Hospital bed

Abstract

A patient support including a frame and a mattress supported by the frame. The frame includes a deck support and a deck supporting the mattress.

1. A patient support comprising,
 a frame, the frame including a base frame supported by a floor, an intermediate frame positioned over the base frame, the frame including a head end and a foot end spaced apart from the head end, and 
 a rotatable element positioned adjacent the foot end to engage a surface, wherein the rotatable element is positioned to translate the foot end in a direction in response to engagement with an obstacle. 
 
     
     
       2. The patient support of  claim 1 , wherein the frame includes a patient support deck having a head section, a seat section, and a foot section, the rotatable element is supported by the foot section. 
     
     
       3. The patient support of  claim 2 , wherein the rotatable element is positioned on an underside of the foot section. 
     
     
       4. The patient support of  claim 1 , wherein the rotatable element is a roller. 
     
     
       5. The patient support of  claim 1 , wherein the base frame is supported on a floor by a plurality of caster wheels, and the rotatable element is positioned below the base frame when a foot end of the intermediate frame is lowered. 
     
     
       6. The patient support of  claim 1 , wherein the frame has a longitudinal axis extending from the head end to the foot end and a transverse axis substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, and the rotatable element is positioned to rotate about an axis parallel to the transverse axis. 
     
     
       7. The patient support of  claim 1 , wherein the surface is the floor. 
     
     
       8. A patient support comprising:
 a frame, supported by a floor, the frame including a head end and a foot end spaced apart from the head end; 
 a deck supported by the frame, the deck including a head section, a seat section, and a foot section, the head section being coupled to the seat section and movable relative to the seat section between a generally horizontal rest position to a generally vertical chair position, the foot section including a first end and a second end, the first end being coupled to the seat section and rotates relative to the seat section between a generally horizontal position to a generally vertical position, and 
 a rotatable element coupled to the foot section, the rotatable element positioned to engage the floor and translate the second end in a direction in response to the engagement. 
 
     
     
       9. The patient support of  claim 8 , wherein the rotatable element is coupled to the second end. 
     
     
       10. The patient support of  claim 8 , further comprising:
 means for providing pressurized air to a mattress supported by the deck, 
 means for blocking egress of a patient from the mattress, 
 foot control means for operating features of the patient support apparatus, 
 power and control means for providing power and control to at least one actuator, 
 rotational support means configured to permit movement of the frame on a floor, 
 control means for controlling features of the patient support apparatus, the control means being removably coupled to the blocking means, 
 mattress control means for controlling operation of the mattress, 
 power supply means for providing power to components of the patient support, and 
 network means for communicating between at least two of the power and control means, the control means, the block means, and mattress control means, 
 wherein the rotatable element is a roller. 
 
     
     
       11. The patient support of  claim 8 , wherein the rotatable element is positioned substantially at the lateral center of the frame. 
     
     
       12. The patient support of  claim 8 , wherein the rotatable element includes an axis of rotation, the axis of rotation being substantially parallel to the second end. 
     
     
       13. A patient support comprising:
 a frame including a head end and a foot end spaced apart from the head end; 
 an adjustable length foot portion positioned toward the foot end, the adjustable length foot portion including a first section and a second section movable relative to the first section between a first position where the adjustable length foot portion has a first length and a second position where the adjustable foot portion has a second length; and 
 a safety device positioned on the adjustable length foot portion to engage an obstacle and translate the second section in a direction in response to the engagement. 
 
     
     
       14. The bed of  claim 13 , wherein the obstacle is a floor. 
     
     
       15. The patient support of  claim 13 , wherein the safety device is a roller. 
     
     
       16. The patient support of  claim 13 , wherein the safety device is positioned at the lateral center of the second section. 
     
     
       17. The patient support of  claim 13 , wherein the frame includes a base frame supported by a floor and an intermediate frame positioned over the base frame for supporting the adjustable length foot portion. 
     
     
       18. The patient support of  claim 17 , wherein the base frame is supported on the floor by a plurality of caster wheels and the safety device is positioned below the base frame when a foot end of the intermediate frame is lowered. 
     
     
       19. The patient support of  claim 13 , wherein the safety device halts movement of the adjustable length foot portion between the first length and second length when the safety device contacts the obstacle.