Abstract: A portable bed railing for retrofitting bed railing to existing beds. The portable bed railing includes a first portion for defining a substantially vertical railing. The first portion includes a rod having a first end and a second end. Each of a pair of elongate members is integrally coupled to and extends away from one of the first and second ends of the rod. The elongate members extend in a generally parallel direction to each other and each is orientated generally perpendicular to the rod. A second portion for positioning between a mattress and box spring includes a bar having a first end and a second end. Each of a pair of pole members is integrally coupled to and extends away from one of the first and second ends of the bar. The pole members extend in a generally parallel direction to each other and each is orientated generally perpendicular to the bar. Each of the pole members has a free end hingedly coupled to one of the elongate members.

Abstract: A bed is provided including a frame, an accessory mount coupled to the frame, a siderail, and an ambulatory assist arm assembly. The accessory mount is configured to removably couple the siderail to the frame so that the siderail can be removed and replaced with the ambulatory assist arm assembly.

Abstract: A bed comprises a lower frame (12) having at least one leg or support element (16) for support on a ground and an upper frame (14) connected with the lower frame (12) and having a head element (22) and a foot element (24), as well as at least one connecting element (26) connecting the same. Further, a lying surface (46) having two longitudinal edges (48) extending between the head element (22) and the foot element (24), and at least one safety side element (52; 54) are provided, the at least one safety side element (52; 54) being slidable, beneath the lying surface (46), in a pull-out plane between an insert position and a maximum pull-out position. The at least one safety side element (52; 54) remains extending in the pull-out plane in any intermediate position between insert position and the maximum pull-out position.

Abstract: A bed is provided having a bedframe, a first pair of siderails, and a second pair of siderails. The bedframe includes an articulating deck having first and second sections that move relative to each other. The first pair of the siderails is coupled to the second section of the deck to move therewith. At least one pair of the siderails is configured to move relative to the other pair of siderails to compensate for movement of the first pair of siderails with the second section of the deck.

Abstract: A deployable and stowable side rail for a patient supporting bed. A plurality of bearing housings are provided each rotatably secured to the patient support frame for movement about parallel axes that extend horizontally and perpendicular to the lateral side edges. A plurality of posts are rotatably supported on respective ones of the post receiving supports on the bearing housings. An opposite end of each post oriented on a common side of the patient supporting surface is pivotally connected to a common elongate rail member also oriented on the common side of the patient supporting surface.

Abstract: A side rail assembly for a wheeled carriage includes side rail posts secured by a support structure including bushings having inner flat sides that expand outwardly to adjust for variations in the tolerance of the side rail posts and snugly secure the side rail posts to the support structure. Such variations can be caused by a finished surface applied to the entire outer circumference of the side rail posts and the support structure to improve the appearance thereof. The support structure enables curved side rail posts to rotate about their axis at lower ends thereof.

Abstract: An ambulatory assist apparatus is configured to be mounted to a frame of a bed. The ambulatory assist apparatus includes an ambulatory assist arm having a first end portion and a second end portion configured to provide a handle, a mounting plate configured to be coupled to the frame of the bed, and a pivot pin for pivotably coupling the ambulatory assist arm to the mounting plate. The mounting plate includes a plurality of spaced-apart apertures. The apparatus also includes a locking pin coupled to the first end portion of the assist arm. The locking pin is configured to engage a selected one of the plurality of apertures in the mounting plate to secure the ambulatory assist arm at different orientations relative to the mounting plate. The apparatus further includes an actuator to release the locking pin from the selected aperture to permit pivotable movement of the ambulatory assist arm relative to the mounting plate.

Abstract: A bed includes a base frame, a bed deck above the base frame, and an intermediate frame carrying the bed deck. The intermediate frame is mounted to the base frame for movement relative to the base frame between a raised position spaced apart above the base frame and a lowered position below the raised position. The bed also includes a side rail mounted to the intermediate frame and extending generally upwardly therefrom to a top of the side rail, a drive assembly coupling the intermediate frame to the base frame, and control buttons mounted on the side rail and coupled to the drive assembly so that activation of the control buttons activates the drive assembly. The drive assembly moves the intermediate frame between the raised position and the lowered position when the drive assembly is activated. The control buttons include resident control buttons facing toward the bed deck and caregiver control buttons facing away from the bed deck.

