Patent Publication Number: US-8522379-B2

Title: Hospital bed foot section with caster cutouts

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     This disclosure relates generally to movable patient beds. More particularly, this disclosure relates to patient beds that can assume a horizontal position and a position in which the foot section of the bed can be pivoted to a substantially vertical position. 
     Some patient beds, such as those commonly found in healthcare facilities and other locations in which health care is provided, have a number of features that may be operated by either a patient or a caregiver. One such feature allows the bed to move from a horizontal position to a chair position. Some examples of such patient beds are the TotalCare® Bed System and the VersaCare® bed, which are available from the Hill-Rom Company, Inc. 
     SUMMARY 
     The present invention comprises one or more of the features recited in the appended claims and/or the following features which, alone or in any combination, may comprise patentable subject matter. 
     According to one aspect of this disclosure, a bed includes a base having a head end and a foot end longitudinally spaced from the head end, a plurality of casters supporting the base, where the plurality of casters includes a pair of foot end casters coupled to the foot end of the base, a frame supported by the base, and a deck supported by the frame. The deck is configured to support a mattress. The deck includes at least a head section and a foot section spaced from the head section. At least the head and foot sections are pivotable relative to the frame. The foot section is pivotable relative to a remainder of the deck from a first position to a second position in which the foot section is substantially perpendicular to the base. The foot section has a first end pivotably coupled to the remainder of the deck and a second end longitudinally spaced from the first end. The first end has a first width and the second end has a second width. The second width is smaller than the first width to define a substantially “t” shaped foot section. 
     The second end of the foot section may include a pair of laterally spaced cutout regions, each of which is defined to allow at least a portion of one of the foot end casters to be positioned therein. The cutout regions may have a substantially square shape. The foot section may have a pair of laterally spaced sides intersecting the first and second ends, where each of the cutout regions is located adjacent one of the laterally spaced sides. Each of the foot end casters has a width, and the difference between the first width and the second width may be greater than the width of the foot end casters. 
     The bed may include a bed controller operably coupled to the foot section and a user input-output device coupled to the bed controller, where activation of the user input-output device moves the foot section to a position in which at least a portion of each of the foot end casters is positioned in one of the cutout regions. The foot section may be moved to a position in which the foot section is at an angle of approximately 90 degrees from horizontal. 
     According to another aspect of this disclosure, a bed, includes a base having a head end and a foot end longitudinally spaced from the head end, a plurality of casters supporting the base, the plurality of casters including a pair of casters coupled to the foot end of the base, a frame supported by the base, and a deck supported by the frame. The deck is configured to support a mattress. The deck includes at least a head section and a foot section spaced from the head section. At least the head and foot sections are pivotable relative to the frame. The foot section is pivotable relative to a remainder of the deck from a first position to a second position in which the foot section is substantially perpendicular to the base. The foot section has first and second longitudinally spaced ends and first and second laterally spaced sides, where each of the first and second sides has a first edge intersecting the first end, and a second edge intersecting the first edge to define a cutout region. 
     The second edge may be substantially perpendicular to the first edge. The second edge may be substantially parallel to the first end of the foot section. The first edge may be substantially perpendicular to the first end of the foot section. Each of the first and second sides may include a third edge intersecting the second edge. The third edge may be substantially perpendicular to the second edge. The third edge may intersect the second end of the foot section. The third edge may be substantially perpendicular to the second end of the foot section. The third edge and the first edge may be substantially parallel. 
     According to a further aspect of this disclosure, a bed includes a base having a head end and a foot end longitudinally spaced from the head end, a plurality of casters supporting the base, the plurality of casters including a pair of casters coupled to the foot end of the base, a frame supported by and movable relative to the base, and a deck supported by the frame. The deck is configured to support a mattress. The deck includes at least a head section and a foot section spaced from the head section. At least the head and foot sections are pivotable relative to the frame. The foot section is pivotable relative to a remainder of the deck from a first position to a second position in which the foot section is substantially perpendicular to the base. The foot section has a first end pivotably coupled to the remainder of the deck and a second end longitudinally spaced from the first end. The first and second ends cooperate to define a pair of cutout regions, each of which is configured to permit passage therethrough of at least a portion of one of the foot end casters. 
