Detachable side panel for beds

July 4, 1939.

2,164,484

J. A. WOLFE

DETACHABLE SIDE PANEL FOR BEDS Filed March 10, 1937

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Patented July 4, 1939

2,164,484

UNlTfflD STATES PATENT > OFFICE

2,164,484

DETACHABLE SIDE PANEL FOR BEDS ''

Joseph A. Wolfe, Seattle, Wash.

Application March 10, 1937, Serial No. 130,038

Claims,

This* invention relates to a readily attachable and detachable side panel for a bed and the primary objects of this invention are to provide a side pdnel Of this hatlife which is very simple and 5 inexpensive in construction, which is strong, substantial and efficient in operation, which is neat in appearance and light in weight, and one which may very quickly and easily be attached to or detached from a bed of the usual standard 10 type of construction.

Another object of this invention is to provide a side panel of this nature which is adjustable to fit beds of varying lengths within the limited range ordinarily encountered.

Another object is to provide a readily attachable and detachable side panel which is especially well adapted for use in connection with hospital beds or like beds occupied by invalids.

Other and more specific objects of the inven20 tion will be apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing.

In the drawing,

Fig. 1 is a view in elevation of a side panel 25 constructed in accordance with this invention.

Fig. 2 is a similar view in elevation, showing the panel applied to a bed.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view, on a larger scale than Figs. 1 and 2, taken substantially on broken line 30 3—3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a detached perspective view of a bed rail engaging member embodied in the invention.

Like reference numerals designate like parts 35 throughout the several views.

Referring to the drawing, I show a rectangular panel, preferably comprising a top rail 5, a bottom rail 6, two upright end rails 1 and 8 and a plurality of upright rungs 9. Preferably this 40 panel is constructed of relatively light, strong material, such as a good grade of wood, but it will be obvious that various materials may be used and that the form of construction of the panel may be varied. The panel is slighty short45 er than the distance between the head and foot portion of the shortest bed with which it is adapted to be used. Each end rail 7 and 8 is provided about midway between the upper and lower end thereof with a transverse hole 10 extending in a 50 direction parallel to the plane of the panel. A straight shank 11 of a hook member 12 is slidably disposed in each hole 10. Each hook member 12 preferably has a rubber tube ί 3 telescoped thereover to serve as a padding means and prevent 55 scratching and injury to the bed part with which (Cl. 5—331) it comes in contact. A compression spring 14 is provided on each shank 11 inside of the rail Ί or 8 and nut and washer means 15 on the inner end of the shank 11 is provided for engagement by the end of the compression spring 14. This ar- 5 rangement provides hooks which may be moved outwardly to engage with the upright posts 19 and 20 of the head and foot portions respectively of a bed. Also it provides means for resiliently urging the hooks inwardly into engagement with 10 the bed posts 19 and 20.

Two bed rail engaging members are slidably mounted on the lowermost corner portions of the panel. Each bed rail engaging member comprises a straight shank portion 16, an outwardly 15 projecting horizontal portion 17 adapted to rest on the top portion of the side rail 21 of a bed and a downwardly projecting portion 18 adapted to engage the inside of the side rail of the bed and prevent the bottom portion of the panel from 20 being pushed outwardly. The horizontal portions 17 support the panel vertically on the side rail 21 of the bed. Preferably a tubular rubber padding member 22 is telescoped over the portions 18 and 17 to prevent scratching and marring of the side 25 rail 21 with which these portions engage. The straight shank portion 16 of each bed rail engaging member is slidable telescopically in a combined support and guide member 23 which is secured to the bottom rail 6 of the panel adjacent 30 the end thereof. A stop member 24 is provided on the inner end portion of each shank 16 to prevent complete disengagement of the bed rail engaging member from the support and guide 23. The bed rail engaging members are adjust- 35 able longitudinally so that they may be moved to engage with different locations on bed rails and thus avoid interference with obstructions adjacent the ends of said bed rails.

In the use of this device, the panel is very ₄q quickly and easily applied to a bed by hooking the bed rail engaging members over the side rail 21 of a bed and then moving the hooks 12 outwardly and engaging them with the bed posts 19 and 20. The springs 14 retract the hook mem- 45 bers II—12 as soon as said hook members are released. These springs take up all slack and prevent accidental disengagement of the hooks.

This side panel is very quickly and easily applied to, or disengaged from, a bed. It is of 50 especial advantage in hospitals and for use on beds occupied by sick persons where there is danger of the patient rolling or falling out of bed, but it may be applied to substantially any bed having the usual side rails and upright foot and 55

2,164,484 head portion. It is applicable to either side of a bed.

Obviously the size and shape of the panel and other parts may be varied. I find for ordinary 3 use that it is satisfactory to make the panel about sixteen inches wide and about six and onehalf feet long and to provide for from four to six inches movement of each hook member II—12.

The foregoing description and accompanying 10 drawing clearly disclose a preferred embodiment of my invention but it will be understood that this disclosure is merely illustrative and that such changes in the invention may be made as are fairly within the scope and spirit of the 15 following claims.