Abstract: A therapeutic bed includes a castor support framework and a Trendelenburg support frame including curved arms which are mounted on guide rollers of the castor frame. The Trendelenburg support frame carries guide rollers on which rings at opposite ends of the bed run. A patient support platform is mounted on the rings. A patient supine support including a mattress and leg supports are mounted on the patient support platform. Side rails are engagable and lockable to the platform. A patient prone support includes a head support, an adjustable abdomen support and support pad sections which are each split longitudinally to define adjustable support parts which are hingedly mounted to the corresponding opposite side rails, engaged and locked in position. The therapeutic bed provides for prone positioning of a patient by rotation of the rings on the rollers through 180.degree.. The bed may also be used for kinetic therapy and/or Trendelenburg motion when a patient is in the supine and/or prone position.

Abstract: An improvement is provided in a bed having a side rail framework, and at least one dual-position rail assembly which is secured on one side of the bed. The improvement includes a rotatable structure upon which the dual-position rail assembly, is mounted in order to enable the dual-position rail assembly to move between two positively-stopped and automatically locked positions. A first of such positively-stopped and automatically locked positions disposes the dual-position rail assembly in an assist, vertically-oriented, position which is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the bed. A second of such positively-stopped and automatically locked positions disposes the dual-position rail assembly in a guard, horizontally-oriented, position which is parallel to the longitudinal axis of the bed.

Abstract: A patient-support apparatus having at least one side guard panel pivotably mounted for movement between first and second positions and a combined hinge and latch assembly configured to pivotably connect the side guard panel to the patient support. The combined hinge and latch assembly including a mounting member fixedly connected to the patient support, a hinge member fixedly connected to the side guard panel and rotatably connected to the mount for pivoting movement about an axis, and a stop mechanism coupled to one of the hinge member and the mount. The hinge member is movable along the axis between a locking position in which the stop mechanism engages the other of the hinge member and the mount to prevent relative rotation between the hinge member and the mount and a releasing position in which the stop mechanism is disengaged from the other of the hinge member and the mount to allow relative rotation between the hinge member and the mount.

Abstract: A mattress apparatus is provided for use on a bed frame having at least one siderail movable from an up position to a down position. The apparatus includes a support surface, an electrical controller configured to control the support surface, and a siderail down sensor configured to be coupled to one of the bed frame and siderail. The siderail down sensor is electrically coupled to the controller. The siderail down sensor is configured to generate an output signal indicating that the siderail of the bed frame is in the down position.

Abstract: In order to improve the operational efficiency and mitigate the burden for a subject, there is provided a table comprising a table body 41 which can be moved upwardly and downwardly, and a cradle 42 disposed over the table body 41 and having a cradle body portion 42c on which the subject 30 is to be mounted and an extending portion (first extending portion) 42a projecting laterally from at least one lateral portion of the cradle body portion 42c and extending to the vicinity of a mat 32 on a carrying means (stretcher) 25 alongside, the extending portion 42a being for use in shifting the subject 30 on the carrying means 25 to the cradle body portion 42c.

Abstract: A crib-like twin-size bed for disabled children with special needs having unusually high end and side panels, the one, or both, side panels being a combination fold-down plus slide-down side panel hinged together for permitting servicing of the bedding and the child by folding down the top panel while allowing convenient egress and ingress of the child into and out-of a wheelchair as necessary by sliding down the bottom panel.

Abstract: A long term care bed is disclosed which includes a base frame with a plurality of castors coupled to the base frame and supporting the base frame upon a floor. A support frame having a head end, a foot end, and spaced apart sides is supported by the base frame. A bed deck is supported by the support frame and includes an upwardly-facing sleeping surface for supporting a patient. Spaced first and second side rails are coupled to the support frame and include a top bar positionable in a raised position above the sleeping surface by a first distance. A side rail extension member is coupled to at least one of the first and second side rails, the extension includes an upper portion overlaying and spaced from the top bar of its associated side rail so as to provide an opening between the top bar and the extension. The side rail extension member is positionable in a raised position above the sleeping surface by a second distance greater than the first distance.

