Abstract:
A hospital bed ( 12 ) is provided having a slidably extendable drawer ( 14 ) in which a removable bed pan ( 16 ) is disposed. The drawer ( 14 ) fits under the mid-section of the bed, and the bed is provided with a mattress ( 20 ) having stationary cushions ( 22 ) and moveable cushions ( 24 ). The moveable cushions ( 24 ) are located in a central portion of the mattress ( 20 ) and configured for sliding out from underneath a person lying on the bed ( 12 ). A pair of cushion guide tracks ( 56 ) are provided which are have a serpentine profile, such that sections ( 48, 50 ) of the movable cushions ( 24 ) may be lowered and them moved from beneath the body of a person for accessing a central opening ( 26 ) beneath which the removable bed pan ( 16 ) is located when the drawer ( 14 ) is inserted fully into the mid-section of the bed ( 12 ).

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates in general to hospital beds, and in particular to a bed having a retractable mattress section with a removable bed pan. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Persons have often been impaired due to sickness and injury, and have been restricted to bedridden states. Such impairment has at times resulted in the inability of persons to easily remove themselves from a bed to perform such functions as going into a restroom. Removable pans such as bed pans have been provided for enabling relief of bedridden persons. Some prior art beds have been provided with integrated toilet facilities. Prior art hospital beds have provided with complex mechanical structures for allowing a person access to toilet facilities integrated within the bed. However, these type hospital beds are often very complex and expensive, and not easily affordable for home use, or for economically providing a large number for hospital, nursing home and long term care facilities. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     A hospital bed is provided having a slidably extendable drawer in which a removable bed pan is disposed. The drawer fits under the mid-section of the bed, and the bed is provided with a mattress having stationary cushions and moveable cushions. The moveable cushions are located in a central portion of the mattress and configured for sliding out from underneath a person lying on the bed. A pair of cushion guide tracks are provided which are have a serpentine profile, such that sections of the movable cushions may be lowered from beneath the body of a person for accessing a central opening beneath which the removable bed pan is when the drawer is inserted fully into the mid-section of the bed. 
    
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       For a more complete understanding of the present invention and the advantages thereof, reference is now made to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying Drawings in which  FIGS. 1 through 11  show various aspects for hospital bed with retractable mattress section and removable bed pan devices made according to the present invention, as set forth below: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the hospital bed of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a movable cushion portion of a mattress for the removable hospital bed; 
         FIG. 3  is a forward end view of the removable cushion portion of  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIG. 4  is a longitudinal section view of the hospital bed taken along section line  4 - 4 , showing the bed with the movable cushions fully installed in a retracted position for supporting a person; 
         FIG. 5  is a longitudinal section view of the hospital bed taken along section line  4 - 4 , after the movable cushions have been moved to an extended position allowing a person in the hospital bed to access the bed pan; 
         FIG. 6  is a longitudinal section view showing the cushion guide tracks with the movable cushions shown in a fully inserted position; 
         FIG. 7  is a longitudinal section view taken along section line  4 - 4  of  FIG. 1 , showing the movable cushions partially removed and tracking along the cushion guide tracks; 
         FIG. 8  is a partial side elevation view of a mattress plate structure for supporting the movable cushions in the hospital bed; 
         FIG. 9  is a side elevation view of the hospital bed showing a top cushion moved to an upright position, a first motor for moving the top cushion between downward and upright positions, and a second motor for moving moveable cushions between inward and extended positions; 
         FIG. 10  is a perspective view of the hospital bed of an alternative embodiment the present invention; 
         FIG. 11  is a side elevation view of the alternative embodiment of the hospital bed showing the top cushion in an upright position, a first motor for moving the top cushion between downward and upright positions, and a second motor for moving moveable cushions between inward and extended positions; 
         FIG. 12  is a perspective view of the hospital bed of the present invention; 
         FIG. 13  is a perspective view of the hospital bed of an alternative embodiment the present invention; 
         FIG. 14  is a perspective view of a movable cushion portion of a mattress for the removable hospital bed; and 
         FIG. 15  is a forward end view of the removable cushion portion of  FIG. 14 ; 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the hospital bed  12  of the present invention. The hospital bed  12  has a drawer  14  which slidably extends outward from the side of the hospital bed. The drawer  14  moves transverse to the longitudinal length of the bed. A removable bed pan  16  is removably mounted within the drawer  14 . The bed has a frame  18  to which a mattress  20  is mounted. The mattress  20  includes a plurality of stationary cushions  22  and moveable cushions  24 . The moveable cushions  24  slidably extend from along a horizontal plane and a central longitudinal axis  28  to extend rearward or outward from the foot of the bed  12 , to expose a central opening  20 . The central opening is located in a mid-section of the hospital bed  12 . The bed pan  16  may be accessed through the central opening  26 . The drawer  14  preferably has drawer slides  30  with a rack frame  32  defining a pan aperture  36  within which the removable bed pan  16  is removably received. A pull handle  34  is provided on the outward side of the drawer  14 . Drawer mounts  38  are provided for slidingly securing the drawer  14  within the bed  12  by means of the drawer slides  30 . 
