EP0961565A1

EP0961565A1 - Height-adjustable bed, in particular for hospital or nursing-care beds

Info

Publication number: EP0961565A1
Application number: EP98905373A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Heinrich Völker; Karlheinz Baumeister
Original assignee: Volker Mobelproduktions-Gesellschaft Mbh; Voelker Moebelproduktion GmbH
Current assignee: Volker Mobelproduktions-Gesellschaft Mbh; Voelker Moebelproduktion GmbH
Priority date: 1997-02-06
Filing date: 1998-01-30
Publication date: 1999-12-08
Also published as: WO1998034518A1; DE29824629U1

Abstract

The invention relates to a height-adjustable bed (10) comprising several supporting legs (32, 34) which are fitted with castor wheels (44) and which can be linearly displaced along guiding elements (22, 24) of a bed frame (12). The invention provides for a lifting device (92) for displacing the supporting legs (32, 34), which in addition to displacing said supporting legs (32, 34) also moves a braking device (58) from a locked position into a release position and vice versa. The lifting device moves the braking device (58) from the locked into the release position and vice versa both when the bed (10) is lifted to the maximum height and when it is lowered to the minimum height. This allows for an easy and economical construction and makes the bed more comfortable to operate.

Description

Height-adjustable bed, especially sick or nursing bed

The invention relates to a height-adjustable bed that can be used in particular as a hospital or nursing bed.

In the case of sick beds or nursing beds, it is advantageous in terms of the care of the patient or the person in need of care (hereinafter, for the sake of simplicity, we will only speak of the patient) if the bed can be adjusted in height. It is also required that the bed can be moved easily, so that its support legs should be provided with castors or castors. When the patient is being cared for, however, the bed should inadvertently no longer be able to be moved, which is why the bed should have an appropriate braking device. In order to ensure easy and convenient handling of the bed, it is advantageous if the braking device is activated automatically as soon as the bed is raised.

From DE 41 17 277 Cl, DE 92 10 204 Ul and EP 0 433 737 B2, height-adjustable nursing or nursing beds are known which are provided with casters, the bed being fixed on the ground at the moment when it is raised . A similar bed is also known from DE 44 05 509 C2. If a bed of this known type is in the raised state and is to be moved, it is necessary to lower the bed first, since only in the lowered state is the braking device in its release position in which the bed can be moved. After the bed has been moved, it is raised again to continue with the patient's care. From CH-PS 167 118 a height-adjustable bed is known, in which four guide elements are arranged on a bed frame, from which support legs can be pushed down or into which the support legs can be moved from below. On the outside of the guide elements there are lateral holders for castors which can be rotated around the guide elements. The support legs can be moved by means of a lifting device over the lower ends of the guide elements facing the floor. When lowered, the bed rests on the floor above its castors. As soon as the support legs have touched the ground, the guide elements lift off the ground. When raised, the casters are at a considerable height above the floor because the distance of the casters from the bed frame remains unchanged. The "lifting" of the castors affects the overall aesthetic impression of the bed.

Although there are beds in the prior art whose braking mechanisms can also be lifted in the raised state so that the bed can be moved (see for example DE 295 05 180 Ul), these beds require additional actuating units for the braking device, which is the constructive Increased effort and reduced user friendliness.

The invention has for its object to provide a height-adjustable bed in which the brake mechanism can be canceled in a structurally simple and user-friendly manner even in the raised state of the bed.

To achieve this object, the invention proposes a height-adjustable bed that can be used in particular as a hospital or nursing bed and is provided with a bed frame, which has a frame with guide elements attached to it, in which support legs are slidably guided with rollers for moving the bed frame, a lifting device for displacing the support legs and the guide elements relative to one another between a minimum extended position and a maximum extended position, at least one of the support legs is associated with a braking device which, in a locking position in which the bed frame cannot be moved, can be transferred and into a release position in which the bed frame can be moved, the braking device being controlled by the lifting device in the locking position and in the release position is transferable, in such a way that when the support leg is in the minimum extension position and the lifting device is activated, this first transfers the braking device from the release position into the locking position and then extends the support leg so that d The braking device remains in the locking position during the extension movement of the support leg until it reaches its maximum extension position or an intermediate position before the maximum extension position of the support leg, and that the lifting device when activated after reaching the maximum extension position or the intermediate position of the support legs Brake device transferred from the locking position to the release position.

The bed according to the invention is provided with a bed frame which has a frame with guide elements attached to it, on which support legs are guided in a linearly displaceable manner and have rollers at their downward-pointing ends. The support legs are in hers respective displacement position can be locked relative to the guide elements. All support legs can be moved along the guide elements by means of a lifting device, namely between a minimum extension position in which the bed occupies its lowest height position and a maximum extension position in which the bed is raised the highest. At least one support leg and preferably each support leg is assigned a braking device which can be moved into a locking position and a release position. The bed cannot be moved in the locking position, while it can be moved in the release position of the braking device. The braking device either acts on the castors and blocks them directly or indirectly on the outer or inner radius, namely non-positively (i.e. positively and / or frictionally) in the locking position, or it acts on the surface on which the bed rests (Floor brake).

