Stowable Bed Siderail Assembly for Rigid Zero-Gap Transfer

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional collapsible siderails in occupant supports like beds and stretchers can appear flimsy and cage-like, compromising rigidity and stowability, while a rigid siderail without collapsibility loses convenience in storage.

Innovation Solution

A stowable siderail assembly featuring a noncollapsible siderail panel with an arcuate profile, guide rails, and a link mechanism that allows translation and rotation to move between deployed and stowed positions without projecting laterally, ensuring 'zero gap' transfer capability and improved rigidity.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Volume of moving object

If a collapsible siderail is used, then stowability is improved, but rigidity deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovestowabilityVSAvoidrigidity

Core Design Contradiction:

Volume of moving objectVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The siderail assembly is divided into separate components: a noncollapsible siderail panel, guide rails, and a link mechanism. This segmentation allows the panel to maintain rigidity while the link mechanism enables stowability, resolving the contradiction between structural strength and storage convenience.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The siderail assembly incorporates a dynamic link mechanism with rollers and guide rails that allows the assembly to transition between deployed and stowed positions. This dynamic element provides stowability without requiring the siderail panel itself to be collapsible, thereby maintaining rigidity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Strength

If a rigid siderail is used, then structural integrity is improved, but stowability deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestructural integrityVSAvoidstowability

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

A link mechanism acts as an intermediary between the rigid siderail panel and the frame. This intermediary component (comprising rollers, guide rails, and links) enables the rigid panel to be moved and stowed without compromising its structural integrity, as the panel itself remains noncollapsible.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Strength

If a noncollapsible siderail panel is used, then rigidity is improved, but ease of storage deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproverigidityVSAvoidease of storage

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The dynamic link mechanism with rollers and guide rails automates the stowage process, making it easy to store the rigid siderail panel. The mechanism guides the panel smoothly into the stowed position under the frame, reducing manual effort while maintaining the panel's rigidity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The link mechanism is designed to facilitate self-service stowage, where the weight and geometry of the components work together to guide the panel into its stowed position with minimal user intervention, improving ease of storage while maintaining structural integrity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentEP3135263B1Bed with a stowable siderail

Publication Date: 2018.04.18 HILL ROM SERVICES INC

Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3

AI summary

A bed comprises a frame and a siderail assembly. The siderail assembly includes a noncollapsible siderail panel having an upper edge and a lower edge, a guide rail affixed to the panel and having an extension which extends past the lower edge of the panel, and a link rotatably mounted on the frame. The link is configured to receive the extension so that the link grips the extension but also permits translation of the guide rail relative to the link.