Patent Publication Number: US-6668396-B2

Title: Turning mechanism for a patient confined to a bed

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a turning mechanism for a patient confined to a bed, more particularly a turning mechanism for a patient, which is relatively uncomplicated in structure, and convenient to use. 
     2. Brief Description of the Prior Art 
     It is necessary for the position of a patient confined to a bed and unable to turn himself or herself to be periodically changed by nurses or people providing care to a patient to prevent bedsores, pressure sores and other maladies associated with lying in one position for a long period of time. In addition, nurses or people providing care to a patient have to frequently change the position of the patient in bed when washing, dressing and undressing the patient and in providing other care. To prevent a bedridden patient from lying on the bed in a fixed position for an extended period of time, people providing care periodically turn the patient between the back-rest position and side-rest positions, which can be a left side-rest position or a right side-rest one, for allowing the patient to rest on the bed in each of the different positions for a certain period of time. 
     Therefore, the nurses or people providing care to an invalid patient would spend relatively much labor if they have to turn the patient manually without assistance device. Turning devices have been provided for allowing nurses or people, providing care to a bedridden patient, to turn the patient between the various rest positions with reduced labor and length of time. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,155,874 disclosed a “Turn sheet for invalid”, which includes a lift device  12 , chains  70 , and bars  66 , and a turn sheet  10 , which is turned with the lift device  12  working with the chains  70 , and the bars  66 . This mechanism only allows the patient to be turned to single side rest position. The lift device  12  has to be separated from the turn sheet  10 , and then moved to the other side of the bed, and finally connected to the other side of the turn sheet  10  for allowing the patient to be turned to the other side rest position. Therefore, this mechanism is not convenient to use. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,161,267 disclosed a “Method for lifting and turning a patient confined to a bed”, which allows a patient to be turned to both side rest positions. However, the mechanism used in this method has relatively complicated structure, and the patient lying on the bed is enclosed by an upper section of the mechanism, which is likely to interfere with medical staff&#39;s providing service to the patient. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,274,862 disclosed a “Patient turning device and method for lateral traveling transfer system”, which have straps  54  passed over two sides of a patient for turning the patient between various positions. This device has relatively uncomplicated but pulling force of the straps  54  is concentrated on the middle of the patient, may cause stress concentration and discomfort to the patient. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,524,304 disclosed a “Bed rail mounted drive unit for patient positioner”, which is equipped with straps  20 ,  22 . This device has similarly drawback as the last one, and could cause uneven rotation and discomfort to the patient. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,544,371 disclosed a “Bed patient turning, lifting and transporting apparatus with mobile, folding and knockdown frame”, which is even more complicated than the device of U.S. Pat. No. 5,161,267, and has a drawback that the upper section is likely to interfere with medical staff or other people&#39;s providing service to the patient. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,673,443 disclosed an “Apparatus for turning a patient in bed”, which has a longitudinal shaft  24  capable of moving a pull sheet portion  12  for turning a patient. This device is likely to interfere with medical staff or other people&#39;s providing service to the patient due to the strap elements  18 ,  20 . 
     U.S. Pat. No. 6,393,636 B1 disclosed a “Patient rotation system”, which is relatively uncomplicated in the structure. However, this device can only be used to turn a patient to a single side rest position, therefore the use of this device is restricted. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is a main object of the present invention to provide a turning mechanism for a patient confined to a bed, which is relatively uncomplicated in structure, and which can be used to turn the patient to both left and right side rest positions, with little stress concentration to patient&#39;s body. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide a turning mechanism for a patient confined to a bed, which can be used with little labor. 
