Beds – Mattress – Having confined gas
Reexamination Certificate
2002-10-08
2004-12-14
Luu, Teri Pham (Department: 3673)
Beds
Mattress
Having confined gas
C005S710000, C005S933000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06829797
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND-DISCUSSION OF PRIOR ART
The prior arts are separately directed to methods for a massaging mattress, or increasing contour adjusting ability of a mattress. Review of the literature did not reveal any single mattress that offers both massage and adaptation to the shape or topography of a resting body. The topography and contour-adjusting quality of a mattress is the ability of the top layer of the mattress to mold to the contour and topography of the contact surface of a resting body. Numerous mattress designs and filling materials are employed to achieve these criteria. In a conventional mattress, segments of a flexible resting body sink into the mattress according to the weight they apply onto the mattress. For example the pelvis segment sinks into the mattress deeper than the waist segment because it is heavier. The difference in the depth of the sinking of the body segments due to the weight causes lateral curving of the spinal column. This results to stretching of some of the soft tissues such as: muscles, ligaments, joint capsules, and tendons. At the same time it causes compression of some of the joints associated with the spinal column. Due to the difference in the depth of sinking of the body segments, it is the resting body that has to adapt to the mattress surface, not vice versa. Compression and stretching of the tissues and joints during the resting time can result into the morning soreness and stiffness.
The ideal mattress is the one that maintains the natural alignment of the spinal column and distributes the weight of the resting body evenly over the entire contact surface of the mattress and the resting body. The present invention is designed to offer these unique features. The resting surface of the present mattress is composed of the plurality of discrete bases of hollow vertical columns. Under an applied pressure, each of these vertical columns can independently deform; thus the mattress can adjust to the contour and topography of the resting body. The pressure inside of vertical columns remains equal at all times, since the hollow spaces of the vertical columns are interconnected. Hence the upward pressure by the vertical columns unto the resting body will remain equal at all times. This means that the weight of a resting body will be equally divided over all the vertical columns that lie under it. This prevents decubitus wound formation in prolonged bed-rest patients. Optionally, the mattress can be designed to provide a massaging action. To achieve massaging action, pressure inside some of the vertical columns will be increases, at the same time the pressure inside another set (s) of the vertical columns will be decreased. Alteration of the pressure change in the vertical columns will provide the massaging action. These unique features of the present invention distinguish it from the previous ones. The following patents are found to be pertinent to the present invention:
MATTRESS ASSEMBLY FOR PREVENTION AND TREATMENT OF DECUBITUS ULCERS (John R. P; Michael N. Gold; Saadia M. Schorr, and Jack Gorby, U.S. Pat. No. 4,944,060, Filed Mar. 3, 1989) is a mattress with a base support, mattress core and a top layer. The top layer consists of a plurality of discrete air cells extending over the width of the mattress. The mattress is equipped with a controlling unit that regulates the pressure within individual cells or group of cells. The air cells in this mattress are extended over the width of the mattress; thus it is different from the present invention. Since the air cells are extended over the width of the mattress, it does not adapt to the contour and topography of the resting body in such an extent the present invention does, nor does the mattress provide the massaging action.
INTEGRATED MATRIX BEDDING SYSTEM (Robert D. Leventhal and Paul B. Thomas, U.S. Pat. No. 5,836,027, Filed Apr. 25, 1997) structurally is the closest mattress to the present invention. This mattress consists of two flexible top and bottom layers. The bottom layer consists of spaced-apart cylinders filled with air. The top layer is made up of foam that has vertical cavities in which the air cylinders of the bottom layer reside. The function of the vertical cavities of the top layer is to prevent lateral displacements of the air cylinders of the bottom layer. The resting surface of the mattress consists of a foam layer and the top surface of the air cylinders of the bottom layer. This mattress does not provide the massaging action either.
AUTOMATED PRESSURE RELIEF MATTRESS SUPPORT SYSTEM (John W. Wilkinson and Richard W. Rabum, U.S. Pat. No. 5,487,196, Filled Jan. 10, 1994) is an air mattress composed of a plurality of longitudinal air cells or air tubes that are connected to a pressurized air source. This mattress can be actively or passively activated to roll a patient from side to side. With regard to the contour and topography adjustment, this mattress shares feature with the invention of John R. P; Michael N. Gold; Saadia M. Schorr, and Jack Gorby, and does not offer massaging action.
METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR ALTERING PRESSURE OF A LOW AIR LOSS PATIENT SUPPORT SYSTEM (John H. Verzalik, U.S. Pat. No. 5,003,654, Filled Sep. 28, 1998) is a low air-loss mattress with two sets of rectangular air cells. The air cells are connected to a pressurized air source. By altering the air pressure in the sets of air bags, patient can be rolled from one side to the other side. Since the air cells are extended over the width of the mattress, this invention does not emphasize on the contour and topography adjustment as the present invention does. Also this invention does not provide massaging action.
AIR SUPPORT MATTRESS OVERLAY WITH FITTED SHEET MOUNTING (Miller, Sr. and Craig S., U.S. Pat. No. 5,745,941, Filed Feb. 13, 1997) is an inflated overlay that cab be placed on top of a mattress. The device has a base sheet that on the top has secured inflated elements extending over the width of the mattress. The overlay can be folded or rolled for transportation. This mattress differs from the present invention, since it does not adjust to the topography and contour of the resting body and does not offer massaging action either.
AIR MATTRESS FOR MODULATING RIDDEN POSITIONES (Wu; Shan-Chie), U.S. Pat. No. 5,966,762, Filed Jul. 1, 1998) is a mattress with a plurality of inflatable sacs extending to the width of the bed. These sacs are positioned in a mattress envelope. The sacs can be inflated or deflated for cushioning a patient. A plurality of the longitudinally positioned air cells is used to roll the patient from one side to other side. The longitudinally positioning of the air cells in this mattress is in contrast to the present invention in which the resting surface of the mattress is provided by the collection of bases of the air cells, hence these two inventions function in two different ways.
MASSAGING SYSTEM HAVING ISOLATED VIBRATORS (Sleichter C, U.S. Pat. No. 6,053,880, Filed Apr. 25, 2000) employs multiple motorized vibrators to provide massaging action in a vehicle seat. The disadvantages of using vibrators in a mattress include noise, vibration, and inability of the coverage of the entire resting surface.
MASSAGING MATTRESS (Chan H, U.S. Pat. No. 5,168,588, Filed Dec. 8, 1992) utilizes an elastic-stuffing material and a mattress covering. Wooden beads alternated with magnets are located between these two layers. The beads are connected via ropes to form a net. Rolling of the beads provides massaging action. Two major disadvantages are associated with this invention. First, the beads can not contact the pelvis segment and the waist segment with the same intensity due to lack of ability of the mattress to adjust to the topography of the resting body. Second, the movement of the beads will aggravate the sore spots of the body.
ROLLING-MASSAGING MATTRESS OR CUSHION (Chan H, U.S. Pat. No. 5,416,936, Filed May 23, 1995) introduced a layered mattress. Magnetic beads and balls are located between the top covering layer and the intermediate layer. Rolling of the balls and magnetic beads provi
Conley Fredrick
Luu Teri Pham
Partian Syrus Jacob
LandOfFree
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