Abstract: A vertical panel is adapted to extend along at least one side of the bed and be secured to the usual sickbed side bars. The panel comprises a lower and an upper section with proximate edges of the respective sections meeting in a horizontal hinge line. The upper and lower sections are each rigid and are normally coplanar. Along the hinge line the panels are connected by at least one hinge which includes a bias adapted to bias the panels in coplanar condition but permitting the upper section to pivot and collapse inwardly of the bed about the hinge line.

Abstract: The invention relates to a bed side part for beds, especially for hospital and nursing home beds, with bed side parts mounted on the long sides, with said parts extending over the entire or approximately the entire length of the beds in question, hospital beds for example. As usual, the bed side parts are bringable at least into a raised position and into a completely depressed position, but are also preferably lockable in intermediate positions. Locking can also be performed with inclination, in other words the end areas of the bed side part in question can be lockable at different heights. According to the invention, a protective side part is associated with the bed side part and can be caused to function especially when the bed side part is completely depressed, in other words it protects the lengthwise portion of the patient at the head end.

Abstract: A rail apparatus is configured to be mounted to a frame of a bed. The apparatus includes a siderail, a support having a first end pivotably coupled to the siderail and a second end, and a bottom mounting pivotably coupled to the second end of the support. The bottom mounting including at least one mounting bracket for coupling the bottom mounting to the frame of the bed, and an accessory rail configured to permit mounting of accessory items on the rail apparatus.

Abstract: A bed enclosure is provided with a side rail which is movably mounted to a frame of the bed enclosure by a hinge assembly. The hinge assembly allows the side rail to pivotally move between a raised position, in which the side rail is adjacent a side of a mattress supported by the frame, and a lowered position, in which the said rail is below a top surface of the mattress, thereby permitting a person to easily enter and exit the bed enclosure. The hinge assembly retains the side rail in a locked position flush against the side of the mattress so that there is substantially no gap between the side rail and the side of the mattress when the side rail is in the raised position. The hinge assembly can be manually operated to disengage the side rail from the raised position to pivot the side rail in a direction outwardly from the side of the mattress to the lowered position.

Abstract: A portable, foldable bed rail adapted for use with an associated bed having a mattress thereon includes a rail member having first and second substantially identical, mirror image end rail portions and a central rail portion. The end rail portions are hingedly mounted to the central rail portion by respective rail hinge members having parallel axes of rotation. The end rail portions are foldable toward one another adjacent to the central rail portion for storage. The end rails each include a support member having a support leg. The support members are independently hingedly mounted to a respective one of the end rail portions by support hinges. The support hinges have parallel axes of rotation and are rotatable in a direction transverse to the rail hinge members. Each of the support hinge members is independently movable toward and away from its respective end rail portion.

Abstract: A portable bed rail is provided including first and second foot members, each having a first end dimensioned for insertion under a mattress and a second end spaced from said first end, and a side panel positioned to provide a barrier to falling from the bed. The side panel includes first and second vertical members extending upwardly from the second ends of the foot members, first and second spaced horizontal rails extending between the vertical members to define a frame, each of the rails having a first and second end, which ends are received by the first and second vertical members, and a flexible cover removably mounted on the frame. The flexible cover is dimensioned to extend around the first and second ends of the horizontal rails and thereby retain the ends in engagement with the first and second vertical members.

Abstract: This invention relates to a bed for persons at risk of falling out of bed, and more particularly to a safety bed with dual purpose side panels which can be used as barriers for physical restraint, or which can alternatively allow the user to roll safely from the bed to the floor.

