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A lifting mechanism is disclosed for a bed deck having a top surface where a user may lie thereon and a bottom surface. The bed deck is rotatably mounted to a bed platform having a recessed storage area. The bed deck can be moved from a horizontal to a non-horizontal position. The lifting mechanism

A lifting mechanism is disclosed for a bed deck having a top surface where a user may lie thereon and a bottom surface. The bed deck is rotatably mounted to a bed platform having a recessed storage area. The bed deck can be moved from a horizontal to a non-horizontal position. The lifting mechanism is at least partially disposed in the recessed storage area and includes a torsion bar having a first end and a second end; a cam follower rigidly mounted to the torsion bar proximal to the first end; an anchor arm rigidly mounted to the torsion bar proximal to the second end; a mechanism for mounting the torsion bar with the bed platform; and a cam mounted to the bottom surface of the bed deck.

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What is claimed is: 1. A lifting mechanism (100) for a bed deck (200), the bed deck (200) being rotatably mounted to a bed platform (202) for movement of the bed deck (200) from a substantially horizontal to a non-horizontal position, comprising: a torsion bar (106) having a first end (108) and a s

What is claimed is: 1. A lifting mechanism (100) for a bed deck (200), the bed deck (200) being rotatably mounted to a bed platform (202) for movement of the bed deck (200) from a substantially horizontal to a non-horizontal position, comprising: a torsion bar (106) having a first end (108) and a second end (112) and defining an axis (105); a cam follower (104) mounted on the torsion bar (106) proximal to the first end (108); an anchor arm (110) mounted on the torsion bar (106) proximal to the second end (112); and a cam (102) mounted to the bed deck (200); and a force adjusting screw (154) threadably mounted to the bed platform (202); wherein a torsional force applied to the torsion bar (106) by rotation of the cam follower (104) about the axis (105) of the torsion bar (106), relative to a position of the anchor arm (110), is transferred by the cam follower (104) to the cam (102) to provide a biasing force to the bed deck (200) in the direction of rotation, to move the bed deck (200) from a substantially horizontal to a non-horizontal position; and wherein rotation of the force adjusting screw (154) changes the angle of the anchor arm (110) relative to the position of the cam follower (104) to adjust the biasing force applied to the bed deck (200). 2. A lifting mechanism (100) for a bed deck (200), the bed deck (200) being rotatably mounted to a bed platform (202) for movement of the bed deck (200) from a substantially horizontal to a non-horizontal position, comprising: a torsion bar (106) having a first end (108) and a second end (112) and defining an axis (105); a cam follower (104) mounted on the torsion bar (106) proximal to the first end (108); an anchor arm (110) mounted on the torsion bar (106) proximal to the second end (112); and a cam (102) mounted to the bed deck (200); at least one boss (124) integral to the cam follower (104); at least one boss (126) integral to the anchor arm (110); at least one mounting block (115) in proximity to the first end (108) having a central hole (117) therethrough; a sleeve bearing (130) fit within the central hole (117) of the at least one mounting block (115) and having an inner diameter sized to receive the at least one boss (124) of the cam follower (104); a mounting plate (116) having a central hole (119) therethrough; a sleeve bearing (131) fit within the central hole (119) of the mounting plate (116) and having an inner diameter sized to receive the at least one boss (126) of the anchor arm (110); a first bracket (156) to which the at least one mounting block (115) is mounted; and a second bracket (158) to which the mounting plate (116) is mounted; wherein a torsional force applied to the torsion bar (106) by rotation of the cam follower (104) about the axis (105) of the torsion bar (106), relative to a position of the anchor arm (110), is transferred by the cam follower (104) to the cam (102) to provide a biasing force to the bed deck (200) in the direction of rotation, to move the bed deck (200) from a substantially horizontal to a non-horizontal position. 3. The lifting mechanism (100) of claim 2, wherein the torsion bar (106), the cam follower (104) and the anchor arm (110) are mounted to the bed platform (202). 4. The lifting mechanism (100) of claim 2, wherein the torsion bar (106), the cam follower (104) and the anchor arm (110) are mounted to the bed deck (200). 5. The lifting mechanism (100) of claim 4, wherein the cam (102) is mounted to the bed platform (202). 6. The lifting mechanism (100) of claim 2, wherein the cam (102) has an engaging surface (138) that is contacted by the cam follower (104) to transfer the torsional force to the cam (102) as a point load, such that as the bed deck (200) is rotated to a non-horizontal position the point load is reduced to suspend the bed deck (200) in force equilibrium. 7. The lifting mechanism (100) of claim 1, further comprising: a vertical brace (160) affixed to the bed platform (202) and positioned between the first bracket (156) and the second bracket (158); and a channel brace (162) affixed to the bed platform (202) and positioned to abut the first bracket (156) and the second bracket (158). 8. A lifting mechanism (100) for a bed deck (200) rotatably mounted to a bed platform (202), for movement of the bed deck (200) from a substantially horizontal to a non-horizontal position, comprising: a rotating means for rotating with a first end (108) of a torsion bar (106) to induce a force into the bed deck (200); an affixing means for affixing a second end (112) of the torsion bar (106) to the bed platform (202); a limiting means for limiting the rotation of the rotating means; and an adjusting means for adjusting the force induced into the bed deck (200) wherein the force induced into the bed deck (200) moves the bed deck (200) from the substantially horizontal position to the non-horizontal position. 9. The lifting mechanism (100) of claim 8, wherein the affixing means is an anchor arm (110). 10. The lifting mechanism (100) of claim 8, wherein the rotating means is a cam follower (104). 11. The lifting mechanism (100) of claim 8, wherein the limiting means is a cam (102). 12. The lifting mechanism (100) of claim 8, wherein the adjusting means is a force adjusting screw (154). 13. A method for manufacturing a lifting mechanism (100) for a bed deck (200) rotatably mounted to a bed platform (202), for movement of the bed deck (200) from a substantially horizontal to a non-horizontal position, comprising: affixing an anchor arm (110) to the bed platform (202); mating a first end (108) of a torsion bar (106) with a cam follower (104); integrating a second end (112) of the torsion bar (106) to the anchor arm (110); interfacing the cam follower (104) with a loading cam mounted to the bed deck (200) to induce a load in the torsion bar (106) and rotate the cam follower (104); securing the cam follower (104) in a loaded position; replacing the loading cam with a cam (102); and rotatably attaching the bed deck (200) to the bed platform (202). 14. The method of claim 7, wherein securing further comprises positioning a pin (170) in close proximity to the cam follower (104) to secure the cam follower (104) in the loaded position. 15. The method of claim 7, wherein the anchor arm (110), torsion bar (106) and cam follower (104) are mounted to the bed deck (200), and further wherein the loading cam and cam (102) are mounted to the bed platform (204).