US3230553A - Bed construction - Google Patents

Description

1966 J. SCHLACKMAN ETAL 3,230,553

BED CONSTRUCTION 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 17, 1963 .Mun

m M 21 mm w m m r M MM w fi m w. 4 m. D5 6 8/. M 0 R m T a fi W %N M Z Jan. 25, 1966 J. SCHLACKMAN ET AL 3,230,553

BED CONSTRUCTION Filed June 17, 1963 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 31 29 ii 27 e: H I 25 5/ |II /9 l l 9 I I) LAJ -20 J6 15 lia INVENTORS Joseph Sc/zZackmam EoZand 14 Benodl' United States Patent 3,230,553 BED CONSTRUCTION Joseph Schlackman, Jamaica, N.Y., and Roland A. Benoit, Dayville, C0nn., assignors to Royalmetal Corporation, New York, N.Y., a corporation of Illinois Filed June 17, 1963, Ser. No. 297,730 6 Claims. (Cl. -64) This is a continuation-in-part of application Serial No. 825,846, filed July 8, 1959, now abandoned.

This invention relates to adjustable beds, such as hospital-type beds and the like, and more particularly to adjustable beds wherein mechanical means are provided for changing or adjusting the height of the bed frame.

An object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved adjustable bed construction wherein either the head portion or the foot portion, or else both, of the bed frame may be easily and quickly adjusted or raised and lowered to effect any desired positioning or head-to-foot tilting of the bed.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved adjustable bed construction as above set forth, wherein simplified extensible mounting devices or stanchions are provided to support the bed frame on elongate, floor-engaging supports, thereby appreciably reducing the complexity of the adjustment means.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved adjustable bed construction as characterized, wherein relatively few parts and components are utilized, and wherein a desirable simplicity of construction is achieved in effecting the raising and lowering and also tilting adjustment of the bed frame.

Still another object of the invention is to provide an improved adjustable bed construction as above defined, wherein the operation of raising and lowering or tilting the bed frame may be easily and quickly carried out, without requiring the exercise of any considerable force.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide an improved adjustable bed construction in accordance with the foregoing, wherein great stability and strength is had in supporting the bed frame in its various positions despite the simplicity of the structure and the relatively few components required.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an improved adjustable bed construction having the above advantages, and which is nevertheless sturdy and reliable in its operation at all times, and economical to fabricate and produce.

A feature of the invention resides in the provision of an adjustable bed construction wherein a single manually operable member is utilized to effect the raising and lowering of either the head portion or the foot portion of the bed frame to provide the desired tilt, or of both the said portions to cause purely translational movement of the frame.

Other features and advantages will hereinafter appear.

In the drawings accompanying this specification, similar characters of reference are used to designate like components throughout the several views, in which:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary inside end view of the foot portion of the adjustable bed construction as provided by the invention, a portion of this view beingin vertical section to reveal the interiorly located drive means, and the remainder of the view being in elevation.

3,230,553 Patented Jan. 25, 1966 ice FIG. 2 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 22 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary perspective view illustrating a clutch mechanism and actuating means therefor, provided between the drive means at the head and foot portions of the bed.

FIG. 4 is a view partly in elevation and partly in vertical section, of the head portion of the bed construction.

FIG. 5 is a vertical sectional view like FIGURE 2, but showing a modification of the invention.

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary front elevational view of the modification, parts being broken away; and

FIG. 7 is an enlarged, fragmentary view of FIGURE 5, but showing the clutch in the engaged position.

Referring to FIGS. 1, 2 and 4, the bed frame of the adjustable bed construction is indicated by the numeral 10, said frame including a foot board or panel 12 and also a head board 14. The bed frame 10 may further comprise side rails, such as the rail indicated at 13, of any suitable or usual construction.

The adjustable bed construction further comprises a pair of floor-engaging support means 15, one of said pair (see FIG. 4) being disposed at the head portion of the bed frame and the other (illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2) beingv located at the foot portion of the bed frame.

