Combination bed

Abstract

 A combination bed includes a bed unit (20), and a wheelchair unit (10) separable from the bed unit. The bed unit includes a first main body part, a first seating surface part (24) attached to the first main body part, and a U-shaped member (211) located below the first seating surface part and attached to the first main body part. The wheelchair unit includes a second main body part (11), a second seating surface part, a first armrest, and a second armrest. The second seating surface part (12) is attached to the second main body part. The first armrest (14) is vertically slidable and attached to a first lateral surface, which faces the bed unit when the bed unit and the wheelchair unit are being combined, of the second main body part. The second armrest (13) is vertically slidable and attached to a second lateral surface, opposite the first lateral surface, of the second main body part. When the bed unit and the wheelchair unit are being combined and the first armrest that is lowered, the U-shaped member is capable of placing a portion of the first armrest therein.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present invention relates to a combination bed having a unit that can be separated and used as a wheelchair.

BACKGROUND ART

[0002] When a caregiver transfers a care-receiver between a bed and a wheelchair, the caregiver hurts his/her lower back in some cases. Here, the care-receiver refers to a bedridden elderly person or a patient. In this point of view, a combination bed having a unit separable and used as a wheelchair has been proposed (for example, see Japanese Unexamined Utility Model Application Publication No. H05-51330).

[0003] FIG. 9 is a perspective view illustrating conventional combination bed 1 (hereinafter, referred to as bed 1). In bed 1, a surface on which a user lies is formed of lateral base boards 2 and 4 of bed unit 1A, and middle base board 3 of wheelchair unit 5. This surface is formed by moving flattened middle base board 3 to space 3A between lateral base boards 2 and 4. Bed 1 is configured such that arm 8 is rotated about rotary device 7 in a direction indicated by arrow 7A so as to lift lateral base board 4 fixed to arm 8, thus allowing wheelchair unit 5 to be moved to space 3A. As described above, bed 1 allows easy transfer of a care-receiver (an occupant of wheelchair unit 5) between wheelchair unit 5 and bed unit 1A.

[0004] A pair of railings 9 of wheelchair unit 5 are used as armrests of the wheelchair. When wheelchair unit 5 is coupled to bed unit 1A, railings 9 are pulled out from insertion holes 9B of wheelchair unit 5 and inserted into insertion holes 9A of bed 1, thereby serving as side rails of bed 1.

[0005] Such bed 1 can reduce a caregiver's burden of transferring a care-receiver between wheelchair unit 5 and bed 1.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0006] It is an object of the present invention to provide a combination bed having a reduced risk that a care-receiver may fall off and achieving a high level of safety.

[0007] A combination bed according to the present invention includes a bed unit, and a wheelchair unit separable from the bed unit. The bed unit includes a first main body part,; a first seating surface part attached to the first main body part, and a U-shaped member located below the first seating surface part and fixed to the first main body part. The wheelchair unit includes a second main body part, a second seating surface part, a first armrest, and a second armrest. The second main body part has a first lateral surface and a second lateral surface opposite the first lateral surface. The first lateral surface faces the bed unit when the bed unit and the wheelchair unit are being combined. The second seating surface part is attached to the second main body part. The first armrest is vertically slidable and attached to the first lateral surface of the second main body part. The second armrest is vertically slidable and attached to the second lateral surface of the second main body part. When the bed unit and the wheelchair unit are being combined and the first armrest is lowered, the U-shaped member is capable of receiving a portion of the first armrest.

[0008] With the above configuration, the combination bed according to the present invention has a reduced risk that a care-receiver may fall off, and achieves a high level of safety.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0009] 

FIG. 1A is a perspective view illustrating a combined state of a combination bed according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 1B is a perspective view illustrating a state in which a wheelchair unit is locked in the combination bed illustrated in FIG. 1A.

FIG. 1C is a perspective view illustrating a separation state of the combination bed illustrated in FIG. 1A.

FIG. 1D is a perspective view illustrating a state in which a first armrest is lifted in the combination bed illustrated in FIG. 1A.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart of a method for separating the wheelchair unit in the combination bed illustrated in FIG. 1A to FIG. 1C.

