Control system for hospital bed

Claim 2

In a system for controlling a motor in a power operated bed, said motor connected to move a section of said bed, the combination comprising: first switch means actuatable by an attendant for connecting a source of electrical energy to energize said motor to move said bed section; second switch means actuatable by an occupant of said bed for connecting said source of electrical energy to energize said motor independently of said first switch means; lock out circuit means connected in circuit with said second switch means and actuatable by an attendant to selectively inhibit operation of said second switch means to energize said motor; and circuit means interconnecting said first switch means and said second switch means whereby said second switch means is capable of inhibiting operation of said first switch means even when said lock out circuit means is actuated to inhibit said second switch means from energizing said motor.

Claim 3

The system of claim 1 wherein said system further comprises a footboard control panel at which said first switch means is located; and pendant control means for housing said second switch means.

Claim 4

The system of claim 2 wherein said first switch means includes a relay having a coil and normally open contacts connected in series with said motor and said source of power; a push-actuated switch connected in circuit with said coil to energize the same when said push switch is actuated by an attendant; and limit switch means associated with said bed for opening the circuit to said coil when said bed section has reached a predetermined position, said second switch means being connected in circuit with said coil to energize the same when said second switch means is closed independent of the closing of said first switch means.

Claim 5

The system of claim 3 wherein said second switch means includes A two-position switch having a movable contact, a normally closed contact and a normally open contact, said system further comprising means interconnecting said normally closed contact with said push switch means for disconnecting said relay coil when said movable contact is disconnected from said normally closed contact of said first switch means, said normally open contact of said first switch means being connected in series circuit with said lock out circuit means and said relay coil to energize said relay coil through said lock out circuit means independently of said first switch means.

Claim 6

A control system for a power-operated bed including a reversible motor controlling the movement of said bed section, comprising: attendant control means fixed to said bed including forward switch means actuatable by an attendant for energizing said motor in a forward direction including means for locking in said forward switch means once actuated; reverse switch means for energizing said motor in a reverse direction and including means for locking in said reverse switch means to continually energize said motor once actuated; first limit switch means to de-energize said motor when said bed section reaches a predetermined extent of travel in response to the actuation of said first switch means; second limit switch means for deenergizing said motor when said bed section has reached a second predetermined level of extent of travel in response to the actuation of said reverse switch means; means electrically interconnecting said reverse switch means and said forward switch means whereby the operation of each of these switch means is mutually exclusive of the other; occupant control means including a forward switch for energizing said motor in a forward direction and a reverse switch for energizing said motor in a reverse direction; and lock out switch means for inhibiting the actuation of said forward and reverse switch means at said pendant control means while permitting said pendant control switch means to inhibit the actuation of said control panel forward and reverse switch means.

Claim 7

A control system for a power-operated bed including a reversible motor controlling the movement of said bed section, comprising: attendant control means fixed to said bed including forward switch means actuatable by an attendant for energizing said motor in a forward direction including means for locking in said forward switch means once actuated; reverse switch means for energizing said motor in a reverse direction and including means for locking in said reverse switch means to continually energize said motor once actuated; first limit switch means to de-energize said motor when said bed section reaches a predetermined extent of travel in response to the actuation of said first switch means; second limit switch means for deenergizing said motor when said bed section has reached a second predetermined level of extent of travel in response to the actuation of said reverse switch means; means electrically interconnecting said reverse switch means and said forward switch means whereby the operation of each of these switch means is mutually exclusive of the other; occupant control means including a forward switch for energizing said motor in a forward direction and a reverse switch for energizing said motor in a reverse direction; and lock out switch means for inhibiting the actuation of said forward and reverse switch means at said pendant control means while permitting said pendant control switch means to inhibit the actuation of said control panel forward and reverse switch means.

Claim 8

The system of claim 5 wherein each of said forward and reverse switch means of said pendant control means is a two-position switch having a normally closed contact and a normally open contact, said normally closed contacts being interconnected when said forward and reverse switches are in their normal positions and said interconnected positions being connected in series with both of said relay coils whereby both of said relay coils will be de-energized when either of said forward and reverse pendant control means switches is actuated.

