Abstract:
The present invention relates to bed with extendable and retractable extensions. An articulating bed having four sections that articulate in conventional manner is provided. Two side extensions are provided that allow the deck width to be increased in width. Each extension has four pieces that act in unison and that are pivotally connected. The pivotal connections can be made of tabs formed from the side tubes of the respective sections. The first and fourth pieces have extension members that extend into preferably about half way through cross tubes of the first and fourth respective deck sections. The extension members can have glides that assist in the movement within the cross tubes. Pins can be provided to allow for rapid adjustment of the side extensions. Accessories can be removably pinned to the side extension for rapid removal.

Description:
This U.S. utility patent application claims priority on and the benefit of provisional application 61/710,599 filed Oct. 5, 2012, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to bed with extendable and retractable extensions. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     It may be desirable for a bed to be designed that can be extended to accommodate the larger sizes needed in some situations. 
     Some examples include: 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,669,136 to Waters et al. is titled Combination Hospital Bed and Surgical Table. This patent shows a combination hospital bed and surgical table. It is comprised of: a frame having floor-engaging wheels, a substantially flat, substantially rectangular deck carried by the frame, suitable for holding a human patient in the supine position, the deck having a head end and a foot end and being divided into at least three sections, including a lengthwise center section bordered by two, opposite, lengthwise, side sections that are hingedly connected to the frame so that they each can swing from a horizontal position down to an underneath position, below the center section, thereby making the deck narrower to facilitate its use as a surgical table, and means for holding the side sections in their horizontal position. Preferred additional features include means for raising and lowering the deck to different heights, a drop leaf head support segment, built-in weighing means, channels underneath the bed surface for X-ray cassettes, and an articulated bed surface to permit the bed to be converted into Trendelenburg, reverse Trendelenburg, or other positions, even a sitting position. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,179,744 to Foster et al. is titled Hospital Bed with Inflatable and Collapsible side Edges and Laterally-Movable Side Guards. It teaches a hospital bed that has a frame mounted on a base. Articulating head, seat and leg patient support panels are mounted on the frame. Side guards are mounted on the panels. Patient support panels have longitudinal edges that are collapsible to narrow the bed for transporting a patient. The side guards are inwardly movable to contribute to the narrowing of the bed while still protecting the patient from falling out of the bed. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,377,370 to Foster et al. is titled Hospital Bed with Collapsing Wing. It shows a collapsing wing on a lateral side near the head end of a hospital bed. As the result of a laterally inwardly applied force, the wing collapses thereby allowing easier access to the center or furthermost side of the hospital bed or patient for a nurse or care provider. The wing is attached to the bed frame of the hospital bed by a spring loaded parallelogram linkage which permits the wing to move laterally within a generally horizontal plane as a result of the inward force. Once the inward force is removed, the linkage returns the wing to the full width hospital bed configuration. The wing is a U-shaped channel open toward the bed. The bed has a narrower U-shaped channel open toward the wing channel. The channels are connected by the parallelogram linkage. The wing channel nests over the frame channel when a laterally inward force is applied to the wing channel. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 7,406,729 to Hornbach et al. is titled Patient Support having Powered Adjustable Width. It shows a patient support for supporting a patient in a horizontal position is provided. The patient support includes a frame and a deck. The deck includes first and second ends and longitudinal sides extending there between. The deck also includes a first portion configured to extend laterally from the deck to widen the deck. An actuator is coupled to the deck and configured to move the first portion between an extended position and a retracted position. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 7,743,441 to Poulos et al. is titled expandable Width Bed. It shows 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. 
     United States Published Application 2008/0000028 to Lemire et al. is titled Patient Support. It shows a patient support apparatus, such as a bed, stretcher, or cot, includes a patient support deck that is directly coupled to elevation adjustment mechanisms without the need for an intervening frame. The elevation adjustment mechanisms may be placed outside the perimeter of the support deck to allow the support deck to be lowered to a greater extent and provide room for attaching side rails to the support deck. The width of the patient support deck may be adjusted by way of extenders, and the sleep surface may also be adjusted by way of foldable strips. A jack type of actuator may be used to pivot the different sections of the support deck with respect to each other. The elevation adjustment mechanisms may include vertical threaded shafts that rotatingly engage threaded collars and raise or lower the collars when the shaft and the collar rotate with respect to each other. 
