CN114007467A

CN114007467A - Protective device for adjustable base

Info

Publication number: CN114007467A
Application number: CN202080042959.5A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 科迪·哈瓦伊奇; 麦卡·A·考夫曼
Original assignee: Techpool World Co ltd
Current assignee: Techpool World Co ltd
Priority date: 2019-06-10
Filing date: 2020-06-08
Publication date: 2022-02-01
Also published as: EP3979878A4; KR20220018029A; JP2022536895A; CA3141236A1; EP3979878A1; WO2020251896A1; AU2020290408A1; US20220304475A1

Abstract

The present embodiment relates to an adjustable foot (10) for a bed. More particularly, the present embodiments relate to a guard for an adjustable base, wherein the guard prevents access to a space or area between a hinged portion of the base (10) and a frame (14).

Description

Protective device for adjustable base

Priority requirement

This PCT patent application claims priority and benefit from U.S. provisional patent application No. 62/859,459 entitled "Safeguard for an Adjustable Base" filed on 2019, month 6 and 10, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

Technical Field

The present embodiments relate to an adjustable base for a bed. More particularly, the present embodiments relate to a guard for an adjustable base wherein the guard prevents access to a space or area between a hinged portion of the base and a fixed frame.

Background

Prior art articulating beds are typically movable by adjusting a head portion to raise the head (e.g., to read on the bed), and by adjusting a movable foot portion that allows the foot to be raised or lowered depending on the user's sleep, reading, or other desired position.

Unfortunately, when the articulating base is adjusted to articulate the bed deck to a position spaced from the base frame, a child or animal may enter the area therebetween. In such a configuration, a child or pet may be injured if, for example, the user of the bed is unaware that the child or pet is in this area between the bed deck and the base frame, and simultaneously lowers the base toward the frame.

It is desirable to create a base in which access between the articulated bed deck portion and the frame is avoided.

The information included in this background section of the specification, including any references cited herein and any descriptions or discussions thereof, is for technical reference purposes only and should not be taken as a subject matter of the scope of the present invention.

Disclosure of Invention

The present application discloses that one or more of the features recited in the appended claims and/or the following features may, individually or in any combination, constitute patentable subject matter.

The following embodiments relate to guards for adjustable or hinged bases. The guard inhibits or eliminates access to the spaces between the hinged bed deck and the frame and further prevents animals or children from entering these spaces.

According to some embodiments, a guard for an adjustable mount, the adjustable mount comprising: a frame having at least one peripheral member; an adjustable bed deck operatively connected to the frame, the adjustable bed deck having at least a head portion, a foot portion, and at least one intermediate portion therebetween. At least one of the head portion, the middle portion or the foot portion may be movable relative to the frame, and the partition may extend between the at least one movable head portion or foot portion and the frame. The partition may prevent access between the frame and at least one of the head portion or the foot portion that is movable.

According to some alternative embodiments, the guard may further comprise a plurality of legs depending from the at least one peripheral member. The guard may also include a partition extending between the bottom of the adjustable bed deck and the frame. The partition may be connected to the inside of the frame. The spacer may be attached to an outer edge of the frame. The partition may extend from an upper edge of the adjustable bed deck to the frame. The partition may be removably connected to at least one of the adjustable mount and the frame. The partition may be a cloth, and the cloth may be one of a stretchable cloth or a foldable cloth. The protective barrier may be one of vinyl, plastic or textile. The guard may also include a second spacer material extending across the frame between the at least one peripheral member. The guard may also include at least one actuator connected to the frame. The guard may further comprise at least one link on the frame.

According to some embodiments, a method of shielding a space between an articulating base and a frame of a bed comprises: hingedly moving the deck from a first position to a second position; expanding the diaphragm from a first diaphragm position to a second diaphragm position during the articulation movement; and preventing access to the space between the hingedly movable bed plate and the frame with a partition.

