Beds – Mattress – Nonplanar top surface
Reexamination Certificate
2000-01-28
2001-07-10
Trettel, Michael F. (Department: 3628)
Beds
Mattress
Nonplanar top surface
C005S731000, C005S736000, C005S738000, C005S739000, C005S740000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06256822
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention generally relates to improved patient support systems and more particularly concerns patient support systems with side bolster features for greater patient safety and control.
Various contoured support surfaces have long been known in the therapeutic patient support field. Some examples of patient support surfaces having plural zones of various support characteristics are shown by commonly owned patents, U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,862,538; 5,025,519; 5,252,278 and 5,580,504.
It is known in the patient support field to provide certain additional features to basic support, such as for aiding and aligning a patient's body on a support surface or otherwise supporting various limbs, such as legs, arms, or a patient's head. Examples of certain alignment devices are shown by commonly owned patents, U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,938,205; 4,233,700; Design Pat. No. D326,976; and Design Pat. No. D355,488. Commonly owned U.S. Pat. No. 4,214,326 includes also a protection apparatus, comprising a cushioning element for residing on the side frame of a hospital bed or the like.
Commonly owned U.S. Pat. No. 5,387,177 discloses an adjustable pediatric incubator nest having foam sidewall members for forming a cradle for the pediatric patient, such as an infant in an intensive care environment. Commonly owned U.S. Design Pat. No. D390,404 discloses a head cradle, likewise having curved side elements for cradling a patient's head. Commonly owned U.S. Design Pat. No. D374,368 discloses a modular back rest unit, having movable side elements for lateral support of a patient's back in an upright position, such as when a patient is seated in a wheelchair.
Another type of mattress pad disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,754,998 is a mattress pad with unitary construction with elevated curved ridges on the sleeping surface so that the sleeper has support for legs or back while sleeping. Such disclosure specifies that the curved ridges should intrude into the sleeping area so as to provide the most support.
The complete disclosures of all of the above-referenced United States Patents are hereby fully incorporated herein by reference.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention recognizes and addresses various of the limitations and problems concerning the safety and control of patients received on therapeutic support surfaces. Thus, broadly speaking, a principal object of this invention is an improved patient support system. More particularly, a main concern is improved safety and control of a patient received on a therapeutic patient support surface.
It is another present object to provide a therapeutic patient support surface with side bolster features which continue to facilitate desired patient ingress and egress under controlled conditions while otherwise aiding retention and control of the patient while resting on the therapeutic support surface.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a composite mattress with maximum sleeping area and while having side bolster supports.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a one-time use side bolster mattress wherein the entire surface of the mattress is sleepable mattress space.
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a mattress with bolster supports with the entire top surface being skin friendly.
Additional objects and advantages of the invention are set forth in, or will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art from, the detailed description herein. Also, it should be further appreciated that modifications and variations to the specifically illustrated, referenced and discussed features or materials hereof may be practiced in various embodiments and uses of this invention without departing from the spirit and scope thereof, by virtue of present reference thereto. Such variations may include, but are not limited to, substitution of equivalent means and features or materials for those shown, referenced or discussed, and the functional, operational, or positional reversal of various parts, or features, or the like.
Still further, it is to be understood that different embodiments, as well as different presently preferred embodiments, of this invention may include various combinations or configurations of presently disclosed features or elements, or their equivalents (including combinations of features or configurations thereof not expressly shown in the figures or stated in the detailed description).
These and other objects of the invention are achieved through the present invention, such as with an exemplary composite mattress. Such exemplary composite mattress may have preferably at least a three-part construction or its equivalents. A mattress core made of resilient material provides a main element of therapeutic patient support. Two bolsters, made of a resilient material which is generally less compressible than the mattress core, are attached to the sides of the core mattress. Each bolster forms two peaks and a saddle therebetween to prevent a patient from rolling off the mattress while still providing deliberate and easy access into and out either side of the mattress. In some alternate embodiments, a saddle on only a single side may be practiced instead. The third component of such exemplary mattress may comprise a topper. One exemplary topper may have a plurality of generally parallel ridges running perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the mattress. Each of such ridges may optionally contain at least one segment formed by generally perpendicular cuts through the ridges. The topper is affixed to the mattress core and the bolsters or supported thereby so that the entire surface of the mattress has a therapeutic effect.
Another exemplary embodiment in accordance with the subject invention relates to an improved patient support system having a main mattress core and first and second side bolsters. In such exemplary embodiment, the main mattress core is generally rectangular and includes resilient foamed material. The mattress core is preferably formed to have lengthwise longitudinal sides and an upper support surface. In such embodiment, the first and second side bolsters are comprised of resilient foam material which is generally less compressible than that of the main mattress core. Such side bolsters are preferably attached to respective of the mattress core longitudinal sides so as to project vertically above the upper support surface of the mattress core for guiding a patient from rolling off of the patient support system. Further in accordance with such exemplary embodiment, preferably at least one of the side bolsters forms a relative central trough by which a patient may more readily egress and ingress the patient support system under controlled conditions.
REFERENCES:
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patent: 5252278 (1993-10-01), Spann et al.
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“NestCare Ultipedic” Brochure (3 pages—undated) by NestCare, a division of Nature's Nest, Inc., Atlanta, Georgia.*
“Saf-T-Side Raised Edge Mattresses” Brochure (1 page—1998 Copyright date) by Medline Industries, Inc., Mundelein, IL.*
“NestCare Ultipedic” Brochure (3 pages—undated) by NestCare, a division of Nature's Nest, Inc., Atlanta, Georgia.
“Saf-T-Side Raised Edge Mattresses”Brochure (1 Page—1998 Copyright date) by
Benedict Joseph A.
Weston Russell J.
Dority & Manning
Span-America Medical Systems, Inc.
Trettel Michael F.
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