     While each of these references show inventions that may work well for their intended purposes, none show the unique features having the advantages of the present invention. 
     Thus there exists a need for a bed with extendable and retractable sections that solves these and other problems. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to bed with extendable and retractable extensions. An articulating bed having four sections that articulate in conventional manner is provided. Two side extensions are provided that allow the deck width to be increased in width. Each extension has up to four pieces that act in unison and that are pivotally connected. The pivotal connections can be made of tabs formed from the side tubes of the respective sections. The first and fourth pieces have extension members that extend into preferably about half way through cross tubes of the first and fourth respective deck sections. The extension members can have glides that assist in the movement within the cross tubes. Pins can be provided to allow for rapid adjustment of the side extensions. Accessories can be removably pinned to the side extension for rapid removal. 
     According to one advantage of the present invention, the extension members are moveable within cross-tubes of the deck. This allows for the side extension pieces to remain generally parallel to each other and generally perpendicular to the cross tubes. Maintaining this orientation prevents binding of the side extensions as the bed is articulated. 
     According to another advantage of the present invention, the side extensions telescopingly connect to the deck via the inside of the respective structural member. In this regard, any vertical load experienced by the deck is isolated from and has no effect on the inward and or outward movement of extensions. 
     Related, and according to another advantage of the present invention, the extension member contacts both the top and bottom of the cross tube (directly or via glide) to provide a strength to resist twisting of the side extensions. In a preferred embodiment, the extension member is generally square which provides for structural support of the extension member to resist twisting and bending. 
     Related, and according to a still further advantage of the present invention, the extension members can extend in the preferred embodiment to nearly the middle section of the cross-tube. This provides a large amount of stiffness to the side extensions to prevent twisting thereof. 
     According to a still further advantage yet of the present invention, glides can be provided to reduce friction between the extension member and the cross tubes. The glides can be low friction material which can slide, roll or otherwise encourage easy movement of these components. 
     According to a still further advantage of the present invention, in one embodiment, the extension members of opposite sides extensions can be joined in a manner wherein movement of one side extension is mirrored by the opposite side extension simultaneously. 
     According to a still further yet advantage of the present invention, the side extensions can be unlocked for adjustment from the underside of the deck. In this regard, advantageously, any weight on the deck or other obstructions from above the deck surface will not encumber the ability to quickly adjust the side extensions (for example, to move the bed through a narrow door frame). 
     According to a still further advantage of the present invention, the side perimeters of the side extensions are substantially tubular along the length. This provides strength to the side extensions that allow for accessories to be adequately supported. 
     According to a still further advantage yet of the present invention, an accessory, such as a side rail, can be supported by a strong tube when connected to the extensions yet easily removable form the side extension preferably by removing one or more pins. In this regard, the accessory is removable independent of extensions and without tools. 
     According to a still further advantage of the present invention, the individual pieces of each side extension are joined together with one or more tabs. The tab is preferably formed from the outside wall of the tubular side members wherein the remainder (top, bottom and inside surface) are removed. This allows the side extension to act as an assembly. 
     According to a still further advantage of the present invention, the principles of the invention can be applied to a longitudinally expanding and retracting deck as well. 
     Other advantages, benefits, and features of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon reading the detailed description of the invention and studying the drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a bed articulated to an upright position. 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view showing the deck in a flat position and the side extensions in a retracted position. 
         FIG. 3  is similar to  FIG. 2  but shows the side extensions in an intermediate position. 
         FIG. 4  is similar to  FIG. 2  but shows the side extensions in an extended position. 
         FIG. 5  is a top view of the present invention. 
         FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional view taken along line  6 - 6  in  FIG. 5 . 
         FIG. 7  is a cross-sectional view taken along line  7 - 7  in  FIG. 5 . 
         FIG. 8  is a bottom view of the extensions shown in a retracted position. 
         FIG. 9  is similar to  FIG. 5  but shows the extensions in an intermediate position. 
