Cradling and articulated bed

Claim 2

As a new article of manufacture, a bed with included head and foot together with connecting bottom structure, which bed is generally adapted for hospital use and in which bed the patient, while prone on the patient-carrying portion thereof, can rotate this latter in its entirety through a vertical angle in either lateral direction to a continuously-variable, pre-selected limited extent; which said patient-carrying portion comprises a bed spring assembly disposed between the head and foot of said bed; multiple, generally pantograph-like hinge units disposed one at each end of said bed and pivotally journaled thereon; first means extending between and connected to said multiple hinge units and which said first means are in physical association with and carry cooperating second means which said second means are included in and comprise part of said bed spring assembly, the association between said first and second means being such that they are movable into and out of close physical relationship with each other and such that when the two means are in fact, in close physical relationship to each other then, upon opening said multiple hinge units the bed spring assembly can be moved in either lateral direction to continuously-variable pre-selected extent from between a nearly planar or flat position on the one hand, and its fully concave position on the other hand; and means carried from and related to said bed, for energizing said multiple hinge units to cause such pantograph-like opening and closing at the will of either the patient or the attendant.

Claim 3

A bed according to claim 1, wherein adjustable frictional braking means are interposed at one end of the bed between the bed itself and its related journal, to provide for selected resistance against rotation of the bed spring assembly about its longitudinal axis.

Claim 4

As a new article of manufacture, a bed with included head and foot together with connecting bottom structure, which bed is generally adapted for hospital use and in which bed the patient, while reclining on the patient-carrying portion thereof can rotate this latter from side to side to selected limited extent, which said patient-carrying portion comprises a bed spring assembly disposed between the head and foot of said bed; multiple generally pantograph-like hinge units disposed one at each end of said bed and pivotally journaled thereon whereby the said multiple hinge units are freely carried for bodily opening and closing; first means interconnecting said hinge units and members related thereto, second means comprising part of bed spring assembly, with which said second means said members are cooperable in such manner that, upon opening said multiple hinge units, the bed spring assembly can be moved to selected extent between its nearly planar or flat position and its fully concave position, and frictional braking means interposed between one said multiple hinge unit and its related journal, providing in continuous adjustment, for selected resistance against turning of the bed spring assembly about the longitudinal axis of the latter, up to and closely approaching full lock of the bed spring assembly against rotation.

Claim 5

As a new article of manufacture, a bed with included head and foot together with connecting bottom structure, which bed is generally adapted for hospital use and in which bed the patient, while reclining on the patient-carrying portion thereof can rotate this latter from side to side to selected limited extent, which said patient-carrying portion comprises a bed spring assembly disposed between the head and foot of said bed; multiple generally pantograph-like hinge units disposed one at each end of said bed and pivotally journaled thereon whereby the said multiple hinge units are freely carried for bodily opening and closing; first means interconnecting said hinge units and members related thereto, second means comprising part of bed spring assembly, with which said second means said members are cooperable in such manner that, upon opening said multiple hinge units, the bed spring assembly can be moved to selected extent between its nearly planar or flat position and its fully concave position, and frictional braking means interposed between one said multiple hinge unit and its related journal, providing in continuous adjustment, for selected resistance against turning of the bed spring assembly about the longitudinal axis of the latter, up to and closely approaching full lock of the bed spring assembly against rotation.

Claim 6

As a new article of manufacture, a bed with included head and foot together with connecting bottom structure, which bed is generally adapted for hospital use and in which bed the patient, while reclining on the patient-carrying portion thereof, can rotate this latter from side to side to selected limited extent; which said patient-carrying portion comprises a bed spring assembly disposed between the head and foot of said bed; multiple generally pantograph-like hinge units disposed one at each end of said bed and pivotally journaled thereon whereby the said multiple hinge units are freely carried for bodily opening and closing; means interconnecting said hinge units and related members for imparting opening and closing motion to said bed spring assembly whereby, when said multiple hinge units are opened the bed spring assembly can be moved to selected extent between its nearly planar or flat position and its fully concave position; and means interposed between the multiple hinge units and the frame of bed for limiting the extent to which the bed spring assembly can be rotated in either direction about its longitudinal axis.

