Abstract:
An apparatus to assist users in getting in and out of bed is herein disclosed, comprising a handle assembly approximately three (3) feet long and positioned in a horizontal configuration along the frame of the bed. During use, it pivots upward to a vertical configuration at the midpoint of the side of the bed by use of a spring-loaded pivot point. A small release button at the top of the handle allows it to move from its horizontal position to its vertical position and back again. Thus it can aid someone in getting in or out of bed, yet fold away so as to not be noticeable under a bed spread or comforter when not in use. The apparatus is viewed as being ideal for those who may be suffering from back pain or who are unable to lie down or get up without assistance.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     The present invention was first described in a notarized Official Record of Invention on Jan. 16, 2008, that is on file at the offices of Montgomery Patent and Design, LLC, the entire disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to an apparatus to assist users in entering and exiting a bed. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Individuals with physical disabilities or with limited endurance, such as the elderly, know all too well of some of the difficulties that they encounter in daily life. One (1) of these tasks is the simple act of entering and exiting a bed. Disabled users have other aids throughout their homes such as railings on stairways; grab bars in bathrooms, and even mechanical assisted chairs, but nothing to help them when entering and exiting a bed. Such activity is further complicated by the low nature of many beds and the fact that bones and muscle groups are stiff when getting up in the morning. Similar problems are faced by those who suffer from back pain as well. Accordingly, there exists a need for a means by which easy and ready assistance can be provided to enter and exit a bed. The development of the apparatus described herein fulfills this need. 
     There have been attempts in the past to invent assist mechanisms to help individuals enter and exit a bed. U.S. Pat. No. D 520,783 issued to Freeborn discloses a wheeled rotating assist rail for beds. Unfortunately, this design patent does not appear to be similar in appearance to the disclosed apparatus, nor does it appear to comprise a multi-position handle that can be attached to a bed. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 7,150,058 issued to Rabska discloses an assist handle assembly for beds that appears to comprise an assist handle and one (1) or more latch configurations for latching the assist handle in one (1) or more fixed positions relative to the bed. Unfortunately, this patent does not appear to disclose an assist handle for beds that comprises a handle that is capable of being mounted flush with the bed surface and raised to various vertical positions when needed. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 7,039,971 issued to Sebastien discloses a handle for hospital bed comprising a handle coupled to a frame of a patient support by a bracket and a locking mechanism. Unfortunately, this patent does not appear to disclose a handle that comprises a latching assembly comprising springs and apertures, nor does sit appear that this patent discloses a handle with a release button conveniently mounted on top of the handle. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 6,813,789 issued to Leoutsakos discloses a bed transfer assist method and apparatus comprising a fixed handle portion that is attached to a section that is positioned under the mattress of a bed. Unfortunately, this patent does not appear to disclose an assist handle for beds that is attached to the bed frame via a mounting bracket, nor does it appear to disclose a handle that may be positioned flush to the bed frame when not needed by a user. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 6,728,985 issued to Brooke et al. discloses an ambulatory assist arm apparatus for use with a patient support having a support surface and a frame that includes a mounting bracket and a body that is attached to a bed frame. Unfortunately, this patent does not appear to disclose an assist handle for beds that comprises a handle that is capable of being mounted flush with the bed surface and raised to various vertical positions when needed, nor does it appear to disclose a top mounted push button to release the assist handle. 
     U.S. Pat. No. D 475,559 issued to Roussy discloses an assist rail that is mountable to a bed. Unfortunately, this design patent does not appear to be similar in appearance to the disclosed apparatus, nor does this patent appear to disclose an elongated handle that is capable of being moved into a flush position with the bed frame. 