         FIG. 10  is similar to  FIG. 5  but shows the extensions in an expanded position. 
         FIG. 11  is a close-up perspective view showing the fourth piece of an extension. 
         FIG. 12  is a close-up perspective view showing accessories removably pinned to the extension members. 
         FIG. 13  is an isolation view showing the tab of a side tube. 
         FIG. 14  is a close-up perspective view showing the extension member pinned to the cross-member. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     While the invention will be described in connection with one or more preferred embodiments, it will be understood that it is not intended to limit the invention to those embodiments. On the contrary, it is intended to cover all alternatives, modifications and equivalents as may be included within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. 
     Turning now to  FIGS. 1-14 , it is seen that a preferred embodiment of the present invention is illustrated. 
     As can be seen, an articulating bed  5  having sides  6  and  7 , ends  8  and  9 , a head board  11  and a foot board  12  is shown. A deck  20  having four sections  30 ,  40 ,  50  and  60  is also provided. 
     The first section  30  has a perimeter frame  31 . The perimeter frame can be made of angle material having a vertical section and horizontal section. A cross tube  32  is provided. The cross tube  32  has an inside  33  and an outside. It further has a top  34  and a bottom  35 . Cross tube preferably extends laterally across the first section  30  and has ends  36  and  37  and a middle section  38 . In the preferred embodiment, the cross tube  32  can have a generally square shaped profile. Yet, it is understood that other profiles could be used without departing from the broad aspects of the present invention. 
     The second section  40  does not articulate. It has sides that are parallel with the sides of the other sections. 
     The third section  50  has a perimeter frame similar to the frame of the first section. 
     The fourth section  60  likewise has a perimeter frame  61 . It also has a cross tube  62 . 
     Cross tube  32  and cross tube  62  are spaced apart a predetermined amount. It is understood that while the cross tubes are shown in relation to the first and fourth sections, that they could be located elsewhere without departing from the broad aspects of the present invention. 
     Two side extensions  100  and  200  are illustrated. In the preferred embodiment, the side extensions move independent of each other. Yet, it is understood that they could be joined in a manner wherein they are simultaneously expanded and retracted relative the deck  20 . 
     Side extension  100  has four pieces  110 ,  130 ,  140  and  150 . Each piece preferably has the same lateral width. The side extension has a top  101 , a bottom  102 , and inside  103  and outside  104  and opposed ends  105  and  106 , respectively. The top  101  is preferably substantially planar. 
     The first piece  110  has a side tube  111  that is preferably made of square tubing. A tab  112  is at one end of the tubing. The tab  112  is preferably formed from the outer side wall of the square tubing, wherein the top, bottom and inside side wall are removed. Tab  112 , as seen in an isolation view in  FIG. 13 , has a connection hole there through. 
     An extension member  120  is provided. The extension member  120  has a first end  121  and a second end  122 . The second end  122  can extend to the middle  38  (or near the middle) of the cross tube when the side extension  100  is in the retracted position. The extension member can be formed of square tubing that is received within the inside of the cross tube. A glide  125  can be provided. The glide can be a low friction material that slide, or can comprise rollers or other structures that facilitate movement of the extension member within the cross tube. A connector such as a pin  127  can be provided for fixing the extension member within the cross-tube. Three holes  126  can be formed through the extension member enabling retracted, intermediate and extended positions. The extension member  120  (either directly or through an intermediate component such as a glide) can contact the inside of the cross tube a substantial distance inside of the end of the cross-tube. This prevents up/down as well as forward/rearward twisting of the side extension. 
     The pin also allows the side extension to be in either of the retracted, intermediate or extended position. 
     The second piece  130  has a side tube  131  with two end tabs  132  and  133 . 
     The third piece  140  has a side tube  141  with two end tabs  142  and  143 . 
     The fourth piece has a side tube  151  with one end tab  152 . The fourth piece also has an extension member  155  that is movably received in telescopic fashion with cross tube  62 . 
     It is seen that the pieces are pivotally connected to adjacent pieces by bolting or otherwise connecting the pieces via the respective tabs. In this regard, the pivotal connections are strong and secure, and are also located at the outside  104  of the side extension  100 . As seen in  FIG. 11 , overlapped tabs  143  and  152  are pivotally joined. 
