GB2590362A - Side rail height extension for care bed - Google Patents

Abstract

The side rail extension is attachable to a side rail of a care bed. The extension comprises a frame 21 attachable to a side rail of a care bed via a fastening 28, 30, and a removable rail 22 attachable to the frame 21 via a releasable fixing. The frame 21 may be over half the length of the bed. The fastening 28, 30 may have an opening for receiving the side rail and have locking bolts with a turn handle 36. The frame 21 may have a fixed rail 23. The removable rail 23 may have a shoe 32 at each end and the releasable fixing may be holes, one of which is on a bracket of the fastening 30. There may be an intermediate bracket having an opening for receiving the side rail. The extension may increase the overall height of a guard. The extension may be provided with the side rail.

Description

Side Rail Height Extension for Care Bed

Field of invention

The present invention relates to a side rail height extension for a side rail of a bed, such as 20 a care bed used in hospitals, care homes and a home care environment.

Background art

Hospital patients, care home residents and people being cared for at home are likely to spend a significant amount of time in bed. To ensure that patients remain comfortable and to reduce the risk of pressure ulcers, extra deep mattresses and mattress overlays are often used. These increase the depth of the bed and the height of the patient on the mattress relative to the ground and the bed frame.

Care beds often have side rails which extend along the length of the mattress platform at each side. These are designed to extend above the top of the mattress, thereby forming a barrier to prevent the patient from rolling or falling from the bed. In many cases these side rails are adjustable, allowing them to be lowered below the top of the mattress when a patient needs to enter or leave the bed. However, the range of vertical movement of the side rails is usually limited. When an extra deep mattress and/or mattress overlay is used, the side rails may not extend high enough to adequately protect against falls.

In order to overcome this a side rail height extension is often used. Current side rail height extensions typically offer an additional railing which can be securely attached to the uppermost integral side rail on the care bed, usually via a handwheel fixing at either end. This then extends above the uppermost integral side rail to offer adequate protection when an extra deep mattress or overlay is used. These side rail extensions must be securely fastened to the integral side rail to provide sufficient protection. Staff and carers therefore need to take a significant amount of time to check that the fastenings are secure whenever the side rail height extension is fitted. This may happen multiple times a day: it may be necessary to manually remove the extension to enable a patient to enter or leave the bed, or to access bedding for replacement and cleaning.

Summary of the Invention

The present invention seeks to provide a side rail height extension for a care bed which can be securely fastened to the integral side rails of the care bed and yet can quickly and easily be removed when required. The present invention provides a side rail extension with a frame and a removable rail portion. The frame is designed to be fitted securely to the integral side rails of a care bed. The removable rail portion is then attached via a quick-release fixing to the frame. This enables the part of the side rail extension which extends above the mattress to be removed quickly and easily by care staff as required without needing to remove the frame itself Similarly, the quick release mechanism provides an easy way to reattach the removable rail portion and ensure it is secure.

The present invention also seeks to provide a side rail height extension for a care bed which provides sufficient protection against a patient falling from the bed when an extra deep mattress or mattress overlay is used. The present invention uses a fastening to secure the frame to the side rails of the care bed. As there is no need to remove the frame from the side rail in normal operation, the frame will remain securely fastened without the need for regular checking. When secured in place on the frame, the removable rail portion extends above the uppermost integral rail and the mattress to provide protection against falls. The frame extends along enough the length of the care bed and is long enough that the patient is protected at least when in their normal sleeping position.

Viewed from a first aspect, the present invention provides a side rail extension for a care bed, comprising: a frame having at least one fastening to secure the side rail extension to a side rail of the care bed, the frame having a first end positionable towards a head end of the care bed and a second end positionable towards a foot end of the care bed; a removable rail portion; and a releasable fixing having a first part provided at the removable rail portion and a second part provided at the frame and engageable with the first part to releasably attach the removable rail portion to the frame.

