BED, IN PARTICULAR A MEDICAL BED, WITH A BASE AND AN UPPER FRAME ATTACHED TO IT VIA CONNECTORS

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a bed, in particular a medical bed, with a base frame comprising lower support elements and upper support elements, with a top frame comprising longitudinal side supports and a lying surface attached to the longitudinal side supports, wherein the longitudinal side supports are attached to the upper support elements via connectors, and wherein the base frame has at least one mechanism between the lower support elements and the upper support elements for moving the top frame to different heights.

[0002] The applicant, wissner-bosserhoff GmbH, manufactures a nursing bed marketed under the name sentida 5. The sentida 5 has a base consisting of a lower frame and an upper frame. The lower frame is equipped with casters, allowing the bed to be moved. The upper frame is attached to the upper frame, which holds the lying surface. The lower frame forms the lower support elements, while the upper frame forms the upper support elements.

[0003] Between the lower and upper frames, a movement mechanism is provided at each end of the upper and lower frames facing the head of the bed and at each end facing the foot of the bed. These movement mechanisms allow the height of the head-end and foot-end ends of the upper frames to be raised or lowered, thus adjusting the height of the head and foot ends of the upper frame. The Sentida 5 uses scissor mechanisms with a linear actuator as the movement mechanism. Other movement mechanisms, such as lifting columns, can also be used.

[0004] With the Sentida 5, as with many other medical beds, the movement mechanisms for raising and lowering the head end of the upper frame and the movement mechanisms for raising and lowering the foot end of the upper frame can be operated independently of each other. This allows the foot end to be moved without simultaneously moving the head end, the head end to be moved without simultaneously moving the foot end, and both ends to be moved in different directions at the same time. It is therefore possible to tilt the upper frame so that either the foot end is above the head end or vice versa. To achieve this, the upper frame of the Sentida 5, which is connected to the movement mechanisms on one side and to the upper frame on the other, is tilted.

[0005] The Sentida 5 allows the upper frame to be lowered to a very low position, where the lying surface is so low that a user of the bed is unlikely to suffer any, or at least no serious, injuries in the event of a fall. The lower this lowest position of the lying surface, the lower the probability of injury. Manufacturers of medical beds, especially nursing beds, therefore aim to design beds where the lying surfaces can be lowered as much as possible.

[0006] In the lowest position of the Sentida 5, the longitudinal beams of the upper frame are recessed into a space between the longitudinal beams of the lower frame. Because the crossbeams of the upper frame rest on and are welded to the upper surface of the longitudinal beams of the upper frame, the crossbeams of the upper frame are positioned higher than the longitudinal beams of the upper frame. The crossbeams of the upper frame are formed as a single unit with the connectors that join the upper frame to the longitudinal side beams. The crossbeams of the upper frame and the connectors are made of a straight rectangular tube, which, in the lowest position of the bed, overlaps the longitudinal beam of the lower frame.

[0007] The lying surface of the sentida 5 bed comprises several sections, including an upper body support, a thigh support, and a lower leg support. These three sections can be positioned to support the bed user in various positions, such as sitting, with legs bent, or with legs elevated. To ensure precise positioning, the sections and the longitudinal side supports of the upper frame are connected by rotating rods. These rods form mechanisms that define the movement paths of the sections. For these mechanisms to function correctly, a certain distance between the longitudinal side supports and the sections is necessary. This results in the sections being positioned higher than is ideal for achieving the lowest possible position.

[0008] In a bed known from document DE 10 2018 126 087 B4, the sleeping surface of the upper frame is apparently attached directly to the upper frame of the lower frame. The problem of having to attach adjustable sleeping surface sections to the longitudinal side supports at a distance from them therefore does not appear to arise in the bed known from document DE 10 2018 126 087 B4. However, the schematic diagram in document DE 10 2018 126 087 B4 does not show how the sleeping surface or parts of the sleeping surface are attached to the upper frame.

