Patient Bed Joint Arrangement Prevents Spreading Forces

The patent applies asymmetry by using a sawtooth profile with one-sided engagement where the blocking faces lie in a plane containing the joint axis. The tooth profile has inclined working faces for load bearing and steep return faces for adjustment, creating asymmetric geometry that prevents spreading forces while enabling stepwise adjustment. This asymmetric design ensures that loads act perpendicular to the blocking faces, eliminating the spreading force problem of symmetric oblique profiles.

The patent applies local quality by differentiating the tooth profile into distinct functional zones: the blocking faces are designed with specific orientation to bear loads perpendicular to their plane, while the sawtooth geometry provides localized engagement points for adjustment. This localized functional differentiation allows the joint to simultaneously achieve stable load bearing and fine adjustability without the spreading forces that plague uniform oblique profiles.

The patent applies beforehand cushioning by designing the blocking faces to lie in a plane containing the joint axis, creating inherent geometric interlocking that prevents sudden downward movement even if the tensioning mechanism fails. The sawtooth profile with one-sided engagement provides a mechanical stop that cushions against catastrophic failure, ensuring that loss of tensioning does not lead to abrupt segment swinging.

The patent applies preliminary anti-action by configuring the blocking faces and sawtooth profile to automatically counteract spreading forces and prevent disengagement before they can cause dangerous movement. The geometric arrangement of the blocking faces in the joint axis plane creates preliminary resistance to any separating forces, providing safety without requiring perfect tensioning.

The patent applies preliminary action by incorporating a securing element that automatically closes the fork aperture immediately after the fork is pushed onto the shaft journal. This preliminary closing action occurs as part of the assembly process itself, eliminating the hazardous open aperture condition before operation begins, while still maintaining easy assembly through the radial pushing motion.

The patent applies intermediary by using a securing element as a mediator between the fork and shaft journal. This intermediary component facilitates easy assembly by guiding the fork onto the journal while simultaneously closing the aperture to prevent pinching. The securing element acts as a safety intermediary that transforms the potentially hazardous open aperture into a safe closed state without complicating the assembly process.