Tilting bed

Claim 2

A bed adapted for controlled rhythmic tilting comprising: a base framework, an articulated support shaft including an upper shaft member, a lower shaft member and means pivotally connecting the upper and lower shaft members together for rotation as a unit, means rotatably mounting the lower shaft member on the base framework for rotation about a fixed axis, means connected to the support shaft for rotating the support shaft relative to the base framework, means for tilting the upper shaft member relative to the lower shaft member, a mattress support framework supported on the upper shaft member for rotation relative to the support shaft, and means interconnecting the mattress support framework and the base framework for preventing rotational movement of the mattress support framework relative to the base framework while permitting tilting movement of the mattress support framework relative to the base framework.

Claim 3

A bed as claimed in claim 1 in which the means pivotally connecting together the upper and lower shaft members include the end of the lower shaft member connected to the upper shaft member being in the form of bifurcated ends, and the upper shaft member being pivotally mounted on the bifurcated ends.

Claim 4

A bed as claimed in claim 2 in which the upper shaft member includes a frame member which bridges the bifurcated ends of the lower shaft member and a shaft rotatably supported by the frame member.

Claim 5

A bed as claimed in claim 1 in which the means for tilting the upper shaft member relative to the lower shaft member comprises a threaded bar rotatably mounted on the lower shaft member and in screw thread engagement with a nut member secured to the upper shaft member remote from the means pivotally connecting together the upper and lower shaft members whereby rotation of the threaded bar causes relative movement between the nut member and the threaded bar to pivot the upper shaft member relative to the lower shaft member.

Claim 6

A bed as claimed in claim 1 in which the means interconnecting the mattress support framework and the base framework to prevent a horizontal rotational movement of the mattress support framework relative to the base framework comprises a first bar pivotally attached at one end to the mattress support framework and at the other end to a second bar which is itself pivotally mounted on the base framework.

Claim 7

A bed as claimed in claim 5 in which the pivotal attachment of the first bar to the mattress support framework is through the pivotal mounting of the bar on a pivot member secured to the mattresS support framework, the pivot member having an axis lying in a common plane with the means pivotally connecting together the upper shaft member and the lower shaft member.

Claim 8

A bed as claimed in claim 5 in which the pivotal attachment of the first bar to the mattress support framework is through the pivotal mounting of the bar on a pivot member secured to the mattress support framework, the pivot member having an axis lying in a common plane with the means pivotally connecting together the upper shaft member and the lower shaft member, the means pivotally connecting together the upper and lower shaft members defining a pivot axis rotatable in said common plane.

Claim 9

A bed particularly constructed for controlled rhythmic tilting, said bed comprising a base framework, an articulated support shaft including an upper shaft member and a lower shaft member, means carried by said base framework supporting said lower shaft member for rotation about a fixed axis, said lower shaft member having a bifurcated upper portion and said upper shaft member having a lower portion positioned within said bifurcated upper portion, horizontal pivot means carried by an upper part of said bifurcated upper portion mounting said upper shaft member above a lower end thereof for pivoting relative to said lower shaft member, cooperating adjustable tilting means on the lower end of said upper shaft member and generally at the lower end of said bifurcated upper portion for fixedly adjusting the tilting of said upper shaft member relative to said lower shaft member, said upper shaft member including an upper shaft, a mattress support framework, means carried by said mattress support framework mounting said mattress support framework on said upper shaft for relative rotation, means interconnecting said mattress support framework and said base framework for preventing rotational movement of said mattress support framework while permitting tilting thereof relative to said base framework, and drive means connected to said support drive for rotating said support shaft to effect rhythmic tilting of said mattress support framework.

