GB2613884A

GB2613884A - Bed side rail assembly

Info

Publication number: GB2613884A
Application number: GB2118475.9A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Phillips Charles
Original assignee: Accora Ltd
Current assignee: Accora Ltd
Priority date: 2021-12-17
Filing date: 2021-12-17
Publication date: 2023-06-21
Also published as: WO2023111585A1

Abstract

Bed side rail assembly comprising a pair of upright support posts 12, each comprising lower 34 and upper 36 members hingedly connected together. A cross bar 14 extends between and is slidably connected to the support posts 12, a flexible panel 16 is attached to the cross bar 14, and an attachment member is connected to each of the lateral edges of the flexible panel 16 and is slidably engaged with a respective support post 12. Each upper member 36 is movable with respect to the lower member 34 between lowered and raised positions. The cross bar 14 is moveable between a lowered and raised position in which it is engaged with the lower and upper members, respectively. The sliding may be in channels in the support posts 12 that may be laterally offset from the hinge connection of the lower 34 and upper 36 members. The cross bar 14 may have handles.

Description

Bed Side Rail Assembly

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to side rail assemblies or side guards for beds, and to beds including such side rail assemblies.

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION

A number of prior art bed side rails are known. These are typically used on beds for a young child or an infirm or elderly person. Side rails are most often provided on beds in hospitals and care homes and the like. The side rails provide a guard that extends along the length of the bed to prevent a person falling from the sides of the bed.

Some prior art bed side rails comprise a frame including a plurality of horizontal bars or beams with spaces between them. The rails may be made of wood, plastic or metal, depending on the location and application. One problem with prior art side rails of this type is that there is a risk of entrapment. The entrapment risks include strangulation, suffocation, bodily injury and even death when patients or a part of their body is caught or trapped between the bars of the side rail or between the side rail and the bed mattress for example. While it is known to provide a cover or other means to enclose the horizontal bars of the side rail, there remains a possibility of a person becoming entrapped between the side rail and a headboard or footboard of the bed or between the side rail and the bed frame.

Another type of prior art side rail that alleviates some of these problems with the risk of entrapment is a fabric side rail. These fabric side rails generally extend along the full length of the bed and are typically collapsible or retractable to allow access to the side of the bed. It is necessary, however, to provide upright support posts to which the fabric panel of the side rail is secured.

A further consideration in the design of side rails is the ability to remove or move the side rail to obtain access to the side of the bed. Access may be needed quickly in the case of an emergency, for example if a patient needs CPR or some other form of medical intervention.

It is also beneficial if the side rail takes up as little space as possible in its collapsed or retracted state. This allows a person to access the bed easily even under normal circumstances, for example getting into or getting out of the bed. When the side rail is used on a moveable hospital or care bed, it is also beneficial for the side rail to have minimal protrusion from the side of the bed to allow the bed to be more easily manoeuvred through doorways and the like.

Against this background it is desirable to provide an improved bed side rail that overcomes a problem with prior art side rails, whether referred to herein or otherwise. In particular, it is desirable to provide a side rail that is compact in its collapsed or retracted form, and that is quick and easy to use.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A first aspect of the present invention provides a side rail assembly for a bed comprising: a pair of upright support posts, each of the support posts comprising: a lower member, the lower member extending longitudinally between first and second ends, the first end of the lower member including a first hinge portion; and an upper member, the upper member extending longitudinally between first and second ends, the second end of the upper member including a second hinge portion; a cross member extending between the support posts and being slidably 30 connected at each of its ends to a respective one of the support posts; a flexible panel attached along a first edge to the cross member so as to extend in a lateral direction between the support posts, the flexible panel including -3 -opposite first and second lateral edges; and an attachment member connected to each of the first and second lateral edges, a part of each attachment member being slidably engaged with a respective one of the support posts, wherein, the second hinge portion is engaged with the first hinge portion to hingedly connect the upper member to the lower member such that each upper member is movable with respect to the corresponding lower member between a lowered position in which a longitudinal axis of the upper member extends transverse to a longitudinal axis of the lower member and a raised position in which the longitudinal axis of the upper member extends parallel to the longitudinal axis of the lower member, and wherein the cross member is moveable between a lowered position in which the ends of the cross member and the attachment members are engaged with the lower members of the support posts and a raised position in which the ends of the cross member and the attachment members are engaged with the upper members of the support posts.