[0009] Only the headboard, footboard, and, if applicable, side panels of the upper frame are attached to the longitudinal side beams of the bed known from document DE 10 2018 126 087 B4. The longitudinal side beams are connected to the upper frame of the lower frame via connectors. The connecting plates have a negligible thickness, meaning they have a negligible dimension in the Z-direction if the height adjustment is defined as occurring in the Z-direction. The connecting plates are positioned at the level of the top of the upper frame and, if necessary, even above it, and overlap the longitudinal beams of the lower frame in the bed's lowest position. This allows the upper frame, and thus the sleeping surface, to be lowered to an extremely low position.

[0010] While the connecting plates allow for a very low sleeping surface position, the connecting plates of the bed known from document DE 10 2018 126 087 B4 do not possess the rigidity of the tubular connectors known from sentida 5. This may also explain why, in this bed, the sleeping surface is not attached to the longitudinal side rails but to the upper frame of the base, with only the headboard and footboard being attached to the longitudinal side rails. In the bed known from document DE 10 2018 126 087 B4, the weight of the sleeping surface and a user lying on it does not need to be transferred via the connecting plates to the base. However, document DE 10 2018 126 087 B4 does not disclose how the sleeping surface is attached to the upper frame.Document DE 10 2018 126 087 B4 could not provide a person skilled in the art with any suggestion as to how sentida 5 could be modified to achieve a lower lowest position.

[0011] EP 0 744 934 discloses a bed, with a base frame having lower support elements and upper support elements, with a top frame comprising longitudinal side beams and a lying surface attached to the longitudinal side beams, connectors being attached to the upper support elements, wherein the base frame has a mechanism between the lower support elements and the upper support elements for moving the top frame to different heights.

[0012] The invention is therefore based on the problem of modifying a bed as described above in such a way that a lower lowest position can be achieved.

[0013] This problem is solved by a bed according to claim 1, wherein, at least in the lowest position, connection points between the connectors and the longitudinal side beams are arranged below connection points of the connectors and the upper support elements.

[0014] Because the connecting elements between the connectors and the longitudinal side beams are arranged below the connection points of the connectors and the upper support elements, the longitudinal side beams are positioned lower than the upper support elements. This allows the longitudinal side beams to be lowered to a lower lowest position when the upper support elements are lowered, compared to a known bed where the longitudinal side beams are at the same height as the upper support elements. As a result, the sleeping surface of a bed according to the invention can also be lowered to a lower lowest position than, for example, in the sentida 5.

[0015] In one embodiment of the bed according to the invention, the parts of the lower support elements that are engaged by the first region of the connector can have an upper surface which, in the lowest position, is located above a longitudinal side beam or above this lower surface and an upper surface of the longitudinal side rails. This ensures that, in the lowest position of the bed, the longitudinal side beams lie in a height range that is at least partially lower than the height range in which the parts of the lower support elements engaged by the connectors lie.

[0016] Furthermore, in one variant of the bed according to the invention, the underside of the parts of the lower support elements that are engaged by the first region of the connector can even be arranged above the underside or above the underside and the top side of the longitudinal side beams in the lowest position. This ensures that, in the lowest position of the bed, the longitudinal side beams lie entirely within a height range that is lower than the height range in which the parts of the lower support elements engaged by the connectors lie.

[0017] The invention can be implemented particularly easily if the second area is angled downwards relative to the first area. The angle can be between 20° and 90°.

[0018] The connector can be a tube or comprise a tube. The tube can have a rectangular or square cross-section. It is also possible for the connector to be a plate or comprise a plate that, in the lowest position of the upper frame, is perpendicular or nearly perpendicular to the surface on which the bed rests. The connector could also have a C-profile, a U-profile, an H-profile, a T-profile, or a G-profile.

[0019] In a bed according to the invention, the longitudinal side supports may have tabs on an inner side to which the outer ends of the connectors are connected. Furthermore, it is possible for the upper support elements to have a projecting element to which the inner ends of the connectors are connected.

