WO2016070227A1

WO2016070227A1 - Portable disability access device

Info

Publication number: WO2016070227A1
Application number: PCT/AU2015/000664
Authority: WO
Inventors: Rodney Brooke
Original assignee: Stratton, David
Priority date: 2014-11-06
Filing date: 2015-11-05
Publication date: 2016-05-12

Abstract

A foldable, portable, disability bed, support which has a portion disposable under a mattress and a vertical post for use in self-supporting a disabled person. The base portion when inserted under a mattress has a first dimension at right angles to the mattress and a second dimension parallel to the edge of the mattress and the vertical post is situated on one end of the first dimension and at the midpoint of the second dimension. In one embodiment the base portion comprises a T shaped frame where the lateral part of the T frame is adapted to lie under the mattress and be parallel to the edge of the mattress and the support is a post attachable to the foot of the T frame at the edge of the mattress.

Description

PORTABLE DISABILITY ACCESS DEVICE

This invention relates to a device for use by disabled people to assist them in moving around a bed, to raise themselves to a sitting positon or to assist them in moving between a bed and a wheelchair.

Background to the invention

The idea of a Bed post or Pole has been around for about 20 years. There are a number of different designs manufactured and offered for sale. The primary purpose of a Bed Post is to provide a stable post at a suitable location along the side of a bed that a person can use to assist them in moving themselves around on the bed and in raising themselves to a sitting position on the side of the bed or conversely assisting to transfer from a wheel chair to the bed.

Currently available Bed Posts fit into two classes. Permanently attached and Removable Bed Posts. Most hospitals that deal with disabled patients have the permanent type. Removable types are generally owned by their user and are taken with them if they move from one residential location to another.

The removable types are generally quite ungainly and take up a lot of space when being moved. They all have a flat frame or plate that slides under the mattress of the bed to provide stability for the post that is fixed to the side of the base frame. The combination of the area of the base and the weight of the person lying / sitting on the bed provides the necessary support and restraint for the bed post to allow it to accept loads in any direction up to the maximum that a person can apply with their arm when in a lying or sitting position. Using AS1428.1-2009 for Grab Rails as a basis this maximum load is 1100N.

Australian patent 2011218731 discloses a vertical post attachable to a four post bed frame.

Japanese publication 03376385 discloses a bed side support mountable on the bed frame.

Japanese publication04315518 discloses a vertically slidable handrail attached to a floor board.

Occupational and Physiotherapists working in the disability sector see there is a place for removable bed posts in many situations with the exception of use where the mattress is narrow and very light and flexible (Thin Foam) or the person has cognitive issues that would limit their ability to recognize a dangerous situation. There have been several fatalities involving bed posts. Two scenarios are evident One is where the post has moved allowing a gap between the edge of the mattress and the post to develop which has resulted in a person's head becoming stuck in the gap. Complete rollover of the mattress and person has also resulting in fatalities.

Greater acceptance of the need to provide disability access in many parts of the world has resulted in more people with a disability travelling. The ungainly aspects of the bed post during travel have been highlighted when this travel involves flying.

It is an object of this invention to ameliorate these problems.

Brief Description of the invention

To this end the present invention provides a foldable, portable disability bed support which has a portion disposable under a mattress and a vertical support for use in self-supporting a disabled person.

The base portion when inserted under a mattress has a first dimension laterally extending under the mattress( preferably at right angles to the mattress) and a second dimension parallel to the edge of the mattress and the vertical support is preferably a post situated on one end of the first dimension and at the midpoint of the second dimension. Preferably the base portion comprises a T shaped frame where the lateral part of the T frame is adapted to lie under the mattress and be parallel to the edge of the mattress and the support is a post attachable to the foot of the T frame at the edge of the mattress.

The portion under the mattress creates a large virtual surface area extending from the upright post toward the centre of the mattress and extending laterally. Instead of a plate like structure the portion lying under the mattress may be a T or shape to provide the resistance required to oppose the force applied to the upright post when the disabled person uses it to pull themselves into a sitting position or for support when transferring to a wheel chair.

The bed support of this invention is able to be folded and flat packed. Preferably the vertical support is able to be detached and packed flat with the base portion.

Preferably the second dimension of the base support is able to be folded to lie along said first dimension. The device is easily reassembled with all critical assembly connections identified. The advantages of this invention are:

Light weight (less than 5kg). It is made from sections of Aluminium tube, and some solid aluminium parts.

