Wheel chair abstract
A nursing care bed with a wheel chair facility that comprises a
bed frame including a head board, a first bed body and a second
bed body, the first bed body and second bed body extending longitudinally
of the bed frame and spaced away from each other and each of the
first and second bed bodies having one end secured to the corresponding
lateral side of the head board, and a wheel chair having casters
mounted beneath the bed frame for moving the wheel chair into or
out of the bed frame between the first and second bed bodies.
Wheel chair claims
1. A nursing care bed with a wheel chair facility comprising a
bed frame including a head board, a first bed body and a second
bed body extending in the longitudinal direction of the bed frame
and spaced away from each other, each of the first bed body and
second bed body having one end secured to each corresponding one
of the lateral sides of the head board, and a wheel chair bed body
equipped with casters beneath it and being capable of movement into
or out of the middle space between the first bed body and second
bed body, wherein the first bed body and second bed body each have:
a first bed mat section and a second bed mat section on the upper
side thereof, respectively, each of the first bed mat section and
second bed mat section including a back bed mat part, a seat bed
mat part, a leg bed mat part and a foot bed mat part; and bed reclining
means operable so that the respective back bed mat part, seat bed
mat part, leg bed mat part and foot bed mat part included in the
respective first bed mat section and second bed mat section can
be folded; the wheel chair bed body includes: a wheel mat section
including a wheel chair back mat part, a wheel chair seat mat part,
a wheel chair leg mat part and a wheel chair foot mat part; wheel
chair reclining means operable so that the wheel chair back mat
part, wheel chair seat mat part, wheel chair leg mat part and wheel
chair foot mat part included in the wheel chair mat section can
be folded; and wheel chair lifting means operable so that the wheel
chair seat mat part can be moving up and down in the vertical direction,
and can also be moving up and down in the vertical direction when
the wheel chair mat section is placed in its flat position by being
extended in the horizontal direction; and wherein the respective
back bed mat part, seat bed mat part, leg bed mat part and foot
bed mat part included in the respective first bed mat section and
second bed mat section on the respective first bed body and second
bed body, and the wheel chair back mat part, wheel chair seat mat
part, wheel chair leg mat part and wheel chair mat part included
in the wheel chair mat section on the wheel chair bad body have
the same length as measured in the longitudinal direction, whereby
when the wheel chair bed body placed in the middle space between
the first bed body and second bed body is placed in its flat position
by operating the wheel chair reclining means, the upper side of
the nursing care bed can be formed by bringing the upper side of
the first bed mat section of the first bed body, the upper side
of the second bed mat section of the second bed body and the upper
side of the wheel chair mat section of the wheel chair bed body
now placed in its flat position into being flush with each other;
and in the state where the wheel chair bed body placed in the middle
space between the first bed body and second bed body is placed in
its flat position by operating the wheel chair reclining means and
where the upper side of the nursing care bed is formed by bringing
the upper side of the first bed mat section of the first bed body,
the upper side of the second bed mat section of the second bed body
and the upper side of the wheel chair mat section of the wheel chair
bed body now placed in its flat position into being flush with each
other, the wheel chair reclining means is operated, followed by
the respective bed reclining means for the first bed body and second
bed body operatively linked with the wheel chair reclining means
being operated, so that the wheel chair back mat part, wheel chair
seat mat part, wheel chair leg mat part and wheel chair foot mat
part included in the wheel chair mat section and the respective
back bed mat parts, seat bed mat parts, leg bed mat parts and foot
bed mat parts included in the respective first bed mat section and
second bed at section can be folded through the respective linkages.
Wheel chair description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to a nursing care bed that
is designed for use by the aged persons, physically handicapped
persons, sick persons and other like persons who need the nursing
care because they cannot support themselves without relying upon
the help of some persons who give the nursing care. In particular,
the present invention relates to a nursing care bed with a wheel
chair facility that can reduce the burden of the person who gives
the nursing care when he or she is moving the aged person or any
other person from the bed onto the wheel chair or from the wheel
chair onto the bed, ensuring that this movement can be done easily
and with safety.
[0003] 2. Prior Art
[0004] In the following description, persons who need some nursing
care, such as the aged persons, physically handicapped persons,
sick persons and any other similar persons, will be referred collectively
to as the "nursed person or persons", and persons who
attend to the nursed persons by giving the nursing care will be
referred to as the "nursing person or persons".