[0020] The connections between the connectors and the longitudinal side beam of the upper frame and / or the connections between the connectors and the upper support elements of the lower frame can be detachable connections, for example, bolted connections. However, the connections can also be permanent connections, for example, welded connections. It is also possible that one end of the connector has a detachable connection and the other end a permanent connection. If both connections are detachable, the connector can be replaced.

[0021] An upper frame consisting of two longitudinal beams and two crossbeams connected to each other can form the upper support elements of a bed according to the invention. The longitudinal beams can be made of a tube or have a C-profile, a U-profile, an H-profile, a T-profile, or a Γ-profile. The crossbeams can be made of a tube or a flat material or can have a C-profile, a U-profile, an H-profile, a T-profile, or a Γ-profile. The projecting elements, to which the connectors can be attached, can be the ends of the crossbeams.

[0022] A lower frame consisting of two longitudinal beams and two crossbeams connected to each other can form the lower support elements of a bed according to the invention. The longitudinal beams can be made of a tube or have a C-profile, a U-profile, an H-profile, a T-profile, or a Γ-profile. The crossbeams can be made of a tube or a flat material or can have a C-profile, a U-profile, an H-profile, a T-profile, or a Γ-profile. The projecting elements, to which the connectors can be attached, can be the ends of the crossbeams.

[0023] It is possible that the parts of the lower support elements that are overlapped by the second areas of the connectors are longitudinal beams, in particular longitudinal beams of the lower frame.

[0024] The lower support elements of a bed according to the invention can have retaining elements to which loose bearings or fixed bearings of the at least one movement mechanism are attached, wherein these bearings are arranged in a plane below the longitudinal beam and / or the crossbeam.

[0025] The lying surface of a bed according to the invention can have lying surface parts that can be set up, wherein the lying surface parts on the one hand and the longitudinal side supports on the other hand are connected via mechanisms that define movement paths for the lying surface parts when setting up.

[0026] Further features and advantages of an embodiment of the invention are described below with reference to the drawings. The same reference numerals are used for identical or similar parts and for parts with identical or similar functions. The drawings show: Fig. 1 a perspective view of the bed according to the invention with an upper frame of a base and a superstructure in a high position, Fig. 1a a perspective view of the bed according to the invention with the upper frame and the superstructure in a lowest position, Fig. 2 a side view of the bed with the upper frame and the superstructure in the high position, Fig. 2a a side view of the bed with the upper frame and the superstructure in the lowest position, Fig. 3 a top view of the bed with the superstructure in the high position, Fig. 3a a top view of the bed with the upper frame and the superstructure in the lowest position, Fig. 4 a perspective view of the base without drives, of connectors attached to it and of longitudinal side supports of the superstructure attached to the connectors in a high position, Fig.Fig. 4a A perspective view of the base frame without drives, the connectors attached to it, and the longitudinal side beams of the superstructure attached to the connectors in a lowest position; Fig. 5 A side view of the base frame without drives, the connectors attached to it, and the longitudinal side beams of the superstructure attached to the connectors in a high position; Fig. 5a A side view of the base frame without drives, with the connectors attached to it and the longitudinal side beams of the superstructure attached to the connectors in a lowest position; Fig. 6 A top view of the base frame without drives, with the connectors attached to it and the longitudinal side beams of the superstructure attached to the connectors in a high position; Fig. 6a A top view of the base frame without drives, with the connectors attached to it and the longitudinal side beams of the superstructure attached to the connectors in a lowest position.7 a section through the underframe without drives, with the connectors attached to it and the longitudinal side beams of the upper frame attached to the connectors according to line VII-VII in . Fig. 6 , Fig. 7a a section through the subframe without drives, with the connectors attached to it and the longitudinal side beams of the superstructure attached to the connectors according to line VIIa-VIIa in Fig. 6a , Fig. 8 a section through the substructure without drives, with the connectors attached to it and the longitudinal side beams of the superstructure attached to the connectors according to line VIII-VIII in Fig. 6 , Fig. 8a a section through the substructure without drives, with the connectors attached to it and the longitudinal side beams of the superstructure attached to the connectors according to line VIIIa-VIIIa in Fig. 6a , Fig. 9 a section through the substructure without drives, with the connectors attached to it and the longitudinal side beams of the superstructure attached to the connectors according to line IX-IX in Fig. 6 , Fig. 9a a section through the substructure without drives, with the connectors attached to it and the longitudinal side beams of the superstructure attached to the connectors according to line IXa-IXa in Fig. 6a and Fig. 10a a section through the underframe without drives, with the connectors attached to it and the longitudinal side beams attached to the connectors and the lying surface of the upper frame according to line IXa-IXa in Fig. 6a .