According to the invention, the braking device for transferring from the release position into the locking position and vice versa is controlled by the lifting device, both in the minimum extension position of the legs and in their maximum extension position or an intermediate position between these positions shortly before the maximum -Extension position. This means that in both extreme height adjustment positions (lowest and highest) the braking device can be released and locked when the lifting device is actuated. The braking device is actuated by the lifting device in such a way that the lifting device, when the support legs are in the minimum extension position, first transfers the braking device from the release position to the locking position, in order to then extend the support legs. The brake device is in its locking position during the entire extension movement. The nursing staff can now move the bed to the appropriate height for patient care. In the raised state of the bed, the braking effect of the braking device is canceled by the fact that the lifting device is activated even after the maximum extended position has been reached, thereby moving the braking device from its locking position to the release position.

In the bed according to the invention, the height shift of the bed and the braking device are accomplished or controlled by one and the same mechanism, namely the lifting device. Additional actuators with corresponding additional drives for it are therefore not provided in the bed according to the invention. In addition, the operation of the bed according to the invention is very simple, since the activation or deactivation of the braking device can ultimately be carried out by the same switch or by two different switches which are / are also operated to activate the lifting device.

In an advantageous development of the invention, it is provided that the lifting device is automatically deactivated when the bed is raised when the support legs reach their maximum extension positions. So if the nursing staff wants to move the bed into the highest position in which the bed should of course be braked, this is achieved by automatically switching off the lifting device according to this development of the invention.

In order to activate the lifting device with the legs in their maximum extension positions for releasing the braking device, according to an advantageous further development of the invention, a switch is actuated, which is preferably the switch with which the lifting device has also been activated to extend the support legs.

In an advantageous development of the invention it is provided that the actuation of the lifting device in order to transfer the braking device from the release position into the locking position with the bed lowered to a maximum also takes place via the switch with which the extension movement of the support legs is triggered. Alternatively, a further switch can be provided for this. It is also expedient here if the lifting device is only activated until the braking device has been transferred from the release position into the locking position (with the support legs in their minimally extended position). Here too, the lifting device should expediently be switched off, which must then be reactivated for the actual extension movement of the legs.

Similar considerations and forced shutdowns of the lifting device, as explained above when raising the bed, also apply when lowering the bed. Here it is useful if the bed in its uppermost position and not detected by the braking device is first determined when the lifting device is actuated, ie the lifting device is only activated until the braking device is transferred from its release position into the locking position. Then there is a forced shutdown of the lifting device, which is reactivated when a switch is actuated again, which is in particular the switch that has also been actuated previously for transferring the braking device from the release position into the locking position. The next forced shutdown of the lifting device takes place at the moment when the support legs reach their minimum extension position. In the- Sem state, the braking device is still in its locking position, so that only when a switch, in particular the same switch is actuated, the lifting device ensures that the braking device is transferred from the locking position into the release position.

In the manner described above, the bed according to the invention is operated in a reliable and convenient manner both for the patient and for the nursing staff.

With regard to a simple construction of the bed according to the invention, it is advantageous if the lifting device acts on the braking element via a pressing element, that as a result the braking element moves against a stop on the supporting leg in order to support the supporting leg upon further action of the lifting device on the braking element so to speak, to take along and go out. When the braking element is supported on the stop, the braking device assumes its locking position, in which the braking element acts either on the roller or directly on the floor.

In an advantageous development of the invention it is provided that the guide element has a driver which engages on a stop of the braking element when the support leg is in the maximum extended position. The support leg with the brake element located in it moves relative to the guide element into the maximum extended position. In this position, the braking element strikes the driver with a stop. If the support leg is now moved beyond this extended position, the driver retains the braking element, which thus moves into the support leg relative to it and thus moves the braking device from the locking position to the release position. When the bed is raised to the maximum, the braking device is moved from its locking position to the release position in that the support leg is still moved a little beyond the maximum extension position or the guide element is moved relative to the support leg. This small relative movement amount is sufficient to experience the braking element so that the braking device is transferred from its locking position to the release position.

In an expedient development of the invention, it is provided that the braking element is designed as a tappet, on one end of which the lifting device acts with its pressing element or the like, and on the other end of which a brake pad is arranged.

In a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, the lifting device has one automatically, i.e. one pair consisting of one guide member and one supporting leg. motor, hydraulically or the like pivotable pivot lever, one end of which is rotatably mounted on the frame and / or on a guide element of the bed frame and the other end acts on the associated support leg in order to move it along the guide element. With each support leg, which is provided with a braking device, the pivoting lever does not act directly on the support leg but rather indirectly via the brake element, which supports itself on the support leg.

The guide elements and support legs are expediently arranged in pairs at the foot end and at the head end of the bed frame, two pivot levers being arranged at each end of the bed frame. The pivot levers are alternately rotatably mounted on opposite guide elements, while the free action ends act on the support legs of the other guide ends. The force for pivoting the swivel levers is preferably applied in the (geometric) center of the swivel lever.

The swivel levers run and move in mutually parallel planes. The pivot levers, which are supported at their ends on a guide element and a support leg of the two legs at the head end or foot end, rotate about their centers in opposite directions when the bed is changed in height. In addition, there is a superimposition of a linear movement of the joint connection points of the swivel levers with the guide elements.

Each pivot lever is expediently made of a flat material (steel plate), wherein it has a greater width in its central region between the two ends than at its ends, towards which the pivot lever tapers. In particular, the pivot lever has a diamond-like shape. Such flat swivel levers can be accommodated in the head and foot ends of the bed frame, which protrude above the mattress, to save space.