The frame provides a secure attachment point for the removable rail portion via a releasable fixing. By splitting the side rail height extension into a permanently attached frame and an easily removable rail portion, it is not necessary to remove the entire side rail height extension to enable a user to enter or leave the bed. The releasable fixing provides means to securely attach the removable rail portion whilst enabling easy removal when required.

Preferably the frame has a length greater than 50% of a length of the care bed. This ensures that the side rail height extension covers a sufficient length of the side of the care bed to prevent a patient falling out of the bed. Preferably the frame is mounted towards the head 25 end of the bed as a majority of the patient's body will occupy this region.

Preferably the at least one fastening is provided at or towards each of the first and second ends of the frame to secure the frame to the care bed at or towards the head end and the foot end respectively. Positioning the fastening at either end of the frame ensures an even load on the frame when pressure is applied, for example by a patient leaning on the side rail height extension.

In certain embodiments, the at least one fastening comprises a first bracket mounted at or towards the first end and a second bracket mounted at or towards the second end, each of the first and second brackets having an opening suitable for receiving a portion of the side rail of the care bed. The first and second brackets provide a scat to vertically position the frame on the integral side rail. This simplifies the process of fixing the frame in position. A user simply lowers the frame over the integral side rail to position the integral side rail within the opening until the brackets contact an upward facing edge of the uppermost side rail. This ensures that the side rail extension is attached in the correct vertical position. The transverse width of the opening is preferably slightly wider than the diameter of the integral side rails. This ensures that the frame is attached in the correct transverse position. One or both of the first and second brackets may additionally have a flange designed to abut the longitudinal end of an integral side rail to position the side rail height extension in a particular longitudinal position.

Preferably each of the first and second brackets has one or more locking bolts positionable in the opening to prevent removal of the side rail from the opening. These locking bolts are preferably threaded bolts which extend through a threaded hole in the first or second bracket and have a turn handle attached on the external facing end. The locking bolts can be retracted out of the opening through the threaded hole by turning the turn handle to enable the frame to be positioned on the integral side rails. Once in place, the locking bolts are extended into the opening. This traps the uppermost integral side rail between the bracket and the locking bolt, preventing vertical movement of the frame. In certain embodiments there may be multiple locking bolts and turn handles provided at each of the first and second brackets.

In certain embodiments, the frame has a fixed rail portion mounted on the frame. The fixed rail portion is intended to extend vertically above the mattress the same height as the removable rail portion, however it is permanently fixed to the frame. When the removable rail portion is removed, the fixed rail portion remains in place. Preferably, the fixed rail portion is mounted at or towards the first end of the frame and the removable rail portion is attachable to the frame between the fixed rail portion and the second end. The fixed rail portion preferably has a length less than 50% of the length of the removable rail portion and less than 33% of the length of the frame. This ensures that a patient can enter or leave the bed when the removable rail portion is removed. Advantageously, the fixed rail portion provides a secure handhold for a patient to grip onto when manoeuvring in or out of the bed. In certain embodiments, the frame may have a second fixed rail portion mounted at or 5 towards the second end of the frame. In this case, the removable rail portion is attachable to the frame between the two fixed rail portions.

Preferably the at least one fastening comprises a fastening mechanism that is different to the fixing mechanism of the releasable fixing. The fastening and the releasable fixing have different requirements. The fastening is intended to provide a secure, semi-permanent fixing between the frame and the integral side rails. The releasable fixing is intended to provide a secure fixing which can quickly and easily be released as required. Preferably the at least one fastening is not a quick-release fixing in order to prevent accidental loosening or removal of the frame. In this context, a quick-release fixing should be interpreted as a fixing which can be released in two or fewer actions, such as a turn, a pull or push, a pull and turn or a slide and lift.

