Portable support for a bed patient

Claim 2

A weighing device which comprises a rigid member that remains rigid and stationary while a person or object is being weighed by said weighing device, a supporting surface overlying but being vertically movable relative to at least a part of said member, a pressure transducer which is intermediate a portion of said member and a portion of said supporting surface and which responds to the application of a weight to said supporting surface and to the resulting tendency of said supporting surface to move relative to said member to develop a signal, a readout which responds to said signal from said pressure transducer to indicate the value of said weight applied to said supporting surface, a plurality of pivots that have the axes thereof parallel to each other and that are fixedly secured to said member so said pivots will remain stationary while a person or object is being weighed by said weighing device, a second plurality of pivots that have the axes thereof parallel to each other and parallel to the axes of the pivots of the first said plurality of pivots and that are fixedly secured to said supporting surface, and a plurality of rigid links that are pivotally mounted on said pivots of said first said plurality of pivots and that rotatably support said pivots of said second plurality of pivots and thereby pivotally secure said supporting surface to said member, said pivots of said second plurality of pivots having the axes thereof displaced both horizontally and vertically from the axes of said pivots of said first said plurality of pivots so said links have the axes thereof angularly displaced from the vertical, said first said and said second plurality of pivots and links and said member and said supporting surface coacting to constitute a four-bar linkage mechanism which will permit said supporting surface to translate through an arcuate path at right angles to the axes of said pivots of said first said plurality of pivots while preventing tilting or rocking of said supporting surface.

Claim 3

A weighing device which comprises a rigid member that remains rigid and stationary while a person or object is being weighed by said weighing device, a supporting surface overlying but being vertically movable relative to at least a part of said member, a pressure transducer which is intermediate a portion of said member and a portion of said supporting surface and which responds to the application of a weight to said supporting surface and to the resulting tendency of said supporting surface to move relative to said member to develop a signal, a readout which responds to said signal from said pressure transducer to indicate the value of said weight applied to said supporting surface, a plurality of pivots that have the axes thereof parallel to each other and that are fixedly secured to said member so said pivots will remain stationary while a person or object is being weighed by said weighing device, a second plurality of pivots that have the axes thereof parallel to each other and parallel to the axes of the pivots of the first said plurality of pivots and that are fixedly secured to said supporting surface, a plurality of rigid links that are pivotally mounted on said pivots of said first said plurality of pivots and that rotatably support said pivots of said second plurality of pivots and thereby pivotally secure said supporting surface to said member, said pivots of said second plurality of pivots having the axes thereof displaced both horizontally and vertically from the axes of said pivots of said first said plurality of pivots so said links have the axes thereof angularly displaced from the vertical, said first said and said second plurality of pivots and links and said member and said supporting surface coating to constitute a four-bar linkage mechanism which will permit said supporting surface to translate through an arcuate path at right angles to the axes of said pivots of said first said plurality of pivots while preventing tilting or rocking of said supporting surface, said pressure transducer constituting the sole weight-sensing component of said weighing device, and said four-bar linkage mechanism enabling said pressure transducer to correctly sense any weight that is applied to said supporting surface regardless of the area on said supporting surface where said weight is applied.

Claim 4

A weighing device which comprises a rigid member that remains rigid and stationary while a person or object is being weighed by said weighing device, a supporting surface overlying but being vertically movable relative to at least a part of said member, a pressure transducer which is intermediate a portion of said member and a portion of said supporting surface and which responds to the application of a weight to said supporting surface and to the resulting tendency of said supporting surface to move relative to said member to develop a signal, a readout which responds to said signal from said pressure transducer to indicate the value of said weight applied to said supporting surface, a plurality of pivots that have the axes thereof parallel to each other and that are fixedly secured to said member so said pivots will remain stationary while a person or object is being weighed by said weighing device, a second plurality of pivots that have the axes thereof parallel to each other and parallel to the axes of the pivots of the first said plurality of pivots and that are fixedly secured to said supporting surface, a plurality of rigid links that are pivotally mounted on said pivots of said first said plurality of pivots and that rotatably support said pivots of said second plurality of pivots and thereby pivotally secure said supporting surface to said member, said pivots of said second plurality of pivots having the axes thereof displaced both horizontally and vertically from the axes of said pivots of said first said plurality of pivots so said links have the axes thereof angularly displaced from the vertical, said first said and said second plurality of pivots and links and said member and said supporting surface coating to constitute a four-bar linkage mechanism which will permit said supporting surface to translate through an arcuate path at right angles to the axes of said pivots of said first said plurality of pivots while preventing tilting or rocking of said supporting surface, said pressure transducer constituting the sole weight-sensing component of said weighing device, and said four-bar linkage mechanism enabling said pressure transducer to correctly sense any weight that is applied to said supporting surface regardless of the area on said supporting surface where said weight is applied.