The pivoting movement of a pair of pivoting levers arranged in a foot end or head end expediently takes place by means of a spindle drive which meshes with a connecting element which is connected in an articulated and movable manner to the central sections of the pivoting levers, which is preferably carried out via handlebar levers whose one ends are rotatable with the pivoting levers and the other ends of which are rotatably connected to the connecting elements. The spindle of the spindle drive extends parallel to the guide elements or support legs and is rotatably mounted on the bed frame so as to be secured against axial displacement. When the spindle rotates, the swivel levers rotate about their pivot points with the bed frame or the guide elements and theirs Support points on the support legs or the at least one brake element assigned to one of the support elements.

In an advantageous development of the invention, it is provided that the pivot lever which is assigned to the support leg provided with the braking device is coupled at its end of action and is articulated to the plunger of the braking device. This plunger is expediently mounted displaceably in the support leg between a disengagement position and a withdrawal position, it running parallel to the extension of the support leg. The above-mentioned articulated and slidable connection of the action end of the pivot lever with the plunger is expedient in order to convert the pivoting movement of the pivot lever into a linear movement of the supporting leg while maintaining its coupling with the plunger of the braking device.

In an advantageous development of the invention, it is further provided that the plunger has an elongated hole extending in its direction of movement, in which one end of a connecting lever is guided, the other end of which is articulated to the end of the pivoting lever. Alternatively, it can be provided that the acting end of the pivoting lever is provided with an elongated hole which extends essentially transversely to the pivoting direction of the pivoting lever and in which the plunger is guided. Both alternatives are useful in that the pivoting movement of the pivoting lever can be converted into a linear movement of the support leg while maintaining the coupling with and the pressure against the plunger.

The above considerations regarding the activation and deactivation of the braking device in the maximum extended position of the support legs also apply correspondingly when the control is designed in such a way that the braking Device with support legs located in the intermediate position near the maximum extended position can be transferred from the locking position into the release position and vice versa by the lifting device.

According to an alternative variant of the invention

The bed is provided with a bed frame that has a frame with guide elements attached to it, in which support legs are slidably guided with rollers for moving the bed frame, a lifting device for displacing the support legs and the guide elements relative to one another between a minimum extension position and a maximum -Extension position, with at least one of the support legs being assigned a braking device which can be transferred in a fixing position in which the bed frame cannot be moved and in a release position in which the bed frame can be moved, the braking device having a braking element, that can be moved by the lifting device with the support leg located in the minimum extension position for transferring the brake device from the release position into the locking position, the braking element being in the locking position in the locking device on the support leg and / or an on Impact of the support leg rests and a pressing element of the lifting device, which can be driven by a drive device of the lifting device supported on the frame, presses against the braking element and moves the supporting leg and the guide element relative to one another via this.

In this variant, the braking element is a pressing element that is against the bed frame supporting lifting device is driven, moved against the support leg and brought into contact with it. The pressing element then moves the support leg and its guide element apart from one another via the braking element. As a result, in the lowered state of the bed frame, the braking device is controlled by the lifting device and transferred from the release position into the locking position before there is a relative movement of the support leg and guide element. The roller of the support leg remains in the area near the ground, ie immediately above the floor on which the bed rests. The relative position of the roller to the ground when the braking device is in the locking position thus remains the same when the height of the bed frame is changed.

This type of braking device can also be used in the (first) variant of the invention described above. Conversely, the variants of the invention and their developments can also be used in the (second) variant of the invention described in the previous paragraph.

By means of the lifting mechanism described above, it is also possible to construct a bed, in particular a hospital bed or nursing bed, which can be adjusted in height in a simple manner without one or more braking devices being activated or deactivated when the height is adjusted. The bed according to this third variant of the invention is provided with a bed frame which has a frame with guide elements attached to it, in which support legs are slidably guided with rollers for moving the bed frame, and a lifting device for displacing the support legs and the guide elements relative to one another between a minimum -Extension position and a maximum -extension position, wherein the lifting device for each pair consisting of a guide element and a support leg has an automatically pivotable pivot lever, one end of which is rotatably mounted on the frame and / or a guide element of the bed frame and the other end acts on a support leg.

In the lifting mechanism described here, the support legs of two adjacent legs of the bed are alternately connected via two pivot levers. Each pivot lever is supported on the guide element of one leg or the frame of the bed frame and on the support leg of the other leg of the bed frame. By simultaneously pivoting these two pivot levers in opposite directions, in particular by arranging a (connecting) element which can be moved parallel to the alignment of the legs and being coupled to the pivot levers, in particular in the central region of the two pivot levers, the support legs and the guide elements are moved relative to one another, specifically when Raising the bed away from each other and towards each other when lowering the bed.

The lifting device described here and the height-adjustable bed with this can advantageously be combined with the various developments of the braking device described above.