     The foot section may have first and second laterally spaced sides intersecting the first and second ends, where each of the cutout regions is located adjacent one of the laterally spaced sides. The first end of the foot section may have a first width, the second end of the foot section may have a second width, the cutout regions may be spaced from each other by the second width, and the second width may be smaller than the first width. The difference between the first and second widths may be greater than a width of the foot end casters. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The detailed description particularly refers to the following figures, in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a bed in a chair position; 
         FIG. 2  is a side view of the bed of  FIG. 1  in a chair position; and 
         FIG. 3  is a partial front elevation of the bed of  FIG. 1 , with the foot section pivoted downwardly to a substantially vertical position. 
     
    
    
     The same reference numbers may be used to refer to like components in the several drawings. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     While the concepts of the present disclosure are susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, specific exemplary embodiments thereof have been shown by way of example in the drawings and will herein be described in detail. It should be understood, however, that there is no intent to limit the concepts of the present disclosure to the particular forms disclosed, but on the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1-2 , a bed  10  is shown. While the bed  10  has a flat or horizontal position,  FIGS. 1-2  show the bed  10  in a chair position. The bed  10  includes a base  12 , which has a head end  14  and a foot end  16  spaced from the head end  14 . 
     The base  12  is supported by a pair of foot end casters  28 ,  30 , and a pair of head end casters  36 ,  38  (the view of the head end casters  38  being obstructed by the bed  10 ). The casters  28 ,  30  are coupled to the base  12  near the foot end  16 . The casters  36 ,  38  are coupled to the base  12  near the head end  14 . The casters  28 ,  30 ,  36 ,  38  each include one or more wheels that movably support the bed  10  relative to a floor or other surface, in one or more directions (e.g. forward and reverse). Each of the casters  28 ,  30 ,  36 ,  38  is configured to swivel, however this need not be the case. In the illustrated embodiment, the casters  28 ,  30 ,  36 ,  38  are in the range of about 5 to 6 inches high, although other sizes of casters may be used. 
     The base  12  and/or one or more of the casters  28 ,  30 ,  36 ,  38  may have an electronic or mechanically-controlled brake or brake/steer mechanism coupled thereto. Some examples of suitable casters and braking systems for beds are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,321,878; 6,473,921; 6,865,775; 6,874,800; 7,014,000; 7,302,717; 7,346,942; and 7,698,760. 
     A frame  46  is coupled to and supported by the base  12 . A lift mechanism, which includes a pair of head end lift arms  42  and a pair of foot end lift arms  44 , is configured to raise and lower the frame  46  relative to the base  12 . 
     A deck  18  is coupled to and supported by the frame  46 . The deck  18  is configured to support a mattress (not shown), which, in turn, may support a person positioned thereon. The deck  18  has a number of sections including, in the illustrated embodiment, a foot section  20  and a head section  50 . The deck  18  also includes a torso section which, in the illustrated embodiment, includes a thigh section  48  and a seat section  49 . In other embodiments, the torso section may include a single deck section (e.g. a seat/thigh section) rather than the two separate deck sections  48 ,  49 . 
     At least the foot section  20  and the head section  50  are pivotable, such that the bed  10  may assume a number of positions other than a horizontal position, including a chair position in which the foot section  20  is pivoted downwardly toward the base  12  and the head section  50  is pivoted upwardly away from the frame  46 . The foot section  20  has a proximal end  22 , which is coupled to the thigh section  48  by a pivot  26 . The foot section  20  also has a distal end  24 , which is longitudinally spaced from the proximal end  22 . 
