Modular high-low-adjustable contour-adjustable bed

A high-low-adjustable contour-adjustable bed comprising;

• a contour bed frame substantially in the shape of the side walls of a rectangular box having an open bottom and an open top,
• a substantially planar bendable support member for supporting a mattress upon its upper surface, and
• motorized means, located within the contour bed frame and affixed between this frame and the bendable support member, for variably bending the support member in order that a variable contour may be imparted to the mattress upon the support member's upper surface,
• wherein the motorized means occupies less than the totality of the volume enclosed by the contour bed frame substantially in the shape of the topless and bottomless rectangular box, a portion of the volume enclosed by the contour bed frame being void and empty, and
• a high-low base comprising:
• a lower frame member supported upon a floor;
• an upper frame member;
• and
• elevation means for variably elevating the upper frame member in height above the lower frame member and above the floor upon which the lower frame member is supported;
• wherein the upper frame member is of suitable complimentary size and shape so as to engage the contour bed frame so that this frame, and the entire contour bed, is variably elevated in height above the floor in accordance that the upper frame member is so elevated;
• and
• wherein, nonetheless that the upper frame member engages the contour bed frame, the entirety of the (i) lower frame member, (ii) upper frame member, and (iii) elevation means fits substantially completely within the void of the volume enclosed by the contour bed frame upon such times as the elevation means places the upper frame member in its full down position.

A high-low-adjustable contour-adjustable bed comprising:

• a contour bed frame substantially in the shape of the side walls of a rectangular box having an open bottom and an open top,
• a substantially planar bendable support member for supporting a mattress upon its upper surface, and
• motorized means, located within the contour bed frame and affixed between this frame and the bendable support member, for variably bending the support member in order that a variable contour may be imparted to the mattress upon the support member's upper surface,
• wherein the motorized means occupies less than the totality of the volume enclosed by the contour bed frame substantially in the shape of the topless and bottomless rectangular box, a portion of the volume enclosed by the contour bed frame being void and empty, the high-low base comprising:
• a lower frame member supported upon a floor;
• an upper frame member having and defining a plurality of tracks;
• and
• an elevation means for variably elevating the upper frame member in height above the lower frame member and above the floor upon which the lower frame member is supported, the elevation means comprising
• a motorized drive mechanism connecting between the lower frame member and the upper frame member in the volume between them for variably elevating the upper frame member in height above the lower frame member, the motorized drive mechanism comprising a plurality of arms each rotationally affixed to the lower frame member at a one end thereof and engaging the upper frame member at the other end thereof by sliding in a one of the plurality of tracks of the upper frame member, and a motor means for driving the plurality of arms to various angles relative to each of the lower frame member and the upper frame member, therein to force the lower frame member and the upper frame member to a variable degree of separation one from the other;
• and
• an idler arm for maintaining the lower frame member and the upper frame member in positional alignment;
• wherein the upper frame member is of suitable complimentary size and shape so as to engage the contour bed frame so that this frame, and the entire contour bed, is variably elevated in height above the floor in accordance that the upper frame member is so elevated;
• and
• wherein, nonetheless that the upper frame member engages the contour bed frame, the entirety of the (i) lower frame member, (ii) upper frame member, and (iii) elevation means fits substantially completely within the void of the volume enclosed by the contour bed frame upon such times as the elevation means places the upper frame member in its full down position.

A high-low base for use with, under and supporting a pre-existing contour bed, the high-low base being vertically extendible in a range from

• a retracted first position supporting the contour bed at a predetermined low height suitable for a level transfer of a patient from a wheelchair to a bed, to
• an intermediary second position supporting the contour bed at an intermediary height, greater than the low height, suitable for a gravity-assisted transfer of a patient from the bed to a wheelchair, to
• an extended third position supporting the contour bed at a high height, greater than the intermediary height, suitable for care-giving to a patient lying supine upon the bed, the high-low base comprising:
• a lower frame member, supported upon a floor, of complimentary size and rectangular shape so as to fit within a rectangular pedestal base of a pre-existing contour bed;
• an upper frame member also of complimentary size and rectangular shape so as to fit within the rectangular pedestal base of the pre-existing contour bed, therein to come into contact with such frame elements of the adjustable bed as are within its pedestal base in a manner that permits forcible level lifting of these frame elements and of the pedestal base and of the entire contour bed of which the pedestal base and its frame elements are a part, the upper frame member having and defining a plurality of tracks;
• elevation means, connecting between the lower frame member and the upper frame member and located in the volume between them, for variably elevating the upper frame member in height above the lower frame member and above the floor upon which the lower frame member is supported, the elevation means comprising
• a motorized drive mechanism, connecting between the lower frame member and the upper frame member and located in the volume between them, for variably elevating the upper frame member in height above the lower frame member, the motorized drive mechanism comprising a plurality of arms each rotationally affixed to the lower frame member at a one end thereof and sliding in a one of the plurality of tracks of the upper frame member at the other end thereof, and a motor means for driving the plurality of arms to various angles relative to each of the lower frame member and the upper frame member, therein to force the lower frame member and the upper frame member to a variable degree of separation one from the other;
• and
• an idler arm for maintaining the lower frame member and the upper frame member in positional alignment.
• wherein the lower frame member, the upper frame member and the elevation means are collectively so low and squat in the retracted first position of the elevation means that they all together fit within the rectangular pedestal base of the preexisting contour bed, while the contour bed is at the low height suitable for a level transfer of a patient from a wheelchair to a bed;
• wherein the upper frame member is vertically extendible in the second position of the elevation means so as to lift the contour bed to the intermediary height suitable for a gravity-assisted transfer of a patient from the bed to a wheelchair;
• wherein the upper frame member is further vertically extendible in the third position of the elevation means so as to lift the contour bed to the high height suitable for care-giving to a patient lying supine upon the bed;
• wherein the high-low base suffices to lift the contour bed over a range of heights.