Packs down quickly and easily to a manageable volume to fit into a case or its own bag.

Is easily and simply reassembled by plugging the parts together with all critical assembly connections automatically identified by markings or colour coding.

When assembled all critical stress points and joints are inherently strong and safe. The joints between members are a simple plug and socket design with an anti- rotation feature to maximize stability of the structure.

An additional optional feature is that the upper and possibly lower surface of the base frame is treated with a stiff microfiber surface that has the effect of interlocking with the under surface of the mattress and also possibly the top surface of the under mattress when present.

Detailed description of the invention

A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to the drawings in which:

Figurel is a top view of the packed disability bed support of this invention;

Figure 2 is an underneath view of the packed bed support of figure 1 in the initial stage of assembly;

Figure 3 illustrates an intermediate stage of assembly of the bed support;

Figure 4 illustrates an underneath view of the bed support in a penultimate

assembly step;

Figure 5 illustrates an assembled bed post support;

Figure 6 illustrates an adjustable component of the bed support of figure 5;

Figure 7 illustrates a second embodiment of the bed support of this invention in an assembled position;

Figure 8 illustrates a second embodiment of the bed support of this invention in a packed position;

Figure 9 illustrates a third embodiment of the bed support of this invention;

Figure 10 illustrates the embodiment of figure 9 in a packed position. The embodiment depicted in figures 1 to 6 is shown packed for transport in figure 1. The base portion 10 consists of a socket end 1 land a mattress end 20 connected by the base rods15. A slide 17 is able to move along the base rods 15 between the socket end 11 and the mattress end 20.

As shown in figure 2 on the underside of the socket end 11 is a release button 13 that allows the side unit 22 A to be moved to enable removal of the second side unit 22B. Each side unit consists of two side rods 23 joined at one end by a junction plate 24. The side units are attached to the sides of the mattress end 20, by insertion in the side sockets 21. The assembled base is shown in figure 3.

The upright handle 30 is released by pressing the release button 27 on the underside of the mattress end 20.

This enables the socket end 31 of the handle 30 to be inserted into socket 12 of the socket end 11 of the base 10 as shown in figures 5 and 6. The slide 17 may be positioned at any suitable position on the base rods when the base 10 is in its extended form is slid under the mattress.

A rubber grip may be attached to the top 32 of handle 30. The assembled bed post is preferably inserted under the mattress adjacent the disabled person's back and on the side from which the person will enter or exit the bed. The handle is

dimensioned to extend above the top of the mattress for easy access by the disabled person. Suitable dimensions for the handle are 500mm and for the base unit 600mm deep and 700mm wide.

A second embodiment of the invention is shown in figures 7 and 8.

In this embodiment there is a base unit 50 with side arms 54 foldable into slots 53 on the sides of the base 50. An extension arm 55 disposed at the mattress end of the base unit increases the length of the unit under the mattress. The extension arm 55 can be slid into the centre of the base unit when folded. The handle 60 has the grip 61 at one end and the base foot 62 for insertion into the socket 51 of base unit 50. The handle 60 can be clipped to the side of the base unit for storage as shown in figure 8.

A third embodiment is shown in figures 9 and 10. The construction is similar to the embodiment of figures 1 to 6 except that the side units 22 comprise a single rod. The foldable bed post of this invention is convenient to carry and stable in use. Those skilled in the art will appreciate the advantages of this invention. Those skilled in the art will also realise that tis invention may be implemented in embodiments other than those described without departing from the core teachings of the invention.

Claims

1. A foldable, portable disability bed support which has a base portion

disposable under a mattress and a support able to be attached vertically to the base portion for use in self-supporting a disabled person.

2. A bed support as claimed in claim 1 wherein the base portion when inserted under a mattress has a first dimension extending inwards of the mattress edge a second dimension parallel to the edge of the mattress and the vertical support is situated on one end of the first dimension and at the mid point of the second dimension.

3. A bed support as claimed in claim 2 wherein the base portion comprises a T shaped frame where the lateral part of the T frame is adapted to lie under the mattress and be parallel to the edge of the mattress and the support is a post attachable to the foot of the T frame at the edge of the mattress.

4. A bed support as claimed in claim 2 in which the vertical support is able to be detached and packed flat with the base portion.

5. A bed support as claimed in claim 4 in which second dimension of the base support is able to be folded to lie along said first dimension.