According to some embodiments, a guard for an adjustable mount, the adjustable mount comprising: a frame having at least one peripheral member; an adjustable bed deck operatively connected to the frame, the adjustable bed deck having at least a head portion, a foot portion, and at least one intermediate portion therebetween. At least one of the head portion, the middle portion, or the foot portion may be movable relative to the frame, with the bulkhead extending through an opening defined by a peripheral member of the frame.

This summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in the detailed description. This summary is not intended to identify key features or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used to limit the scope of the claimed subject matter. All of the above outlined features are to be understood as being merely exemplary and further features and objects of the various embodiments may be gleaned from the disclosure herein. Accordingly, no limiting interpretation of this summary should be made without further reading of the entire specification, claims and drawings included herewith. A broader presentation of features, details, utilities, and advantages of the present invention is provided in the following written description of various embodiments of the invention, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and defined in the appended claims.

Drawings

For a better understanding of the embodiments, embodiments of the guard for an adjustable base will now be described by way of example. These embodiments do not limit the scope of the claims, as other embodiments of the guard for an adjustable base will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon reading this specification. Non-limiting examples of the present embodiments are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of a guard of an adjustable base;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of an alternative configuration of a guard of the adjustable base;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a third embodiment of another alternative configuration of a guard of the adjustable base; and the number of the first and second groups,

fig. 4A and 4B are perspective views of alternative embodiments of a guard extending horizontally across the opening of the base.

Detailed Description

It is to be understood that the guard for an adjustable mount is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangement of components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The described embodiments are capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or of being carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. The use of "including," "comprising," or "having" and variations thereof herein is meant to encompass the items listed thereafter and equivalents thereof as well as additional items. Unless limited otherwise, the terms "connected," "coupled," and "mounted," and variations thereof herein are used broadly and encompass direct and indirect connections, couplings, and mountings. Furthermore, the terms "connected" and "coupled" and variations thereof are not restricted to physical or mechanical connections or couplings.

Referring to fig. 1-4B, various embodiments of an adjustable base with a guard are shown. This embodiment provides that the guard is formed by a partition or barrier extending between the hinged part of the bed plate and the frame. Due to the presence of the partition, the space is either inaccessible or the possibility of access is significantly reduced.

Referring now to FIG. 1, a perspective view of one embodiment of an adjustable foot guard is shown. The adjustable base 10 includes a deck 12 and a frame 14, wherein the deck 12 is operatively connected to the frame 14. For clarity, the mattress is not shown, but those skilled in the art will appreciate that the mattress is disposed on and supported by the upper surface of the deck 12. The frame 14 may include a fixed element and a movable element, wherein the movable element may move relative to the fixed portion of the frame 14. The bed deck 12 may be connected to a movable frame element or component and a fixed element, wherein the bed deck moves with the movable frame element and other portions of the bed deck are fixed with the fixed element of the frame 14. For example, actuators and/or linkages may connect the hinged portion of the deck 12 to the frame 14. The frame 14 may be defined by a single structure or one or more sub-frame structures. This may be defined in a number of ways and the construction of the frame and/or the bed plate is not limited. Any of the various deck portions may be individually or collectively adjustable for movement to adjust a mattress (not shown). Some non-limiting examples are provided in U.S. application 16/047,725, which is incorporated herein by reference.

The deck 12 may be formed from a plurality of support portions including a head portion 20, a foot portion 22, and a middle portion 24. At least one of the

