AU676645B2 - A hospital bed - Google Patents

Description

S F Ref: 314428

AUSTRALIA

PATENTS ACT 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR A STANDARD PATENT

ORIGINAL

I o s o Name and Address of Applicant: Medicraft Australia Pty. Limited 72-84 Shepherd Street Marrickville New South Wales 2204

AUSTRALIA

Actual Inventor(s): Address for Service: Spruson Ferguson, Patent Attorneys Level 33 St Martins Tower, 31 Market Street Sydney, New South Wales, 2000, Australia A Hospital Bed Invention Title: ASSOCIATED PROVISIONAL APPLICATION DETAILS [313 Application No(s) [33] Country PM8647 AU [32] Application Date 7 October 1994 The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me/us:- 5815 i I-C I i I~ A HOSPITAL BED Technical Field The present invention relates to beds and more particularly but not exclusively to the mattress supports of hospital beds.

Background of the Invention Hospital beds are sterilised and cleaned by being washed with suitable detergents and disinfectants. This can be done with the use of high pressure hoses or nozzles which dispense the water.

Hospital beds consist of a metal frame which generally supports a metal mesh or metal panel upon which the bed mattress rests. When such hospital beds are subjected to regular cleaning, any exposed metal will quickly oxidise and therefore the condition of the bed will deteriorate rapidly.

Object of the Invention It is the object of the present invention to overcome or substantially ameliorate the 15 above disadvantages.

T:.er Summary of the invention "There is disclosed herein a hospital bed comprising: an assembled bed frame; :a support structure extending downwardly from the bed frame to support the bed e 20 frame on a floor surface; at least one generally horizontally oriented panel upon which a mattress is to rest in order to be supported by the bed frame; and *a plurality of fasteners to secure the panel to the frame, the fasteners being operable to permit removal of the panel, for cleaning purposes, from the assembled bed frame; Brief Description of the Drawings A preferred form of the present invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein: Figure 1 is a schematic top plan view of the top portion of a hospital bed; .A7. Figure 2 is a schematic top plan view of a panel employed in the bed of Figure 1; o Figure 3 is a schematic rear elevation of the panel of Figure 2; [N:\LIBTr00742:exc -L -L Figure 4 is a schematic front elevation of the panel of Figure 2; Figure 5 is a schematic side elevation of the panel of Figure 2; Figure 6 is a schematic sectioned side elevation of the panel of Figure 2 sectioned along the line B-B; Figure 7 is a schematic top plan view of a further panel used in the bed of Figure 1; Figure 8 is a schematic rear elevation of the panel of Figure 7; Figure 9 is a schematic front elevation of the panel of Figure 7; Figure 10 is a schematic side elevation of the panel of Figure 7; Figure 11 is a schematic top plan view of a still further panel employed in the bed 1 o of Figure 1; •Figure 12 is a schematic rear elevation of the panel of Figure 11; Figure 13 is a schematic front elevation of the panel of Figure 11; Figure 14 is a schematic side elevation of the panel of Figure 11; S Figure 15 is a schematic pop plan view of the top portion of a hospital bed; and Figure 16 is a schematic pop plan view of the top portion of a still further hospital bed.

Detailed Description of th. Preferred Embodiment In the accompanying drawings there is schematically depicted a hospital bed S having a generally horizontally oriented frame 11 which may be supported by wheel structures or legs as required. The frame 11 has two side members 12 which are generally parallel and coextensive and which are joined by transverse members 13.

Supported on the frame 11 are sub-frames 14, 15 and 16, which sub-frames can be pivotally attached to the frame 11 so that the frames 14, 15 and 16 can be inclined as required. They would pivot about generally horizontal axes which extend transverse of the members 12.

Each of the sub-frames 14, 15 and 16 includes a pair of parallel members 17 and one or more transverse members which are not shown.

The sub-frames 14, 15 and 16 respectively support panels 18, 19 and 20. The panels 18, 19 and 20 are provided in order to support a mattress located thereon.