Claim 7

As a new article of manufacture, a bed with included head and foot together with connecting bottom structure, which bed is generally adapted for hospital use and in which bed the patient, while reclining on the patient-carrying portion thereof, can rotate this latter from side to side to selected limited extent; which said patient-carrying portion comprises a bed spring assembly disposed between the head and foot of said bed; multiple generally pantograph-like hinge units disposed one at each end of said bed and pivotally journaled thereon whereby the said multiple hinge units are freely carried for bodily opening and closing; means interconnecting said hinge units and related members for imparting opening and closing motion to said bed spring assembly whereby, when said multiple hinge units are opened the bed spring assembly can be moved to selected extent between its nearly planar or flat position and its fully concave position; and means interposed between the multiple hinge units and the frame of bed for limiting the extent to which the bed spring assembly can be rotated in either direction about its longitudinal axis.

Claim 8

As a new article of manufacture, a bed with included head and foot together with connecting bottom structure, which bed is generally adapted for hospital use and in which bed the patient, while reclining on patient-carrying portion thereof, can rotate this latter from side to side to selected limited extent; which said patient-carrying portion comprises a bed spring assembly disposed between the head and foot of said bed; multiple generally pantograph-like hinge units disposed one at each end of said bed and pivotally journaled thereon whereby the said multiple hinge units are freely carried for bodily opening and closing; first means interconnecting said hinge units and related members of said bed spring assembly whereby, when said multiple hinge units are opened, the bed spring assembly can be moved to selected extent between its nearly planar or flat position and its fully concave position; and second means so interposed between said multiple hinge units and said bed as to limit, in dependency upon the extent of the momentary concavity of this bed spring assembly, the extent to which this bed spring assembly can be rotated about its longitudinal axis; the relationship between said second means, on the one hand, and the related multiple hinge unit and the bed, on the other hand, being such that the extent of permitted movement of this bed spring assembly increases with and proportionally to increase in the extent of concavity of the bed spring assembly.

Claim 9

As a new article of manufacture, a bed with included head and foot together with connecting bottom structure, which bed is generally adapted for hospital use and in which bed the patient, while reclining on patient-carrying portion thereof, can rotate this latter from side to side to selected limited extent; which said patient-carrying portion comprises a bed spring assembly disposed between the head and foot of said bed; multiple generally pantograph-like hinge units disposed one at each end of said bed and pivotally journaled thereon whereby the said multiple hinge units are freely carried for bodily opening and closing; first means interconnecting said hinge units and related members of said bed spring assembly whereby, when said multiple hinge units are opened, the bed spring assembly can be moved to selected extent between its nearly planar or flat position and its fully concave position; and second means so interposed between said multiple hinge units and said bed as to limit, in dependency upon the extent of the momentary concavity of this bed spring assembly, the extent to which this bed spring assembly can be rotated about its longitudinal axis; the relationship between said second means, on the one hand, and the related multiple hinge unit and the bed, on the other hand, being such that the extent of permitted movement of this bed spring assembly increases with and proportionally to increase in the extent of concavity of the bed spring assembly.

Claim 10

As a new article of manufacture, a bed with included head and foot together with connecting bottom structure, which bed is generally adapted for hospital use and in which bed the patient, while reclining on the patient-carrying portion thereof, can rotate this latter from side to side to selected limited extent, which said patient-carrying portion comprises bed spring assembly disposed between the head and foot of said bed; multiple generally pantograph-like hinge units disposed one at each end of said bed; journal bearings disposed one at each end of said bed and each said journal bearing pivotally carrying a related one of said hinge units in such manner that the said multiple hinge units are freely capable of being bodily opened and closed; first means pivotally interconnecting said hinge units and related members; second means, comprising part of said bed spring assembly, with which second means the aforesaid members are cooperable in such manner that, upon closing said multiple hinge units, the bed spring assembly can be moved to selected extent between its nearly planar or flat position and its fully concave position; adjustable, frictional breaking means interposed between said bed spring assembly and its related journal for interposing resistance of selected degree against rotation of the bed spring assembly about its longitudinal axis; additional means interposed between the frame of the bed and the hinge units for limiting the extent to which said bed spring assembly can be rotated about its longitudinal axis, the interposition of said additional means being such that greater concavity of the bed spring assembly permits greater freedom of rotation of the bed spring assembly about its aforesaid longitudinal axis.

