Abstract: An adjustable bed carriage for supporting a main bed frame above a substantially planar floor. The adjustable bed carriage has one or more first legs, each with an upper end slidably attached to a first end of the main bed frame, and one or more second legs, each with an upper end pivotably attached to a second end of the main bed frame. Each first leg is paired with a second leg, and they are pivotably connected to each other at a central pivot located substantially at a midpoint of each. The carriage also includes a first caster base with one or more first casters for engaging the floor, the first leg being attached to the first caster base. Also, the carriage has a second caster base with one or more second casters for engaging the floor, the second leg being attached to the second caster base.

Abstract: An adjustable bed carriage for supporting a main bed frame above a substantially planar floor. The adjustable bed carriage has a first leg with an upper end slidably attached to a first end of the main bed frame and a second leg with an upper end pivotably attached to a second end of the main bed frame. Each of the first leg and the second leg are pivotably connected to each other at a central pivot located substantially at a midpoint of each, to permit pivoting movement of each of the first leg and the second leg about the central pivot in opposite directions. The pivoting movement of the legs moves the adjustable bed carriage between a fully extended condition and a fully collapsed condition.

Abstract: An adjustable bed carriage for supporting a main bed frame above a substantially planar floor. The adjustable bed carriage has one or more first legs, each with an upper end slidably attached to a first end of the main bed frame, and one or more second legs, each with an upper end pivotably attached to a second end of the main bed frame. Each first leg is paired with a second leg, and they are pivotably connected to each other at a central pivot located substantially at a midpoint of each. The carriage also includes a first caster base with one or more first casters for engaging the floor, the first leg being attached to the first caster base. Also, the carriage has a second caster base with one or more second casters for engaging the floor, the second leg being attached to the second caster base.

Abstract: A directional lock for a caster. The caster has a wheel assembly including a wheel rotatable about a wheel axis and a housing for supporting the wheel. The housing defines a cavity for receiving a portion of the wheel. Also, the caster includes a stem supported by the housing and positionable in a chassis element, the wheel assembly being pivotally attached to the stem. The directional lock has an engagement portion and a base portion coupled to the engagement portion such that the engagement portion is movable relative to the base portion. The engagement portion is for engaging the wheel assembly to locate the wheel assembly in a predetermined position relative to the chassis element. The base portion is adapted to cooperate with the chassis element to maintain the engagement portion in a predetermined relation to the chassis element.

Abstract: The invention provides an adjustable bed frame having a main support including head and foot ends. The support is movable between raised and lowered positions and independent first and second elevating mechanisms are coupled to the main support. The mechanisms are spaced from one another on the main support to carry the bed frame on a support surface. An electrical supply system provides power to actuate the mechanisms to change the height of the main support above the support surface and a controller is coupled to the supply system to selectively activate the first and second elevating mechanisms to move the main support between raised and lowered positions. DC motors and worm drives are used independently to drive the elevating mechanisms and stops are provided at the raised and lowered positions to ensure that the main support is horizontal in the raised and lowered positions.

Abstract: The invention provides an institutional bed having a mattress frame which can be moved vertically between raised and lowered positions and which can be moved from the lowered position into one of the Trendelenberg or tilted positions. The mattress is supported on an elevating mechanism having pivots trapped in adjustable pivot sets which are mounted at ends of a connecting element. This element is moveable longitudinally of the mattress frame by an actuator to elevate the bed. Each pivot set can be released individually with the mattress frame lowered and the actuator can then be operated to tilt the mattress frame depending on which pivot set was released.

Abstract: The invention provides a wall stop or spacer which is mounted on the hospital bed and impinges on the skirting of the wall near the floor should the bed be pushed towards the wall with resulting impact. Also, because the engagement is usually at right angles to the wall, the spacer has a width greater than the distance between the studs in the wall so that the load will be distributed across the studs. Further, because the impact is on the skirting, the impact takes place at one of the strongest pans of the wall where the wall plate and studs meet and the skirting passes over these pans to further reinforce the structure. The wall stop can be placed in a deployed position for engagement with the skirting or manually moved into a stored position under the bed to permit an attendant to walk behind the bed when the bed is moved from room to room.

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.