MEDICAL FURNITURE COVER AND METHOD OF APPLYING THE SAME

The medical furniture cover includes a plurality of surfaces being formed of a thermoplastic material, the plurality of surfaces including an upper surface and a plurality of side surfaces integral with and extending from the upper surface, the upper and side surfaces being configured to cover corresponding surfaces of a medical furniture. The upper surface is sized to fit the length and the width of the medical furniture, and the cover has an opening opposite the upper surface for fitting the cover over the medical furniture. A periphery of the opening is formed by distal ends of the side surfaces, and an elastic band is attached to the cover and extends along the periphery of the opening for securing the cover to the medical furniture.

BACKGROUND

Aspects of embodiments of the present invention are directed toward a medical furniture cover and a method for applying the cover to medical furniture.

2. Description of Related Art

Covers (e.g., protective covers) are sometimes used by medical personnel to temporarily cover specific high-touch surface areas of medical furniture, such as hospital beds or gurneys. For example, a cover may be placed over a specific part of the hospital bed or gurney, such as a head board, a side rail (e.g., a side arm), a foot board, or a mattress (e.g., areas that are subject to regular and/or repeated human contact). The use of such covers can help avoid the overapplication of cleaning agents and reduce the need for anti-bacterial products.

Because medical furniture is often used by hospital patients, such as how hospital beds or gurneys are often used to support and transport patients undergoing medical treatment for illnesses (e.g., caused by bacterial or viral infections) or for traumatic injuries (e.g., from car accidents or surgery), a patient may excrete bodily fluids onto the medical furniture, such as blood, vomit, feces, urine, saliva, and the like. After use, the medical furniture must be cleaned and sterilized to remove the bodily fluids and make it safe for another patient and the medical personnel. Furthermore, a clean bed may become contaminated with potentially dangerous organisms after being touched by anyone who has not washed their hands first. Ensuring the medical furniture is cleaned and sterilized reduces the probability that medical personnel, a subsequent patient, or passersby will be exposed to any bodily fluids, germs, and/or bacteria present on the medical furniture.

SUMMARY

Aspects of embodiments of the present invention are directed toward a medical furniture cover and a method of using the same.

One embodiment of the present invention provides a medical furniture cover including: a plurality of surfaces being formed of a thermoplastic material, the plurality of surfaces including an upper surface and a plurality of side surfaces integral with and extending from the upper surface. The upper and side surfaces are configured to cover corresponding surfaces of a medical furniture. Two of the side surfaces are sized to fit a width and a height of the medical furniture, two others of the side surfaces are sized to fit a length and the height of the medical furniture, and the upper surface is sized to fit the length and the width of the medical furniture. The cover has an opening opposite the upper surface for fitting the cover over the medical furniture, a periphery of the opening is formed by distal ends of the side surfaces, and an elastic band is attached to the cover and extends along the periphery of the opening for securing the cover to the medical furniture.

The medical furniture may be a hospital bed or a gurney.

The thermoplastic material may include polyethylene.

The thermoplastic material may include chlorinated polyethylene.

The cover may have a thickness between 2 mils and 5 mils.

The cover may include a plurality of grommet holes fitted with grommets for securing the cover to the medical furniture.

The cover may include a plurality of gussets to form a squared profile for securing the cover to the medical furniture.

The cover may include a color from among a color-coding scheme, wherein the color-coding scheme includes at least two colors.

At least a portion of a surface from among the plurality of surfaces of the cover may be transparent to allow a user to see a medical furniture control.

At least one side surface of the cover may be sized to allow a user to access a medical furniture control without removing the cover.

Two of the side surfaces of the cover may be substantially the same size.

Two other side surfaces of the cover may be substantially the same size.

The cover may be infused with an antimicrobial additive solution.

Another embodiment of the present invention provides a cover and hospital bed (or gurney) system including: a hospital bed (or gurney) including a superstructure and an undercarriage supporting the superstructure, the superstructure having a length, a width, and a height; and a cover having an upper surface, a plurality of side surfaces integral with and extending from the upper surface, and an opening opposite the upper surface, a periphery of the opening being formed by distal ends of the side surfaces. The cover includes an elastic band extending along the periphery of the opening. The cover has a length and a width greater than the length and the width of the superstructure such that the cover fits entirely around an upper and side surfaces of the superstructure.

The superstructure may include a deck, a mattress, a foot board, a head board, a plurality of side rails, and controls.

A length and a width of the cover may be respectively greater than a length and a width of the deck.

A height of the cover may be greater than a highest structure from the foot board, the head board, and the plurality of side rails such that the undercarriage extends through the opening in the cover.

