Height-Adjustable Bed Roller Layout for Floor-Level Access
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing height-adjustable beds have a bed entry height of around 200 mm, which is not low enough for improved mobility and accessibility, particularly in hospital and care settings.
Innovation Solution
The bed design features support rollers with a pivot point spacing that allows 360° rotation without collision, angled support beams to prevent obstruction, and cap elements for protection during maneuvers, enabling the bed frame to be lowered to floor level with a bed entry height of less than 150 mm, and even less than 100 mm, enhancing mobility and safety.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the bed frame is lowered to achieve a lower bed entry height, then accessibility is improved, but the support rollers may collide with the bed frame or end pieces
Solution Approach 1:
The support rollers are positioned at a distance from the bed end piece, creating spatial separation in the horizontal dimension. This dimensional arrangement ensures that when the bed frame is lowered vertically, the support rollers rotate without colliding with the bed frame or end pieces, resolving the conflict between achieving low bed entry height and preventing roller collision.
2Device complexity
If the support rollers are positioned close to the bed end piece, then the bed structure is compact, but the rollers cannot rotate freely through 360°
Solution Approach 1:
By positioning the support rollers at a specific distance from the bed end piece along the horizontal dimension, the design enables full 360° rotation of the rollers without obstruction. This spatial arrangement maintains relative compactness while ensuring unrestricted rotational movement, allowing the bed to be lowered to floor level without mechanical interference.
3Ease of operation
If the bed entry height is reduced to less than 100 mm, then mobility is enhanced, but the risk of support rollers twisting under the bed frame increases
Solution Approach 1:
The support rollers are positioned at a distance from the bed end piece, creating horizontal separation that prevents the rollers from twisting under the bed frame when it is lowered to floor level. This dimensional arrangement ensures that even at bed entry heights of less than 100 mm, the rollers maintain stable 360° rotation capability without mechanical stress or twisting, enhancing both mobility and reliability.
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 solution allows for a significantly lower bed entry height, improved maneuverability, and collision-free movement, ensuring the bed can be moved down to floor level without obstruction, enhancing user accessibility and reducing the risk of collision during use.
Implementation Method 1
the travel section of a lifting column has a lifting column base to which a support roller is articulated that is rotatable about its vertical axis
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a height-adjustable bed, in particular a hospital and/or nursing bed, comprising a bed frame (2), two bed end pieces (5, 6), which accommodate the bed frame (2) between said bed end pieces, and two telescopic lifting columns (11, 12), which each interact with one of the two bed end pieces (5, 6) and have a supporting segment and a moving segment, wherein the lifting columns (11, 12) are arranged on the associated bed end pieces (5, 6) on the outside of the bed by means of the supporting segments of the lifting columns, and wherein the moving segment of a lifting column (11, 12) has a lifting column base, on which a supporting roller (20) that can rotate about the vertical axis thereof is arranged, wherein the distance (A) between the articulation point (21) of the supporting roller (20) and the associated bed end piece (5, 6) exceeds the rotation radius (r) that can be described by the supporting roller (20) about the vertical axis thereof.