The benefit of this design is that the flexible panel may be retained in a planar or taught configuration when the cross member is raised by virtue of the attachment members, but the mechanism for raising and lowering the cross member and flexible panel is simple and reliable. Importantly, the arrangement for the raising and lowering of the cross member and flexible panel is completely separate from the hinge mechanism for raising and lowering the upper members of the support posts. This means that the hinge design can be simplified.

In preferred embodiments the lower member includes a lower longitudinal channel, the upper member includes an upper longitudinal channel, and a part of each attachment member is slidably engaged with one of the lower or upper longitudinal channels of a respective one of the support posts, wherein in the raised position the upper longitudinal channel is aligned with the lower longitudinal channel, and wherein with the cross member in the lowered position the attachment members are engaged in the lower longitudinal channel and with the cross member in the raised -4 -position the attachment members are engaged in the upper longitudinal channel.

To simplify the design of the hinge the lower longitudinal channel is preferably laterally offset from the first hinge portion and the upper longitudinal channel is preferably laterally offset from the second hinge portion.

The cross member preferably comprises an annular engagement element at each end of the cross member. Each annular engagement element is preferably engaged with and surrounds a respective one of the pair of support posts.

Each of the attachment members is preferably connected to the lateral edge of the flexible panel in a fixed position on the flexible panel. Preferably each of the attachment members comprises a slider slidingly engaged with the longitudinal channel and a securing tab connected to the flexible panel. Each of the upper longitudinal channel and the lower longitudinal channel may include a longitudinal opening, and the securing tab of each of the attachment members may protrude through the longitudinal opening.

In preferred embodiments the attachment members are disposed within a boundary defined by an external surface of the support post. In some embodiments the external surface of the support post includes an opening extending along a length of the support post. The longitudinal opening of the longitudinal channel is preferably not coincident with the opening in the external surface of the support post such that a space within the support post is defined between the longitudinal opening of the longitudinal channel and the opening in the external surface of the support post. The securing tab of each of the attachment members is preferably disposed in the space.

In some embodiments the side rail assembly may further comprise a base member extending between the support posts A second edge of the flexible panel opposite 30 the first edge is preferably connected to the base member.

The side rail assembly may further comprise at least two attachment arms for -5 -releasably securing the side rail assembly to a bed frame.

The cross member preferably includes a handle, to allow a user to easily lift and lower the cross member in use.

The side rail assembly preferably further comprises a locking mechanism arranged to releasably retain the cross member in the raised position. In preferred embodiments the locking mechanism comprises a retractable retaining pin and a recess, the retaining pin engaging in the recess when the cross member is in the raised position.

A second aspect of the invention provides a bed comprising: a bed frame; and a side rail assembly according to the first aspect of the invention, the side rail assembly being releasably attached to the bed frame.

The bed may further comprise a mattress supported by the bed frame, and in these embodiments the upper members of the support posts preferably do not protrude above an upper surface of the mattress when the upper members are in the lowered position.

