Hospital bed with three position patient side guards

Claim 2

A hospital bed comprising: a base; a bed frame mounted above said base, said frame having spaced lateral sides; a patient guard mounted on at least one of said lateral sides of said frame; a linkage connecting said patient guard to said frame permitting said patient guard to be selectively moved laterally inwardly; and a latch for securing said patient guard in a laterally inward position, said latch comprising a cam block mounted on said frame, said cam block having a cam edge surface with a recess therein, and a latching arm having a handle at a first end and a rotatably mounted cam roller follower at a second end, said latching arm being pivotably mounted to said linkage between said roller follower and said handle, said latching arm being operable upon rotation of said latching arm by said handle to cause said roller follower to engage and translate along said cam edge surface and to move said patient guard inwardly until said roller follower engages said recess in said cam block, thereby removably securing said patient guard in said laterally inward position.

Claim 3

The hospital bed of claim 1 wherein said linkage comprises a parallelogram linkage having a carriage, said-patient guard being connected to said carriage, said parallelogram linkage having a pair of generally parallel links, each said link being pivotably connected to said carriage at a first link end and being pivotably connected to said frame at a second link end, and wherein said latching arm is pivotably mounted to said carriage.

Claim 4

A patient guard assembly adapted to be mounted to a hospital bed comprising: a patient guard; a linkage adapted to be connected to the hospital bed, said patient guard being connected to said linkage, said linkage permitting said patient guard to be selectively moved laterally inwardly; and a latch for securing said patient guard in a laterally inward position, said latch comprising a cam block adapted to be mounted to the bed, said cam block having a cam edge surface with a recess therein, and a latching arm having a handle at a first end and a rotatably mounted cam roller follower at a second end, said latching arm being pivotably mounted to said linkage means between said roller follower and said handle, said latching arm being operable upon rotation of said latching arm by said handle to cause said roller follower to engage and translate along said cam edge surface and to move said patient guard inwardly until said roller follower engages said recess in said cam block, thereby removably securing said patient guard in said laterally inward position.

Claim 5

A patient guard assembly adapted to be mounted to a hospital bed comprising: a patient guard; a linkage adapted to be connected to the hospital bed, said patient guard being connected to said linkage, said linkage permitting said patient guard to be selectively moved laterally inwardly; and a latch for securing said patient guard in a laterally inward position, said latch comprising a cam block adapted to be mounted to the bed, said cam block having a cam edge surface with a recess therein, and a latching arm having a handle at a first end and a rotatably mounted cam roller follower at a second end, said latching arm being pivotably mounted to said linkage means between said roller follower and said handle, said latching arm being operable upon rotation of said latching arm by said handle to cause said roller follower to engage and translate along said cam edge surface and to move said patient guard inwardly until said roller follower engages said recess in said cam block, thereby removably securing said patient guard in said laterally inward position.

Claim 6

The patient guard assembly of claim 3 wherein said linkage is a parallelogram linkage comprising a carriage and a pair of generally parallel links, each said link being pivotably connected to said carriage at a first link end and being pivotably connected to the bed at a second link end.

Claim 7

A hospital bed comprising: a base; a bed frame mounted above said base, said frame having spaced lateral sides; a patient guard mounted on at least one of said lateral sides of said frame; a linkage connecting said patient guard to said frame permitting said patient guard to be selectively moved laterally inwardly; and a latch for securing said patient guard in a laterally inward position, said latch comprising a plunger bracket mounted to said linkage, a plunger slidably mounted within said plunger bracket for movement between a retracted position within said plunger bracket and an extended position extending from said plunger bracket, a spring biasing said plunger toward said extended position, and a plate mounted on said linkage, said plate having an aperture adapted to receive said plunger therethrough, said plate being operable upon shifting of said patient guard laterally inwardly to cause said plunger to compress said spring and maintain said plunger in said retracted position until said aperture is aligned with said plunger thereby allowing said spring to extend and bias said plunger through said aperture into said extended position thereby removably securing said patient guard in said laterally inward position.