In certain embodiments the frame has a length greater than 50% but less than 90% of a length of the care bed, such that when the frame is mounted on the care bed with the first 20 end positioned adjacent the head end, the side rail extension does not occupy a region adjacent the foot end. The region adjacent the foot end is typically too small and at the wrong end of the bed to present a risk of the patient falling through it. However it provides a gap large enough for a patient to intentionally leave and enter the bed when care staff are not available to remove the removable rail portion. This prevents the patient from resorting 25 to climbing over the side rail height extension which would increase their risk of injury.

The first part of the releasable fixing may comprise at least one locking pin and the second part of the releasable fixing may comprise at least one hole suitable for receiving the locking pin in a locked position. Such a releasable fixing is simple, easy to operate and can 30 provide audible and visual indications that the fixing is secured in place.

The removable rail portion may have a first shoe at or towards a first end and a second shoe at or towards a second end, and the first part of the releasable fixing may comprise locking pins one on each of the first and second shoes, and the second part of the releasable fixing may comprise holes, at least one of the holes provided on the second bracket. The first and second shoes are preferably suitably sized to be placed over a bracket such as the second bracket. This ensures correct placement of the removable rail portion and straightforward alignment of the locking pins with the holes.

Preferably the releasable fixing comprises a spring to bias the locking pin towards the hole and the locked position. This ensures that the removable rail portion remains locked in place unless actively pulled by a user. When a user releases their hold on the locking pin, it will spring back to the locked position provided that it is aligned with the hole. This may create an audible "click" to provide reassurance to the user that the removable rail portion is secured in place.

In certain embodiments the releasable fixing comprises a bayonet type fixing. The bayonet type fixing may have at least one radial pin engageable with at least one L-shaped slot. The radial pin may be provided on the removable rail portion with the L-shaped slot provided on the frame. Alternatively the radial pin may be provided on the frame with the L-shaped slot provided on the removable rail portion. Preferably the bayonet type fixing comprises two radial pins provided at each end of the removable rail portion and engaacable with corresponding L-shaped slots provided on the frame. By locating the radial pins on the removable rail portion they will not be exposed on the frame as a patient enters or leaves the bed. This reduces the chance of a patients clothing or bedding snagging or getting caught in the frame.

The releasable fixing may alternatively or additionally comprise any one of a barbed pin, a lug engageable with a flange, a coarse threaded screw or a friction fitting. In this context, a coarse threaded screw should be interpreted as a screw that can be moved between a locked position (where the removable rail portion is secured in place) and an unlocked position (where the removable rail portion can be lifted away from the frame) in three or fewer rotations. This enables the releasable fixing to be quickly released when required.

The frame may have an intermediate bracket positioned between and spaced apart from the first and second ends and having an opening suitable for receiving a portion of the side rail of the care bed. The intermediate bracket provides additional structural support to the frame. Where there is a fixed rail portion, the fixed rail portion may extend between the first bracket and the intermediate bracket. Where the second part of the releasable fixing comprises one or more holes provided at the frame, at least one hole may be provided on the intermediate bracket.

Viewed from another aspect, the present invention provides a care bed having at least one side rail and at least one side rail extension as hereinbefore defined.

Viewed from another aspect, the present invention provides a side rail assembly for a care bed comprising: at least one side rail; and at least one side rail extension according to any 15 preceding claim attachable to the side rail.

Viewed from yet another aspect;the present invention provides a kit comprising two side rail extensions as hereinbefore defined, wherein a first side rail extension has a frame suitable for securing to a first side rail of the care bed and a second side rail extension has a frame suitable for securing to a second side rail of the care bed. Preferably the second side rail extension is a mirror image of the first side rail extension, for easy identification to ensure that the side rail extensions are attached to the correct side of the mattress. This advantageously ensures that the gap between the mattress and the side rail extension is minimal and substantially equal on both sides of the mattress.