Preferred and/or optional features of each aspect and embodiment described above may also be used, alone or in appropriate combination, in the other aspects and embodiments also.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will now be further described by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which like reference signs are used for like features, and in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a side rail assembly in accordance with a preferred -6 -embodiment of the present invention, the side rail assembly being in a fully collapsed configuration; Figure 2 is a perspective view of the side rail assembly of Figure 1, the side rail assembly being in a lowered configuration; Figure 3 is a perspective view of the side rail assembly of Figure 1, the side rail assembly being in a raised configuration; Figure 4 is a further perspective view of the side rail assembly of Figure 1 in the fully collapsed configuration; Figure 5 is a perspective view of the side rail assembly of Figure 2 in the lowered configuration; Figure 6 is a perspective view of the side rail assembly of Figure 3 in the raised configuration; Figure 7 is a plan view from the side of the side rail assembly of Figure 1 in the fully collapsed configuration; Figure 8 is a plan view from the side of the side rail assembly of Figure 2 in the lowered configuration; Figure 9 is a plan view from the side of the side rail assembly of Figure 3 in the raised configuration; Figure 10 is a perspective view of a part of the side rail assembly of Figure 1, showing in particular an upright support post of the side rail in a lowered position; Figure 11 is a sectional view of the side rail assembly along the line XI-XI of Figure 7, with a flexible panel of the side rail assembly removed for clarity; Figure 12 is a sectional view of the side rail assembly along the line XII-XII of Figure 8, with the flexible panel of the side rail assembly removed for clarity; Figure 13 is a sectional view of the side rail assembly along the line XIII-XIII of Figure 9; Figure 14 is a sectional view of the side rail assembly along the line XIV-XIV of Figure 9, with the flexible panel of the side rail assembly removed for clarity; Figure 15 is a sectional view of the side rail assembly along the line XV-XV of Figure 9, with the flexible panel of the side rail assembly removed for clarity; Figure 16 is a plan view from above of the side rail assembly of Figure 3 in the raised 15 configuration; Figure 17 is a sectional view of a part of the side rail assembly along the line XVIIXVII of Figure 16; Figure 18 is a further sectional view of a part of the side rail assembly along the line XVII-XVII of Figure 16, with a cross member and flexible panel removed, and showing a retaining pin of a locking mechanism in an extended position; and Figure 19 is a further sectional view of a part of the side rail assembly along the line 25 XVII-XVII of Figure 16, with the cross member and flexible panel removed, and showing the retaining pin of the locking mechanism in a retracted position.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

A preferred embodiment of a side rail assembly 10 for a bed is shown in Figures 1 to 9. The side rail assembly 10 comprises a pair of upright support posts 12, a cross member 14, and a flexible panel 16. -8 -

The cross member 14 is elongate and extends between first and second ends 18, 20. Each end 18, 20 of the cross member 14 is engaged with a respective one of the support posts 12. In particular, the cross member 14 is slidably connected to the support posts 12 to enable the cross member 14 to be moved between a lowered position, shown in particular in Figures 1, 4 and 7, and a raised position, shown in Figures 3, 6 and 9. The flexible panel 16 is attached along a first, upper edge to the cross member 14. In this embodiment the flexible panel 16 extends laterally for substantially the complete length of the cross member 14 between the support posts 12.

With the cross member 14 in the lowered position the flexible panel 16 is in a collapsed or retracted configuration. With the cross member 14 in the raised position the flexible panel 16 is in an extended configuration. In the extended configuration the flexible panel 16 is in a generally planar configuration.

In this embodiment a second, lower edge of the flexible panel 16 is attached to a base member 22 of the side rail assembly 10. The base member 22 is elongate. A first end of the base member 22 is connected to a lower end of a first one of the support posts 12 and a second end of the base member 22 is connected to a lower end of a second one of the support posts 12. In this embodiment the flexible panel 16 extends laterally for substantially the complete length of the base member 22 between the support posts 12. In other embodiments the side rail assembly 10 may not include a base member. In some of these embodiments edges of the flexible panel 16 may be directly attached to the lower ends of the support posts 12.

The flexible panel 16 is made of a suitable flexible material, which is preferably a natural or synthetic polymeric material. The flexible panel 16 may comprise a netting material or mesh material. The flexible panel 16 may comprise a nylon material. The flexible panel 16 may comprise different regions made of different materials; for example, the flexible panel 16 may comprise a central region made of a netting material or mesh material and a border region surrounding the netting material made -9 -of a nylon material.

Referring now to Figures 10 to 13, the cross member 14 comprises an elongate bar 24 that, in this embodiment, is surrounded by a fabric or elastomeric cover 26. The elongate bar 24 may be hollow such that the elongate bar is in the form of a tubular bar. Reinforcing elements 28 may be disposed in each end of the tubular bar 24. The cross member 14 further includes an engagement element 30 connected to each end of the elongate bar 24. Each engagement element 30 is designed to slidingly engage with one of the support posts 12. In this embodiment each of the engagement elements 30 comprises an annular element 32 that surrounds the respective support post 12. An internal surface 33 of the annular element 32 has substantially the same shape and dimensions as an external surface 13 of the support post 12. As such, there is a close sliding fit of the annular element 32 over and around the support post 12.