In accordance with the present invention there is provided a pair of extensible mounting devices, one of which is illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 and the other in FIG. 4, these being designated generally by the numeral 17, for mounting the head and foot portions of the bed frame 10 on the support means 15 respectively, whereby the bed frame is supported above and in spaced relation to the floor surface.

The floor-engaging support means are shown as being of elongate construction, in accordance with the invention, being constituted of rigid bars 16 having widely spaced feet 16a for contacting the floor surface.

By the present invention, the extensible mounting de vices 17 are constituted as extensible stanchions which are rigidly secured to the center portions of the floorengaging support means 15 as seen in FIG. 1. Thus, by such construction the bars 16 may be thought of as each constituted of a pair of oppositely extended horizontal arms which project in opposite directions from the extensible mounting stanchion 17.

By the present invention, the stanchions 17 are of hollow construction and comprise inner and outer hollow telescoping members 19 and 20, respectively, the outer member 20 being rigidly secured to the foot board 12 whereas the inner telescoping member 19 is rigidly atfixed to the base or floor-engaging support means 15.

It will be understood that at the head of the bed frame the headboard is correspondingly rigidly secured to the outer telescoping member 20 which receives an inner telescoping member 19 secured to the floor-engaging support means 15.

It will be seen from an inspection of FIGS. 1 and 2 that the extensible-stanchions 17 are appreciably wider than they are thick, and that the width of the stanchions extends along the length of the floor-engaging support means or supporting base 15, thereby to provide an extremely rugged construction and one which provides great stability to the bed frame.

By the present invention, within each of the hollow extensible stanchions 17 there is provided a mechanical drive means designated generally by the numeral 23, for effecting extension and retraction of the stanchions, thereby to raise and lower and also tilt the bed frame. Each of the said mechanical drive means comprises an elevating drive screw 25 which is disposed above the floor-engaging support means and which extends vertically within the stanchion 17, and further comprises an elevating nut 27 which is fixed to the inner telescoping member 19 adjacent its upper end. Such elevating nut 27 is threadedly engaged with the drive screw 25. At its upper end, the drive screw 25 has a bearing collar 29 rigidly affixed thereto, and the upper extremity of the drive screw rigidly mounts a bevel or mitre gear 31, as shown. Interposed between the collar 29 and the gear 31 is a bearing block 33, the said block being rigidly secured to the outer telescoping member whereby the drive screw has no relative vertical movement with respect to the outer member but instead may turn as permitted by the bearing means.

As the elevating nut 27 is rigidly secured to the inner telescoping member 19, turning of the drive screw 25 will effect either an extension or retraction of the stan chion 17 thereby resulting in the bed frame 10 being either raised or lowered.

For the purpose of turning the drive screw 25 there is provided a simple, manually operable means comprising a foldable hand crank 35 carried by a shaft 36, the latter having a bearing in the foot board 12 of the bed frame and mounting a bevel or mitre gear 38 which meshes with the gear 31 on the screw.

The inner telescoping member 19 has vertically extending slots or cuts 40 in its opposite sides to clear the shaft 36 and mitre gear 38 and also to clear the bearing block 33. By such construction, turning of the crank 35 will effect a turning of the drive screw 25, thereby to extend and retract the stanchion 17 so as to raise and lower the foot of the bed.

The mechanical drive means as thus far described is duplicated, as seen in FIG. 4, at the head portion of the bed frame 10,. with the exception that the hand crank 35 is omitted. Further, in accordance with the invention, a coupling means is provided between the drive means 23 at the head portion of the bed frame and that illustrated in the drawings as provided at the foot portion of the frame, and in each instance the said coupling means comprises a sprocket wheel 42 mounted on the shaft 36, and a chain 44 which passes over the sprocket wheel 42 and depends therefrom. In each instance the chain 44 also passes over a sprocket wheel 46 which 'is provided on a jack shaft 48 carried in an adjustable bearing bracket 49 which is adjustably mounted on the outer telescoping member 20, one such member 20 being at the foot portion and another such member 20 at the head portion of the bed frame. The shaft 48 and bracket 49 are disposed vertically below the shaft 36 and sprocket 42, as will be readily understood, in each instance.