The periphery of the opening may not extend beyond a bottom edge of the superstructure.

The cover may be formed of a thermoplastic material.

Another embodiment of the present invention provides a method of covering a medical furniture with a cover having an upper surface, a plurality of side surfaces integral with and extending from the upper surface, and an opening opposite the upper surface, a periphery of the opening formed by distal ends of the side surfaces. The method includes: applying a portion of the periphery of the opening closest to one of the side surfaces of the cover around a portion of the medical furniture; spreading the one of the side surfaces of the cover over the medical furniture; spreading the upper surface and other ones of the side surfaces of the cover over a remainder of the medical furniture; and securing an entirety of the periphery of the opening around a perimeter of the medical furniture.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present invention will now be described more fully with reference to the accompanying drawings in which example embodiments of the invention are shown. Like reference numerals in the figures denote like elements throughout and redundant descriptions thereof may be omitted.

It will be understood that when an element is referred to as being “on,” “connected to,” or “coupled to” another element, it may be directly on, connected, or coupled to the other element or one or more intervening elements may also be present. When an element is referred to as being “directly on,” “directly connected to,” or “directly coupled to” another element, there are no intervening elements present. As used herein, the term “and/or” includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items. Furthermore, the use of “may” when describing embodiments of the present invention relates to “one or more embodiments of the present invention.”

As used herein, the term “substantially” refers to normal variations that occur due to, for example, manufacturing tolerances. Furthermore, the terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular example embodiments only and is not intended to limit the example embodiments described herein. As used herein, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “includes,” “including,” “comprises,” and/or “comprising,” when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof.

With reference toFIGS. 1-7, a medical furniture cover (e.g., a hospital bed cover or gurney cover, referred to throughout this specification as a “cover”)1according to an embodiment of the present invention may have approximately a rectangular shape, when in use, with several continuously interrelated (e.g., interconnected or integrated) surfaces. That is, in some embodiments, a surface may not have a readily identifiable beginning or ending where an adjacent surface begins or ends. Rather, each surface may be more identifiable by referring to the corresponding parts (e.g., components, structures, sections or surfaces) of the underlying medical furniture covered when the cover is in use.

Accordingly, structures of a typical hospital bed9(hereinafter, a “hospital bed,” “bed,” or “gurney”), which is one example of medical furniture as would be understood by one skilled in the art, will be identified to further describe aspects of embodiments of the present invention. A typical hospital bed may include a superstructure900and an undercarriage950. The superstructure900includes many of the structures of the bed that are highly likely to come into contact with contaminants, as well as medical personnel, patients, passersby, or other neighboring structures (e.g., other hospital beds, gurneys, walls, chairs, or dividers). For example, the superstructure900may include a foot board901, a head board902, a side rail (e.g., a side arm)904, a mattress907, a deck908, and an undersurface (e.g., an underside)909. Furthermore, the undersurface909may include a plurality of surfaces from other parts, components, or structures connected thereto. Furthermore, one or more of the superstructure900surfaces may be fitted with electronic or mechanical controls (hereinafter, “controls”)910. The undercarriage950may include many of the parts, components, or structures of the bed that are typically designed to provide support, stability, adjustability, and transportability for the hospital bed or gurney. For example, the undercarriage may include casters951, frame members952, and adjustment members953.

The cover1, according to one embodiment, may have a plurality of surfaces (e.g., five or six surfaces) including an upper surface and four side surfaces extending distally from the upper surface. The plurality of surfaces may be more readily identifiable when the cover is in use, and may include: a front (e.g., a first side) surface200, a rear (e.g., a second side) surface300, a left-side (e.g., a third side) surface400, a right-side (e.g., a fourth side) surface500, a top (e.g., an upper) surface600, and a bottom surface700(e.g., an area of the cover comprising an opening in the cover, opposite the upper surface of the cover, for fitting the cover over medical furniture). When in use, the top surface600is positioned substantially parallel with and opposite to the bottom surface700. When in use, the top and bottom surfaces600and700extend along a length and width direction of the covered superstructure900. That is, the cover1has a length and width defined by (e.g., sufficient to cover) the top and bottom surfaces600and700while the cover1is being used to cover a superstructure900of a hospital bed (or gurney)9. When in use, the front surface200is positioned substantially parallel with and opposite to the rear surface300. When in use, the front and rear surfaces200and300extend along a height and width direction of the covered superstructure900. That is, the cover1has a height and width defined by (e.g., sufficient to cover) the front and rear surfaces200and300while the cover1covers a superstructure900of a hospital bed (or gurney)9. When in use, the left-side surface400is positioned substantially parallel with and opposite to the right-side surface500. When in use, the left-side and right-side surfaces400and500extend along a height and length direction of the covered superstructure900. That is, the cover1has a height and length defined by (e.g., sufficient to cover) the left-side and right-side surfaces400and500while the cover is covering a superstructure900of a hospital bed (or gurney)9.

