Bed with brake actuator

Abstract

Clinical bed with movable wheels, the bed having at least one movement position in which the wheels can roll on the ground and a braked position in which the bed cannot roll, and an actuating controller that enables switching from the movement position to the braked position and vice versa, said controller comprising a U-shaped angled bar connected tiltingly to the bed, said bar having a main actuating section of the controller that extends parallel to one side of the bed, characterized in that said bar extends along the whole of said side of the bed, having tilting connections with the bed at corresponding intermediate points of each bar section, which are the sections of said U-shape that are perpendicular to said side, with corresponding pedal zones for actuating the controller at the free ends of each section, said pedal zones being located on sides adjacent to said side, thereby enabling the controller to be actuated for tilting thereof from said pedal zones or from said actuating bar section.

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to movable beds, in particular beds that have a frame with wheels for moving the bed that has a control device for actuating said wheels, preferably braking the bed.

[0002] Clinical beds, usually used in hospitals, have a frame with wheels for moving the bed. These wheels perform two functions. Firstly, they support the bed on the ground. Secondly, they act as rolling means that facilitate the movement of the bed and determine the direction of movement. Such beds normally have four main wheels at the corners of the bed. Such beds can also have a fifth wheel, usually positioned at the centre of the bed and / or equidistantly from said four wheels. The fifth wheel is intended to improve the manoeuvrability of the bed. For this reason, it may sometimes have characteristics that are somewhat different from the main wheels.

[0003] Such clinical beds have at least one controller used to change the position of at least one of the wheels, so that the movable bed has at least two positions: a braked position and a movement position in which the bed can roll on the ground. This enables the client to be moved from one place in the hospital to another without having to get out of bed, while keeping the bed static during medical examinations or when the patient is resting in their room.

[0004] This type of bed usually has two movement positions. In one of the movement positions, at least one of the wheels can swivel freely about a vertical shaft, enabling the direction of movement of the bed to be changed as it rolls (free position). In another of the movement positions, the bed can only be moved in a straight line, thereby facilitating movement thereof in a straight line (directional position).

[0005] The braked / movement position (and where applicable the directional movement / free movement position) change is produced using a controller. This controller is usually positioned on the lower frame of the bed and is actuated by foot. Document ES1055849U discloses a pedal controller. One drawback of this type of pedal is that the user has to move to the specific location of the pedal to change the bed position. Furthermore, given the pedal only has one actuation point, the user has to visually seek the pedal to ensure correct actuation, which takes additional time. For this reason, the most common type of controller is a swing bar extending along one of the short sides of the bed. Documents ES1046276U and ES1065160U disclose actuating bars of this type, comprising an angled tube connected tiltingly to the lower frame of the bed. The bar has the advantage of extending along a greater length than the pedal, and there is no need to seek the specific position of the controller. However, if the user is at one of the long sides, or at the short side of the bed opposite the side with the bar, they have to move to the short side to actuate the controller.

[0006] One objective of the present invention is to disclose a controller that overcomes the aforementioned drawbacks.

[0007] More specifically, the present invention relates to a clinical bed with movable wheels, the bed having at least one movement position in which the wheels can roll on the ground and a braked position in which the bed cannot roll, and an actuating controller that enables switching from the movement position to the braked position and vice versa, said controller comprising a U-shaped angled bar connected tiltingly to the bed, said bar having a main actuating section of the controller that extends parallel to one side of the bed. Said bar extends along the whole of said side of the bed, having tilting connections with the bed at corresponding intermediate points of each bar section, which are the sections of said U-shape that are perpendicular to said side, with corresponding pedal zones for actuating the controller at the free ends of each section, said pedal zones being located on sides adjacent to said side, thereby enabling the controller to be actuated for tilting thereof from said pedal zones or from said actuating bar section.

[0008] Positioning the tilting connections of the bar at intermediate points of the sections perpendicular to the main section enables pedal actuation zones to be arranged at the free ends of the U-shape, which enables actuation from the main section of the bar or from the pedal zone. Furthermore, since the bar extends along the whole of the side, the pedal zones are located on sides of the bed that are adjacent to the side with the main section of the bar. As a result, the controller according to the present invention can be actuated from three of the sides of the bed, increasing the zone from which the controller can be actuated and thereby reducing the time required to switch the bed from one position to another.