Each of the support posts 12 comprises a lower member 34 and an upper member 36 connected by a hinge 38. The upper member 36 is movable with respect to the corresponding lower member 34 between a lowered position in which a longitudinal axis of the upper member 36 extends substantially transverse to a longitudinal axis of the lower member 34 and a raised position in which the longitudinal axis of the upper member 36 extends parallel to the longitudinal axis of the lower member 34.

In this embodiment the lower member 34 extends longitudinally between first and second ends, and the first end of the lower member 34 includes a first hinge portion 40. Similarly, the upper member 36 extends longitudinally between first and second ends, and the second end of the upper member 36 includes a second hinge portion 42. The first and second hinge portions 40, 42 are engaged with each other to form the hinge 38 of the support post 12. As shown most clearly in Figures 11, 14 and 15, in this embodiment each of the hinge portions 40, 42 include a plurality of hinge plates 44 that interleave or interlock to form the complete hinge 38. As shown most clearly in Figure 14, in this embodiment a hinge pin 46 extends through each of the hinge plates 44 of both of the hinge portions 40, 42. The hinge pin 46 connects the -10 -upper member 36 to the lower member 34 and the upper member 36 rotates about the hinge pin 46 between the raised and lowered positions.

Each of the hinge plates 44 is preferably shaped so that an external surface of the hinge 38 is generally formed from contiguous surfaces of the hinge plates 44 both when the upper member 36 is in the raised position and when the upper member 36 is in the lowered position. In other words, the external surface of the hinge 38 is preferably generally continuous without significant gaps or crevices, and without any significant projecting surfaces, both when the upper member 36 is in the raised position and when the upper member 36 is in the lowered position. This reduces the risk of injury to a person by a part of the hinge 38 and allows the smooth operation of the bed rail assembly 10 as described further below.

In this embodiment each of the support posts 12 includes a longitudinal channel 48.

In particular, each lower member 34 includes a lower longitudinal channel 50, and each upper member 36 includes an upper longitudinal channel 52. When the upper member 36 of the support post 12 is in the raised position, as shown in Figures 14 and 15, the upper longitudinal channel 52 is aligned with the lower longitudinal channel 50 to form the complete longitudinal channel 48.

Preferably, the longitudinal channel 48 is offset from the hinge 38, such that no part of the hinge 38 intersects or protrudes into the channel 48. In particular, the lower longitudinal channel 50 is preferably laterally offset from the first hinge portion 40 and the upper longitudinal channel 52 is preferably laterally offset from the second hinge portion 42. As shown most clearly in Figures 14 and 15, in this embodiment no part of the hinge pin 46 protrudes into the longitudinal channel 48.

In this embodiment the longitudinal channels 48 have a generally circular cross-sectional shape. In other embodiments the longitudinal channels 48 may have any suitable cross-sectional shape. Preferably the cross-sectional shape of the lower longitudinal channel 50 is the same as the cross-sectional shape of the corresponding upper longitudinal channel 52. Each of the longitudinal channels 48 includes a longitudinal opening 54 that extends along the length of the channel 48. In particular, each lower longitudinal channel 50 includes a lower longitudinal opening 56, and each upper longitudinal channel 52 includes an upper longitudinal opening 58. When the upper member 36 of the support post 12 is in the raised position, as shown in Figures 14 and 15, the upper longitudinal opening 56 is aligned with the lower longitudinal opening 58 to form the complete longitudinal opening 54. Each longitudinal opening 54 faces in a direction towards a respective lateral edge 60 of the flexible panel 16.

The side rail assembly 10 further comprises a plurality of attachment members 62.

Each attachment member 62 is connected to one of the lateral edges 60 of the flexible panel 16. Each of the attachment members 62 is also slidably engaged with a respective one of the support posts 12. In this embodiment, each of the attachment members 62 is slidingly engaged with the longitudinal channel 48 of a respective one of the support posts 12. In other embodiments each of the attachment members may be otherwise slidingly engaged with each of the support posts 12. For example, each attachment member 62 may comprise an annular member or another form of collar that surrounds the support post 12.

