Abstract: This invention is concerned with an improved air bed system. In this invention, the bed occupant can control the firmness of the bed. Two inflatable bladders are used with a pre-set pressure differential between them. The pressure in the lower bladder is always kept high enough to prevent bottoming of a bed occupant. The pressure in the upper bladder can be adjusted by the occupant to his or her own personal comfort level. The invention may also include various medical devices which are fluid powered, thus taking advantage of the presence of the pressurized working fluid. The invention may further include a warning circuit which senses the departure of an occupant from the bed and generates a warning signal in response thereto.

Abstract: A hydraulically operated hospital bed with dual hydraulic power systems for operation with or without electrical service. The bed has its head and thigh/leg elevation functions performed by hydraulic cylinders. A control circuit meters the introduction and removal of hydraulic fluid from these cylinders so an occupant of the bed is not subjected to any sudden movement. In case of an emergency requiring the bed occupant to be in a supine position (the need to perform CPR), the normal control circuit is bypassed by an emergency circuit that allows much faster than normal lowering of the head and thigh/leg portions of the bed.

Abstract: A hospital bed footboard is provided which can be moved from the normal, vertical position of a bed footboard to a horizontal position overlying the bed. The support for the footboard in the overbed position is of a fully cantilevered nature so no impediment is placed to approaching the patient from the sides of the bed, nor is the overall width of the bed increased. The footboard when positioned over the bed can serve as a shelf for holding monitoring and life support devices during patient transport.

Abstract: An improved table is disclosed which permits easy access to additional useable horizontal surface and which permits easy raising and lowering. The table, which in its preferred embodiment, is a hospital overbed table, is equipped with upper and lower horizontal tray surfaces. The surfaces are movable with respect to each other and may be positioned to expose the top surface alone or the upper and lower surfaces. The upper and lower surfaces may also be moved in unison to expose storage cavities in a base supporting the tray surfaces. A gas spring mechanism permits easy adjustment of the vertical positioning of the overbed table and provides a mechanism for securely locking the overbed table in place when in use.

Abstract: An improved suitcase construction is disclosed which comprises an inclined handle which permits the force of the movement of the center of gravity of a person who holds the handle to be translated to the suitcase in the direction of movement to allow the suitcase to be moved with a minimum of effort. The suitcase also comprises a plurality of casters, wherein the rear casters have outer diameters greater than the outer diameters of the front casters to provide increased stability and direction changing capability during the movement.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for laminating a fabric material to a substrate, and in particular for laminating velvet to a cardboard puffing section to be assembled into a burial casket cap panel dish, without marring or bubbling of the fabric, is disclosed. The fabric material is positioned on a laminating surface and held in place by a vacuum. A substrate is coated with adhesive on a substantial portion of one side and subsequently positioned by a transfer means on top of the fabric and adhered thereto by action of the adhesive and by the uniform vacuum pressure applied to the fabric and the adhesive-laden substrate. As the substrate is passed through the adhesive applicator, it is positioned onto the transfer means. An electric eye senses the trailing edge of the substrate as it passes to the adhesive applicator and after a delayed period, triggers the movement of the transfer means to position the substrate onto the back side of the fabric.

Abstract: A service outlet wall comprising at least one generally planar wall member, at least one section of which is adapted to receive one or more service outlets having a service conduits connected thereto and leading to service sources is disclosed. Means for housing the conduits is provided. The housing means is adjacent to the linear sections of the wall member and is configured to conceal and protect the service conduit. The service outlets are movable along the linear sections of the wall member, permitting placement of the service outlets at different positions along the linear sections. The service conduits connected to the outlets are simultaneously repositioned while maintaining the conduits in a concealed and protected position. A rail system for providing service outlets to particular locations in a room while simultaneously positioning service conduit connected to the outlets is also disclosed.

Abstract: A male-female connector is utilized to mount a holder to a mounting member. The connector includes a sleeve within which is disposed a gripper assembly. The gripper assembly comprises a plurality of elastic O-rings, each of which is positioned between a pair of beveled surfaces. When the beveled surfaces are converged toward one another, the O-rings ride-up upon the beveled surfaces and are radially expanded to frictional engagement with the socket wall.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a dual-functioning alignment and trim device for a burial casket. An alignment and trim strip is attached to the back side of a series of decorative plates which are in turn attached to handle arms and casket handles. The trim strips are fastened in a suitable fashion, preferably by a cooperating boss and aperture arrangement. The trim strip passes through notches formed in the sides of the decorative plates and serves to align a series of decorative plates affixed to one side of a burial casket. The trim strip may conveniently be attached to the casket hardware, i.e., to the decorative plates, prior to assembly of the handle and associated hardware to the burial casket wall. In this fashion, each of the decorative plates employed is aligned in the proper position on the face of the casket wall and with respect to the other decorative plates.

Abstract: An improved medical service column is described. The improved column is of a fixed height yet may be mounted or secured in a variety of patient room environments with floor-to-ceiling heights of substantially varying lengths. By employing guide tubes or jack screw assemblies of various lengths, the single medical service column may be adjustably mounted in rooms of varying height. A shroud or cover to render the upper section of the medical service column and the ceiling connecting area aesthetically pleasing is also described. The improvement permits employing a single medical service column of a fixed height to provide services to a patient or to a patient bed area at a standard or desired height with respect to the patient room floor.