[0005] It is not easy for one nursing person alone to move the
nursed person lying on the bed to the stretcher or wheel chair.
The nursed person must suffer some pains during this movement. To
avoid this, there is proposed a bed that incorporates the wheel
chair as part of the bed.
[0006] For example, one conventional nursing care bed that is proposed
in the Japanese patent application No. 2000-166981 comprises a bed
body that can be divided into two sections, that is, the right-side
mat section and the left-side mat section, and a wheel chair A storage
space for the wheel chair is provided between the right-side mat
section and left-side mat section. The wheel chair is equipped with
casters, and is capable of moving into or out of the storage space.
The wheel chair has a back mat part, a seat mat part, a leg mat
part and a foot mat part, and further includes a reclining mechanism
that may be operated to cause those parts to be folded. When the
respective back mat parts, seat mat parts, leg mat parts and foot
mat parts included in the right-side mat section and left-side mat
section are placed in their flat positions by operating the reclining
mechanism, the right-side mat section and left-side mat section
may be placed on the substantially same plane.
[0007] In another conventional nursing care bed proposed in the
Japanese patent application No. 2001-218799, a bedstead that is
equipped with a wheel chair forming facility is fitted in the middle
of the bed, wherein the bedstead may be pulled out and then the
wheel chair may be formed by using the reclining device. It is described
that when a nursed person is being moved from the bed onto the wheel
chair, the nursing person can accomplish it simply and easily.
[0008] In the nursing care bed proposed in the Japanese patent
application No. 2000-166981 mentioned above, the entire bed will
be disassembled when the wheel chair is to be pulled out of the
bed. Thus, this makes it difficult to handle the bed. For example,
when the wheel chair is being placed in the middle storage space
again, the bed will have to be reassembled.
[0009] In the nursing care bed proposed in the Japanese patent
application No. 2001-218799 mentioned above, the provisions for
adjusting the height of the bed and for moving the entire bed are
not considered. The reclining mechanism for the entire bed is not
provided.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0010] A principal object of the present invention is to provide
a nursing care bed equipped with the wheel chair facility, wherein
when the nursed person is being moved from the bed onto the wheel
chair or stretcher or from the wheel chair or stretcher onto the
bed, this can be accomplished by one nursing person alone, with
as little effort as possible as well as easily and with safety.
[0011] In order to attain the above object, the nursing care bed
with the wheel chair facility according to the present invention
comprises a bed frame including a head board, a first bed body and
a second bed body, the first bed body and second bed body extending
longitudinally of the bed frame and spaced away from each other
and each of the first and second bed bodies having one end secured
to the corresponding lateral side of the head board, and a wheel
chair having casters mounted beneath the bed frame for moving the
wheel chair into or out of the bed frame between the first and second
bed bodies.
[0012] The first bed body and second bed body each have a first
bed mat portion and a second bed mat section on the upper side thereof,
respectively, each of the first and second bed mat sections including
a back bed mat part, a seat bed mat part, leg bed mat part and foot
bed mat part.
[0013] Each of the first bed body and second bed body further includes
a bed reclining mechanism, respectively, which may be operated so
that the respective back bed mat part, seat bed mat part, leg bed
mat part and foot bed mat part included in each corresponding one
of the first bed mat section and second bed mat section can be folded.
[0014] The wheel chair bed body has a wheel chair mat section including
a wheel chair mat part, wheel chair mat part, wheel chair leg mat
part and wheel chair foot mat part, and further includes a wheel
chair reclining mechanism and a wheel chair lifting mechanism.
[0015] The wheel chair reclining mechanism may be operated so that
the wheel chair mat part, wheel chair mat part, wheel chair leg
mat part and wheel chair foot mat part included in the wheel chair
mat section can be folded.
[0016] The wheel chair lifting mechanism may be operated so that
the wheel chair mat section can be moving up and down in the vertical
direction, and may also be operated so that the wheel chair mat
section can be moving up and down in the vertical direction when
the wheel chair mat section is extended to be flat in the horizontal
direction.
[0017] In the nursing care bed with the wheel chair facility as
described above, the respective back bed mat parts, seat bed mat
parts, leg bed mat parts and foot bed mat parts included in the
first bed mat section on the first bed body and in the second bed
mat section on the second bed body, and the corresponding wheel
chair mat part, wheel chair seat mat part, wheel chair leg mat part
and wheel chair foot mat part included in the wheel chair mat section
on the wheel chair bed body have the same length as measured in
the longitudinal direction.
