Bed and stretcher for an invalid

A bed for an invalid, comprising:

• a main frame;
• first means fixed with respect to said main frame and defining a first, substantially horizontal, upwardly facing support surface for supporting an invalid thereon;
• said first means including a plurality of elongated support members disposed in parallel relationship, said support members extending transversely across the bed and being uniformly spaced apart by a preselected distance in the longitudinal direction of the bed, whereby each adjacent pair of support members has a preselected space therebetween;
• each of said support members having an upper surface area which defines a part of said first support surface;
• a travelling frame movably supported on said main frame for vertical movement relative thereto;
• second means mounted on said travelling frame and defining a second, substantially horizontal, upwardly facing support surface;
• said second means including a plurality of elongated supporting elements disposed in parallel relationship, said supporting elements extending transversely across the bed and being uniformly spaced apart by a predetermined distance in the longitudinal direction of the bed, whereby each adjacent pair of supporting elements has a predetermined space therebetween, said supporting elements being vertically aligned with and adapted to fit within the preselected spaces formed between the adjacent support members, and the centerline-to-centerline spacing between adjacent supporting elements being substantially equal to the centerline-to-centerline spacing between adjacent support members;
• each of said supporting elements having an upper surface area which defines a part of said second support surface;
• and
• drive means connected to said travelling frame for vertically moving same between a first position wherein the supporting elements are disposed within the preselected spaces defined between the adjacent support members so that the upper surface areas of the supporting elements and support members define a common horizontal support surface for an invalid, and a second position wherein the support members and supporting elements are vertically spaced apart so that only one of said first and second support surfaces is usable as an invalid supporting surface.