[N:\LIBTT]OO742:SAK Each of the panels 18, 19 and 20 is formed of plastics material and would be typically vacuum formed. Each panel 18, 19 and 20 has a generally planar portion 21 providing a top surface 22 which directly abuts the mattress. Depending from the planar portion 21 are side flanges 23 which preferably abut portions of the associated sub-frame 14, 15 or 16 in order to securely locate the panel 18, 19 or 20 in position. One or more of the flanges 23 would be provided with apertures 24 through which the members 17 would pass.

Preferably, each of the panels 18, 19 and 20 has portions 25 which project from the general plane of the portion 21 to aid in reinforcing the panel 18, 19 or Each of the panels 18, 19 and 20 is secured to its associated frame 14, 15 or 16 by fasteners. The fasteners could include snap engaging fasteners which merely engage the associated frame or alternatively they may be threaded fasteners or clips. All that is S required is that the panels 18, 19 and 20 are removable for cleaning purposes.

In the above described preferred embodiment, the entire bed 10 does not need to be 15 cleaned on a regular basis. Normally, the panels 18, 19 and 20 are removed for cleaning purposes and then again secured to the sub-frames 14, 15 and 16. Since the panels 18, 19 and 20 are formed of plastic- material they can better withstand repeated washing. Still further, it would not be necessary to transport the entire bed to the bed wash room. For example, when the bed is to be cleaned, an attendant need only bring a replacable set of panels 18, 19 and 20 which are already clean and sterilised and replace the existing panels 18, 19 and 20 which are then transported to a suitable wash room.

In Figurt 15 and 16, there is schematically depicted modifications of the hospital bed 10. In these two embodiments, a different configuration of panels is employed. In the embodiment of Figure 15, there are four panels 30 to 33. As in the previous embodiment the panels provide a support for the mattress. The panels 30 to 33 maybe attached to different portions of the bed which a capable of moving relative to each other, such as raising the head or foot portion of the bed.

In Figure 16, the bed 10 is provided with only two panels 34 and 35. The panel would be attached to a portion of the bed which maybe tilted.

[N:\LIBT100742:SAK II I 4 In the embodiments of Figures 15 and 16, the panels 30 to 35 are removably attached to the bed frame by fasteners, clips or other means. The panels 30 to 35 would be formed to sheet plastics material so as to provide a generally continuous upper surface.

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Claims (9)

1. A hospital bed comprising: an assembled bed frame; a support structure extending downwardly from the bed frame to support the bed frame on a floor surface; at least one generally horizontally oriented panel upon which a mattress is to rest in order to be supported by the bed frame; and a plurality of fasteners to secure the panel to the frame, the fasteners being operable to permit removal of the panel, for cleaning purposes, from the assembled bed frame;

2. The bed of claim 1, wherein each panel is formed of sheet plastics material.

3. The bed of claim 1 or 2, wherein there are two of the panels.

4. The bed of claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein each panel has a generally planar upper 'surface with portions projecting therefrom for reinforcing.

The bed of any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the or each panel has peripheral side flanges which aid in securing the or each panel to the bed frame.

6. The bed of any one of claims 1 to 5 wherein the or each panel has a continuous upper surface. g

7. The bed of any one of claims 1 to 6 wherein the bed frame includes a pair of generally parallel co-extensive transervsly spaced elongated side members joined by transverse members; and a sub-frame mounted on the bed frame and supporting the or a respective panel.

8. The bed frame of claim 7 wherein at least one sub-frame is pivotally mounted on the bed frame for pivoting movement about a transverse axis.

9. A hospital bed, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 1 to 14, Figure 15 or Figure 16. Dated 23 December, 1996 Medicraft Australia Pty. Limited Patent Attorneys for the Applicant/Nominated Person S A SPRUSON FERGUSON [N:\LIBTr]00742:exc I A Hospital Bed Abstract A hospital bed including a generally horizontally or entered upper frame 11. Removably secured to the frame ii are panels 18, 19 and 20 which are formed of plastics material. The panels 18, 19 and 20 are removable for cleaning purposes. 0 0*O@ 0 000000 0 00 00 0 0 0 0* 00 0 0 0 0* 0 000 0 0000 0~ 00 0 0000 0 0000 000000 0 00 0 0 *000 [N:\LIBTFIOO742:SAK