The coupling means between the head and foot drive mechanisms further includes an elongate drive shaft 52 which extends under the bed frame 10, from the head to the foot portion thereof, said drive shaft being coupled to the shafts 48 at the head of the bed frame by means of a suitable coupling fitting.

Further, in accordance with the invention, the coupling of the drive shaft 52 to the jack shaft 48 at the foot of the bed is made through a mechanical clutch device 54 having a part 55 splined to the drive shaft 48 and which is movable to clutch the end of the shaft 52. The clutch part 55 has a grooved collar receiving a shifting fork or rod 58 which is pivotally mounted at 60 on the adjustable bearing bracket 49. The clutch shifting rod 58 is integral with a bell crank lever 62. The free end of the lever 62 is pivotally connected with the lower end of a clutch actuating arm 64. Such actuating arm 64 has a handle 65 fixed on its upper end. When the actuating arm 64 is raised, the bell crank lever 62 is rocked in a clockwise direction whereby the shifting fork 58 moves similarly to move the movable .clutch part 55 in a direction to disengage it and the jack shaft 52 from the drive shaft 48 in a manner readily understood.

The clutch operating arm'64 extends through a slot 67 in a vertical housing or guard 69 which is secured to the foot board 12 and which encloses the sprockets 42 and 46 and also the chain 44, together with the associated hearing fittings. As seen in FIG. 2, adjacent the sprocket 42 a bearing and cap fitting 70 is provided, carried by the outer telescoping member 20, said fitting also being enclosed by the housing 69.

By such construction, as provided by the invention, it is possible to raise either the head portion or the foot portion of the bed frame when the respective clutch mechanism 54 only is engaged, or both at the same time when both clutch mechanisms 54 are engaged. Also, by disengaging the clutch mechanism, the foot portion of the bed may be either raised or lowered independently of the head portion. Thus, with this organization, by first adjusting the head portion to the desired level, it is possible, through independent adjustment of the foot portion to secure any inclination of the bed frame which may be desired, either with the head portion lower or higher than the foot portion.

Further, in accordance with the invention, novel springoperated counterbalance means are provided within the hollow stanchions 17, to counterbalance the weight of the bed frame 10 and reduce the operating load on the drive screw 25 and drive nut 27, while at the same time making it easier for the person to lower or raise the bed when turning the hand crank 35. This counterbalance means comprises a pair of helical compression springs 75 and 76 (FIG. 1), said springs being carried on two elongate, telescopic means, each comprising an upright rod 78 and a tube 79 in which rod 78 is slidable. The upper ends of the tubes 79 are fixed to upper portions of the head or foot portions of the bed frame. The lower extremities of the rods 78 are rigidly attached to the floor-engaging support means 15, and the lower ends of the springs 75 and 76 engage and abut the floor-engaging support means 15, whereas the upper ends of the springs 75 and 76 engage and abut the bed frame 10 at points within the hollow stanchions 17. Thus, the compression coil springs have a tendency to lift the bed frame and counterbalance the weight of the same, thereby making it easier to operate the drive means and relieving the load on the drive screws 25 andnuts 27.

In the modification of FIGURES 5, 6 and 7, a headboard includes a vertical housing or guard 101. A vertical drive screw 102 is mounted in the guard 101 and engages a nut 103 which is fixed to the movable sec tion 104 of the headboard for raising and lowering the same as in the first described species of the invention. The lower end of the drive screw 102 has a bevel gear 105 fixed thereon which is in mesh with a bevel gear 106 which is fixed on the inner end of a horizontal drive shaft 107. The outer end of the drive shaft 107 extends outwardly of the headboard 100 and is fitted with any suitable actuating means such as the crank 108 which is fragmentarily illustrated in FIGURE 5. The forward end of the drive shaft 107 extends forwardly of the guard 101 and is provided with a cross slot 109 for receiving a pin 110 which extends across the adjacent end of a tubular driven shaft 111. Such adjacent end of the tubular driven shaft 111 is radially outwardly expanded in all directions to provide an enlarge cam-engaging boss 112 for a purpose to be apparent. At least the adjacent end of the driven shaft 112 is slidably mounted by any suitable means, not shown, for movement toward and away from the drive shaft 107 whereby to seat and unseat pin 110 in slot 109 for connecting and disconnecting the drive and driven shafts 107 and 111. Thus, with the pin 110 seated in slot 109, both shafts will be rotated as a unit and both ends of the bed will be elevated at the same time. Any suitable expansive spring means 113 inside driven shaft 111 bears at one end against any suitable abutment such as the cross rivet or pin 114 to load the driven shaft into operative engagement with the drive shaft 107. The other end of the spring 113 bears against any suitable abutment such as the solid end of a driven shaft, not shown,.on which the tubular shaft 111 is slidably mounted in a manner readily understood.

