Beds – Mattress – Sectional with regard to firmness
Reexamination Certificate
1999-07-23
2001-11-06
Browne, Lynne H. (Department: 3628)
Beds
Mattress
Sectional with regard to firmness
C005S740000, C005S657000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06311351
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention concerns mattresses used in the field of health care to provide pressure reduction for the patient. The invention more particularly concerns mattresses for providing adequate pressure point relief to sensitive areas of the patient's body.
2. Discussion of the Background
Conventional mattresses have a number of shortcomings which can result in discomfort and prolonged recovery period for the patient Ideally, mattresses provide the lowest possible pressure on the supported surface of the patient and are able to substantially eliminate the pressure on the supported surface at selected locations on the patient which are most susceptible to pressure sores.
There are a number of devices that reduce pressure to safe levels for patients in bed, but very few that provide adequate reduction and pressure point relief for sensitive areas. Moreover, other surfaces that relieve pressure to levels that restore blood flow and encourage wound healing are usually mechanical laden beds or air floatation mattresses of great expense.
Thus, there is a need for a mattress that is inexpensive and simple in construction, and which also provides substantially uniform pressure on the support surface of a patient's body as well as localized pressure point relief for sensitive areas of the patient's body.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the invention to provide a cushioning device that is inexpensive and simple in construction, and that also applies a substantially uniform pressure to the supported surface of a patient's body as well as localized pressure point relief for sensitive areas of the patient's body.
In one form of the invention the substantially uniform pressure and localized reduced pressure is provided by a pressure point relief system having at least one first foam strip of a predetermined firmness and at least one second foam strip having a firmness greater than that of the first foam strip and positioned adjacent to the first foam strip so as to provide a smooth transition from a surface of the first foam strip to a surface of the second foam-like strip. In addition, at least one foam truss portion is positioned adjacent to the first and second foam strips so as to provide a smooth transition from the surface of the first and second foam strips to a surface of the truss system thereby forming a substantially planar surface having different firmnesses in different areas of the planar surface which correspond to different points of the patient's body.
In another form of the pressure point relief system, the foam truss portion comprises a piece of foam material having a plurality of cut-outs that extend there-through in a direction perpendicular to the planar surface.
In yet another form of the pressure point relief system, the first foam strip has a firmness of about 8-14 IFD, the second foam strip has a firmness rating of about 27-33 IFD and the truss system has a firmness of about 15-21 IFD.
In still another form of the invention, the substantially uniform pressure and localized reduced pressure is provided in a localized pressure point relief mattress. The mattress has a base layer and a pressure point relief layer attached to a top side of the base layer and having a first foam-like strip of a predetermined firmness centered between and in smooth surface transition with two second foam strips having a firmness greater than that of the first foam strip, the pressure point relief layer sized and positioned so as to be aligned with the base layer. A truss portion abutting an edge of the aligned base layer and pressure point relief layer is provided so as to form a substantially planar top surface and a perimeter to which is attached a sidewall portion so as to form a substantially planar mattress surface. A cushion portion is then positioned to substantially cover the mattress surface.
In another form of the mattress, the cushion portion is made of an intermediate layer in direct contact with the mattress surface and having a firmness of about 11-15 IFD, and a top layer attached to the intermediate layer and having a firmness of about 4-10 IFD.
In yet another form of the mattress, the sidewall portion has a firmness of about 60 IFD.
Thus Applicant's invention provides a cushioning device having a substantially planar surface and variable firmnesses in different areas of the planar surface that correspond to sensitive areas of the patient's body. This inexpensive and simple construction applies a substantially uniform pressure to the supported surface of a patient's body while also providing localized pressure point relief for sensitive areas of the patient's body.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3521311 (1970-07-01), Cohen
patent: 3604025 (1971-09-01), Mims
patent: 3846857 (1974-11-01), Weinstock
patent: 4335476 (1982-06-01), Watkin
patent: 5231717 (1993-08-01), Scott et al.
patent: 5513402 (1996-05-01), Schwartz
patent: 5953779 (1999-09-01), Schwartz
Browne Lynne H.
Comfortex Health Care Surfaces
Conley Fredrick
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