Beds – Sofa bed – Reverting back
Patent
1989-02-14
1990-07-17
Trettel, Michael F.
Beds
Sofa bed
Reverting back
5 61, 5 66, 5 80, 5433, 5446, A61G 706
Patent
active
049412213
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a body supporting apparatus.
Persons who are bedridden may suffer great discomfort and anxiety owing to their confinement.
The discomfort may be alleviated to some extent periodically by moving the person between a supine position in which the person lies flat on his or her back and a reclining position in which the back of the person is elevated. Changing between supine and reclining positions is particularly troublesome for those persons who cannot move themselves and, in such cases, requires the aid of at least one attendant person. As the patient is required to be manhandled during such movement, the process may be painful for the patient and may expose the attendant person to risk of injury and, in particular back strain.
The anxiety generally arises from a state of helplessness which bedridden persons perceive to exist owing to their reliance on other people to assist them with various tasks including changes in position in bed.
The present invention seeks to provide a body supporting apparatus which provides assistance to a person supported on the apparatus in moving between supine and reclining positions, preferably to such an extent that such movement can be accomplished without assistance from another person.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
One form the invention resides in a body supporting apparatus comprising a supporting surface having a longitudinal axis, the supporting surface including a first section extending transversely of the longitudinal axis, said first section being arranged for articulatory movement whereby the supporting surface can assume a first attitude for supporting the body of a person in a generally supine position and a second attitude for supporting the body of a person in a reclining position with said first section supporting the back of the body, and means for effecting articulatory movement of said first section.
Preferably, the supporting surface includes a second section extending transversely of the longitudinal axis, said second section being located adjacent said first section and arranged for articulatory movement relative thereto whereby when the supporting surface assumes said second attitude said second section is arranged to support the posterior and thighs of the body, and wherein said means for effecting articulatory movement of said first section also effects articulatory movement of said second section.
Preferably, said means for effecting articulatory movement of said sections is operable pneumatically. Such pneumatically operable means may comprise a first inflatable chamber positioned between said first section and an understructure and a second inflatable chamber positioned between said second section and said understructure, and further comprising means for selectively admitting and expelling pneumatic fluid into and from said inflatable chambers.
Preferably, said supporting surface further includes a third section for supporting the lower legs of the body of a person occupying the apparatus when the supporting surface assumes said second attitude.
Preferably, said supporting surface further includes a fourth section for supporting the underside of the feet of the body of a person occupying the apparatus when the supporting surface assumes said second attitude.
Preferably, said pneumatically operable means includes a further inflatable chamber positioned between the fourth section and said understructure.
Preferably, the fourth transverse section of the support surface is linked to said second transverse section so that the fourth transverse section is drawn towards the second transverse section on articulatory movement of the transverse sections when the support surface moves from the first attitute to the second attitude.
Preferably, the inflatable chambers are each in the form of a bellows.
In addition to enabling the body of a person to be moved between supine and reclining positions, it is desirable that the person be periodically moved from the supine position into one side position and then
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patent: 3006623 (1971-09-01), Aymar
patent: 3195151 (1965-07-01), Boyer
patent: 3485240 (1986-12-01), Fountain
patent: 3678520 (1972-07-01), Evans
patent: 3781928 (1974-11-01), Swallert
patent: 4127906 (1978-12-01), Zur
patent: 4287620 (1981-09-01), Fur
patent: 4517693 (1985-05-01), Viesturs
patent: 4639960 (1987-02-01), Quillen et al.
Butcher Ian Donald
Kanzler Graham Leslie Bernard
Trettel Michael F.
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