Adjustable bed rail

Abstract

An adjustable bed rail capable of gripping a mattress either alone or together with a bedspring to hold the protective side rail in place. A locking assembly is adjustable to adjust for the height of the mattress either alone or together with the bedspring. Friction pads and/or friction surfaces may be mounted along the bed rail to further enhance the locking of the side rail to the mattress. The bed rail may be provided with a rail that drops down to facilitate climbing on to or off of the bed and can be locked into the upright position.

1 - 28 . (canceled)  
   
   
       29 . A bed rail comprising: a support portion joined to a rail portion; the support portion being adjustable to grip a member such as a mattress member; locking means for releaseably locking the support portion at a desired gripping position.  
   
   
       30 . The bed rail of  claim 29  wherein said rail portion is pivotally coupled to said support portion and is moveable between an upright position and a released position wherein the rail portion is pivoted toward a sidewall of the mattress member.  
   
   
       31 . The bed rail of  claim 30  further comprising second releasable locking means for locking the rail portion to said support portion at at least the upright position.  
   
   
       32 . The bed rail of  claim 29  wherein said rail portion has a substantially rectangular-shaped frame; and a net-like member joined to said frame and spanning a hollow region surrounded by said frame.  
   
   
       33 . The bed rail of  claim 32  wherein said net-like member is netting.  
   
   
       34 . The bed rail of  claim 29  wherein said support portion is comprised of upper and lower jaws; one arm of each of the upper jaws being joined to said rail portion; elongated members, each having one end joined to an arm of each of said upper jaws and having a lower end slideably engaging one hollow arm of an associated one of the lower jaws; said releasable locking means locking each elongated member to one of the lower jaws; and a pair of base members, each coupled to one of the lower jaws.  
   
   
       35 . The bed rail of  claim 34  wherein said elongated member has a plurality of openings arranged at spaced intervals along one surface thereof; wherein said releasable locking means is normally biased in a direction toward said openings and enters one of said openings when aligned therewith; and wherein said releasable locking means is moveable to a releasing position displaced from said openings to enable sliding movement of the elongated member relative to the lower jaw.  
   
   
       36 . The bed rail of  claim 34  wherein each of said elongated members is slidably inserted into a hollow interior of an associated one of said arms of said lower jaw.  
   
   
       37 . The bedrail of  claim 34  wherein each of said elongated members and associated said lower jaws is slidably received by the other of said elongated members and an associated arm of said lower jaws.  
   
   
       38 . The bed rail of  claim 34  wherein each base member has a surface for engaging in underside of a mattress, said surface having at least one portion thereof which is provided with a surface configuration that promotes gripping between the mattress and the base member.  
   
   
       39 . The bed rail of  claim 34  wherein each of said upper jaws has a surface for engaging a mattress, said surface having at least one portion thereof that is provided with a surface configuration that promotes gripping between the mattress and the base member.  
   
   
       40 . The bed rail of  claim 29  wherein said bed rail is selectively extendible.  
   
   
       41 . A bed rail comprising: a support portion joined to a rail portion; the support portion being adjustable to grip a member such as a mattress member; and a lock coupled to and releasably locking the support portion at a desired gripping position.  
   
   
       42 . The bed rail of  claim 41  wherein the lock includes a push button for unlocking the lock.