[0009] Furthermore, the present invention is applicable to beds with one or two movement positions (directional and free) and different types of wheel actuation.

[0010] Preferably, the bed has two movement positions: a directional position in which the bed rolls in a straight line and a free position in which the bed rolls freely, the directional position, the free position and the braked position corresponding to three different positions of said controller.

[0011] Preferably, each of said sections of said angled bar has an orifice for insertion of a tilting shaft and a zone for connection of a pedal part.

[0012] Preferably, said tilting shaft is a shaft of polygonal section.

[0013] Preferably, the bed has a fifth wheel positioned approximately at the centre of the lower frame.

[0014] Preferably, said tilting shaft is connected to an actuating bar that transmits the movement from the controller to main wheels located at the opposite end of the bed and / or to the fifth wheel, where applicable. The bar may be connected to the tilting shaft, for example by a cam. The bar can be moved to actuate the main wheels opposite the controller and / or the fifth wheel. In some embodiments, actuation can be effected entirely from the fifth wheel. For example, moving the bar may switch the fifth wheel from a free position to a directional position, which means that the bed can only be moved in a straight line, and the braking action can be generated on the fifth wheel and / or on the main wheels from a braking mechanism located in the zone of the fifth wheel (for example, by transmitting the action via cables).

[0015] Preferably, said tilting shaft is connected to an actuating bar that transmits the movement from the controller to main wheels located at the opposite end of the bed and / or to the fifth wheel, where applicable.

[0016] Preferably, the tilting shaft acts on a main wheel located beneath said tilting shaft, for example to brake it, or to switch from the directional position to the free position. It is also possible for the tilting shaft not to act directly on said main wheel located beneath said shaft.

[0017] Drawings showing a non-limiting exemplary embodiment of the subject-matter of the present invention are attached to provide a clearer understanding thereof. Figure 1 is a perspective view of a lower frame of a bed according to the present invention. Figure 2 is a side view of the lower frame. Figure 3 shows a detail of one of the corners of the lower frame. Figure 4 is a detailed view of another of the corners of the lower frame, with visible elements removed to show part of the actuating mechanism. Figures 5 and 6 are perspective views of the angled bar forming part of the controller in the example shown. Figure 7 is a perspective view of a cam part belonging to the controller. Figure 8 includes three side views of a detail of the lower frame with the controller in the three operating positions. Figures 9, 10, 11 and 12 are respectively side, rear, bottom and perspective views of the fifth wheel in the free position thereof, showing the actuating elements of the fifth wheel. Figures 13, 14 and 15 are respectively side, rear and bottom views of the fifth wheel in the directional position thereof.

[0018] The figures show an exemplary embodiment of a bed 1 according to the present invention. For the sake of clarity, only the lower frame 2 of the bed, which comprises the rolling system and the actuating controller thereof, and the lifting system 3 of the bed are shown. For the sake of clarity, the upper frame, which comprises the bed and the auxiliary elements thereof (headboard, footboard, lateral protection elements, etc.) are not shown.

[0019] The rolling system comprises four main wheels 4 located at the corresponding corners of the bed, which are also the corners of the lower frame 2. The bed in the example also has a fifth wheel 5 intended to be in contact with the ground. The fifth wheel is located approximately at the centre of the lower frame, approximately equidistant from the four main wheels 4. The presence and location of the fifth wheel may vary for the purposes of the present invention.

[0020] The bed also comprises a controller 6 that has three operating positions. Figure 2 shows the three operating positions simultaneously. Reference sign 6 indicates the controller in the free position, in which the bed can be moved and turned freely, reference sign 6' indicates the braked position, in which the bed cannot roll on the ground, and reference sign 6" indicates the directional position, in which the bed rolls but only in one direction. The controller 6 comprises an angled bar with an overall U-shape with a main section 61 that extends along one of the short sides of the bed, preferably the foot of the bed, as in the example shown.

[0021] As shown in Figure 3, the controller 6 is joined tiltingly to the lower frame 2 via the connection part 21. The tilting joining point of the controller 6 to the lower frame 2 is located at an intermediate point of the secondary section 62 of the controller 6. This enables the controller 6 to be actuated from the main section 61 of the bar or from the pedals 63 located at the respective free ends of the secondary sections 62.