In this embodiment each of the attachment members 62 comprises a slider 64 and a securing tab 66 extending from the slider 64. The slider 64 is disposed in the longitudinal channel 48 of one of the support posts 12, as shown most clearly in Figures 11, 14 and 15. An external shape and external dimensions (for example an external diameter) of the slider 64 are preferably such that there is a close sliding fit of the slider 64 in the longitudinal channel 48. In this embodiment the slider 64 is cylindrical. The slider 64 is elongate to reduce or minimise twisting or rotation of the slider 64 within the longitudinal channel 48.

The securing tab 66 of the attachment member 62 protrudes through the longitudinal opening 54 and is attached to a respective lateral edge 60 of the flexible panel 16.

The attachment of the securing tab 66 to the flexible panel 16 is such that the attachment member 62 remains in a fixed position with respect to the flexible panel 16. The flexible panel 16, proximate the lateral edge 60, may be clamped by a part of the securing tab 66. In other embodiments the securing tab 66 may be adhesively attached to the flexible panel 16, or a mechanical fastener may be used to attach the securing tab 66 to the flexible panel 16.

The side rail assembly 10 preferably comprises two attachment members 62 attached to each lateral edge 60 of the flexible panel 16. The attachment members 62 are preferably spaced apart along the lateral edge 60 of the flexible panel 16. In this embodiment, and as most clearly seen in Figure 13, the attachment members 62 are evenly spaced apart between the base member 22 and the cross member 14, such that a first distance between the cross member 14 and a first one of the attachment members 62, a second distance between the base member 22 and a second one of the attachment members 62, and a third distance between the first and second attachment members 62 are substantially equal. It will be appreciated that in other embodiments the spacing of the attachment members 62 may be different. It will also be understood that in other embodiments the side rail assembly 10 may include different numbers of attachment members 62. For example, there may be only one attachment member 62 attached to each lateral edge 60 of the flexible panel 16, or there may be more than two attachment members 62 attached to each lateral edge 60 of the flexible panel 16.

The attachment members 62 act to hold the lateral edges 60 of the flexible panel 16 in close proximity to the support posts 12. In particular, when the cross member 14 is in the raised position, the attachment members 62 minimise any gap between each of the lateral edges 60 of the flexible panel 16 and the respective support post 12. It will therefore be appreciated that the greater the number of attachment members 62 attached to each lateral edge 60 of the flexible panel 16, the smaller any gaps may be between the flexible panel 16 and the support post 12.

To accommodate the attachment of the attachment members 62 to the lateral edges 60 of the flexible panel 16, in this embodiment the external surface 13 of the support post 12 includes an opening 68. This opening 68 extends along the length of the -13 -support post 12. As shown in Figure 15. the longitudinal channel 48 is disposed in the support post 12 such that the longitudinal opening 54 is not coincident with the opening 68 in the external surface 13 of the support post 12. A space or recess 70 is defined within the support post 12 between the opening 68 and the longitudinal opening 54. The parts of the securing tabs 66 that protrude from the longitudinal opening 54 are preferably fully accommodated within this recess 70. In this way, the securing tabs 66 do not protrude beyond the external surface 13, or a boundary defined by the external surface 13, of the support post 12.

When the cross member 14 is in the lowered position, as shown in Figures 11 and 12, all of the attachment members 62 are disposed in the lower longitudinal channel 50 of the respective lower member 34. It will be appreciated that with the cross member 14 in a fully lowered position, if there is more than one attachment member 62 attached to each lateral edge 60 of the flexible panel 16, the attachment members 62 will contact each other and stack within the lower longitudinal channel 50, as shown in Figure 11.

In this embodiment, because the securing tabs 66 of the attachment members 62 do not protrude beyond the external surface 13, or a boundary defined by the external surface 13, of the support post 12, it is possible for the annular element 32 to at least partially overlap one of the attachment members 62, as illustrated in Figure 11. This allows the cross member 14 to be lowered to a position in which a distance between the cross member 14 and a line connecting lower ends of the support posts 12 to be minimised. This minimises the overall height of the side rail assembly 10 when in its collapsed configuration.

