Bed systems and methods

A method of raising a support deck of a bed having a plurality of wheels supporting the bed relative to a floor, the bed including a lift system supported by a plurality of wheels and operatively coupled to the support deck to raise and lower the support deck relative to the plurality of wheels, the method comprising:

• placing the support deck in a lowered position, wherein a lower portion of the lift system is at a first height from the floor when the support deck is in the lowered position;
• raising the support deck to a first raised position, wherein the lower portion of the lift system is at a second height from the floor when the support deck is in the first raised position, the second height being higher than the first height;
• and
• raising the support deck to a second raised position which is higher than the first raised position, wherein the lower portion of the lift system is at a third height from the floor when the support deck is in the second raised position, the third height being higher than the first height and lower than the second height.

A bed adapted to be supported on a floor, comprising:

• a plurality of wheels;
• a headboard and a footboard, the footboard spaced apart from the headboard, the headboard and the footboard supported by the plurality of wheels;
• a support deck supported by the plurality of wheels, the support deck including a head end positioned proximate the headboard and a foot end positioned proximate the footboard, and at least one support surface extending between the head end of the support deck and the foot end of the support deck;
• a first lift system supported by the plurality of wheels, the first lift system having a head end positioned proximate the headboard, a foot end positioned proximate the footboard, and a middle portion extending between the head end and the foot end, the first lift system including first means for raising and lowering the support deck;
• and
• a second lift system supported by the plurality of wheels, the second lift system having a head end positioned proximate the headboard, a foot end positioned proximate the footboard, and a middle portion extending between the head end and the foot end, the second lift system including second means for raising and lowering the support deck, wherein the second means includes means for adjusting a separation of a lower portion of the second lift system and an upper portion of the second lift system, the means lowers the lower portion of the second lift system and raises the upper portion of the second lift system to increase the separation between the lower portion of the second lift system and the upper portion of the second lift system.