Patent ID: 7441289

Claim:
A bed end for a bed having a patient support that is adjustable vertically relative to a floor on which the bed is placed, said bed end comprising: a lead screw rotatable in first and second opposite directions of rotation to effect raising and lowering of a movable portion of said bed end; a slip nut assembly for transmitting vertical force from said lead screw to said movable portion of the bed to adjust the patient support vertically; said slip nut assembly including a slip nut threadedly engaged with said lead screw, said slip nut being formed in two pieces; said slip nut having a first condition in which it is fixed against rotation within said movable portion of said bed thereby to transmit vertical force from said lead screw to said movable portion of the bed when said lead screw rotates; said slip nut having a second condition in which it is rotatable within said movable portion of said bed with said lead screw thereby to block transmission of vertical force from said lead screw to said movable portion of the bed; said slip nut assembly including first and second leaf springs and pressure plates operative to bias said slip nut into engagement with said lead screw; and wherein each one of said leaf springs has opposite end portions engaged in recesses in said pressure plates.