Abstract: A wheel mounting system is comprised of a bearing that is adapted to be positioned between a wheel and the foot tube of a bed. The bearing is comprised of two halve split bearings that are adapted to be fit together to make the complete bearing. The split bearings are adapted to be forced into the wheel and held onto the foot tube by the wheel. A method for mounting a wheel to the foot tube of a bed is comprised of the step of positioning split bearings on the end of a foot tube of the bed with a rib on an interior surface of the split bearings in alignment with an annular groove in the end of the foot tube. The foot tube is then held in a fixture with a backup surface of the fixture abutting the flange of two split bearings.

Abstract: A pivot joint comprises a receiver supported relative to a first member. The receiver is provided for receiving a second member. The receiver is partially cylindrical. A retainer is adapted to be supported relative to the first member to trap the second member in the receiver. The retainer has an arcuate shaped portion that is adapted to engage the second member. Moreover, the retainer has a resilient portion that is adapted to conform to a portion of the second member.

Abstract: A side rail comprises a main body and a pair of lever arms. A first lever arm has an upper end movably supported relative to the main body by an upper pivot pin and a lower end movably attached to the bed by a lower pivot pin. A second lever arm has an upper end movably supported relative to the main body by an upper pivot pin and a lower end movably attached to the bed by a lower pivot pin. The pivot pins are arranged so that the pivot pins do not come into linear alignment with one another during movement of the lever arms.

Abstract: An articulated bed comprises a main frame supported by a leg tube. An upper portion of the leg tube is longitudinally and pivotally displaceable relative to the main frame at an upper movable pivot point. A lower portion of a stabilizer is connected to a lower intermediate portion of the leg tube at a lower orbital pivot point. An upper portion of the stabilizer is pivotally connected relative to said main frame at an upper fixed pivot point. A wheel is pivotally attached to a lower portion of the leg tube at a pivot axis. The upper movable pivot point, the lower orbital pivot point, and the pivot axis do not coalign and the distance between the upper fixed pivot point and the upper movable pivot point are maximized when the main frame is in a raised position.

Abstract: A bushing comprising a main body that is adapted to be supported by the first member. The main body is comprised of a rigid layer and one or more other layers supported by the rigid layer. One of the layers defines an axial bore that is adapted to receive a pin that movably couples the second member to the first member.

Abstract: A ramp assembly for an articulating bed for preventing interference of a movable bed component with a stationary bed component comprises a ramp and a contact member. The ramp is attached to either the movable bed component or the stationary bed component. The contact member is connected to the other bed component in a manner such that it contacts the ramp. The contact member and the ramp cooperate to maintain a spaced relation between the movable bed component and the stationary bed component during movement of the movable component.

Abstract: A vertical blind apparatus having a wand operated control for traversing the slats along a headrail and for rotating the slats. The blind apparatus has an actuator shaft with its axis disposed in a central vertical plane equidistant from the sidewalls of the headrail; slat carriers are mounted on slat carriages for rotation about vertical axes disposed in the central vertical plane and a control shaft for the wand operated control is also mounted for rotation in the central vertical plane. The wand operated vertical blind apparatus can be used in either left or right draw installations and in two-way draw installations.

Abstract: A vertical blind apparatus of the type having a plurality of panel support carriages mounted for movement along a track and a lazy-tong linkage extending lengthwise of the track and connected to the carriages to control spacing between adjacent carriages when the blind is extended along the track to a closed position. The maximum spacing between adjacent carriages is further controlled by rail engaging fingers on the outer pivots of the lazy-tong linkage, and a rail having lateral guide faces arranged to engage the fingers to limit movement of the outer pivots to a preselected minimum distance.

Abstract: A vertical blind of the type having louver carriages mounted for movement along a guide channel with a louver carrier mounted on each carriage for rotation about an upright axis and carriage gear mechanism for rotating the louvers in response to turning of an operating shaft that extends lengthwise of the channel. A wand operated mechanism is provided for rotating the louvers in response to raising and lowering a wand and includes a drive lever mounted for pivotal movement about an axis parallel to the axis of the operating shaft and a crank lever rotatable with the shaft and operated by the drive lever to rotate the shaft. A bidirectional detent mechanism on the housing and crank lever releasably retains the shaft in different angularly adjusted positions. The wand includes a tubular member connected to the drive lever through an L-shaped connector so that tubular member extends downwardly from the underside of the channel in all operating positions fo the drive lever.

Abstract: A hose retainer is provided for removably securing hoses within a cabinet of the appliance. The retainer includes a hook for securing the apparatus to a structure inside the appliance, a slit for receiving an end of a hose, and in one embodiment at least one aperture for receiving an end of a second hose. In a second embodiment the apparatus includes an arm and projection for securing an end of the second hose. The appliance includes access ports for affording access to a portion of the hoses while they are in their stored position and further includes an electrical plug storage aperture for holding the electrical cord in a stored, yet accessible location during shipping.

Abstract: A U-shaped cabinet shroud for a front-serviceable appliance is provided with overbent side walls which are forced outwardly by guide pins on a stationary back wall of such appliance as the shroud is positioned onto a base member and the rear wall of the appliance resulting in a tight, secure fit of the shroud to the rear wall.