     The stationary cushions  22  of the mattress  20  include side cushions  40  and  42  and a top cushion  44  for supporting the upper torso of a person. The moveable portion of the mattress  20  include an inner cushion  48 , a middle cushion  50  and an outward cushion  52 . Preferably, the inner cushion  48  and the middle cushion  50  are much shorter lengths than the outward cushion  52  to allow the inner cushion  48  and the middle cushion  50  to travel along the cushion guide tracks  56  (one shown) by means of rollers  58 . The cushion guide tracks  56  have double loops  60 . The guide tracks  56  may be provided by rails, such as formed cylindrical rods, or by forming U-shaped grooves, or the like, into the sides of the bed  12 , such as in the splash plates  68  and  70 . 
       FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a movable cushion portion  24  of a mattress  20  for the removable hospital bed  12 . Three plates  74  pivotally secured together in an edge to edge arrangement, preferably with lengths of the three plates  70  aligned to extend in a single plain. The adjacent edges of the plates  76  are pivotally secured together. The inner cushion  48 , a middle cushion  50  and an outward cushion  52  are mounted to respective ones of the plates  76 . Three crossbars  82  extend adjacent to forward edges of the three plates  76 , transverse to the longitudinal axis  28  of the hospital bed  12 . Cushion rollers  58  are mounted to the opposite terminal ends of the crossbars  82 . 
       FIG. 3  is a forward end view of the removable cushion portion  24  of  FIG. 2 . A rearward splash plate  66  is mounted to the forward end of inward cushion  48 . The forward most crossbar  82  is shown extending across the forward end of the inward cushion  48 . 
       FIG. 4  is a longitudinal section view of the hospital bed  12  taken along section line  4 - 4  of  FIG. 2 , showing the bed  12  with the movable cushions  24  fully installed and moved forward into a retracted position for supporting a person and covering the opening  26 . The bed pan  16  is shown located in the drawer  14 , beneath the central opening  26 . The forward splash plate  64  and the rearward splash plate  66  are shown. The pan cover  62  is shown extending beneath the moveable matters section  24 , mounted beneath the plates  76 , below the outward cushion  52  and open below the middle cushion  50  and the inward cushion  48 . The pan cover  62  is preferably made of sheet metal and is slightly flexible upward and downward at the forward portion. The bed pan  16  includes a removable liner  84 , such as a conventional plastic trash bag. 
       FIG. 5  is a longitudinal section view of the hospital bed  12  taken along section line  4 - 4  of  FIG. 2 , after the movable cushions  24  have been moved to an extended position allowing a person in the hospital bed  12  to access the bed pan  16  through the central opening  26 . 
       FIG. 6  is a longitudinal section view showing the cushion guide tracks  56  with the movable cushions  24  shown in a fully inserted position. The guide tracks  56  extend in a serpentine fashion, with the double loops  60 .  FIG. 7  is a longitudinal section view taken along section line  4 - 4  of  FIG. 1 , showing the movable cushions  24  partially removed and tracking along the cushion guide tracks  56 . The serpentine shape with two semi-circular shaped loops  60  for the guide tracks  56  allow the cushions to move as shown in  FIGS. 6 and 7  allows the inward cushion  48  and the middle cushion  50  to extend downward and from beneath a person on the hospital bed  12 . The cushion guide tracks  56  extend in a straight line rearward from the forward terminal end of the outward cushion  52  when disposed in the forward position covering the opening  26 . 
