Patent · US Expired

Communication and bed function control apparatus

US6486792B1 · kind B1 · utility

183Cited by
56References
47Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateApr 14, 1999
Grant dateNov 26, 2002
Priority date
Expiry dateApr 14, 2019

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
  • CPC primaryA61G2203/12
  • WIPO fieldMedical technology
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

A communication and control apparatus includes a control unit having a surface accessible to a person on a bed, the control unit being coupled to a portion of the bed, and a plurality of icons located on the surface of the control unit. Each icon represents a separate one of the plurality of controlled functions. The apparatus also includes an indicator associated with each icon, a single select switch located on the surface of the control unit, and at least one adjustment switch located on the control unit to control the function selected using the select switch. The select switch is actuatable to scroll sequentially through the plurality of different functions. The control unit is configured to actuate the indicator corresponding to a function selected as the select switch is actuated to scroll through the plurality of different controlled functions.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.