Claim 8

A hospital bed comprising: a base; a bed frame mounted above said base, said frame having spaced lateral sides; a patient guard mounted on at least one of said lateral sides of said frame; a linkage connecting said patient guard to said frame permitting said patient guard to be selectively moved laterally inwardly; and a latch for securing said patient guard in a laterally inward position, said latch comprising a plunger bracket mounted to said linkage, a plunger slidably mounted within said plunger bracket for movement between a retracted position within said plunger bracket and an extended position extending from said plunger bracket, a spring biasing said plunger toward said extended position, and a plate mounted on said linkage, said plate having an aperture adapted to receive said plunger therethrough, said plate being operable upon shifting of said patient guard laterally inwardly to cause said plunger to compress said spring and maintain said plunger in said retracted position until said aperture is aligned with said plunger thereby allowing said spring to extend and bias said plunger through said aperture into said extended position thereby removably securing said patient guard in said laterally inward position.

Claim 9

The hospital bed of claim 5 wherein said linkage comprises a parallelogram linkage having a carriage, said patient guard being connected to said carriage, said parallelogram linkage having a pair of generally parallel links, each said link being pivotably connected to said carriage at a first link end and being pivotably connected to said frame at a second link end, said plunger bracket being mounted to said carriage, said plate being mounted to one of said links.

Claim 10

A patient guard assembly adapted to be mounted to a hospital bed comprising: a patient guard; a linkage adapted to be connected to the hospital bed said patient guard being connected to said linkage, said linkage permitting said patient guard to be selectively moved inwardly; and a latch for securing said patient guard in a laterally inward position, said latch comprising a plunger bracket mounted to said linkage, a plunger slidably mounted within said plunger bracket for movement between a retracted position within said plunger bracket and an extended position extending from said plunger block, a spring biasing said plunger toward said extended position, and a plate mounted on said linkage, said plate having an aperture adapted to receive said plunger therethrough, said plate being operable upon shifting of said patient guard laterally inwardly to cause said plunger to compress said spring and maintain said plunger in said retracted position until said aperture is aligned with said plunger thereby allowing said spring to extend and bias said plunger through said aperture into said extended position thereby removably securing said patient guard in said laterally inward position.

Claim 11

A patient guard assembly adapted to be mounted to a hospital bed comprising: a patient guard; a linkage adapted to be connected to the hospital bed said patient guard being connected to said linkage, said linkage permitting said patient guard to be selectively moved inwardly; and a latch for securing said patient guard in a laterally inward position, said latch comprising a plunger bracket mounted to said linkage, a plunger slidably mounted within said plunger bracket for movement between a retracted position within said plunger bracket and an extended position extending from said plunger block, a spring biasing said plunger toward said extended position, and a plate mounted on said linkage, said plate having an aperture adapted to receive said plunger therethrough, said plate being operable upon shifting of said patient guard laterally inwardly to cause said plunger to compress said spring and maintain said plunger in said retracted position until said aperture is aligned with said plunger thereby allowing said spring to extend and bias said plunger through said aperture into said extended position thereby removably securing said patient guard in said laterally inward position.

Claim 12

The patient guard assembly of claim 7 wherein said linkage comprises a parallelogram linkage having a carriage, said patient guard being connected to said carriage, said parallelogram linkage having a pair of generally parallel links, each said link being pivotably connected to said carriage at a first link end and being pivotably connected to the bed at a second link end, said plunger bracket being mounted to said carriage, said plate being mounted to one of said links.

