Patent Publication Number: US-2012023670-A1

Title: Person-support apparatus indicator

Description:
This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/369,394 titled PERSON-SUPPORT APPARATUS INDICATOR filed on Jul. 30, 2010, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     This disclosure relates generally to person-support apparatuses. More particularly, but not exclusively, one illustrative embodiment relates to an identifying element configured to identify a feature and/or function of the person-support apparatus. 
     Person-support apparatuses can include many features and can be capable of performing many functions. Some of the features and/or functions of the person-support apparatus might not be readily identifiable, for example, in low light conditions. While various person-support apparatuses have been developed, there is still room for improvement. Thus a need persists for further contributions in this area of technology. 
     SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     One illustrative embodiment of the present disclosure can include a siderail with an indicator configured to emit light to identify the location of a handle. Another illustrative embodiment of the present disclosure can include a frame with a deck and an indicator configured to identify the edge of a person-support surface supported on the deck. Another illustrative embodiment of the present disclosure can include a frame with a deck and an indicator configured to identify the location of a portion of the deck. Another illustrative embodiment of the present disclosure can include an egress handle with an indicator configured to indicate when the person-support apparatus is in a chair configuration. Another illustrative embodiment of the present disclosure can include a frame with a pedal coupled thereto and an indicator configured to identify the location of the pedal. 
     Additional features alone or in combination with any other feature(s), including those listed above and those listed in the claims and those described in detail below, can comprise patentable subject matter. Others will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon consideration of the following detailed description of illustrative embodiments exemplifying the best mode of carrying out the invention as presently perceived. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Referring now to the illustrative examples in the drawings, wherein like numerals represent the same or similar elements throughout: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective side view of a person-support apparatus with siderails coupled to a frame of the person-support apparatus according to one illustrative embodiment; 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective side view of the person-support apparatus of  FIG. 1 , showing the grip and the seat section of the deck with an indicator thereon. 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective side view of the grip of  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective side view of the grip portion of the siderail of  FIG. 1  showing a partially exploded grip with a translucent cover and a circuit board with an indicator thereon. 
         FIG. 5  is a partial diagrammatic view of the person-support apparatus of  FIG. 1  showing the control system configured to receive signals from various sensors and control the at least one function of the person-support apparatus and the indicator in accordance therewith. 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective side view of the person-support apparatus of  FIG. 1  in the chair configuration with siderails including grips according to another illustrative embodiment. 
         FIG. 7  is a perspective side view of the siderail and grip of  FIG. 6 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     While the present disclosure can take many different forms, for the purpose of promoting an understanding of the principles of the disclosure, reference will now be made to the embodiments illustrated in the drawings, and specific language will be used to describe the same. No limitation of the scope of the disclosure is thereby intended. Various alterations, further modifications of the described embodiments, and any further applications of the principles of the disclosure, as described herein, are contemplated. 
     One illustrative embodiment of the present disclosure can include a siderail with an indicator configured to emit light to identify the location of a handle. Another illustrative embodiment of the present disclosure can include a frame with a deck and an indicator configured to identify the edge of a person-support surface supported on the deck. Another illustrative embodiment of the present disclosure can include a frame with a deck and an indicator configured to identify the location of a portion of the deck. Another illustrative embodiment of the present disclosure can include an egress handle with an indicator configured to indicate when the person-support apparatus is in a chair configuration. Another illustrative embodiment of the present disclosure can include a frame with a pedal coupled thereto and an indicator configured to identify the location of the pedal. 
