Patent ID: 8601618

Claim:
An adjustable bed ( 10 ) comprising: a head end ( 12 ) and a foot end ( 14 ); a patient support surface ( 20 ); a patient support structure ( 30 ) for supporting the patient support surface ( 20 ); the patient support structure ( 30 ) comprising a plurality of adjacent lateral patient support sections ( 40 , 50 ), including a first support section ( 40 ) adjacent to second support section ( 50 ); the first support section ( 40 ) being adapted to support the torso of a patient lying on the patient support surface ( 20 ); the first support section ( 40 ) being adapted to articulate about a transversal axis of rotation ( 110 ) between a substantially level position ( 42 ) and an inclined position ( 44 ); a sliding subframe ( 130 ) mounted on a guide mechanism ( 140 a , 140 b ) adjacent the second support section ( 50 ) for movement, with respect to the second support section ( 50 ), between retracted and extended positions ( 142 , 144 ) along the longitudinal dimension ( 16 ) of the bed ( 10 ); and the sliding subframe ( 130 ) being adapted to translate the transversal axis of rotation ( 110 ) toward the head end ( 12 ) of the bed ( 10 ) and away from second support section ( 50 ) as the first support section ( 40 ) articulates from the substantially level position ( 42 ) toward the inclined position ( 44 ) such that the transversal axis of rotation is spaced from the second support section, and to translate the transversal axis of rotation ( 110 ) toward the foot end ( 14 ) of the bed ( 10 ) as the first support section ( 40 ) articulates from the inclined position ( 44 ) toward the substantially level position ( 42 ).