It will be appreciated, however, that all of the attachment members 62 and the cross member 14 must be accommodated within the height or length of the lower member 34 of the support post 12 when the cross member 14 is in the lowered position. In particular, all of the attachment members 62 and the cross member 14 must be accommodated within the height or length of the lower member 34 below the first hinge portion 40. It is desirable to minimise the height of the lower member 34 as -14 -this minimises the overall height of the side rail assembly 10 when the side rail assembly 10 is in a fully collapsed configuration, as shown in Figures 1, 4 and 7. Accordingly, there is a balance between increasing the number of attachment members 62 to minimise gaps between the flexible panel 16 and the support post 12, and reducing the number of attachment members 62 to decrease the height of the lower member 34. In this embodiment two attachment members 62 attached to each lateral edge 60 of the flexible panel 16 has been found to be optimum.

In operation the side rail assembly 10 is moveable between a fully collapsed configuration, a lowered configuration and a raised configuration.

In the fully collapsed configuration the cross member 14 is in the lowered position and the upper members 36 of the support posts 12 are in their lowered positions. In this configuration, each annular element 32 is disposed around the respective lower member 34 and the upper members 36 extend in opposite directions towards each other and extend over the cross member 14. The upper members 36 may contact a surface of the cross member 14 when the upper members 36 are in the lowered position. When the side rail assembly 10 is secured to a bed frame (not shown) it is desirable if the bed rail assembly 10 does not protrude above an upper surface of a mattress supported by the bed frame when the bed rail assembly 10 is in the fully collapsed configuration. This allows a person to get in and out of bed without being obstructed by the side rail assembly 10.

In the lowered configuration the cross member 14 is in the lowered position and the upper members 36 of the support posts 12 are in their raised positions. Each of the support posts 12 may include a latching mechanism to retain the upper members 36 in the raised position; however, preferably, the upper members 36 are retained in the raised position due to friction between the first hinge portion 40 and the second hinge portion 42.

To raise the cross member 14 to its raised position the cross member 14 is preferably provided with one or more handles 74, which a user may grab to pull the -15 -cross member 14 upwards. In this embodiment the cross member 14 includes two handles 74 spaced apart along a length of the cross member 14.

With the support posts 12 in their raised position, a user may use the handles 74 of the cross member 14 to raise the cross member 14 from its lowered position to its raised position. It will be understood that in raising the cross member 14, the flexible panel 16 is extended such that the flexible panel 16 substantially fills the space between the support posts 12 below the cross member 14. The side rail assembly 10 is then in its raised configuration.

To retain the cross member 14 in its raised position the side rail assembly 10 preferably includes a locking mechanism 76. The looking mechanism 76 is arranged to releasably hold the cross member 14 proximate upper ends of the support posts 12. In this embodiment a locking mechanism 76 is disposed in an upper region of each of the support posts 12. The locking mechanism 76 comprises a retaining pin 78 that is moveable between an extended position, shown in Figures 17 and 18, and a retracted position, shown in Figure 19. In the extended position an end 80 of the retaining pin 78 protrudes from the support post 12. In the retracted position the end 80 of the retaining pin 78 does not protrude from the support post 12. The retaining pin 78 may be fully housed within the support post 12 in the retracted position.

As shown most clearly in Figure 17, each end of the cross member 14 includes a passage or recess 82 for receiving the end 80 of the retaining pin 78. The recess 82 is preferably provided in the engagement element 30. In this embodiment, the internal surface 33 of the annular element 32 includes the recess 82 for receiving the retaining pin 78. With the end 80 of the retaining pin 78 engaged in the recess 82, the cross member 14 is unable to return to the lowered position and is retained in the raised position.

In this embodiment the retaining pin 78 is biased into the extended position. The locking mechanism 76 preferably includes a biasing member, such as a spring (not -16 -shown), that is arranged to urge the retaining pin 78 into the extended position. The spring may be disposed around a part of the retaining pin 78 or the spring may be disposed between a rear end 84 of the retaining pin 78 and a part of the support post 12, for example in a spring housing 86.

As shown most clearly in Figures 17 and 18, in this embodiment the end 80 of the retaining pin 78 includes a chamfered surface 88. As the cross member 14 is raised from its lowered position, a surface of the cross member 14 contacts the chamfered surface 88. Due to the angle of the chamfered surface 88, continued movement of the cross member 14 in an upwards direction causes the retaining pin 78 to move towards its retracted position. When the retaining pin 78 is aligned with the recess 82 in the cross member 14, the retaining pin 78 is urged back into the extended position to engage in the recess 82. In this embodiment it is a surface of the engagement element 30 or annular element 32 that contacts and applies a force to the retaining pin 78.