     A person-support apparatus  10  according to one illustrative embodiment of the current disclosure is shown in  FIGS. 1-5 . The person-support apparatus  10  can have a first section F 1  or head support section F 1 , where the head of a person can be positioned and a second section S 1  or a foot support section S 1 , where the feet of the person can be positioned. In one illustrative embodiment, the person-support apparatus  10  can be a hospital bed. In some contemplated embodiments, the person-support apparatus  10  can also be a hospital stretcher or an operating table. The person-support apparatus  10  can include a lower frame  12  or base  12 , a plurality of supports  14  coupled with the lower frame  12 , and an upper frame  16  supported on the supports  14  above the lower frame  12 . In some contemplated embodiments, the supports  14  can be lift mechanisms  14  that can move the upper frame  16  with respect to the lower frame  12 . Also, in some contemplated embodiments, the person-support apparatus  10  can support a person-support surface  18  thereon. 
     The upper frame  16  can include an upper frame base  20 , a deck  22 , siderails  24 , and indicators  26  as shown in  FIGS. 1-2  and  5 . In some contemplated embodiments, the upper frame  16  can also include endboards EB 1 , such as, for example, a headboard HB 1  and a footboard FB 1 , coupled to the first section F 1  and the second section S 1  of the person-support apparatus that, along with the siderails  24 , can be perimeter locating structures that locate the perimeter or edge of the upper frame  16 . The upper frame base  20  can be coupled with the supports  14  and can support the deck  22  thereon as shown in  FIGS. 1-2  and  5 . In one illustrative embodiment, the upper frame base  20 , the supports  14 , and the deck  22  can be configured to cooperate with one another to move the deck  22  between a relatively horizontal position and a chair position as shown in  FIG. 6 . 
     The deck  22  can include a head portion  28 , a seat portion  30 , and a foot portion  32  as shown in  FIGS. 1-2  and  5 . The head portion  28 , the seat portion  30 , and the foot portion  32  can be movably coupled with each other and/or the upper frame base  20 . The head portion  28 , the seat portion  30 , and the foot portion  32  can each include a first deck surface  34 , a second deck surface  36 , and third deck surface  38  or deck side surface  38  extending between the first deck surface  34  and the second deck surface  36 . In one illustrative embodiment, the first deck surface  34  can be configured to support the person-support surface  18  thereon and the second deck surface  36  can be configured to be coupled to the upper frame base  20 . 
     The siderails  24  can include a siderail body  40  with a top portion ST 1  and a bottom portion SB 1 , and a siderail movement assembly  42  as shown in  FIGS. 1-5 . The siderail movement assembly  42  can be coupled to the bottom portion SB 1  of the siderail body  40  and can couple the siderails  24  to the deck  22  and/or the upper frame base  20 . In one illustrative embodiment, one siderail  24  can be coupled to the head portion  28  of the deck  22  (i.e., a head siderail  24   a  or headrail  24   a ) and another siderail  24  can be coupled to the foot portion  32  of the upper frame base  20  (i.e., a foot siderail  24   b  or footrail  24   b ) as shown in  FIGS. 1-2  and  5 . 
     The siderail movement assembly  42  can be configured to can facilitate movement of the siderails  24  between a deployed position and a storage position. In the deployed position, as shown in  FIG. 1 , at least a portion of the siderail body  40  can be positioned above the upper frame  16 . In the storage position, the siderail body  40  can be moved to a lower position where the siderail body  40  is below the deployed position as shown in  FIGS. 2 and 5 . The siderail movement assembly  42  can include a locking mechanism (not shown) that can maintain the siderails  24  in one of the deployed position and/or storage position when locked and can facilitate movement of the siderails  24  between the deployed and storage position when unlocked. 
     The siderail body  34  can include a first surface  44 , a second surface  46 , and a side surface  48  or perimeter edge  48  extending between the first surface  44  and the second surface  46 , a grip portion  50  as shown in  FIGS. 1-5 . In some contemplated embodiments, the siderail  24  can include a caregiver interface (not shown) that can be operable to control various functionalities of the person-support apparatus  10 . Also, in some contemplated embodiments, the headboard HB 1  and the footboard FB 1  can also include grip portions  48 . At least a portion of the first surface  44  and the second surface  46  can be substantially parallel to one another. The first surface  44  can be oriented such that the first surface  44  faces toward the upper frame  16  and the second surface  46  can be oriented such that the second surface  46  faces away from the upper frame  16 . The first surface  44  can be spaced apart from the second surface  46  and can cooperate with the second surface  46  and the side surface  48  to define an inner chamber  50 . 
