WO2006063977A1

WO2006063977A1 - Bed with sides and movable base

Info

Publication number: WO2006063977A1
Application number: PCT/EP2005/056688
Authority: WO
Inventors: Giorgio Beltrame; Nicoletta Depieri
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2004-12-13
Filing date: 2005-12-12
Publication date: 2006-06-22
Anticipated expiration: 2007-06-13
Also published as: ITVE20040049A1

Abstract

In a bed (10) in particular for children, comprising an horizontal base (20) delimited by vertical sides (30a, 30b, 30c, 3Od) arranged to rest on a floor, the base (20) slides vertically up and down the sides (30a, 30b, 30c, 3Od) from at least a first lowered position and at least a second raised position. The bed can also comprise a device (50, 150) for raising and/or lowering the base (20).

Description

BED WITH SIDES AND MOVABLE BASE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a bed comprising a base delimited by four sides: two lateral sides, a head end and a foot end. In the lower part of the sides, usually at the four corners, supports are provided for resting the whole bed on the ground. Hereinafter, for the sake of simplicity, reference will be made to a cot without this constituting any limitation.

As is well known, placing a child in a cot and above all taking him/her out of the same requires considerable effort in an incorrect posture. Bending over the sides of the cot and placing the child inside (or taking him/her out) entails a movement not in line with the vertical axis of the spine. In view of the fact that said movements are repeated many times a day, it is easy to understand how said orthopaedically incorrect actions can in the long term seriously damage the spine, causing pain and even unpleasant pathologies. The problem is further enhanced when the mother is not in good health (for example during puerperium or in the event of illness), and becomes a serious problem if we consider that nowadays children are increasingly looked after by their grandparents who have all the more reason (due to age) to avoid movements not in line with the vertical axis of the spine. The situation worsens when the child grows and consequently becomes heavier. To remedy said problems, cots have been produced in which the sides can be removed so that, before placing the child inside or before taking him/her out, one or more sides are removed to facilitate the operation, after which they are re-fitted. Such arrangement do not solve the problem of bending or stooping each time to lift the child from or place him/her in the bed (which, as everyone knows, is low), but there is also the problem related to the dismantling of parts of the cot by removing one or more sides thereof, lifting them, putting them somewhere and then performing the reverse operation, i.e. taking the sides, lifting them and refitting them, not to mention the danger of falling out the child while the mother is still refitting the side.

Further, there is the important problem related to the space: modern houses are becoming smaller and smaller, and the need for a cot with sides and a separate changing top considerably complicates the organisation of the house in the child's first few months.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Therefore, the aim of the invention is to provide a cot or bed for children which solves the above-mentioned problems. According to the present invention, the steps involving the lifting of the child from the bed and the repositioning him/her within it, require minimum physical effort in order of not to tire the mother and therefore not endanger her health. In particular, according to the present invention the above steps must not oblige the mother to stoop and/or bend to pick up the child or to place him/her in the bed.

Furthermore, according to the present invention the abovementioned steps can be followed even if the mother is not in a perfectly fit and/or if the child has already grown and weighs more. Further and according to the present invention, to avoiding injury the bed can also act as a changing top, therefore eliminating the abovementioned problems of space and arrangement of the household furniture.

Said aims are achieved by providing a bed comprising an horizontal base and vertical sides delimiting said base, the sides being designed to rest on a floor, characterised in that said base is slidably mounted for moving vertically up and down along said sides, from at least a first lowered position and at least a second raised position.

Preferably, the bed comprises guide means for raising and/or lowering said base and means for raising and/or lowering said base. Referring to an embodiment of a cot according to the present invention, without this constituting any limitation, by simply operating said raising and lowering means, it is possible to raise said the base to the same height of the sides and therefore take the child out, or place him/her in the bed, with the utmost simplicity and without any effort on the part of the mother, who does not even have to bend. Subsequently, it is sufficient to operate the raising and/or lowering means to lower the base to its original lowered position.

Preferably the raising and/or lowering means comprises first manual push- actuating means for the lowering of the base, and second energy accumulator means to raise the base. During the manual lowering step, energy is accumulated in the energy accumulator means and released during the raising step of the base. In this way, starting from the position where the base is raised, simply rest the child on the bed and manually press it down until it reaches the lowered position. To take the child out, the energy accumulator means directly raise the bed to the height of the adult so that the child can be taken out the sides and without any difficulty.

