Hospital bed

Claim 2

A bed comprising: a mattress support having an elongated upper wall formed by a central section and a pair of end sections flanking said central section; a mattress overlying said support; a transversely extending hinge between each of said end sections and the corresponding edge of said central section; a base underneath said support; means for longitudinally tilting said base; at least two transversely spaced inflatable first bladders between said base and said support; means for inflating said first bladders for raising said support from said base and for tilting said support about a longitudinal axis relative to said base; a flap underneath each of said end sections and pivotally fixed thereto, each end section extending at an angle to its respective flap and forming therewith an outwardly open V; a second bladder between each of said flaps and said support; and means for inflating said bladders for raiSing said end sections.

Claim 3

A bed comprising: a mattress support having an elongated upper wall formed by a central section and a pair of end sections flanking said central section; a transversely extending hinge between each of said end sections and the corresponding edge of said central section; a base underneath said support; at least two transversely spaced inflatable first bladders between said base and said support; means for inflating said first bladders for raising said support from said base and for tilting said support about a longitudinal axis relative to said base; a flap underneath each of said end sections and pivotally fixed thereto, each end section extending at an angle to its respective flap and forming therewith an outwardly open V; a second bladder between each of said flaps and said support; means for inflating said second bladders for raising said end sections; two additional such transversely spaced first bladders, said support being generally rectangular and said first bladders each being arranged generally under a respective corner of said support, said support having a bottom wall formed with a pair of longitudinally spaced rigid support surfaces each receiving a respective second bladder, at least one of said end sections comprising a pair of planar longitudinally spaced inner and outer sections and a hinge articulation between said inner and outer sections, the respective second bladder engaging said one end section at said inner section only.

Claim 4

A bed comprising: a mattress support having an elongated upper wall formed by a central section and a pair of end sections flanking said central section; a transversely extending hinge between each of said end sections and the corresponding edge of said central section; a base underneath said support; at least two transversely spaced inflatable first bladders between said base and said support; means for inflating said first bladders for raising said support from said base and for tilting said support about a longitudinal axis relative to said base; a flap underneath each of said end sections and pivotally fixed thereto, each end section extending at an angle to its respective flap and forming therewith an outwardly open V; a second bladder between each of said flaps and said support; means for inflating said second bladders for raising said end sections; two additional such transversely spaced first bladders, said support being generally rectangular and said first bladders each being arranged generally under a respective corner of said support, said support having a bottom wall formed with a pair of longitudinally spaced rigid support surfaces each receiving a respective second bladder, at least one of said end sections comprising a pair of planar longitudinally spaced inner and outer sections and a hinge articulation between said inner and outer sections, the respective second bladder engaging said one end section at said inner section only.

Claim 5

The bed defined in claim 2 wherein both of said end sections are formed of a pair of such inner and outer sections, said bed further comprising means engagable with said inner and outer sections for holding the respective outer section coplanar with the respective inner section.

Claim 6

The bed defined in claim 2, further comprising a pair of longitudinal legs each having an upper end engaging said base generally at the center of a respective longitudinal edge thereof, and a pair of transverse legs secured to said base and each having a lower end orientable generally below the center of a respective transverse edge of said support.

Claim 7

The bed defined in claim 4 wherein said transverse legs are adjustable to vary the distance between their lower ends and said base, said bed further comprising means for locking said transverse legs in position with their lower ends fixed relative to said base.

Claim 8

The bed defined in claim 5 wherein said transverse legs are each formed of a plurality of telescoping sections.

Claim 9

The bed defined in claim 5 wherein said transverse legs each have an upper end pivoted on said base, said means for locking including means for inhibiting pivoting of said transverse legs on said base.

Claim 10

The bed defined in claim 4 wherein said legs each have at least one wheel adapted to engage a floor support surface.

Claim 11

The bed defined in claim 4 wherein said longitudinal legs each include a support structure pivoted about a longitudinal axis on said base and carrying a relatively large-diameter wheel rotatable about a transverse axis on said structure and a relatively small-diameter wheel rotatable about an axis on said structure coplanar with said axis of said large-diameter wheel, said structures being pivotable between first positions with said large-diameter wheels engaging a floor support surface and a second position with said small-diameter wheels engaging a floor support surface, said base being closer to said floor support surface in said second positions of structures.