Brief description of drawings

A specific implementation of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a care bed with two side rail assemblies, each side rail assembly having a side rail and a side rail extension mounted to the side rail, with the side rails in a lowered position; Figure 2 is a perspective view of the care bed of Figure 1 with the side rails in a raised position; Figure 3 is a perspective view of the care bed of Figure 1 with a removable rail portion removed from the side rail extensions; Figure 4 is a perspective view of a side rail extension with the removable rail secured in place; Figure 5 is a perspective view of a side rail extension with the removable rail partially 15 removed; Figure 6 is a perspective view of a side rail extension with the removable rail completely removed; Figure 7 is a perspective view of a pair of side rail extensions with removable rails secured in place; Figure 8 is a magnified view of Figure 4, showing the attachment of the removable rail portion and the second bracket; Figure 9 is a magnified view of Figure 2, showing the attachment of the second bracket to the side rail; Figure 10 is a magnified and exploded view of Figure 5, showing a locking pin and an n30 shaped shoe of the removable rail portion.

Detailed description of preferred embodiment of the invention Referring initially to Figure 1, a care bed 1 is shown. The care bed 1 is a care bed often found in hospitals, care homes home care environments and the like. Care bed 1 has a mattress 2 placed on a mattress platform 8 (not shown) extending and fixedly mounted between a head end 3 and a foot end 4. A solid head board 5 is mounted at the head end 3 to provide back suppon and privacy to a patient. A corresponding foot board 6 is mounted at the foot end 4 to improve privacy.

On this particular care bed 1, the height of the mattress platform 8, mattress 2 and head and foot boards 5, 6 relative to the floor surface is adjustable by means of two actuators 9, one mounted at the head end 3 and one mounted at the foot end 4. Four legs 11, one at each comer of the care bed 1 are slidably received within leg housings 7 mounted on the head and foot ends 3, 4. Each actuator 9 is fixedly mounted to the legs 11 via a transverse bar 19 which extends widthways between two legs 11. Each actuator 9 has an extending arm 33 which is fixedly mounted to the head end 3 or the foot end 4. As the extending arm 33 is raised, it pulls the head end 3, foot end 4, mattress platform 8 and mattress 2 upwards to raise the height of the mattress 2. Castors 10 are mounted at the lowermost end of each leg 11 to enable the care bed Ito be easily moved.

The care bed 1 is equipped with two adjustable side rails 12, 13 on each longitudinal side of the mattress 2. A lower adjustable side rail 12 has two substantially parallel, vertically separated bars connected by three linking bars. An upper adjustable side rail 13 has a bottom bar 15 and top bar 14 which are vertically separated and connected by linking bars 34, Top bar 14 has a dipped central portion 16 which defines an ingress/egress area of the care bed 1. In the ingress/egress area, the lower position of the top bar 14 prevents the upper adjustable side rail 13 from obstructing, hurting or causing discomfort to a patient as they enter or leave the care bed I. The mattress 2 will compress as a patient sits on the edge of the bed. By locating the dipped central portion 16 in the area most often used by patients entering, leaving or sitting on the edge of the care bed 1, discomfort to a patient is minimised.

The lower and upper adjustable side rails 12, 13 are vertically adjustable relative to the head and foot ends 3, 4 and the mattress 2. Each of the lower and upper adjustable side rails 12, 13 are slidably received at both ends within sliders 17 mounted to the leg housings 7 at the head and foot ends 3, 4. The vertical position of the side rails 12, 13 can be adjusted by sliding up/down in sliders 17 and locking in the uppermost or lowermost positions using a locking mechanism (not shown). This allows the side rails 12, 13 to easily be raised or lowered as desired. As shown in Figure 2, the side rails 12, 13 in a raised position extend above an upper surface of the mattress 2, preventing a patient from falling from the care bed 1.

As shown in Figures 1 and 2, a side rail extension 20 is mounted to the upper adjustable side rail 13 on each side of the bed. This increases the height of protective railings over the mattress 2. This is useful if extra height is required, such as if a particularly deep mattress 2 is used.

