Apparatus and method for closing hospital bed gaps

A method of altering a patient support including the steps of:

• removing a first headboard from a frame of a patient support;
• attaching an adapter to the frame of the patient support;
• and
• attaching a second headboard to the adapter.

A patient support including:

• a frame,
• a mattress supported by the frame,
• a first siderail coupled to the frame and including a first rail member having a first edge that is substantially straight;
• a second siderail coupled to the frame and including a second rail member having a second edge that is substantially straight and parallel with the first edge and a third edge that is tangential with the second edge, the third edge being rounded and having a radius of curvature of about 8.5 inches, the first edge and the second and third edges defining a minimum gap therebetween such that the minimum gap remains of a substantially constant width as the mattress is moved from one configuration to another by the frame.

A patient support comprising:

• a frame including a deck support and an articulating deck having a head section,
• a mattress supported by the deck,
• a siderail supported by the frame;
• and
• a patient assist arm coupled to the head section of the deck between a head end of the head section and the siderail.

A patient support comprising:

• a frame;
• a mattress supported on the frame;
• and
• a head board pivotably coupled to the frame, the head board including longitudinally extending portions positioned to block egress of a patient from longitudinal sides of the mattress.

A patient support comprising:

• a frame;
• a mattress supported by the frame;
• a siderail coupled to the frame;
• and
• a blocker pivotably coupled to the mattress to block access to a gap defined between the mattress and the siderail.

A patient support comprising:

• a deck;
• a mattress supported by the deck;
• a siderail;
• and
• a rigid flap hingedly coupled to the deck and positioned between the siderail and the mattress.

A patient support comprising:

• a deck;
• a mattress supported by the deck;
• a siderail coupled to the deck;
• and
• a mattress retainer coupled to the deck laterally between the siderail and the mattress, the mattress retainer being movable between a raised first position and a lowered second position.

A patient support comprising:

• a frame;
• a mattress supported by the frame;
• and
• a substantially U-shaped patient assist arm coupled to the frame.

A patient support comprising:

• a frame;
• a mattress supported by the frame;
• and a siderail positioned to block egress from the mattress;
• the siderail including a wedge-shaped member, a bracket positioned between the mattress and the frame, a linkage pivotably coupling the wedge-shaped member to the bracket, a hinge pivotably coupling the wedge-shaped member to the bracket, and a lock configured to block movement of the wedge-shaped member relative to the bracket.