Shock absorbing assembly for a patient support apparatus

A patient support apparatus comprising:

• a frame;
• a patient supporting surface supported on the frame, the patient supporting surface comprising a central panel section and a side panel section adapted to selectively extend towards and away from the central panel section for adjusting a width of the patient supporting surface;
• a board supported on the frame, the board comprising a base comprising a sleeve and an extension member slidably received in the sleeve, wherein the sleeve comprises an outer end, and wherein the extension member comprises an inner end located towards the sleeve and an outer end located away from the sleeve, the extension member being extendable laterally towards and away from the sleeve for adjusting a width of the base;
• a coil spring supported by the sleeve;
• wherein the extension member has an outer cross-section that is slightly smaller than an inner cross-section of the sleeve;
• and
• wherein, when an external force is applied to the outer end of the extension member, a slight angular movement of the extension member relative to the sleeve is allowed while the coil spring counteracts the external force.

A patient support apparatus comprising:

• a frame;
• a patient supporting surface supported on the frame, the patient supporting surface comprising a central panel section and first and second side panel sections adapted to selectively extend towards and away from the central panel section for adjusting a width of the patient supporting surface;
• and
• a board supported on the frame, the board comprising a base and a vertical panel mounted to the base, the base comprising a sleeve and an extension member slidably received in the sleeve, wherein the sleeve comprises an outer end, and wherein the extension member comprises an inner end located towards the sleeve and an outer end located away from the sleeve;
• wherein the extension member is extendable laterally towards and away from the sleeve for adjusting a width of the base;
• and
• wherein the vertical panel is movable to follow movement of the extension member towards and away from the sleeve for adjusting a width of the board.

A patient support apparatus comprising:

• a frame;
• a patient supporting surface supported on the frame;
• and
• a board supported on the frame, the board comprising a base comprising a sleeve and first and second extension members slidably received in the sleeve, a first vertical panel mounted to the first extension member and being movable to follow movement of the first extension member towards and away from the sleeve and a second vertical panel mounted to the second extension member and being movable to follow movement of the second extension member towards and away from the sleeve for adjusting a width of the board.