portions

20, 22, 24 is movable or hinged relative to the frame 14. In the illustrated embodiment, the head portion 20 is movable to raise the head, for example if the user wants to read a location. Alternatively, the foot portion 22 is also shown as being movable to raise the foot or adjust to a comfortable position for reading, or any other relaxing activity. Further, in some embodiments, the intermediate deck portion 24 may be fixed relative to the frame 14 such that it does not lift or otherwise move relative to the frame 14. In the present embodiment, the additional deck portion 26 is shown as being movable and corresponds to the thigh portion of the leg (e.g., between the waist and the knee) to adjust that portion of the user's body for comfort. Various numbers of deck sections may be used. For example, the head portion 20 may be formed of a plurality of portions. The same is true for the foot portion 22 and the middle portion 24. Also, for example, some portions of the intermediate portion 24 may be fixed and other portions (e.g., the lumbar region) may be capable of movement. As with the frame 14, the bed deck configuration may vary, and the illustrative embodiments should not be considered limiting. The deck 12 may be formed from a plurality of support bases or partial slats or sheets, including but not limited to wood, MDF, or plastic materials, which may support a mattress positioned on the deck 12. In some embodiments, for example, webbing or woven material may be used, and corrugated board, sometimes also referred to as corrugated board, may alternatively be used. A thin sheet material (e.g., carbon or a mixture of carbons) may be a laminate, or a braid may be used to define the bed deck 12. Each of the one or

more deck portions

20, 22, 24, 26 may be pivotally connected to each other by a hinge structure, or may be connected to a pivotally connected sub-frame, for example. The

deck portions

20, 22, 24 may also be pivotally connected to the frame 14 of the deck 12, and may be movable toward or away from the frame 14.

With respect to movement or articulation, the deck 12, or portions thereof, may be moved between an unhinged position (e.g., flat) and the depicted fully articulated position. The fully articulated position may be used as a position of maximum movement away from the unhinged position in order to determine how to size barrier 40. In general, the unstretched length of the baffle 40 at any given location may be less than the distance of a fully articulated position at the same given location. The spacer 40 may also include additional elastic members (e.g., bungee cords, springs, or other elastic members) to tighten the spacer when the deck 12 returns to the flat position.

In any of these embodiments, any movable portions of the deck and frame 14 or one or more frame members (not shown) may be movable through the use of one or more actuators and/or linkages that move the

deck portions

20, 22, 24, 26 relative to the frame 14 (or in some embodiments, a sub-frame). For example, various actuators may be employed, including but not limited to electric actuators, electromechanical actuators, fluid (hydraulic or pneumatic) actuators, springs, manual actuators, magnetic drives, or other actuators that provide movement of the bed deck 12 or portions thereof relative to the frame 14.

Further, the

deck portions

20, 22, 24, 26 may be covered with padding, foam, or other cushioning material and/or may also include some cloth covering 23 to provide an aesthetic appearance to the

deck portions

20, 22, 24, 26. In addition, each of the

deck portions

20, 22, 24, 26 may include a cushion or pad 25 extending around the peripheral edge of the deck 12 to also provide a pleasing appearance while also inhibiting accidental injury by hitting the edge of the deck 12. For example, in some embodiments, the deck portion may be defined by MDF material, covered with foam and further surrounded by a cloth material. The deck 12 may also include alignment and/or retention features for a mattress (not shown). Furthermore, the hinge structure arranged between the bedplate sections may also be covered with foam to further reduce any chance of pinching the user.

Referring now to the frame 14, the frame 14 may be formed from at least one member 30, the member 30 defining a substantially rectangular shape. The frame 14 may be inboard of the deck 12, outboard of the deck, or aligned with the deck. In the present embodiment, a plurality of

members

30, 32, 34 are shown, wherein the frame comprises two longitudinal members extending in a head-to-foot direction of the bed and two cross members perpendicular to the longitudinal members. An opening or open area is defined within the periphery of the member. In this embodiment, there are four members that may be joined to form at least one member. Additional members that may not be visible in this view may be used, such as members at the head portion 20 of the frame 14. The

members

30, 32, 34 are generally fixed and may be joined together by fasteners or other structures and/or may be welded or permanently joined together to define the at least one member. The

members

30, 32, 34 may be of various cross-sectional shapes and may be, for example, angle iron structural shapes or other open (unsealed) cross-sectional shapes. Alternatively, the frame member may be a closed cross-sectional shape, such as a square, rectangle, circle, or other such closed shape. The frame members may all have the same shape or cross-section, or alternatively, may have different cross-sections, for example, between the longitudinal and transverse directions. As previously mentioned, the frame 14 may also be defined by one or more subframes that define the frame 14. The frame 14 may be formed of any upper and lower subframes, wherein one of the upper and lower frames defines a support structure to allow pivoting therefrom. The frame 14 may also include actuators or linkages that may be connected to a fixed portion of the frame 14 and may also be connected to the deck 12 to move portions thereof.