As best illustrated in Figure 4, the side rail extension 20 has a frame 21 with a support brace 37 which extends longitudinally and has a first bracket 28 mounted at a first end and a second bracket 30 mounted at a second end. As shown in Figures 1-3 and Figure 9, when mounted to the side rail 13 the support brace 37 runs substantially parallel and adjacent to bottom bar 15. The support brace 37 is positioned on the external facing side (the side facing away from the mattress 2) of the bottom bar 15.

An upper part of each of the first and second brackets 28, 30 has a substantially n-shaped cross-section and is suitable for placing over the top bar 14. As best illustrated by Figure 3, the first bracket 28 is placed over the top bar 14 towards the head end 3 of the care bed 1. This minimises any gap between the head board 5 and the protective railings. The second bracket 30 is placed over the top bar 14 between the foot end 4 of the care bed 1 and the dipped central portion 16.

A screw fastening 36 is provided at each of the first and second brackets 28, 30 to secure the frame 21 to the side rail. As shown in Figure 9, the screw fastenings 36 each consist of a threaded bolt (not shown) concealed under a plastic spacer 35, with the bolt capped at one end by a turn handle 38. The threaded bolts are inserted into a threaded hole (not shown) in an external facing edge of each bracket 28, 30. Once the side rail extension 20 has been positioned over the upper side rail 13, the screw fastenings 36 can be turned by means of the turn handles 38 to position at least a portion of the threaded bolt between the top and bottom bars 14, 15. This secures the side rail extension 20 in place, by trapping the top bar 14 between the threaded bolts and the brackets 28, 30. The side rail extension 20 can only be removed by unscrewing the screw fastenings 36 until the threaded bolts no longer prevent the frame 21 from being lifted upwards.

As shown in Figure 3, the frame 21 and support brace 37 do not extend the entire length of the care bed 1. In this particular embodiment, the frame 21 extends approximately 80% of the length of the care bed 1. As best illustrated in Figure 1, this leaves a region of the mattress 2 adjacent the foot end 4 which is not protected by the side rail extension 20. This region is not so large that a patient may fall out of the bed and is located towards the foot end 4 to further minimise this risk. However, the region does serve to provide an escape route for a patient to leave or re-enter the care bed 1 in the absence of care staff without resorting to climbing over the side rail extension 20 which could result in injury.

The frame 21 also has an intermediate bracket 29 mounted on the support brace 37 between the first bracket 28 and the second bracket 30. As shown in Figure 1, the intermediate bracket 29 is located closer to the first bracket 28 than the second bracket 30. The intermediate bracket 29 also has a portion with an n-shaped cross section suitable for placing over the top bar 14. Unlike the first and second brackets 28, 30, no screw fastening 36 is provided at the intermediate bracket 29. The intermediate bracket 29 is spaced apart from the first bracket 28 such that when the frame 21 is placed over the upper adjustable side rail 13, the intermediate bracket 29 sits over the top bar 14 in a region between the head end 3 and the dipped central portion 16. The dipped central portion 16 is therefore located between the intermediate bracket 29 and the second bracket 30. Corners and edges of the intermediate bracket 29 and the second bracket 30 are smoothed to prevent snagging to a patient's clothing or bedding.

Referring now to Figures 5 and 6, each of the intermediate bracket 29 and the second bracket 30 have a bore 39 through an external facing side. The bores 39 together form a second part of a releasable fixing and are each suitable for receiving a pin. Together, the pins form a first part of the releasable fixing.

As shown in Figure 6, the side rail extension 20 has a fixed rail portion 23. 'the fixed rail portion 23 is welded to and extends between the first bracket 28 and the intermediate bracket 29 and in this embodiment has an upper fixed bar 26 bent at right-angles towards each end, and a lower fixed bar 27 attached between the end of the upper fixed bar 26 and the bend at each end. The lower fixed bar 27 improves the rigidity of the fixed rail portion 23. The fixed rail portion 23 provides extra support to a patient entering or leaving the care bed 1 at the dipped central portion 16 by acting as a hand hold or grip.