An exemplary embodiment of the invention is explained in more detail below with reference to the figures. In detail show:

1 is a side view of an embodiment of the bed according to the invention,

2 shows a section along the line II-II of FIG. 1 to illustrate the lifting mechanism for lifting the bed and for actuating the braking device, 3 is a sectional view similar to that of FIG. 2 with the bed in its maximum raised position,

4 shows a vertical section through a leg of the bed with the braking device located therein, the displaceable support leg being in its minimum extended position and the braking device in its locking position,

5 shows a section similar to that of FIG. 4 with the support leg already partially extended,

Fig. 6 is an illustration similar to that of Figs. 4 and 5, with the supporting leg in its maximum extended position and the braking device still in its locking position,

7 shows a sectional view through the supporting leg in its maximally extended position and with the braking device in the release position,

Fig. 8 shows an alternative embodiment for the mechanical coupling of the acting end of a swivel arm with the braking element of the braking device and

Fig. 9 and 10

Sectional and side views of an alternative braking device that acts on the rollers instead of the floor to block them.

1 shows a side view of a bed 10 which is provided with a lifting mechanism for lifting and lowering the bed, the lifting mechanism also actuating the braking device, by means of which the bed can be selectively protected against driving safely can be determined. The bed 10 has a bed frame 12 which has a frame 14 supporting the lying surface with parallel longitudinal bars 16 and transverse bars 18 extending transversely to these (see FIGS. 2 and 3). In the corner regions of the frame 14, four guide elements 20-24 are arranged, which are connected to the frame 14 and run perpendicular to the longitudinal and transverse bars 16, 18. The guide elements 20-24 are designed as hollow profile square tubes open at the bottom or other shaped telescopic tubes. 1 each shows a guide element 20, 22 of the two guide elements located at the head end 26 and at the foot end 28 of the bed frame 12, while FIG. 2 shows the two guide elements 22, 24 of the bed frame foot end 28. There is a support leg 30-34 in each guide element 20-24, with only one support leg being shown in FIG. 1 at the head and foot ends 26, 28. The support legs 30-34 are also designed as hollow profile square tubes. The support legs 30-34 together with the guide elements 20-24, in which they are guided in a longitudinally displaceable manner, form the telescopic legs 36-40 of the bed 10. The support legs 30-34 have at their lower ends roller brackets 42 which extend around the Support legs extending axes are rotatably mounted on the support legs 30-34. Each roller holder is provided with a roller or a pair of rollers 44 which are rotatably mounted on the roller holders 42 about a horizontal axis of rotation. At the head end 26 and at the foot end 28 there are in Fig. 1 at 46 indicated electric motors, which form the drive for height adjustment, ie for extending and retracting the support legs 30-34 from and into the guide elements 20-24. The two electric motors 46 are electrically connected to a control unit 48, to which an operating unit 50 with a plurality of operating buttons 52, 54, 56 is also connected. Each leg 36-40 of the bed 10 is provided with a braking device 58 which is disposed within the support legs 30-34. The braking device 58 located in the support leg 32 is explained in more detail below with reference to FIG. 2.

The brake device 58 has a brake element 60 designed as a tappet, which extends parallel to the support leg 22 through the latter. The braking element 60 also extends through the roller holder 42 mounted on the support leg 32, the lower end of the braking element 60 being located between the roller holder 42 and the base 64 on which the bed 10 rests. This end 62 is provided with a rubber brake pad 66. In the area of its upper end 68, which is located at the level of the inner upper end 70 of the support leg 62, the braking element 60 extends through a passage 72 which is firmly connected to the support leg 32. A radially protruding support ring 74 is fastened to the brake element 60 below the feedthrough 72, on which a prestressing helical compression spring 76 is supported with one end, the other end of this spring 76 abutting the feedthrough 72. In the area of the lower end of the support leg 32, a stop element 78 is fastened to the brake element 60, which is arranged within the support leg 32 above the roller holder 42. This stop element 78 is located near the closed lower end 80 of the support leg 32, through which the braking element 60 extends. The end 68 of the braking element which projects upward above the leadthrough 72 is widened and has shoulder stops 82 which can be brought into contact with the leadthrough 72. At the upper end 84 of the guide element 22, a driver rod 86 is attached, which protrudes from above into the support leg 32 and extends into it. The driver rod 86 has a stop 88 at its free end, which with an extension 90 at the upper end 68 of the braking element 60 cooperates in a manner to be described.

As already briefly mentioned above, the motors 46 are part of a lifting device 92 which is accommodated in the head end 26 and in the foot end 28 of the bed frame 12. The lifting device 92 is of identical design in both ends 26, 28 of the bed frame 12; the structure of the lifting device at the foot end 28 is explained in more detail below with reference to FIG. 2.

The lifting device 92 has a spindle 94, which is rotatably mounted on the cross member 18 of the bed frame 14 and on an upper end 84 of the guide elements 22, 24, each connecting strut 96 and secured against axial displacement. The motor 46 is flanged to the cross member 18 and drives the spindle 94. The spindle 94 is in threaded engagement with a connecting element 98, on which two handlebar levers 100 are articulated. These handlebar levers 100 are connected at their ends facing away from the connecting element 98 with diamond-shaped pivot levers 102, 104. The pivot lever 102 is rotatably mounted about a pivot axis 106 of a fitting 107 arranged on the guide element 24 parallel to the longitudinal and transverse bars 16, 18, while the other pivot lever 104 is pivotable about a pivot axis 108 of a fitting 109 arranged on the guide element 22 parallel to the pivot axis 106 is stored. The free ends 110, 112 of the pivot levers 102, 104 respectively opposite the pivot axes 106, 108 are connected to the broadened upper ends 68 of the brake elements 60 via connecting levers 114. These connecting levers 114 are connected in an articulated manner to the free ends 110, 112 of the pivoting levers 102, 104 and are guided at their other ends in elongated holes 116 which are formed in the widened upper ends 68 of the braking elements 60 and which extend in the longitudinal direction of the braking elements 60. fen. For this purpose, the lever 114 is connected to a bolt 117 which extends through the elongated hole 116.

