US1740906A - Adjustable sectional bed - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 24, 1929. s. RoTHAuszKY ET AL ADJUSTABLE SECTIONAL BED Filed June 17, 1925 4 Sheets-Sheet lIHIIIHHHHIHHHIII'IIHII HHHHIH www OJ Al.

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s. ROTHAUSZKY ET AL Dec. 24, 1929.

ADJUSTABLE SECTIONAL BED 4 Sheets-Sheet Filed June 17, 1925 LEFY SIDE HEAD FEET 2;@4649547 Svwemtoz 5 @31g f/Jel'f' @Home/13 will@ Dec. 24, 1929.

s. ROTHAUSZKY ET AL. 1,740,906 ADJUSTABLE SECTIONALVBED Filed June 17, 1925 4 Sheets-Sheet DeC- 24, 1929. s. RoTHAUszKY ET Al. 1,740,906

ADJUSTABLE SECTIONAL BED Filed June 17, 1925 4- sheets-sneer 4 @Y fmfqg@ Patented Dec. 24, 1929 n SIMON ROTHAUSZKY AN D JOHN SCHLER, OF AKRON, OHO

ADJUSTABLE SECTIONAL BED applicati@ med :une 17,4 1925. semi No. 37,633.

This invention relates to beds and has for its main object to provide a bed made up of sections so that its head and feet portions, as Well as its right and left sides, may be raised from or lowered to a horizontal osition and in general adjusted at the will o the user so as to give him or her the greatest possiblel iently and easily put in operatlon by a person While using the bed.

Otherobjects of the invention are: To rovide an automatic adjustable bed whicii is simple in construction, easy to assemble, positive and smooth in operation and comparatively inexpensive to manufacture.

We long felt that a bed of the above characteristics would be a great benefit to sick and invalid people in hospitals, sanitariums, or even in homes, being laid -up in bed practically in a helpless state and who have to relay on nurses or other outside help to adjust their beds to their greatest comfort. Our present invention solves this problem and fills the want, since a person lying in a bed constructed according to our invention may adjust the head or feet, the right or left hand side of his or her bed Without any special effort, by simply pushing a button and keeping his or her linger on said button as long as he or she desires the bed to continue the adjusting movement selected. It is obvious that our invention i"s of great benefit also to other persons than the sick or invalid who Want special comfort in their beds, and that the principles Vot ourinvention may be applied to other forms of furniture besides the beds, like to couches, sofas, etc.

Vith these objects, and such other objects as may herein appear, in View, the invention consists in the construction, arrangement and combination of the parts which will be hereinafter fully described and afterward specifically claimed.

.In order that its construction and operation may be readily comprehended. We will now proceed with'a full, clear and speciic description of. the invention, having reference to the accompanying drawings, which s how an approved, embodiment thereof, and in whichf Fig. l is a perspective view of a bed frame with the mattresses thereon constructed in 'sections according to our invention.

Fig. 2, is a perspective view of the base portion of the bed and its associated parts.

Flg. 3, isa central longitudinal sectional elevation ofthe bed all parts being in the normal position.

Fig. 4, is a partial' cross sectional elevation of the bed about on the central line. o

Fig. 5, is a detail cross sectional elevation 7 through the bed frame and mattress with a section of the bed tilted.

Fig. 6, is a perspective view of the elements for actuating the bed sections. 75

Fig. 7 isa longitudinal sectional elevation ofthe electric power motor employed.l

Fig. 8, is aperspective detail of the switch box employed in the selective bed section movements, and Fig. 9 is a' diagram of the 80 l electrical connections employed in our invention.

Similar characters of reference refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

Referring now in detail to the drawings, the numeral 10 indicates a bed which for the purpose of our invention is made up of sections resting on a frame 1l, also constructed of sections corresponding to the sections of the mattresses, as shown in Fig. 1. The springs and 9o Since the be 5 will be obvious that the different sections of the bed may be moved, raisedor lowered independently of the rest of the bed, as will be more fully explained hereinafter.

