Support device for helping a person out of bed

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

After a fusion or other incapacitating surgery or injury, the usual method of getting a patient out of bed is to have the patient hold onto a trapeze bar and with the aid of one or more nurses, the patient is pulled out of bed. The trapeze bar is normally positioned above the center portion of the bed rather than to the side of the bed wherein support is necessary. As a consequence, there results considerable strain on the nurses in providing final support to move the patient from the bed after he has raised himself by means of the trapeze.

The necessity for nurses to aid a person in getting out of bed even though mechanical devices such as trapezes and the like are present, constitutes in many cases a considerable requirement on a nurse’s time. A nurse’ services are very expensive and increasing with the general rise in costs of other hospital and home care expenses. Moreover, those mechanical aids that are available are generally awkward to install and, if left in place, can interfere with activities of the patient while in bed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

With the foregoing considerations in mind, the present invention contemplates a novel support device for assisting a patient to get out of bed by himself all to the end that auxiliary assistance by nurses or other persons is minimized and in many instances entirely eliminated. In addition, the support device is so designed that it may readily be removed when not in use so that no auxiliary constructions are present when the patient is engaged in various activities in his bed.

Briefly, the foregoing ends are realized by providing a support device in the form of a basic frame structure mounted on castors and/or gliders such that the frame may be readily rolled to a side of a patient’s bed with a portion of the frame extending under the bed. A vertically extending column means is secured to the base frame to extend past the side of the patient’s bed and includes laterally extending hand gripping means. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, there are also provided arm support means also laterally extending from the vertical column structure a short distance below the hand gripping means.

The arrangement is such that a patient may readily grasp the hand gripping means with one hand while resting a mid portion of his forearm against the arm supporting means in a manner such that he can apply leverage to aid in raising himself. The hand gripping means is so designed that another portion thereof may ibe gripped by the other hand of the patient to assist in raising himself and swinging his body around in a position over the side of the bed. The vertical column means is preferably formed of telescoping tube members such that the distance between the hand gripping means and arm support means may be adjusted and the overall distance of the hand gripping means and arm support means from the base frame may be adjusted to adjust to the length of the patient’s arm and the height of the particular bed. In addition, by making the support device symmetrical about a plane normal to the side of the bed and including the vertical axis of the column structure, it may be used on either side of the bed so that the patient can readily raise himself and get out of either side of the bed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A better understanding of the invention as well as additional features and advantages thereof will be had by now referring to a preferred embodiment as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is an overall perspective view of the support device illustrating the relative position of a bed in dashed lines when the device is to be used;

FIG. 2 is a view partly in cross section taken in the direction of the arrows 2—2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary view partly in cross section taken in the direction of the arrows 3—3 of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary perspective view of the upper portion of the support device illustrating the manner in which the same may be used.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring first to FIG. 1 there is illustrated by the dashed lines the head portion of a bed 10 with which the support device of the present invention may be used. The device itself includes a base frame designated generally by the numeral 11. This frame is generally of H shape when viewed in plan and includes a first foot means in the form of an elongated member 12 running generally parallel to a side of the bed as shown. A sec

3,553,746 ond foot means in the form of an elongated member 13 in turn runs parallel to the member 12 but extends a considerable distance under the bed. A cross brace 14 rigidly connects to the members 12 and 13 as shown to define the general H shape.

In the particular embodiment illustrated, the first elongated member 12 terminates at its opposite under end portion in castors 15 and 16. The elongated member 13, on the other hand, terminates at its opposite under end portions in gliders 17 and 18. The castors 15 and 16 facilitate rolling the device about the floor of a hospital room or home bedroom whereas the glides 17 and 18 provide sufficient friction on the floor to hold the device in a stationary position even if the floor should not be quite level.

