FOOTBOARD HAVING INTEGRATED FOOT CUSHION
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 .- 10 . (canceled)
11 . A bed frame comprising
a framework having a head end and a foot end; and
a footboard supported by the framework adjacent the foot end, the footboard having a footboard body including a recess defining a cavity, the footboard having a pressurizable bladder situated in the cavity, the pressurizable bladder being positioned for engagement with bottoms of feet of a patient supported by the framework.
12 . The bed frame of claim 11 , wherein the pressurizable bladder 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.
13 . The bed frame of claim 11 , wherein the cavity is generally rectangular in shape.
14 . The bed frame of claim 13 , wherein the bladder is generally rectangular in shape.
15 . The bed frame of claim 14 , wherein the pressurizable bladder occupies substantially an entirety of a volume of the cavity when inflated.
16 . The bed frame of claim 11 , further comprising a cover coupled to the pressurizable bladder and extending over at least a portion of the pressurizable bladder.
17 . The bed frame of claim 16 , wherein the cover is detachable from the pressurizable bladder for cleaning and disinfecting.
18 . The bed frame of claim 11 , further comprising a foam material situated inside the pressurizable bladder.
19 . The bed frame of claim 18 , wherein the foam material comprises a porous foam material.
20 . The bed frame of claim 18 , wherein the foam material occupies substantially an entirety of a volume of the pressurizable bladder.
21 . The bed frame of claim 18 , further comprising an air source to inflate the pressurizable bladder.
22 . The bed frame of claim 21 , wherein the air source comprises a compressor.
23 . The bed frame of claim 21 , further comprising an aspirator to deflate the pressurizable bladder.
24 . The bed frame of claim 23 , wherein the aspirator comprises an exhaust valve.
25 . The bed frame of claim 21 , wherein the aspirator comprises a pump.
26 . The bed frame of claim 11 , further comprising an air source to inflate the pressurizable bladder.
27 . The bed frame of claim 26 , wherein the air source comprises a compressor.
28 . The bed frame of claim 26 , further comprising an aspirator to deflate the pressurizable bladder.
29 . The bed frame of claim 26 , wherein the aspirator comprises an exhaust valve.
30 . The bed frame of claim 26 , wherein the aspirator comprises a pump.