Bed siderail pad apparatus

ABSTRACT

A barrier is provided for use on a patient support. The barrier can be coupled to a siderail of the patient support to substantially fill a gap adjacent to the siderail.

INFORMATION

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The detailed description particularly refers to the accompanying figures in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a patient support according to the present disclosure showing the patient support including a frame, a mattress positioned on the frame, a plurality of siderails positioned adjacent the mattress to block egress of a patient from the mattress, a pair of gap fillers coupled to two of the siderails, and a set of siderail covers positioned over the siderails;

FIG. 2 is another perspective view of the patient support of FIG. 1 showing one of the gap fillers and two of the siderail covers before installation on the siderails;

FIG. 3 is a perspective assembly view of one of the siderails, gap fillers, and covers of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a perspective assembly view of the gap filler of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a perspective assembly view of the siderail of FIG. and the siderail cover of FIG. 3; and

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a portion of the patient support of FIG. 1 showing a siderail, gap filler, and siderail cover positioned adjacent to the mattress.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

The embodiments described below and shown in the figures are merely exemplary and are not intended to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed. Instead, the embodiments were selected for description to enable one of ordinary skill in the art to practice the invention.

As shown in FIG. 1, a patient support may include a frame and a mattress . It should be understood that patient support may be a bed, a hospital bed, a stretcher, a gurney, or any other suitable device for supporting a patient. Patient support also include a headboard and a footboard . Headboard is coupled to a first end of frame . Footboard is coupled to a second end of frame .

Patient support also include siderails , coupled to opposite longitudinal sides , of frame . Siderails , are coupled to frame to block egress of a patient from mattress . Siderails and footboard cooperate to define gaps therebetween as shown in FIG. .

A pair of gap fillers are provided that substantially fill and block egress of a patient through gaps . Gap fillers are coupled to respective siderails . According to the preferred embodiment of the present disclosure, second end of frame extends and retracts relative to the remainder of frame , thereby expanding or reducing gap . According to alternative embodiments of the present disclosure, the gap fillers are used to substantially fill or block other gaps defined in patient support such as gaps defined between the siderails or gaps defined between the headboard and siderails.

As shown in FIG. 3, each gap filler includes barrier member and a coupler configured to couple barrier member to respective siderails . Coupler includes a complementary member rigidly coupled to barrier member , a cover or cover plate , and a fastener configured to couple cover to barrier member . Complementary member is attached to barrier member by fasteners inserted through apertures .

Each complementary member is sized to complement openings through siderails . For example, each siderail includes an interior profile that includes four substantially straight edges , , , that define polygon-shaped opening as shown in FIG. . Complementary member includes a perimeter profile that includes three substantially straight sidewalls , , that complement straight edges , , , and a notched sidewall as shown in FIG. 4 that complements straight edge . Sidewalls , cooperate to define an obtuse angle therebetween that complements an obtuse angle defined by edges , . Similarly, sidewalls , cooperate to define an acute angle therebetween that complements an acute defined by edges , . Preferably, complementary member has a length of about 7.6 inches, a width of 3.7 inches, and a thickness of about 1.5 inches as shown in FIG. .

Gap filler is coupled to siderail by positioning member in opening . Next, cover is positioned over a first end of siderail to cover opening and a hand rail portion of siderail . Fastener is then inserted through an aperture in cover and threaded into a threaded opening in complementary member , thereby rigidly coupling gap filler to siderail . Because of the rigid coupling and shape of complementary member , barrier member is blocked from rotating relative to siderail . Furthermore, when siderail is moved between the raised and lowered positions, gap filler moves will siderail between raised and lowered positions. To remove gap filler , fastener is unthreaded from complementary member and cover and barrier member are separated from siderail .

Cover plate includes an outer lip and a substantially flat recessed portion that cooperate to define a surface defining a channel as shown in FIG. . Channel is sized to receive hand rail portion of siderail . As shown in FIG. 3, fastener include a knob and threaded stud rigidly coupled to knob . Cover plate and fastener cooperate to provide a clamp with an outer surface of barrier member to define an interior region in which siderail is trapped when fastener is coupled to complementary member .

