Patent ID: 7472446
Filing Date: 2009-01-06
Classification: A61G

Abstract:
1. A side rail pad system for use in conjunction with a patient support system, the patient support system having a generally rectangular support platform and a plurality of side rails, the side rails moveable between raised positions adjacent long sides of the support platform and lowered positions away from the long sides of the support platform, the side rail pad system comprising: a plurality of side rail pads hingedly positioned on a frame component of the patient support system, adjacent the side rails and moveable between raised positions adjacent the long sides of the support platform between the side rails and the support platform, and lowered positions away from the long sides of the support platform, wherein: said plurality of side rail pads each comprise a generally planar pad having a thickness, said thickness of said side rail pads serving to generally fill a space between the side rails and the support platform when the side rails are in the raised position; said plurality of side rail pads each comprise a rigid planar form covered on at least one side thereof by at least one soft flexible planar form, said rigid planar form serving to facilitate the maintenance of the shape of the side rail pad; and said rigid planar form of each of said plurality of side rail pads extends generally to just inside the edge of the pad on all sides except a top edge of the pad when the pad is in a raised position and said at least one soft flexible planar form of each of said plurality of side rail pads extends generally to the edge of the pad on all sides, thereby providing a portion of the pad along the top edge thereof that is flexible where contact with a patient on the support surface might occur.