[0027] The bed shown in the figures has a base and a top frame, which are connected to each other by connectors 3 in a manner explained later.

[0028] The substructure comprises a lower frame 131, 132 and an upper frame 151, 152, each formed by longitudinal beams 131, 151 and transverse beams 132, 152. In the illustrated example, the longitudinal beams 131, 151 and the transverse beams 132, 152 are arranged to enclose a rectangular space.

[0029] The longitudinal beams 131 and crossbeams 132 of the lower frame 131, 132 could also frame a space with a different cross-sectional area. The crossbeams 132 extend beyond the longitudinal beams 131, and casters 10 are attached to the ends of the crossbeams 132 of the lower frame 131, 132 that extend beyond the longitudinal beams 131. The base frame, and thus the entire bed, rests on these casters and can be moved. In this example, the casters 10 are swivel casters. Brakes may be provided on some or all of the casters 10 to prevent the bed from rolling away unintentionally. The brakes have a brake lever 12. The casters 10 and parts of the brakes are located under a cover 11. The longitudinal beams 131 and crossbeams 132 are made of rectangular hollow profiles. Retaining elements 133 are attached in the corner areas of the lower frame of the bed shown.These are angle brackets in the depicted bed, one leg of which is attached to the inside of one of the two crossbeams 132 and the other leg to the underside of one of the two longitudinal beams 131. A rail 134 made of a C-profile is attached to one inside leg of the first leg.

[0030] The longitudinal beams 151 of the upper frame are made of C-profiles and, at least in sections, also have a C-shaped cross-sectional profile. The crossbeams 152 are made of flat material. In the example shown, the crossbeams 152 of the upper frame 151, 152 also project laterally beyond the longitudinal beams 151 of the upper frame 152.

[0031] Two scissor mechanisms 141 to 146 are provided between the lower frame 131, 132 and the upper frame 151, 152. A first scissor mechanism 141 to 146 is located in an area facing the head end 21 of the bed, between the upper frame 151, 152 and the lower frame 131, 132. A second scissor mechanism 141 to 146 is located in an area facing the foot end 22 of the bed, between the upper frame 152, 152 and the lower frame 131, 132. Each of the scissor mechanisms 141 to 146 has two first scissor elements 141 and two second scissor elements 142. Each scissor mechanism 141 to 146 has one of the first scissor elements 141 and one of the second scissor elements 142 on a right and a left side of the base, arranged in a y-shape.

[0032] The first scissor elements 141 of both the first and second scissor mechanisms 141 to 146 are rigidly connected to each other via a crossbeam 143. Therefore, the first scissor elements 141 of the first scissor mechanism 141 to 146 can only be moved synchronously with each other. The same applies to the first scissor elements 141 of the second scissor mechanism 141 to 146.

[0033] Each first scissor element 141 has a lower end that is connected to the lower frame via a floating bearing. A first slider is rotatably mounted to the lower end of each first scissor element 141 relative to its lower end. This first slider is slidably arranged in the rail 34 in the corner region of the lower frame. The floating bearings are formed by the rails 134 and the first sliders rotatably mounted at the lower end of the first scissor elements 141.