Abstract: A medical bed having a pair of spaced ends and a pair of opposed sides connecting the ends. At least one of the sides has a top rail, a bottom rail and a plurality of spaced vertical bars extending therebetween to form a plurality of unobstructed vertical spaces. A part of the top rail extending over one or more of the unobstructed vertical spaces is movable to form an opening at the top through which tubes and wires connected between a person in the bed and medical devices outside of the bed may be moved without disconnecting them from the person when the person is moved.

Abstract: A chair bed for supporting a person is provided, the chair bed having a head end, afoot end, and opposing sides. The chair bed includes a frame and a deck supported on the frame. The deck includes head, seat, and foot sections. A mattress is mounted on the deck and has an upwardly-facing patient surface. The mattress also has head, seat, and foot portions corresponding, respectively, to the head, seat, and foot sections of the deck. The head section of the deck and the mattress portion thereon is pivotable from a generally horizontal down position through various positions upwardly to a back-support position. A pair of side rails is mounted on each side of the chair bed. Each pair of side rails includes a body section side rail mounted to move with the deck seat section and extending laterally adjacent the deck head and seat sections and a head section side rail mounted to move with the deck head section relative to the body section side rail and extending adjacent only the deck head section.

Abstract: A handle system for a medical examination table includes a rail mounted to the side of the table, a guide member slidably connected to the rail, a stopper member releasably connected to the guide member and the rail, and a handlebar connected to the guide member. The position of the handlebar may be easily adjusted to meet the varying needs of patients in supporting movements onto or about the table. In a preferred embodiment, the handlebar pivots about the guide member to a stowed position below the top surface of the table. Also in a preferred embodiment the stopper member is configured with a handhold for one-handed release and sliding of the guide member relative to the rail. The present invention provides adjustability, simplicity, and the desired sturdy support.

Abstract: A collapsible bed rail includes two spaced upright rods having an upper end to which an upper corner joint is fixed and a lower end to which a lower corner joint is pivoted so as to allow the upright rods to be rotatable among an expanded position, a collapsed position and a rail open position. An upper horizontal rod comprised of two sections pivotally jointed to each other by means of an upper central joint is pivoted at two opposite ends thereof to the upper corner joints. A lower horizontal rod comprised of two sections pivotally jointed to each other by means of a knuckle joint structure is releasably fixed at two opposite ends thereof to the lower corner joints. A transverse bar extends from each of the lower corner joints in a direction substantially normal to the respective upright rod and the lower horizontal rod to be disposed and held under a matrix so as to mount the bed rail to the bed on which the matrix is placed.

Abstract: An oscillatory bed for providing improved patient care in a hospital, nursing home or home health care setting by shifting a person's weight in order to reduce or eliminate problems encountered in convalescence or bed confinement. The subject oscillatory bed is characterized by having a removable cradle assembly received on top of a bed frame assembly. The cradle assembly may be oscillated by a microprocessor controlled electric motor or oscillated manually. The cradle assembly includes a cradle base attached at opposite ends to a semi-circular foot board and semi-circular head board. The bed frame assembly includes a pair of parallel longitudinal support members attached at opposite ends to a foot board support member and a head board support member. The foot board and head board support members include roller bearings mounted inside thereof for receiving the semi-circular foot board and head board thereon.

Abstract: The invention provides a side rail assembly for use with an institutional bed. The assembly includes provision to move a vertical frame from an upper or deployed position where it is generally above the mattress on the bed, to a lowered position generally below and outside the mattress. The frame can then be moved longitudinally from the lowered position into a stored position below the mattress so that the frame will not interfere with an attendant who is assisting the patient. Further, the frame will then have no impact on access to the bed. The side rail assembly also includes a balance assembly to counterbalance the weight of the frame so that the frame is unlikely to cause accidental injury to a patient as the frame is moved vertically.

Abstract: A stretcher includes a patient support portion vertically movably supported on a wheeled base by a lift arrangement. Two pivot members are supported on the support portion for pivotal movement about respective vertical axes, and each support a respective arm for pivotal movement about a respective horizontal axis between a position in which the arms lie in a common horizontal plane and a position in which an outer end of each arm is offset from the plane. The outer end of each arm is movably coupled to a transfer board. A link arrangement effects synchronous movement of the arms about the horizontal axes without movement about the vertical axes and about the vertical axes without movement about the horizontal axes. In a retracted position, the entire transfer mechanism is disposed physically within and has an overall vertical height less than that of the patient support portion.

