Cantilever Bed Lifter - key features and pros & cons

CBL - summary of key features

• Available for all bed widths: 2’3”, 2’6”, 2’9”, 3’, 3’6”, 3’9”, 4’, 4’6”, 5’
• Lowest possible overall height to top of bed base (without mattress) when fully lowered is 10” / 25.5cm *
• Standard maximum range of movement (difference between fully lowered and fully raised) is 16.5” / 42cm* (this allows absolute minimum height whilst also preserving the full height extension necessary to match maximum hospital bed height: allowing for an absolute lowest possible bed which is still suitable for carer assistance - the only bed lifter of its type currently available with this specification)
• Standard CBL package bed length is 6’8”, with extended and reduced lengths available for any bed length 5’10” – 7’4” *
• Maximum user weight  is 25 stone / 160 kg
• When fitted with castors, the CBL bed can be moved around/repositioned with occupant still lying in bed, which can be critical from a carer-patient access point of view
• CBL cantilever motion requires up to 12” max (at full raised height) horizontal movement as bed comes ‘up and away’ from wall at head end
• Manual over-ride wind-down is a standard CBL safety feature - it constitutes an answer to any concern about being 'stranded' in the 'up' position in the event of total equipment failure (eg wiring damage) - the ORWOODS bedlifter is the only bed lifter of its type currently available with this feature
• Rechargeable Battery Back-Up unit available (will power high-low for around 30 up/down-cycles in the event of mains power outage)
• CBL is particularly versatile and customisable - extensive selection of interchangeable castor types, castor bearers and other foot fittings available - and is therefore capable of being adapted to suit changing user requirements over time

* may be affected by optional specification details

Comment on CBL:

The CBL cantilever movement is ‘upwards and away from the wall’ (not vertically ‘straight up and down’) and CBL therefore requires some room for lateral travel at the foot end of the bed (up to a maximum of 12”) as the bed describes its arc upwards and maximum height is achieved – although in practice this degree of lateral travel is invariably not required, as the maximum lateral travel will occur only at the very highest position of the CBL travel, a degree of height raising which is likely to be beyond what is required in all but the most exceptional of cases.

The CBL can be fitted with a single-action bed only - it is not possible to configure this apparatus with a dual bed on top suitable for two users side by side; where CBL-type function is required for two users, two bed-lifter packages will routinely be set-up side-by-side with minimal clearance between bed bases (even 5mm is sufficient).