When it is desired to disconnect the driven shaft 111 from the drive shaft 107, the operator uses an actuator arm 115. Such arm 115 is slidable vertically in the guard 101 and has a handle 116 which extends above the same. The lower end of the arm 115 has secured thereto a bifurcated cam 117 which is formed with beveled furcations 118 and a vertical rest surface 119. When the shafts 107 and 111 are connected together, the actuating arm 115 is raised and the parts are in the positions of FIGURE 7. When it is desired to disconnect the shafts 107 and 111, the operator depresses the arm 115 whereby the beveled furcations 118, which straddle the drive shaft 107, cam the boss 112 and the tubular driven shaft 111 away from the drive shaft 107 until the pin 110 is clear of the slot 109. A slight further movement brings the adjacent portions of the rest surface 115 of the cam against the boss 112 and prevents the spring 113 from again connecting the shafts until such time as the operator again elevates the actuator arm 115.

It is understood that except as described hereinabove, the structure of the modification of FIGURES 5, 6 and 7 is essentially the same as the first described species.

It will now be understood from the foregoing that I have provided novel and improved adjustable bed constructions which are characterized by great simplicity, relatively few parts, and which are rugged and reliable in operation. Moreover, the various components and assemblies may be economically fabricated and produced, and operate so as to enable the bed to be easily and quickly raised and lowered, or tilted as between the head and foot portions, with a minimum of effort and force being required.

Variations and modifications may be made within the scope of the claims, and portions of the improvements may be used without others.

We claim:

1. An adjustable bed construction comprising a head portion and a foot portion, each of said head portion and foot portion including a horizontally disposed elongated floor engaging support having widely spaced feet connected at each end of said support for engaging the floor, an extensible mounting device connected to each elongated support intermediate the ends thereof, said extensible device including centrally disposed inner and outer hollow telescoping stanchion members, said inner stanchion member being rigidly connected to said elongated support and said outer stanchion member being vertically movable relative to said inner stanchion member, a head board frame and a foot board frame connected to the outer stanchion member at the respective h'ead portion and foot portion of said bed construction, side rails interconnecting the head board frame with the foot board frame, a mechanical drive means associated respectively with each of the mounting devices of the respective head portion and foot portion for effecting the telescoping of said cooperatively associated inner and outer stanchion members, vertical coil spring means interposed within the respective extensible devices, said spring means including a coil spring vertically disposed on either side of said drive means within the respective extensible device to effect counterbalancing of the weight of said bed head and foot board frames at a central position thereof, mounting means for said springs comprising telescoping rod means axially inwardly of said springs, means for connecting the drive means of the respective foot portion and head portion to effect either simultaneously operation of the respective drive means to raise and lower the side rails or for disconnecting the drive means from each other to effect independent operation of the respective drive means for tilting said side rails, said latter means including a coupling shaft coupled at one end to the driving device in said head portion and releasably coupled at the other end to the drive means of said foot portion and a clutch means for engaging and disengaging the releasably coupled end of said shaft to the drive means of said foot portion.