One or more optional legs 38 may be suspended from the at least one member. The legs 38 provide support and lift the frame 14 off the ground below. The legs 38 may be formed of one or more segments to provide height, and while the legs 38 are shown as cylindrical, the cross-sectional shape may be continuous or may vary along their axial direction. Also, the cross-sectional shape may be some shape other than circular, which may or may not vary in the axial direction of the leg.

In some embodiments, the frame 14 may be placed over an existing bedding accessory. For example, if a user has an existing bed frame that they want to use, such as a slatted and/or spring bed (box spring), the frame 14 may be placed on such bedding pieces without the use of legs 38. The frame 14 may be sized to have a vertical dimension in which any mechanical device, such as an actuator, blower, or other component, may fit and operate without interfering with these bedding accessories beneath the frame 14. In addition, baffles 40 may also be added to such bedding accessories to further inhibit ingress into areas that may cause pinching or crushing.

Also shown is a partition 40 extending around the bed deck 12 between the bed deck 12 and the frame 14, which is also referred to as a barrier that acts as a guard. A partition 40 extends between the frame 14 and the deck 12. The separator 40 may be formed of various materials and may be in various forms. For example, the diaphragm 40 may be formed of an elastic material, which may be defined as any material, such as natural or synthetic rubber, that is capable of returning to its original shape when the deforming force is removed. The resilient material may also include, but is not limited to, cloth, vinyl, plastic, any of which may be stretched to expand when the deck 12 is spaced from the frame 14. The baffle 40 may also be formed from a foam or polymer or any combination of the foregoing materials. In some embodiments, the elastomer may be an elastomeric cloth, which may be defined by a cloth having a percentage of elastomeric fibers. For example, the elastomeric cloth may include an elastic fiber content of at least 10% to provide a desired amount of stretch. The separator 40 allows a certain amount of stretch or deformation and may provide from about 50% stretch up to about 300% stretch or a 3-fold increase in its undeformed length. The amount of stretch can be used to set the size of the barrier relative to the size of the gap between the deck and the frame. For example, but not limiting of, for a full hinge gap of 24 inches, a separator plate of 12 inches at 100% stretch may be used. The percentage of stretch may vary and therefore may be used to set the size of the separator 40. Generally, the spacer plates 40 may be sized such that the length of the unstretched spacer plates 40 in the direction between the bed deck 12 and the frame 14 is less than the fully articulated or maximum gap dimension. Further, in addition to or in the alternative to stretch capability, the partition 40 may retract or fold up when the deck 12 is returned to the frame 14, such as in a flat orientation. In some embodiments, the partition 40 may fold like an accordion when retracted. Further, in terms of form, the separator may be in the form of a mesh or net material, or may be in the form of a cloth. The mesh material may have relatively small openings or may be in the form of a cargo mesh having relatively large apertures, and it may be stretchable, such as with a bungee cord material, for example, or may be non-stretchable. Various forms may be used to prevent a child from entering an area that may be at risk of pinch injury, for example.

The separator 40 may include various processes. For example, the separator may include a Flame Retardant (FR) treatment. Such FR treatment may be provided by the type of fiber or material used, may be provided by chemical treatment, or a combination thereof. For example, various acrylic or kevlar fibers may contain fibers or chemicals that may have spray or bath type applications. In other embodiments, a backing sheet (backing sheet) of FR material may be applied to the bulkhead 40. The baffle 40 may also have a certain amount of glass composition that acts as a flame barrier. These products and applications may be used alone or in combination. The FR material should be capable of passing known flame retardant tests suitable for use in bedding articles, such as those specified in 16CFR § 1632 and 1633.