Referring to FIG. 4, barrier member includes an outer ticking or cover and a compliant member or padding . Ticking surrounds compliant member and the other internal components of barrier member . Ticking may be formed from materials such as plastic, vinyl, leather, or any other suitable covering material. Compliant member may be comprised of foam, plastic, or any other suitable padding material.

A backing plate is provided and positioned adjacent to compliant member . Backing plate includes three apertures . Plate may be formed from a rigid material such as wood, plastic, metal, fiberglass, or any other suitable rigid material. A rigid support member is provided adjacent to plate and define the profile of a back side of barrier member . Support member includes three apertures that align with apertures of backing plate and apertures . Support member may be formed from a rigid material such as wood, plastic, metal, fiberglass, or any other suitable rigid material.

Ticking includes an inner cover portion sized to receive compliant member , backing plate , and support member . Ticking also includes an outer cover portion sized to cover support member . Inner and outer cover portions , are preferably stitched together along their respective perimeter edges. According to alternative embodiments of the present disclosure, the cover portions are ultrasonically welded together, coupled to one another with a zipper, our otherwise coupled together by methods known to those of ordinary skill in the art. Similar to backing plate and rigid support member , outer cover portion includes three apertures .

As shown in FIG. 4, gap filler is assembled by positioning plate , support member , and outer cover portion adjacent to one another with apertures , , aligned with each other to receive fasteners . Fasteners are inserted through washers and apertures , , . Next, fastener are threaded into threaded bushings or nuts . Complementary member is then positioned adjacent to outer cover portion so that bushings align with openings of complementary member . Additional fasteners are inserted through washers and openings and threaded into threaded bushings so that complementary member is rigidly coupled to backing plate with support member and outer cover portion sandwiched in between. Preferably, fasteners , are bolts. According to other embodiments, other fasteners such as screws, rivets, snaps, adhesives, or other fasteners known to those of ordinary skill in the art are provided.

Compliant member is preferably coupled to backing plate and support member with an adhesive. According to other another alternative embodiment, no adhesive is provided to couple compliant member , but inner cover portion alone supports resilient member adjacent to backing plate and support member . According to other alternative embodiments, inner and outer cover portions , are coupled to the interior components by adhesive, elastic, staples, or any other suitable method of coupling the inner and outer cover portions , to the interior components.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a set of padded siderail covers , are provided to cover siderails , . Siderail cover includes a plurality of openings , , , , . Opening is positioned to allow access to control panel of siderail when siderail cover is positioned on siderail . Opening is positioned to allow access to control panel . Control panel is pivotably coupled at is upper end to permit the lower end to be pivoted upward through opening while the upper end remains coupled. Openings is included in siderail cover to allow access to control panel on the opposite side of siderail as shown in FIG. .

As shown in FIGS. 1, , and , each siderail , includes a linkage coupled to frame to permit raising and lowering of siderail , . Opening is sized and positioned to provide clearance for linkage during raising and lowering of siderail . Additional description of linkage and other details of patient support are provided in U.S. Pat. No. 5,715,548, to Weismiller et al., the disclosure of which is expressly incorporated by reference herein.

Siderail cover is positioned over siderail by positioning siderail cover adjacent to a second end of siderail so that second end is positioned in opening . Next, siderail cover is slide in direction until siderail cover is stopped from further travel in direction by second end . When slipped over siderail , a lower corner of cover captures a lower corner of second end . When installed, cover does not cover in the entire length of siderail .

After siderail cover has been slipped over siderail as previously described, a first strap, tab, or flap of cover is positioned under siderail . First tab includes hook-and-loop type fasteners that couple to corresponding hook-and-loop type fasteners on the opposite side of cover . Similarly, a second strap, tab, or flap of cover is positioned in opening and includes hood-and-loop type fasteners that couple to fasteners . This coupling helps secure siderail cover on siderail . According to alternative embodiments of the present disclosure, other fasteners are provided such as adhesives, adhesive tape, buttons, snaps, or any other suitable fasteners.