2. An adjustable bed construction comprising a head portion and a foot portion, each of said head portion and foot portion including a horizontally disposed elongated floor engaging support having widely spaced feet connected at each end of said support for engaging the floor, an extensible mounting device connected to each elongated support intermediate the ends thereof, said extensible device including centrally disposed inner and outer hollow telescoping stanchion members, said inner stanchion member being rigidly connected to said elongated support and said outer stanchion member being vertically movable relative to said inner stanchion member, a head board frame and a foot board frame connected to the outer stanchion member at the respective head portion and foot portion of said bed construction, side rails interconnecting the head board frame with the foot board frame, a mechanical drive means associated respectively with each of the mounting devices of the respective head portion and foot portion for effecting the telescoping of said cooperatively associated inner and outer stanchion members, spring means inter-posed within the respective extensible devices, said spring means including a coil spring disposed on either side of said drive means within the respective extensible device to elfect counterbalancing of the weight of said bed head and foot board frames at,a central position thereof, and means for connecting the drive means of the respective foot portion and head portion to effect either simultaneously operation of the respective drive means to raise and lower the side rails or for disconnecting the drive means from each other to effect independent operation of the respective drive means for tilting said side rails, said latter means including a coupling shaft coupled at one end to the driving device in said head portion and releasably coupled at the other end to the drive means of said foot portion, a clutch means for engaging and disengaging the releasably coupled end of said shaft to the drive means of said foot portion, said clutch including a clutch part having a grooved collar movable toward and away from said shaft, said clutch part and coupling shaft having cooperating means for engaging and disengaging said coupling shaft in driving relationship with said clutch part, and means for effecting movement of said clutch part to effect engagement and disengagment thereof with said coupling shaft, said means including a U-shaped shifting fork having one leg pivotally mounted and having its bight portion disposed in the grooved collar of said clutch part, a vertically elongated clutch actuating arm carried by the outer extensible stanchion at said foot portion whereby said actuating arm is rendered readily accessible without stooping, and a link interconnecting said actuating arm to said clutch fork for transmitting the vertical displacement of said arm to effect horizontal movement of said clutch part for effecting either the coupling or uncoupling of the drive means at the foot portion to the drive means at said head portion.

3. An adjustable bed construction comprising a head portion and a foot portion, each of said head portion and foot portion including a horizontally disposed elongated floor engaging support having widely spaced feet for engaging the floor connected at each end of said support, an extensible mounting device connected to each elongated support intermediate the ends thereof, said extensible device including an inner and outer hollow telescoping stanchion member, said inner stanchion member being rigidly connected to said elongated support and said outer stanchion member being vertically movable relative to said inner stanchion member, a head board frame and a foot board frame connected to the outer stanchion member of the respective head portion and foot portion of said bed construction, side rails interconnecting the head board frame with the foot board frame, a mechanical drive means associated respectively within each mounting device of the respective head portion and foot portion, said drive means each including an elevating nut secured to the inner stanchion member, a drive screw threaded to said nut, a bearing block connecting said screw to the adjacent outer stanchion member, a beveled gear connected to the upper end of said screw, a horizontally disposed drive shaft rotatably journaled between the walls of said outer stanchion member, a mitre gear fixed to said shaft and disposed in meshing relationship with said bevel gear, a handle means connected to the drive shaft journaled in the mounting device of the foot portion whereby rotation of said handle effects rotation of the screw in said mounting device of said foot portion, means for connecting the drive means of the respective foot portion and head portion to effect either simultaneously operation of the respective drive means to raise and lower the side rails or for disconnecting the drive means from each other to effect independent operation of the respective drive means for tilting said side rails, said connecting means including a sprocket journaled to the drive shafts of the respective drive means, a jack shaft vertically spaced from the respective horizontal drive shaft, said jack shaft being journaled to its respective outer stanchion member, a cooperating driven sprocket mounted to the respective jack shafts, a chain drive connecting the respective driving sprocket into driving relationship with its respective driven sprocket, an elongated coupling shaft coupled at one end to the jack shaft of the head portion and releasably coupled at its other end to the jack shaft of said foot portion; a manually operative clutch means interposed between said coupling shaft and jack shaft of said foot portion, said clutch means including clutch part splined to said foot portion jack shaft for movement toward and away from said coupling shaft, said clutch part having a grooved collar, said clutch part and coupling shaft having cooperating means for engaging and disengaging said coupling shaft in driving relationship with said clutch part, and means for effecting movement of said clutch part to effect engagement and disengagement of said coupling shaft, said means including a U-shaped shifting fork having one leg pivotally mounted and having its bight portion disposed in the grooved collar of said clutch part, a vertically elongated clutch arm carried by the outer extensible stanchion member of said foot portion whereby it is rendered readily accessible without stooping, and a link interconnecting said actuating arm to the other leg of said clutch fork for transmitting the vertical displacement of said arm to effect horizontal movement of said clutch part for effecting either the coupling or uncoupling of the drive means of the foot portion to the drive means of the head portion, and counterbalancing springs disposed in the respective extensible mounting device, said springs including a pair of helical compression springs, said coil springs being disposed on opposite sides of the mechanical drive means of the respective stanchions.

