Patent Publication Number: US-6209158-B1

Title: Invalid bed

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to the field of beds for the infirm, and more particularly to an invalid bed having a foot support spacer. 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     As can be seen by reference to the following U.S. Pat. Nos. 1,330,373; 3,743,051; 3,826,336; 3,841,437; 3,884,327; and 4,113,161, the prior art is replete with myriad and diverse foot support devices for the infirm. 
     While all of the aforementioned prior art constructions are more than adequate for the basic purpose and function for which they have been specifically designed, they are uniformly deficient with respect to their failure to provide a simple, efficient, and practical invalid bed having a foot support spacer. 
     As a consequence of the foregoing situation, there has existed a longstanding need for a new and improved type of invalid bed, and the provision of such a construction is a stated objective of the present invention. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Briefly stated, the present invention provides an improved invalid bed for use by individuals that are unable to lift themselves into a seated position with their arms that includes a foot board and a foot support spacer that is positionable against the foot board of the bed and against which the user can push with their feet to slide themselves into a seated position. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
     These and other attributes of the invention will become more clear upon a thorough study of the following description of the best mode for carrying out the invention, particularly when reviewed in conjunction with the drawings, wherein: 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the invalid bed with the foot support spacer positioned at the foot board of a bed; 
     FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the foot support spacer; 
     FIG. 3 is a top plan view thereof; 
     FIG. 4 is a front elevational view thereof; 
     FIG. 5 is a side elevational view thereof; 
     FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of the internal reinforcing panels; and 
     FIG. 7 is a partial top plan view of the reinforcing panels received in U-shaped channels. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     As can be seen by reference to the drawings, and in particular to FIG. 1, the invalid bed that forms the basis of the present invention is designated generally by the reference number  10 . The invalid bed  10  includes a frame  12  and an attached foot board  14 . A foot support spacer  20  is selectively positioned next to the foot board  14 . The spacer  20  is a small plastic or hard rubber enclosure approximately 12 inches long, 8 inches wide, and 6 inches high, weighing 2-3 pounds. The rectangular shape allows for the different heights of patients, as it could be turned to a selected side when in use. Four internal ribs or dividers  30 , with two running lengthwise, and two running from side to side, strengthen the enclosure allowing it to be used as both a step stool and as a push off spacer between the feet of the patient and the foot board. Two access holes  40  in the top allow the device to be easily picked up and moved. 
     The spacer  20  provides a person confined to a hospital bed with a means of pushing themselves up when desired, by merely placing their feet against the spacer  20  and using it to push to with their feet. Access holes  40  in the top of the spacer  20  enable anyone to easily pick up the device when desired. 
     FIG. 5 shows the internal interconnection of the reinforcing panels  30  located on the inside of the spacer  20 . As seen in the illustration, there are intersecting panels  30  that allow mating slots  60  to interconnect in a fashion that provides a strengthened box-type bracing . FIG. 6 illustrates a top view of the panels  30  and their connection to the inside of the spacer  20 , utilizing vertical U-type connectors  70  which form a female attachment component for the reinforcement panels  50 . This type of attachment method allows all of the reinforcement panels  30  to be fabricated separately, reducing the cost of tooling necessary for manufacture. The reinforcement panels  30  may be designed to fit together very tightly at the factory level, or may snap together for installation by the end user. Components of the spacer  20  may be formed from glass-filled ABS plastic or polyethylene plastic. 
     In use, the user would simply place the spacer  20  at the foot board  14  of the bed. They would then enjoy the benefit of being able to push themselves up in the bed at anytime desired by placing their feet against the spacer  20  and shoving. In addition, the spacer  20  could be used as a step stool to aide in getting in and out of bed. Use of the spacer  20  would provide a very practical, inexpensive, and easy to use method of allowing anyone who may not have sufficient upper body strength to push themselves up in bed. 
     Although only an exemplary embodiment of the invention has been described in detail above, those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that many modifications are possible without materially departing from the novel teachings and advantages of this invention. Accordingly, all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of this invention as defined in the following claims. 
     Having thereby described the subject matter of the present invention, it should be apparent that many substitutions, modifications, and variations of the invention are possible in light of the above teachings. It is therefore to be understood that the invention as taught and described herein is only to be limited to the extent of the breadth and scope of the appended claims.