Claim 11

As a new article of manufacture, a bed with included head and foot together with connecting bottom structure, which bed is generally adapted for hospital use and in which bed the patient, while reclining on the patient-carrying portion thereof, can rotate this latter from side to side to selected limited extent, which said patient-carrying portion comprises bed spring assembly disposed between the head and foot of said bed; multiple generally pantograph-like hinge units disposed one at each end of said bed; journal bearings disposed one at each end of said bed and each said journal bearing pivotally carrying a related one of said hinge units in such manner that the said multiple hinge units are freely capable of being bodily opened and closed; first means pivotally interconnecting said hinge units and related members; second means, comprising part of said bed spring assembly, with which second means the aforesaid members are cooperable in such manner that, upon closing said multiple hinge units, the bed spring assembly can be moved to selected extent between its nearly planar or flat position and its fully concave position; adjustable, frictional breaking means interposed between said bed spring assembly and its related journal for interposing resistance of selected degree against rotation of the bed spring assembly about its longitudinal axis; additional means interposed between the frame of the bed and the hinge units for limiting the extent to which said bed spring assembly can be rotated about its longitudinal axis, the interposition of said additional means being such that greater concavity of the bed spring assembly permits greater freedom of rotation of the bed spring assembly about its aforesaid longitudinal axis.

Claim 12

As a new article of manufacture, a bed with included head and foot together with connecting bottom structure, which bed is generally adapted for hospital use and in which bed the patient, while reclining on the patient-carrying portion thereof, can rotate this latter from side to side to selected limited extent, which said patient-carrying portion comprises a bed spring assembly disposed between the head and foot of said bed; multiple generally pantograph-like hinge units disposed one at each end of said bed; journal bearings disposed one at each end of said bed and each said journal bearing pivotally carrying a related one of said hinge units in such manner that the said multiple hinge units are freely capable of being bodily opened and closed; paired and lower, longitudinally extending rails disposed one on each side of spring assembly and which rails are pivotally carried by the hinge units near the outer extremities of these hinges, there being one such rail along each longitudinal side of the spring assembly; said bed spring assembly including channelized upper rails disposed one on each side thereof, said upper rails normally closely overlying the lower rails and being bodily carried and movable by these related lower rails towards and away from each other as viewed along the longitudinal horizontal axis of said bed spring assembly, as and when these lower rails are moved by the hinge units.

Claim 13

As a new article of manufacture, a bed with included head and foot together with connecting bottom structure, which bed is generally adapted for hospital use and in which bed the patient, while reclining on the patient-carrying portion thereof, can rotate this latter from side to side to selected limited extent, which said patient-carrying portion comprises a bed spring assembly disposed between the head and foot of said bed; multiple generally pantograph-like hinge units disposed one at each end of said bed; journal bearings disposed one at each end of said bed and each said journal bearing pivotally carrying a related one of said hinge units in such manner that the said multiple hinge units are freely capable of being bodily opened and closed; paired and lower, longitudinally extending rails disposed one on each side of spring assembly and which rails are pivotally carried by the hinge units near the outer extremities of these hinges, there being one such rail along each longitudinal side of the spring assembly; said bed spring assembly including channelized upper rails disposed one on each side thereof, said upper rails normally closely overlying the lower rails and being bodily carried and movable by these related lower rails towards and away from each other as viewed along the longitudinal horizontal axis of said bed spring assembly, as and when these lower rails are moved by the hinge units.