FIG. 3A is a perspective view illustrating a flattened state of the wheelchair unit in the combination bed illustrated in FIG. 1A.

FIG. 3B is a perspective view illustrating a chair state of the wheelchair unit illustrated in FIG. 3A.

FIG. 4A is a perspective view illustrating a lifted state of the first armrest illustrated in FIG. 1D.

FIG. 4B is a perspective view illustrating a lowered state of the first armrest illustrated in FIG. 4A.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view illustrating a first component of the first armrest illustrated in FIG. 4A.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view illustrating a second component of the first armrest illustrated in FIG. 4A.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view illustrating a third component of the first armrest illustrated in FIG. 4A.

FIG. 8A is a partially enlarged view illustrating a positional relationship between the first armrest and a U-shaped pipe when a bed unit illustrated in FIG. 1A is at a low end.

FIG. 8B is a partially enlarged view illustrating a positional relationship between the first armrest and the U-shaped pipe when the first armrest illustrated in FIG. 1B is in contact with the U-shaped pipe.

FIG. 8C is a partially enlarged view illustrating a positional relationship between the first armrest and the U-shaped pipe when the first armrest illustrated in FIG. 1B is lifted.

FIG. 8D is a partially enlarged view illustrating a positional relationship between the first armrest and the U-shaped pipe when the wheelchair unit illustrated in FIG. 1C is released from the bed unit.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view illustrating a conventional combination bed.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENT

[0010] Prior to an embodiment of the present invention, a problem in conventional bed 1 illustrated in FIG. 9 will be described briefly. In bed 1, wheelchair unit 5 can be separated even when railings 9 are not attached to wheelchair unit 5. Thus, at the time of separating wheelchair unit 5, there is a risk that a care-receiver may roll in a direction across his/her shoulders and fall off.

[0011] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention is described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Same structural components are assigned same reference signs, and description of such structural components may be omitted. Also, in order to facilitate understanding of the drawings, major structural components are each illustrated schematically.

[0012] FIG. 1A to FIG. 1C are drawings for describing combination bed 100 (hereinafter, referred to as bed 100) according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1A is a perspective view illustrating a combined state. FIG. 1B is a perspective view illustrating a state in which wheelchair unit 10 is locked by an interlocking mechanism. FIG. 1C is a perspective view illustrating a separation state in which wheelchair unit 10 is separated. FIG. 1D is a perspective view illustrating a state in which first armrest 14 is lifted.

[0013] As illustrated in FIG. 1A to FIG. 1C, bed 100 includes wheelchair unit 10 and bed unit 20.

[0014] Bed unit 20 includes base frame 21 with castors, lifting and lowering part 22 attached to base frame 21, upper frame 23, first seating surface part 24, first fixing part 25, and U-shaped pipe 211. Height of first seating surface part 24 and height of upper frame 23 can be varied by lifting and lowering part 22. A first main body part of bed unit 20 is constituted by base frame 21, lifting and lowering part 22, upper frame 23 and first fixing part 25.

[0015] The first main body part is an example of a bed main body part. First seating surface part 24 is an example of a bed seating surface part, and combined with second seating surface part 12 of wheelchair unit 10 so as to form a surface of bed 100. First fixing part 25 is an example of a wheelchair fixing part for removably attaching wheelchair unit 10.

[0016] First seating surface part 24 is attached to upper frame 23. The first seating surface part 24 can be changed its posture. First fixing part 25 is fixed to upper frame 23 and provided for removably attaching wheelchair unit 10. U-shaped pipe 211, which is an example of a U-shaped member, is fixed to base frame 21. In other words, bed unit 20 includes the first main body part, first seating surface part 24 attached to this first main body part, and the U-shaped member that is located below first seating surface part 24 and fixed to the first main body part.