To raise the bed from the lowered position according to FIG. 2, the spindle 94 is driven in rotation by the motor 46, as a result of which the connecting element 98 is moved in the direction of the arrow 118 towards the cross member 18. The connecting element 98 takes the pivot levers 102, 104 with them via the handlebar levers 100, so that they pivot about their axes of rotation 106, 108 in the direction of the arrows 120. The fittings 107 and 109 for the axes of rotation 106, 108 move are linear in the direction of the arrows 121. The free ends of the pivoting levers 110, 112 act on the brake elements 60 which, because supported by the stop elements 78 and the shoulder stops 82 on the support legs 32, 34, lead to an extension movement of the support legs 32, 34 or an upward movement of the guide elements. The individual phases of the pivoting movements of the pivoting levers 102, 104, the actuation of the braking devices 58 and the linear movements of the support legs 30, 34 and guide elements 22, 24 are shown in FIG. 2 with arrows 120, 121 drawn in solid lines for the case of starting up and with arrows 120, 121 drawn in dashed lines in the event of the bed being shut down and are subsequently explained using FIGS. 2-7 explained in more detail.

2, the support legs 32, 34 are in their minimum extended positions, so that the bed is at its lowest lifting height. Furthermore, FIG. 2 shows the situation in which the brake device 58 is in its release position, in which the brake elements 60 have been drawn into the support legs 32, 34 so far that the rubber blocks 66 are arranged above the base 64. In the release position, the braking elements 60 are namely against the force of the pretensioning springs 76 are drawn into the support legs 32, 34 and held there. This is done by the pivot levers 102, 104, which assume their uppermost pivot positions and pull the brake elements 60 up against the force of the springs 76 via the connecting levers 114. If the motor 46 is activated in this situation, the pivot levers 102, 104 pivot in the direction of the arrows 120. In the first phase of this pivoting movement, the braking elements 60 can move in the direction of the ground 64 due to the force of the springs 76 until the rubber brake pads 66 rest. This position is shown in Fig. 4. In this situation, the stop element 78 of the braking element 60 and the shoulder stops 82 are still slightly spaced from the lower, closed end 80 of the support leg 32 or from its passage 72. The braking device 58 is now in its locking position, in which it secures the bed 10 in the lowered state against movement.

During the further pivoting movement of the pivot lever 102 in the direction of the arrow 120, the connecting lever 114 is first shifted within the elongated hole 116 until it abuts the lower boundary of the hole 116. From now on, the pivot lever 102 presses against the brake element 60 via the connecting lever 114 and against the base 64 via this. The brake element 60 is supported on the bushing 72 via its shoulder stops 82 and on the lower end 80 of the support leg 32 via its stop element 78. The result of this is that the pivot lever 102 is now pivoted about its free end 110 and is thus raised at its opposite end, which is rotatably connected to the opposite guide element 24, taking the guide element 24 with it and lifting it up. The swivel lever 104, which is supported with its free end 110 on the brake element 60 in the support leg 34, has the same effect on the guide element 22, so that this is raised relative to the support leg 32. As a result, the support legs 32, 34 extend out of the guide elements 22, 24 (see FIG. 5). During this phase of the upward movement of the bed 10, the braking devices 58 remain in their locking positions, since the braking elements 60 with their rubber brake pads 66 continue to rest on the ground 64 and raise the rollers 44 slightly.

Towards the end of the displacement of the guide elements 22, 24 upwards or towards the end of the support legs 32, 34, the situation according to FIG. 6 finally arises. In this situation, the stop 88 of the entraining rod 86, which has been moved upward out of the support leg 32 when the guide element 22 is raised, comes into contact with the extension 90 of the braking element 60. The two pivot levers 102, 104 extend beyond the position according to FIG. 6 pivoted in the direction of arrows 120, the driving rod 86 takes the braking element 60 against the force of the biasing spring 76, so that the brake pad 66 lifts off from the ground 64 and the braking device 58 is transferred to its release position (see FIG. 7). 6 is therefore the uppermost extension position of the bed 10, in which the bed 10 is secured against movement by the braking devices 58. This position is also shown in Fig. 3.

The individual phases in lowering the bed 10 from the uppermost lifting position when the braking devices are released to the lowest lowering position when the braking devices are also released run in reverse to the process sequence described above. A detailed description can therefore be dispensed with here.

By the above-mentioned coupling of the free ends 110 of the pivot levers 102, 104 to the brake elements 60 via the in FIG The connecting levers 114 guided in the elongated holes 116 compensate for the movement of the free ends 110 of the pivoting levers 102, 104, which move along curved paths of movement (indicated at 128 in FIG. 3), around the supporting legs 30-34 or the guide elements 20-24 to be able to move linearly. An alternative connection of the pivot levers 102, 104 to the widened ends 68 of the brake elements 60 is shown in FIG. 8. According to these alternatives, the free ends 110 of the pivot levers (in FIG. 8 the pivot lever 102 is shown) have elongated holes 124 which extend approximately transversely to the pivoting movement of the free ends 110 of the pivot levers. A bolt 126 is movably guided in each of these elongated holes 124 and also extends through the elongated hole 116 of the brake element 60 to which the relevant pivot lever 102, 104 is coupled.