Hinges, like 12", 12", 12, 12, etc., are provided tojoin the different sections of the bed to one another and to permit their free movement with relation to each-other. If we suppose that the end ofthe bed marked with the numeral 13 is the head of the same, and the end marked 14 represents the foot of the bed, then the sections 13, 13", and 13 are the head sections and the sections 14, 14" and 14 are the foot sections, while the sections'13" and 14 together with the middle section 16 are the right side sections of the bed, and in a similar manner, the sections 13, 14 and 15 are the left side sections of the bed. The secr tion 17 in the pcenter of the bed' is stationary and will be ermanently fixed to the supportingr frame o' our bed.

The bed is lresting on a supporting or base frame 18, the center portion 17 being permanently fixed to the center member 19 of the base frame, while the other portions of the bed structure rest in horizontal position upon the upper ends of the four arms 20, 21, 22 and 23 tolimit the downward movement of the different sections from raised position. Such members and elements `may be easily constructed according to the usual methods employed in the art, and the limiting means for the downward movement of the different sections may also be incorporated inthe respective hinges 12, 12", etc. as well known in the art. v

ortion 15, 16, 13" and 14" are directly actuated) for raising a part of the bed by means hereinafter described, and the corner portions of the bed, namely, 13, 13, 14a and 14 must move about transverse or longitudinal axis of the bed, as may be necessary to raise an end or side of the bed, coacting means 1174 are provided to move the said corner portions from the central' end and side portions. It may here be noted that the head portions 110 of the bed may be secured to the central end portions 13b and 14" in any suitable manner. The adjustment and regula-tion of our hed '55 is executed by raising or lowering the three y head sections, or the three foot sections, as well as the three right hand sections or the three left hand sections, according to the desire and comfort of the user of the bed. Arm 2O of the o base frame and the mechanisms cooperating 5 side, the foot, and theright side of the bed.

-when said end 31 is Vcaused to recede.

An electro-motor 24 is preferably arranged on the base frameto provide the necessary power for raising orv lowering the different sections of t-he bed and a switch box 25, secured to an underside of the bed controls of operation of the electro-motor and the mechanisms connected therewith, the eight buttons shown on the switch box 25 serving for raising or lowering the four sections of the bed.

The inside mechanism of the base frame is shown in a semi-diagramatical Vmanner in Fig. 6. The electro-motor 24 carries a driving gear 26 at the one end of its shaft 27. Gear 26 is adapted to drive either the gear 28 used for the right side and left side movements ofthe bed sections, or to drive the gear 29 used for the head or foot movements of the bed sections. ably placed in planes above and below the center driving gear 26, (Fig. V7 and also in different v planes horizontally, the plane of the gear 28 being in front and the plane of the gear 29 in the back of the plane of gear 26, when said gear is in its normal position.

vGear 26, therefore, normally is not connected, and in order to move the right or left sides of the bed, gear 26 must be moved forwardly, to the right side of Fig.`7,'so as to engage the gear 28, and, vice-versa, the gear 26 will have to bemovedY in'a left handed direction, as shown in Fig. 7 when it is our purpose to make the gear 26 act on the head or foot sections of the bed.

A semi-circular toothed segment 30 is housed in the hollow arms 20 and 22, slidably arranged therein, its end 31 adapted to catch and raise the head sections of the bed by any suitable means (not shown), when said end 31 is raised, or to permit said seo` tions to be lowered smoothly and slowly The opposite end 32 of the segment 30 will coact in a similar but reversed manner with the foot sections of the bed. The driving of the segment 30 is executed through the worm 33 journaled in the base frame and driven from the gear 29 through the intermediacy of shaft 34 and bevel gears 35 and 36. The sliding movement of thel segment 30 in the arms 20 and 22 and in the base frame is facilitated by rollers 37 arranged at appropriate places in said arms and in the base frame. In Va similar manner as has been detailed in'connection with the toot-hed segments 30, the toothed segments 38 will be used to raise or lower .the right hand or left hand side sections ot the bed, the end 39 of the segment 38 being used for the raising or lowering of the right hand side of the bed, while the other end 4Q of said segment may be used for the raising or lowering of the left handside sections of the bed. Motion may be'imparted to the segment 38, slidably housed in the hollow arms 21 and 23 and in the baseframe, by the gear 28, through the Said two gears are preferles intermediacy of the shaft 41, Worm 42, and.

y up by the wormsk themselves, the shafts of which are safely and securely housed in the base frame.