Claim 13

A hospital bed comprising: a base; a bed frame mounted above said base, said frame having spaced lateral sides; a patient guard mounted on at least one of said lateral sides of said frame; a linkage connecting said patient guard to said frame permitting said patient guard to be selectively moved to and between positions at a head end and a foot end of said bed; and a latch for securing said patient guard at a position intermediate to said head end and said foot end, said latch comprising a plunger bracket mounted to said linkage, a plunger slidably mounted within said plunger bracket for movement between a retracted position within said plunger bracket and an extended position extending from said plunger bracket, a spring biasing said plunger toward said extended position, and a block mounted on said frame, said block having an aperture to receive said plunger therethrough, said block being operable upon shifting of said patient guard to said intermediate position to cause said plunger to compress said spring and maintain said plunger in said retracted position until said aperture is aligned with said plunger, thereby allowing said spring to extend and bias said plunger through said aperture into said extended position thereby removably securing said patient guard in said intermediate position.

Claim 14

A hospital bed comprising: a base; a bed frame mounted above said base, said frame having spaced lateral sides; a patient guard mounted on at least one of said lateral sides of said frame; a linkage connecting said patient guard to said frame permitting said patient guard to be selectively moved to and between positions at a head end and a foot end of said bed; and a latch for securing said patient guard at a position intermediate to said head end and said foot end, said latch comprising a plunger bracket mounted to said linkage, a plunger slidably mounted within said plunger bracket for movement between a retracted position within said plunger bracket and an extended position extending from said plunger bracket, a spring biasing said plunger toward said extended position, and a block mounted on said frame, said block having an aperture to receive said plunger therethrough, said block being operable upon shifting of said patient guard to said intermediate position to cause said plunger to compress said spring and maintain said plunger in said retracted position until said aperture is aligned with said plunger, thereby allowing said spring to extend and bias said plunger through said aperture into said extended position thereby removably securing said patient guard in said intermediate position.

Claim 15

The hospital bed of claim 9 wherein said linkage comprises a parallelogram linkage having a carriage, said patient guard being connected to said carriage, said parallelogram linkage having a pair of generally parallel links, each said link being pivotably connected to said carriage at a first link end and being pivotably connected to said frame at a second link end, and said plunger bracket being mounted to said carriage.

Claim 16

A patient guard assembly adapted to be mounted to a hospital bed comprising: a patient guard; a linkage adapted to be connected to the hospital bed, said patient guard being connected to said linkage, said linkage permitting said patient guard to be selectively moved to and between positions between a head end and a foot end of said bed; and a latch for securing said patient guard in a position intermediate to said head end and said foot end, said latch comprising a plunger bracket mounted to said linkage, a plunger slidably mounted within said plunger bracket for movement between a retracted position within said plunger bracket and an extended position extending from said plunger bracket, a spring biasing said plunger toward said extended position, and a block mounted on said frame, said block having an aperture to receive said plunger therethrough, said block being operable upon shifting of said patient guard to said intermediate position to cause said plunger to compress said spring and maintain said plunger in said retracted position until said aperture is aligned with said plunger, thereby allowing said spring to extend and bias said plunger through said aperture into said extended position thereby removably securing said patient guard in said intermediate position.

Claim 17

A patient guard assembly adapted to be mounted to a hospital bed comprising: a patient guard; a linkage adapted to be connected to the hospital bed, said patient guard being connected to said linkage, said linkage permitting said patient guard to be selectively moved to and between positions between a head end and a foot end of said bed; and a latch for securing said patient guard in a position intermediate to said head end and said foot end, said latch comprising a plunger bracket mounted to said linkage, a plunger slidably mounted within said plunger bracket for movement between a retracted position within said plunger bracket and an extended position extending from said plunger bracket, a spring biasing said plunger toward said extended position, and a block mounted on said frame, said block having an aperture to receive said plunger therethrough, said block being operable upon shifting of said patient guard to said intermediate position to cause said plunger to compress said spring and maintain said plunger in said retracted position until said aperture is aligned with said plunger, thereby allowing said spring to extend and bias said plunger through said aperture into said extended position thereby removably securing said patient guard in said intermediate position.

