Abstract: The invention relates to profiling beds where sections of the bed can be raised or lowered for the benefit and comfort of the user of the bed. The object of the invention is to prevent a compression of the lower stomach of the user as sections of the bed are raised, an objective met by a construction comprising at least a head and upper body support hingedly connected to a frame, a seat support hingedly connected to the head and upper body support at one end and to the frame at the other, the hinged connections being such that as the head and upper body support is raised about its hinged connection to the base, the seat portion is lowered about its hinged connection to the frame, and the distance between said hinged connections in the longitudinal direction of the bed increasing as the said sections are simultaneously raised and lowered.

Abstract: A side frame (1) for a cot (2) or bed (20), particularly, but not exclusively, for hospital use, comprising upper and lower rails (3, 4) located in spaced-apart, parallel relationship and of length required for the side frame (1), with the rails (3, 4) inter-connected by a plurality of spaced-apart, transversely extending, telescopic struts (7), with a third parallel rail (10) interposed between the two parallel rails (3, 4) and with an outer tube or cylinder of each telescopic strut (7) slidable through suitable holes or apertures (11) in the third rail (10). A modified side frame (1A) comprises at least one biassing strut, eg in the form of a gas strut (7A), capable of maintaining the side in a fully, or partially, deployed positions, with means for manually rendering the biassing strut (7A) inoperative when retraction, by lowering the side (1A), is required. The invention also includes a cot (2) provided with at least one side frame (1), and a bed (20) provided with at least one modified side frame (1A).

Abstract: Conventional beds have a spring mattress and a sprung base for the comfort of the user, but on profiling beds, a sprung base cannot be used and, ordinarily, a mattress is laid on lifting and lowering mechanism, with a result that when pivoted or folded, folding or rucking of the surface of the mattress occurs to the discomfort of the user. A first object of the invention is to avoid the above disadvantage, and a second object is to provide a body support arrangement of greater comfort than conventional mattresses and separate bases. The first objective is met by a body support arrangement comprising at least two sectors connected in such a manner as to permit a relative pivoting of the sectors with respect to each other, each sector being formed by an upper sprung or filled mattress part and lower sprung base part.

Abstract: A spring arrangement in which the springs are coil springs and are disposed in adjacent rows with the coil springs in each row being spaced apart along the length or across the width of the arrangement, and wherein interconnecting or lacing wires interconnect the springs in a row and also the springs in the adjacent row to form rows of spaced interconnecting springs and with the coils of adjacent similar rows being juxtaposed, characterised in that the spacing apart of the coil springs in the rows is not constant/equal and some of the springs in each of the rows are more closely spaced together where greater support or firmer support is required.