length. A preferred embodiment is the use of telescoping bars as the side bar and the upper support bar. Telescoping bars are bars that are adjustable in length, and the excess length of the bar is contained within the core of the bar when it is not expanded. Other embodiments of the invention can include a multiplicity of wheels connected the lower portion of the frame of the enclosure as shown in  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2 . Wheels on the frame make it easier to move and remove the enclosure especially in emergency situations. 
     A preferred version of the present invention offers several beneficial features for an enclosure restricting egress, such as to a hospitalized patient. One benefit of the version of the invention with a frame having an open side on the bottom of the frame is that devices such as a patient lifter can be easily positioned under the bed, and provide stability for safely lifting the patient in or out of the bed. Conventional enclosures with two closed sides under the bed that form a generally rectangular shape can obstruct access under the mattress support of the bed for using a patient lifter. This embodiment of the invention does not suffer from that problem. 
     Another benefit of having an open side on the bottom of the frame is that the frame of the enclosure can be easily constructed away from the bed, then moved to the location of the bed, and fastened to the bed framework or bed boards. The patient can even remain in the bed while the frame of the enclosure is attached to the bed. This is beneficial in many ways. A sedated patient or an alert but immobile patient does not need to be removed from the bed before attaching the enclosure. The enclosure can be quickly removed from beds with minimal effort because the frame slides around the bed for attachment or removal at the ends of the bed. The installer does not need to spend time in the cramped area under the bed when attaching the enclosure to the bed&#39;s frame. This makes installation and removal of the enclosure a less time consuming task for the installer. 
     Another benefit of the present invention is a preferred embodiment with the frame of the enclosure having one or more attachment bars moveable up and down along at least a portion of the length of the legs of the upright end members. This is beneficial because when the bed is raised or lowered, each attachment bar fastened to the bed will move up or down, and thereby permit the enclosure to remain safely around the patient. This feature makes it easy for a care giver, such as a doctor, nurse, or other person, to raise the bed to a level that is comfortable for access to the patient, and without needing major adjustments to ensure the enclosure remaining safely around a patient with the tent. 
     A preferred embodiment of the invention having a first mated zipper connector offers important benefits for an enclosure restricting egress. First, the first mated zipper connector makes the enclosure safer for the patient because the mattress is enclosed, and the patient lying on top of the mattress cover cannot get trapped between the mattress cover and the mattress. Second, when the tent of the enclosure of the present invention is removably connected with one half of a first mated zipper connector to the upper edge of the mattress cover with the other half of a first mated zipper connector, this permits the tent to be quickly unzipped from the mattress cover, and from around the patient within the tent. For example, in an emergency situation, unzipping the first mated zipper connector and pushing the tent away from the patient allows greater access to the patient inside the enclosure. 
     The other mated zipper connector of the present invention are preferred embodiments that also offer benefits. The third mated zipper connector, fourth pair of mated zipper connectors, and fifth pair of mated zipper connectors are beneficial for installation and removal of the tent. These mated zipper connectors permit simple installation of the tent around a bed. For example, when the frame is constructed away from the bed, and moved into position surrounding the bed frame, the use of these mated zipper connectors, permits an installer to support the tent over the padding or the frame, even when a patient is in the bed. The same is true with respect to removal of the tent from the frame for disassembly. The second mated zipper connector permits the removal and insertion of a mattress. The use of these mated zipper connector is a preferred embodiment of the invention. 
     An above preferred embodiment of the tent having a first mated zipper connector, used with an open side on the bottom of the frame, and with releasable fastener means attached to an attachment bar provides a quick way to remove the tent, disengage the frame, and push the frame away from the bed. The use of these three prominent features of the invention is a preferred embodiment of the invention for all of the above reasons. 
     A variety of different permutations of the invention is contemplated, and not meant to be limited by this disclosure. The present invention is not limited to the preferred embodiments described in this section. The embodiments are merely exemplary, and one skilled in the art will recognize that many others are possible in accordance with this invention. Having now generally described the invention, the same will be more readily understood through references to the above descriptions and drawings, which are provide by way of illustration, and are not intended to be limiting of the present invention, unless so specified. 
     Having thus described the invention, it should be apparent that numerous modifications and adaptations may be resorted to without departing from the scope and fair meaning of the instant invention as set forth herein above and as described herein below by the claims. 
     Although the present invention has been described in considerable detail with reference to certain preferred versions thereof, other versions are possible. Therefore, the spirit and scope of the appended claims should not be limited to the description of the preferred versions described herein. 
     All features disclosed in the specification, including the claims, abstracts, and drawings, and all the steps in any method or process disclosed, may be combined in any combination, except combinations where at least some of such features and/or steps are mutually exclusive. Each feature disclosed in the specification, including the claims, abstract, and drawings, can be replaced by alternative features serving the same, equivalent or similar purpose, unless expressly stated otherwise. Thus, unless expressly stated otherwise, each feature disclosed is one example only of a generic series of equivalent or similar features. 
     Any element in a claim that does not explicitly state “means” for performing a specified function or “step” for performing a specified function, should not be interpreted as a “means” or “step” clause as specified in 35 U.S.C. §112. 
     The above description in the “Background” section is to provide a summary of information relevant to the present invention and is not a concession that any of the information provided or publications referenced herein is prior art to the presently claimed invention.