To release the retaining pin 78 from the recess 82 and allow the cross member 14 to be moved to the lowered position, the locking mechanism 76 comprises a button 90 connected to an actuator 92. The actuator 92 is arranged to apply a force to the retaining pin 78 to move the retaining pin 78 into the retracted position when the button 90 is pressed. The actuator 92 is arranged to move between a released position and an engaged position. In the released position the actuator 92 applies no or minimal force to the retaining pin 78. In the engaged position the actuator 92 applies a force to the retaining pin 78 to urge the retaining pin 78 in a direction towards its retracted position. The retaining pin 78 preferably includes a projection 94 extending radially outwards from a shaft of the retaining pin 78. In this embodiment the projection 94 is in the form of an angled flange or skirt. The actuator 92 preferably includes a head 96 that engages with the projection 94. In this embodiment the actuator head 96 comprises an angled surface 98 that contacts a surface of the projection 94. When the button 90 is pressed the actuator 92 moves in a first direction into the engaged position, which causes the surface 98 of the actuator head 96 to apply a force to the surface of the projection 94 to move the -17 -retaining pin 78 in a direction towards its retracted position. Preferably the actuator 92 is biased to return to the released position upon release of the button 90. Accordingly, the locking mechanism 76 may include a biasing member (not shown), preferably in the form of a spring, arranged to urge the actuator 92 into the released position.

In other embodiments the locking mechanism may be provided in the cross member. For example, retaining pins may project from ends of the cross member and engage with openings in the support posts. Buttons may be provided on the cross member to retract the retaining pins into the cross member to disengage then from the support posts and allow the cross member to be lowered.

The side rail assembly 10 is preferably removably attached to a bed frame. The side rail assembly 10 therefore preferably comprises at least two attachment arms 100 for securing the side rail assembly 10 to a bed frame. The attachment arms 100 may include clamping elements 102 arranged to clamp a part of the bed frame. In other embodiments the side rail assembly 10 may be permanently attached to a bed frame.

The side rail assembly 10 may additionally include a cover (not shown) arranged to extend over the support posts 12, cross member 14 and flexible panel 16 when the side rail assembly 10 is in the collapsed configuration. The cover may be fully removable when the side rail assembly 10 is in use, or the cover may remain connected to a part of the side rail assembly and may, for example, be hingedly connected to the base member 22 or lower members 34.

In use, to move the side rail assembly from the collapsed configuration to the raised configuration a user firstly raises the upper members 36 of the support posts 12. The user then grips the handles 74 or another part of the cross member 14 and lifts the cross member 14 so that the engagement elements 30 slide up the support posts 12. As the cross member 14 is raised, the flexible panel 16 is also raised and flattens. The attachment members 62 connected to the lateral edges 60 of the -18 -flexible panel 16 slide up the longitudinal channel 48 to retain the lateral edges 60 of the flexible panel 16 in close proximity to the support posts 12. The cross member 14 is raised until the retaining pins 78 engage with the cross member 14. The cross member is then held in the raised position.

To return the side rail assembly 10 to the collapsed position from the raised position, a user presses the buttons 90 to disengage the retaining pins 78. The cross member 14 may then be lowered. As the cross member 14 moves downwardly, the attachment members 62 connected to the lateral edges 60 of the flexible panel 16 slide down the longitudinal channel 48 and the flexible panel 16 collapses or folds below the cross member 14. Once the engagement elements 30 are engaged with the lower members 34 below the first hinge portions 40, the upper members 36 of the support posts 12 can be lowered to lie over the cross member 14.

It will be appreciated that during use of the side rail assembly the upper members 36 of the support posts 12 may remain in their raised positions and the cross member 14 may be simply raised and lowered as desired. In other words, the side rail assembly 10 may just move between the lowered configuration and the raised configuration. When greater or easier access to a person on the bed is required however, for example in the case of an emergency, the support posts 12 can be lowered quickly and easily to gain the necessary access.