Claim 14

As a new article of manufacture, a bed with included head and foot together with connecting bottom structure, which bed is generally adapted for hospital use and in which bed the patient, while reclining on the patient-carrying portion thereof, can rotate this latter from side to side to selected limited extent, which said patient-carrying portion comprises a bed spring assembly disposed between the head and foot of said bed; multiple generally pantograph-like hinge units disposed one at each end of said bed; journal bearings disposed one at each end of said bed and each said journal bearing pivotally carrying a related one of said hinge units in such manner that the said multiple hinge units are freely capable of being bodily opened and closed; paired and lower, longitudinally extending rails disposed one on each side of spring assembly and which rails are pivotally carried by the hinge units near the outer extremities of these hinges, there being one such rail along each longitudinal side of the spring assembly; said bed spring assembly including channelized upper rails disposed one on each side thereof, said upper rails normally closely overlying the lower rails and being bodily carried and movable by these related lower rails towards and away from each other as viewed along the longitudinal horizontal axis of said bed spring assembly, as and when these lower rails are moved by the hinge units; and means operably comprising part of the structure of the bed spring assembly and operably related to the upper rails in such manner as to interpose limited resistance to movement of these upper rails towards and away from each other.

Claim 15

As a new article of manufacture, a bed with included head and foot together with connecting bottom structure, which bed is generally adapted for hospital use and in which bed the patient, while reclining on the patient-carrying portion thereof, can rotate this latter from side to side to selected limited extent, which said patient-carrying portion comprises a bed spring assembly disposed between the head and foot of said bed; multiple generally pantograph-like hinge units disposed one at each end of said bed; journal bearings disposed one at each end of said bed and each said journal bearing pivotally carrying a related one of said hinge units in such manner that the said multiple hinge units are freely capable of being bodily opened and closed; paired and lower, longitudinally extending rails disposed one on each side of spring assembly and which rails are pivotally carried by the hinge units near the outer extremities of these hinges, there being one such rail along each longitudinal side of the spring assembly; said bed spring assembly including channelized upper rails disposed one on each side thereof, said upper rails normally closely overlying the lower rails and being bodily carried and movable by these related lower rails towards and away from each other as viewed along the longitudinal horizontal axis of said bed spring assembly, as and when these lower rails are moved by the hinge units; and means operably comprising part of the structure of the bed spring assembly and operably related to the upper rails in such manner as to interpose limited resistance to movement of these upper rails towards and away from each other.

Claim 16

As a new article of manufacture, a bed with included head and foot together with connecting bottom structure, which bed is generally adapted for hospital use and in which bed the patient, while reclining on the patient-carrying portion thereof, can rotate this latter from side to side to selected limited extent, which said patient-carrying portion comprises a bed spring assembly disposed between the head and foot of said bed; multiple generally pantograph-like hinge units disposed one at each end of said bed; journal bearings disposed one at each end of said bed and each said journal bearing pivotally carrying a related one of said hinge units in such manner that the said multiple hinge units are freely capable of being bodily opened and closed; paired and lower, longitudinally extending rails disposed one on each side of spring assembly and which rails are pivotally carried by the hinge units near the outer extremities of these hinges, there being one such rail along each longitudinal side of the spring assembly; said bed spring assembly including channelized upper rails disposed one on each side thereof, said upper rails normally closely overlying the lower rails and being bodily carried and movable by these related lower rails towards and away from each other as viewed along the longitudinal horizontal axis of said bed spring assembly, as and when these lower rails are moved by the hinge units; means operably comprising part of the structure of the bed spring assembly and operably related to the upper rails in such manner as to interpose limited resistance to movement of these upper rails towards and away from each other; said upper rails each being divided transversely along their lengths into a plurality of sections, the sections of each rail being of the same length as the like sections of the other upper rail; means provided on said bed for raising and lowering at will, certain of the sections into which the upper rails have been transversely divided; and an overriding lockout switch provided between the upper and lower rails, and interposed in the electrical circuitry of the powering means for said bed in manner such that the hinge units cannot be energized when the upper rails are moved out of their position closely overlying the related lower rails.