Still further additional antimicrobial treatments may be provided to the baffle 40. For example, as a non-limiting example, the antimicrobial agent may inhibit mold and/or bed bugs. The antimicrobial agent may also include an antifungal agent and/or an antimicrobial agent.

Still referring to fig. 1, the present embodiment provides that the partition 40 is connected on the inside of the frame 14, such as on the inside surface or along the inside edge, and along the bottom of the deck 12. However, as will be shown in other embodiments, the baffles 40 may be connected in other ways.

Referring now to FIG. 2, an alternative embodiment is shown. The structure of the adjustable base 110 is generally similar to the previous embodiments. Therefore, the description of the foregoing embodiments is incorporated herein by reference. In this embodiment, a separator 140 different from that of fig. 1 is provided. In this embodiment, the partition 140 is attached below the bed deck 12 and extends along an outer edge or surface of the frame 14. In this manner, the partition 140 again prevents or eliminates access to the interior space of the adjustable base 110 when the deck 12 is raised from the frame 14. Alternatively, the baffles 40 may be attached around the inner or outer edges of the frame.

Referring now to fig. 3, other embodiments are provided. In this embodiment, the adjustable mount 210 is also similar in construction to the first and second embodiments, and therefore, the description of the first and second embodiments is incorporated herein by reference. According to this embodiment, the partition 240 is connected along an upper edge or surface of the deck 12 and extends to the frame 14. For example, the partition 240 may be connected to the cloth cover 23 to lower the bed deck 12. In this embodiment or any other embodiment, the connection points may be different than shown in the figures. For example, the partition 240 may also extend from the upper surface of the deck 12 to the inner surface or edge of the frame 14.

Furthermore, according to any of the embodiments of fig. 1-3, the

partition

40, 140, 240 may be permanently fixed to the bedplate 12 and/or the frame 14, or alternatively may be removably connected. The use of a removable system may allow for the addition of a baffle as an after market product or alternatively as a product that may be initially manufactured. Further, removing the partition allows cleaning such as in a washing machine or dry cleaning, according to the user's needs. Various connections include, but are not limited to, hooks and loops, clips, strings/ribbons, buttons, snaps, zippers, hooks, or other devices. Alternatively, these connections may be sewn or have other permanent connections, such as adhesive, which prevent removal. Further, for such removability, the partition plate may be provided to be fitted like a bed cover. These baffles provide a thorough and efficient way to block access to the open space between the deck 12 and the frame 14 and reduce or otherwise eliminate potential safety issues.

In some embodiments, the upper and/or lower ends of the spacer plates 40 may be connected to a wrap or gasket that extends around the edge of the bed deck 12 or the edge of the frame 14. Such wrap or pad may be removably attached to the frame 14 or the deck 12 or to both.

With additional reference to fig. 4A and 4B, other embodiments are shown in perspective view. Although fig. 1-3 depict the partition 40 extending between a fixed portion of the frame 14 and the deck 12, other embodiments may provide for the partition 40 to be located over an opening in the frame 14. That is, the partition 40 may alternatively or additionally extend horizontally across the open space of the frame 14, as opposed to or in addition to extending in a generally vertical direction. The frame 14 may be rectangular, for example, having an open area within the boundaries or periphery of the frame 14, within which the movable and/or fixed portions of the frame 14 may be positioned. Referring to fig. 4A, the partition 40 is shown extending across the horizontal opening of the frame. In this embodiment, the partition 40 is disposed within the confines of the frame 14. Referring to fig. 4B, an alternative design is provided. The bulkhead 40 is shown mounted from below the opening in the frame 14 such that the bulkhead 40 may extend up the legs of the frame 14 and extend through the frame opening in a horizontal direction. In these embodiments, the spacer 40 is shown within the periphery of the frame 14. However, in other embodiments, it is within the scope of the present disclosure for the partition 40 to extend on the outside of the frame 14 such that the frame 14 and the legs 38 are hidden from view. In either embodiment, a child will be prevented from entering the interior frame area from between the bed deck 12 and the frame 14, or alternatively, from entering from below the frame 14.

