Siderail accessory module

Abstract

A siderail assembly comprises a siderail and a removable module. The siderail has a siderail body and a grip portion. The grip portion includes a grip and a grip opening located between the grip and the siderail body. The removable module is removably coupled to the siderail such that the removable module is positionable substantially within the grip opening. The removable module includes a gas blower configured to direct a flow of gas at least one of toward and away from a person-support apparatus.

1 . A person-support apparatus, comprising:
 a frame;   at least one of an endboard and a siderail coupled to the frame, at least one of the enboard and the siderail including an outer perimeter surface defining a perimeter of the at least one of the endboard and the siderail and an inner surface defining an opening in the at least one of the endboard and the siderail;   a removable module including:
 a housing including a first surface, a second surface, and a side surface extending between the first surface and the second surface, a portion of the housing being configured to engage the inner surface of the at least one of the endboard and the siderail to couple the removable module to the at least one of the endboard and the siderail; and 
 a gas blower coupled within the housing and configured to direct a flow of gas at least one of toward and away from the person-support apparatus. 
   
     
     
         2 . The person-support apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the overall thickness of the at least one of the endboard and the siderail when the removable module is coupled to the at least one of the endboard and the siderail is less than about three inches. 
     
     
         3 . The person-support apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the portion of the housing configured to engage the inner surface includes a retainer and an engagement surface, the retainer and the engagement surface being configured to cooperate with the inner surface of the at least one of the endboard and the siderail to couple the removable module thereto. 
     
     
         4 . The person-support apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the retainer provides an interference fit to couple the removable module to the at least one of the endboard and the siderail. 
     
     
         5 . The person-support apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein a portion of the inner surface cooperates with a portion of the outer perimeter surface to define a grip, a portion of the engagement surface is shaped to conform to the contour of a portion of the grip. 
     
     
         6 . The person-support apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising a temperature adjusting element configured to at least one of heat and cool the gas emitted by the gas blower. 
     
     
         7 . The person-support apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising a humidity element configured to adjust the humidity in the gas emitted by the gas blower. 
     
     
         8 . The person-support apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising a user interface configured to receive an input from a user to control at least one function of at least one of the removable module and the person-support apparatus. 
     
     
         9 . The person-support apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the user interface is configured to control the rate at which gas is emitted from the gas blower. 
     
     
         10 . The person-support apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the user interface is configured to control at least one of a temperature adjusting element and a humidity element to at least one of heat, cool, and adjust the humidity of the gas emitted from the gas blower. 
     
     
         11 . The person-support apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising a filter coupled within the removable module and configured to remove impurities suspended in the gas emitted by the gas blower. 
     
     
         12 . The person-support apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the removable module is configured to be inserted into the opening and engage a portion of the inner surface to removably couple the removable module to the at least one of the endboard and the siderail such that the removable module is positionable substantially within the opening. 
     
     
         13 . The person-support apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the housing includes a coupling portion with a hanger configured to engage a portion of the outer perimeter surface such that the removable module is positionable substantially within the opening. 
     
     
         14 . A siderail assembly, comprising:
 a siderail having a siderail body and a grip portion, the grip portion including a grip and a grip opening located between the grip and the siderail body, and   a removable module removably coupled to the siderail such that the removable module is positionable substantially within the grip opening, the removable module including a gas blower configured to direct a flow of gas at least one of toward and away from a person-support apparatus.   
     
     
         15 . The siderail assembly of  claim 14 , wherein the overall thickness of the siderail when the removable module is coupled to the siderail is less than about three inches. 
     
     
         16 . The siderail assembly of  claim 14 , wherein the removable module includes a retainer and an engagement surface, wherein at least one of the retainer and the engagement surface cooperate with a portion of the grip portion and the siderail body to couple the removable module to the siderail. 
     
     
         17 . The siderail assembly of  claim 16 , wherein the retainer provides an interference fit to couple the removable module to the siderail. 
     
     
         18 . The siderail assembly of  claim 16 , wherein a portion of the engagement surface is shaped to conform to the contour of a portion of the grip. 
     
     
         19 . The siderail assembly of  claim 14  further comprising a temperature adjusting element configured to at least one of heat and cool the gas emitted by the gas blower. 
     
     
         20 . The siderail assembly of  claim 14  further comprising a humidity element configured to adjust the humidity in the gas emitted by the gas blower. 
     
     
         21 . The siderail assembly of  claim 14  further comprising a user interface configured to receive an input from a user to control at least one function of at least one of the removable module and the person-support apparatus. 
     
     
         22 . The siderail assembly of  claim 21 , wherein the user interface is configured to control the rate at which gas is emitted from the gas blower. 
     
     
         23 . The siderail assembly of  claim 21 , wherein the user interface is configured to control at least one of a temperature adjusting element and a humidity element to at least one of heat, cool, and adjust the humidity of the gas emitted from the gas blower. 
     
     
         24 . The siderail assembly of  claim 14  further comprising a filter coupled within the removable module and configured to remove impurities suspended in the gas emitted by the gas blower. 
     
     
         25 . An endboard assembly, comprising:
 an endboard having an endboard body and a grip portion, the grip portion including a grip and a grip opening located between the grip and the endboard body, and   a removable module removably coupled to the endboard such that the removable module is positionable substantially within the grip opening, the removable module including a gas blower configured to direct a flow of gas at least one of toward and away from a person-support apparatus.   
     
     
         26 . The person-support apparatus of  claim 25 , wherein the removable module includes a housing with a coupling portion having a retainer and an engagement surface, the retainer and the engagement surface being configured to cooperate with at least one of the endboard body and grip portion to removably couple the removable module thereto. 
     
     
         27 . The person-support apparatus of  claim 25  further comprising a temperature adjusting element configured to at least one of heat and cool the gas emitted by the gas blower. 
     
     
         28 . The person-support apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising a user interface configured to receive an input from a user to control at least one function of at least one of the removable module and the person-support apparatus. 
     
     
         29 . The person-support apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the removable module is configured to be inserted into the grip opening and engage a portion of at least one of the endboard body and grip portion to removably couple the removable module to the endboard such that the removable module is positionable substantially within the grip opening.