GB2429148A

GB2429148A - Bed grab-rail

Info

Publication number: GB2429148A
Application number: GB0616179A
Authority: GB
Inventors: John Turner
Original assignee: Nottingham Rehab Ltd
Current assignee: Nottingham Rehab Ltd
Priority date: 2005-08-17
Filing date: 2006-08-15
Publication date: 2007-02-21
Anticipated expiration: 2026-08-15
Also published as: GB2429148B; GB0616179D0; GB0516818D0

Abstract

A bed grab-rail comprises: a base element 4 having a first side with an upstanding portion 12; and a rail portion 6 which is releasably secured in bores 14,16 of the upstanding portion. The base element 4 is reversible allowing use of the bed grab rail either with a slatted bed frame or a divan base. The base element is preferably a flat elongate member formed by rotational moulding. The rail is preferably formed as a tubular metal part. A number of strap points 30 are provided to receive straps.

Description

Bed grab rail The present invention relates to a bed aid of the kind known

as a bed grab rail. Bed grab rails are used to assist a person in a bed from moving from a reclined position though an intermediate sitting position to an upright position ready to leave the bed. Bed grab rails have application in hospitals, nursing homes, residential homes and the like for assisting the elderly or otherwise infirm.

Bed grab rails typically comprises a base element and a rail portion extending from the base portion. In use the base element is located horizontally beneath a mattress with the rail portion extending upwards to the side of the mattress. The base element is located generally aligned with the region of the mattress occupied by a person when lying fully reclined on the mattress.

Fixing straps may be utilised firmly to secure the base element in position.

In order to raise themselves, the person on the bed grasps and pulls on the rail portion to manoeuvre themselves to a sitting position. The person, supporting themselves on the rail portion, may then move their legs to a position ready to leave the bed.

It is known to manufacture bed grab rails as tubular devices based on a simple hoop design, since the low number of bends keeps manufacturing costs down. However, in such cases the low number of bends does not produce an ergonomic design. Such a design would be most helpful for those for whom the product is provided. It is also known to provide the base element as a first loop with the rail portion formed as a separate frame element which is securely welded to the base element. Often a separate central bar is welded within the rail portion, both to reinforce the rail portion but also because users have become entrapped when using prior designs without such a central bar.

It is also known to manufacture bed grab rails using a rotational moulding process. Such bed grab rails offer good recycling characteristics due to the readiness with which bed grab rails may be cleaned (and unlike metal bars no action need be taken to prevent rusting) . However such bed grab rails have only been developed for use with divan bases.

This has resulted in the need for suppliers of bed grab rails, for example Local Authority Equipment Loan Stores, to keep separate stocks of each kind of bed grab rail in order to address the need for bed grab rails from both those having beds with divan bases and those having slatted bed frames.

There is thus a need for a more versatile bed grab rail, utilisable both for a slatted bed frame and a divan base.

According to a first aspect of the present invention, a bed grab rail comprises a base element and a rail portion, in which the base element is provided with a first side having an upstanding portion and the rail portion is releasably secured thereto.

This has as an advantage that the base element is reversible allowing use of the bed grab rail either with a slatted bed frame or a divan base. -3-.

Preferably, the rail portion is releasably secured about a central position on the upstanding portion.

Preferably, at least one side of the base element is provided with a shaped surface.

Preferably the base element is formed by rotational moulding.

Preferably the rail portion is formed as a tubular metal part.

Preferably the rail portion is releasably secured to the base element by e clips.

Advantageously the base element is provided with a plurality of strap points.

Preferably the strap points are diagonally disposed. This has as an advantage that it provides for a more stable positioning of the bed grab rail on the bed.

Preferably the rail portion comprises first upstanding member, a first inclined member extending from the first upstanding member, the first inclined member extending into a central horizontal member, the central horizontal member extending into a second inclined member, the second inclined member extending into a second upstanding member, the first and second upstanding members being disposed substantially parallel to one another.

Preferably the first and second inclined members are inclined at different angles.

The invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:- Figure 1 shows an isometric view of a bed grab rail in accordance with the present invention with the base element in a first position; Figure 2 shows an isometric view of the bed grab rail shown in Figure 1 with the base element in a second position; Figure 3 shows a side view of a rail portion in accordance with the invention; Figure 4 shows a plan view of a second embodiment of a base element; and Figure 5 shows an end elevation of the second embodiment of the present invention.

Referring first to Figure 1 there is shown a bed grab rail assembly 2 in accordance with the present invention. A base element 4 is provided having a generally elongate base portion 10 having an upstanding portion 12 at a first end. The upstanding portion 12 is provided with two bores 14,16 extending vertically therethrough. Each of the bores 14, 16 is intersected by first and second passages 18,20 extending from a first side of the upstanding portion 12 to a second side. In the illustrated embodiment each bore 14,16 is provided with a separate set of first and second passages 18, 20. However, it will be understood that a single set of first and second passages could be used.

The base portion 10 of the base element 4 has a first side 22 having a planar surface and a second side 24 having a shaped surface. The shaped surface comprises a series of lands 26 and grooves 28 extending from the first end to a second end of the base portion 10. The lands 26 and grooves 28 provide strength to the moulded base element 4.

In the illustrated embodiment of Figures 1 and 2 the upstanding portion 12 extends from the second side 24 of the base portion 10. However, it will be understood that the upstanding portion 12 could extend from either side of the base portion 10.

