Footboard having integrated foot cushion

Abstract

A bed frame includes a weight bearing framework 30, and a footboard 82 that cooperates with the framework to define an edge 90 of an occupant region 92 of the bed. The footboard 82 includes a footboard frame 100 and a pressurizable cushion 104. A mattress system 160 includes a main occupant support portion 162 with a support surface 168 and a cushion 170 located footwardly of the occupant support portion. The cushion has a deployed state in which it projects vertically higher than the support surface and a stored state in which it does not project vertically higher than the support surface.

1 .- 10 . (canceled) 
     
     
         11 . A bed frame comprising
 a framework having a head end and a foot end; and   a footboard supported by the framework adjacent the foot end, the footboard having a footboard body including a recess defining a cavity, the footboard having a pressurizable bladder situated in the cavity, the pressurizable bladder being positioned for engagement with bottoms of feet of a patient supported by the framework.   
     
     
         12 . The bed frame of  claim 11 , wherein the pressurizable bladder becomes increasingly firm in response to increasing intrabladder pressure and becomes increasingly soft in response to decreasing intrabladder pressure without a commensurate change in volume attributable to the changes in intrabladder pressure. 
     
     
         13 . The bed frame of  claim 11 , wherein the cavity is generally rectangular in shape. 
     
     
         14 . The bed frame of  claim 13 , wherein the bladder is generally rectangular in shape. 
     
     
         15 . The bed frame of  claim 14 , wherein the pressurizable bladder occupies substantially an entirety of a volume of the cavity when inflated. 
     
     
         16 . The bed frame of  claim 11 , further comprising a cover coupled to the pressurizable bladder and extending over at least a portion of the pressurizable bladder. 
     
     
         17 . The bed frame of  claim 16 , wherein the cover is detachable from the pressurizable bladder for cleaning and disinfecting. 
     
     
         18 . The bed frame of  claim 11 , further comprising a foam material situated inside the pressurizable bladder. 
     
     
         19 . The bed frame of  claim 18 , wherein the foam material comprises a porous foam material. 
     
     
         20 . The bed frame of  claim 18 , wherein the foam material occupies substantially an entirety of a volume of the pressurizable bladder. 
     
     
         21 . The bed frame of  claim 18 , further comprising an air source to inflate the pressurizable bladder. 
     
     
         22 . The bed frame of  claim 21 , wherein the air source comprises a compressor. 
     
     
         23 . The bed frame of  claim 21 , further comprising an aspirator to deflate the pressurizable bladder. 
     
     
         24 . The bed frame of  claim 23 , wherein the aspirator comprises an exhaust valve. 
     
     
         25 . The bed frame of  claim 21 , wherein the aspirator comprises a pump. 
     
     
         26 . The bed frame of  claim 11 , further comprising an air source to inflate the pressurizable bladder. 
     
     
         27 . The bed frame of  claim 26 , wherein the air source comprises a compressor. 
     
     
         28 . The bed frame of  claim 26 , further comprising an aspirator to deflate the pressurizable bladder. 
     
     
         29 . The bed frame of  claim 26 , wherein the aspirator comprises an exhaust valve. 
     
     
         30 . The bed frame of  claim 26 , wherein the aspirator comprises a pump.