Claim 18

The patient guard assembly of claim 11 wherein said linkage comprises a parallelogram linkage having a carriage, said patient guard being connected to said carriage, said parallelogram linkage having a pair of generally parallel links, each said link being pivotably connected to said carriage at a first link end and being pivotably connected to the bed at a second link end, said plunger bracket being mounted to said carriage, said block being mounted to one of said links.

Claim 19

A hospital bed comprising: a base; a bed frame mounted above said base, said frame having spaced lateral sides; a patient guard mounted on at least one of said lateral sides of said frame; a linkage connecting said patient guard to said frame permitting said patient guard to be moved to and between first, second and third positions, said first position being toward a head end of said bed, said second position being toward a foot end of said bed, said third position being intermediate said head and foot ends of said bed; and latching mechanism for removably securing said patient guard in said first, second and third positions.

Claim 20

A hospital bed comprising: a base; a bed frame mounted above said base, said frame having spaced lateral sides; a patient guard mounted on at least one of said lateral sides of said frame; a linkage connecting said patient guard to said frame permitting said patient guard to be moved to and between first, second and third positions, said first position being toward a head end of said bed, said second position being toward a foot end of said bed, said third position being intermediate said head and foot ends of said bed; and latching mechanism for removably securing said patient guard in said first, second and third positions.

Claim 21

The hospital bed of claim 13 wherein said latching mechanism comprises a cam block mounted on said frame, said cam block having a cam edge surface with a recess therein, and a latching arm having a handle at a first end and a rotatably mounted cam roller follower at a second end, said latching arm being pivotably mounted to said linkage between said roller follower and said handle, said latching arm being operable upon rotation of said latching arm by said handle to cause said roller follower to engage and translate along said cam edge surface until said roller follower engages said recess in said cam block, thereby removably securing said patient guard in said first position.

Claim 22

The hospital bed of claim 14 wherein said linkage comprises a parallelogram linkage having a carriage, said patient guard being connected to said carriage, said parallelogram linkage having a pair of generally parallel links, each said link being pivotably connected to said carriage at a first link end and being pivotably connected to said frame at a second link end, and wherein said latching arm is pivotably mounted to said carriage.

Claim 23

The hospital bed of claim 13 wherein said latching mechanism comprises a plunger bracket mounted to said linkage, a plunger slidably mounted within said plunger bracket for movement between a retracted position within said plunger bracket and an extended position extending from said plunger bracket, a spring biasing said plunger toward side extended position, and a plate mounted on said linkage, said plate having an aperture to receive said plunger therethrough, said plate being operable upon shifting of said patient guard to said second position to cause said plunger to compress said spring and maintain said plunger in said retracted position until said aperture is aligned with said plunger, thereby allowing said spring to extend and bias said plunger through said aperture into said extended position thereby removably securing said patient guard in said second position.

Claim 24

The hospital bed of claim 16 wherein said linkage comprises a parallelogram linkage having a carriage, said patient guard being connected to said carriage, said parallelogram linkage having a pair of generally parallel links, each said link being pivotably connected to said carriage at a first link end and being pivotably connected to said frame at a second link end, said plunger bracket being mounted to said carriage, said plate being mounted to one of said links.

Claim 25

The hospital bed of claim 13 wherein said latching mechanism comprises a plunger bracket mounted to said linkage, a plunger slidably mounted within said plunger bracket for movement between a retracted position within said plunger bracket and an extended position extending from said plunger bracket, a spring biasing said plunger toward said extended position, and a block mounted on said frame, said block having an aperture to receive said plunger therethrough, said block being operable upon shifting of said patient guard to said third position to cause said plunger to compress said spring and maintain said plunger in said retracted position until said aperture is aligned with said plunger, thereby allowing said spring to extend and bias said plunger through said aperture into said extended position thereby removably securing said patient guard in said third position.

Claim 26

The hospital bed of claim 18 wherein said linkage comprises a parallelogram linkage having a carriage, said patient guard being connected to said carriage, said parallelogram linkage having a pair of generally parallel links, each said link being pivotably connected to said carriage at a first link end and being pivotably connected to said frame at a second link end, and said plunger bracket being mounted to said carriage.