Cover preferably includes an outer ticking made of plastic, vinyl, leather, or any other suitable covering material. Cover further includes a complaint member (not shown) positioned in ticking on the inboard side of siderail . The compliant member is preferably made of a foam material or other suitable padding material.

According to the preferred embodiment, ticking defines a pocket that totally encloses the compliant member. A slit (not shown) is provided in ticking near the top of the pocket in the interior of cover . During assembly, the compliant member is positioned in the pocket through the slit. Preferably, the complaint member matches the profile of the inboard side of cover that includes opening to provide the inboard sized of siderail with padding. A zipper (not shown) is provided along the slit to permit removal of the compliant member so that ticking can be laundered or the compliant member replaced with a new compliant member (not shown).

As shown in FIG. 6, gap filler may be used on patient support while siderail cover is covering siderail . When used together, cover is positioned over siderail before gap filler is coupled to siderail . During coupling of gap filler to siderail , notched sidewall of complementary member is positioned over second tab of cover to avoid pinching second tab between complementary member and siderail .

Siderail cover includes a plurality of openings , , , . Opening is positioned to allow access to control panel of siderail when siderail cover is positioned on siderail . Opening is positioned over a speaker positioned on an inboard side of siderail to avoid attenuation of the sound generated by speaker . Opening is sized and positioned to provide clearance for linkage during raising and lowering of siderail .

Siderail cover is positioned over siderail by positioning sliding siderail cover over the top of siderail . Opening is partially defined by a slit that permits adjustment of the overall size of opening . Slit is provided with a zipper . When zipper is unzipped, opening is large enough to permit siderail cover to be slipped over siderail . After, cover is positioned over siderail , zipper is zipped to reduce the size of opening and block removal of cover from siderail .

Cover preferably includes an outer ticking made of plastic, vinyl, leather, or any other suitable covering material. Cover further includes a complaint member (not shown) positioned in ticking on the inboard side of siderail . The compliant member is preferably made of a foam material or other suitable padding material.

According to the preferred embodiment, ticking defines a pocket that totally encloses the compliant member. A slit (not shown) is provided in ticking near the top of the pocket in the interior of cover . During assembly, the compliant member is positioned in the pocket through the slit. Preferably, the complaint member matches the profile of the inboard side of cover that includes opening to provide the inboard sized of siderail with padding. A zipper (not shown) is provided along the slit to permit removal of the compliant member so that ticking can be laundered or the compliant member replaced with a new compliant member (not shown).

Preferably, instructions for the assembly, installation, and/or use of gap filler and covers , are provided with gap filler and covers , or otherwise communicated to permit a person or machine to assemble, install and/or use gap filler and covers , . Such instructions may include a description of any or all portions of gap filler and covers , and/or any or all of the above-described assembly, installation, and use of gap filler and covers , . Furthermore, such instructions may describe the environment in which gap filler and covers , are used. The instructions may be provided on separate papers, the packaging in which gap filler and covers , are sold or shipped, and/or on gap filler and covers , . Furthermore, the instructions may be embodied as text, pictures, audio, video, or any other medium or method of communicating instructions known to those of ordinary skill in the art.

The foregoing description of the invention is demonstrative only, and is not intended to limit the scope of the invention to the precise terms set forth. Although the invention has been described in detail with reference to certain illustrative embodiments, variations and modifications exist within the scope and spirit of the invention as described and defined by the following claims.

CLAIMS

1. A patient support comprising a frame having first and second ends and longitudinal sides extending between the first and second ends, a mattress positioned on the frame, a board coupled to one of the first and second ends of the frame, a first barrier coupled to one of the sides of the frame, the first barrier cooperating with the board to define a gap therebetween, the first barrier defining an opening therethrough, and a second barrier configured to substantially fill the gap, the second barrier including a barrier member and a coupler configured to rigidly couple the barrier member to the first barrier, the barrier member including a surface sized to substantially cover a first side of the opening, the coupler including a surface sized to substantially cover a second side of the opening in the first barrier and a fastener coupling the surface of the barrier member to the surface of the fastener.

