Convertible hospital bed

Abstract

An institutional bed, such as is commonly used in hospitals and nursing homes, which is convertible into an easy chair. Conversion occurs by moving an upper frame and the mattress longitudinally toward the foot of the bed while elevating the upper body portion of the movable frame to form the back of the chair. As the frame moves toward the foot, the lower portion, together with the portion of the mattress thereon, is drawn back underneath the bed and out of the way from interfering with the patient sitting in the chair configuration with his feet on the floor. The chair configuration may be elevated so that the patient is assisted in rising to a standing position without dependence upon attendant personnal. The bed includes an inflatable pillow which further assists the patient in rising unaided. Other features of the bed include spinal massage apparatus mounted in the main frame of the bed, independent elevating apparatus for selectively elevating the foot of the bed, relative to the head in order to slant the bed or alternately elevating and lowering the head and foot of the bed to develop a rocking motion, and a motorized blower for directing air to a porous coverlet to supply heat or cooling to the patient without resort to electrical wiring, as in an electric blanket, or to multiple covers for warmth. All of the various apparatus providing these features of the bed are power driven and are controlled from a remote console which is accessible to the patient.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.