The switch box 25 is arranged at any suitable place on the bed frame near the head portion ofthe same so as to be within reach of the sick or invalid person using the bed, and itsbuttons 45, 46, 47, and 48 Will start an upward movement of the head, feet, left side, and right side sections of the bed, respectively, while the buttons 49, 50, 51, and 52 control the downward movement of the same sections. Electrical connections, to be described presently, are provided whereby the pressing of any one button Will start such a movement of the bed for which said button-is intended and will automatically prevent a simultaneous and confusing movement of any other portion of the bed. Triple electrical contact springs 53 are provided with each button (Fig. 9), the said triple contact springs connecting with appropriate branches of the electrical circuits of our device through the binding posts 54, and are` members 55 so that they execute simultaneous movements and either make or break the current in their respective circuits at the same time. A pressure on any of the buttons 45 to 52 will cause the respective three spring contacts to close their circuits which will remain closed and the electricity will fiow through the same as long as the button is kept pressed, while upon the release of the button the spring contacts will automatically break the respective circuits.

The electro-motor 24 (Fig. 7) 1s not mounted on the shaft 27 directly but it is secured on a sleeve or tube 56 which carries a key 57 secured to the inside of the same and adapted to run in the key way 58 when `the shaft 27 is moving to the right or to the left and drivesaid shaftinany position as soon as the armature is caused-to rotate. The motor may be of any standard type and is shown in the drawing with the armature 59, rectifier 60, and magnetic coils 61, within the housing 62. At the one end of said housing and adjoining the same in the solenoid case 63, containing the two solenoids 64 and 65, which provide the means to pull the shaft 27 into a right handed or left handed direction and cause it to engage the gears 28 or 29, according to which solenoid will receive electrical energy. In order to enable the two solenoids to act on the shaft 27, said shaft is made of brass or other non-magnetic metal, having a soft iron ring 66 secured thereon between the two solenoids. The forked member 67,

pivoted at 68, engages the ring 66, and has two side arms 68 and 69 cooperating with the spring actuated two slidable pins 70 and 71, indicated as springs .70, 71, in the diagram Fig. 9, which will tend to return the forked member 67, and through the action of the same the shaft 27, into its middle position, as shown in the Fig. 7, in which position the gear 26 is out of engagement with either of the bed' operatinggears 28 or 29. Should one of the buttons mentioned hereinbefore and closing one of thecircuits necessary to operate the bed in the desired selected manner, be pressed,`the motor 24 will receive electrical energy and starts to rotate while at the Sametime one or the-other of the solenoids 64 or 65 will also receive electrical current, will be magnetized and draw soft iron ring 66, and the shaft A27.therewith, in a right handed or left handed direction and thereby cause the motor to rotateone or the other of the 'gears y28 or. 29- jxidthe rest of the bed mechanism therewi'tli5'as hasbeen more fully described hereinbefore. The operation of the motor and the respective-solenoid will last as long as the respective' button iskept pressed and the electrical circuit; closed. Upon the release ofthe button,fitsspring contacts will be automatically returned to the open position, the flow of the electrical energy broken, and forked member 67, as well as the shaft 27 returned to their middle position by one of the pins 70 and 71.

.The diagram of the electrical connections and circuits necessary to obtain the different movements of the bed and its operating mechanisms, indicated hereinbefore, is shown in Fig. 9. The electrical energy is received from any of the usual outside sources at 72 and will be returned to the sameas at 73. The energy is led into the main conductor 74 from which it may be branched oif into the different parts of the mechanism, while it is returned through the second mainl conductor 75 to which the return ends of the dilferent electricalcircuits are connected. The mtor Willreceive its circuit from the branchingo point 76, the circuit passin through1 the-switch 77, both contact points78 and 79 of which are adapted to make electrical contacts with an electro-conductive arm 80, arm 80 is secured on the shaft of the oscillating lever 67, described hereinbefore, but insulated therefrom as well as from all other metallic parts of the mechanisrn. 'It will be seen that the springs 70 and 71a of the pins 70 and 71, described hereinbefore, will tend to keep the arm 80 in a neutral central position, as shown, in which case it does not make contact with either of the points 78 or 79. As soon, however, as one or the armature 59 of the motor, and returning to the branching olf point 82 in the returny conduit 75.