[0018] When the wheel chair reclining mechanism is then operated
so that the wheel chair bed body placed in the middle space between
the first and second bed bodies can be made to be flat, the upper
side of the first bed mat section on the first bed body, the upper
side of the second bed mat section on the second bed body and the
upper side of the wheel chair mat section on the flat wheel chair
bed body will become flush with each other. The upper side of the
nursing care bed can be formed in this way.
[0019] In the state in which the wheel chair bed body placed in
the middle space between the first and second bed bodies is made
to be flat by operating the wheel chair reclining mechanism and
the upper side of the first bed mat section on the first bed body,
the upper side of the second bed mat section on the second bed body
and the upper side of the wheel chair mat section on the wheel chair
bed body now in its flat position are then made to be flush with
each other, thus forming the upper side of the nursing care bed,
when the wheel chair reclining mechanism is operated, the respective
reclining mechanisms on the first and second bed bodies that are
operatively linked with the wheel chair reclining mechanism will
also be operated so that the wheel chair back mat part, wheel chair
seat mat part, wheel chair leg mat part and wheel chair foot mat
part included in the wheel chair mat section, as well as the respective
back bed mat parts, seat bed mat parts, leg bed mat parts and foot
bed mat parts included in the first and second bed mat sections,
can be folded through the respective linkages.
[0020] In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention,
the nursed person may be moved by the nursing person from the bed
onto the wheel chair or stretcher or from the wheel chair or stretcher
onto the bed, and this movement can be accomplished easily and with
safety by making as little effort as possible.
[0021] In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention,
the nursed person lying on his or her back on the stretcher may
be moved onto the wheel chair where the nursed person can be made
to sit, or vice versa. This can be accomplished easily and with
safety by making as little effort as possible
[0022] In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention,
the nursed person lying on his or her back on the bed may be made
to sit or vice versa. This can be accomplished easily and with safety
by making as little effort as possible.
[0023] The movement from the bed onto the wheel chair or stretcher
or from the wheel chair or stretcher onto the bed, and the posture
change described above can occur while the nursing person is monitoring
the nursed person. Thus, there is no risk that the nursed person
may suffer any accidental injuries while the above occurs.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0024] FIG. 1 is an exploded view illustrating the individual component
parts of the nursing care bed with the wheel chair facility in accordance
with one embodiment of the present invention before they are being
assembled;
[0025] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the nursing care bed with
the wheel chair facility in accordance with one embodiment of the
present invention as it is completely assembled;
[0026] FIG. 3 is a side elevation view illustrating how the wheel
chair is being lowered from the state shown in (a) to the state
shown in (b) where the wheel chair is placed so that it can be flush
with the first bed body and second bed body;
[0027] FIG. 4 is a side elevation view illustrating that the wheel
chair bed body is brought to the state by operating the wheel chair
reclining mechanism in which the nursed person may be made to sit;
[0028] FIG. 5 is a side elevation view illustrating that the wheel
chair bed body is brought into the flat state by operating the wheel
chair reclining mechanism in which the wheel chair bed body may
be used as the stretcher;
[0029] FIG. 6 is a side elevation view illustrating that the nursed
person is lying on his or her back on the nursing care bed with
the wheel chair facility in accordance with one embodiment of the
present invention;
[0030] FIG. 7 is a plan view illustrating that the nursed person
is lying on his or her back on the nursing care bed with the wheel
chair facility in accordance with one embodiment of the present
invention; and
[0031] FIG. 8 is a side elevation view illustrating how the nursing
care bed with the wheel chair facility may be folded by operating
the reclining mechanism in accordance with one embodiment of the
present invention.
BEST MODES OF EMBODYING THE INVENTION
[0032] Several preferred embodiments of the present invention will
now be described by referring to the accompanying drawings.
[0033] Referring to FIG. 1, the nursing care bed with the wheel
chair facility comprises a head board portion 1 and a bed frame
6, wherein the bed frame 6 includes a first bed body 2 and a second
bed body 4, each of the first and second bed bodies 2, 4 having
one end thereof secured to each corresponding one of the lateral
sides of the head board portion 1.
