Patent ID: 7975335

Claim:
A patient-support apparatus comprising an upper frame having a head end and a foot end, the upper frame movable between a generally horizontal position and a position wherein the head end of the upper frame is spaced vertically below the foot end of the upper frame, an upper deck supported on the upper frame, the upper deck movable with the upper frame and including a seat section and a head section, the head section pivotable relative to the seat section to change the angular relationship between the head section and the seat section, a controller controlling movement of the upper frame and the head section of the upper deck such that when the head section of the upper deck moves from a first, horizontal position sensed by an angle sensor in which the head section is generally coplanar with the seat section to a second, non-horizontal position sensed by the angle sensor in which the head section is inclined, the controller causes the upper frame to move from the generally horizontal position to a first position wherein the head end of the upper frame is lowered, and wherein continued articulation of the head section upwardly to a third, non-horizontal position sensed by the angle sensor causes the controller to move the upper frame from the first position back to the generally horizontal position, and a mattress including a coverlet including (i) an entry positioned at a first end of the coverlet, (ii) an exit positioned at a second end of the coverlet opposite the entry, (iii) an upper air impermeable layer, and (iv) a lower air impermeable layer coupled to the upper layer to form an air flow path along the length of the coverlet, the flow path providing communication between the entry and the exit, wherein the upper air impermeable layer is vapor permeable and water resistant fabric, the lower air impermeable layer is vapor permeable and water resistant fabric, and the coverlet further comprises a spacer fabric interposed between the upper and lower layers to facilitate air flow through the coverlet.