[0017] Wheelchair unit 10 includes second main body part 11 with castors, second seating surface part 12, first armrest 14, and second armrest 13. Second seating surface part 12 is attached to second main body part 11. The second seating surface part 12 can be changed its posture. Second main body part 11 is an example of a wheelchair main body part. Second seating surface part 12 is an example of a wheelchair seat part. First armrest 14 and second armrest 13 are attached to second main body part 11. First armrest 14 and second armrest 13 are an example of armrests.

[0018] Second main body part 11 has a first lateral surface that faces bed unit 20 when bed unit 20 and wheelchair unit 10 are being combined, and a second lateral surface opposite the first lateral surface. First armrest 14 is attached to the first lateral surface, and second armrest 13 is attached to the second lateral surface. In the example illustrated in FIG. 1C, the first lateral surface is on a left-hand side of care-receiver 200, and the second lateral surface is on a right-hand side of care-receiver 200.

[0019] Although detailed mechanisms will be described later, second armrest 13 and first armrest 14 are vertically slidable. By vertically sliding second armrest 13 and first armrest 14, it is possible to place them in a lifted state and a lowered state. In FIG. 1A, second armrest 13 is in the lifted state, and first armrest 14 is in the lowered state.

[0020] Now, a separation method of bed 100 will be described with reference to FIG. 1A to FIG. 1D and FIG. 2. FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating a method for separating wheelchair unit 10.

[0021] In a state where wheelchair unit 10 and bed unit 20 are combined, a caregiver first moves care-receiver 200 onto wheelchair unit 10 as illustrated in FIG. 1A (Step S01 in FIG. 2).

[0022] Subsequently, the caregiver operates lifting and lowering part 22 so as to lower upper frame 23 until second main body part 11 touches a floor. After second main body part 11 touches the floor, only bed unit 20 is lowered further, so that wheelchair unit 10 is disengaged from first fixing part 25 (Step S02 in FIG. 2). This makes it possible to move wheelchair unit 10 away from bed unit 20. At this time, a step is formed between second seating surface part 12 and first seating surface part 24 such that the former is higher than the latter.

[0023] Then, the caregiver pulls out wheelchair unit 10 to a first separation position illustrated in FIG. 1B (Step S03 in FIG. 2). At this time, in bed 100, a portion (a lower end portion) of first armrest 14 is located within and in contact with U-shaped pipe 211 fixed to base frame 21. Thus, in the first separation position, wheelchair unit 10 cannot be pulled out any further. Here, the state where the portion of first armrest 14 is located within U-shaped pipe 211 is a state indicated by dashed lines in FIG. 1D and illustrated in FIG. 8A and FIG. 8B described later. In this manner, wheelchair unit 10 is disengaged from first fixing part 25 in a state where bed unit 20 is lowered by lifting and lowering part 22. In the state where wheelchair unit 10 is disengaged from first fixing part 25 and first armrest 14 is located within U-shaped pipe 211, wheelchair unit 10 can move only between a position in contact with bed unit 20 and a first separation position.

[0024] In this state, as illustrated in FIG. 1D, the caregiver lifts first armrest top 141A serving as an elbow rest of first armrest 14 to a position above second seating surface part 12. This locates first armrest 14 outside U-shaped pipe 211, making it possible to pull out wheelchair unit 10 because first armrest 14 is not in contact with U-shaped pipe 211 (Step S04 in FIG. 2). Here, the state where first armrest 14 is located outside U-shaped pipe 211 is a state indicated by solid lines in FIG. 1D and illustrated in FIG. 8C and FIG. 8D described later

[0025] In this manner, when the caregiver pulls out wheelchair unit 10 with first armrest 14 lifted up, he/she can pull it out to a second separation position as illustrated in FIG. 1C (Step S05 in FIG. 2).

[0026] The first separation position is a position of wheelchair unit 10 at which a gap sufficient for lifting up first armrest 14 can be formed between wheelchair unit 10 and bed unit 20. In other words, the first separation position is a position when wheelchair unit 10 is slightly pulled out from the combined state. Also, the second separation position is a position of wheelchair unit 10 at which wheelchair unit 10 and bed unit 20 are completely separated.

[0027] Unless first armrest top 141A of first armrest 14 is lifted to the position above second seating surface part 12, wheelchair unit 10 cannot be pulled out and separated from bed 100. In other words, in order to separate wheelchair unit 10 from bed 100, it is necessary to lift first armrest 14 and cause it to function as a railing. In this way, bed 100 has a safe separation mechanism for care-receiver 200.

[0028] Although a configuration of separating wheelchair unit 10 toward the right-hand side of care-receiver 200 has been described in the present embodiment, a configuration of separating it toward the left-hand side of care-receiver 200 is also possible. In that case, not first armrest 14 but second armrest 13 makes contact with U-shaped pipe 211. In the description, first armrest 14 is to be replaced by second armrest 13.

[0029] FIG. 3A is a perspective view illustrating wheelchair unit 10 in a flattened state, and FIG. 3B is a perspective view illustrating wheelchair unit 10 in a chair state. The flattened state refers to a state in which second seating surface part 12 of wheelchair unit 10 is flat. The chair state refers to a state in which, as illustrated in FIG. 3B, second seating surface part 12 of wheelchair unit 10 is shaped as a chair having a back rest, a seat, a foot rest and so on. After wheelchair unit 10 is separated from bed unit 20, second seating surface part 12 can be changed its posture. In other words, the posture of second seating surface part 12 can be changed from the flattened state in FIG. 3A to the chair state in FIG. 3B. Wheelchair unit 10 in the chair state in FIG. 3B can be used as a wheelchair.

[0030] Next, movement of first armrest 14 will be described with reference to FIG. 4A to FIG. 7. FIG. 4A is a perspective view illustrating a lifted state of first armrest 14, and FIG. 4B is a perspective view illustrating the lowered state of first armrest 14. FIG. 5 to FIG. 7 are perspective views respectively illustrating first component 141, second component 142 and third component 143 of first armrest 14.

[0031] As illustrated in FIG. 4A and FIG. 4B, first armrest 14 includes third component 143 that is attached to second main body part 11 at a second fixing part with a screw or the like, second component 142 slidable inside third component 143, and first component 141 slidable inside second component 142.

[0032] As illustrated in FIG. 5, first component 141 includes first armrest top 141A, first pipe 141B, first pin 141C, and lever 141D. First armrest top 141A is a member on which an arm of care-receiver 200 is placed. First pipe 141B supports first armrest top 141A and also slides inside second component 142. First pin 141C is provided in a lower portion of first pipe 141B. In other words, first pipe 141B is attached to first armrest top 141A and first pin 141C is provided to first pipe 141B at an opposite side to first armrest top 141A along an extending direction of first pipe 141B.

[0033] Lever 141D is provided for operating first pin 141C. Although not illustrated in FIG. 5, first component 141 includes a mechanism that allows first pin 141C to be retracted in first pipe 141B when lever 141D is lifted. In other words, first pin 141C is provided in such a manner as to protrude from a lateral surface of first pipe 141B and be retracted in first pipe 141B.

[0034] As illustrated in FIG. 6, second component 142 includes second pipe 142A and second pin 142B. Furthermore, a plurality of first holes 142C are provided in a lateral surface of second pipe 142A. First pin 141C can be fitted into each of first holes 142C. First pin 141C is fitted into one of first holes 142C, whereby a position of first component 141 is attached with respect to second component 142. Although not illustrated in FIG. 6, a lower portion of second pipe 142A is provided with a mechanism that allows second pin 142B to be retracted in second pipe 142A when first component 141 slides to a lower position. That is to say, second pipe 142A can store first pipe 141B therein, and has first holes 142C into which first pin 141C is fitted and second pin 142B. The second pin 142B. At an opposite side to first holes 142C along an extending direction of second pipe 142A, second pin 142B is provided in such a manner as to protrude from the lateral surface of second pipe 142A and be retracted in second pipe 142A.