Claim 17

As a new article of manufacture, a bed with included head and foot together with connecting bottom structure, which bed is generally adapted for hospital use and in which bed the patient, while reclining on the patient-carrying portion thereof, can rotate this latter from side to side to selected limited extent, which said patient-carrying portion comprises a bed spring assembly disposed between the head and foot of said bed; multiple generally pantograph-like hinge units disposed one at each end of said bed; journal bearings disposed one at each end of said bed and each said journal bearing pivotally carrying a related one of said hinge units in such manner that the said multiple hinge units are freely capable of being bodily opened and closed; paired and lower, longitudinally extending rails disposed one on each side of spring assembly and which rails are pivotally carried by the hinge units near the outer extremities of these hinges, there being one such rail along each longitudinal side of the spring assembly; said bed spring assembly including channelized upper rails disposed one on each side thereof, said upper rails normally closely overlying the lower rails and being bodily carried and movable by these related lower rails towards and away from each other as viewed along the longitudinal horizontal axis of said bed spring assembly, as and when these lower rails are moved by the hinge units; means operably comprising part of the structure of the bed spring assembly and operably related to the upper rails in such manner as to interpose limited resistance to movement of these upper rails towards and away from each other; said upper rails each being divided transversely along their lengths into a plurality of sections, the sections of each rail being of the same length as the like sections of the other upper rail; means provided on said bed for raising and lowering at will, certain of the sections into which the upper rails have been transversely divided; and an overriding lockout switch provided between the upper and lower rails, and interposed in the electrical circuitry of the powering means for said bed in manner such that the hinge units cannot be energized when the upper rails are moved out of their position closely overlying the related lower rails.

Claim 18

As a new article of manufacture, a bed with included head and foot together with connecting bottom structure, which bed is generally adapted for hospital use and in which bed the patient, while reclining on the patient-carrying portion thereof, can rotate this latter from side to side to selected limited extent, which said patient-carrying portion comprises a bed spring assembly disposed between the head and foot of said bed; multiple generally pantograph-like hinge units disposed one at each end of said bed; journal bearings disposed one at each end of said bed and each said journal bearing pivotally carrying a related one of said hinge units in such manner that the said multiple hinge units are freely capable of being bodily opened and closed; paired and lower, longitudinally extending rails disposed one on each side of said bed spring assembly and which rails are pivotally carried by the hinge units near the outer extremities of these hinges, there being one such rail along each longitudinal side of the spring assembly; said bed spring assembly including channelized upper rails disposed one on each side thereof, said upper rails normally closely overlying the lower rails and being bodily carried and movable by these related lower rails towards and away from each other as viewed along the longitudinal axis of said bed spring assembly, as and when these lower rails are moved by the hinge units; means operably comprising part of the structure of the bed spring assembly and operably related to the upper rails in such manner as to interpose limited resistance to movement of these upper rails towards and away from each other; and means interposed between the head section of each upper rail and the related lower rail, for facilitating bodily movement of the head supporting portion of bed spring assembly during swing of this portion of the bed spring assembly through vertical angle extending transversely of the bed.

Claim 19

As a new article of manufacture, a bed with included head and foot together with connecting bottom structure, which bed is generally adapted for hospital use and in which bed the patient, while reclining on the patient-carrying portion thereof, can rotate this latter from side to side to selected limited extent, which said patient-carrying portion comprises a bed spring assembly disposed between the head and foot of said bed; multiple generally pantograph-like hinge units disposed one at each end of said bed; journal bearings disposed one at each end of said bed and each said journal bearing pivotally carrying a related one of said hinge units in such manner that the said multiple hinge units are freely capable of being bodily opened and closed; paired and lower, longitudinally extending rails disposed one on each side of said bed spring assembly and which rails are pivotally carried by the hinge units near the outer extremities of these hinges, there being one such rail along each longitudinal side of the spring assembly; said bed spring assembly including channelized upper rails disposed one on each side thereof, said upper rails normally closely overlying the lower rails and being bodily carried and movable by these related lower rails towards and away from each other as viewed along the longitudinal axis of said bed spring assembly, as and when these lower rails are moved by the hinge units; means operably comprising part of the structure of the bed spring assembly and operably related to the upper rails in such manner as to interpose limited resistance to movement of these upper rails towards and away from each other; and means interposed between the head section of each upper rail and the related lower rail, for facilitating bodily movement of the head supporting portion of bed spring assembly during swing of this portion of the bed spring assembly through vertical angle extending transversely of the bed.

