Bed occupant sensing device

Claim 1

A portable sensing device for placement in a bed to monitor the presence of an occupant in the bed, comprising: (a) a rigid lower member having lower member ends, (b) a planar upper member in the form of a rigid plate having opposed sides and opposed ends which are respectively adjacent said lower member ends and which upper member is in spaced and generally parallel relation with the lower member, (c) a plurality of spacer means spacing the opposed ends of the plate with respect to the respective lower member ends but leaving a substantial portion of the opposed sides unsupported so that the center of the plate and its sides are free to flex relative to the support means under the weight of the occupant of the bed, (d) a sensor located between the plate and the lower member and centrally between the spacer means without contacting any of the plurality of spacer means so as to be sensitive to flexing of the plate under the weight of the occupant of the bed, and (e) said sensor comprising a limit switch or transducer actuated by the relative movement between said plate and said rigid lower member.