Endboard for person support apparatus

Abstract

An endboard for a person support apparatus comprises a housing, a first opening, and a passage. The housing includes a first surface and a second surface spaced apart from the first surface. The first opening in the housing is configured to receive a fluid from a fluid supply. The passage is positioned between the first surface and the second surface of the housing. The passage is configured to facilitate communication of fluid from the first opening to a second opening in the housing.

1 . An endboard for a person support apparatus, the endboard comprising:
 a housing including a first surface and a second surface spaced apart from the first surface;   a first opening in the housing configured to receive a fluid from a fluid supply; and   a passage positioned between the first surface and the second surface of the housing, the passage configured to facilitate communication of fluid from the first opening to a second opening in the housing.   
     
     
         2 . The endboard of  claim 1 , further comprising a third opening extending through at least one of the first surface and the second surface to define a receptacle, the receptacle being configured to receive a portion of a fluid supply. 
     
     
         3 . The endboard of  claim 2 , wherein the receptacle includes a connector configured to communicate at least one of data and power at least one of to and from the fluid supply. 
     
     
         4 . The endboard of  claim 2 , wherein the first opening is positioned in the receptacle. 
     
     
         5 . The endboard of  claim 2 , wherein the receptacle is configured to receive a cover when the fluid supply is not positioned within the receptacle. 
     
     
         6 . The endboard of  claim 2 , wherein the fluid supply includes a housing with a portion sized to fit within the receptacle and a portion sized to be larger than the receptacle. 
     
     
         7 . The endboard of  claim 1 , further comprising a latching mechanism configured to removably couple a fluid supply to the endboard. 
     
     
         8 . The endboard of  claim 7 , wherein the fluid supply includes a handle configured to engage the latching mechanism. 
     
     
         9 . The endboard of  claim 1 , further comprising a connector configured to couple to the second opening and facilitate communication of fluid from the passage to a person support surface. 
     
     
         10 . A person support surface system comprising:
 a person support surface including an inflatable bladder;   a fluid supply configured to supply fluid to the person support surface; and   an endboard including a housing with a receptacle configured to receive a portion of the fluid supply and a passage within the housing being configured to facilitate communication of fluid from the fluid supply to the person support surface through the housing of the endboard.   
     
     
         11 . The person support surface system of  claim 10 , wherein the endboard includes an opening into the passage proximate the person support surface, the person support surface being connected to the opening by a connector. 
     
     
         12 . The person support surface system of  claim 10 , wherein the passage is formed in the housing. 
     
     
         13 . The person support surface system of  claim 10 , wherein the receptacle includes an opening into the passage. 
     
     
         14 . The person support surface system of  claim 10 , wherein the receptacle includes a connector configured to communicate at least one of data and power at least one of to and from the fluid supply. 
     
     
         15 . The person support surface system of  claim 10 , further comprising a latching mechanism coupled to the endboard proximate the receptacle, the latching mechanism being configured to engage a handle coupled to the fluid supply to removably couple the fluid supply to the endboard. 
     
     
         16 . The person support surface system of  claim 10 , wherein the fluid supply includes a housing with a first portion and a second portion, the first portion being sized to fit within the receptacle, the second portion being configured to engage an external portion of the endboard proximate the receptacle. 
     
     
         17 . The person support surface system of  claim 16 , wherein the first portion of the housing includes a connector and a fluid outlet, the connector being configured to engage a complementary connector coupled to the receptacle to facilitate communication of at least one of data and power, the fluid outlet being configured to engage an opening into the passage located on a surface of the receptacle to communicate fluid from the fluid supply to the passage. 
     
     
         18 . An endboard for a person support apparatus, the endboard comprising:
 an endboard housing with a first side and a second side spaced apart from the first side;   an opening extending through at least one of the first side and the second side, the opening being configured to receive a first portion of a fluid supply therein; and   a locking mechanism coupled to one of the first side and the second side and located proximate the opening, the locking mechanism being configured to engage a second portion of the fluid supply to removably retain the first portion of the fluid supply within the opening.   
     
     
         19 . The endboard of  claim 18 , wherein the fluid supply includes a handle coupled to the second portion of the fluid supply, wherein the handle is configured to engage the locking mechanism when the first portion of the fluid supply is within the opening to removably couple the fluid supply to the endboard. 
     
     
         20 . The endboard of  claim 18 , wherein the locking mechanism comprises a latch.