US3716876A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Actuation means for an adjustable bed
Assignee: Sybron Transition Corp
•
Filing: 1971-05-20
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Granted: 1973-02-20
•
Expires: 1991-05-20
Abstract
Abstract The invention involves the use of photocells to electrically isolate the control circuit of the adjustable bed from the motor drive circuit so that the person operating the hand held controller is isolated from the high voltage hazard of the drive circuit. The bed frame is not grounded but is maintained at a zero electrical potential and mechanical insulators are used to isolate the bed structure from the electric control and drive circuits and from earth ground. In addition, a monitoring light is used to indicate the presence of a correct grounding of the electrical components of the bed so that a broken or incorrect grounding situation is readily apparent.
Inventors
- 👤 A Petzon
- 👤 J Conway
- 👤 D Barth
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 13:16
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61G; A61G7/00; A61G7/002; A61G7/018
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
197 words
A hospital bed comprising in combination: a. a patient support having movable sections for supporting a patient in various adjusted positions, said patient support being eLectrically isolated from earth ground and maintained at a zero electrical potential; b. a electric drive motor and gearing for moving said movable sections, said motor being electrically isolated from said patient support and having a connection to ground; c. clutch means for selectively engaging said gearing to move one or another of said movable sections; d. an electric drive circuit electrically isolated from said patient support, said drive circuit having a first circuit part including said clutch means and a second circuit part including said electric drive motor; e. an electric control circuit electrically isolated from said patient support including manual operative means for opening and closing said control circuit; and f. opto-electrical means coupling said control and drive circuits including a light source in said control circuit which is illuminated by closing said control circuit and a photo cell switch means in both parts of said electric drive circuit, said photo cells switch means being energized on illumination of said light source to close said first and second circuit parts.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
197 words
A hospital bed comprising in combination: a. a patient support having movable sections for supporting a patient in various adjusted positions, said patient support being eLectrically isolated from earth ground and maintained at a zero electrical potential; b. a electric drive motor and gearing for moving said movable sections, said motor being electrically isolated from said patient support and having a connection to ground; c. clutch means for selectively engaging said gearing to move one or another of said movable sections; d. an electric drive circuit electrically isolated from said patient support, said drive circuit having a first circuit part including said clutch means and a second circuit part including said electric drive motor; e. an electric control circuit electrically isolated from said patient support including manual operative means for opening and closing said control circuit; and f. opto-electrical means coupling said control and drive circuits including a light source in said control circuit which is illuminated by closing said control circuit and a photo cell switch means in both parts of said electric drive circuit, said photo cells switch means being energized on illumination of said light source to close said first and second circuit parts.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
197 words
A hospital bed comprising in combination: a. a patient support having movable sections for supporting a patient in various adjusted positions, said patient support being eLectrically isolated from earth ground and maintained at a zero electrical potential; b. a electric drive motor and gearing for moving said movable sections, said motor being electrically isolated from said patient support and having a connection to ground; c. clutch means for selectively engaging said gearing to move one or another of said movable sections; d. an electric drive circuit electrically isolated from said patient support, said drive circuit having a first circuit part including said clutch means and a second circuit part including said electric drive motor; e. an electric control circuit electrically isolated from said patient support including manual operative means for opening and closing said control circuit; and f. opto-electrical means coupling said control and drive circuits including a light source in said control circuit which is illuminated by closing said control circuit and a photo cell switch means in both parts of said electric drive circuit, said photo cells switch means being energized on illumination of said light source to close said first and second circuit parts.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
197 words
A hospital bed comprising in combination: a. a patient support having movable sections for supporting a patient in various adjusted positions, said patient support being eLectrically isolated from earth ground and maintained at a zero electrical potential; b. a electric drive motor and gearing for moving said movable sections, said motor being electrically isolated from said patient support and having a connection to ground; c. clutch means for selectively engaging said gearing to move one or another of said movable sections; d. an electric drive circuit electrically isolated from said patient support, said drive circuit having a first circuit part including said clutch means and a second circuit part including said electric drive motor; e. an electric control circuit electrically isolated from said patient support including manual operative means for opening and closing said control circuit; and f. opto-electrical means coupling said control and drive circuits including a light source in said control circuit which is illuminated by closing said control circuit and a photo cell switch means in both parts of said electric drive circuit, said photo cells switch means being energized on illumination of said light source to close said first and second circuit parts.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
113 words
A hospital bed as set forth in claim 1 comprising: a. a plurality of clutch means, each associated with one of said movable bed portions; b. said electric drive circuit having a plurality of first circuit parts each including a photo cell switch means and one of said clutch means; and c. a plurality of said electric control circuits each having a manually operated means for opening and closing each control circuit and a light source, the operation of one or another of said manually operated means causing said second circuit part and a selected one of said first circuit parts to close, whereby a selected one of said movable portions is adjusted.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
103 words
A hospital bed as set forth in claim 1 comprising: a. said drive motor having a forward and reverse drive windings in said second circuit part; b. said control circuit having motor forward and reverse drive portions; c. said opto-electric means having a light source in both of said control circuit forward and reverse drive portions and a photo cell switch means in said second drive circuit part associated with each of said forward and reverse windings; and d. said manual operative means being selectively operated to energize one or another of said light sources to drive said motor forward or in reverse.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
60 words
A hospital bed as set forth in claim 1 including a ground monitor comprising a monitoring light mounted on said patient support, the terminals of said light source being connected between said hot wire and said ground connection to create a potential across said monitoring light and maintain said monitoring light illuminated so long as said ground connection is unbroken.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
95 words
A hospital bed comprising: a. A patient support having movable sections for supporting a patient in various adjusted positions; b. an electric drive motor for moving said movable sections, said motor having a connection to ground; c. an electric drive circuit for supplying power to said motor including a hot and neutral wire; and d. a ground monitoring light carried by said bed, said light being connected between said hot wire and said ground connection to create a potential across said light and maintain said light illuminated so long as said ground connection is unbroken.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
95 words
A hospital bed comprising: a. A patient support having movable sections for supporting a patient in various adjusted positions; b. an electric drive motor for moving said movable sections, said motor having a connection to ground; c. an electric drive circuit for supplying power to said motor including a hot and neutral wire; and d. a ground monitoring light carried by said bed, said light being connected between said hot wire and said ground connection to create a potential across said light and maintain said light illuminated so long as said ground connection is unbroken.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-02-20 | 1976-08-21 | 1977-02-20 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-02-20 | 1980-08-21 | 1981-02-20 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-02-20 | 1984-08-21 | 1985-02-20 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |