A bed, bed assembly method, and bed usage method

Abstract

This invention relates to a bed comprising: •a support frame ( 2 ); •a bed frame ( 9 ) having a proximal and distal end opposite to each other; •a support and motion system configured to support and move the bed frame relative to the support frame, and comprising: •a first support ( 30 ) that is moveable along the support frame, and is connected to the proximal end; •a support beam ( 50 ); •a second support ( 40 ) that is moveable along the support frame, and is connected to an end of the support beam, wherein an opposite end of the support beam is connected to the bed frame at a position in between the proximal and distal end; and •an actuator system ( 31,41 ) to independently move the first and second support along the support frame allowing the bed frame to be positioned in orientations parallel and perpendicular to the support frame.

1 . A bed comprising:
 a vertically extending support frame;   a bed frame having a proximal end and a distal end opposite to the proximal end, wherein the bed frame is configured to support a mattress;   a support and motion system configured to support the bed frame with respect to the support frame and configured to move the bed frame relative to the support frame,   wherein the support and motion system comprises:
 a first support that is moveable along the support frame, which first support is connected to the proximal end of the bed frame; 
 a support beam; 
 a second support that is moveable along the support frame, which second support is connected to an end of the support beam, and wherein an opposite end of the support beam is connected to the bed frame at a location in between the proximal end and the distal end; and 
 an actuator system to independently move the first and second support along the support frame allowing, 
   
       and wherein the bed is configured such that the bed frame can be positioned in an orientation parallel to the support frame and an orientation perpendicular to the support frame. 
     
     
         2 . A bed according to  claim 1 , wherein the support frame has a lower end to be positioned on the ground and an upper end opposite the lower end, and wherein in the parallel orientation the first support is at or near the upper end of the support frame and the second support is in between the first support and the lower end of the support frame. 
     
     
         3 . A bed according to  claim 1 , wherein the bed frame comprises one or more moveable mattress support elements to support the mattress. 
     
     
         4 . A bed according to  claim 3 , wherein the bed comprises a bed shape adjustment system configured to set a shape of the mattress supported by the one or more moveable mattress support elements by positioning the one or more moveable mattress support elements, respectively. 
     
     
         5 . A bed according to  claim 3 , wherein the bed comprises a bed pressure adjustment system configured to adjust pressure areas of a mattress used to support a person lying in the bed. 
     
     
         6 . A bed according to  claim 1 , wherein a length of the bed frame is adjustable. 
     
     
         7 . A bed according to  claim 6 , wherein the length of the bed frame is adjustable by adjusting a length of a portion of the bed frame at the distal end of the bed frame configured to support the lower legs of a person. 
     
     
         8 . (canceled) 
     
     
         9 . A bed according to  claim 6 , comprising a footboard at the distal end of the bed frame for delimiting a mattress at the distal end of the bed frame, wherein the footboard is moveable to adjust the length of the bed frame. 
     
     
         10 . A bed according to  claim 1 , comprising a control unit to drive the support and motion system. 
     
     
         11 . A bed according to  claim 10 , wherein the control unit is configured to also drive the bed shape adjustment system. 
     
     
         12 . A bed according to  claim 10 , wherein the control unit is configured to also drive the bed pressure shape adjustment system. 
     
     
         13 . (canceled) 
     
     
         14 . A bed according to  claim 1 , comprising a mattress supported by the bed frame. 
     
     
         15 . A bed according to  claim 7 , wherein the mattress comprises a portion configured to support the lower legs of a person, which portion of the mattress has an adjustable length, preferably as a result of having alternating transverse cuts at a lower side of the mattress facing towards the bed frame and at an upper side of the mattress opposite the lower side. 
     
     
         16 . A bed according to  claim 14 , wherein the mattress comprises a lower mattress and a separate top mattress, wherein a thickness of the lower mattress is significantly larger than a thickness of the top mattress. 
     
     
         17 . A bed according to  claim 14 , wherein the mattress is provided with one or more sensors configured to measure temperature, pressure, humidity and/or deformation of the mattress. 
     
     
         18 . A bed according to  claim 10 , wherein the one or more sensors are connected to the control unit to output measurement data to the control unit. 
     
     
         19 . A method for assembling a bed according to  claim 1 , comprising the following steps:
 a) mounting the support frame to a support structure; and   b) subsequently mounting the support and motion system and the bed frame to the support frame.   
     
     
         20 . A method for using a bed according to  claim 1 , comprising the following steps:
 a) providing the bed frame parallel to the support frame;   b) moving the bed frame to the orientation perpendicular to the support frame.   
     
     
         21 . A method according to  claim 20 , wherein the bed frame is positioned into an inclined orientation with the distal end at or near the ground, and the mattress is shaped into a chair to allow a person on the bed to sit upright. 
     
     
         22 . A method according to  claim 20 , wherein the bed frame is positioned into an inclined orientation with the distal end at or near the ground, and the mattress is shaped such that the feet of a person on the mattress are positioned substantially below a center of gravity of the person and such that the person is in a nearly standing position to allow the person to get in and out of the bed.