Bed Transforming Mechanism with Adjustable Seat Height

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing bed transformation mechanisms into chairs are cumbersome, expensive, and often unsuitable for users of varying sizes, as they do not allow the seat height to be adjusted to accommodate individuals with shorter legs or children, requiring auxiliary equipment and space-consuming solutions.

Innovation Solution

A bed with a mattress unit and displacing means, featuring guide members on slats that engage track means on the bed frame, allowing the mattress to be displaced and guided in a direction opposite to its displacement, enabling the foot end to be lowered under the rest of the mattress, thus adjusting the seat height to accommodate users of different heights, and incorporating foot end elevating means for efficient height adjustment.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a bed transformation mechanism into a chair is provided, then the bed can be transformed into a chair, but the mechanism is complicated and expensive

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebed to chair transformationVSAvoidtransformation mechanism
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The bed structure is divided into independent segments: a head section, a foot section with elevating means, and a transformation mechanism using guide members and track means. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function independently, simplifying the overall transformation mechanism while maintaining versatility.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The bed incorporates dynamic elements including elevating means for the foot section and a transformation mechanism that allows the mattress unit to move between bed and chair configurations. The guide members on slats engage with track means to enable controlled movement, creating a dynamic system that adapts to different user needs without requiring complex fixed structures.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Device complexity

If the bed is transformed into a chair with fixed dimensions, then the transformation mechanism is simpler, but it only fits a person of a given size and the lower leg portion is too long for users with shorter legs

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetransformation mechanismVSAvoidaccommodation of different user sizes
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The chair configuration is made dynamic through the elevating means that can raise the foot section independently. This allows the seat height to be adjusted to accommodate users of different heights, transforming a static chair design into an adaptive one that fits various body sizes without requiring multiple fixed-dimension chairs.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The elevating means changes the vertical parameter (height) of the foot section, allowing the chair to adapt to different user leg lengths. By varying the elevation parameter, the same transformation mechanism can serve users of different sizes, eliminating the need for multiple fixed-dimension designs.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Ease of operation

If the mattress unit is lowered to enable users to reach the floor, then accessibility is improved, but the seat height cannot be adjusted for users of different heights

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaccessibility to floorVSAvoidseat height adjustment
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The system uses dynamic control through the elevating means and guide member engagement to adjust seat height. Rather than a fixed low position, the elevating means allows continuous adjustment of the foot section height, enabling both floor accessibility and adaptation to different user heights through controlled movement along the track means.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The elevating means provides parameter control over the vertical position of the foot section. This parameter adjustment capability allows the system to optimize seat height for each user, changing the height parameter as needed to balance floor accessibility with proper seat height for the user's leg length.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

4Ease of operation

If auxiliary equipment like mobile lifts is used to help immobile patients, then patient accessibility is improved, but the equipment is costly and space consuming

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepatient accessibilityVSAvoidauxiliary equipment
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The bed is designed with multi-functionality, serving both as a bed and as a chair with adjustable height. This eliminates the need for separate auxiliary equipment like mobile lifts by integrating the accessibility function directly into the bed structure, reducing both cost and space requirements while maintaining patient accessibility.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The elevating means and transformation mechanism are merged into the bed structure itself, combining the functions of bed, chair, and height adjustment into a single integrated system. This eliminates the need for separate auxiliary equipment, reducing overall device complexity while improving patient accessibility.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentEP3000454B1A bed, a method for transforming a bed into a chair and use of a bed
Publication Date: 2018.04.18 FAMILIEN LANGELUND HLDG APS
  • EP3000454B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3000454B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP3000454B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

Disclosed is a bed (1) comprising a mattress unit (2) and displacing means (3) arranged for displacing the mattress unit (2) in a displacement direction. The bed further comprises guide means (4) for guiding the mattress unit (2) at least during the displacement and wherein the guide means (4) are arranged for guiding the mattress unit (2) in a direction away from the displacement direction. A method for transforming a bed (1) into a chair and use of a bed (1) is also disclosed.