Granted Patent B2

US 7,003,824 · App. 10/677,561 · Granted Feb 28, 2006

Assignee: Invacare Corporation

Abstract

Claims (24)

1. A bed comprising a frame, a rail pivotally mounted on the frame and pivotable between a guardrail position and an open position, a distance between the frame and the rail when the rail is in the guardrail position, and a resilient element mounted on the frame or on the rail or on both the frame and the rail to fill the distance between the frame and the rail when the rail is in the guardrail position to thereby reduce rattling of the rail when the rail is in the guardrail position;

wherein the resilient element is compressed between the frame and the rail when the rail is in the guardrail position: and

wherein the resilient element is a resilient roller which can rotate when engaged by the rail as the rail pivots between the guardrail and open position.

2. A bed comprising a frame, a rail pivotally mounted on the frame and pivotable between a guardrail position and an open position, a distance between the frame and the rail when the rail is in the guardrail position, and a resilient roller mounted on the frame to fill the distance between the frame and the rail when the rail is in the guardrail position to thereby minimize rattling of the rail when the rail is in the guardrail position.

3. The bed according to claim 2 , wherein the rail is pivotally mounted on the frame at two points.

4. The bed according to claim 3 , wherein the rail comprises two rail support structures mounted on the rail, the rail is pivotally mounted on the frame at each of the rail support structures.

5. The bed according to claim 4 , wherein there are two resilient rollers.

6. The bed according to claim 5 , wherein each rail support structure comprises a rail arm and the rail is pivotally mounted on the frame at each of the rail arms.

7. The bed according to claim 6 , wherein each rail arm is pivotally journaled in an arm holder mounted on the frame.

8. The bed according to claim 7 , wherein each rail arm comprises a collar for preventing the rail arm from slipping out of the arm holder.

9. The bed according to claim 8 , wherein the resilient rollers and the arm holders are mounted on the frame by mounting brackets.

10. The bed according to claim 9 , wherein the resilient roller is made of natural or synthetic rubber.

11. The bed according to claim 10 , wherein the bed is a hospital or long-term care bed.

12. A bed comprising:

a frame,

a rail pivotally mounted on the frame and pivotable between a guardrail position and an open position; and

a resilient element mounted on the rail for movement with the rail between the guardrail position and the open position and engageable with the frame when the guardrail is in the guardrail position to thereby reduce rattling of the rail when the rail is in the guardrail position;

wherein the resilient element is a roller which can rotate when engaged by the frame as the rail pivots between the guardrail and open position.

13. A bed comprising:

a frame;

a rail pivotally mounted on the frame and pivotable between a guardrail position and an open position;

a distance between the frame and the rail when the rail is in the guardrail position, and

a resilient element on the frame or on the rail or on both that in a free state is somewhat larger than the distance between the frame and the rail but that is sufficiently deformable from the free state to be forced to fit into the distance when the guardrail moves into the guardrail position;

wherein the resilient element is a roller.

Assignments (14)

Continuity (1)