Adjustable Foot Deck Structure to Avoid Bed Floor Interference
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing patient support apparatuses, such as hospital beds, face complexity in varying the size of their deck sections, requiring intricate mechanical and electrical components to adjust the foot deck section for different patient positions and to prevent interference with the floor.
Innovation Solution
A patient support apparatus with a bed frame and adjustable cross links that change positions to alter the dimensions of the foot support surface, utilizing actuators, telescopic arms, and hinged deck sections to adjust the length and width of the foot support surface, allowing for a compact configuration when needed.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Length of stationary object
If the foot deck section is retracted to prevent interference with the floor, then the bed seat height is reduced, but the device complexity increases due to complex mechanical and electrical components
Solution Approach 1:
The deck is divided into a first deck section and a second deck section that can move independently relative to each other. The second deck section is configured to move between a first position and a second position, allowing selective retraction of only the foot support portion while maintaining the main deck position, thereby reducing the need for complex overall deck adjustment mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The second deck section is made movable relative to the first deck section through a mechanism involving cross links and support arms. This dynamic configuration allows the foot support surface area to change from a first area to a second area, enabling the foot deck to retract when lowered to prevent floor interference while maintaining structural support.
2Ease of operation
If the foot deck section is lowered to a generally vertical position, then the bed can achieve chair egress position, but the foot deck section interferes with the floor
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the deck into first and second deck sections, the foot support area can be independently adjusted. When the bed is in chair egress position, the second deck section can be positioned to minimize floor interference while maintaining patient support functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The movable second deck section allows dynamic adjustment of the foot support surface area. As the bed transitions to chair egress position, the cross links and support arms enable the second deck section to adjust its position, preventing floor interference while maintaining the necessary support for patient egress.
Data Source
AI summary
A patient support apparatus including a bed frame, an adjustable foot section coupled to a foot end of the bed frame, and a deck moveably coupled to the adjustable foot section. The deck defines a foot support surface having a length dimension defined along a longitudinal axis of the bed frame and a width dimension defined transverse to the longitudinal axis. The length dimension is a first length and the width dimension is a first width when the adjustable foot section is in a first position, and the length dimension is a second length and the width dimension is a second width when the adjustable foot section is in a second position. The second length is less than the first length, and the second width is greater than the first width.