2. The patient support of claim 1, wherein the opening of the first barrier is shaped as a polygon and the coupler further includes a rotation-blocking member rigidly coupled to the barrier member having a polygonal perimeter sized to complement the opening of the first barrier.

3. The patient support of claim 2, wherein the polygonal perimeter included a pair of substantially straight sidewalls cooperating to define an acute angle.

4. The patient support of claim 1, wherein the barrier member is padded.

5. The patient support of claim 1, wherein the first barrier includes first and second longitudinally spaced-apart ends, the surface of the coupler includes a channel sized to receive a portion of the first end of the first barrier.

6. The patient support of claim 1, further comprising a padded cover sized to receive the first barrier.

7. The patient support of claim 6, wherein the padded cover includes a tab configured to extend through the opening in the first barrier.

8. A supplemental barrier for use with a patient support having a first barrier positioned to block egress of a patient from the patient support, the first barrier cooperating to define a gap adjacent thereto, the supplemental barrier comprising a barrier member sized to substantially block the gap adjacent to the first barrier, and a clamp including substantially rigid first and second portions, the first portion being movable relative to the second portion to couple the barrier member to the first barrier.

9. The supplemental barrier of claim 8, wherein the clamp includes a cover sized to fit over a portion of the first barrier and a fastener configured to couple the cover to the barrier member.

10. The supplemental barrier of claim 9, wherein the fastener includes a threaded stud and a knob, and the cover is positioned between the knob and the barrier member.

11. The supplemental barrier of claim 9, wherein the cover includes an aperture sized to receive the fastener.

12. The supplemental barrier of claim 8, wherein the clamp defines an interior region sized to receive a portion of the first barrier.

13. The supplemental barrier of claim 8, wherein the clamp is configured to block rotation of the barrier member relative to the first barrier.

14. A barrier configured to couple to a patient support including a siderail defining an opening therethrough and an end board, the siderail and end board cooperating to define a gap, the barrier comprising a barrier member sized to substantially fill the gap, and a coupler including a fastener and a complementary member configured to complement the opening in the bed siderail, the fastener being configured to rigidly couple the barrier member to the siderail.

15. The barrier of claim 14, wherein complementary member includes a perimeter surface that is polygonal.

16. The barrier of claim 15, wherein the perimeter surface has first, second, and third side walls, the first and second side walls cooperate to define an obtuse angle, and the second and third side walls cooperate to define an acute angle.

17. The barrier of claim 14, wherein the complementary member has a width greater than 3 inches.

18. The barrier of claim 14, wherein the complementary member includes a notched portion.

19. A barrier configured to couple to a bed including a siderail and an end board, the siderail and end board cooperating to define a gap, the barrier comprising: a padded barrier member sized to substantially block the gap defined between the siderail and the endboard, and a coupler configured to removably couple the padded barrier member to the siderail, the padded barrier includes a complementary member sized to complement an opening in the siderail.

20. A method for coupling a barrier to a patient support siderail including an opening therethrough, the method comprising the steps of providing a barrier including a coupler and a barrier member sized to substantially fill a gap adjacent to the siderail, the coupler including a fastener and a complementary member, the complementary member being rigidly coupled to the barrier member and configured to complement the opening in the siderail, the fastener being configured to rigidly couple the barrier member to the siderail, positioning the complementary member in the siderail opening, and coupling the complementary member to the siderail with the fastener.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the coupler further includes a cover plate sized to cover the opening during the coupling step, further comprising the step of positioning the cover plate over the opening to position the siderail between the barrier member and the cover plate.

22. The method of claim 20, wherein the opening in the siderail is defined by a plurality of substantially straight edges and the complementary member includes a plurality of substantially straight sidewalls, during the positioning step, the plurality of substantially straight sidewalls are aligned with the corresponding substantially straight edges that define the opening in the siderail.

23. The method of claim 20, wherein the providing step further includes providing a padded siderail cover, further comprising that step of positioning the padded siderail cover over the siderail before positioning the complementary member in the siderail opening.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein the padded siderail cover includes a tab that is positioned in the opening of the siderail during the positioning step.

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