I looked at a friend's Hill-Rom Care Assist Bed today, which had a permanent lockout condition. I removed the Siderail Control Switch Panel, Part number: 141281 because the lockout switch had no 'tactical" feel. That is to say that the switch would not reset itself. I looked at the switches under a microscope and noted that many of them were not resetting after they were depressed. It appears that they were designed improperly because they should reset themselves after pressure is removed, otherwise they would rely on the combination of force from the 1/4" center button beneath the center of the switch from the back, and the top force from the switch cover to reset them.
I too was able to reset the lockout switch one time by banging on the back of the rail with my fist, but once I depressed the switch again, it remained closed.
Does anyone know whether this issue has been resolved?