In the figures, the situation is depicted in which the actors 110 of the pivot levers 102, 104 act on the support legs 30-34 via the brake elements 60 (at 82 and 78) in order to move the support legs 30-34 and the guide elements 20-24 apart cause. However, it is also conceivable that the acting ends 110 of the swivel levers 102, 104 lie directly on the support legs 30-34 (for example at 128) in order to realize the movement apart. The braking elements 60 are brought into contact with the support legs 30-34 by 110 of the swivel levers 102, 104 by the force of the springs 76 into the locking position from which they can be moved against the force of the spring 76 into the release position via the driving rod 86 if the guide elements 20-24 and the support legs have moved apart far enough (maximum extension position). The (connecting) bolts 117 between the connecting levers 114 and the upper end 68 of the braking elements 60 are thus in the maximum extension position when the support legs 30-34 are pivoted. lever 102, 104 and with the braking elements 60 in the locking position at a distance from the lower end of the elongated hole 116 facing the shoulder stops 82, so that the braking elements 60 are also moved upward by the upwardly moving guide elements 20-24.

In the minimally extended position of the support legs 30-34 with the brake device still in the release position, the pivot levers 102, 104 hold the brake elements 60 against the force of the spring 76 in the raised position spaced from the ground 64 via the connecting lever 114. At the beginning of the swiveling movement of the swiveling levers 102, 104, they release the braking elements 60 so that they rest on the ground 64 (locking position of the braking device). Even before the connecting bolts 117 reach the lower ends of the elongated holes 116, the actuators 110 of the swivel levers 102, 104 come into contact with the support legs 30-34 (which can be done, for example, at 128).

As mentioned above, when the brake device 58 is in the locking positions, the bed 10 is fixed in that the brake pads 66 of the brake elements 60 rest on the base 64. A determination of the bed 10 can, however, also be achieved in that the brake elements 60 press against the running surfaces of the rollers 44 and additionally lock the rotary bearings of the roller holders 42 on the support legs 30-34. A possible construction for such a braking mechanism is shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, the parts of this braking mechanism which correspond to the parts of the braking devices 58 of FIGS. 1 to 7 correspond, are identified by the same reference numerals.

As already explained above, there are identical lifting mechanisms in the _. Head part 26 and in the foot part 28 of the bed 10. Both drive motors 46 are used for height The bed 10 is driven synchronously, which is done automatically by the control unit 48. If required, separate control of the drive motors 46 is possible in order to convert the entire bed 10 into an inclined position for moving the patient into a shock position.

1, which shows an enlarged representation of the control unit 50, the user-friendly actuation of the bed 10 will be discussed below. The switches 52 of the control unit 50 are used, for example, to bring the multi-part slatted frame of the bed 10 into a wide variety of positions. In contrast, the switches or pushbuttons 54, 56 serve for the upward and downward movement of the bed 10. For the following considerations, it is assumed that the bed 10 is in its lowest position and that the braking devices 56 are in their release positions. If, for example, the bed is now to be moved, the button 54, which must also be pressed to move the bed 10 upwards, is actuated. As a result, the drive motors 46 are activated so that the pivot levers 102, 104 pivot in the direction of the arrows 120. In the first phase of this pivoting movement, only the braking devices are transferred to their release positions. As soon as the brake pads 66 have been placed on the ground 64 and the brake elements 60 rest against the support legs 30-34 via the stop elements 78 and the shoulder stops 82, which can be recognized by appropriate switches, the drive motors 46 are automatically switched off. When the button 54 is pressed again, the bed 10 is moved upwards, the operator being able to select the height himself by releasing the button 54. Should the operator hold down the button 54 until the bed moves to the position shown in Figs. 3 or 6 has been reached, the drive motors 46 are in turn switched off. The state according to FIGS. 3 and 6 can be recognized, for example, by a switch which responds when the stop 88 of the driving rod 86 abuts the extension 90 of the braking element 60. As a result of this forced switch-off, the bed is automatically moved to its highest position, in which it is still braked by the braking devices. By pressing the button 54 again, the pivot levers 102, 104 are then pivoted further in the direction of the arrows 120 in order to transfer the braking devices into the release positions.

By pressing button 56 similar to pressing button 54, the bed can be transferred from the raised, non-braked position to the lowered, non-braked position, with the drive motors 46 being forcibly switched off when the braking devices are in their locked positions in the raised position are transferred and the bed is lowered into the lowest position when the braking devices are in the locking positions.