       FIG. 8  is a partial side elevation view of the plate segments  70  for supporting the movable cushions  24  in the hospital bed  12 . The plates  80  are secured together with adjacent edges pivotally joined together. 
       FIG. 9  is a side elevation view of an embodiment of the hospital bed  12 , having a top cushion  44  for angularly moving to an upright position to support a person in an upright position on the hospital bed  12 . A connecting member  88  is connected between a base portion for the top cushion  44  and a linear gear  86 . A motor  90  is provided for angularly raising and lowering the top cushion  44 . Similarly, a linear gear  92  is mounted beneath the moveable cushions  24  and engages a pinion gear for the motor  94  for moving the moveable cushions between the retracted and extended positions. 
       FIG. 10  is a perspective view of the hospital bed  102  of an alternative embodiment the present invention. The hospital bed  102  has a bed frame  104  supporting an alternative mattress  106 . The hospital bed  102  includes the drawer  14  and the removable bed pan  16  which slidably extend from the side of the bed  102 , transverse to a central longitudinal axis  114  of the bad  102 . The mattress  106  includes stationary cushions  108  and moveable cushions  110  which slide outward from a central portion of the mattress to expose a central opening  112 . The moveable cushions  110  slidably move between an inward position and an extended position, shown in  FIG. 10 , along a direction which is transverse to the central longitudinal axis  114 . Similar to the guide tracks  56  shown in  FIGS. 1 ,  6  and  7 , cushion guide tracks  116  are provided with serpentine shapes having double loops  117  to allow the cushions to move as shown in  FIGS. 6 and 7 , such that the inward cushion  118  and the middle cushion  120  extend downward and from beneath a person on the hospital bed  12 , as shown in  FIGS. 6 and 7  for guide tracks  56 . The cushion guide tracks  116  preferably extend in a straight line to the outward side of the inward terminal end of the outward cushion  122  when disposed in the forward position covering the opening  112 . The guide tracks  116  may be provided by rails, such as elongate rods spaced apart from sides of the bed  102 , or U-shaped grooves formed into sidewalls of the bad  102 . 
     Preferably, the stationary cushions  108  of the mattress  106  include a stationary top cushion  124  and a stationary lower cushion  126 . A stationary side portion  128  is preferably provided by an upper end of the lower cushion  126 . A patient may roll onto and be supported by the stationary side portion  128  as the moveable cushions  110  are moved outward to expose the central opening  112  and the bed pan  16 , or the inward cushion  118  and the middle cushion  120  may be moved from beneath the patient as discussed above in reference to the cushion guide tracks  116  and  FIGS. 6 and 7  in reference to cushion guide tracks  56 . The hospital bed  102  preferably has the cushion rollers  58 , a pan cover plate  62 , a forward splash plate  64 , a rearward splash plate  66 , a side splash plate  68  and a side splash plate  70  as discussed above in reference to the hospital bed  12 . 
       FIG. 11  is a side elevation view of the alternative embodiment of the hospital bed  102  showing the top cushion  124  after angularly moving from a downward position shown in  FIG. 10  to the upright position shown in  FIG. 11 . A connecting member  88  is connected between a base portion for the top cushion  124  and a linear gear  86 . The motor  90  is provided for angularly raising and lowering the top cushion  124 . Similarly, a linear gear  92  is mounted beneath the moveable cushions  110  and engages a pinion gear for the motor  94  for moving the moveable cushions between the retracted and extended positions. 
       FIG. 12  is a perspective view of the hospital bed  132  of the present invention. The hospital bed  132  has a drawer  14  which slidably extends outward from the side of the hospital bed  132 . The drawer  14  moves transverse the central longitudinal axis  144 . A removable bed pan  16  is removably mounted within the drawer  14 . The bed has a frame  134  to which a mattress  136  is mounted. The mattress  136  includes a plurality of stationary cushions  138  and moveable cushions  140 . The moveable cushions  140  slidably extend from along a horizontal plane and the central longitudinal axis  144  to extend rearward or outward from the foot of the bed  132 , to expose a central opening  142 . The central opening  142  is located in a mid-section of the hospital bed  132 . The bed pan  16  may be accessed through the central opening  142 . The drawer  14  preferably has drawer slides  30  with a rack frame  32  defining a pan aperture  36  within which the removable bed pan  16  is removably received. A pull handle  34  is provided on the outward side of the drawer  14 . Drawer mounts  38  are provided for slidingly securing the drawer  14  within the bed  12  by means of the drawer slides  30 . 