Claim 20

As a new article of manufacture, a bed generally adapted for hospital use and in which bed the patient, while reclining prone on the patient-carrying portion thereof, can rotate this latter from side to side; which said bed comprises a frame with included head and foot together with interconnecting bottom stretcher; which said patient-carrying portion comprises a bed spring assembly disposed between the head and foot of said bed and pivotally journaled therefrom for rotation through a vertical angle to limited extent about the longitudinal, horizontal axis of the bed, the transverse ends of said bed spring assembly being telescopic, permitting the said bed spring assembly, as desired, either to be collapsed inwardly, to cradle the patient, or to be fully extended, into planar position; mechanisms provided for and also carried by said bed frame, one at each end thereof, which said mechanisms serve for opening and closing the bed spring assembly, along with its telecopic ends; and energizing means with included controls therefor, mounted on said bed and connected with said opening and closing mechanisms for operating these latter to cause opening and closing of the bed spring assembly to desired extent through a range delineated between fully extended and fully collapsed positions thereof.

Claim 21

As a new article of manufacture, a bed generally adapted for hospital use and in which bed the patient, while reclining prone on the patient-carrying portion thereof, can rotate this latter from side to side; which said bed comprises a frame with included head and foot together with interconnecting bottom stretcher; which said patient-carrying portion comprises a bed spring assembly disposed between the head and foot of said bed and pivotally journaled therefrom for rotation through a vertical angle to limited extent about the longitudinal, horizontal axis of the bed, the transverse ends of said bed spring assembly being telescopic, permitting the said bed spring assembly, as desired, either to be collapsed inwardly, to cradle the patient, or to be fully extended, into planar position; mechanisms provided for and also carried by said bed frame, one at each end thereof, which said mechanisms serve for opening and closing the bed spring assembly, along with its telecopic ends; and energizing means with included controls therefor, mounted on said bed and connected with said opening and closing mechanisms for operating these latter to cause opening and closing of the bed spring assembly to desired extent through a range delineated between fully extended and fully collapsed positions thereof.

Claim 22

A bed according to claim 11 wherein the telescopic transverse ends of bed spring assembly are of multi-part construction with a friction element interposed between parts of the telescopic ends, for interposing limited resistance to movement of the transverse ends away from any position into which they may have been adjusted.

Claim 23

An article of manufacture according to claim 11 in which the bed spring assembly comprises side rails which are articulated along their length to provide head, middle and bottom segments of the bed spring assembly; and a plurality of thin, flexible slats, each said slat being connected at each end thereof to a related one of said rails in such manner as to extend therebetween and to provide for pivotal movement of each such slat, separate and apart from each other, relative to the rails.

Claim 24

A bed according to claim 13 wherein piano hinges are interposed between and serve to pivotally connect the ends of said slats to the related rails, the said piano hinges themselves each comprising longitudinally extending multiple segments, which are swingable relative to each other about horizontal axes; and in which bed, each slat is loosely pinned to the related hinge segment, for limited rotation of these slats through vertical angle.

Claim 25

A bed according to claim 11 wherein multiple hinge units, provided one at each end of said bed spring assembly, serve to facilitate collapsing the bed spring assembly, which said multiple hinge units are connected to and are powered by said energizing means; and means interconnecting said bed frame and the multiple hinge units for limiting the transverse rotation of said bed spring assembly in either direction of rotation.

Claim 26

An article of manufacture according to claim 11 wherein pivotal mounts serve to carry the bed spring assembly through limited rotation; and in which manufacture is included an adjustable frictional brake cooperating with said pivotal mounts, for controlled braking of said bed spring assembly and for fixing the same in selected attitude to the vertical.

Claim 27

A bed according to claim 14 in which bearing shafts extended longitudinally and horizontally inwardly from the head and foot portions of said bed and serve to carry the opening and closing mechanisms and through these, the bed spring assembly, and in which the bed carries a braking system, which latter frictionally engages about one said bearing shaft, said braking system including means for adjusting its frictional engagement about its related bearing shaft.

Claim 28

A bed according to claim 16 in which the adjusting means for the braking system permits continuous adjustment thereof.

