Ambulatory assist arm for a bed

A long term care bed comprising:

• a base frame,
• an intermediate frame coupled to the base frame and positioned to lie above the base frame,
• a bed deck carried by the intermediate frame, the deck supporting a mattress having a generally upwardly-facing sleeping surface,
• an ambulatory assist arm having a first end coupled to the intermediate frame and a grip spaced apart from the first end and positioned to lie above the sleeping surface, the ambulatory assist arm being rotatable relative to the intermediate frame so that the orientation of the grip relative to the sleeping surface is adjustable, and
• a bracket configured to mount the first end of the ambulatory assist arm to the intermediate frame, the bracket including a locking mechanism movable between a locking position holding the bracket to the intermediate frame and a releasing position releasing the bracket from the intermediate frame so that the ambulatory assist arm is movable relative to the intermediate frame or is removable from the bed.

An ambulatory assist apparatus configured to be mounted to a frame of a bed, the ambulatory assist apparatus comprising:

• an ambulatory arm having a first end portion and a second end portion configured to provide a handle,
• a mounting plate configured to be coupled to the frame of the bed, the mounting plate including a plurality of spaced-apart apertures,
• a pivot pin for pivotably coupling the ambulatory assist arm to the mounting plate,
• a locking pin coupled to the first end portion of the assist arm, the locking pin being configured to engage a selected one of the plurality of apertures in the mounting plate to mount the ambulatory assist arm at different orientations relative to the mounting plate,
• an actuator to release the locking pin from the selected aperture to permit pivotable movement of the ambulatory assist arm relative to the mounting plate, and
• first and second mounting bars coupled to the mounting plate, the mounting bars being configured to be inserted into mounting tubes coupled to the frame of the bed.

A patient support comprising:

• a frame,
• a mattress positioned on the frame and defining a patient rest surface,
• an ambulatory assist arm having a proximal end coupled to the frame and a distal grip spaced apart from the proximal end and positioned above the patient rest surface, the ambulatory assist arm being rotatable relative to the frame so that the orientation of the grip relative to the patient rest surface is adjustable, and
• a bracket configured to couple the proximal end of the ambulatory assist arm to the frame, the bracket including a lock movable between a lock position coupling the bracket to the frame and a release position permitting release of the bracket from the frame to permit the ambulatory assist arm to be moved relative to the frame.