Patent ID: 6507964
Filing Date: 2003-01-21
Classification: A61G

Abstract:
In a bed, comprising:a base; a pedestal mechanism mounted on said base, a patient supporting member mounted on said pedestal, said patient supporting member having a head end and a foot end, the improvement wherein; said pedestal mechanism includes a single pedestal centrally disposed on said base and comprising a first elongate part mounted to said base and a second elongate part mounted to said patient supporting member, said first and second elongate parts being supported by stabilizing means for longitudinal movement with respect to one another to facilitate elevational adjustment of said patient supporting member, said stabilizing means maintaining longitudinal axis congruency of said first and second elongate parts independent of relative location of said first and second elongate parts so that an orientation of said patient supporting member will remain relatively fixed with respect to said base independent of a height thereof relative to said base; and wherein said patient supporting member is pivotally secured to said second elongate part for movement about a pivot axis, and wherein a lengthwise adjustment brace is secured to and extends between said patient supporting member adjacent at least one of said head end and said foot end and a side of said second elongate part-facing said at least one of said head end and said foot end and wherein said lengthwise adjusting brace extends in a plane parallel to a longitudinal axis of said patient supporting member, said pivot axis being oriented perpendicular to said plane.