A column means including a base tubular member 19 is secured to the first foot means 12 and extends upwardly in a generally vertical direction past the side of the bed 10. A diagonal brace 20 may be provided between the member 19 and the cross brace 14 to increase the structural connection of the column means to the base frame. As shown, the vertical column means includes in addition to the base tube member 19 an intermediate tube member 21 and an upper tube member 22. Preferably, the three members are of noncircular cross section and in the embodiment illustrated, take the form of a square cross section. The intermediate member 21 is telescopically received in the base member 19 and the upper member 22 is telescopically received in the intermediate member 21. Locking means in the form of set screw operated knobs 23 and 24 are associated with the base member 19 for locking the intermediate tube member 21 in any adjusted telescoped position. Similarly, lock means in the form of set screw knobs 25 and 26 are associated with the intermediate member 21 for locking the upper tube member 22 in any adjusted telescoped position.

An arm support means in the form of first and second laterally extending portions 27 and 28 are secured to the intermediate tube member 21 to extend in opposite horizontal directions generally parallel to the foot means 12 as shown. Preferably, the members 27 and 28 are provided with padding 29 and 30 respectively.

A hand gripping means in turn is provided with first and second portions 31 and 32 extending in laterally opposite directions from either side of the upper end the upper tube member 22 in directions generally parallel to the first foot means 12. The extreme ends of the arm support means and hand gripping means may be provided with small rubber end cups or cushions such as illustratively shown at 33 for the portion 32 of the hand gripping means.

It will be noted in FIG. 1 that the distance of the second foot means 13 constituting part of the base frame 11 from the first foot means 12 is designated D. This distance is at least as great as the distance of a patient lying on the bed from the one side of the bed so that the entire structure is stabilized against tilting movement over the side of the bed.

The preferred telescoping arrangement of the various tube members 19, 21, and 22 will be evident from the cross section of FIG. 2. As indicated by the double headed arrows 34 and 35, the distance of the arm support means 27 and 28 above the first foot means 12 may readily be adjusted by telescoping the intermediate tube member 21 in and out of the base tube member 19. The distance between the hand gripping means 31 and 32 and the arm support means 27 and 28, in turn, may readily be adjusted by telescoping the upper tube member 22 in and out of the intermediate tube member 21. This latter distance is adjusted to a dimension corresponding approximately to the distance between a person’s hand and the mid portion of his forearm. This distance is designated d in FIG. 2.

It is important in the operation of the device that the telescoped tube members be properly locked in their adjusted telescoped position and towards this end, there are provided two locking structures for each of the telescoped adjustments described. Each of these locking structures is identical and therefore a detailed description of one will suffice for all. In general, however, it is preferable that the locking members extend into corners of the square cross section tube members so that redundant engagement at spaced points on the telescoped tube by the locked means is realized with the result that greater reliability and safety in the locking itself is assured.

Referring now to the specific locking means 24 as illustrated in enlarged fragmentary cross section in FIG. 3, it will be noted that the intermediate tube member 19 includes an interiorly threaded stem or boss 36 receiving a threaded shaft 37 connected to the know 24. At the juncture of this boss with the base tube member 19, there is provided a small opening 38 receiving the nose portion 39 of a specially shaped bearing member 40. With this arrangement, the knob 24 may be threaded into the boss 36 to bear against the member 40 and urge its nose portion 39 against the corner wall of the intermediate tube member 21 after the same has been properly adjusted in a desired telescoped relationship with the base tube member 19. By providing the bearing member 40, there is no rotating contact with the intermediate tube member 21 and thus marring of the same is avoided.

As mentioned, the other lock means shown in FIG. 1 are similarly constructed and disposed as illustrated for easy operation by a nurse in effecting initial adjustments for a particular patient.

FIG. 4 illustrates the hand gripping means and arm support means portion of the device wherein there is illustrated a patient’s hand 41 gripping the first portion 31 of the hand gripping means with the palm up. In this position, it will be noted that the first portion 27 of the arm support means engages the person’s forearm at the point 42 which is approximately midway between the person’s elbow and hand. The second portion 32 of the hand gripping means serves as a convenient support portion for gripping by the person’s left hand indicated at 43 with palm down.