     The turning mechanism of the present invention includes two pivotal frames, and two adjusting members, which are connected to respective frames provided for moving the frames between a horizontal position and a tilted one. A sheet is connected to elongated rods of the frames. The adjusting members have transmission shafts, which are connected to motors, and which have threaded sections screwed through respective moving blocks, to which propping rods are pivoted. The propping rods are pivoted to the frames at the other ends so that when the motors are activated, the moving blocks move along threaded sections, and the respective frames are adjusted with the propping rods. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The present invention will be better understood by reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the turning mechanism for a patient confined to a bed according to the present invention, 
     FIG. 2 is a top view of the turning mechanism for a patient confined to a bed according to the present invention, 
     FIG. 3 is a simplified top view of the turning mechanism for a patient confined to a bed according to the present invention, 
     FIG. 4 is a simplified front view of the turning mechanism for a patient confined to a bed according to the present invention, 
     FIG. 5 is a front view of the turning mechanism for a patient confined to a bed according to the present invention; and, 
     FIG. 6 is a fragmentary perspective view of the turning mechanism for a patient confined to a bed according to the present invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Referring to FIGS. 1,  2 , and  3 , a turning mechanism for a patient confined to a bed according to the present invention includes a power source  1 , a first and a second movable frames  5 ,  4 , and a first and a second adjusting members. 
     The power source  1  includes a left reduction gear motor  11 , and a right reduction gear motor  12 . The motors  11 ,  12  are fixedly disposed under a bed  7  or other proper places. Each of the reduction gear motors  11 ,  12  has a main toothed wheel  13  connected to a shaft thereof. 
     The movable frame  4  includes an elongated rod portion  41 , and two transverse rod portions  42 ,  42 , which are connected to two ends of the elongated rod portion  41  at upper ends thereof. The movable frame  5  includes an elongated rod portion  51 , and two transverse rod portions  52 ,  52 , which are connected to two ends of the elongated rod portion  51  at upper ends thereof. Each of the transverse rod portions  42 ,  52  has a pair of holed connecting ears  43 ,  53  sticking down from a middle portion thereof. In addition, each of the transverse rod portions  42 ,  52  has a pivotal hole (not numbered) at a lower end thereof. 
     The first, and the second adjusting members includes two propping rods  25 ,  25 , and  35 ,  35 , two transverse transmission shafts  2 ,  2 , and  3 ,  3 , a drive chain  14 , and  14 , a synchronizing chain  28 , and  38 . Each of the transverse transmission shafts  2 ,  2 , and  3 ,  3  has a threaded action section  23  ( 33 ) extending from one end to the other end. 
     A first one of the transmission shafts  2 ,  2  of the first adjusting member has a first toothed wheel  26  and a second toothed wheel  27  joined to a second end thereof, which is opposite to the first end, while a second one of the transmission shafts  2 ,  2  has toothed wheel at the first end. Similarly, a first one of the transmission shafts  3 ,  3  of the second adjusting member has a first toothed wheel  36  and a second toothed wheel  37  joined to a second end thereof, which is opposite to the first end, while a second one of the transmission shafts  3 ,  3  has toothed wheel at the first end. 
     The first and the second transverse transmission shafts  2 ,  2  are disposed at respective ends of the bed  7 , and turnably supported with support bases  21  at the first end, which have bearings for the first ends to be joined to, and are joined to bearings (not shown) fitted to shaft sleeves  22  at the second end. Similarly, the first and the second transverse transmission shafts  3 ,  3  of the second adjusting member are disposed at respective ends of the bed  7 , and turnably supported with support bases  31  at the first end, which have bearings for the first ends to be joined to, and are joined to bearings (not shown) fitted to shaft sleeves  32  at the second end. Thus, the threaded action sections of both the transmission shafts  2 ,  2  are directed to a right side of the bed  7 , and that the threaded action sections of both the transmission shafts  3 ,  3  of the second adjusting member are directed to a left side of the bed  7 . Furthermore, each of the shaft sleeves  22 ,  32  of the transmission shafts  2 ,  3  has a pair of upwards sticking connecting ears  221 ,  321 , which have pivotal holes (not numbered). 
     Furthermore, each of the transverse transmission shafts  2 ,  2 ,  3 ,  3  has a moving base  24 ,  34  screwed onto the threaded action section  23 ,  33  thereof. Each of the moving bases  24 ,  34  has a pair of holed connecting ears  241 ,  341  sticking up from it. 