At said height, the base when appropriately covered with a simple waterproof sheet) can also be used as a changing top. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other advantageous features of the present invention will be apparent from the following detailed description of some embodiments thereof, given merely for illustrative non-limiting purposes, and with reference to the annexed drawings wherein: - figure 1 is a partial sectional perspective view of a first embodiment of the bed or cot according to the invention, and in a first operating position thereof;

- figure 2 is a side elevational and sectional view of the bed or cot of figure 1 ;

- figure 3 is a partial sectional perspective view of the bed or cot of figure 1 in a second operating position thereof;

- figure 4 is a side elevational and sectional view of the bed or cot of figure 3;

- figure 5 is a partial sectional perspective view of a second embodiment of the bed or cot according to the invention, and in a first operating position thereof; - figure 6 is a side elevational and sectional view of the bed or cot of figure 5;

- figure 7 is a partial sectional perspective view of the bed or cot of figure 5 in a second operating position thereof; and

- figure 8 is a side elevational and sectional view of the bed or cot of figure 7. DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT In the figures from 1 to 4, the number 10 represents a bed or cot as a whole. The bed or cot 10 comprises a base 20, on which a mattress 12 is rested and is delimited by four sides: a first side 30a, a second side 30b (not shown in the figures), a head end 30c and a foot end 3Od. The four sides 30a, 30b, 30c, 3Od are designed to rest directly on the floor.

Between the base 20 and the lower part of the sides 30a, 30b a hinged guide mechanism 40 is provided so that the base 20 can be raised as shown in figures 1 and 2, or lowered as shown in figures 3 and 4. The hinged guide mechanism 40 consists of a hinged trestle structure comprising four arms 41 , 42, 43, 44 which are hinged in pairs in a crossed arrangement each to the other, to form a double X arrangement. More precisely, the arms 41 and 42 are hinged one to each other at the middle point thereof, and the arms 42 and 43 are hinged to each other near their own middle point.

As is apparent from figure 2 and considering the pair of arms 41 and 42, the arm 41 has one end 41b hinged to the base 20 near the crossover between the first side 30a and the head end 30c, and the other end provided with a roller 41a sliding along a groove 32 integrally obtained along the entire length of the lower part of the first side 30a. On the other hand, the arm 42 has one end 42b hinged to the lower end of the first side 30a near the head end 30c, while its other end is provided with a roller 42a sliding inside a groove 34 integrally obtained along the entire length of the base 20, near the first side 30a. Further, along the lower part of the second side 30b and along the base 20 near the second side 30b respective grooves are obtained (not shown in the figure), wherein the ends of the arms 43 and 44 respectively engage, as per already described with reference to the arms 41 and 42.

A connecting rod 46 joins the respective hinge points of the arms 41 and 42 and the arms 43 and 44. The bed or cot 10 also comprises a device 50 for raising the base 20 which includes a counterweight 52 connected to the base 20 by means of a cable 54 which engages in a pulley 56. The counterweight 52 is adjusted so that the force of its weight is slightly superior to the resisting weight of the base 20, the mattress 12 and the person, hence the position of equilibrium is the one shown in figures 1 and 2 in which the base 2 is raised and the counterweight 52 lowered. The bed or cot 10 further comprises a locking device 60 which comprises a first fixed hook 62 fixed to the top of said counterweight 52, and a second hook 64 hinged to the top of the head end 30c, as illustrated in figure 2. For the functioning, starting from the condition wherein the base 20 is raised (as shown in fig. 1 and 2) and after placing the person in the bed 20, by simply pushing down the base 20 manually, the same is slidably moved until reaches the lower position and the counterweight 52 the raised position, as shown in figures 3 and 4. In this position, the base 20 is locked by means of the locking device 60, i.e. where the first fixed hook 62 engages on the second hinged hook 64.

To take the person out of the bed, first the locking device is released so that the greater weight of the counterweight 52 raises the base 20 until it reaches the raised position and the counterweight 52 its lower position (as shown in figures 3 and 4). Basically, when the base 20 is pushed down, the counterweight 52 accumulates energy (i.e. potential energy) and is released by the latter when the base 20 is raised. Advantageously, with a cot according to the present invention, as the child grows weight will be added to the counterweight 52. A different embodiment of the present invention consists in providing different means for raising the base 20.

With reference now to figures 5 and 6, a bed 100 similar to the bed 10 will be shown, wherein the same parts will have same reference numerals. The bed 100, comprises a base 20, sides 30a, 30b, a head end 30c, a foot end 3Od and a hinged guide device 40 with four crossed arms hinged in pairs, i.e. arm 41 to 42, and arm 43 to 44. Further, a connecting rod 46 is provided for joining the hinge points of the arms 41 and 42 to the arms 43 and 44, respectively. To raise the base 20, a device 150 is provided which comprises a spring 152, for example an helical compression spring (not shown in the figures). More precisely, in the lower part of the bed 100, between the first side 30a and the second side 30b, there is a bar 154 and the spring 152 is positioned between the bar 154 and the connecting rod 46. The spring 152 is adjusted so as to maintain the base 20 in a raised position even when a person or, more particularly, a child is placed on top.

Starting from this position and as shown in figures 5 and 6, by pushing the base 20 down by hand, the spring 152 is compressed, accumulating elastic energy, until the base reaches the lowered position where it is locked by the locking device 150.

When the child has to be taken out by the person, the locking device 150 is released so that, due to the elastic energy accumulated in the spring 152, the base

20 is raised to the initial position.

