Handle engagable with a grid structure

A section of a bed has a mattress support grid comprising a plurality of intersecting wire segments. The intersecting were segments define an opening. A handle is engageable with the opening.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention relates to handling implements and more particularly, 
to a handle or grip for hand carrying a grid structure. 
Handles and grips assist a user in negotiating articles of varying shapes, 
sizes and compositions. Handles are especially useful in handling articles 
that may otherwise be difficult, cumbersome or even hazardous to handle. 
Some handles are specifically provided to meet a particular purpose. Some 
handles are also uniquely structured and dimensioned to cooperate with 
particular articles. 
Some articles, particularly parcels, have been configured to include 
handles. Some parcels are configured to include an integral handle. For 
example, it is well known to provide a parcel generally fabricated of a 
corrugated material, such as cardboard, having one or more integral 
handles. Cardboard parcels are known to have handles stamped in the 
cardboard. The parcels can be assembled in a manner such that the handle 
extends from the parcel. Alternatively, the handle may be substantially 
flush with the parcel's exterior and extensible at the option of the user. 
Such a configuration is more amenable to stacking and thus, is more 
adaptable to shipping and conserving inventory space. 
Other parcels are configured to cooperate with separate handles formed of 
diverse materials. For example, it is known to provide a parcel having a 
pair of spaced slots. The slots are arranged and configured to receive 
opposed ends of a handle. The handle is generally a plastic handle having 
ends. The ends engage the slots and are subsequently turned ninety degrees 
to prevent the handles from escaping the slots. Although a plastic handle 
is most prominent, rope handles are also common. Rope handles typically 
include opposed ends. The ends pass through openings in the parcel and are 
knotted. The knots prevent the ends from escaping through the openings. 
Another handle commonly associated with parcels is in the form of an 
opening in the parcel. A user can extend his or her fingers through the 
opening to grasp the parcel. The opening can be stamped into the parcel 
material. It is known to allow the openings to remain plugged until 
needed. This may be desirable to preserve or protect the contents of the 
parcel. 
As set forth above, some handles or grips are uniquely configured for 
particular parcels. One area where a uniquely configured handle would be 
well suited is in the packaging and transport of beds, such as hospital 
beds. Hospital beds H, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, generally include a 
peripheral frame F and a supporting structure, such as legs L, for 
supporting the peripheral frame F on a supporting surface. The peripheral 
frame F supports a mattress support grid G. The mattress support grid G is 
generally formed of wire segments W. The wire segments W provide a rigid 
structure for supporting a mattress M, eliminating the need for a box 
spring. Conventional hospital beds H include sections, such as the head 
section S1 and the foot section S2 shown. The sections S1, S2 are 
pivotally attached relative to one another and the frame F so as to be 
movable relative to one another and to the frame F. For example, the head 
section S1 of a hospital bed H typically inclines. Moreover, the foot 
section S2 of a hospital bed generally elevates so as to raise the knees 
of the user in a bent knee orientation. 
Hospital beds can be sectioned for packaging and shipping. The sections are 
assembled when they reach their destination. The parcels containing the 
sections can be heavy and can be cumbersome and uncomfortable to carry. A 
retrofit handle that cooperates with a hospital bed section would aid the 
user in handling and transporting the hospital bed section as a parcel. A 
handle that is engageable with hospital bed section in the form of a 
parcel would enable a carrier of the parcel to manage or control the 
parcel with greater ease. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
The invention s directed to a section of a bed and a handle. The bed 
section has a mattress support grid comprising a plurality of intersecting 
wire segments. The intersecting wire segments define an opening. The 
handle is engageable with the opening. 
Various objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent to 
those skilled in the art from the following detailed description of the 
preferred embodiment, when read in light of the accompanying drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
Referring now to the drawings, there is illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 a 
handle or grip 10 according to the present invention. The handle 10 is 
engageable with wire segments W of a mattress support grid G of a bed, 
such as an articulating bed, such as the hospital bed H shown in FIGS. 6 
and 7, or a bed for use in homecare. The handle 10 is for use in carrying 
the hospital bed H. The handle 10 comprises a main body 12 and an abutment 
surface, such as defined by the flange 14 shown, extending from the main 
body 12. The flange 14 can be a peripheral flange extending outwardly from 
the main body 12. The flange 14 is preferably perpendicular to the main 
body 12. 
The main body 12 is preferably generally rectangular in shape because the 
wire segments W of the mattress support grid G of the hospital bed H 
define a rectangular opening O (shown in FIG. 6). The handle 10 is 
received by the rectangular opening O and includes a first wall 16 and a 
second wall 18 defining opposed outer contact surfaces that are engageable 
with the wire segments W. 