Claim 27

A patient guard assembly adapted to be mounted to a hospital bed comprising: a patient guard; a linkage adapted to be connected to the hospital bed, said patient guard being connected to said linkage, said linkage permitting said patient guard to be moved to and between first, second, and third positions, said first position being toward a head end of the bed, said second position being toward a foot end of the bed, said third position being intermediate said head and foot ends of the bed; and latching mechanism for removably securing said patient guard in said first, second and third positions.

Claim 28

A patient guard assembly adapted to be mounted to a hospital bed comprising: a patient guard; a linkage adapted to be connected to the hospital bed, said patient guard being connected to said linkage, said linkage permitting said patient guard to be moved to and between first, second, and third positions, said first position being toward a head end of the bed, said second position being toward a foot end of the bed, said third position being intermediate said head and foot ends of the bed; and latching mechanism for removably securing said patient guard in said first, second and third positions.

Claim 29

The patient guard assembly of claim 20 wherein said latching mechanism comprises a cam block adapted to be mounted to the bed, said cam block having a cam edge surface with a recess therein, and a latching arm having a handle at a first end and a rotatably mounted cam roller follower at a second end, said latching arm being pivotably mounted to said linkage between said roller follower and said handle, said latching arm being operable upon rotation of said latching arm by said handle to cause said roller follower to engage and translate along said cam edge surface until said roller follower engages said recess in said cam block, thereby removably securing said patient guard in said first position.

Claim 30

The patient guard assembly of claim 21 wherein said linkage comprises a parallelogram linkage having a carriage, said patient guard being connected to said carriage, said parallelogram linkage having a pair of generally parallel links, each said link being pivotably connected to said carriage at a first link end and being pivotably connected to the bed at a second link end, and wherein said latching arm is pivotably mounted to said carriage.

Claim 31

The patient guard assembly of claim 20 wherein said latching mechanism comprises a plunger bracket mounted to said linkage, a plunger slidably mounted within said plunger bracket for movement between a retracted position within said plunger bracket and an extended position extending from said plunger bracket, a spring biasing said plunger toward said extended position, and a plate mounted on said linkage, said plate having an aperture to receive said plunger therethrough, said plate being operable upon shifting of said patient guard to said second position to cause said plunger to compress said spring and maintain said plunger in said retracted position until said aperture is aligned with said plunger, thereby allowing said spring to extend and bias said plunger through said aperture into said extended position thereby removably securing said patient guard in said second position.

Claim 32

The patient guard assembly of claim 23 wherein said linkage comprises a parallelogram linkage having a carriage, said patient guard being connected to said carriage, said parallelogram linkage having a pair of generally parallel links, each said link being pivotably connected to said carriage at a first link end and being pivotably connected to the bed at a second link end, said plunger bracket being mounted to said carriage, said plate being mounted to one of said links.

Claim 33

The patient guard assembly of claim 20 wherein said latching mechanism comprises a plunger bracket mounted to said linkage, a plunger slidably mounted within said plunger bracket for movement between a retracted position within said plunger bracket and an extended position extending from said plunger bracket, a spring biasing said plunger toward said extended position, and a block adapted to be mounted to the bed, said block having an aperture to receive said plunger therethrough, said block being operable upon shifting of said patient guard to said third position to cause said plunger to compress said spring and maintain said plunger in said retracted position until said aperture is aligned with said plunger, thereby allowing said spring to extend and bias said plunger through said aperture into said extended position thereby removably securing said patient guard in said third position.

Claim 34

The patient guard assembly of claim 25 wherein said linkage comprises a parallelogram linkage having a carriage, said patient guard being connected to said carriage, said parallelogram linkage having a pair of generally parallel links, each said link being pivotably connected to said carriage at a first link end and being pivotably connected to the bed at a second link end, said plunger bracket being mounted to said carriage.