Bed frame

Abstract

A bed frame includes a base frame, an articulated support deck, an intermediate frame positioned between the base frame and the articulated support deck, and an auto-contour mechanism. The bed frame may include siderails which are provided with a latching mechanism. The bed frame may also include a caster assembly including a wheel, a housing, and an upstanding mounting plate coupled to the housing.

1 . A siderail assembly for a bed comprising: 
 a siderail barrier pivotably movable to a first position higher than a support surface of the bed and to a second position no higher than the support surface of the bed;    a pair of support arms pivotally coupled between the siderail barrier and a frame of the bed;    a pair of linkage arms coupled to the pair of support arms;    a connection arm coupled between the pair of linkage arms; and    a latch coupled to one of the pair of linkage arms which can be engaged to secure the siderail barrier in the first position.    
   
   
       2 . The siderail assembly of  claim 1  wherein the latch includes a tab to engage the connection arm.  
   
   
       3 . The siderail assembly for a bed according to  claim 1 , wherein the latch is spring biased.  
   
   
       4 . The siderail assembly of  claim 3 , wherein the latch mechanism is loosely attached to the one of the pair of linkage arms.  
   
   
       5 . The siderail assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the latch includes a flange to disengage the latch from the connection arm.  
   
   
       6 . A siderail assembly for a bed comprising: 
 a siderail barrier pivotally movable to a first position higher than a support surface of the bed and to a second position no higher than the support surface of the bed;    a first arm coupled between the siderail barrier and a frame of the bed;    a second arm coupled to the first arm; and    a latch coupled to the first arm to engage the second arm to secure the siderail barrier in the first position.    
   
   
       7 . The siderail assembly of  claim 6 , further comprising a support arm pivotally coupled between the siderail barrier and the frame.  
   
   
       8 . The siderail assembly of  claim 7 , wherein the first arm comprises a linkage arm coupled to the support arm.  
   
   
       9 . The siderail assembly of  claim 8 , wherein the second arm comprises a connection arm coupled to the linkage arm.  
   
   
       10 . The siderail assembly of  claim 9 , wherein the linkage arm is coupled between the support arm and the connection arm.  
   
   
       11 . The siderail assembly of  claim 6 , wherein the latch includes a tab to engage to second arm.  
   
   
       12 . The siderail assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the latch includes a spring to bias the latch against the connection arm to secure the siderail in the first position.  
   
   
       13 . A method for attaching a caster to a frame of a bed, the method comprising the steps of: 
 providing a mounting portion on the frame, the mounting portion having at least two side walls configured to define an opening therebetween;    receiving a caster, including a wheel, a housing having a top surface located above the wheel, and an upstanding mounting plate secured to the top surface of the housing;    inserting the mounting plate into the opening in the mounting portion; and    securing the mounting plate to the mounting portion of the base frame.    
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the securing step includes the step of installing a fastener through one of the side walls to engage the mounting plate and secure the mounting plate and the caster to the base frame.  
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the step of providing a mounting portion on the base frame includes providing a leg having four side walls configured to provide a substantially square cross sectional shape.  
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the four side walls of the leg define a diagonal dimension, and the mounting plate has a width dimension substantially equal to the diagonal dimension to permit insertion of the mounting plate into the square-shaped leg aligned with the diagonal dimension.  
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the receiving step includes receiving the caster mounting plate welded to the top surface.  
   
   
       18 . A bed comprising: 
 a base frame including a mounting portion having at least two side walls configured to define an opening therebetween;    a caster including a wheel and a housing having a top surface located above the wheel;    an upstanding mounting plate coupled to the housing, the mounting plate being configured to be inserted into the opening in the mounting portion; and    a fastener configured to secure the mounting plate to the mounting portion of the base frame.    
   
   
       19 . The apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein the fastener extends through one of the side walls to engage the mounting plate and secure the mounting plate to the base frame.  
   
   
       20 . The apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein the mounting portion on the base frame includes a leg having four side walls configured to provide a substantially square cross sectional shape.  
   
   
       21 . The apparatus of  claim 20 , wherein the four side walls of the leg define a diagonal dimension, and the mounting plate has a width dimension substantially equal to the diagonal dimension to permit insertion of the mounting plate into the square-shaped leg aligned with the diagonal dimension.  
   
   
       22 . The apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein the mounting plate is welded to the top surface of the caster housing.