Bed apparatus

Abstract

A bed includes a base, a frame supported on the base for relative movement about a horizontal pivot axis between raised and lowered positions, and a drive assembly for driving movement of the frame. The drive assembly includes a drive box supported on the base for pivotal movement about a horizontal axis parallel to the pivot axis of the frame, a motor supported in the drive box, a pair of laterally spaced sleeves supported in the drive box for rotation about horizontal axes that are perpendicular to the pivot axis of the frame, a pair of transmission elements connected between an output shaft of the motor and the sleeves for rotating the sleeves in unison with one another when the motor is operated, and a pair of screws supported in the sleeves for relative rotational movement. The screws each include a distal end that is secured to the frame for pivotal movement about an axis parallel to the pivot axis of the frame such that rotation of the sleeves in a first direction extends the screws, moving the frame toward the lowered, supine position, and rotation of the sleeves in the opposite direction retracts the screws, moving the frame toward the raised upright position. A wheel chair can also be used with the bed for allowing a person to be transferred directly from a seated upright position to the bed. The wheel chair includes a frame presenting wheels and a pair of depending feet that engage a platform of the bed. The platform includes a pair of apertures into which the wheels of the wheel chair drop when the wheel chair is rolled against the raised bed such that the wheel chair remains held against the bed frame as it is moved to the lowered supine position.