Other modifications and variations not explicitly disclosed above may also be contemplated without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the 25 appended claims.

Claims

-19 -CLAIMS1. A side rail assembly for a bed comprising: a pair of upright support posts, each of the support posts comprising: - a lower member, the lower member extending longitudinally between first and second ends, the first end of the lower member including a first hinge portion; and - an upper member, the upper member extending longitudinally between first and second ends, the second end of the upper member including a second hinge portion; a cross member extending between the support posts and being slidably connected at each of its ends to a respective one of the support posts; a flexible panel attached along a first edge to the cross member so as to extend in a lateral direction between the support posts, the flexible panel including opposite first and second lateral edges; and an attachment member connected to each of the first and second lateral edges, a part of each attachment member being slidably engaged with a respective one of the support posts, wherein, the second hinge portion is engaged with the first hinge portion to hingedly connect the upper member to the lower member such that each upper member is movable with respect to the corresponding lower member between a lowered position in which a longitudinal axis of the upper member extends transverse to a longitudinal axis of the lower member and a raised position in which the longitudinal axis of the upper member extends parallel to the longitudinal axis of the lower member, and wherein the cross member is moveable between a lowered position in which the ends of the cross member and the attachment members are engaged with the lower members of the support posts and a raised position in which the ends of the cross member and the attachment members are engaged with the upper members of the support posts.
A side rail assembly as claimed in Claim 1, in which the lower member -20 -includes a lower longitudinal channel, the upper member includes an upper longitudinal channel, and a part of each attachment member is slidably engaged with one of the lower or upper longitudinal channels of a respective one of the support posts, wherein in the raised position the upper longitudinal channel is aligned with the lower longitudinal channel, and wherein with the cross member in the lowered position the attachment members are engaged in the lower longitudinal channel and with the cross member in the raised position the attachment members are engaged in the upper longitudinal channel.
3. A side rail assembly as claimed in Claim 2, in which the lower longitudinal channel is laterally offset from the first hinge portion and the upper longitudinal channel is laterally offset from the second hinge portion.
4. A side rail assembly as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the cross 15 member comprises an annular engagement element at each end of the cross member, each annular engagement element being engaged with and surrounding a respective one of the pair of support posts.
5. A side rail assembly as claimed in any preceding claim, in which each of the attachment members is connected to the lateral edge of the flexible panel in a fixed position on the flexible panel.
6. A side rail assembly as claimed in Claim 2 or Claim 3, in which each of the attachment members comprises a slider slidingly engaged with the longitudinal channel and a securing tab connected to the flexible panel.
7. A side rail assembly as claimed in Claim 6, in which each of the upper longitudinal channel and the lower longitudinal channel include a longitudinal opening, and the securing tab of each of the attachment members protrudes through the longitudinal opening.
A side rail assembly as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the -21 -attachment members are within a boundary defined by an external surface of the support post.
9. A side rail assembly as claimed in Claim 8, in which the external surface of the support post includes an opening extending along a length of the support post, the longitudinal opening of the longitudinal channel is not coincident with the opening in the external surface of the support post, a space within the support post is defined between the longitudinal opening of the longitudinal channel and the opening in the external surface of the support post, and the securing tab of each of the attachment members is disposed in the space.
10. A side rail assembly as claimed in any preceding claim, further comprising a base member extending between the support posts, and in which a second edge of the flexible panel opposite the first edge is connected to the base member.
11. A side rail assembly as claimed in any preceding claim, further comprising at least two attachment arms for releasably securing the side rail assembly to a bed frame.
12. A side rail assembly as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the cross member includes a handle.
13. A side rail assembly as claimed in any preceding claim, further comprising a locking mechanism arranged to releasably retain the cross member in the raised 25 position.
14. A side rail assembly as claimed in Claim 13, in which the locking mechanism comprises a retractable retaining pin and a recess, the retaining pin engaging in the recess when the cross member is in the raised position.
15. A bed comprising: a bed frame; and-a side rail assembly as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 14, the side rail assembly being releasably attached to the bed frame.
16. A bed as claimed in Claim 15, further comprising a mattress supported by the bed frame, wherein the upper members of the support posts do not protrude above an upper surface of the mattress when the upper members are in the lowered position.