     The bed  10  has a number of foot pedals  100 , including, in the illustrated embodiment, a brake or brake/steer pedal  40 . The foot pedals  100  are coupled to and supported by the base  12 . The foot pedals  100  may be used by a caregiver to change the position of the bed  10 , activate or deactivate one or more of the caster brakes, or cause some other action to occur at the bed  10 . The pedal  40  is configured to, when activated, brake (i.e. stop forward or backward rotation of the wheels) the casters  28 ,  30 ,  36 ,  38  and/or to stop the casters  28 ,  30 ,  36 ,  38  from swiveling. 
     Typically, the bed  10  includes a number of siderails, such as opposing head-end siderails  56  and opposing foot-end siderails  58 , as well as a pair of endboards (e.g. a headboard and a footboard, not shown), however, all of these elements are not required for the purposes of the present disclosure. 
     The base  12  includes a pair of laterally spaced foot end caster supports  32  (the view of one of which is obstructed by the bed). The casters  28 ,  30  each include a carrier  68 , which rotatably supports the caster wheel or wheels for movement of the bed relative to a floor surface. The carrier  68  is coupled to a stem  66 . In the illustrated embodiment, the carrier  68  can swivel relative to the stem  66 , but this is not required. The stem  66  is fixedly coupled to a distal end of the foot end caster support  32 . The casters  36 ,  38  are coupled to the head end of the base  12 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 3 , the foot section  20  of the deck  18  has a substantially “t” shaped design. The width w 1  of the proximal end  22  of the foot section  20  is greater than the width w 2  of the distal end  24 . Each of the laterally spaced sides of the foot section  20  has an edge  70 , which intersects the proximal end  22 ; an edge  72 , which intersects the edge  70 ; and an edge  74 , which intersects the edge  72 . The edge  70  is substantially perpendicular to the proximal end  22  of the foot section  20 . The edge  72  intersects the edge  70  at substantially a right angle, and the edge  74  intersects the edge  72  at substantially a right angle. The corners at which the edges  70 ,  72  and the edges  72 ,  74  intersect may be squared off, rounded, or any other suitable shape. 
     The edges  72 ,  74  define a cutout that is sized to allow passage therethrough of a part of a foot end caster wheel, as shown in  FIG. 2 . In particular, each of the edges  72  has a width w 3  that is greater than the width w of the foot end casters  28 ,  30 , respectively. Each of the edges  74  has a length l 1 . The length of the cutout may be greater than the diameter d of the wheels of the foot end casters  28 ,  30 , respectively. However, the size of the cutout only needs to be sufficient to allow a portion of the caster wheel to extend through the foot section. In other words, the casters need to extend through the cutouts only as much as needed to clear the foot section when it is in the substantially vertical position. 
     In the illustrated embodiment, the edges  70 ,  74  are substantially parallel to the laterally spaced sides of the foot section  20 , while the edge  72  is substantially parallel to the longitudinally spaced ends  22 ,  24  of the foot section  20 . 
     In other embodiments, the edges  72 ,  74  may be “merged” to define an arc-shaped cutout rather than a square or rectangular shaped cutout. In general, the cutouts located at the distal end  24  of the foot section  20  may be any suitable shape to accommodate the foot end caster wheels when the foot section  20  is in the substantially vertical position. 
     The bed  10  has a number of electronically controlled functions, which may be activated or deactivated by a patient or caregiver using an input-output device, such as one of the foot pedals  100 , a patient input-output device  62 , or a caregiver input-output device  60 . 
     The patient input-output device  62  receives and processes electrical input (e.g. voltage) from number of manually operable controls (such as membrane switches, keys, dials, levers, or the like) coupled to the patient input-output device  62 , which enable a patient to activate and deactivate certain bed functions when the patient is positioned on the bed  10 . For example, some beds permit the patient to raise and lower the bed or change the position of certain sections thereof by touching these controls. The illustrated patient input-output device  62  includes a control  102 , which enables the patient to lower the foot section  20  of the deck  18 . 
     The patient input-output device  62  includes circuitry configured to convey voltage generated by the manually operable controls, including the control  102 , to a bed controller (not shown). In the illustrated embodiment, a patient input-output device  62  is mounted to the inwardly facing side of at least one of the siderails  58  of the bed  10  (i.e., facing toward the mattress), but the patient input-output device  62  may be placed in any suitable location that is accessible to a person positioned on the bed  10 . 