[0022] Figure 4 shows the tilting connection of the controller 6 with the rest of the elements. As shown, the tilting connection is made in this case by a bar 64 of prismatic section. The prismatic section enables the rotation of the controller 6 to be converted into actions intended for the wheels. In this case, the controller acts both on the fifth wheel and on the main wheels 4 on the same side as the controller. In particular, Figure 4 shows how the bar 64 of prismatic section passes through both a braking part 41 of the main wheel 4 and a cam 51 connected, on one side, to the bar 64 of prismatic section and, on the other side, to the actuating bar 52 of the fifth wheel (not shown in Figure 4). The braking part 41 in the example shown converts the rotary movement of the prismatic bar 64 into a movement braking / releasing the main wheel 4. The cam 52 converts the rotation of said bar 64 into a movement of the bar 52, which actuates the fifth wheel.

[0023] Figures 5 and 6 show the controller 6 without the part forming the pedal 63. As illustrated, the controller has an angled bar having an overall U-shape with a main section 61 and two secondary sections 62 that are parallel to one another. To improve ergonomics, the secondary sections also have a bend. Each secondary section 62 is extended by an angle bracket 621 that has a polygonal hole 622 intended to receive in advance said bar 64 of prismatic section and another hole 623 for receiving the part that forms the pedal 63 (not shown in Figures 5 and 6).

[0024] Figure 7 shows the cam 52 in Figure 4 in greater detail. In the example, the cam is a cut laminar part. The cam 52 has two holes. A first hole 521 has a polygonal shape that mates with the prismatic bar 64 (shown in Figure 4). A second hole 522 is intended to receive a pin for connecting the bar 52 that actuates the fifth wheel (shown in Figure 4).

[0025] Figure 8 includes three cross-sectional side views of the lower frame 2 of the bed. Each of the side views corresponds to one of the operating positions of the bed. The top view corresponds to the directional position. As shown, the main section 61 of the bar of the controller 6 is in its highest position, and the actuating bar 52 of the fifth wheel is in its lowest position closest to the main wheel 4. The actuating bar 52 of the fifth wheel can be extended as far as the main wheels 4 located on the side opposite the side with the main section of the bar 61, or only as far as the fifth wheel. In the first case, said main wheels 4 located on the side opposite the side with the main section of the bar can be actuated using corresponding cams 51, and in the second case the bar 52 transmits the action to the fifth wheel. The middle view in Figure 8, in the example shown, corresponds to the free position in which both the main wheels and the fifth wheel can roll on the ground and swivel freely about a vertical shaft. The bottom view in Figure 8 corresponds to the braked position in which at least one main wheel is braked. Two main wheels can preferably be braked, preferably the two main wheels 4 closest to the controller 6. It is also possible to brake the main wheels furthest away from the controller 6 and / or the fifth wheel. Moreover, the actuating mechanism can be changed to change the positions of the controller. For example, actuation may be such that the braked position corresponds to the top view in Figure 8 and the directional position corresponds to the bottom view, or any other layout.

[0026] As shown, the three positions (free, directional and braked) can be reached equally by actuating either the main section 61 of the bar located on a short side or the pedals 63 located on the adjacent sides. Consequently, the controller 6 according to the present invention provides dual actuation and is accessible from different points of the bed 1.

[0027] Figures 9 to 15 show an exemplary embodiment of the fifth wheel applicable to the example shown in Figures 1 to 8. Figures 9 to 12 correspond to actuation on the fifth wheel in the free position, while Figures 13 to 15 show the mechanism of the fifth wheel in the directional position.

[0028] In the free position (Figures 9 to 12), the controller 6 in the example is in its intermediate position. The position of the controller 6 is transmitted to the bar 52, which transmits the action of the controller 6 to the fifth wheel 5 located approximately at the centre of the lower frame 2. The fifth wheel 5 is able to swivel about a vertical shaft 57. The vertical shaft 57 has a flange 59 rigidly connected to the vertical shaft 57. The flange 59 has a recess 591. The mechanism also comprises a locking part 58 that rotates about a horizontal shaft 582 and that has a projection 581 dimensioned to fit into the recess 591 in the flange 59. Alternatively, the flange 59 may have a projection and the locking part may have a mating recess. Since the flange 59 can only rotate about the vertical shaft 57 and the locking part 58 can only rotate about the horizontal shaft 582, when the projection 581 is inserted into the recess 591, the vertical shaft 57 is prevented from rotating, and as a result the rotation of the fifth wheel about said shaft is also prevented (see Figures 13, 14 and 15).