[0034] Each first scissor element 141 has an upper end that is connected to the upper frame via a sliding bearing 151, 162. A second slider 162 is rotatably mounted to the upper end of each first scissor element 141 relative to its upper end. This second slider 162 is arranged in the longitudinal beam 151, which, as previously described, has a C-shaped profile, of the upper frame 151, 152. The longitudinal beam 151 forms a rail in which the second sliders 162 can be moved. The second sliders 162 and the rail 151 form sliding bearings for the upper ends of the first scissor elements 141.

[0035] The second scissor elements 142 of both the first and second scissor mechanisms 141 to 146 are also rigidly connected to each other via a crossbeam 144. The second scissor elements 142 of the first scissor mechanism 141 to 146 can therefore only be moved synchronously with each other. The same applies to the second scissor elements 142 of the second scissor mechanism 141 to 146.

[0036] Every second scissor element 142 has a lower end which is rotatably connected via a fixed bearing 146 to a middle area of ​​the first scissor element 141 on the same side of the base of the same scissor mechanism 141 to 146.

[0037] Every second scissor element 142 has an upper end that is connected to the upper frame via a fixed bearing. A bearing element 161 is rotatably attached to the upper end of each first scissor element relative to its upper end. This bearing element 161 is fixedly arranged in the longitudinal beam 151, which, as previously described, has a C-shaped profile, of the upper frame 151, 152.

[0038] The first scissor mechanism is assigned a first drive 41, and the second scissor mechanism is assigned a second drive 42. These are linear drives that are indirectly supported on the upper frame 151, 152 and on the second scissor element 142. For this purpose, a support 145 is attached to the crossbeam 144 connecting the second scissor elements. By extending and retracting the first linear drive 41, the position of the scissor elements 141, 142 of the first scissor mechanism 141 to 146 can be changed, and by extending and retracting the second linear drive 42, the relative position of the scissor elements 141, 142 of the second scissor mechanism 141 to 146 can be changed.The upper ends of the first scissor elements 141 of the actuated scissor mechanism 141 to 146 are then moved in the longitudinal beam 151 of the upper frame 151 either towards the upper ends of the second scissor elements 142 of the actuated scissor mechanism 141 to 146 or in the opposite direction. When the upper ends are brought closer together, the actuated scissor mechanism 141 to 146 raises the corresponding end of the upper frame 151, 152. When the upper ends are moved apart, the actuated scissor mechanism 141 to 146 lowers the corresponding end of the upper frame 151, 152.

[0039] The first and second scissor mechanisms 141 to 146 can be operated independently of each other. This makes it possible to move only one end of the upper frame 151, 152 downwards or upwards, or to move both downwards or upwards. It is also possible to move both ends of the upper frame 151, 152 in different directions.

[0040] The connectors 3 are attached to the crossbeams 152 of the upper frame 151, 152. These connectors fasten and support the upper frame of the bed to the lower frame. The connectors 3 are made of a rectangular hollow profile. Each connector 3 is screwed to one of the ends of the crossbeams 151 that project beyond the longitudinal beams 151 and to a section of the crossbeams 152 between the longitudinal beams 151. The connectors 3 initially extend outwards from the upper frame 151, 152 in line with the crossbeams 152 and overlap the longitudinal beams 131 of the lower frame. They then run outwards and downwards at an angle of approximately 35° to 50°.

[0041] Longitudinal side beams 20 of the upper frame are attached to the outer ends of the connectors 3. These longitudinal side beams 20 are rectangular profiles with tabs 201 welded to their inner sides, which are connected to the connectors 3 by means of screws. The ends of the connectors 3, and thus also the underside of the longitudinal side beams 20, lie beneath the underside of all parts of the upper frame 151, 152. In the lowest position, the underside of the longitudinal side beams 20 also lies beneath the underside of the longitudinal beams 131 of the lower frame 131, 132.

[0042] All other parts of the upper frame are attached to the longitudinal side supports 20 of the upper frame, including the head section 21 and the foot section 22 and the parts of the lying surface 23, namely an upper body support 231, a thigh support 233, a lower leg support 234 and a buttocks section 232.