Claim 9

The system of claim 5 further comprising conductive means for interconnecting the normally open position of each of said forward and reverse switch means of said pendant control means in series with a lock out switch directly to a terminal of an associated relay coil whereby actuation of either of said forward or reverse switches of said pendant control means will vest control of said system in the occupant of said bed provided said lock out switches are closed.

Claim 10

A control system for a power-operated bed having a reversible motor for moving a section of the bed between a first and a second limit position comprising: a control panel at the footboard of said bed and including a forward and a reverse switch actuatable by an attendant, each such switch including a set of normally open contacts and a set of normally closed contacts, a first and a second limit switch arranged to open respectively at said first and said second limit positions of said section, a forward and a reverse relay each including a coil and a pair of normally closed contacts; means connecting said sets of normally open contacts of said forward and reverse relays respectively with the forward and reverse terminals of said motor; a pendant control included, a forward and a reverse switch each including a movable contact, a normally closed contact, and a normally open contact; first conductive meAns for connecting the movable contact and normally closed contact of said pendant forward switch, said normally open contacts of said footboard forward switch, the coil of said forward relay, the normally closed contacts of said footboard reverse switch, and said first limit switch in series across a source of electrical power; second conductive means for connecting the movable contact and said normally closed contact of said pendant reverse switch, said normally open contacts of said footboard reverse switch, the coil of said reverse relay, the normally closed contacts of said footboard forward switch, and said second limit switch in series across said source of power; third conductive means connecting the normally open contacts of said pendant for-ward switch in parallel with the normally open contacts of said footboard forward switch; and fourth conductive means connecting the normally open contacts of said pendant reverse switch in parallel with the normally open contacts of said footboard reverse switch.

Claim 11

A control system for a power-operated bed having a reversible motor for moving a section of the bed between a first and a second limit position comprising: a control panel at the footboard of said bed and including a forward and a reverse switch actuatable by an attendant, each such switch including a set of normally open contacts and a set of normally closed contacts, a first and a second limit switch arranged to open respectively at said first and said second limit positions of said section, a forward and a reverse relay each including a coil and a pair of normally closed contacts; means connecting said sets of normally open contacts of said forward and reverse relays respectively with the forward and reverse terminals of said motor; a pendant control included, a forward and a reverse switch each including a movable contact, a normally closed contact, and a normally open contact; first conductive meAns for connecting the movable contact and normally closed contact of said pendant forward switch, said normally open contacts of said footboard forward switch, the coil of said forward relay, the normally closed contacts of said footboard reverse switch, and said first limit switch in series across a source of electrical power; second conductive means for connecting the movable contact and said normally closed contact of said pendant reverse switch, said normally open contacts of said footboard reverse switch, the coil of said reverse relay, the normally closed contacts of said footboard forward switch, and said second limit switch in series across said source of power; third conductive means connecting the normally open contacts of said pendant for-ward switch in parallel with the normally open contacts of said footboard forward switch; and fourth conductive means connecting the normally open contacts of said pendant reverse switch in parallel with the normally open contacts of said footboard reverse switch.

Claim 12

The system of claim 8 further comprising a first lock out switch connected in series with the normally open contacts of said pendant forward switch to inhibit functioning of the same when said first lock out switch is open and a second lock out switch connected in series with the normally contacts of said pendant reverse switch to inhibit functioning of the same when said second lock out switch is open.

Claim 13

The system of claim 8 wherein each of said relays further includes a pair of normally closed contacts connected to hold their associated relay coils energized when the said associated relay is first energized by its associated footboard switch.

Claim 14

The system of claim 8 further comprising means connecting the normally closed contacts of said pendant forward and reverse switches in series with each other and interposed between the source and the forward and reverse relays of said footboard panel.

Claim 15

The system of claim 8 further comprising a level sensitive switch open when horizontal and closed when tilted to a predetermined degree from the horizontal attached to said bed to sense when the mattress frame is displaced from a horizontal position; and means electrically connecting said level sensitive switch in series with one of said relay coils to inhibit energization of the same when the mattress is displaced from the horizontal.