Abstract: An oscillatory bed for providing improved patient care in a hospital, nursing home or home health care setting. The oscillatory bed is characterized by having hinged, adjustable side panels along opposite sides of the length of a cradle located in the oscillating bed, which can be raised from a flattened position to form a "U" shaped cradle configuration during the operation of the bed. The adjustable side panels can be quickly lowered to the flattened position for emergency treatment of the patient or in changing of the bed. The oscillatory bed also includes a linear actuator in a head board section and in a foot board section. By raising the head board section, the patient's head and upper body are raised above the patient's feet. Also, the foot board section can be raised, and in turn the patient's feet are raised above the patient's head and upper body.

Abstract: A hand rail attachment for beds comprises an upstanding side member connected to a base member adapted to fit under a bed mattress. The side member is in the form of an inverted U-shape with adjustably mounted cross-members mounted between the depending arms of the U-shape. The end of one depending arm has a pivot pin mounted therein, and the other end has a slidable sleeve attached thereto. The base member has upstanding end portions, one of which receives the pivot pin, and the other of which abuts the end of the other depending arm having the slidable sleeve which slides over the abutting connection and locks the upstanding side member to the base member. The base member has elongated U-shaped support members mounted at either end thereof to extend under the bed mattress.

Abstract: A rotary type bed which moves from a condition that a physically handicapped person or an aged person is laying down to a condition that the person raises the upper half of the body thereof and sits sideward, or from the condition of sitting sideward to the condition of lying down. The bed is divided into a front bed section and a rear bed section, and provided with a pivoting mechanism to pivot naturally and reversely when viewed from above the front bed section with respect to the rear bed section. The bed includes a handrail system comprised of a handrail provided on each of the left and the right side of the bed, with each handrail comprised of a front portion adapted to be fixedly positioned relative to a bed side, and a rear portion adapted to be pivoted inwardly, toward the patient supporting portion of the bed.

Abstract: A hospital bed has a frame mounted on a base which includes castors. Side guards are mounted on the bed frame. The side guards are inwardly moveable and releasably lockable to narrow the hospital bed. The frame has a cam block with a recess. A latching arm is pivotally connected to linkage connecting the side guard to the frame and has a handle and a cam roller follower. The handle is rotated to move the side guard inwardly; when the roller follower engages the recess the side guard is locked in the inward position. The side guards are moveable and releasably lockable toward the foot end of the bed. A spring biased plunger on the linkage projects through a hole in a plate on the linkage. The side guards are releasably lockable in an intermediate position. The spring biased plunger projects through a hole in the cam block.

Abstract: A security rail attachment for a bed comprises a post with an adjustable foot at the lower end, a rail portion mounted within the post and rotatable about the vertical axis of the post and an attachment rail which extends across the end of the bed and includes clamping elements for clamping to angle irons along the sides of the bed. The rotatable rail portion can be latched at four 90.degree. spaced positions by notches in the base of a vertical post of the rail portion which cooperate with a transverse pin in the post. The rail portion can therefore project outwardly from the bed at right angles thereto for assisting the occupant in standing or can lie along the side of the bed to assist the occupant by preventing falling from that side of the bed.

Abstract: An improvement for a standard hospital bed having a guard rail which provides for gap space, such improvement being a closure mounted on the bed rail at a gap and movable between a first position maintaining the gap and a second position closing the gap to prevent patient movement through such gap.