Alternatively, instead of a spring 152, the device 150 can feature other systems, such as a pneumatic or hydraulic cylinder or piston. The cylinder is adjusted in order to maintain the base 20 in a raised position even when a person or a child is placed on top.

Starting from this condition, by pushing the base 20 down by hand, the fluid contained in the cylinder is compressed until the base reaches the lowered position where it is locked by the locking device. When the child has to be taken out by the person, the locking device is released so that, due to the pressure energy accumulated in the cylinder, the base 20 is raised to the initial position.

For example, in a cot according to this embodiment, it is obvious that in this way the child can be easily placed in the bed, as it is sufficient to press the base down by exerting a slight force, while for taking the child out (a usually very strenuous operation), no effort is required to the person, as the energy accumulator means raise the base, so that the child can be easily taken out.

It should also be noted that when the base is in the raised position, the bed can be used as a top for changing and cleaning the child (so-called changing top). In further embodiment of the bed of the present invention, the raising/lowering device 150 can be realised so that, starting from the position where the base 20 is fully raised and after a person or a child is placed in the bed, the base moves down automatically, accumulating energy in the energy accumulator devices, so that very little effort is required to raise the bed. Alternatively, the device 150 can be further provided and in addition to the spring or piston means, with electric motors, or pumps, or similar which can operate in both the case of lowering and raising the base, i.e. a completely motorised raising and lowering device.

In a further alternative embodiment of the bed or cot of the present invention, consists a base guide system of different type, for example grooves where guide members integral to said base are sliding housed within the former.

Further, in yet another alternative embodiment of the present invention, the locking device can be provided so as to lock the base in a plurality of intermediate positions between the full raised position and the full lowered position thereof.

Claims

1. A bed (10) comprising an horizontal bottom surface or base (20) and vertical sides (30a, 30b, 30c, 3Od) delimiting said bottom surface or base (20), characterised in that said base (20) is vertically movable along said sides (30a, 30b, 30c, 3Od) from a first lowered position and a second raised position.

2. The bed according to claim 1 , further comprising guide means (40) for the displacement of said base (20).

3. The bed according to claim 2, further comprising means (50, 150) for the raising/lowering of said base (20).

4. The bed according to claim 3, wherein said raising/lowering means comprises an electric motor.

5. A bed for children or the like according to claim 3, wherein said raising/lowering means comprises a manual actuator.

6. The bed according to claim 5, wherein said raising/lowering means (50, 150) comprises a first means to be actuated by manually pushing in the lowering vertically direction of said base (20), and a second energy accumulator means (50, 150) for the raising of said base (20), the arrangement being such that during the manual lowering of said base (20) the energy is accumulated in said energy accumulator means (50, 150), and said energy being released during the raising of said base (20).

7. The bed according to claim 6, wherein said energy accumulator means (50, 150) are arranged to maintain said base (20) in said raised position, and said base (20) is arranged to be displaced in a lower position by means of said first manual means and subsequently raised by means of said energy accumulator means.

8. The bed according to claim 7, further comprising locking means for the locking of said base (20) in at least a first lowered position, the arrangement being such that said locking means when released, allow said energy accumulator means (50, 150) to raise said base (20) to a second raised position.

9. The bed according to claim 6, wherein said base (20) is arranged to be raised by first manual means, and be lowered by second energy accumulator means.

10. The bed according to claim 9, further comprising locking means for locking said base (20) in at least a first raised position, the arrangement being such that when released, said locking means allow said base (20) to move in a vertically lower position and accumulate energy in said energy accumulator means.

11. The bed according to claim 8 or 10, wherein said locking means are arranged to lock said base (20) in any intermediate position between said first lowered position and said second raised position.

12. The bed according to claim 6, wherein said energy accumulator means (50) comprises at least one counterweight (52).

13. The bed according to claim 12, wherein said counterweight (52) has a variable weight.

14. The bed according to claim 13, wherein said accumulator means (50) comprises at least a cable, chain or similar (54) having a first end fixed to said base (20) and a second end fixed to said counterweight (52).

15. The bed according to claim 6, wherein said energy accumulator means comprises elastic means.

16. The bed according to claim 15, wherein said elastic means comprises at least one compression spring.

17. The bed according to claim 6, wherein said energy accumulator means (150) comprises at least one actuator cylinder or piston (152).

18. The bed according to claim 17, wherein said cylinder or piston (152) is of the pneumatic or hydraulic type.

19. The bed according to claim 1 , wherein said guide means (40) comprises a hinged trestle structure including at least two arms (41 , 42) hinged together in a "X" crossed arrangement, a first end (41b) of a first arm (41) being connected to said base (20) and a second end (41a) being slidably connected to said sides (30a, 30b, 30c, 3Od), and a first end (42b) of a second arm (42) being connected to said sides (30a, 30b, 30c, 3Od) and a second end (42a) being slidably connected to said base (20).

20. The bed according to claim 1 , wherein said guide means comprises grooves for slidably housing guide elements integral to said base (20).