Claim 29

An articulated cradling apparatus for incapacitated patients, comprising a bed frame with included head and foot portions; a patient-carrying bed spring assembly with included telescopic end rails, provided one at each end of said bed spring assembly, said assembly having included top side rails extending longitudinally along the length of the bed, one on each side thereof, and each said top rail being articulated at several intermediate points along its length into multiple segments so pivoted together that they can be separately raised into position partly folded with respect to each other, thereby to provide for transverse adjustment of the spring assembly at selected points along the length thereof, for nice accommodation of the patient; the said telescopic end rails each being fast in the region of their ends to the adjacent ends of the related top rail; multiple hinge units provided one at each end of the bed spring assembly and respectively pivotally mounted on and carried from the head and foot portions of the bed and the outer ends of each of which said multiple hinge units are pivotally connected to and carry respective lower rails, one along the length of each side of the bed, and serve to physically and bodily, laterally move such lower rails towards and away from each other; each said top rail, when none of the segments thereof are raised into their partly folded position, normally closely nesting over the corresponding lower rail; these lower rails serving, when nested with and under the top rails, to open and close these latter; and drive means and their associated controls on said bed and connected to said multiple hinge units for opening and closing the same and along with them and through the intermediary thereof, the bed spring assembly itself.

Claim 30

An articulated cradling apparatus for incapacitated patients, comprising a bed frame with included head and foot portions; a patient-carrying bed spring assembly with included telescopic end rails, provided one at each end of said bed spring assembly, said assembly having included top side rails extending longitudinally along the length of the bed, one on each side thereof, and each said top rail being articulated at several intermediate points along its length into multiple segments so pivoted together that they can be separately raised into position partly folded with respect to each other, thereby to provide for transverse adjustment of the spring assembly at selected points along the length thereof, for nice accommodation of the patient; the said telescopic end rails each being fast in the region of their ends to the adjacent ends of the related top rail; multiple hinge units provided one at each end of the bed spring assembly and respectively pivotally mounted on and carried from the head and foot portions of the bed and the outer ends of each of which said multiple hinge units are pivotally connected to and carry respective lower rails, one along the length of each side of the bed, and serve to physically and bodily, laterally move such lower rails towards and away from each other; each said top rail, when none of the segments thereof are raised into their partly folded position, normally closely nesting over the corresponding lower rail; these lower rails serving, when nested with and under the top rails, to open and close these latter; and drive means and their associated controls on said bed and connected to said multiple hinge units for opening and closing the same and along with them and through the intermediary thereof, the bed spring assembly itself.

Claim 31

As a new article of manufacture, a bed with included head and foot together with connecting bottom structure, which bed is generally adapted for hospital use and in which bed the patient, while prone on the patient-carrying portion thereof, can rotate this latter in its entirety through a vertical angle in either lateral direction to a continuously-variable, pre-selected limited extent; which said patient-carrying portion comprises a bed spring assembly disposed between the head and foot of said bed; multiple, generally pantograph-like hinge units disposed one at each end of said bed and pivotally journaled thereon; first means extending between and connected to said multiple hinge units and which said first means are in physical association with and carry cooperating second means, which said second means are included in and comprise part of said bed spring assembly, the association between said first and second means being such that they are movable into and out of close physical relationship with each other and such that when the two means are in fact, in close physical relationship to each other then, upon opening said multiple hinge units the bed spring assembly can be moved in either lateral direction to continuously variable pre-selected extent from between a nearly planar or flat position on the one hand, and its fully concave position on the other hand; means, carried from and related to said bed, for energizing said multiple hinge units to cause such pantograph-like opening and closing at the will of either the patient or the attendant; and means associated with said pantograph-like hinge multiple units for enabling patient-serving auxiliary equipment to be freely supported from, carried by and movable with the bed spring assembly regardless either of the degree of concavity or angle of rotation of the latter.