     U.S. Pat. No. D 445,614 issued to Sommerfield discloses a pivotable support for an articulated bed. Unfortunately, this patent does not appear to disclose an assist handle for beds, nor does it appear to disclose a device that is similar in appearance to the disclosed apparatus. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 6,560,794 issued to Allen et al. discloses a handrail in the form of a convoluted section attached to a vertical pole and stabilized by a bed frame attachment member and a floor contacting base frame. Unfortunately, this patent does not appear to disclose an assist handle for beds that comprises a handle that is capable of being mounted flush with the bed surface and raised to various vertical positions when needed. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 6,039,293 issued to Minet discloses an auxiliary device for patients comprising a holder, a securing assembly for the holder onto a side of the bed and a post adjustably received in the holder with an upper end of the post provided with handles or grips. Unfortunately, this patent does not appear to comprise a bed-assist handle that comprises an elongated handle with a push button release located on the top of the handle. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 6,012,182 issued to Allen discloses a bed or chair assist apparatus comprising a plurality of spaced, parallel hand grips in a rounded frame attached to a vertical pole stabilized by a bed frame. Unfortunately, this patent does not appear to disclose an assist handle for beds that comprises a handle that is capable of being mounted flush with the bed surface and raised to various vertical positions when needed. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,335,385 issued to Brown describes a semi-circular support mechanism that is mountable to a bed frame. Unfortunately, this patent does not appear to describe an assist handle for beds that comprises a handle that is capable of being mounted flush with the bed surface and raised to various vertical positions when needed. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In light of the disadvantages as described in the prior art, it is apparent that there is a need for an assist handle for beds which provides a simple yet effective means of assisting a person entering and exiting a bed. 
     An object of the assist handle for beds comprises a manufacture of a durable, rigid material such as metal or thermoplastic. 
     Another object of the assist handle for beds comprises a length of approximately three (3) feet that rotates and locks in various positions. 
     Another aspect of the assist handle for beds comprises an outer housing assembly, further comprising an outer tube which is of diameter sufficient to receive an inner tube when inserted. The outer housing assembly is attached to an inner housing assembly via an end fastener. 
     A further aspect of the assist handle for beds comprises an inner housing assembly that is attached to the mounting plate by an assembly fastener. The inner housing assembly comprises an inner tube which outwardly extends from the center of said inner housing assembly. A generally circular positioning dial is located about the base of the inner tube and provides a means of positioning and locking the outer housing via at least three (3) position notches. 
     Still another aspect of the assist handle for beds comprises a lever that is provided to engage within the notches at a desired position. The lever is hingedly attached to the outer housing assembly and further comprises a grip portion which provides a secure, comfortable gripping surface thereto a user. 
     Still a further aspect of the assist handle for beds comprises a rod within the handle and provides an actuating linkage to the lever via a raising and lowering motion. The rod further comprises a first spring and a release button. The assist handle further comprises a second spring which provides a means to assist a weak or physically challenged user with changing the position of the handle. 
     Yet another aspect of the assist handle for beds comprises a mounting plate that provides a means of attaching the apparatus to a bed frame via a plurality of mounting fasteners. The mounting fastener apertures are required in the bed frame in a position suitable for attaching the apparatus via the mounting fasteners. 
     A method of installing and utilizing the apparatus may be achieved by performing the following steps: preparing the bed frame by drilling appropriately located mounting fastener apertures therein; retrieving the apparatus; attaching the apparatus to the bed frame via the mounting fasteners; placing the apparatus in a lowered position until utilized; gripping the grip portion of the handle; engaging the release button, thus manually actuating the lever via the lever actuator and unlocking the outer housing assembly; allowing the handle and outer housing assembly to rise due to the force which is applied from the second spring; disengaging the release button; positioning the handle therein the intermediate position if desired; engaging the release button, thus manually actuating the lever and unlocking the outer housing assembly; positioning the handle in a raised configuration; using the handle as an assist to enter and exit the bed; engaging the release button and rotating the handle thus placing the apparatus in a lowered position during times of non-use; and, benefiting from the convenience, safety, and physical ease afforded a user of the present apparatus. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The advantages and features of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following more detailed description and claims taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like elements are identified with like symbols, and in which: 
         FIG. 1  is an environmental view of an assist handle for beds  10  depicted in a raised position, according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is an environmental view of an assist handle for beds  10  depicted in a lowered position, according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; and, 
         FIG. 3  is a section view taken along line A-A of an assist handle for beds  10 , according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTIVE KEY 
     
         
         
           
               10  assist handle for beds 
               20  outer housing assembly. 
               22  outer tube 
               24  housing fastener 
               26  lever 
               28  hinge 
               30  handle 
               32  grip portion 
               34  release button 
               36  rod 
               37  lever actuator 
               38  first spring 
               40  mounting plate 
               50  mounting fastener 
               52  mounting fastener aperture 
               54  assembly fastener 
               56  assembly fastener aperture 
               60  inner housing assembly 
               62  positioning dial 
               63  first notch 
               64  second notch 
               65  third notch 
               66  inner tube 
               67  second spring 
               100  bed 
               105  bed frame 
           
         
       
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     The best mode for carrying out the invention is presented in terms of its preferred embodiment, herein depicted within  FIGS. 1 through 3 . However, the invention is not limited to the described embodiment and a person skilled in the art will appreciate that many other embodiments of the invention are possible without deviating from the basic concept of the invention, and that any such work around will also fall under scope of this invention. It is envisioned that other styles and configurations of the present invention can be easily incorporated into the teachings of the present invention, and only one particular configuration shall be shown and described for purposes of clarity and disclosure and not by way of limitation of scope. 