     Tab  112  is preferably overlapped with and connected to tab  132 . Tab  133  is preferably overlapped with and connected to tab  142 . Tab  143  is preferably overlapped with and connected to tab  152 . These pivotal connections allow the extension  100  to articulate relative each other and to move uniformly between retracted, intermediate and extended positions. 
     Further, given that the extension members are received within cross tubes interior of the ends of the cross tubes to promote movement of the side extension perpendicular to the deck side, binding of the side extension is prevented. 
     The second side extension  200  is preferably a mirror image of the first side extension  100 . Side extension  200  has four pieces  210 ,  230 ,  240  and  250 . Each piece preferably has the same lateral width. The side extension has a top  201 , a bottom  202 , and inside  203  and outside  204  and opposed ends  205  and  206 , respectively. The top  201  is preferably substantially planar. 
     The first piece  210  has a side tube  211  that is preferably made of square tubing. A tab  212  is at one end of the tubing. The tab  212  is preferably formed from the outer side wall of the square tubing, wherein the top, bottom and inside side wall are removed. An extension member  220  is provided. The extension member  220  has a first end  221  and a second end  222 . The second end  222  can extend to the middle  38  (or near the middle) of the cross tube when the side extension  200  is in the retracted position. Three holes  226  can be formed through the extension member enabling retracted, intermediate and extended positions. The extension member can be formed of square tubing that is received within the inside of the cross tube. A glide can be provided. The glide can be a low friction material that slide, or can comprise rollers or other structures that facilitate movement of the extension member within the cross tube. A connector such as a pin can be provided for fixing the extension member within the cross-tube in one of the three holes  226 . 
     The second piece  230  has a side tube  231  with two end tabs  232  and  233 . 
     The third piece  240  has a side tube  241  with two end tabs  242  and  243 . 
     The fourth piece has a side tube  251  with one end tab  252 . The fourth piece also has an extension member  255  that is movably received in telescopic fashion with cross tube  62 . 
     It is seen that the pieces are pivotally connected to adjacent pieces by bolting or otherwise connecting the pieces via the respective tabs. In this regard, the pivotal connections are strong and secure, and are also located at the outside  204  of the side extension  200 . 
     Tab  212  is preferably overlapped with and connected to tab  232 . Tab  233  is preferably overlapped with and connected to tab  242 . Tab  243  is preferably overlapped with and connected to tab  252 . These pivotal connections allow the extension  200  to articulate relative each other and to move uniformly between retracted, intermediate and extended positions. 
     The bed  5  can have a width of approximately 36 inches when the side extensions are both in the retracted position, approximately 39 inches when in the intermediate position and approximately 42 inches when in the extended position. It is understood that the lateral dimension could be changed without departing from the broad aspect of the present invention. Also there could be more intermediate positions or no intermediate position without departing from the broad aspects of the present invention. 
     An accessory such as a side rail  300  can be provided. The side rail  300  can be pinned with pins  301  such that it is removably attached to the outside of either side extension. The substantially tubular perimeter of each side extension provides a strong base for the accessories to be connected to. 
     It is further appreciated that each side extension can have more or fewer than four pieces without departing from the broad aspects of the present invention. 
     The pin  127  also allows the side extension to be in either of the retracted, intermediate or extended position by being selectably inserted into selected holes that pass through the extension members. It is appreciated that two pins hold each side section in place (four pins total) in a preferred embodiment. Yet, it is appreciated that other connection or fastening devices may be used without departing from the broad aspects of the present invention. It is also understood that more or fewer positions could be present without departing from the broad aspects of the present invention. 
     Thus it is apparent that there has been provided, in accordance with the invention, a bed with extendable and retractable sections that fully satisfies the objects, aims and advantages as set forth above. While the invention has been described in conjunction with specific embodiments thereof, it is evident that many alternatives, modifications, and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art in light of the foregoing description. Accordingly, it is intended to embrace all such alternatives, modifications, and variations as fall within the spirit and broad scope of the appended claims.