Claim 5

A weighing device which comprises a rigid member that remains rigid and stationary while a person or object is being weighed by said weighing device, a supporting surface overlying but being vertically movable relative to at least a part of said member, a pressure transducer which is intermediate a portion of said member and a portion of said supporting surface and which responds to the application of a weight to said supporting surface and to the resulting tendency of said supporting surface to move relative to said member to develop a signal, a readout which responds to said signal from said pressure transducer to indicate the value of said weight applied to said supporting surface, a plurality of pivots that have the axes thereof parallel to each other and that are fixedly secured to said member so said pivots will remain stationary while a person or object is being weighed by said weighing device, a second plurality of pivots that have the axes thereof parallel to each other and parallel to the axes of the pivots of the first said plurality of pivots and that are fixedly secured to said supporting surface, a plurality of rigid links that are pivotally mounted on said pivots of said first said plurality of pivots and that rotatably support said pivots of said second plurality of pivots and thereby pivotally secure said supporting surface to said member, said pivots of said second plurality of pivots having the axes thereof displaced both horizontally and vertically from the axes of said pivots of said first said plurality of pivots so said links have the axes thereof angularly displaced from the vertical, said first said and said second plurality of pivots and links and said member and said supporting surface coacting to constitute a four-bar linkage mechanism which will permit said supporting surface to translate through an arcuate path at right angles to the axes of said pivots of said first said plurality of pivots while preventing tilting or rocking of said supporting surface, said links inclining downwardly from said supporting surface at an angle of less than 45.degree. to the horizontal, whereby weight-induced movement of said supporting surface has a vertical component which is greater than the horizontal component of that weight-induced movement.

Claim 6

A weighing device which comprises a rigid member that remains rigid and stationary while a person or object is being weighed by said weighing device, a supporting surface overlying but being vertically movable relative to at least a part of said member, a pressure transducer which is intermediate a portion of said member and a portion of said supporting surface and which responds to the application of a weight to said supporting surface and to the resulting tendency of said supporting surface to move relative to said member to develop a signal, a readout which responds to said signal from said pressure transducer to indicate the value of said weight applied to said supporting surface, a plurality of pivots that have the axes thereof parallel to each other and that are fixedly secured to said member so said pivots will remain stationary while a person or object is being weighed by said weighing device, a second plurality of pivots that have the axes thereof parallel to each other and parallel to the axes of the pivots of the first said plurality of pivots and that are fixedly secured to said supporting surface, a plurality of rigid links that are pivotally mounted on said pivots of said first said plurality of pivots and that rotatably support said pivots of said second plurality of pivots and thereby pivotally secure said supporting surface to said member, said pivots of said second plurality of pivots having the axes thereof displaced both horizontally and vertically from the axes of said pivots of said first said plurality of pivots so said links have the axes thereof angularly displaced from the vertical, said first said and said second plurality of pivots and links and said member and said supporting surface coacting to constitute a four-bar linkage mechanism which will permit said supporting surface to translate through an arcuate path at right angles to the axes of said pivots of said first said plurality of pivots while preventing tilting or rocking of said supporting surface, said links inclining downwardly from said supporting surface at an angle of less than 45.degree. to the horizontal, whereby weight-induced movement of said supporting surface has a vertical component which is greater than the horizontal component of that weight-induced movement.

Claim 7

a weighing device which comprises a rigid member that remains rigid and stationary while a person or object is being weighed by said weighing device, a supporting surface overlying but being vertically movable relative to at least a part of said member, a pressure transducer which is intermediate a portion of said member and a portion of said supporting surface and which responds to the application of a weight to said supporting surface and to the resulting tendency of said supporting surface to move relative to said member to develop a signal, a readout which responds to said signal from said pressure transducer to indicate the value of said weight applied to said supporting surface, a plurality of pivots that have the axes thereof parallel to each other and that are fixedly secured to said member so said pivots will remain stationary while a person or object is being weighed by said weighing device, a second plurality of pivots that have the axes thereof parallel to each other and parallel to the axes of the pivots of the first said plurality of pivots and that are fixedly secured to said supporting surface, a plurality of rigid links that are pivotally mounted on said pivots of said first said plurality of pivots and that rotatably support said pivots of said second plurality of pivots and thereby pivotally secure said supporting surface to said member, said pivots of said second plurality of pivots having the axes thereof dispoaced both horizontally and vertically from the axes of said pivots of said first said plurality of pivots so said links have the axes thereof angularly displaced from the vertical, said first said and said second plurality of pivots and links and said member and said supporting surface coacting to constitute a four-bar linkage mechanism which will permit said supporting surface to translate through an arcuate path at right angles to the axes of said pivots of said first said plurality of pivots while preventing tilting or rocking of said supporting surface, and said four-bar linkage mechanism being arranged as a quadrilateral which has the opposite sides thereof parallel and which defines equal obtuse angles and equal acute angles, whereby said four-bar linkage mechanism enables all of the weight of said supporting surface and of anything and anyone resting thereon to be concentrated at said pressure transducer.