     The grip portion  50  can be configured to be gripped by a person to assist the person with ingress/egress to/from the person support apparatus  10 . The grip portion  50  can be located along the top portion ST 1  and can include a grip  52  and a grip opening  54  as shown in  FIGS. 1-5 . In some contemplated embodiments, the grip portion  50  can be located along any portion of the siderail body  34  and/or endboards EB 1 . The grip opening  54  can pass through the siderail body  34  and can cooperate with the side surface  48  to define the grip  52 . The upper portion of the grip opening  54  can define the bottom surface  56  of the grip  52  and the lower portion of the grip opening  54  can define an upper side surface  58  of the siderail body  34 . In one illustrative embodiment, the grip  52  can include an inner grip chamber  51  that can contain an indicator  26  therein. In another illustrative embodiment, a portion of the grips  52  can include a translucent cover TC 1  that can be coupled to the other portion of the grip  52  and can enclose a circuit board CB 1  with an indicator  26  thereon in the inner grip chamber  51  as shown in  FIG. 4 . 
     In another illustrative embodiment of the current disclosure, the grip  152  can be pivotably coupled to the siderail body  134  at a first grip joint FG 1  and a second grip joint FG 2  and can be configured to move between a first position where the grip  152  can be used for ingress/egress to/from a side of the person-support apparatus  110 , and a second position where the grip  152  can be configured to be pivoted in toward the upper frame  116  and used for ingress/egress to/from the person-support apparatus  110  when the person-support apparatus is in a chair configuration as shown in  FIGS. 6-7 . In some contemplated embodiments, a lock (not shown) can be configured to selectively maintain the grip  152  in the first position and/or second position. 
     The indicators  26  can be configured to identify features, functionalities, and/or status of the person-support apparatus  10 . In one illustrative embodiment, the indicators  26  can be configured to identify the location of specific ergonomic gripping points on the siderail  24  by illuminating the portion of the grip  52  as shown in  FIGS. 1-7 . In some contemplated embodiments, any grip  52  on person-support apparatus  10 , including, but not limited to, the headboard HB 1 , footboard FB 1 , and/or siderail  24 , can be identified by the indicators  26 . In another illustrative embodiment, the indicators  26  can be configured to assist a person with locating the edge of the person support surface  18  positioned on the upper frame  16  by illuminating the deck side surface  38  of the seat portion  30  as shown in  FIGS. 1-2  and  5 . In some contemplated embodiments, the indicators  26  can be positioned within the any of the deck sections or coupled to a surface of the deck sections. In another illustrative embodiment, the indicators  26  can be configured to be illuminated to alert a person as to the status of the person-support apparatus  10 . In another illustrative embodiment, the indicators  26  can be configured to alert a person positioned on the person-support apparatus  10  as to when the person-support apparatus  10  has finished moving from a generally horizontal position to a chair position by illuminating a portion of the grips  152 . In some contemplated embodiments, the indicators  26  can be controlled by a control system CS 1  that can cause the indicators  26  to flash as the person-support apparatus  10  moves from the generally horizontal position toward the chair position. In some contemplated embodiments, the indicators  26  can not illuminate the grips  52  until the person-support apparatus  10  is in the chair position and the grips  152  are pivoted to the ingress/egress position. In another illustrative embodiment, the indicators  26  can be configured to be activated when the head portion  28  of the deck  22  is at a predetermined angle of inclination, such as, for example, 30°, with respect to the upper frame base  22 . In other illustrative embodiments, the indicators  26  can be configured to identify various pedals PD 1 , handles LH 2 , user interface buttons UB 1  and/or other portions of the person-support apparatus  10 . 
