Bottom structure for a bed

Abstract

It is the object of the present invention to present a bottom structure which allows a bed bottom to be bent at desired curvatures. This is achieved using a bendable bottom component 6 located between the back and waist portions and/or waist and leg portions of a bed bottom 2 which is comprised of parallel rigid strips 7 and flexible strips 8 located between the respectively adjacent rigid strips 7. The flexible strips 8 are formed as bendable sheets 9 connecting the respectively adjacent rigid strips 7 on the side to form the inside curve of the bottom. Guard rails 10 are provided longitudinally to cover both the ends, in the width direction of the bed, of the bendable bottom component 6. End contacts 11 of the guard rails 10 are engaged with the rigid strips 7, and have end caps 12 attached. The end contacts 11 are adjustable and connected with each other by connecting rods 15. The end caps 12 are formed to be thinner at the overlapped portions than the other portions. The result is that the ends of the bendable bottom component in the width direction of the bed can be always covered with guard rails, to keep fingers and things away from being caught by any mistake. Moreover, since the bendable bottom component can be bent to draw a controlled curve no displeasing feeling of pressure is given to the patient when the bed bottom is bent.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.