Adjustable Bed Waist-Lifting Linkage for Independent Trunk Support
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing adjustable beds lack a mechanism to properly lift the waist support portion, leading to discomfort for patients as there is no means to lift the trunk without affecting other body parts.
Innovation Solution
An adjustable bed design incorporating a waist-lifting unit with a plank assembly, support assembly, frame, and power unit, featuring a transmission unit with rocking levers, swinging levers, primary and secondary levers, arched elements, and linkages that allow for synchronized lifting of the waist planks relative to the frame, ensuring comfortable and controlled trunk support.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a traditional adjustable bed mechanism is used with back-lifting link and knee-lifting link, then the back and legs can be adjusted, but the waist support portion cannot be lifted independently causing patient discomfort
Solution Approach 1:
The support assembly is divided into distinct segments including back support portion, waist support portion, upper leg support portion, and lower leg support portion. Each segment can be independently adjusted through separate lifting mechanisms, allowing the waist to be lifted independently without affecting other body parts, thereby improving patient comfort and adaptability
Solution Approach 2:
A transmission unit acts as an intermediary mechanism between the power unit and the waist lifting system. This transmission unit includes multiple levers and linkages that translate the power unit's motion into synchronized lifting of the waist support portion, enabling independent waist adjustment while maintaining coordination with other support segments
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple lifting elements and transmission components are added to enable waist lifting, then waist support is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple lifting elements (first lifting element and second lifting element) are merged into a single integrated waist-lifting unit that operates together. The transmission unit combines rocking levers, swinging levers, primary levers, secondary levers, and linkages into a coordinated system that functions as one unified mechanism, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining waist lifting capability
Solution Approach 2:
The transmission unit serves multiple functions simultaneously: it coordinates the motion of multiple lifting elements, maintains synchronization between different support portions, and enables independent waist adjustment. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate mechanisms for each function, thereby managing device complexity while achieving adaptability
Data Source
AI summary
An adjustable bed includes a plank assembly, a support assembly, a frame and a power unit. The plank assembly includes a first waist plank and a second waist plank. The power unit is pivotally connected to the frame. The support assembly includes a waist-lifting unit that includes a first lifting element pivotally connected to a portion of the frame, a second lifting element pivotally connected to another portion of the frame, and a transmission unit operatively connected to the first and second lifting elements.