Bed having a reduced-shear pivot and step deck combination

Abstract

A bed is provided having a head end, a foot end, and sides. The bed includes a frame and a deck carried by the frame. The deck includes an upper deck portion and a central, longitudinal recess in the upper deck portion. The recess is defined by a lower deck portion and walls connecting the lower and the upper deck portions. The bed also includes a mattress including a planar, upwardly-facing patient surface, side portions resting on the side deck portions, and a central projection extending downwardly into the recess. A first longitudinal deck section is coupled to the deck to pivot about a pivot axis above the lower deck portion between a generally horizontal position and a tilted position.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.