     The drive chains  14 ,  14  of the first and the second adjusting members are passed over the main toothed wheels  13 ,  13  of the reduction gear motors  11 ,  12 , and the second toothed wheels  27 ,  37  so that the motors  11 ,  12  can effect rotary movement of the transmission shafts  2 ,  3  when they are in action. The synchronizing chains  28 ,  38  of the first and the second adjusting members are passed over the first toothed wheels  26 ,  36 , and the toothed wheels of the second transverse transmission shafts so that the motors  11 ,  12  can effect rotary movement of the second transverse shafts when they are in action. 
     In combination, the first and the second movable frames  5 ,  4 , are pivotally connected to the upwards sticking connecting ears  221 ,  321  of the shaft sleeves  22 ,  32  respectively with the transverse rod portions  52 ,  52 ,  42 ,  42  thereof being inserted between corresponding pairs of connecting ears  221 ,  321 , and with pivotal axles (not numbered) being passed through the pivotal holes of the connecting ears  221 ,  321  and the pivotal holes of the transverse rod portions  52 ,  52 ,  42 ,  42 ; thus, the elongated rod portions  51 ,  41  of the movable frames  5 ,  4 , are positioned above opposite long sides of the bed  7  when the frames  5 ,  4 , are positioned horizontal above the bed  7 . Then, the propping rods  25 ,  35  are pivotally connected to respective pairs of downwards-sticking holed connecting ears  53 ,  43  of the middles of the transverse rod portions  52 ,  42  at the upper ends thereof, and pivotally connected to respective pairs of holed connecting ears  241 ,  341  of the moving bases  24 ,  34 . 
     Finally, a sheet  6  is provided; each of two long sides of the sheet  6  has two connecting portions  62 ,  62 , and zippers  61 ,  61  joined to the edges of the connecting portions  62 ,  62 . Thus, the sheet  6  can be easily connected to the elongated rod portions  41 ,  51  of the movable frames  4 ,  5  with the connecting portions  62 ,  62  being passed around the elongated rod portions  41 ,  51 , and with the zippers  61  being connected to each other. And, a mattress  71  is disposed under the sheet  6 . 
     When the first and the second movable frames  5 ,  4  are positioned horizontal, a patient can lie on the sheet  6  in a back-rest position. To turn a patient lying on the bed  7  from the back-rest position to a left side rest position, the right reduction gear motor  11  is activated for both the transmission shafts  2 ,  2  of the first adjusting member to turn, and in turn, the moving bases  24  move along the threaded action sections of both the transmission shafts  2 ,  2  to the middles of the shafts  2 . Thus, the propping rods  25  of the first adjusting member prop up the transverse rod portions  52 ,  52  of the movable frame  5  to a tilted position. Similarly, to turn the patient to a right side rest position, the motors  11 ,  12  are activated so that the movable frame  5  is pivoted to the horizontal position, and the movable frame  4  is propped up to a tilted position. 
     From the above description, it can be understood that the turning mechanism for a patient confined to a bed according to the present invention has desirable features as following: 
     1. With the left and the right reduction gear motors  11 ,  12  providing power to the first and the second adjusting members respectively, it is relatively easy to turn a patient on the bed. 
     2. Because the first and the second movable frames are connected to the first and the second adjusting members respectively, the patient on the bed can be turned to either one of both side rest positions. Therefore, the present turning mechanism can be regarded as an improvement on those conventional ones that can only turn a patient to either a left or a right side rest position. 
     3. Movement of the adjusting members and the movable frames is effected with the motors therefore the present turning mechanism saves a lot of labor for the nurses and people providing care to the patient. 
     4. The reduction gear motors provide the patient with slow and gentle turning movement, and can work together with the sheet to exert uniform force on the patient&#39;s body in turning movement. Thus, the patient won&#39;t suffer from a turning service, which is delivered manually, and would cause too much uncomfortable pressure on small portions of the patient&#39;s body. 
     5. The elongated rod portions of both the movable frames can be raised a short distance from the bed so that the sheet sinks slightly for preventing the patient from falling off. Therefore, the present turning mechanism for a patient is safe to use. The normal side rails of bed can also be applied for double safety. 
     6. Because the sheet is equipped with zippers for connection with the elongated rod portions of both the movable frames, it can be easily removed from the present turning mechanism for cleaning.