[0034] The first bed body 2 and the second bed body 4 extend in
the longitudinal direction of the bed frame 6, and a wheel chair
bed body 7 is provided in the middle space between the first and
second bed bodies 2, 4 so that it can be moving into or out of the
middle space as indicated by arrows 100, 101.
[0035] The wheel chair bed body 7 is equipped with casters 9 beneath
it as shown in FIG. 1, on which the wheel chair can be traveling
on the floor.
[0036] The first bed body 2 has a first bed mat section 3 on the
upper side thereof, the first bed mat section 3 including a back
bed mat part 3a, a seat bed mat part 3b, a leg bed mat part 3c and
a foot bed mat part 3d.
[0037] Similarly, the second bed body 4 has a second bed mat section
5 on the upper side thereof, the second bed mat section 5 including
a back bed mat part 5a, a seat bed mat part 5b, a leg bed mat part
5c and a foot bed mat part 5d.
[0038] The second bed body 4 further includes a bed reclining mechanism
that may be operated so that the back bed mat part 5a, seat bed
mat part 5b, leg bed mat part 5c and foot bed mat part 5d included
in the second bed mat section 5 can be folded as shown in FIG. 8.
[0039] Similarly, the first bed body 2 further includes a bed reclining
mechanism that may be operated so that the back bed mat part 3a,
seat bed mat part 3b, leg bed mat part 3c and foot bed mat part
3d included in the first bed mat section 3 can be folded.
[0040] By operating those bed reclining mechanisms, the first bed
body 2 and second bed body 4 may be reclined between the state as
shown in FIG. 6 in which the first bed mat section 3 and second
bed mat section 5 are placed in their flat positions and the state
as shown in FIG. 8 in which the respective back bed mat parts 3a,
5a, seat bed mat parts 3b, 5b, leg bed mat parts 3c, 5c and foot
bed mat parts 3d, 5d included in the first bed mat section 3 and
second bed mat section 5 are placed in their folded positions.
[0041] The first bed body 2 and second bed body 4 have casters
10 beneath them, respectively, on which the bed can be traveling
on the floor.
[0042] The wheel chair bed body 7 has a wheel chair mat section
8 including a wheel chair back mat part 8a, a wheel chair seat mat
part 8b, a wheel chair leg mat part 8c and a wheel chair foot mat
part 8d, and further has a wheel chair reclining mechanism and a
wheel chair lifting mechanism.
[0043] The wheel chair reclining mechanism may be operated so that
the wheel chair back mat part 8a, wheel chair seat mat part 8b,
wheel chair leg mat part 8c and wheel chair foot mat part 8d included
in the wheel chair mat section 8 can be folded as shown in FIG.
4.
[0044] By operating the wheel chair reclining mechanism, the wheel
chair bed body 7 may be reclined between the state as shown in FIG.
5 in which the wheel chair mat section 8 is placed in its flat position
and the state as shown in FIG. 4 in which the wheel chair back mat
part 8a, wheel chair seat mat part 8b, wheel chair leg mat part
8c and wheel chair foot mat part 8d are placed in their folded positions.
[0045] When the wheel chair bed body 7 is placed into its flat
position as shown in FIG. 5 by operating the wheel chair reclining
mechanism, it may be used as the stretcher.
[0046] The wheel chair lifting mechanism may be operated for causing
the wheel chair seat mat part 8b to move up and down in the vertical
direction as shown by arrows 102, 103 in FIG. 4.
[0047] When the wheel chair mat section 8 is in the flat state
in which it is extended in the horizontal direction as shown in
FIG. 5, the wheel chair lifting mechanism may also be operated for
causing the wheel chair mat section 8 to move up and down in the
vertical direction as shown by arrows 104, 105.
[0048] FIG. 3(a) is a side elevation view that illustrates how
the wheel chair bed body 7 can be moved into the middle space between
the first bed body 2 and second bed body 4 on the bed frame 6 in
the direction indicated by arrow 100 when the wheel chair bed body
7 is placed in its flat position by operating the wheel chair reclining
mechanism.
[0049] FIG. 3(b) is a side elevation view that illustrates how
the wheel chair mat section 8 can be lowered from the state shown
in FIG. 3(a) to the state shown in FIG. 3(b) by operating the wheel
chair lifting mechanism so that the upper side of the first bed
mat section 3 on the first bed body 2, the upper side of the second
bed mat section 5 on the second bed body 4 and the upper side of
the wheel chair mat section 8 on the wheel chair bed body 7 now
in its flat position can be placed flush with each other and the
upper side of the nursing care bed can thus be formed.