Suppose the user of the bed wants to raisei the head portion ofthe same. He then will press the button 45 which will cause the mechanisms to operate in such a manner as to move the head portion of the bed in an upward direction. As will be seen by inspecting Fig. 9, pressing down the button 45 will close the three contact points 45, 45", and 45, and three circuits will be closed thereby, one for magnetizing the respective solenoid, another one for the armature of the motor, and a third one for its magnets. The solenoid circuit will start at 83, pass through the contact point 45 and downwardly through 84, 85, 86, into the coil of the solenoid 64 and return to the main conduit 75, as at 87. The solenoid 64 will cause the shaft 27 to slide in a left handedidirection, as described hereinbefore, connecting its driving gear 26 with the driving gear 29 for the head and feet Amovements of the bed, andat the same time will close the armature current of the motor at'79. The closing of the contact spring 45 Will start a current from 88 down through said switch, through the points 89 and 90, and 90'l through the magnet coils 6la in the direction of the arrows 91, and returning through the points 92, 93, 94, and spring contact 45b into the return conduit 74 as at 95. Wemaynow arrange the coils in the armature andmagnets of the motor in such a relation that the above described magnetizing current will cause the worm 33 to lift the head end of the toothed segments 30. The head portions of the bed will thus be raised ina slow, smooth and even manner as long as the button 45 is kept pressed down. As

`soon as the button is released the Spring contacts at 45, 45", and 45c will be broken, the solenoid current stopped, shaft 27 returned in its center position and the rotation of the motor, as well as its connection with the rest of the bed mechanism, cut off.

When it is desired to lower the head portions of the bed, the button marked 49 will be pressed and the contacts 49, 49b and 49c closed. Anobservation of the different resulting new circuits will reveal the fact that both, solenoid and armature circuits will remain the same as before', which Will cause the same portions of the bed mechanisms to be operated, but the magnet circuit will be reversed starting from 88 through 49h. 92, through the magnet coils 61a but in a reversed direction as before, following the dottedarrows 96, then throughthe points 90a, 90, switch 49c and into the main return conductor 75, as at 95. The result will naturally be a'reversed rotationeof the motor anda reversed movement of the respective bed mechanisms so that the head ortion of the. same will now be lowered instead of being raised `when the button 45 was pressed. A close observation of the other parts of the electrical diagram will reveal the fact that the pressing of the other buttons, from 46 to 52, will cause the other portions of the bed to be raised or lowered in a similar manner,and that the pressing of one button will close one set of circuits only and will start one kind of movement of the bed only, while all the other circuits will be left open and the bed cannot vexecute any other movement simultaneously. This will insure that the pressing 'of a button will start one selected movement only and will prevent any other parts of the electrical and mechanical mechanisms from operating and causing confuslon or danger to the occupant of the bed.

After a certain portion of the bed has been raised or lowered by pressing of the appropriate button, and said button released, the

bed mechanism will remain in the position reached, o n acount of the driving worms 33 and 42`be1ng made self-locking.

Thus stop means 103 will'be provided upon effective and reliable manner with a` compact- -ly constructed switch boX.

` Changes and variations may be made in the construction of the parts within the limits of the claim without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. v

One such modificationmight be in providing two motors for our invention instead of the one shown in the preferred embodiment, one motor being used for each, the head and feet, and the right and left side movements.

Another modification` would consist in providing four toothed segments, one for each of the four movable portions of the bed, which would operate in a similar manner as the toothed segments described in the preferred embodiment.

What we claim as new, is

1. An adjustable bed comprising right and left side sections and head and foot sections, means hingedly connecting the sections by which they are each adapted to be angularly elevated, a frame having curved cross guides adapted to support said sections and limit the downward movement thereof, crossed segmental racks slidable in-said guides and operable to selectively engage asection to raise and lower the same, andv controlling means witlliin reach of the patient for operating the rac s.

2. An adjustable bed comprising right and ico ` SIMON ROTHAUSZKY.

JOHN SCHLER.

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