[0035] As illustrated in FIG. 7, third component 143 includes third pipe 143A, and second fixing part 143C that fixes third pipe 143A to second main body part 11 with a screw or the like. Second hole 143B is provided in a lateral surface of third pipe 143A. Second pin 142B is fitted into second hole 143B, whereby second component 142 is attached to third component 143. That is to say, third pipe 143A can store second pipe 142A therein, and is provided with second hole 143B into which second pin 142B is fitted.

[0036] Now, movement for turning the lifted state in FIG. 4A to the lowered state in FIG. 4B will be described. First, the caregiver grips lever 141D to operate first pin 141C and pull it out from first hole 142C. By this operation, first component 141 is disengaged from second component 142. As a result, first component 141 becomes freely slidable with respect to second component 142. When the caregiver pulls down first component 141 in this state, second pin 142B is operated and pulled out from second hole 143B. By this operation, second component 142 is disengaged from third component 143. As a result, second component 142 becomes freely slidable with respect to third component 143. When the caregiver pulls down first component 141 in this state, second component 142 is stored in third component 143, thus achieving the lowered state illustrated in FIG. 4B.

[0037] A lifting operation in Step S04 in FIG. 2 is the reverse of the pulling down operation described above. First, the caregiver grips lever 141D to operate first pin 141C and disengage first component 141. In this state, the caregiver lifts up freely-operable first component 141. This allows first pin 141C to be fitted into one of first holes 142C, so that first component 141 is attached to second component 142. When the caregiver lifts first component 141 in this state, second pin 142B is fitted into second hole 143B, so that second component 142 is attached to third component 143.

[0038] FIG. 8A to FIG. 8D are drawings for describing a positional relationship between first armrest 14 and U-shaped pipe 211 during separation. FIG. 8A and FIG. 8B are partially enlarged views respectively illustrating a state in which bed unit 20 is at a low end and a state in which first armrest 14 is in contact with U-shaped pipe 211. Also, FIG. 8C and FIG. 8D are partially enlarged views respectively illustrating a state in which first armrest 14 is lifted and a state in which wheelchair unit 10 is released outwardly from the first separation position.

[0039] As described earlier, in order to separate wheelchair unit 10 from bed unit 20, bed unit 20 is lowered first by lifting and lowering part 22 to a position illustrated in FIG. 8A. When wheelchair unit 10 is pulled out in this state, second component 142 makes contact with U-shaped pipe 211 as illustrated in FIG. 8B. At this time, a gap of about 90 mm is present between wheelchair unit 10 and bed unit 20. This gap is narrow enough to prevent care-receiver 200 from falling off. However, owing to this gap, a gap of about 40 mm is secured beside first armrest top 141A having a width of about 50 mm, thus allowing insertion of a human hand. As described above, a position at which this gap is formed corresponds to the first separation position. In other words, the first separation position is away from bed unit 20 by the width of first armrest 14 plus 40 mm. Also, the first separation position is away from bed unit 20 by 90 mm, for example, as described above.

[0040] When first component 141 is lifted in this state to a position illustrated in FIG. 8C, second component 142 moves out of contact with U-shaped pipe 211. This makes it possible to separate wheelchair unit 10 from bed unit 20 as illustrated in FIG. 8D.

[0041] In the above description, for achieving a small overall height in the lowered state, first armrest 14 is constituted by first component 141, second component 142 and third component 143. Additionally, second pipe 142A is provided with the plurality of first holes 142C so that a height of first armrest top 141A can be adjusted in the lifted state.

[0042] However, there are some cases where first armrest 14 may also be slightly high even in the lowered state because the surface of bed 100 is high and the height of first armrest top 141A need not be adjusted. In such cases, first armrest 14 may be constituted only by first component 141 and third component 143. In this case, an inner dimension of third pipe 143A and an outer dimension of first pipe 141B are adjusted so that first pipe 141B can slide inside third pipe 143A. In this case, first pin 141C functions as a locking mechanism that is fitted into second hole 143B and disengageably attaches first pipe 141B to third pipe 143A.