The base portion 10 is further provided with a plurality of openings 30. The openings serve as strap points. In the illustrated embodiment of Figures 1 and 2, four such openings are shown, each opening 30 having a major axis disposed in line with a side of the base portion.

An alternative embodiment of the base element 104 is shown in Figure 4. An upstanding portion 112 is again shown at one end of a base portion 110. The upstanding portion 112 is generally T-shaped. A bore 114,116 is provided in each extending arm of the upstanding portion 112. Each bore 114,116 is matched by a corresponding bore beneath it in the base portion 110. The base portion 110 is further provided with a plurality of openings 130. The openings 130 again serve as strap points. In this embodiment a series of grooves 128 are provided on one side of the base element 104. A series of shaped recesses (not shown) are also provided on second side of the base element 104. Again the shaped surfaces of the first and second side of the base element 104 provide strength to the moulded base element 104. It will be understood that any suitable arrangement may be utilised.

In the embodiment illustrated in Figure 4 four such openings 130 are shown each being generally triangular in shape and each disposed at one of the four corners of the base portion. In use a strap is placed such that the strap wraps around the bed or frame and goes through opposing corner openings in the base portion 110. Securing the base element 104 in this way allows for the base element 104 to be more securely held to the frame than if a strap across the middle of the base portion is used.

A suitable design of rail portion 6 is shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3. The rail portion 6 comprises first upstanding member 40, a first inclined member 42, a central horizontal member 44, a second inclined member 46 and a second upstanding member 48. The first inclined member 42 extends from the first upstanding member 40, the first inclined member 42 extends into the central horizontal member 44, the central horizontal member 44 extends into the second inclined member 46 and the second inclined member 46 extends into the second upstanding member 48. The first and second upstanding members 40, 48 are disposed substantially parallel to one another. Each of the first and second upstanding members 40,48 are provided at a lower end with parallel openings 50 extending therethrough. The rail portion 6 is conveniently manufactured from a tubular metal product. Conveniently, the rail portion 6 is nylon coated for durability and to enhance cleaning thereof.

The first inclined member 42 may be inclined to the first upstanding member 40 at a different angle to the angle to which the second inclined member 46 is inclined to the second upstanding member 48. In the illustrated embodiment, for example, the first inclined member 42 is inclined to the first upstanding member 40 at an angle of 20 degrees, while the second inclined member 48 is inclined to the second upstanding member 48 at an angle of 30 degrees. This has been found to be an ergonomically useful arrangement.

In use, the first and second upstanding members 40,48 are inserted into the bores 14,16;114,116 of the upstanding portions 12,112 of the base element 4,104. Fasteners such as e clips are inserted through the first and second passages 18,20 of the upstanding portion 12 of the base element 4 and through the parallel openings 50 at the lower ends of the upstanding members 40,48 of the rail portion 6, thereby to secure the base element 4 and the rail portion 6 in a fixed relative position. The fastenings may be removed, the base element 4 removed from the rail portion 6, the base element 4 inverted and then secured again to the rail portion 6.

In the embodiments of Figures 4 and 5, e clips 132 are shown between the extending arms of the T-shaped upstanding portion 112 of the base element 104 and through the parallel openings 50 at the lower ends of the upstanding members 40,48 of the rail portion 6, thereby to secure the base element 104 and the rail portion 6 in a fixed relative position.

In the embodiments shown in Figures 1 and 5 the bed grab rail assembly 2, 102 is suitable for use with a slatted bed frame, the first end of the base element being located against the bed frame, with the upstanding portion 4,104 being located against a mattress on the bed frame. In the embodiment of Figure 2, the bed grab rail assembly 2 is suitable for use with a divan base, with the upstanding portion 4 being located against an edge of the divan base and the rail portion 6 extending alongside a mattress on the divan base.

In this way the same bed grab rail assembly 2,102 may be adapted for use either for use with a slatted bed frame (Figures 1 and 5) or for use with a divan base (Figure 2).

Claims

1 A bed grab rail comprising a base element and a rail portion, in which the base element is provided with a first side having an upstanding portion and the rail portion is releasably secured thereto.

2 A bed grab rail according to claim 1, in which the rail portion is releasably secured about a central position on the upstanding portion.

3 A bed grab rail according to claim I or claim 2, in which at least one side of the base element is provided with a shaped surface.

4 A bed grab rail according to any of claims I to 3, in which the base element is formed by rotational moulding.

A bed grab rail according to any of claims 1 to 4, in which the rail portion is formed as a tubular metal part.

6 A bed grab rail according to any of claims 1 to 5, in which the rail portion is releasably secured to the base element by e clips.

7 A bed grab rail according to any of claims 1 to 6, in which the base element is provided with a plurality of strap points.

8 A bed grab rail according to claim 7, in which the strap points are diagonally disposed.

9 A bed grab rail according to any of claims 1 to 8, in which the rail portion comprises first upstanding member, a first inclined member extending from the first upstanding member, the first inclined member extending into a central horizontal member, the central horizontal member extending into a second inclined member, the second inclined member extending into a second upstanding member, the first and second upstanding members being disposed substantially parallel to one another.

A bed grab rail according to claim 9, in which the first and second inclined members are inclined at different angles.