The cover1is sized to be larger (e.g., slightly larger) than a typical hospital bed (or gurney) superstructure900. However, the cover1is not limited thereto and may be suitably sized to fit other medical furniture. For example, the cover1may be about 94 inches long, about 45 inches wide, and about 20 inches high. However, the present invention is not limited thereto, and the cover1may have a length (e.g., a minimum length), width (e.g., a minimum width) and height (e.g., a minimum height) as follows. The cover1may have a length that is at least as long as a combination of the length of the deck908and the thicknesses of the foot board901and the head board902(e.g., to the extent that the foot board901and head board902add length to the bed9beyond the length of the deck908). The cover1may have a width that is at least as wide as a combination of the width of the deck908and the thicknesses of both a side rail904on the left side of the bed and a side rail904on the right side of the bed (e.g., to the extent that the side rails904add width to the bed9beyond the width of the deck908). Finally, the cover1may have a height that is at least as high as the highest structure from the foot board901, the head board902, and a side rail904as measured from the undersurface909of the superstructure900to the top-most surface of the respective structure from the foot board901, the head board902, and a side rail904.

Because the entire high-touch surface area of the superstructure900of the bed9is covered by the cover1, the cover1reduces the potential spread of contaminants (e.g., harmful pathogens and bacteria) by providing a barrier between many structures of the bed that are highly likely to come into contact with contaminants and the hospital environment. Furthermore, the life of the medical furniture may be extended because the cover1protects the medical furniture from the hospital environment.

To improve operational efficiencies (e.g., the time and effort required for hospital personnel to prepare medical furniture for use by a patient) and to further reduce the risk of cross-contamination and contamination of passersby, the cover1may be provided in an assortment of colors (e.g., color-coded, a color-coding scheme) to allow users to identify and communicate the condition of a particular hospital bed9. For example, a clean (e.g., a disinfected or decontaminated) bed9may be fitted with a green cover1; a soiled (e.g., a contaminated or used) bed9may be fitted with a red cover1; and a bed9having a condition of which the user is uncertain may be fitted with a clear (e.g., an uncolored or neutral colored) cover1.

The overall dimensions of the superstructure900(e.g., the height, the width, the length, and the thickness of the superstructure900) are not substantially increased when the cover1is used to cover the superstructure900. Because the dimensions of the superstructure900are not substantially increased when the cover1is covering the superstructure900, the hospital bed or gurney9may be allocated for cleaning by hospital personnel or allocated for reuse by subsequent patients after cleaning, in the same way as the hospital bed or gurney9would be allocated without the cover1covering the superstructure900.

With reference toFIG. 2, a front surface200of the cover1may have approximately a rectangular shape with rounded top corners213, when in use. For example, a bottom edge208of the front surface200may conform to the shape of a foot board901having a substantially flat bottom edge and rounded top corners. However, the shape of the cover1, when in use, is not limited thereto and may be suitably sized and suitably shaped to fit other foot board styles.

To allow a user to see objects within the hospital bed9and to allow for user access and use of controls910mounted to or housed within the foot board901, the front surface200may be made of a thin plastic material (e.g. a material including plastic alone or a combination of plastic and fiber). For example, any portion of the cover1may be made of a thermoplastic (e.g., formed of a material including thermoplastic), such as Chlorinated Polyethylene (“CPE”), and may have a thickness ranging from about 2 mil to about 4 mil (e.g., from about 0.002 inches to about 0.004 inches). CPE has desirable characteristics, including resistance to heat and oxidation, good anti-aging properties, excellent weatherability, anti-combustion, no self-ignition, good low-temperature flexibility, good endurance to chemicals, good processing ability, good stability, fluid resistant (e.g., impermeable), low environmental impact, and it may be easily shaped. The plastic material may have transparent qualities (e.g., translucent characteristics) that allow a user to see the controls910, and the front surface200may be suitably sized and suitably shaped for sufficient slack (e.g., a relaxed fit) that allows a user to use the controls910without removing the cover1. To more closely match different shapes of foot boards and to have a tighter or looser fit over different superstructures, the cover1may be made (e.g., manufactured, fitted, shaped, modified, or tailored) with different gussets206, near where the front surface200and left-side surface400meet, and near where the front surface200and right-side surface500meet.