Claim 8

a weighing device which comprises a rigid member that remains rigid and stationary while a person or object is being weighed by said weighing device, a supporting surface overlying but being vertically movable relative to at least a part of said member, a pressure transducer which is intermediate a portion of said member and a portion of said supporting surface and which responds to the application of a weight to said supporting surface and to the resulting tendency of said supporting surface to move relative to said member to develop a signal, a readout which responds to said signal from said pressure transducer to indicate the value of said weight applied to said supporting surface, a plurality of pivots that have the axes thereof parallel to each other and that are fixedly secured to said member so said pivots will remain stationary while a person or object is being weighed by said weighing device, a second plurality of pivots that have the axes thereof parallel to each other and parallel to the axes of the pivots of the first said plurality of pivots and that are fixedly secured to said supporting surface, a plurality of rigid links that are pivotally mounted on said pivots of said first said plurality of pivots and that rotatably support said pivots of said second plurality of pivots and thereby pivotally secure said supporting surface to said member, said pivots of said second plurality of pivots having the axes thereof dispoaced both horizontally and vertically from the axes of said pivots of said first said plurality of pivots so said links have the axes thereof angularly displaced from the vertical, said first said and said second plurality of pivots and links and said member and said supporting surface coacting to constitute a four-bar linkage mechanism which will permit said supporting surface to translate through an arcuate path at right angles to the axes of said pivots of said first said plurality of pivots while preventing tilting or rocking of said supporting surface, and said four-bar linkage mechanism being arranged as a quadrilateral which has the opposite sides thereof parallel and which defines equal obtuse angles and equal acute angles, whereby said four-bar linkage mechanism enables all of the weight of said supporting surface and of anything and anyone resting thereon to be concentrated at said pressure transducer.

Claim 9

A weighing device which comprises a rigid member that remains rigid and stationary while a person or object is being weighed by said weighing device, a supporting surface overlying but being vertically movable relative to at least a part of said member, a pressure transducer which is intermediate a portion of said member and a portion of said supporting surface and which responds to the application of a weight to said supporting surface and to the resulting tendency of said supporting surface to move relative to said member to develop a signal, a readout which responds to said signal from said pressure transducer to indicate the value of said weight applied to said supporting surface, a plurality of pivots that have the axes thereof parallel to each other and that are fixedly secured to said member so said pivots will remain stationary while a person or object is being weighed by said weighing device, a second plurality of pivots that have the axes thereof parallel to each other and parallel to the axes of the pivots of the first said plurality of pivots and that are fixedly secured to said supporting surface, a plurality of rigid links that are pivotally mounted on said pivots of said first said plurality of pivots and that rotatably support said pivots of said second plurality of pivots and thereby pivotally secure said supporting surface to said member, said pivots of said second plurality of pivots having the axes thereof displaced both horizontally and vertically from the axes of said pivots of said first said plurality of pivots so said links have the axes thereof angularly displaced from the vertical, said first said and said second plurality of pivots and links and said member and said supporting surface coacting to constitute a four-bar linkage mechanism which will permit said supporting surface to translate through an arcuate path at right angles to the axes of said pivots of said first said plurality of pivots while preventing tilting or rocking of said supporting surface, and said pivots of said second plurality of pivots being hinge pins which have minimal diameters, whereby said four-bar linkage mechanism enables said pressure transducer to indicate the total weight of said supporting surface and of anything and of anyone resting thereon with a high degree of repeatable accuracy.