Abstract: In one aspect of the invention, a bed structure having a mattress deck panel and side panels, with internal reinforcing bulkheads and single-piece head- and footboards serving as reinforcing bulkheads at the head and foot of the structure. In another aspect of the invention, there is provided a low-cost air bed employing the above structure. In an additional aspect of the invention, there is provided an air bed which incorporates the air supply and control components within the bed structure itself. In a further aspect of the invention, there is provided a low-noise air flow control pinch valve. In yet another aspect of the invention, there is provided a single air bag which simulates multiple air bags through the use of welded internal baffles. In yet an additional aspect of the invention, there is provided a bed siderail which is patient-operable.

Abstract: A hospital bed has a transfer board which can be moved between a retracted position and an operational position. In the operational position, the board extends outwardly from an edge portion of the bed mattress and has an upwardly facing surface level with the top surface of the mattress. A board support mechanism includes a support lever pivotally supported on the bed for 180.degree. movement from a retracted position through a support position to a further retracted position. In the support position, an outer upper end of the support lever engages the underside of an outer edge portion of the support member in order to firmly support the outer edge portion.

Abstract: A hospital bed has a horizontally extending edge portion on a frame, the frame supporting a mattress with an upwardly facing patient support surface. A collapsible side rail has an elongate top rail and a plurality of arms each supported at one end on the frame for pivotal movement about a first pivot axis and supported at the opposite end on the elongated member for pivotal movement about a second pivot axis parallel to the first pivot axis, the first and second pivot axes each extending at an acute angle with respect to each of a horizontal reference plane, a vertical reference plane perpendicular to the edge portion, and a vertical reference plane parallel to the edge portion. In a retracted position, the entire side rail is disposed lower than and laterally inwardly of the edge portion. In a variation, a member such as an IV pole is supported on the bed frame for pivotal movement about a pivot axis which extends at an acute angle to each of the three reference planes.

Abstract: An adjustable bed includes a patient operated linear positioner, a rail assembly and a leg lift mechanism. The patient operated linear positioner includes a subassembly with a bellcrank which pivots by a patient operated soft strap. When the strap is pulled, the bellcrank pushes a cable inward which, in turn, releases a positioner rod so that the bed may be adjusted. The side rail assembly includes a J-shaped attachment bar and an idler link which acts to move the side rail both upward and forward when the head section of the adjustable bed is raised. A bed side rail may be attached to a bed frame through the use of a unique attachment mechanism which requires no tools. A further aspect of the invention utilizes a scissors-type leg lifting mechanism for holding and controlling the rate of collapsing movement of the foot section of a bed mattress frame. The leg lifting mechanism includes a mechanical lock and gas piston subassembly.

Abstract: A side guard for a hospital birthing bed has an elongated control panel and a shallow inverted U-shaped handrail extending from the front to the rear of the panel. The handrail is spaced from the panel and provides multiple positions for the mother to grip the panel during the time of her labor. A parallelogram linkage is provided for shifting the side guard from an operative position above the patient support to an inoperative position tucked below the patient support. A dashpot is provided to dampen the speed of the movement from the operative position to the inoperative position.

Abstract: A variable height bed for use in hospitals, extended care facilities and the like. The bed incorporates a base or stationary frame and an elevating frame interconnected and nesting with the stationary frame. The elevating frame has an operative range of about twenty inches, from a minimum height of approximately ten inches above the floor to a maximum of approximately twenty nine inches above the floor. The bed structure provides for substantial clearance under its midsection and includes means for elevating without the use of a manual cranking operation. Guard rails located along the sides of the bed can be moved completely out of the way of the bed sides when required; and means are provided for immobilizing the bed at any location of the elevating frame.

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.

Abstract: A bed side-guard assembly for a bed with bed frame memebrs comprises a side rail which extends generally along the length of the bed in the vertical plane. The side rail is supported by downwardly depending legs. A cross brace extends generally across the width of the bed in the horizontal plane. The ends of the cross brace have receiving means to receive the side rail legs. Attaching means for securing the cross brace to the bed frame members are mounted on each end of the cross brace. The attaching means includes a housing and resilient means. The housing features a nose end which fits beneath a portion of the bed frame member while the resilient means grippingly engages the bed frame member between the nose end and the resilient means.