     The terms “a” and “an” herein do not denote a limitation of quantity, but rather denote the presence of at least one of the referenced items. 
     The present invention describes an assist handle for beds (herein described as the “apparatus”)  10 , which provides a simple yet effective means of assisting a person the getting in to and out of a bed  100 . The apparatus  10  generally comprises an outer housing  20 , a handle  30 , and a mounting plate  40  which is attached thereto a bed frame  105 . 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , environmental views of the apparatus  10 , according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, is disclosed. The apparatus  10  is preferably made of a durable, rigid material such as metal, thermoplastic, or the like. The handle  30  is approximately three (3) feet long and rotates and locks in various positions. The apparatus  10  is envisioned to reside in at least three (3) positions: a lowered, generally horizontal position (see  FIG. 2 ); a raised, generally vertical position (see  FIG. 1 ); and an intermediate configuration (not shown). Although illustrated comprising three (3) positions, it is understood that the apparatus  10  may be introduced comprising incremental position changes throughout a range of motion and as such should not be viewed as a limiting factor of said present apparatus  10 . The mounting plate  40  provides a means of attaching the apparatus  10  thereto a bed frame  105  via a plurality of mounting fasteners  50 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 3 , a section view taken along section line A-A of the apparatus  10 , according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, is disclosed. The apparatus  10  comprises an outer housing assembly  20  and an inner housing assembly  60 . The inner housing assembly  60  is attached thereto the mounting plate  40  via an assembly fastener  54 . The assembly fastener  54  is preferably a standard mechanical fastener such as a bolt or the like. An assembly fastener aperture  56  is located therethrough the center of the mounting plate  40  and therein the center of a rear surface of the inner housing assembly  60 . Once the assembly fastener apertures  56  are aligned, the assembly fastener  54  is threadingly inserted therethrough, thus fastening the inner housing assembly  60  thereto the mounting plate  40 . The outer housing assembly  20  rotatingly attaches thereto the inner housing assembly  60 , thus enabling said outer housing assembly  20  and handle  30  to rotate thereabout said inner housing assembly  60 . The inner housing assembly  60  comprises an inner tube  66  which outwardly extends therefrom the center of said inner housing assembly  60 . The outer housing assembly  20  comprises an outer tube  22  which is located therewithin the center of said outer housing assembly  20  which further comprises a diameter sufficient to receive the inner tube  66  when inserted therein. The outer housing assembly  20  is attached thereto the inner housing assembly  60  via an end fastener  24  which threadingly attaches thereto the inner tube  66 , thereby enabling said outer housing assembly  20  to freely rotate thereabout said inner tube  66 . The apparatus  10  further comprises a means to lock the outer housing assembly  20  and handle  30  therein a preferred position, thereby providing a stable support thereto a user. A generally circular positioning dial  62  is located thereabout the base of the inner tube  66  and provides a means of positioning and locking the outer housing  20  via at least three (3) position notches. A first notch  63  is located thereabout a “twelve o&#39;clock” position and locks the handle  30  therein the raised position. A third notch  65  is located thereabout a “three o&#39;clock” position and locks the handle therein the lowered position. A second notch  64  is located thereabout a midway point and locks the handle therein the intermediate position. A lever  26  is provided to engage therewithin the notches  63 ,  64 ,  65  at a desired position. The lever  26  is hingedly attached thereto the outer housing assembly  20 . The handle  30  is rigidly attached thereto the outer housing assembly  20  and further comprises a grip portion  32  thereon a distal end which provides a secure, comfortable gripping surface thereto a user. A rod  36  is located therewithin the handle  30  and provides an actuating linkage thereto the lever  26  via an up and a down motion. A first spring  38  is located thereon a lower end of the rod  36  which applies a constant compressive upward force thereupon said rod  36 . When a user engages a release button  34  located thereon an upper end of the rod  36  by applying a downward force thereon, the rod  36  moves in a downward direction, thereby engaging the lever  26  via a lever actuator  37 . The lever actuator  37  applies a downward force thereupon a free end of the lever  26  thereby lifting the engaging end of said lever  26 , which is in contact therewith the desired notch  63 ,  64 ,  65  via the hinge  28 . Once the lever  26  is free therefrom the desired notch  63 ,  64 ,  65  the outer housing assembly  20  and the handle  30  are free to rotate therearound the inner housing