4. An adjustable bed construction according to claim 1, wherein said clutch means comprises a horizontally slidable tubular end portion of said coupling shaft, an enlarged boss formed on said tubular end portion, said drive shaft having an adjacent end formed with a transverse slot thereacross, said tubular end of said coupling shaft being adapted to receive said drive shaft therein and including a cross pin seatable in said slot to connect said shafts for rotation together, a bifurcated ca-m vertically slidable in said foot portion in straddling relation to said drive shaft, said cam having furcations formed with cam surfaces adapted to engage said enlarged boss upon movement of said cam in one direction and thereafter move said tubular coupling shaft portion in a direction away from said drive shaft whereby to unseat said pin from said slot and disconnect said shafts, and said cam including a rest portion adapted to receive a portion of said boss thereon to maintain said shafts disconnected.

5. An adjustable bed construction, comprising a head portion and a foot portion, each of said head portion and foot portion including a horizontally disposed elongated floor engaging support having widely spaced feet connected at each end of said support for engaging the floor, an extensible mounting device connected to each elongated support intermediate the ends thereof, said extensible device including centrally disposed inner and outer hollow telescoping stanchion member-s, said inner stanchion member being rigidly connected to said elongated support and said outer stanchion member being vertically movable relative to said inner stanchion member, a head board frame and a foot board frame connected to the outer stanchion member at the respective head portion and foot portion of said bed construction, side rails interconnecting the head board frame with the foot board frame, a mechanical drive means associated respectively with each of the mounting devices of the respective head portion and foot portion for effecting the telescoping of said cooperatively associated inner and outer stanchion members, spring means interposed within the respective extensible devices, said spring means being vertically disposed within the respective extensible device to effect counterbalancing of the weight of said bed head and foot board frames at a central position thereof, mounting means for said springs comprising telescoping rod means axially inwardly of said springs, means for connecting the drive means of the respective foot portion and head portion to effect either simultaneously operation of the respective drive means to raise and lower the side rails or for disconnecting the drive means from each other to effect independent operation of the respective drive means for tilting said side rails, said latter means including a coupling shaft coupled at one end to the driving device in said head portion and releasably coupled at the other end to the drive means of said foot portion, and a means for engaging and disengaging the releasably coupled end of said shaft to the drive means of said foot portion.

6. An adjustable bed construction comprising a head portion and a foot portion, each of said head portion and foot portion including a horizontally disposed elongated floor engaging support having widely spaced feet connected at each end of said support for engaging the floor, an extensible mounting device connected to each elongated support intermediate the ends thereof, said extensible device including a centrally disposed inner and outer hollow telescoping stanchion members, one of said stanchion members being rigidly connected to said elongated support and the other stanchion member being vertically movable relative to said one stanchion member, a head board frame and a foot board frame connected to the movable stanchion member at the respective head portion and foot portion of said bed construction, side rails interconnecting the head board frame and foot board frame, a mechanical drive means associated respectively with each of the mounting devices of the respective head portion and foot portion for effecting the telescoping of said cooperatively associated inner and outer stanchion members, vertical spring means interposed between the respective extensible devices, said spring means being vertically disposed on either side of said drive means within the respective extensible devices to effect counterbalancing of the weight of said bed head and foot board frames at a central position thereof, mounting means for said springs, connecting means for connecting the drive means of the respective foot portion and head portion to effect either simultaneous operation of the respective drive means to raise and lower the side rails or for disconnecting the drive means from each other to effect independent operation of one of said respective drive means for tilting said side rails, said latter means including a coupling shaft coupled at one end to the driving device in said head portion and releasably coupled at the other end to the drive means of said foot portion, and means for engaging and disengaging the releasable coupled end of said shaft to the drive means of said foot portion.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS Hamilton 108147 Hillenbrand 586 X Waterman 586 Travis 564 Wallen 563 FRANK B. SHERRY, Primary Examiner.

