Importance

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Abstract

A side guard for a hospital bed moves between elevated and depressed positions on parallel swing arms that are quite short and extend from a base mounted on the back section of the bed. It further has an upper section which pivots outwardly and downwardly to a retracted position to substantially reduce the height of the side guard. When the side guard is in its depressed position with its upper section folded to the retracted position, the side guard lies entirely below the mattress supporting surface of the bed back section and therefore does not interfere with bed making. Also the upper section may carry a bed control unit, or a telephone, or controls for other electrically operated devices, and when in its extended position, these devices are presented inwardly toward the occupant of the bed, but when the upper section is in its retracted position, they are presented outwardly where they are conveniently accessible to one sitting or standing beside the bed. The parallel swing arms have spindles which project into the base where they rotate as the side guard moves between its elevated and depressed positions, and those spindles carry crank arms that are connected by a tie bar. A latch bolt lies in the path of the tie bar to hold the side guard in its elevated position. Moreover, the tie bar, by coming against one or the other of the spindles, prevents the side guard from going past its elevated or depressed positions.

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First Claim