[0050] FIG. 2 is a perspective view corresponding to FIG. 3(b),
in which the wheel chair bed body 7 is moved into the middle space
between the first bed body 2 and second bed body 4 on the bed frame
6 in the direction of arrow 100, and the wheel chair bed body 7
may then be placed in its flat position by operating the wheel chair
reclining mechanism so that the upper side of the first bed mat
section 3 on the first bed body 2, the upper side of the second
bed mat section 5 on the second bed body 4 and the wheel chair mat
section 8 on the wheel chair bed body 7 now in its flat position
can be placed flush with each other, and the upper side of the nursing
care bed can thus be formed. FIG. 7 is a plan view illustrating
that the nursed person is lying on his or her back on the nursing
care bed that has been completed by assembling its components as
shown in FIG. 2.
[0051] It may be seen from FIGS. 2 and 7 that the respective back
bed mat parts 3a, 5a, seat bed mat parts 3b, 5b, leg bed mat parts
3c, 5c and foot bed mat parts 3d, 5d included in the first bed mat
part 3 on the first bed body 2 and second bed mat section 5 on the
second bed body 4, and the corresponding wheel chair back mat part
8a, wheel chair seat mat part 8b, wheel chair leg mat part 8c and
wheel chair mat part 8c included in the wheel chair bed mat section
8 on the wheel chair bed body 7 have the same length as measured
in the longitudinal direction.
[0052] The wheel chair reclining mechanism includes a reclining
drive 20 mounted below the wheel chair seat mat part 8b, and drive
shafts 21, 22 being capable of retractably extending from the reclining
drive 20.
[0053] The forward end of the drive shaft 21 that may be moved
into or out of the reclining drive 20 in the directions of arrows
106, 107 in FIG. 5 when the reclining drive 20 is operated is pivotally
coupled with an arm 23 secured to the underside of the wheel chair
leg mat part 8c. Similarly, the forward end of the drive shaft 22
that may be moved into or out of the reclining drive 20 in the directions
of arrows 108, 109 in FIG. 5 when the reclining drive 20 is operated
is pivotally coupled with an arm 24 secured to the underside of
the wheel chair leg mat part 8c. Furthermore, an arm 27 is secured
to the underside of the wheel chair seat mat part 8b, and an arm
26 is secured to the underside of the wheel chair foot mat part
8d, each of the arms 27 and 26 being pivotally coupled with a lever
25.
[0054] This permits the wheel chair bed body 7 to be reclined between
the state shown in FIG. 5 in which the wheel chair mat section 8
is placed in its flat position and the state shown in FIG. 4 in
which the wheel chair back mat part 8a, wheel chair seat mat part
8b, wheel chair leg mat part 8c and wheel chair foot mat part 8d
included in the wheel chair mat section 8 is placed in their folded
positions.
[0055] The reclining operation from the state shown in FIG. 4 to
the state shown in FIG. 5 or from the state shown in FIG. 5 to the
state shown in FIG. 4 may be performed by controlling the reclining
drive 20 from the remote under control of the controller (not shown).
[0056] The bed reclining mechanism for each of the first bed body
2 and second bed body 4 may be operated similarly to the wheel chair
reclining mechanism described above.
[0057] Specifically, the bed reclining mechanism includes a reclining
drive 20a secured to the underside of the seat bed mat part 3b,
5b, drive shafts 21a, 22a being capable of retractably extending
from reclining drive 20a, an arm 23a secured to the underside of
the back bed mat part 3a, 5a, an arm 24a secured to the underside
of the leg bed mat part 3c, 5c, an arm 27a secured to the underside
of the seat bed mat part 3b, 5b, and an arm 26a secured to the underside
of the foot bed mat part 3d, 5d, and a bar 25a.
[0058] Similarly to the operation of the wheel chair reclining
mechanism, the first bed body 2 and second bed body 4 may be reclined
between the state shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3(b) in which each of
the first bed mat section 3 and second bed mat section 5 is placed
in its flat position and the state shown in FIG. 8 in which the
respective back bed mat part 3a, 5a, seat bed mat part 3b, 5b, leg
bed mat part 3c, 5c and foot bed mat part 3d, 5d included in each
of the first bed mat section 3 and second bed mat section 5 are
placed in their folded positions.