assembly  60 . The hinge  20  is preferably a spring-loaded hinge which naturally tends to force the engaging end of the lever  26  to be in contact therewith the positioning dial  62  when the release button  34  is not engaged. As the handle  30  and outer housing assembly  20  are rotated, the lever  26  will naturally engage therewithin the next approaching notch  63 ,  64 ,  65  as said lever  26  traverses the positioning dial  62 . The apparatus  10  further comprises a second spring  67  which is permanently attached therebetween the inner tube  66  and the outer tube  22 . The second spring  67  provides a compressive force thereupon the outer housing assembly  20  when the apparatus  10  is in the lowered position, thus when in said lowered position and the release button  34  is engaged the handle  30  will naturally begin the approach the raised position. The second spring  67  provides a means to assist a weak or physically challenged user with changing the position of the handle  30 . To maintain the safety of the user, the handle  30  is unable to automatically rise higher than the intermediate position due to the lever  26  naturally engaging the second notch  64 . Although illustrated comprising a positioning dial  62  further comprising a plurality of notches  63 ,  64 ,  65 , a manually actuated lever  26  to provide the locking means thereto the handle  20  and outer housing  20 , and a release button  34  to manually actuate the lever  26 ; it is understood that various other locking and releasing means are contemplated, such as spring-loaded pins, interconnecting gears, or the like and as such should not be viewed as a limiting factor of the present apparatus  10 . The mounting plate  40  is preferably a durable rigid material comprising a plurality of mounting fastener apertures  52  therethrough. Corresponding mounting fastener apertures  52  are required therein the bed frame  105  in a position suitable for attaching the apparatus  10  via the mounting fasteners  50 . The apparatus  10  is illustrated comprising a mounting plate  40  and mounting fasteners  50  which are standard hardware fasteners and attached thereto a wooden bed frame  105  which would simply require mounting fastener apertures  52  to be drilled therein in order to attach said apparatus  10  thereto said bed frame  105 . It is further contemplated that the mounting plate  50  may attach thereto a metal bed frame  105  in a similar manner comprising alternate mounting fasteners  50 , such as clamps or the like. 
     It is envisioned that other styles and configurations of the present invention can be easily incorporated into the teachings of the present invention, and only one particular configuration shall be shown and described for purposes of clarity and disclosure and not by way of limitation of scope. 
     The preferred embodiment of the present invention can be utilized by the common user in a simple and effortless manner with little or no training. After initial purchase or acquisition of the apparatus  10 , it would be installed and utilized as indicated in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . 
     The method of installing and utilizing the apparatus  10  may be achieved by performing the following steps: preparing the bed frame  105  by drilling appropriately located mounting fastener apertures  52  therein; retrieving the apparatus  10 ; attaching the apparatus  10  thereto the bed frame  105  via the mounting fasteners  50 ; placing the apparatus  10  therein a lowered position until utilized; gripping the grip portion  32  of the handle  30 ; engaging the release button  34 , thus manually actuating the lever  26  via the lever actuator  37  and unlocking the outer housing assembly  20 ; allowing the handle  30  and outer housing assembly  20  to rise due to the force which is applied therefrom the second spring  67 ; disengaging the release button  34 ; positioning the handle  30  therein the intermediate position if desired; engaging the release button  34 , thus manually actuating the lever  26  and unlocking the outer housing assembly  20 ; positioning the handle  30  therein a raised configuration; using the handle  30  as an assist to enter and exit the bed  100 ; engaging the release button  34  and rotating the handle  30  thus placing the apparatus  10  in the lowered position during times of non-use; and, benefiting from the convenience, safety, and physical ease afforded a user of the present apparatus  10 . 
     The foregoing descriptions of specific embodiments of the present invention have been presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention and method of use to the precise forms disclosed. Obviously many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. The embodiment was chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and its practical application, and to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the invention and various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. It is understood that various omissions or substitutions of equivalents are contemplated as circumstance may suggest or render expedient, but is intended to cover the application or implementation without departing from the spirit or scope of the claims of the present invention.