     A caregiver input-output device  60  receives and processes electrical input (e.g. voltage) from one or more controls mounted thereto, which enable a caregiver to configure, activate and/or deactivate certain of the electronically controlled bed functions. For example, some beds permit the caregiver to raise and lower the bed or change the position of certain sections thereof, to achieve a chair, CPR, Trendelenburg, or reverse Trendelenburg position, for example, by physically contacting the selected control. The illustrated caregiver input-output device  60  includes a control  104 , which enables the caregiver to lower the foot section  20  of the deck  18 , and a control  106 , which enables the caregiver to place the bed  10  into a chair position in which the head section  50  is elevated and the end  24  of the foot section  20  is rotated downwardly toward the floor  110 . 
     Typically, the controls of the caregiver input-output device  60  include manually operable controls, such as membrane switches, keys, dials, levers, or the like. Some caregiver input-output devices have touchscreen displays, which may include a graphical user interface. The caregiver input-output device  60  includes circuitry configured to convey voltage generated by the controls mounted thereto to the bed controller. In the illustrated embodiment, a caregiver input-output device  60  is mounted to the outwardly facing side of at least one of the siderails  58  of the bed  10  (i.e., facing away from the mattress), but the caregiver input-output device  60  may be placed in any suitable location that is accessible to a caregiver. 
     Electronically-controlled functions of the bed  10  are managed by the bed controller. The bed controller includes one or more microprocessors or microcontrollers and electrical circuitry located in a housing. Typically, the bed controller housing is mounted to the bed  10 , although this need not be the case. In the illustrated embodiment, the bed controller is located between the inwardly facing and outwardly facing sides of each of the siderails  58 , so that the patient input-output device  62  and the caregiver input-output device  60  are connected to opposite sides of the bed controller. However, the bed controller may be placed in any suitable location on the bed or elsewhere. The location of the bed controller relative to the bed  10  is not important for the purposes of the present disclosure. 
     In operation, a patient or caregiver depresses one of the user controls  102 ,  104 ,  106  to initiate the lowering of the foot section  20  toward the floor surface. The bed controller actuates actuators (such as linear actuators, hydraulic cylinders, or mechanical linkages) to pivot the foot section  20  relative to the remainder of the deck  18  in a downwardly direction. When the foot section  20  is pivoted to the substantially vertical position, the edges  72 ,  74  provide clearance for at least a portion of the foot end casters  28 ,  30  to extend through the cutouts defined thereby. As a result, the foot section  20  may pivot to a position that is 90 degrees or nearly 90 degrees from the horizontal, without requiring any other adjustments to the bed  10  to accommodate the casters  28 ,  30 . 
     While the illustrated embodiment is an electronically-controlled bed, the foot section  20  may also be used in connection with a manually-adjustable bed, or in connection with an electronically-controlled bed that allows for manual adjustments (in the event of a power failure, for instance). 
     In operation of a manually-adjustable bed, a caregiver may activate a lever, button, knob, or similar mechanism to “unlock” the foot section  20 , and then manually rotate the foot section  20  toward the floor. When the foot section  20  is pivoted to the substantially vertical position, the edges  72 ,  74  provide clearance for the foot end casters  28 ,  30  to extend through the cutouts defined thereby. As a result, the foot section  20  may pivot to a position that is 90 degrees or nearly 90 degrees from the horizontal, without requiring any other adjustments to the bed to accommodate the casters  28 ,  30 . 
     There are many advantages of the present disclosure arising from the various features described herein. It will be noted that alternative embodiments of the present disclosure may not include all of the features described yet still benefit from at least some of the advantages of such features. Those of ordinary skill in the art may readily devise their own implementations of the method, apparatus, and system that incorporate one or more of the features of the present invention and fall within the spirit and scope of the present disclosure as defined by the appended claims.