With reference toFIG. 3, a rear surface300of the cover1may have approximately a rectangular shape with rounded top corners313, when in use. For example, a bottom edge308of the rear surface300may conform to the shape of a head board902having a substantially flat bottom edge and rounded top corners. However, the shape of the cover1, when in use, is not limited thereto and may be suitably sized and suitably shaped to fit other head board styles.

To allow a user to see objects within the hospital bed9and to allow for user access and use of controls910mounted to or housed within the head board902, the rear surface300may be made of a thin plastic material having transparent qualities (e.g., translucent characteristics) that allow a user to see the controls910, and the rear surface300may be suitably sized and suitably shaped for sufficient slack (e.g., a relaxed fit) that allows a user to use the controls910without removing the cover1. To more closely match different shapes of head boards and to have a tighter or looser fit over different superstructures, the cover1may be made with different gussets306, near where the rear surface300and left-side surface400meet, and near where the rear surface300and right-side surface500meet.

In some embodiments, to be easier to install over the medical furniture, the front and rear surfaces200and300of the cover1may be identical (or substantially the same), such that the cover1does not have different front and rear surfaces. This way, a user can quickly and easily install the cover1over the medical furniture without having to confirm the orientation of the cover1prior to installing it over the medical furniture.

With reference toFIG. 4, a left-side surface400of the cover1may have approximately a rectangular shape with rounding off of a left-side top portion450, when in use. For example, a bottom edge408of the left-side surface400may conform to the shape of a foot board901, a head board902, and a deck908having substantially flat bottom edges, while the left-side top portion450may round inward towards the top surface600. Furthermore, the left-side top portion450may conform to the shape of a side rail904where the left-side top portion450rounds inward towards the top surface600. However, the shape of the cover1, when in use, is not limited thereto and may be suitably sized and suitably shaped to fit other foot board, head board, deck and side rail styles.

To allow a user to see objects within the hospital bed9and to allow for user access and use of controls910mounted to or housed within a side rail904, the left-side surface400may be made of a thin plastic material having transparent qualities (e.g., translucent characteristics) that allow a user to see the controls910, and the left-side surface400may be suitably sized and suitably shaped for sufficient slack (e.g., a relaxed fit) that allows a user to use the controls910without removing the cover1.

With reference toFIG. 5, a right-side surface500of the cover1may have approximately a rectangular shape with rounding off of a right-side top portion550, when in use. For example, a bottom edge508of the right-side surface500may conform to the shape of a foot board901, a head board902, and a deck908having substantially flat bottom edges, while the right-side top portion550may round inward towards the top surface600. Furthermore, the right-side top portion550may conform to the shape of a side rail904where the right-side top portion550rounds inward towards the top surface600. However, the shape of the cover1, when in use, is not limited thereto and may be suitably sized and suitably shaped to fit other foot board, head board, deck and side rail styles.

To allow a user to see objects within the hospital bed9and to allow for user access and use of controls910mounted to or housed within a side rail904, the right-side surface500may be made of a thin plastic material having transparent qualities (e.g., translucent characteristics) that allow a user to see the controls910, and the right-side surface500may be suitably sized and suitably shaped for sufficient slack (e.g., a relaxed fit) that allows a user to use controls910without removing the cover1.

In some embodiments, to be easier to install over the medical furniture, the left-side and right-side surfaces400and500of the cover1may be identical (or substantially the same), such that the cover1does not have different left-side and right-side surfaces. This way, a user can quickly and easily install the cover1over the medical furniture without having to confirm the orientation of the cover1prior to installing it over the medical furniture.

With reference toFIG. 6, a top surface600of the cover1may have approximately a rectangular shape with rounding off into the left-side top portion450and the right-side top portion550, when in use. For example, the top surface600may conform to the shape of a foot board901, a head board902. Furthermore, the top surface600may conform indirectly to the shape of one or more side rails904through the left-side top portion450and/or the right-side top portion550.

To allow a user to see objects within the hospital bed9and to allow for user access and use of controls910mounted to or housed within the foot board901or the head board902, the top surface600may be made of a thin plastic material having transparent qualities (e.g., translucent characteristics) that allow a user to see the controls910, and the top surface600may be suitably sized and suitably shaped for sufficient slack (e.g., a relaxed fit) that allows a user to use the controls910without removing the cover1.