In any of the previously described embodiments or any other embodiment, it may be desirable to provide cable management or other management for a conduit, actuator, or any part or component that may need to move through a surface defined by a bulkhead. For example, it may be necessary to allow the passage of power and/or control wires, air or fluid hoses, or a portion of the actuator. Thus, the baffle 40 may include grommets, slits in the material, through passages, and the like. Any of these through passages or structures may be located in horizontal or vertical surfaces as described and illustrated herein.

While several inventive embodiments have been described and illustrated herein, those of ordinary skill in the art will readily envision a variety of other means and/or structures for performing the function and/or obtaining the results and/or one or more of the advantages described herein, and each of such variations and/or modifications is deemed to be within the scope of the present invention of the embodiments described herein. More generally, those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that all parameters, dimensions, materials, and configurations described herein are meant to be exemplary and that the actual parameters, dimensions, materials, and/or configurations will depend upon the specific application for which the teachings of the present invention is used. Those skilled in the art will recognize, or be able to ascertain using no more than routine experimentation, many equivalents to the specific embodiments of the invention described herein. It is, therefore, to be understood that the foregoing embodiments are presented by way of example only and that, within the scope of the appended claims and equivalents thereto, embodiments of the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described and claimed. Inventive embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to each individual feature, system, article, material, kit, and/or method described herein. In addition, any combination of two or more such features, systems, articles, materials, kits, and/or methods, if such features, systems, articles, materials, kits, and/or methods are not mutually inconsistent, is included within the scope of the present disclosure.

All definitions, as defined and used herein, should be understood to govern dictionary definitions, definitions in documents incorporated by reference, and/or ordinary meanings of the defined terms. The indefinite articles "a" and "an" as used in the specification and in the claims are to be understood as meaning "at least one" unless explicitly stated to the contrary. The phrase "and/or" as used in the specification and claims should be understood to mean "one or two" of the elements so combined, i.e., elements that are present in combination in some cases and present in isolation in other cases.

Multiple elements listed with "and/or" should be construed in the same manner, i.e., that "one or more" elements are so combined. In addition to elements specifically identified by the "and/or" clause, other elements may optionally be present, whether related or unrelated to those elements specifically identified. Thus, as a non-limiting example, when used in conjunction with open language such as "including," references to "a and/or B" may refer in one embodiment to only a (optionally including elements other than B); in another embodiment, only B (optionally including elements other than a); in yet another embodiment, refer to both a and B (optionally including other elements); and so on.

As used herein in the specification and claims, "or" should be understood to have the same meaning as "and/or" as defined above. For example, when separating items in a list, "or" and/or "should be interpreted as being inclusive, i.e., including at least one of more than one of the list of elements, but also including more than one, as well as (optionally) additional unlisted items. Only the contrary terms, such as "only one of" or "exactly one of," or, when used in the claims, "consisting of …, will be referred to as comprising exactly one element of a plurality or list of elements. In general, the term "or" as used herein should only be construed to mean an exclusive alternative (i.e., "one or the other but not both"), and "consisting essentially of …" as used in the claims should have the ordinary meaning as used in the patent law field when preceded by an exclusive term such as "either," one of, "" only one of, "or" exactly one of.

