Patent ID: 7367069

Claim:
A lifting mechanism ( 100 ) for a bed deck ( 200 ), the bed deck ( 200 ) being rotatably mounted to a bed platform ( 202 ) for movement of the bed deck ( 200 ) from a substantially horizontal to a non-horizontal position, comprising: a torsion bar ( 106 ) having a first end ( 108 ) and a second end ( 112 ) and defining an axis ( 105 ); a cam follower ( 104 ) mounted on the torsion bar ( 106 ) proximal to the first end ( 108 ); an anchor arm ( 110 ) mounted on the torsion bar ( 106 ) proximal to the second end ( 112 ); and a cam ( 102 ) mounted to the bed deck ( 200 ); and a force adjusting screw ( 154 ) threadably mounted to the bed platform ( 202 ); wherein a torsional force applied to the torsion bar ( 106 ) by rotation of the cam follower ( 104 ) about the axis ( 105 ) of the torsion bar ( 106 ), relative to a position of the anchor arm ( 110 ), is transferred by the cam follower ( 104 ) to the cam ( 102 ) to provide a biasing force to the bed deck ( 200 ) in the direction of rotation, to move the bed deck ( 200 ) from a substantially horizontal to a non-horizontal position; and wherein rotation of the force adjusting screw ( 154 ) changes the angle of the anchor arm ( 110 ) relative to the position of the cam follower ( 104 ) to adjust the biasing force applied to the bed deck ( 200 ).