Claim 32

As a new article of manufacture, a bed with included head and foot together with connecting bottom structure, which bed is generally adapted for hospital use and in which bed the patient, while prone on the patient-carrying portion thereof, can rotate this latter in its entirety through a vertical angle in either lateral direction to a continuously-variable, pre-selected limited extent; which said patient-carrying portion comprises a bed spring assembly disposed between the head and foot of said bed; multiple, generally pantograph-like hinge units disposed one at each end of said bed and pivotally journaled thereon; first means extending between and connected to said multiple hinge units and which said first means are in physical association with and carry cooperating second means, which said second means are included in and comprise part of said bed spring assembly, the association between said first and second means being such that they are movable into and out of close physical relationship with each other and such that when the two means are in fact, in close physical relationship to each other then, upon opening said multiple hinge units the bed spring assembly can be moved in either lateral direction to continuously variable pre-selected extent from between a nearly planar or flat position on the one hand, and its fully concave position on the other hand; means, carried from and related to said bed, for energizing said multiple hinge units to cause such pantograph-like opening and closing at the will of either the patient or the attendant; and means associated with said pantograph-like hinge multiple units for enabling patient-serving auxiliary equipment to be freely supported from, carried by and movable with the bed spring assembly regardless either of the degree of concavity or angle of rotation of the latter.

Claim 33

As a new article of manufacture, a bed with included head and foot together with connecting bottom structure, which bed is generally adapted for hospital use and in which bed the patient, while prone on the patient-carrying portion thereof, can rotate this latter in its entirety through a vertical angle in either lateral direction to a continuously-variable, pre-selected limited extent; which said patient-carrying portion comprises a bed spring assembly disposed between the head and foot of said bed; multiple, generally pantograph-like hinge units disposed one at each end of said bed and pivotally journaled thereon; first means extending between and connected to said multiple hinge units and which said first means are in physical association with and carry cooperating second means which said second means are included in and comprise part of said bed spring assembly, the association between said first and second means being such that they are movable into and out of close physical relationship with each other and such that when the two means are in fact, in close physical relationship to each other then, upon opening said multiple hinge units the bed spring assembly can be moved in either lateral direction to continuously-variable pre-selected extent from between a nearly planar or flat position on the one hand, and its fully concave position on the other hand; means, carried from and related to said bed, for energizing said multiple hinge units to cause such pantograph-like opening and closing at the will of either the patient or the attendant; and means associated with said pantograph-like hinge multiple units for enabling patient-serving auxiliary equipment to be freely supported from, carried by and movable with the bed spring assembly regardless either of the degree of concavity or angle of rotation of the latter; which said last-mentioned means comprises vertically disposed arm portions carried from said multiple hinges in freely slidable, linear and pivotal manner, one at each end of the bed, said arm portions at their outer ends being physically and rigidly interconnected in manner such as they partially outline and together partially form a generally rectangular frame-like structure.

Claim 34

As a new article of manufacture, a bed with included head and foot together with connecting bottom structure, which bed is generally adapted for hospital use and in which bed the patient, while prone on the patient-carrying portion thereof, can rotate this latter in its entirety through a vertical angle in either lateral direction to a continuously-variable, pre-selected limited extent; which said patient-carrying portion comprises a bed spring assembly disposed between the head and foot of said bed; multiple, generally pantograph-like hinge units disposed one at each end of said bed and pivotally journaled thereon; first means extending between and connected to said multiple hinge units and which said first means are in physical association with and carry cooperating second means which said second means are included in and comprise part of said bed spring assembly, the association between said first and second means being such that they are movable into and out of close physical relationship with each other and such that when the two means are in fact, in close physical relationship to each other then, upon opening said multiple hinge units the bed spring assembly can be moved in either lateral direction to continuously-variable pre-selected extent from between a nearly planar or flat position on the one hand, and its fully concave position on the other hand; means, carried from and related to said bed, for energizing said multiple hinge units to cause such pantograph-like opening and closing at the will of either the patient or the attendant; and means associated with said pantograph-like hinge multiple units for enabling patient-serving auxiliary equipment to be freely supported from, carried by and movable with the bed spring assembly regardless either of the degree of concavity or angle of rotation of the latter; which said last-mentioned means comprises vertically disposed arm portions carried from said multiple hinges in freely slidable, linear and pivotal manner, one at each end of the bed, said arm portions at their outer ends being physically and rigidly interconnected in manner such as they partially outline and together partially form a generally rectangular frame-like structure.