Occupant protective features for the foot region of a bed
View Patent ↗A bed frame includes a weight bearing framework 30 , and a footboard 82 that cooperates with the framework to define an edge 90 of an occupant region 92 of the bed. The footboard 82 includes a footboard frame 100 and a pressurizable cushion 104 . A mattress system 160 includes a main occupant support portion 162 with a support surface 168 and a cushion 170 located footwardly of the occupant support portion. The cushion has a deployed state in which it projects vertically higher than the support surface and a stored state in which it does not project vertically higher than the support surface.
1. A bed frame comprising:
a weight bearing framework having a head end and a foot end;
a footboard cooperating with the framework to define an edge of an occupant region, the footboard having a footboard frame and a pressurizable cushion, wherein the cushion has an extended state in which the cushion extends toward the head end of the framework by an amount d 1 relative to a reference datum and a nonextended state in which the cushion extends toward the head end of the framework by an amount d 2 relative to the datum, wherein d 2 is less than d 1 ; and
means for assisting transition from the extended state to the nonextended state, wherein the cushion is a bladder and the means for assisting transition from the extended state to the nonextended state includes a plurality of springs.
2. The bed frame of claim 1 wherein the pressurizable cushion is a fluid bladder.
3. The bed frame of claim 1 wherein the cushion becomes increasingly firm in response to increasing intrabladder pressure and becomes increasingly soft in response to decreasing intrabladder pressure without a commensurate change in volume attributable to the changes in intrabladder pressure.
4. The bed frame of claim 1 wherein the frame is longitudinally length adjustable.
5. The bed frame of claim 1 wherein, in the extended state, a lower extremity of the bladder is substantially at a mattress elevation.
6. The bed frame of claim 1 wherein the cushion is pressurizable to a working pressure and, when pressurized to the working pressure, presents a foot receptacle shaped and sized to receive an occupant's foot.
7. A bed frame comprising:
a framework having a head end and a foot end;
a footboard coupled to the framework adjacent the foot end, the footboard having a footboard frame and a pressurizable cushion, wherein the cushion has an extended state in which the cushion extends toward the head end of the framework by a first distance relative the footboard frame and a nonextended state in which the cushion extends toward the head end of the framework by a second distance that is less than the first distance; and
a mover to assist transition from the extended state to the nonextended state, wherein the cushion comprises a bladder and the mover comprises a resilient member that exerts a return force on the bladder and an aspirator for relieving pressure in the bladder.
8. The bed frame of claim 7 , wherein the aspirator comprises a pump that is operable to remove fluid from the cushion.
9. The bed frame of claim 7 , wherein the aspirator comprises an exhaust valve through which fluid vents from the cushion.
10. The bed frame of claim 7 , wherein the resilient member comprises a spring.
11. The bed frame of claim 7 , wherein the resilient member comprises a plurality of springs.
12. The bed frame of claim 7 , wherein the bladder comprises pleats.
13. The bed frame of claim 7 , wherein the footboard frame includes a recess in which substantially all of the bladder is situated when in the nonextended state.
14. The bed frame of claim 7 , further comprising a cover surrounding an exterior surface of the bladder.
15. The bed frame of claim 14 , wherein the cover comprises an elastic cover.
16. The bed frame of claim 14 , wherein the cover is coupled to the footboard frame and is detachable from the footboard frame.
17. The bed frame of claim 7 , wherein the bladder has a foot receptacle shaped and sized to receive an occupant's foot when the bladder is in the extended state.
18. The bed frame of claim 7 , further comprising a source of pressurized air to pressurize the bladder.
19. The bed frame of claim 18 , wherein the aspirator and the source of pressurized air are integrated.