Bed, hospital bed and resilient support structure for bed
Inventors
REFSNÆS, Jørn • VOLDSUND, Arve • BJØRKLI, Cato Alexander • Yousif Circhirillo, Leila • FURNES, Kjell Are
Assignees
Interested in licensing this patent?
MTEC can help explore whether this patent might be available for licensing for your application.
Publication Number
US-11554061-B2
Publication Date
2023-01-17
Expiration Date
Abstract
There is described support structures for a bed, and various embodiments of a bed for use in a hospital. In an example, a support structure comprises a plurality of sections, each configured to support a respective part of a body, and a plurality of resilient members that extend in a longitudinal direction from an upper end of the support structure to a lower end of the support structure, wherein a shape and/or profile of the support structure is determined by a shape and/or profile of the resilient members.
Core Innovation
The invention relates to a support structure for a human or animal that includes a plurality of sections movable relative to each other, where each section supports a respective part of a body when the support structure is in use. The support structure further includes a plurality of resilient members extending in a longitudinal direction from an upper section to a lower section, with each resilient member spaced apart from an adjacent resilient member in a transverse direction. Each resilient member is elongated and has a wavy shape or profile conformable to a shape of the body.
A shape or profile of the support structure corresponds to a shape or profile of the plurality of resilient members. As the plurality of sections changes position, the overall bed or support shape changes in correspondence with the wavy shape or profile of the resilient members. The disclosed configurations include a flat or lying configuration and an upright or seated configuration, with the resilient-member profiles described as wavy or undulating.
The disclosed support profile can include concave portions and convex portions, including concave and convex portions along the resilient-member shape as the sections move. The profile change is also described as corresponding to the rotation of sections, in which a longitudinal profile of the resilient members is changed to move the support structure between a first and a second configuration while the resilient members form a predefined shape or profile during rotation.
Claims Coverage
The document includes one independent claim directed to a support structure. The independent claim is refined by multiple dependent claims that add specific configuration changes, geometric curvature features, optional processor-based rotation, and bed context that connects resilient-member characteristics to monitoring outputs or alerts.
Movable sections forming a body-supporting structure
A support structure for a human or animal comprising a plurality of sections movable relative to each other, each section configured to support a respective part of a body when the support structure is in use.
Longitudinal spaced resilient members with wavy body-conformable profiles
A plurality of resilient members each extending in a longitudinal direction from an upper section to a lower section, each resilient member spaced apart from an adjacent resilient member in a transverse direction, wherein each resilient member is elongated and has a wavy shape or profile conformable to a shape of the body.
Support structure profile corresponds to resilient-member profile
A shape or profile of the support structure corresponds to a shape or profile of the plurality of resilient members.
Configuration-dependent profile change governed by section movement
The support structure moves between a first configuration and a second configuration by relative movement of its plurality of sections, where the support structure’s shape or profile changes between configurations and is governed by that section movement together with the plurality of resilient members.
Flat/lying vs upright/seated configurations with concave/convex portions
The support structure defines a first substantially flat or lying configuration and a second upright or seated configuration, wherein in the flat or lying configuration the resilient members include at least one concave portion and/or at least one convex portion.
Processor rotates sections to create a predefined resilient-member profile
A processor rotates sections to change the longitudinal profile of the plurality of resilient members, thereby moving the structure between a first and second configuration while the resilient members form a predefined shape and/or profile upon rotation.
Concave/convex portions formed during movement along the longitudinal direction
Resilient members form at least one concave and/or convex portion along the longitudinal direction during movement of the plurality of sections.
Bed context with full-length support structure and primary resilient support
The support structure is a bed in which the support structure runs the full length of the bed, and a plurality of resilient members provide primary support for a person or animal lying on the bed.
Across the independent claim and its refinements, the core inventive concept is a support structure having movable sections and spaced, elongated longitudinal resilient members with wavy, body-conformable profiles, where the overall support profile corresponds to the resilient-member profiles. Dependent features specify profile changes between configurations, including flat or lying versus upright or seated, concave and/or convex portions, optional processor-driven rotation, and bed context including full-length extension with resilient members providing primary support.
Stated Advantages
Not explicitly described in patent.
Documented Applications
Not explicitly described in patent.
Interested in licensing this patent?