Patent ID: 7779493

Claim:
A patient support apparatus comprising: a patient support surface; a barrier extending around said patient support surface, said barrier including a headboard and a footboard; and a control apparatus comprising: a) a housing, said housing being pivotally mounted in said barrier for pivoting between a stored position and a plurality of extended positions, including a fully extended position, and forming part of said barrier when in said stored position; b) a control module adapted for connection to the housing, said control module operatively coupled to the patient support apparatus and configured for controlling one or more functions associated with the patient support apparatus; and c) a coupling device pivotally mounting the housing in said barrier, said coupling device providing pivotal movement of the housing about horizontal and vertical axes about a single pivot structure while at least a portion of said housing is in said barrier wherein the control apparatus can be positioned in a plurality of orientations about said axes in said barrier.