Abstract: A system providing universal support for patients includes an articulated platform supported by a universal joint supported by a pair of hydraulic support arms, and by a pair of lesser hydraulic arms spaced from the universal joint. The platform is comprised of a plurality of relatively hinged panels which are also hydraulically driven. Thus, the platform is capable of assuming a large number of configurations, including full sitting and standing positions. A patient cushion system includes a large plurality of cushions which are individually or severally controlled throgh a valve and manifold system which is computer controlled for cycling cushion pressures between high and low pressures. The sides of the bed platform have restraining members which may be lowered and hinged in toward the patient to provide access to the patient. These restraining members also provide for supplemental support of such things as a canopy or tension weight.

Abstract: A bed rail support and mounting mechanism for attachment to a bed frame comprising a folding multi-link framework, a folding diagonal locking linkage and a spring counterbalance whereby a bed rail may be easily lowered or raised and locked in position. A bed including the mechanism is also disclosed.

Abstract: A hospital stretcher includes an upwardly facing patient support surface and side rails on each side of the surface movable between raised and collapsed positions. Each side rail has at one end a spindle with a handle portion which, in the raised position, extends downwardly and away from the side rail. In the collapsed position, the top of each side rail is disposed below the support surface on the stretcher. The stretcher has on each side thereof a patient transfer mechanism, each transfer mechanism including a support board which can, from a retracted position disposed lower than the patient support surface, move upwardly between the support surface and one side rail in a vertical orientation and then pivot 90.degree. to a horizontal orientation in which a surface thereon is level with the patient support surface and in which an underside of one edge portion of the support board rests on top of the collapsed side rail.

Abstract: A hospital bed is supported on a Y-shaped base to facilitate the introduction of a C-arm for imaging a patient's chest. Head guards are mounted on each side of the head end of the bed on linkages that permit the head guards to be swung toward the foot end of the bed to improve the positioning of the C-arm over the head end of the bed. The head panel has pivotable longitudinal edges to further improve the positioning of the C-arm over the head end of the bed. Pivotable longitudinal edges of the head and leg panels permit head and foot guards to be moved laterally inwardly to narrow the bed for transporting a patient.

Abstract: An infant carrier adapted to receive and retain an infant and to allow for efficient changing and cleaning of an infant is disclosed. Such changing and cleaning requires that the infant carrier provides unobstructed access to the anal and genital areas. Access thereto is gained through closable openings in the carrier in the anal and genital regions. The carrier keeps the infant in an ideal position and precludes the infant's legs from obstructing the changing or cleaning. Furthermore, the infant is not moved from the carrier for such cleaning or changing.

Abstract: A multi-purpose patient support and transport apparatus is provided which includes a Trendelenburg mechanism and a novel guard rail assembly. The Trendelenburg mechanism is actuated by turning a handle in one direction. This allows a penumatic spring connected between the seat and backrest assemblies to be fully contracted, thereby moving the backrest assembly to a Trendelenburg position. When the handle is turned in the opposite direction, the backrest may also be rotated downwardly, but is precluded from moving beyond the reclining position by a stop member which prevents the pneumatic spring shaft from moving entirely within the spring casing. The guard rail is mounted to the frame of the apparatus by a pair of pivot arms extending at an oblique angle with respect to the plane of the rail. This allows the rail to be stored under the frame when in the lowered position.

Abstract: A therapeutic bed (1) comprises a patient support platform (2) rotatably mounted on a base frame (5). A pair of side members (30) extend longitudinally of the patient support platform (2) and are mounted for pivotal movement about a longitudinal pivot axis from a raised operative position supporting a patient to a lowered inoperative position. Each side member (30) is carried on a pair of spaced-apart cranked support arms (34, 35) which are bridged by a bridging bar (42) to form a frame. A primary retaining device retains the side support in the raised position. Each support arm (34, 35) is pivotally mounted to a pivot support sleeve which is slidably mounted on a round bar (46) forming a track. A secondary retaining device is provided by a stop disc (48) having a slot (50) which is moved into and out of alignment with a latch (47) to control movement of the sleeve (45) on the bar (46).