     The indicators  26  can be a light source and/or a photo luminescent material or substance. In one illustrative embodiment, the indicators  26  can be light emitting diodes (LED&#39;s) positioned in the inner grip chamber  50 . In some contemplated embodiments, the LED&#39;s can be molded into the grip  52 . It should also be appreciated that the grip  52  can include a recessed portion that an LED strip can be positioned in. It should also be appreciated that the grip  52  can be molded separately from the siderail body  34  to include the indicators  26  and can be later coupled to the siderail body  34 . In another illustrative embodiment, the indicators  26  can be photo luminescent paint and/or ink that can be incorporated into labels, control button overlays, or user interfaces, or applied to the grips  52 . 
     The indicators  26  can be configured to identify the features, functionalities, and/or status of the person-support apparatus  10  when the ambient light in the room that the person-support apparatus  10  is in is below a predetermined threshold. It should also be appreciated that the indicators  26  can be configured to identify the features and/or functionalities of the person-support apparatus  10  regardless of the amount of ambient light in the room that the person-support apparatus  10  is in is. In some contemplated embodiments, the control system CS 1  can receive input from a sensor CS 2 , such as, for example, a photoelectric sensor or inclinometer, and can cause the indicators  26  to illuminate as a function of the input from the sensors CS 2  as shown in  FIG. 5 . In some contemplated embodiments, the control system CS 1  can be configured to cause the indicators  26  to flash to indicate when the person-support apparatus  10  is performing a function, such as, articulating from the generally horizontal position to the chair position. 
     Many other embodiments of the present disclosure are also envisioned. For example, a siderail assembly comprises a siderail body and an indicator. The siderail body includes a first surface, a second surface, a side surface extending between the first surface and the second surface, and a grip portion. The grip portion includes a grip opening that cooperates with the side surface to define a grip. The indicator is configured to illuminate a portion of the grip. 
     In another example, a person-support apparatus comprises a frame, a deck, and an indicator. The deck is supported on the frame. The indicator is coupled to the deck and configured to illuminate the edge of the deck. 
     In another example, a person-support apparatus comprises a frame, a pedal, and an indicator. The pedal is movably coupled to the frame. The indicator is coupled to the pedal and configured to illuminate the pedal. 
     In another example, a person-support apparatus comprises a lower frame, a plurality of supports, an upper frame, a siderail, and an indicator. The upper frame is supported on the supports above the lower frame. The upper frame is configured to move between a substantially planar position and a chair position. The siderail is coupled to the upper frame and includes a grip portion with a grip. The indicator is coupled to the grip and is configured to illuminate the grip. 
     Any theory, mechanism of operation, proof, or finding stated herein is meant to further enhance understanding of principles of the present disclosure and is not intended to make the present disclosure in any way dependent upon such theory, mechanism of operation, illustrative embodiment, proof, or finding. It should be understood that while the use of the word preferable, preferably or preferred in the description above indicates that the feature so described can be more desirable, it nonetheless can not be necessary and embodiments lacking the same can be contemplated as within the scope of the disclosure, that scope being defined by the claims that follow. 
     In reading the claims it is intended that when words such as “a,” “an,” “at least one,” “at least a portion” are used there is no intention to limit the claim to only one item unless specifically stated to the contrary in the claim. When the language “at least a portion” and/or “a portion” is used the item can include a portion and/or the entire item unless specifically stated to the contrary. 
     It should be understood that only selected embodiments have been shown and described and that all possible alternatives, modifications, aspects, combinations, principles, variations, and equivalents that come within the spirit of the disclosure as defined herein or by any of the following claims are desired to be protected. While embodiments of the disclosure have been illustrated and described in detail in the drawings and foregoing description, the same are to be considered as illustrative and not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the disclosure to the precise forms disclosed. Additional alternatives, modifications and variations can be apparent to those skilled in the art. Also, while multiple inventive aspects and principles can have been presented, they need not be utilized in combination, and various combinations of inventive aspects and principles are possible in light of the various embodiments provided above.