     The stationary cushions  138  of the mattress  136  include side cushions  158  and a top cushion  154  for supporting the upper torso of a person. The moveable portion of the mattress  136  include an inner cushion  150  and an outward cushion  152 . Preferably, the inner cushion  150  is much shorter in length than the outward cushion  152  to allow the inner cushion  48  to travel along the cushion guide tracks  146  (one shown) by means of rollers  190  (shown in  FIGS. 14 and 15 ). The cushion guide tracks  146  (one shown) have a single semi-circular loop  148 , as opposed to the double loops for the cushion guide tracks  56  of  FIG. 1 and 116  of  FIG. 10 . One loop rather than two is used in the cushions guide tracks  146  since only one inward cushion  150  is provided, as opposed to the two cushion of  FIG. 1  which includes the cushion  48  and middle cushion  50  of  FIG. 1 , and the two cushions of  FIG. 10  which includes the inward cushion  118  and middle cushion  120 . 
       FIG. 13  is a perspective view of the hospital bed  162  of an alternative embodiment the present invention. The hospital bed  162  has a bed frame  164  supporting an alternative mattress  166 . The hospital bed  162  includes the drawer  14  and the removable bed pan  16  which slidably extend from the side of the bed  162 , transverse to a central longitudinal axis  174  of the bad  162 . The mattress  166  includes stationary cushions  168  and moveable cushions  170  which slide outward from a central portion of the mattress to expose a central opening  172 . The moveable cushions  170  slidably move between an inward position and an extended position, shown in  FIG. 13 , along a direction which is transverse to the central longitudinal axis  174 . Similar to the guide tracks  56  shown in  FIGS. 1 ,  6  and  7 , cushion guide tracks  176  are provided with serpentine shapes to allow the cushions to move as shown in  FIGS. 6 and 7 , such that the inward cushion  178  will extend downward and from beneath a person on the hospital bed  162 , as shown in  FIGS. 6 and 7  for guide tracks  56 . The cushion guide tracks  176  preferably extend in a straight line to the outward side of the inward terminal end of the outward cushion  182  when disposed in the forward position covering the opening  172 . The cushion guide tracks  176  (one shown) have a single semi-circular loop  178 , as opposed to the double loops for the cushion guide tracks  56  of  FIG. 1 and 116  of  FIG. 10 . One loop rather than two is used in the cushions guide tracks  176  since only one inward cushion  180  is provided, as opposed to the two cushions of  FIG. 1  which includes the cushion  48  and middle cushion  50  of  FIG. 1 , and the two cushions of  FIG. 10  which includes the inward cushion  118  and middle cushion  120 . 
       FIG. 14  is a perspective view of a movable cushion portion  170  of the hospital bed  162 . Adjacent edges of the plates inward cushion  180  and the outward cushion  182  are pivotally secured together. The inner cushion  180  and the outward cushion  182  are mounted to respective ones steel plates, such as the plates  76  shown in  FIGS. 2 and 8 . 
       FIG. 15  is a forward end view of the forward end of the inward cushion  180  of  FIG. 14 . A splash plate  194  is mounted to the forward end of inward cushion  180 . The rollers  190  are shown on opposite sides of the inward cushion  180   
     The present invention provides advantages of a hospital bed for economical home use and in various care facilities. A stationary portion is provided for supporting a person on the bed as a moveable cushions are moved to uncover a central opening located in a mid-section of the hospital bed. A bed pan is located in a drawer beneath the central opening for receiving waste from the person on the bed. One large bed pan cover is provided to cover the bed pan when the moveable cushions are fully closing the opening in the bed, and two small pan covers are provided for automatically covering the bed pan when the moveable cushions are moved to the open position. A bed pan cover is provided for automatically covering the bed pan when the moveable cushions are moved to cover the central opening. 
     It should be noted that the term hospital bed is meant to include a bed for use by a person subject to injury or illness and having limited mobility, and is not restricted to beds which are only used in hospitals. A hospital bed according to the present invention may be used in addition to hospitals, in personal residences, rehabilitation facilities, and long term care facilities. 
     Although the preferred embodiment has been described in detail, it should be understood that various changes, substitutions and alterations can be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.