Now continuing with reference to FIG. 2, the main body 12 comprises a 
generally rectangular peripheral wall 15. Although the main body 12 shown 
comprises a generally rectangular peripheral wall 15, it should be 
understood that the main body 12 may take on other shapes. The peripheral 
wall 15 is defined by the first wall 16, the second wall 18, and two side 
walls 20, 22. The first wall 16 and second wall 18 are joined to the side 
walls 20, 22 at four comers, generally indicated as 24. The four comers 24 
are preferably rounded so as to reduce the risk of the handle 10 
interfering with the wire segments W (shown in FIG. 6) upon engaging the 
handle 10 with the mattress support grid G (also shown in FIG. 6) and to 
provide greater comfort for the user. 
As shown in FIG. 3, the first wall 16 and the second wall 18 each can 
include an inwardly facing convex surface 26, 27. The inwardly facing 
convex surfaces 26, 27 provide a contact surface for the fingers of the 
user (not shown). The wire segments W1, W2 (clearly shown in FIGS. 4 and 
5) are approximately 3/16 inch diameter and each section S1, S2 of the 
hospital bed H (shown in FIG. 7) can be very heavy. The inwardly facing 
convex surfaces 26, 27 protect the fingers of a user against direct 
contact with the wire segments W1, W2 and distribute the load of the 
sections S1, S2 of the hospital bed H. 
A plurality of outwardly facing ramps 28, 29 extend from the first wall 16 
and the second wall 18. Although a plurality of ramps 28, 29 are shown, it 
should be understood that a single ramp extending from either the first or 
second wall 16, 18 may suffice. The ramps 28, 29 extend laterally with 
respect to the first and second walls 16, 18. Each ramp 28, 29 includes a 
point of origin 30, 31 and a terminal end 32, 33. Each ramp 28, 29 
progresses in elevation from the point of origin 30, 31 to the terminal 
end 32, 33. The terminal end 32 of each ramp 28 extending from the first 
wall 16 (hereinafter referred to as the "first ramps") terminates a 
predetermined distance from a forward edge 34 of the first wall 16. The 
terminal end 33 of each second ramp 29 extending from the second wall 18 
(hereinafter referred to as the "second ramps") terminates a predetermined 
distance from a forward edge 35 of the second wall 18. A first channel 36 
is defined between the peripheral flange 14 and the terminal ends 32 of 
the first ramps 28 and a second channel 37 is defined between the 
peripheral flange 14 and the terminal ends 33 of the second ramps 29. The 
first channel 36 has a concave surface 38 extending longitudinally along 
the first wall 16 adjacent the forward edge 34 of the first wall 16. The 
second channel 37 also has a concave surface 39 extending longitudinally 
along the second wall 18 adjacent the forward edge 35 of the second wall 
18. 
Referring now to FIG. 4, the peripheral wall 15 is dimensioned and 
configured to fit within an opening O defined by wire segments W of the 
mattress support grid G of a hospital bed (shown in FIG. 6). The handle 10 
is engaged with the mattress support grid G by forcing the handle 10 into 
contact with the wire segments W1, W2 in the direction A. The distance 
between the points of origin 30 of the first ramps 28 and the points of 
origin 31 of the second ramps 29 is preferably less than the distance 
between the first wire segment W1 and the second wire segment W2. Hence, 
clearance is provided between the first ramp 28 and the first wire segment 
W1 and clearance is provided between the second ramp 29 and the second 
wire segment W2. As the handle 10 is moved in the direction A, the first 
wire segment W1 makes contact with the first ramp 28 and the second wire 
segment W2 makes contact with the second ramp 29. Either the ramps 28, 29, 
or the main body 12, or both, are at least slightly resilient. As a 
result, the first ramp 28 and/or the first wall 16 deforms and the second 
ramp 29 and/or the second wall 18 deforms as the handle 10 progresses in 
the direction A. The first wire segment W1 and the second wire segment W2 
may likewise deform but deformation of the first wire segment W1 and the 
second wire segment W2 would likely be insignificant. As the handle 10 
continues to move in the direction A, the force of the first wire segment 
W1 against the first ramp 28 and the force of the second wire segment W2 
against the second ramp 29 becomes greater. A maximum force between the 
first wire segment W1 and the first ramp 28 and the second wire segment W2 
and the second ramp 29 is reached when the first wire segment W1 reaches 
the terminal end 32 of the first ramp 28 and the second wire segment W2 
reaches the terminal end 33 of the second ramp 29, respectively. The first 
ramp 28 and/or the first wall 16 and the second ramp 29 and/or the second 
wall 18 continue to deform until the first wire segment W1 reaches the 
first channel 36 and the second wire segment W2 reaches the second channel 
37. A maximum amount of deformation is achieved when the first wire 
segment W1 reaches the terminal end 32 of the first ramp 28 and the second 
wire segment W2 reaches the terminal end 33 of the second ramp 29. It can 
be seen that the grid structure, namely, the mattress support grid G (see 
FIGS. 6 and 7), engages the opposed channels 36, 37 defined between the 
outer contact surfaces (defined by the first and second walls 16, 18) and 
the abutment surface 14. 