As best illustrated by Figures 4 and 5, the side rail extension 20 also has a removable rail portion 22. The removable rail portion 22 is similar to the fixed rail portion 23 in its construction: an upper removable bar 24 bent at right-angles towards each end with a lower removable bar 25 attached between the end of the upper removable bar 24 and the bend at each end. An n-shaped shoe 32 is attached at each end of the upper removable bar 24 with an interior area between two arms slightly larger than the n-shaped cross-section of the intermediate bracket 29 and the second bracket 30. The length of the upper removable bar 24 allows one n-shaped shoe 32 to be placed over the intermediate bracket 29 and the other n-shaped shoe 32 to be placed over the second bracket 30.

A locking pin 31 is attached to an external facing arm of each n-shaped shoe 32. In this context, "external facing" refers to the orientation of the n-shaped shoe 32 when the removable rail portion 22 is mounted in place on the care bed 1. As shown in Figure 10, the locking pin 31 in this particular embodiment is a hand retractable spring plunger with a fixed body portion 311 mounted in a hole 321 through the external facing arm of the n-shaped shoe 32. A retractable pin 312 extends from a handle 313 outside the n-shaped shoe 32 through the fixed body portion 311 to an end 314 which extends into the space between the two arms of the n-shaped shoe 32 in an extended position. The retractable pin 312 can be moved to a retracted position by pulling the handle 313 away from the n-shaped shoe 32, which causes the retractable pin 312 to retract into the fixed body portion 311. A biasing spring (not shown) is mounted inside the fixed body portion 311 and is secured to the fixed body portion 311 and the retractable pin 312 such that the biasing spring extends as the handle 313 is pulled. When the handle 313 is released, the biasing spring contracts, causing the pin 312 to return to the extended position with the end 314 in the space between the two arms of the n-shaped shoe 32.

As best illustrated by Figure 8, the removable rail portion 22 can be secured to the frame 21 by placing one n-shaped shoe 32 over the second bracket 30 and pulling the handle 313 of the locking pin 31 to move the retractable pin 312 into a retracted position. This allows the second bracket 30 to slide into the n-shaped shoe 32. The retractable pin 312 can then be aligned with the bore 39 in the second bracket 30 before releasing the handle 313. The biasing spring will then cause the retractable pin 312 to move into engagement with the bore 39, locking the n-shaped shoe 32 and the second bracket 30 together. The locking pin 31 remains in this default locked position unless the handle 313 is pulled by a user. This results in a partially attached removable rail portion 22 as shown in Figure 5. The process is then repeated with the other n-shaped shoe 32 and the intermediate bracket 29 to fully attach the removable rail portion 22 as shown in Figure 4. To remove the removable rail portion 22, locking pins 31 are pulled outwards to disengage the locking pins 31 from the bores 39. The removable rail portion 22 can then be lifted away from the frame 21.

The locking pins 31 are configured to have a default locked position when the removable rail portion 22 is in place on the frame 21. This ensures that the removable rail portion 22 remains secured on the frame 21 in response to external stress such as a patient leaning on, gripping or knocking the removable rail portion 22. This improves patient safety. The rigidity of the fixing is enhanced by providing a locking pin 31 at each end of the removable rail portion 22. The hand retractable spring plunger provides a simple and reliable attachment means. It is easy for a user to identify whether the retractable pin 312 is securely engaged with the bore 39 by checking the position of the handle 313. As best shown in Figures 8 and 9, the handle 313 abuts the n-shaped shoe 32 when the retractable pin 312 is in the extended (locked) position. As the retractable pin 312 is locked in place, the handle 313 moves into contact with the n-shaped shoe 32. This produces an audible "click" which signifies to the user that the locking pin 31 is in the correct locked position. This helps to prevent the removable rail portion being improperly attached.

Referring now to Figure 7, a pair of side rail extensions 20 are shown. The two side rail extensions 20 have the same components and structure but are in a minored configuration to allow one side rail extension lobe attached on either side of the mattress 2. The removable portion 22 of the side rail extension can be removed on either side of the care bed 1 depending on where access is required.