[0043] With the configuration described above, bed 100 can achieve a combination bed that can be separated and used as a wheelchair, has a reduced risk that care-receiver 200 may fall off, and achieves a high level of safety.

[0044] A portion of bed 100 is separated for use as a wheelchair, so that bed 100 is useful as a wheelchair/bed for nursing a bedridden elderly person or a patient.

REFERENCE MARKS IN THE DRAWINGS

[0045] 

10

Wheelchair unit

11

Second main body part

12

Second seating surface part

13

Second armrest

14

First armrest

20

Bed unit

21

Base frame

22

Lifting and lowering part

23

Upper frame

24

First seating surface part

25

First fixing part

100

Combination bed (bed)

141

First component

141A

First armrest top

141B

First pipe

141C

First pin

141D

Lever

142

Second component

142A

Second pipe

142B

Second pin

142C

First hole

143

Third component

143A

Third pipe

143B

Second hole

143C

Second fixing part

200

Care-receiver

211

U-shaped pipe

Claims

1. A combination bed comprising:

a bed unit (20); and

a wheelchair unit (10) separable from the bed unit (20),

wherein the bed unit (20) includes:

a first main body part;

a first seating surface part (24) attached to the first main body part; and

a U-shaped member (211) located below the first seating surface part (24) and attached to the first main body part,

wherein the wheelchair unit (10) includes:

a second main body part (11) having a first lateral surface which faces the bed unit (20) when the bed unit (20) and the wheelchair unit (10) are being combined, and a second lateral surface opposite the first lateral surface;

a second seating surface part (12) attached to the second main body part;

a first armrest (14) attached to the first lateral surface of the second main body part and vertically slidable; and

a second armrest (13) attached to the second lateral surface of the second main body part and vertically slidable, and

wherein the U-shaped member (211) is capable of placing a portion of the first armrest (14) therein when the bed unit (20) and the wheelchair unit (10) are being combined, and the first armrest (14) is lowered.

2. The combination bed according to claim 1,
wherein the bed unit (20) further includes a first fixing part (25) which removably attaches the wheelchair unit (10) to the bed unit (20), and
in a state where the wheelchair unit (10) is disengaged from the first fixing part (25) and the portion of the first armrest (14) is located within the U-shaped member (211), the wheelchair unit (10) is movable only between a position in contact with the bed unit (20) and a first separation position.

3. The combination bed according to claim 2,
wherein the first separation position is away from the bed unit (20) by a width of the first armrest (14) plus 40 mm.

4. The combination bed according to any one of claims 2 and 3,
wherein the first main body part includes a lifting and lowering part (22), and
the first fixing part (25) releases the fixation of the wheelchair unit (10) and the bed unit (20) in a state where the bed unit (20) is lowered by the lifting and lowering part (22).

5. The combination bed according to any one of claims 1 to 4,
wherein the first armrest (14) includes:

a first component (141) including a first armrest top (141A), a first pipe (141B) attached to the first armrest top (141A), and a first pin (141C) which is provided to the first pipe (141B) at an opposite side to the first armrest top (141A) and is projectable from a lateral surface of the first pipe (141B);

a second component (142) including a second pipe (142A) into which the first pipe (141B) is slidably insertable and which includes a first hole (142C) into which the first pin (141C) is fitted, and a second pin (142B) which is provided to the second pipe (142A) at an opposite side to the first hole (142C) and is projectable from a lateral surface of the second pipe (142A); and

a third component (143) including a third pipe (143A) into which the second pipe (142A) is slidably insertable and which includes a second hole (143B) into which the second pin (142B) is fitted, and a second fixing part (143C) which fixes the third pipe (143A) to the second main body part.

6. The combination bed according to any one of claims 1 to 4,
wherein the first armrest (14) includes:

a first component (141) including a first armrest top (141A), and a first pipe (141B) attached to the first armrest top (141A);

a third component (143) including a third pipe (143A) into which the first pipe is slidably insertable, and a second fixing part (143C) which fixes the third pipe (143A) to the second main body part; and

a locking mechanism which disengageably attaches the first component (141) to the third component (143).

Drawing