Patent ID: 6978501

Claim:
A bariatric bed, comprising: a frame adapted to support patients having weights in the range of 500 to 800 pounds; said frame including an articulated mattress support for supporting a mattress, said support including at least first, second and third articulatable sections positioned to support a leg region, a seat region and a head region, respectively, of the mattress supported on said support; a raise-and-lower mechanism for generally raising and lowering the entire mattress support relative to a floor-engaging portion of the frame; an articulation mechanism for articulating the mattress support from a relatively horizontal, lying position to a seated position; and controls for tilting the mattress support lengthwise; wherein said frame further comprises a foot board assembly adapted to be used as a step to support a patient entering or exiting the bed, said foot board assembly being adapted to articulate relative to said first section, from a resting position, when a force is applied thereto, but to increasingly resist said force with increasing degree of articulation; wherein said foot board assembly comprises a first hydraulic cylinder adapted to resist articulation of the foot board assembly when used as a step; and a spring adapted to return the foot board assembly to its default position when weight is removed from said foot board assembly; and a second hydraulic cylinder adapted to resist snapback of the foot board assembly.