Patent attributes
A bed is described having a support member for supporting an individual thereon; a base member configured to support the support member above a surface; a primary height adjusting mechanism operable to adjust the height of the support member with respect to the base member. The primary height adjusting mechanism includes an arrangement of a plurality of link arms drivably coupled to one or more actuators which raises the support frame member. During raising of the support frame member from its lowermost position to its fully raised position there is an initial lifting stage when the lifting force applied by the associated actuator to the arrangement of link arms acts at a shorter distance from a fulcrum of the arrangement of link arms to the support frame and therefore with a greater moment of force than during a later stage of lifting movement. A secondary height adjusting mechanism is operable to adjust the height of the base member with respect to the surface.