As shown in FIG. 5, when the first wire segment W1 reaches the first 
channel 36 and the second wire segment W2 reaches the second channel 37, 
the first wire segment W1 is trapped in the first channel 36 and the 
second wire segment W2 is trapped in the second channel 37. A snap 
engagement is achieved because the first ramp 28 and/or the first wall 16 
and the second ramp 29 and/or the second wall 18 of the handle 10 have a 
memory component. As a result of the memory component, the first ramp 28 
and/or the first wall 16 and the second ramp 29 and/or the second wall 18 
of the handle 10 return from their deformed position to an initial 
position in the direction, generally indicated as B, when the first and 
second wire segments W1, W2 reach the first and second channels 36, 37, 
respectively. 
Continuing with reference to FIG. 5, the channels 36, 37 are each 
dimensioned and configured to snugly receive the wire segments W1, W2 of 
the mattress support grid G (shown in FIG. 6). This snug fit configuration 
reduces the risk of the handle 10 becoming disengaged with the mattress 
support grid G. Further, the snug fit configuration reduces the risk of 
the handle 10 moving relative to the mattress support grid G and thus 
provides greater control of the mattress support grid G with the handle 
10. 
It is contemplated that the handle 10 be used in cooperation with parcel 
packaging P, such as a corrugated box or cardboard material covering 
(shown in FIG. 8). A hospital bed H can be sectioned into sections, such 
as the head section S1 and the foot section S2 shown in FIG. 7. Each 
section S1, S2 includes a mattress grid support G and a frame F. The 
mattress grid support G of each section S1, S2 is attached to a respective 
frame section F. The hospital bed H is generally shipped in sections, such 
as by shipping the head section S1 and the foot section S2 independently. 
Each section S1, S2 is preferably shipped in parcel packaging P. It is 
preferable that the parcel packaging P includes at least one opening, such 
as a view opening V. The view opening V may be positioned to co-align with 
the opening O defined by the wire segments W of the mattress support grid 
G and the handle 10 engaged with the mattress support grid G. 
Referring now back to FIG. 4, the first and second wire segments W1, W2 can 
be released from the first and second channels 36, 37, respectively, by 
removing the handle 10. This is accomplished by moving the handle 10 in 
the direction C. Initial disengagement of the handle 10 requires 
sufficient force to overcome inference offered by the terminal ends 32, 33 
of the first ramps 28 and second ramps 29, respectively. As set forth 
above, the first wall 16 and the second wall 18 will deform to enable the 
first wire segment W1 and the second wire segment W2 to overcome the 
terminal ends 32, 33 of the first ramps 28 and the second ramps 29, 
respectively. Upon removal of the handle 10, the handle 10 can be 
discarded. Alternatively, the handle 10 can be returned to the 
manufacturer of the hospital bed and reused in future shipments. The 
handle 10 may also remain engaged with the mattress support gird G. Since 
the handle 10 remains substantially flush with the mattress support gird 
G, the handle 10 will not interfere with a mattress M being supported by 
the mattress support gird G (shown in FIG. 7). 
It should be understood that the handle 10 is structured and dimensioned to 
provide a comfortable grip for the user. The handle 10 can be received by 
a variety of openings O (shown in FIG. 4) defined by the wire segments W 
(also shown in FIG. 4) of the mattress support grid G. This enables the 
user of the handle 10 to position the handle 10 so as to distribute the 
weight of the hospital bed H in a manner suitable for the user. It also 
enables the user to position the handle 10 at a location most suitable for 
his or her particular anatomy. For example, a tall user, or a user having 
long arms, may position the handle 10 in the mattress support grid G at a 
location suitable to that user, while a shorter user may position the 
handle 10 at an entirely different location suitable for that user. 
It should also be understood that the handle 10 should be composed of a 
material sufficiently strong to support the hospital bed upon lifting the 
hospital bed. A thermoplastic elastomer, such as Santoprene of Monsanto 
Company of St. Louis, Mo., has been found to provide a comfortable grip 
for the user and provide sufficient rigid support to carry a hospital bed 
section. 
In accordance with the provisions of the patent statutes, the principle and 
mode of operation of this invention have been explained and illustrated in 
its preferred embodiment. However, it must be understood that this 
invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically explained and 
illustrated without departing from its spirit or scope.