Claims (1)

1. AN ADJUSTABLE BED CONSTRUCTION COMPRISING A HEAD PORTION AND A FOOT PORTION, EACH OF SAID HEAD PORTION AND FOOT PORTION INCLUDING A HORIZONTALLY DISPOSED ELONGATED FLOOR ENGAGING SUPPORT HAVING WIDELY SPACED FEET CONNECTED AT EACH END OF SAID SUPPORT FOR ENGAGING THE FLOOR, AND EXTENSIBLE MOUNTING DEVICE CONNECTED TO EACH ELONGATED SUPPORT INTERMEDIATE THE ENDS THEREOF, SAID EXTENSIBLE DEVICE INCLUDING CENTRALLY DISPOSED INNER AND OUTER HOLLOW TELESCOPING STANCHION MEMBERS, SAID INNER STANCHION MEMBER BEING RIGIDLY CONNECTED TO SAID ELONGATED SUPPORT AND SAID OUTER STANCHION MEMBER BEING VERTICALLY MOVABLE RELATIVE TO SAID INNER STANCHION MEMBER, A HEAD BOARD FRAME AND A FOOT BOARD FRAME CONNECTED TO THE OUTER STANCHION MEMBER AT THE RESPECTIVE HEAD PORTION AND FOOT PORTION OF SAID BED CONSTRUCTION, SIDE RAILS INTERCONNECTING THE HEAD BOARD FRAME WITH THE FOOT BOARD FRAME, A MECHANICAL DRIVE MEANS ASSOCIATED RESPECTIVELY WITH EACH OF THE MOUNTING DEVICES OF THE RESPECTIVE HEAD PORTION AND FOOT PORTION FOR EFFECTING THE TELESCOPING OF SAID COOPERATIVELY ASSOCIATED INNER AND OUTER STANCHION MEMBERS, VERTICAL COIL SPRING MEANS INTERPOSED WITHIN THE RESPECTIVE EXTENSIBLE DEVICES, SAID SPRING MEANS INCLUDING A COIL SPRING VERTICALLY DISPOSED ON EITHER SIDE OF SAID DRIVE MEANS WITHIN THE RESPECTIVE EXTENSIBLE DEVICE TO EFFECT COUNTERBALANCING OF THE WEIGHT OF SAID BED HEAD AND FOOT BOARD FRAMES AT A CENTRAL POSITION THEREOF, MOUNTING MEANS FOR SAID SPRINGS COMPRISING TELESCOPING ROD MEANS AXIALLY INWARDLY OF SAID SPRINGS, MEANS FOR CONNECTING THE DRIVE MEANS OF THE RESPECTIVE FOOT PORTION AND HEAD PORTION TO EFFECT EITHER SIMULTANEOUSLY OPERATION OF THE RESPECTIVE DRIVE MEANS TO RAISE AND LOWER THE SIDE RAILS OR FOR DISCONNECTING THE DRIVE MEANS FOR EACH OTHER TO EFFECT INDEPENDENT OPERATION OF THE RESPECTIVE DRIVE MEANS FOR TILTING SAID SIDE RAILS, SAID LATTER MEANS INCLUDING A COUPLING SHAFT COUPLED AT ONE END TO THE DRIVING DEVICE IN SAID HEAD PORTION AND RELEASABY COUPLED AT THE OTHER END TO THE DRIVE MEANS OF SAID FOOT PORTION AN A CLUTCH MEANS FOR ENGAGING AND DISENGAGING THE RELEASABLY COUPLED END OF SAID SHAFT TO THE DRIVE MEANS OF SAID FOOT PORTION.

Images