Claim 10

A weighing device which comprises a rigid member that remains rigid and stationary while a person or object is being weighed by said weighing device, a supporting surface overlying but being vertically movable relative to at least a part of said member, a pressure transducer which is intermediate a portion of said member and a portion of said supporting surface and which responds to the application of a weight to said supporting surface and to the resulting tendency of said supporting surface to move relative to said member to develop a signal, a readout which responds to said signal from said pressure transducer to indicate the value of said weight applied to said supporting surface, a plurality of pivots that have the axes thereof parallel to each other and that are fixedly secured to said member so said pivots will remain stationary while a person or object is being weighed by said weighing device, a second plurality of pivots that have the axes thereof parallel to each other and parallel to the axes of the pivots of the first said plurality of pivots and that are fixedly secured to said supporting surface, a plurality of rigid links that are pivotally mounted on said pivots of said first said plurality of pivots and that rotatably support said pivots of said second plurality of pivots and thereby pivotally secure said supporting surface to said member, said pivots of said second plurality of pivots having the axes thereof displaced both horizontally and vertically from the axes of said pivots of said first said plurality of pivots so said links have the axes thereof angularly displaced from the vertical, said first said and said second plurality of pivots and links and said member and said supporting surface coacting to constitute a four-bar linkage mechanism which will permit said supporting surface to translate through an arcuate path at right angles to the axes of said pivots of said first said plurality of pivots while preventing tilting or rocking of said supporting surface, and said pivots of said second plurality of pivots being hinge pins which have minimal diameters, whereby said four-bar linkage mechanism enables said pressure transducer to indicate the total weight of said supporting surface and of anything and of anyone resting thereon with a high degree of repeatable accuracy.

Claim 11

A weighing device which comprises a rigid member that remains rigid and stationary while a person or object is being weighed by said weighing device, a supporting surface overlying but being vertically movable relative to at least a part of said member, a pressure transducer which is intermediate a portion of said member and a portion of said supporting surface and which responds to the application of a weight to said supporting surface and to the resulting tendency of said supporting surface to move relative to said member to develop a signal, a readout which responds to said signal from said pressure transducer to indicate the value of said weight applied to said supporting surface, a plurality of pivots that have the axes thereof parallel to each other and that are fixedly secured to said member so said pivots will remain stationary while a person or object is being weighed by said weighing device, a second plurality of pivots that have the axes thereof parallel to each other and parallel to the axes of the pivots of the first said plurality of pivots and that are fixedly secured to said supporting surface, a plurality of rigid links that are pivotally mounted on said pivots of said first said plurality of pivots and that rotatably support said pivots of said second plurality of pivots and thereby pivotally secure said supporting surface to said member, said pivots of said second plurality of pivots having the axes thereof displaced both horizontally and vertically from the axes of said pivots of said first said plurality of pivots so said links have the axes thereof angularly displaced from the vertical, said first said and said second plurality of pivots and links and said member and said supporting surface coacting to constitute a four-bar linkage mechanism which will permit said supporting surface to translate through an arcuate path at right angles to the axes of said pivots of said first said plurality of pivots while preventing tilting or rocking of said supporting surface, said pressure transducer having a movable element which can move only a very small fraction of an inch in response to the application of a weight to said supporting surface, and said links inclining downwardly from said supporting surface at an angle of less than 45.degree. from the horizontal, whereby said supporting surface moves a greater distance vertically than it does horizontally in response to the application of a weight thereto.

Claim 12

A weighing device which comprises a rigid member that remains rigid and stationary while a person or object is being weighed by said weighing device, a supporting surface overlying but being vertically movable relative to at least a part of said member, a pressure transducer which is intermediate a portion of said member and a portion of said supporting surface and which responds to the application of a weight to said supporting surface and to the resulting tendency of said supporting surface to move relative to said member to develop a signal, a readout which responds to said signal from said pressure transducer to indicate the value of said weight applied to said supporting surface, a plurality of pivots that have the axes thereof parallel to each other and that are fixedly secured to said member so said pivots will remain stationary while a person or object is being weighed by said weighing device, a second plurality of pivots that have the axes thereof parallel to each other and parallel to the axes of the pivots of the first said plurality of pivots and that are fixedly secured to said supporting surface, a plurality of rigid links that are pivotally mounted on said pivots of said first said plurality of pivots and that rotatably support said pivots of said second plurality of pivots and thereby pivotally secure said supporting surface to said member, said pivots of said second plurality of pivots having the axes thereof displaced both horizontally and vertically from the axes of said pivots of said first said plurality of pivots so said links have the axes thereof angularly displaced from the vertical, said first said and said second plurality of pivots and links and said member and said supporting surface coacting to constitute a four-bar linkage mechanism which will permit said supporting surface to translate through an arcuate path at right angles to the axes of said pivots of said first said plurality of pivots while preventing tilting or rocking of said supporting surface, said pressure transducer having a movable element which can move only a very small fraction of an inch in response to the application of a weight to said supporting surface, and said links inclining downwardly from said supporting surface at an angle of less than 45.degree. from the horizontal, whereby said supporting surface moves a greater distance vertically than it does horizontally in response to the application of a weight thereto.