Claim 10

A bed particularly constructed for controlled rhythmic tilting, said bed comprising a base framework, an articulated support shaft including an upper shaft member and a lower shaft member, means carried by said base framework supporting said lower shaft member for rotation about a fixed axis, said lower shaft member having a bifurcated upper portion and said upper shaft member having a lower portion positioned within said bifurcated upper portion, horizontal pivot means carried by an upper part of said bifurcated upper portion mounting said upper shaft member above a lower end thereof for pivoting relative to said lower shaft member, cooperating adjustable tilting means on the lower end of said upper shaft member and generally at the lower end of said bifurcated upper portion for fixedly adjusting the tilting of said upper shaft member relative to said lower shaft member, said upper shaft member including an upper shaft, a mattress support framework, means carried by said mattress support framework mounting said mattress support framework on said upper shaft for relative rotation, means interconnecting said mattress support framework and said base framework for preventing rotational movement of said mattress support framework while permitting tilting thereof relative to said base framework, and drive means connected to said support drive for rotating said support shaft to effect rhythmic tilting of said mattress support framework.

Claim 11

A bed as claimed in claim 8 in which the means interconnecting the mattress support framework and the base framework to prevent a horizontal rotational movement of the mattress support framework relative to the base framework comprises a first bar pivotally attached at one end to the mattress support framework and at the other end to a second bar which is itself pivotally mounted on the base framework.

Claim 12

A bed particularly for controlled rhythmic tilting, said bed comprising a base framework, an articulated support shaft including an upper shaft member and a lower shaft member, means carried by said base framework supporting said lower shaft member for rotation about a fixed axis, said lower shaft member having at the upper end thereof an elongated transversely extending bar including remote ends, supports extending upwardly from said bar remote ends, said upper shaft member including a lower frame member extending between said supports, aligned pivot means carried by said bars and defining a pivot axis for said upper shaft member, cooperating adjustable tilting means carried by said bar and said lower frame member in vertically spaced relation to said pivot axis for fixedly adjusting the tilting of said upper shaft member relative to said lower shaft member, said upper shaft member including an upper shaft, a mattress support framework, means carried by said mattress support framework mounting said mattress support framework on said upper shaft for relative rotation, means interconnecting said mattress support framework and said base framework for preventing rotational movement of said mattress support framework while permitting tilting thereof relative to said base framework, and drive means connected to said support shaft for rotating said support shaft to effect rhythmic tilting of said mattress support framework.

Claim 13

A bed particularly for controlled rhythmic tilting, said bed comprising a base framework, an articulated support shaft including an upper shaft member and a lower shaft member, means carried by said base framework supporting said lower shaft member for rotation about a fixed axis, said lower shaft member having at the upper end thereof an elongated transversely extending bar including remote ends, supports extending upwardly from said bar remote ends, said upper shaft member including a lower frame member extending between said supports, aligned pivot means carried by said bars and defining a pivot axis for said upper shaft member, cooperating adjustable tilting means carried by said bar and said lower frame member in vertically spaced relation to said pivot axis for fixedly adjusting the tilting of said upper shaft member relative to said lower shaft member, said upper shaft member including an upper shaft, a mattress support framework, means carried by said mattress support framework mounting said mattress support framework on said upper shaft for relative rotation, means interconnecting said mattress support framework and said base framework for preventing rotational movement of said mattress support framework while permitting tilting thereof relative to said base framework, and drive means connected to said support shaft for rotating said support shaft to effect rhythmic tilting of said mattress support framework.

Claim 14

A bed as claimed in claim 10 wherein said adjustable Tilting means includes a support arm depending from said lower frame member, and a cooperating screw and nut extending between said bar and said support arm.

Claim 15

A bed as claimed in claim 11 in which the means interconnecting the mattress support framework and the base framework to prevent a horizontal rotational movement of the mattress support framework relative to the base framework comprises a first bar pivotally attached at one end to the mattress support framework and at the other end to a second bar which is itself pivotally mounted on the base framework.

Claim 16

A bed ad claimed in claim 10 wherein said adjustable tilting means includes a support arm depending from said lower frame member, and a cooperating screw and nut extending between said bar and said support arm, said screw being rotatably journalled in said bar in an axially fixed position and said nut being pivotally mounted on said support arm.