Abstract: A storage canister apparatus (10,110) particularly useful for housing a Protective Breathing Equipment (PBE) device therein, is described. A first embodiment of the storage canister comprises a container (12) provided with a removable closure means in a vacuum sealed relationship therewith to prolong the useful life of the PBE device housed therein. The closure means is secured to the container by a gasket seal (44) such that a pulling force on a handle (64) causes the closure means to move with respect to the container to release a plug (44) provided in an inner cover (16) to thereby break the vacuum seal to access the PBE device. A second embodiment comprises a "peel top" closure means that is peeled from the container in response to a pulling force applied to a handle (156) to release the vacuum sealed relationship between a container (114) and the closure means to thereby access the PBE device housed therein.

Abstract: A side guard apparatus for a bed can be selectively depoloyed between a retracted position alongside the bed and an upright position above the support surface of the bed. A side guard member is pivotally connected to a base support member, which is pivotally connected to the side of the bed. A chain and sprocket linkage constrains rotation of the plane in which the side guard member is disposed during pivoting movement of the side guard member relative to the base support member and the pivoting movement of the base support member relative to the bed. The constant angle of orientation of the side guard member can be selectively changed. The side guard member and the base support member are locked into position and unlocked from this position by a pair of locking members resiliently urged by a pair of springs to insert their respective locking pins into openings defined in a pair of oppositely disposed mounting blocks.