Claim 12

A bed comprising: a mattress support having an elongated upper wall formed by a central section and a pair of end sections flanking said central section; a transversely extending hinge between each of said end sections and the corresponding edge of said central section; a base underneath said support; at least two transversely spaced inflatable first bladders between said base and said support; means for inflating said fiRst bladders for raising said support from said base and for tilting said support about a longitudinal axis relative to said base; a flap underneath each of said end sections and pivotally fixed thereto, each end section extending at an angle to its respective flap and forming therewith an outwardly open V; a second bladder between each of said flaps and said support; means for inflating said second bladders for raising said end sections, two additional such transversely spaced first bladders, said support being generally rectangular and said first bladders each being arranged generally under a respective corner of said support, said support having a bottom wall formed with a pair of longitudinally spaced rigid support surfaces each receiving a respective second bladder, a mattress lying on said upper wall and being formed with an aperture above said central section, said support including a chamber beneath said aperture.

Claim 13

A bed comprising: a mattress support having an elongated upper wall formed by a central section and a pair of end sections flanking said central section; a transversely extending hinge between each of said end sections and the corresponding edge of said central section; a base underneath said support; at least two transversely spaced inflatable first bladders between said base and said support; means for inflating said fiRst bladders for raising said support from said base and for tilting said support about a longitudinal axis relative to said base; a flap underneath each of said end sections and pivotally fixed thereto, each end section extending at an angle to its respective flap and forming therewith an outwardly open V; a second bladder between each of said flaps and said support; means for inflating said second bladders for raising said end sections, two additional such transversely spaced first bladders, said support being generally rectangular and said first bladders each being arranged generally under a respective corner of said support, said support having a bottom wall formed with a pair of longitudinally spaced rigid support surfaces each receiving a respective second bladder, a mattress lying on said upper wall and being formed with an aperture above said central section, said support including a chamber beneath said aperture.

Claim 14

A bed comprising: a mattress support having an elongated upper wall formed by a central section and a pair of end sections flanking said central section; a transversely extending hinge between each of said end sections and the corresponding edge of said central section; a base underneath said support; at least two transversely spaced inflatable first bladders between said base and said support; means for inflating said first bladders for raising said support from said base and for tilting said support about a longitudinal axis relative to said base; a flap underneath each of said end sections and pivotally fixed thereto, each end section extending at an angle to its respective flap and forming therewith an outwardly open V; a second bladder between each of said flaps and said support; means for inflating said second bladders for raising said end sections; two additional such transversely spaced first bladders, said support being generally rectangular and said first bladders each being arranged generally unders a respective corner of said support, said support having a bottom wall formed with a pair of longitudinally spaced rigid support surfaces each receiving a respective second bladder, said support includes generally vertical side walls extending between said top and bottom walls, said bed further comprising hinge means for flattening at least one of said side walls down on top of said bottom wall for pivoting the respective end section of said top wall down into engagement with said bottom wall.

Claim 15

A bed comprising: a mattress support having an elongated upper wall formed by a central section and a pair of end sections flanking said central section; a transversely extending hinge between each of said end sections and the corresponding edge of said central section; a base underneath said support; at least two transversely spaced inflatable first bladders between said base and said support; means for inflating said first bladders for raising said support from said base and for tilting said support about a longitudinal axis relative to said base; a flap underneath each of said end sections and pivotally fixed thereto, each end section extending at an angle to its respective flap and forming therewith an outwardly open V; a second bladder between each of said flaps and said support; means for inflating said second bladders for raising said end sections; two additional such transversely spaced first bladders, said support being generally rectangular and said first bladders each being arranged generally unders a respective corner of said support, said support having a bottom wall formed with a pair of longitudinally spaced rigid support surfaces each receiving a respective second bladder, said support includes generally vertical side walls extending between said top and bottom walls, said bed further comprising hinge means for flattening at least one of said side walls down on top of said bottom wall for pivoting the respective end section of said top wall down into engagement with said bottom wall.