[0059] Similarly to the wheel chair reclining mechanism described
above, the bed reclining mechanism for each of the first bed body
2 and second bed body 4 may be operated by controlling the reclining
drive 20a from the remote under control of the controller (not shown).
[0060] By operating the bed reclining mechanism for each of the
first bed body 2 or second bed body 4, which then causes the wheel
chair reclining mechanism operatively linked with the bed reclining
mechanism to be operated in the manner described above, the respective
back bed mat parts 3a, 5a, seat bed mat parts 3b, 5b, leg bed mat
parts 3c, 5c and foot bed mat parts 3d, 5d included in the first
bed mat section 3 and second bed mat section 5 will be folded as
shown in FIG. 8 through the respective linkages with the wheel chair
mat part 8a, wheel chair seat mat part 8b, wheel chair leg mat part
8c and wheel chair foot mat part 8d.
[0061] The reclining drive 20 may be omitted from the bed reclining
mechanism.
[0062] It may be seen from FIGS. 2, 6 and 7, for example, that
the upper side of the nursing care bed is formed by operating the
wheel chair reclining mechanism so that the wheel chair bed body
7 placed in the middle space between the first bed body 2 and second
bed body 4 can be placed in its flat position, and then by bringing
the upper side of the first bed mat section 3 for the first bed
body 2, the upper side of the second bed mat section 5 for the second
bed body 5 and the upper side of the wheel chair mat section 8 for
the wheel bed body 7 now in its flat position into becoming flush
with each other. The back bed mat part 5a, wheel chair back mat
part 8a and back bed mat part 3a that are adjacent to each other
in the lateral direction may be fixed in position below them as
shown in FIG. 6, for example. Similarly, the seat bed mat part 5b,
wheel chair seat mat part 8b and seat bed mat part 3b that are adjacent
to each other in the lateral direction may be fixed in position
below them as shown in FIG. 6. The leg bed mat part 5c, wheel chair
leg mat part 8c and leg bed mat part 3c may be fixed in position
below them as shown in FIG. 6. The foot bed mat part 5d, wheel chair
mat part 8d and foot bed mat part 3d may be fixed in position below
them as shown in FIG. 6.
[0063] When the wheel chair reclining mechanism is operated in
the above state, it may cause the bed reclining mechanisms for the
first bed body 2 and second bed body 4 to be operated through the
respective linkages with the wheel chair reclining mechanism. In
this manner, the wheel chair back mat part 8a, wheel chair seat
mat part 8b, wheel chair leg mat part 8c and wheel chair foot mat
part 8d included in the wheel chair mat section 8 and the respective
back bed mat parts 3a, 5a, seat bed mat parts 3b, 5b, leg bed mat
parts 3c, 5c and foot bed mat parts 3d, 5d included in the first
bed mat section 3 and second bed mat section 5 may be caused to
be folded through the respective linkages as shown in FIG. 8.
[0064] The wheel chair lifting mechanism for the wheel chair bed
body 7 includes a crank mechanism 28 and a crank drive (not shown).
[0065] When the crank mechanism 28 is driven by the crank drive
(not shown) so that it may cause the frames 30, 31 pivotally mounted
to a base frame 29 to be pivotally rotated in the direction of arrow
32, it will then cause the wheel chair seat mat part 8b to be lowered
in the direction of arrow 105 in FIG. 5. The position of the wheel
chair seat mat part 8b that has been lowered in this way from the
position shown in FIG. 3(a) to the position shown in FIG. 3(b) corresponds
to the position in which the upper side of the nursing care bed
is formed by bringing the upper side of the wheel chair mat part
8 for the wheel chair bed body 7 now in its flat position into being
flush with the upper side of the first bed mat section 3 for the
first bed body 2 and the upper side of the second bed mat section
5 for the second bed body 4.
[0066] Conversely, when the crank mechanism 28 is driven by the
crank drive (not shown) so that it may cause the frames 30, 31 pivotally
mounted to the base frame 29 to be pivotally rotated in the direction
of arrow 33, it will then cause the wheel chair seat mat part 8b
to be raised in the direction of arrow 104 in FIG. 5. The position
of the wheel chair seat mat part 8b that has been raised in this
way from the position shown in FIG. 3(b) corresponds to the position
shown in FIG. 3(a).