[0029] Conversely, if the locking part 58 rotates about its rotary shaft 582, the projection 581 comes out of the recess 591 and the vertical shaft 57 is able to rotate (see Figures 9, 10 and 12). In the example shown, this means that the fifth wheel is able to rotate about the vertical shaft 57. Given that the main wheels are also able to rotate about the respective vertical shafts thereof, this enables the bed to roll in any position (free position).

[0030] To switch from the directional position to the free position and vice versa, the locking part receives two opposing actions. On one hand, a spring 56 creates an action that tends to move the locking part 58 towards the locked position of the vertical shaft 57, in which the respective recess and the respective projection are engaged with one another. On the other hand, the locking part 58 is acted upon by a cable 55. The cable 55 is connected to the bar 52 via a connection part 552 and a guide system 551. The actions of the spring and of the cable can also be inverted for the purposes of the present invention.

[0031] In the position shown in Figure 15, the cable does not have enough tension to overcome the action of the spring 56 (not shown in Figure 56). However, if the bar 52 moves to the position in Figure 11, the bar 52 pulls the cable 55, which overcomes the action of the spring and the locking part opens, unlocking rotation of the shaft 57.

[0032] In this position, shown in Figure 11, an actuator 553 located in the connecting part 552 comes into contact with an actuating button 541 of a locking mechanism 554 of the main wheels. If the bar 52 continues moving towards the right-hand side of the image (braked position), the actuator 553 actuates the actuating button 541 and the mechanism 541 stresses respective brake cables (not shown in the figure) which transmit a braking action to one or more main wheels. In the case shown, the action is transmitted through two cables, which are not shown. This enables the desired number of the main wheels to be braked or locked.

[0033] One advantage of the antagonistic spring / cable system is that, when switching to the directional position from the free position, the fifth wheel does not need to be in a specific position. The spring exerts a constant action that causes the corresponding projection to automatically enter the corresponding recess when the orientation of the fifth wheel corresponds to the directional position.

[0034] Although the invention has been disclosed and described with reference to embodiments thereof, these embodiments do not limit the invention, and as such a wide range of structural or other details may become evident to a person skilled in the art upon reading the subject-matter set out in the present description, claims and drawings. Accordingly, any variants and equivalents that could be considered to fall within the broadest scope of the following claims are included within the scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. Clinical bed with movable wheels, the bed having at least one movement position in which the wheels can roll on the ground and a braked position in which the bed cannot roll, and an actuating controller that enables switching from the movement position to the braked position and vice versa, said controller comprising a U-shaped angled bar connected tiltingly to the bed, said bar having a main actuating section of the controller that extends parallel to one side of the bed, characterized in that said bar extends along the whole of said side of the bed, having tilting connections with the bed at corresponding intermediate points of each bar section, which are the sections of said U-shape that are perpendicular to said side, with corresponding pedal zones for actuating the controller at the free ends of each section, said pedal zones being located on sides adjacent to said side, thereby enabling the controller to be actuated for tilting thereof from said pedal zones or from said actuating bar section.

2. Bed according to the preceding claim, characterized in that it has two movement positions: a directional position in which the bed rolls in a straight line and a free position in which the bed rolls freely, the directional position, the free position and the braked position corresponding to three different positions of said controller.

3. Bed according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that each of said sections of said angled bar has an orifice for insertion of a tilting shaft and a zone for connection of a pedal part.

4. Bed according to the preceding claim, characterized in that said tilting shaft is a shaft of polygonal section.

5. Bed according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that it has a fifth wheel positioned approximately at the centre of the lower frame.

6. Bed according to any of Claims 3 to 5, characterized in that said tilting shaft is connected to an actuating bar that transmits the movement from the controller to main wheels located at the opposite end of the bed and / or to the fifth wheel, where applicable.

7. Bed according to any of Claims 3 to 6, characterized in that the tilting shaft acts on a main wheel located beneath said tilting shaft.

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