Claims (20)

1. Claims 1. A side rail extension for a care bed, comprising: a frame having at least one fastening to secure the side rail extension to a side rail 5 of the care bed, the frame having a first end positionable towards a head end of the care bed and a second end positionable towards a foot end of the care bed; a removable rail portion; and a releasable fixing having a first part provided at the removable rail portion and a second part provided at the frame and engageable with the first part to releasably attach the 10 removable rail portion to the frame.
2. 2. The side rail extension of claim 1, wherein the frame has a length greater than 50% of a length of the care bed.
3. 3. The side rail extension of claim 1 or 2, wherein the at least one fastening is provided at or towards each of the first and second ends of the frame to secure the frame to the care bed at or towards the head end and the foot end respectively.
4. 4. The side rail extension of claim 3, wherein the at least one fastening comprises a 20 first bracket mounted at or towards the first end and a second bracket mounted at or towards the second end, each of the first and second brackets having an opening suitable for receiving a portion of the side rail of the care bed.
5. 5. The side rail extension of claim 4, wherein each of the first and second brackets 25 has one or more locking bolts positionable in the opening to prevent removal of the side rail from the opening.
6. 6. The side rail extension of claim 5, wherein each locking bolt comprises a threaded bolt and a turn handle. -1.6-
7. 7. The side rail extension of any preceding claim, wherein the frame has a fixed rail portion mounted at or towards the first end, wherein the removable rail portion is attachable to the frame between the fixed rail portion and the second end.
8. 8. The side rail extension of any preceding claim, wherein the at least one fastening comprises a fastening mechanism that is different to the fixing mechanism of the releasable fixing.
9. 9. The side rail extension of any preceding claim, wherein the frame has a length greater than 50% but less than 90% of a length of the care bed, such that when the frame is mounted on the care bed with the first end positioned adjacent the head end, the side rail extension does not occupy a region adjacent the foot end.
10. 10. The side rail extension of any preceding claim, wherein the first part of the 15 releasable fixing comprises at least one locking pin and the second part of the releasable fixing comprises at least one hole suitable for receiving the locking pin in a locked position.
11. 11. The side rail extension of claim 10 when dependent upon claim 4, wherein: the removable rail portion has a first shoe at or towards a first end and a second shoe at or towards a second end: and the first part of the releasable fixing comprises locking pins on each of the first and second shoes, and the second part of the releasable fixing comprises holes at least one of the holes provided on the second bracket.
12. 12. The side rail extension of claim 10 or 11, wherein the releasable fixing comprises a spring to bias the locking pin towards the hole and the locked position.
13. 13. The side rail extension of claims 1 to 9, wherein the releasable fixing comprises a 30 bayonet type fixing.
14. 14. The side rail extension of claims 1 to 9, wherein the releasable fixing comprises any one of a barbed pin, a lug engageable with a flange, a coarse threaded screw or a friction fitting.
15. 15. The side rail extension of any preceding claim, wherein the frame has an intermediate bracket positioned between and spaced apart from the first and second ends and having an opening suitable for receiving a portion of the side rail of the care bed.
16. 16. The side rail extension of claim 15 when dependent on claim 11, wherein one of 10 the holes is provided on the intermediate bracket.
17. 17. A side rail assembly for a care bed comprising: at least one side rail; and at least one side rail extension according to any preceding claim attachable to the side rail.
18. 18. A care bed having at least one side rail and at least one side rail extension according to any one of claims 1 to 16.
19. I 9. A kit comprising two side rail extensions according to any one of claims 1 to 16, wherein a first side rail extension has a frame suitable for securing to a first side rail of the care bed and a second side rail extension has a frame suitable for securing to a second side rail of the care bed.
20. 20. The kit of claim 19, wherein the second side rail extension is a mirror image in a longitudinal plane of the first side rail extension.