Claims

EXPECTATIONS

Height-adjustable bed, in particular hospital or nursing bed, with a bed frame (12) which has a frame (14) with guide elements (20-24) attached to it, in which support legs (30-34) with rollers (44) for moving the Bed frame (12) are displaceably guided, a lifting device (92) for displacing the support legs (30-34) and the guide elements (20-24) relative to one another between a minimum extension position and a maximum extension position, at least one of the support legs (30 -34) is associated with a braking device (58) which can be transferred in a locking position in which the bed frame (12) cannot be moved and into a release position in which the bed frame (12) can be moved, the braking device (58 ) controlled by the lifting device (92) in the locking position and in the release position, in such a way that with the support leg (32) and Akti located in the minimally extended position The lifting device (92) first transfers the braking device (58) from the release position into the locking position and then extends the support leg (32) so that the braking device (58) during the extension movement of the support leg (32) until it is reached Maximum extension position or an intermediate position before the maximum extension position of the support leg remains in the locking position and that the lifting device (92) occurs when the support legs are reached after the maximum extension position or the intermediate position. the activation transfers the braking device (58) from the locking position to the release position.

2. Bed according to claim _,. characterized in that the lifting device (92) for extending the support legs

(30-34) can be activated by actuating a first switch (54) and that the lifting device (92) automatically switches off when the maximum extension position or the intermediate position of the support legs (30, 34) is reached, so that the braking device (58) in their locking position remains.

3. Bed according to claim 2, characterized in that the lifting device (92) which is automatically switched off when the maximum extension position or the intermediate position of the support legs is reached by actuating a switch, in particular by actuating the first switch (54) again to transfer the braking device ( 58) can be activated from the locking position to the release position.

4. Bed according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the lifting device (92) for retracting the legs (30-34) can be activated by actuating a second switch (56) and that the lifting device (92) when reaching the minimum - The extended position of the support legs (30-34) switches off automatically so that the braking device (58) remains in its locking position.

5. Bed according to claim 4, characterized in that the lifting device (92) which is automatically switched off when the minimum extension position of the support legs is reached by actuating a switch, in particular by actuating the second switch (56) again Transfer of the braking device (58) from the locking position to the release position can be activated.

Bed according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the braking device (58) has a braking element (60) for locking a roller (44) and / or a braking element (60) which is on the surface (64) on the the bed frame (12) rests on its rollers (44), can be put on.

Bed according to claim 6, characterized in that the braking element (60) in the locking position of the braking device is supported on at least one stop (72) of the support leg (32) and in that the lifting device (92) has a pressing element (114) which is relative moved to the guide element (22) and presses the brake element (60) against the stop (72) to extend the support leg (32).

Bed according to Claim 7, characterized in that the guide element (22) has a driver (86) which, when the support leg (32) is in the maximum extension position or in the intermediate position, on a stop (90) of the brake element (60) attacks and the braking element (60) upon movement of the pressing element (114) after reaching the maximum extension position or the intermediate position of the support leg (32) from the support leg stop (72) for transferring the braking device (58) from the locking position into the Release position moved away.

Bed according to claim 7 or 8, characterized in that the braking element (60) is designed as a tappet with a brake block (66) arranged at one end (62) of the tappet.

10. Bed according to claim 9, characterized in that the plunger is movable parallel to the direction of displacement of the supporting leg (32).

11. Bed according to one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the lifting device (92) for each pair consisting of a guide element (20-24) and a support leg (30-34) has an automatically pivotable pivot lever (102, 104), the one end on the frame (14) and / or a guide element

(20-24) of the bed frame (12) is rotatably mounted and the other end (110) acts on a support leg (30-34).

12. Bed according to claim 11, characterized in that the bed frame (12) has a head end (26) with two guide elements (20) and two support legs (30) and a foot end (28) with two guide elements (22, 24) and two support legs (32, 34) and that the pivot levers (102, 104) are each rotatably supported at one end on the guide elements (20-24) and with their other (action) ends

(110) act on the legs (30, 34) at the head end (26) or foot end (28) of the bed frame (12).

13. Bed according to claim 11 or 12, characterized in that each of the two pivot levers (102, 104) of the head or foot end (26, 28) is articulated and / or displaceable or movable, in particular via a respective control lever (100) with a connecting element

(98) is coupled, which is linearly displaceable by a motor-driven spindle (94), which extends between the two guide elements (20-24) of the head end (26) or the foot end (28) parallel to the guide elements (20-24 ) extends and rotates and is secured against axial displacement at the head end (26) or at the foot end (28) of the bed frame (12).

14. Bed according to claim 13, characterized in that the pivot levers (102, 104) consist of a flat material and have a greater width in the central region than at the tapering ends.

15. Bed according to claim 14, characterized in that the pivot levers (102, 104) are substantially diamond-shaped.

16. Bed according to one of claims 11 to 15, characterized in that the acting end (110) of that pivot lever (102, 104) which is associated with the braking device (58) provided with the support leg (32), articulated and displaceable with the braking element (60 ) is coupled.

17. Bed according to claim 16, characterized in that the braking element (60) has an elongated hole (116) extending in the direction of its movement, in which one end of a connecting lever (114) is guided, the other end of which is articulated with the acting end (110 ) of the pivot lever (102, 104) is connected.

18. Bed according to claim 16, characterized in that the acting end (110) of the pivot lever (102, 104) with an essentially transverse to the pivot direction (120) of the pivot lever (102, 104) extending slot

(124) is provided, in which the braking element is guided via a coupling element (bolt 126).

19. Bed according to one of claims 1 to 18, characterized in that the braking device by means of a Preload spring (76) is biased into the locking position.

