Bed Lifting Frame With Spring Assist for Safer Bed Preparation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Bed preparation workers face an increased risk of injury and reduced efficiency due to the need to assume awkward positions to access areas beneath the bed, especially in environments with multiple beds.
Innovation Solution
A bed lifting apparatus with a biasing arrangement and locking mechanism that allows the support frame to move into a proximal relationship with the base, utilizing torsion springs and gas springs to elevate the bed to waist height, reducing the need for workers to bend and facilitating easier access for cleaning and maintenance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If workers manually lower their body to access areas beneath the bed, then they can perform cleaning and maintenance tasks, but they are subjected to increased risk of injury and reduced efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a lifting mechanism with biasing arrangements (springs) that counterbalance the weight of the bed support frame. This allows workers to easily raise and lower the bed frame without manually supporting its full weight, eliminating the need to assume awkward positions and significantly reducing the risk of back injuries while maintaining ease of operation for bed preparation tasks
2Productivity
If workers manually lower their body to access areas beneath the bed, then they can perform cleaning and maintenance tasks, but their efficiency is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The lifting mechanism with biasing arrangements enables workers to efficiently prepare beds by allowing the bed frame to be easily raised to a comfortable working height and lowered with minimal effort. This mechanical assistance dramatically improves productivity by eliminating the time and physical strain associated with manually positioning oneself beneath the bed, while simultaneously maintaining exceptional ease of operation through the self-balancing mechanism
3Object-affected harmful factors
If a lifting mechanism is introduced to elevate the bed, then worker safety and efficiency are improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a lifting mechanism with biasing arrangements (springs) that counterbalance the weight of the bed support frame. This allows workers to easily raise and lower the bed frame without manually supporting its full weight, eliminating the need to assume awkward positions and significantly reducing the risk of back injuries while maintaining ease of operation for bed preparation tasks
Solution Approach 2:
The biasing arrangement is designed to automatically engage and disengage as the support frame moves between elevated and lowered positions. The spring mechanism self-regulates the lifting and lowering actions without requiring complex control systems, sensors, or multiple actuators, thereby reducing device complexity while still providing the safety benefits of automated height adjustment
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The apparatus reduces the risk of injury and enhances efficiency by allowing workers to access the bed at a comfortable height, minimizing the need for awkward positions and reducing the time required for bed preparation.
Implementation Method 1
The collapsible structure acts with elastic raising means... the mechanism for pivoting the mattress comprises a torsion spring
Implementation Method 2
the mechanism for pivoting the mattress comprises a torsion spring or a gas pressure spring
Implementation Method 3
the biasing arrangement is arranged to capture energy when the support frame is moved into the proximal relationship with the base
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2A~2C
Figure 3
AI summary
A bed lifting apparatus comprising a base and a support frame connected by at least one linkage arm, the at least one linkage arm including at least one biasing arrangement arranged to maintain the base and the support frame in a spaced apart relationship, wherein, in use, when a bed is located on the support frame, the bed is maintained in a spaced apart relationship from a floor surface.