Abstract: A bed is provided having a decreased length foot deck to allow the bed to be converted to a chair bed and lowered close to the floor even when the foot deck is in a substantially vertical position. In one embodiment, the bed has a frame assembly, a deck supported on the frame assembly, and a mattress supported on the deck. The deck has a length extending from a head end of the head section to a foot end of the foot section when the deck is in a substantially horizontal position. The mattress has head, seat and foot mattress portions corresponding, respectively, to the head, seat and foot sections of the deck. The mattress has a length extending from a head end of the mattress to a foot end of the mattress when the mattress is in a substantially horizontal position. The length of the mattress is greater than the length of the deck, such that in one embodiment the mattress has a foot end that overhangs and is cantilevered from the edge of the foot deck section.

Abstract: A mattress for a hospital bed is provided. The mattress includes an encasing enclosing a compressible mattress portion and a rigid mattress portion. The compressible mattress portion has an integral construction extending from a head end of the bed to a foot end of the bed. The rigid mattress portion contracts from a first elongated position to a second retracted position, and the rigid portion contracting the compressible mattress portion therewith. The rigid mattress portion may be provided at any side or end section of the mattress. Accordingly, the width or length of the mattress can be modified.

Abstract: A variable width bed is provided. In one embodiment the bed has a frame, a deck supported on the frame, and a mattress on the deck. A portion of the mattress on one of head and seat deck sections expands to have an increased width. In an alternate embodiment, deck extender assemblies are provided at the sides of the bed. Each of the deck extender assemblies have supplemental mattresses connected thereto.