[0067] As shown in FIGS. 3(a), 3(b) and 5, the wheel chair mat
section 8 may be moved up and down in the vertical direction when
it is placed in its flat position by being extended in the horizontal
direction, or the position of the wheel chair seat mat part 8b in
the vertical direction may be moved up and down as shown by arrows
102, 103 when the wheel chair is placed in the state shown in FIG.
4 by operating the wheel chair reclining mechanism.
[0068] The operations of turning the frames 30, 31 pivotally in
the direction of arrows 32, 33 and moving them up and down from
the state shown in FIG. 3(a), FIG. 5 to the state shown in FIG.
3(b) or from the state shown in FIG. (b) to the state shown in FIG.
3(a), FIG. 5 may be performed by controlling the drive (not shown)
remotely under control of the controller (not shown).
[0069] The wheel chair bed body 7 may be equipped with foldable
external frames 40, 41 as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. The foldable external
frames 40, 41 prevent the person sitting on the wheel chair bed
body 7 shown in FIG. 4 or the person lying on his or her back on
the wheel chair bed body 7 shown in FIG. 5 from falling accidentally
from the wheel chair bed body 7. The external frames 40, 41 may
be folded by turning them pivotally as indicated by arrows 42, 43
in FIG. 5.
[0070] The nursing care bed with the wheel chair facility has been
described so far in accordance with the particular embodiment of
the present invention, and now how it can be used will be described
below.
[0071] It is supposed that a nursed person (not shown) is sitting
on the wheel chair bed body 7 in the state shown in FIG. 4. Then,
the wheel chair reclining mechanism may be operated so that the
wheel chair bed body 7 can be placed in its flat state as shown
ill FIG. 5.
[0072] Next, the wheel chair bed body 7 may be moved into the middle
space between the first bed body 2 and second bed body 4 on the
bed frame G as shown by arrow 100. This state is shown in FIG. 3(a).
[0073] Then, the wheel chair mat section 8 may be lowered as shown
by arrow 105 by operating the wheel chair lifting mechanism so that
the upper side of the first bed mat section 3 for the first bed
body 2, the upper side of the second bed mat section 5 for the second
bed body 4 and the upper side of the wheel chair mat section 8 for
the wheel chair bed body 7 now in its flat position can become flush
with each other as shown in FIG. 3(b) and FIG. 2.
[0074] Then, the first bed body 2 and wheel chair bed body 4 and
the second bed body 4 and wheel chair bed body 7 can be fixed to
each other, respectively, by using respective fastening means (not
shown).
[0075] In this way, the nursed person (not shown) sitting on the
wheel chair bed body 4 in the state shown in FIG. 4 can be moved
onto the nursing care bed very easily and with safety, as shown
in FIGS. 6 and 7.
[0076] When the nursed person is being moved from the nursing care
bed onto the wheel chair bed body 7, this can also be accomplished
very easily and with safety, by reversing the steps described above.
[0077] In accordance with the present invention, therefore, one
nursing person alone can move the nursed person from the bed onto
the wheel chair or stretcher, or from the wheel chair or stretcher
onto the bed, easily and with safety by making as little effort
as possible.
[0078] By operating the wheel chair reclining mechanism, the nursed
person (not shown) lying on the wheel chair mat section 8 may have
his or her posture changed into the state shown in FIG. 4 in which
the nursed person is sitting on the wheel chair or vice versa. This
can be accomplished easily and with safety.
[0079] By operating the bed reclining mechanism that is operatively
linked with the wheel chair reclining mechanism, the nursed person
lying on the nursing care bed as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 may have
his or her posture changed so that he or she can be sitting up on
the nursing care bed as shown in FIG. 8 or vice versa. In either
case, this can be accomplished easily and with safety.
[0080] The movement from the bed onto the wheel chair or stretcher
or the movement from the wheel chair or stretcher onto the bed as
well as the posture change can be accomplished while the nursing
person is monitoring the nursed person. Thus, there is no risk that
the nursed person will suffer any accidental injuries.
[0081] While the preferable embodiment of the present invention
has been described with reference to the accompanying drawings,
the present invention is by no means limited to the above described
embodiment, and it goes without saying that the present invention
can be modified to various examples within the technical range which
can be understood from the accompanying claims. |