[0043] The upper body support 231, the thigh support 233, and the lower leg support 234 of the lying surface 23 are movably mounted on the longitudinal side supports 20 and can be pivoted into various positions. Additional linear actuators 43, 44 are provided for pivoting the upper body support 231 and the thigh support 234, allowing them to be moved into an upright position. This enables the user of the bed to assume a sitting position and / or raise or elevate their legs. The upper body support 231 can be pivoted about an axis in the region of its foot end, and the thigh support 233 about an axis in the region of its head end. The lower leg support 234 can be pivoted about an axis in the region of the foot end of the thigh support 233.The foot end of the lower leg support 233 can also be raised via extendable supports that connect a foot-end end of the lower leg support 234 to the longitudinal side supports 20.

[0044] The connection between the movable lying surface parts 231, 233, 234 is made via rods 24 or supports, which define a movement path of these lying surface parts.

Claims

1. Bed, in particular medical bed, - having a lower framework which has lower supporting elements (131) and upper supporting elements (152), - having an upper framework which comprises longitudinal side supports (20) and a lying surface (23) which is fastened to the longitudinal side supports (20), - wherein the longitudinal side supports (20) are fastened to the upper supporting elements (152) via connectors (3), - wherein the lower framework has at least one mechanism (141 to 146) between the lower supporting elements (131) and the upper supporting elements (152) for moving the upper framework to different heights, and - wherein each connector (3) has a first region which engages over one of the lower supporting elements (131) and has a second region which is arranged between the first region and the longitudinal side support (20), wherein - at least in the lowest position, connection points between the connectors (3) and the longitudinal side supports (20) are arranged below connection points of the connectors (3) and the upper supporting elements (152).

2. Bed according to Claim 1, characterized in that parts of the lower supporting elements (131) which are engaged over by the first region of the connector (3) have an upper side which, in the lowest position, is arranged above a lower side or above the lower side and an upper side of the longitudinal side supports (20).

3. Bed according to Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the lower side of the parts of the lower supporting elements (131) which are engaged over by the first region of the connector (3), in the lowest position, is arranged above the lower side or above the lower side and the upper side of the longitudinal side supports (20).

4. Bed according to one of Claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the second region is angled downwards with respect to the first region.

5. Bed according to Claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the connector (3) is a pipe or comprises a pipe.

6. Bed according to one of Claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the longitudinal side supports (20) have, on an inner side, tabs (201) to which outer ends of the connectors (3) are connected.

7. Bed according to one of Claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the upper supporting elements (152) have a projecting element to which inner ends of the connectors (3) are connected.

8. Bed according to one of Claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the connections between the connectors (3) and the longitudinal side supports (20) of the upper framework (20 to 23) and / or the connections between the connectors (3) and the upper supporting elements (152) of the lower framework are releasable connections.

9. Bed according to one of Claims 1 to 8, characterized in that an upper frame (151, 152) of the lower framework, consisting of two upper longitudinal members (151) and two upper cross members which are connected to one another, has the upper supporting elements (152).

10. Bed according to Claim 6 and according to Claim 9, characterized in that the projecting elements are ends of the cross members.

11. Bed according to one of Claims 1 to 10, characterized in that a lower frame (131, 132) of the lower framework, consisting of two lower longitudinal members and two lower cross members (132) which are connected to one another, has the lower supporting elements (131).

12. Bed according to Claim 11, characterized in that the parts of the lower supporting elements which are engaged over by the second regions of the connectors are the lower longitudinal members of the lower frame (131, 132).

13. Bed according to Claim 11 or 12, characterized in that the lower supporting elements have holding elements (133) to which floating bearings or fixed bearings of the at least one movement mechanism are fastened, wherein these bearings are arranged in a plane below the lower longitudinal member and / or the lower cross member (132).

14. Bed according to one of Claims 1 to 13, characterized in that the lying surface (23) of the bed has lying surface parts (231, 233, 234) which can be erected, wherein the lying surface parts (231, 233, 234) and the longitudinal side supports (20) are connected via mechanisms which define movement paths for the lying surface parts (231, 233, 234) during erection.