Universal bed system
View Patent ↗An adjustable bed system includes first and second end boards. A first height adjustment mechanism is secured to the first end board via a first mounting member and a second height adjustment mechanism is secured to the second end board via a second mounting member. The second height adjustment mechanism is independent of the first height adjustment mechanism. An external housing member is engagable with one of the first and second mounting members. A transition box is operatively engagable with one of the first and second height adjustment mechanisms. The transition box is positioned within the external housing such that the transition box is substantially inhibited from rotation during height adjustment of the bed system. A drive shaft interconnects the transition box, at a first end thereof, and the other of the first and second height adjustment mechanisms, at a second end thereof.
1. An adjustable bed system comprising:
first and second end boards;
a first height adjustment mechanism secured to the first end board via a first mounting member;
a second height adjustment mechanism secured to the second end board via a second mounting member, the second height adjustment mechanism being independent of the first height adjustment mechanism;
an external housing member engagable with one of the first and second mounting members;
a transition box operatively engagable with one of the first and second height adjustment mechanisms, the transition box being positioned within the external housing such that the transition box is substantially inhibited from rotation during height adjustment of the bed system; and
a drive shaft having a first end engagable with the transition box, and a second end engagable with the other of the first and second height adjustment mechanisms, the drive shaft adjustable between a first length and a second length.
2. The bed system of claim 1 , wherein the external housing includes a body with a first cutout formed in an upper surface thereof, and a second cutout formed in a lower surface thereof, each of the first and second cutouts being configured and dimensioned for engagement with the first and second mounting members.
3. The bed system of claim 2 , wherein the external housing includes one or more visual markers identifying the first and second cutouts.
4. The bed system of claim 2 , wherein the first and second cutouts are configured and dimensioned to engage the first and second mounting members in frictional engagement.
5. The bed system of claim 2 , wherein the first and second cutouts are configured and dimensioned to engage the first and second mounting members in snap-fit relation.
6. The bed system of claim 1 , wherein the drive shaft includes a center portion, and a plurality of outer portions extending from the center portion, the center portion and the outer portions being connected in telescoping arrangement to facilitate selective adjustment of the drive shaft between the first and second lengths.
7. The bed system of claim 1 , wherein the transition box includes a housing having first and second outputs at one end thereof, each output having a gear selectively couplable to the one of the first and second height adjustment mechanisms, the gears disposed in meshed engagement with one another, the transition box further including an input disposed on the other end thereof that is configured to couple to the first end of the drive shaft.
8. The bed system of claim 7 , wherein the gears of the first and second outputs are disposed in horizontal registration relative to one another.
9. The bed system of claim 7 , wherein the first and second end boards are identical in structure.
10. The bed system of claim 9 , wherein the one of the first and second height adjustment mechanisms is coupled to the gear of the second output of the transition box such that the second output and the drive shaft are rotatable in opposite directions to effect uniform height adjustment of the first and second end boards.
11. The bed system of claim 7 , wherein the first end board is different from the second end board.
12. The bed system of claim 11 , wherein the one of the first and second height adjustment mechanisms is coupled to the gear of the first output of the transition box such that the first output and the drive shaft are rotatable in similar directions to effect uniform height adjustment of the first and second end boards.
13. The bed system of claim 1 , further comprising a frame assembly secured to the first and second end boards, the frame assembly being configured and dimensioned to support a patient.
14. The bed system of claim 13 , further comprising a bracket member engaged to the frame assembly, and extending from an underside thereof, the bracket member configured and dimensioned to receive the drive shaft at least partially therethrough to inhibit relative movement between the drive shaft and the frame assembly.
15. The bed system of claim 14 , further comprising a ring member including an opening extending therethrough configured and dimensioned to receive the drive shaft, the ring member defining an outer dimension larger than an inner dimension of the at least one opening of the bracket member, whereby the ring member is prevented from passing through the at least one opening in the bracket member to further inhibit relative movement between the drive shaft and the frame.
16. The bed system of claim 15 , wherein the ring member further includes a screw member that is repositionable relative to the ring member to vary the opening extending through the ring member, to thereby selectively inhibit relative movement between the drive shaft and the ring member.