OPERATION

The overall operation of the support device will be evident from the foregoing description. Initially, a nurse will roll over the device of FIG. 1 adjacent to one side of a patient’s bed. She will then adjust the spacing between the hand gripping portions 31 and 32 and the arm support portions 27 and 28 shown as d in FIG. 2 such that for the particular patient involved, when he grips the first portion 31 of the hand gripping means with his palm up, the approximate midpoint of his forearm will engage the first portion of the arm support 27 as illustrated m FIG. 4. The knobs 25 and 26 will then be securely tightened.

Thereafter, the nurse will adjust the overall height or vertical level of the hand gripping means and arm support means relative to the side of the bed to a position wherein the hand gripping means may easily be grasped by a person lying prone on the bed. This adjustment is effected by telescoping the intermediate tube member 21 into and out of the base member 19. After this adjustment, the locking knobs 23 and 24 will be securely tightened.

Ordinarily the device, when adjusted as described for a particular patient and his bed, may be left adjacent to the side of the bed as illustrated in FIG. 1 so that it is readily available for use by the patient. On the other hand, if the patient is discharged from the hospital or no longer has need for the device, it may readily be rolled away to an out of the way position, stored, or transferred to another room for use with another bed and patient.

With the support device positioned relative to a bed as illustrated in FIG. 1, it is a very simple matter for a patient to get himself out of bed. Initially, the patient will grasp the first portion 41 of the hand gripping means with his right hand palm up as illustrated in FIG. 4 such that the midportion of his forearm engages the first portion

8,553 5 of the arm support means. By having the padding 29 described in FIG. 1, this engagement is comfortable for the patient.

Thereafter, the patient can partially raise himself by exerting leverage on the structure as a consequence of the manner of gripping the same with his right hand and arm ⁵to facilitate grasping the second portion 32 of the hand gripping means with his left hand, palm down. Holding his hands and arms as illustrated in FIG. 4, it is very easy for the patient to raise and swing himself about to facili- ₁₀tate getting out from the side of the bed adjacent to the device. Any assistance by nurses is minimized and, if the patient’s arms are not impaired, is normally completely eliminated.

A reverse handling of the support device may be 15 effected by the patient in lying down on the bed although the problem of an injured patent getting into bed is not as serious as that of attempting to get out of bed.

It will be noted from both FIGS. 1 and 2 that the entire support device in the form of the base frame, column 20 means, hand gripping means, and arm support means is symmetrical on either side of a vertical plane including the vertical axis of the column structure extending normal to the side of the bed; that is, in the direction of the cross brace 14. As a consequence, the entire device may 25 be simply rolled around to the opposite side of the bed so that the patient can then get out of the left side of the bed as readily as he could get out of the right side of the bed. In the case of arising from the left side of the bed, the patient would grasp the portion 32 of the hand grip- 30 ping means with his left hand palm up so that the midportion of his left forearm would engage the portion 28 of the arm support means. He would then grasp the portion 31 of the hand grip means with his right hand palm down. As in the situation described with respect to the 35 patient arising from the right-hand side of the bed, leverage can again be applied only in this event, the principal leverage will be applied by the left forearm rather than the right forearm.

In many instances, it might be convenient for the pa- 40 tient to have two of the support devices siich as illustrated in FIG. 1 always positioned at the same time on opposite sides of the bed so that the patient can readily arise from either side of the bed.

Further, the device has been found useful in helping a patient off an examining table, easing the strain on the nurse’s back, especially, if the patient is overweight or during the last trimester of pregnancy. For this purpose it can be used on either side of the examining table depending on which is more convenient. ₅θ

From the foregoing description, it will thus be evident that the present invention has provided a novel support device for assisting a person or patient to get out of bed by himself wherein problems associated with the requirements for the presence of nurses and other mechanical 55 type contrivances havee been eliminated.