20. Height-adjustable bed, in particular hospital or nursing bed, with a bed frame (12) which has a frame (14) with attached to this guide elements (20-24) in which support legs (30-34) with rollers (44) The bed frame (12) is displaceably guided, a lifting device (92) for displacing the support legs (30-34) and the guide elements (20-24) relative to one another between a minimum extension position and a maximum extension position, at least one of the support legs (30-34) is associated with a braking device (58) which can be transferred in a locking position in which the bed frame (12) cannot be moved and in a release position in which the bed frame (12) can be moved, the braking device (58) has a braking element (60) which, by means of the lifting device (92) with the support leg (32) in the minimally extended position, for transferring the braking device (58) from the release position into the fixed position position is movable, the braking element (60) in the locking position of the braking device (58) resting on the supporting leg (32) and / or a stop (72) of the supporting leg (32) and a pressing element (114) of the lifting device (92) which can be driven by a drive device (46) of the lifting device (92) which is supported on the frame (14), presses against the brake element (60) and moves the support leg (32) and the guide element (22) relative to one another.

21. Bed according to claim 20, characterized in that the braking device (58) has a braking element (60) for locking a roller (44) and / or a braking element (60) on the ground (64) on which the bed frame (12) on its casters

(44) rests, can be put on.

22. Bed according to claim 20 or 21, characterized in that the guide element (22) is a driver

(86) which, when the support leg (32) is in the maximum extension position or in the intermediate position, engages a stop (90) of the braking element (60) and the braking element (60) when the pressing element (114) moves after the Reaching the maximum extension position or the intermediate position of the support leg (32) moved away from the support leg stop (72) for transferring the braking device (58) from the locking position into the release position.

23. Bed according to one of claims 20 to 22, characterized in that the braking element (60) is designed as a tappet with a brake block (66) arranged at one end (62) of the tappet.

24. Bed according to one of claims 20 to 23, characterized in that the plunger is movable parallel to the direction of displacement of the supporting leg (32).

25. Bed according to one of claims 20 to 24, characterized in that the lifting device (92) for each pair consisting of a guide element (20-24) and a support leg (30-34) has an automatically pivotable pivot lever (102, 104), the one end on the frame (14) and / or a guide element

26. Bed according to claim 25, characterized in that the bed frame (12) has a head end (26) with two guide elements (20) and two support legs (30) and a foot end (28) with two guide elements (22, 24) and two support legs (32, 34) and that the pivot levers (102, 104) are each rotatably supported at one end on the guide elements (20-24) and with their other (action) ends

27. Bed according to claim 25 or 26, characterized in that each of the two pivot levers (102, 104) of the head or foot end (26, 28) is articulated and / or displaceable or movable, in particular via a respective control lever (100) with a connecting element

(98) is coupled, which is linearly displaceable by a motor-driven spindle (94), which extends between the two guide elements (20-24) of the head end (26) or the foot end (28) parallel to the guide elements (20-24 ) extends and is rotatably and secured against axial displacement at the head end (26) or at the foot end (28) of the bed frame (12).

28. Bed according to claim 27, characterized in that the pivot levers (102, 104) consist of a flat material and have a greater width in the central region than at the tapering ends.

29. Bed according to claim 28, characterized in that the pivot lever. (102,104) are essentially diamond-shaped.

30. Bed according to one of claims 25 to 29, characterized in that the acting end (110) of that pivot lever (102, 104) associated with the support leg (32) provided with the braking device (58) is articulated and displaceable with the braking element (60 ) is coupled.

31. Bed according to claim 30, characterized in that the braking element (60) has an elongated hole (116) extending in its direction of movement, in which one end of a connecting lever (114) is guided, the other end of which is articulated with the person acting (110) of the pivot lever (102, 104) is connected.

32. Bed according to claim 30, characterized in that the acting end (110) of the pivot lever (102, 104) with an essentially transverse to the pivot direction (120) of the pivot lever (102, 104) extending slot

33. Bed according to one of claims 20 to 32, characterized in that the braking device is biased by means of a biasing spring (76) in the locking position.

34. Height-adjustable bed, in particular hospital or nursing bed, with a bed frame (12) having a frame (14) with attached to this guide elements (20-24), in which support legs (30-34) with rollers (44) for Movement of the bed frame (12) are guided displaceably, and a lifting device (92) for moving the support legs (30-34) and the guide elements (20-24) relative to one another between a minimum extension position and a maximum extension position, the lifting device (92) for each pair consisting of a guide element (20-24) and a support leg (30-34) an automatically pivotable pivot lever (102, 104 ), one end of which is rotatably mounted on the frame (14) and / or a guide element (20-24) of the bed frame (12) and the other end (110) acts on a support leg (30-34).

35. Bed according to claim 34, characterized in that the bed frame (12) has a head end (26) with two guide elements (20) and two support legs (30) and a foot end (28) with two guide elements (22, 24) and two support legs (32, 34) and that the pivot levers (102, 104) are each rotatably supported at one end on the guide elements (20-24) and with their other (action) ends

36. Bed according to claim 34 or 35, characterized in that each of the two pivot levers (102, 104) of the head or foot end (26, 28) is articulated and / or displaceable or movable, in particular via a respective control lever (100) with a connecting element

37. Bed according to claim 36, characterized in that the pivot levers (102, 104) consist of a flat material and have a greater width in the central region than at the tapering ends.

38. Bed according to claim 37, characterized in that the pivot levers (102, 104) are substantially diamond-shaped.