As used herein in the specification and claims, the phrase "at least one of" in reference to one or more lists of elements should be understood to mean at least one element selected from any one or more of the elements in the list of elements, but not necessarily including at least one of each and every element specifically listed within the list of elements, and not excluding any combinations of elements in the list of elements. This definition also allows that elements may optionally be present other than the elements specifically identified within the list of elements to which the phrase "at least one" refers, whether related or unrelated to those elements specifically identified. Thus, as a non-limiting example, "at least one of a and B" (or, equivalently, "at least one of a or B," or, equivalently "at least one of a and/or B") can refer, in one embodiment, to at least one a, optionally including more than one a, with no B present (and optionally including elements other than B); in another embodiment, at least one B, optionally including more than one B, may be referred to without a (and optionally including elements other than a); in yet another embodiment, may refer to at least one a, optionally including more than one a, and at least one B, optionally including more than one B (and optionally including other elements); and so on.

It will also be understood that, unless clearly indicated to the contrary, in any methods claimed herein that include more than one step or action, the order of the steps or actions of the method is not necessarily limited to the order in which the steps or actions of the method are recited.

In the claims, as well as in the specification above, all transitional phrases such as "comprising," including, "" carrying, "" having, "" containing, "" involving, "" holding, "" consisting of … and the like are to be understood to be open-ended, i.e., to mean including but not limited to. Only the transition phrases "consisting of …" and "consisting essentially of …" should be closed or semi-closed transition phrases, respectively, as described in the U.S. patent office patent inspection program manual.

The foregoing description of the methods and embodiments has been presented for purposes of illustration. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise steps and/or forms disclosed, and obviously many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. It is intended that the scope of the invention and all equivalents be defined by the following claims.

Claims

1. A guard for an adjustable mount (10), the adjustable mount (10) comprising:

a frame (14), the frame (14) having at least one peripheral member (30, 32, 34);

an adjustable bed deck (12), the adjustable bed deck (12) operatively connected to the frame, the adjustable bed deck (12) having at least a head portion (20), a foot portion (22), and at least one intermediate portion (24) therebetween, at least one of the head portion, the intermediate portion, or the foot portion being movable relative to the frame;

a bulkhead (40), the bulkhead (40) extending between the at least one movable head portion or foot portion and the frame, the bulkhead preventing access between the frame and the at least one movable head portion or foot portion.

2. The guard of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of legs (38) depending from the at least one peripheral member.

3. The guard of claim 2, further comprising the partition extending between a bottom of the adjustable bed deck and the frame.

4. The guard of claim 3, the bulkhead being connected to an interior of the frame.

5. The guard of claim 3, the bulkhead being connected to an outer edge of the frame.

6. The guard of claim 3, the partition extending from an upper edge of the adjustable bed deck to the frame.

7. The guard of claim 1, wherein the bulkhead is removably connected to at least one of the adjustable mount and the frame.

8. Guard according to claim 1, wherein the partition is a cloth (23).

9. Guard according to claim 8, wherein the cloth (23) is one of a stretchable cloth or a foldable cloth.

10. The protective apparatus of claim 1, wherein the baffle is one of vinyl, plastic, or textile.

11. The shield apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a second spacer material extending across the frame between the at least one peripheral member.

12. The guard of claim 1, further comprising at least one actuator connected to the frame.

13. The guard of claim 12, further comprising at least one link on the frame.

14. A method of shielding a space between an articulated base and a frame (14) of a bed, comprising:

hingedly moving the deck (12) from a first position to a second position;

expanding a diaphragm (140) from a first diaphragm position to a second diaphragm position during the articulation movement; and the number of the first and second groups,

preventing access to a space between the hingedly moving bed plate and the frame with the partition.

15. A guard for an adjustable mount (10), the adjustable mount (10) comprising:

a frame (14), the frame (14) having at least one peripheral member (30, 32, 34); an adjustable bed deck (12), said adjustable bed deck (12) operatively connected to said frame (14), said adjustable bed deck having at least a head portion (20), a foot portion (22) and at least one intermediate portion (24) therebetween;

at least one of the head portion, the middle portion, or the foot portion may be movable relative to the frame;

a bulkhead (140), the bulkhead (140) extending through an opening defined by a peripheral member of the frame.