With reference toFIG. 7, a bottom surface700of the cover1may have approximately a rectangular shape conforming to the shape of an undersurface909of the hospital bed9. The undersurface909may include a plurality of surfaces from other parts, components, or structures connected thereto. For example, the shape of the bottom surface700may conform to the shape of a combination of undersides of a foot board901, a head board902, a deck908, and structures from the undercarriage950connected to the undersurface909(e.g., frame members952or adjustment members953).

The bottom surface700may have an opening750defined by an area of the undersurface909that is left uncovered by the cover1. Accordingly, the bottom surface700may have a rim (e.g., a periphery of the opening750that is formed by the distal ends of the four side surfaces200,300,400, and500)760defined by the material of the cover extending toward or beyond the bottom edges of the superstructure900(e.g., the edges of the superstructure corresponding to the bottom edges208,308,408, and508of the cover) and to the opening750. To secure (e.g., to fasten, fix, cause to stay in place, or attach) the cover1to the superstructure900, an elastic band (e.g., a cord or a string)11may be applied to (e.g., sewn into, fitted to, inserted through, or attached to) the rim760near and around the perimeter of the opening750. Because the elastic band provides a slight tension (e.g., a gripping, grappling, or clinging) around (e.g., near) the bottom edges of the superstructure900, the cover1does not interfere with the casters951and/or adjustment members953of the undercarriage950and the bed9remains mobile and adjustable while covered. Furthermore, liquid spilled onto the outer surfaces of the cover, when the cover is in use, will be more likely to roll off of the cover.

To allow a user to see objects on the undersurface909and to allow for user access and use of controls910mounted to or housed within the undersurface909, the bottom surface700may be made of a thin plastic material having transparent qualities (e.g., translucent characteristics) that allow a user to see the controls910, and the bottom surface700may be suitably sized and suitably shaped for sufficient slack (e.g., a relaxed fit) that allows a user to use the controls910without removing the cover1.

Referring toFIGS. 8A-8C, in another embodiment, the cover1may be secured to the superstructure900by using grommet holes fitted with grommets808instead of (or in addition to) an elastic band. For example, the cover1may be fitted with grommet holes fitted with grommets808near the sides and corners of the cover1along and near the bottom edges208,308,408, and508. Referring toFIGS. 8B-8C, the grommet holes fitted with grommets808may allow a user to secure connections (e.g., with bands, cords, or ropes) through and/or across the grommet holes fitted with grommets808to customize the tightness of the fit between the cover1and the hospital bed9. Referring toFIGS. 8A-8B, in some embodiments, the cover1may have grommet holes fitted with grommets808fitted near and around the rim760. Referring toFIG. 8C, in some embodiments, the rim760may not extend beyond the bottom edges of the superstructure900. Nevertheless, connections may still be made between grommet holes fitted with grommets808near the bottom edges208,308,408, and508on surfaces200,300,400, and500of the cover1.

In one embodiment, the cover1may be secured to the superstructure900by using a heavier weighted material instead of (or in addition to) an elastic band, the heavier material allowing the cover1to hang freely but securely by its own weight. For example, a heavier weighted material may be made of a thermoplastic, such as CPE, and may have a thickness ranging from about 3 mil to about 5 mil (e.g., from about 0.003 inches to about 0.005 inches). In some embodiments, a weight (e.g., a bean bag, etc.) may be fused into the lower edges of the cover1. Furthermore, in some embodiments, a length of the rim760may be made short enough so as not to interfere with the casters951and/or adjustment members953of the undercarriage950so that the bed9remains mobile and adjustable while covered.

Referring toFIG. 9, in one embodiment, the cover1may be secured to the superstructure900by using more squared gussets206and306instead of (or in addition to) an elastic band. For example, the gussets206and306may be designed with a more squared profile (e.g., an outline) to allow the cover1to grip the shape of the superstructure900more tightly.

In one embodiment, the cover1may be infused with an antimicrobial additive solution (e.g., embedded antimicrobials) during the manufacturing process. Furthermore, chemicals used in the embedding of antimicrobial material into the cover1may be selected to be safe for human contact.

Referring toFIG. 10, the cover1may be easily fitted over the superstructure900without using tools. A user may apply a portion of the rim760of the cover1closest to a particular side or end surface of the cover1to a portion of the undersurface909closest to the corresponding hospital bed9structure. For example, the user may position the portion of the rim760closest to the front surface200of the cover1to the undersurface909closest to the foot board901. The user may then spread the chosen side or end surface of the cover1out over the corresponding hospital bed9structure. For example, the user may spread the front surface200out over the foot board901. The user may then spread the remaining surfaces of the cover1out over their corresponding hospital bed9structures, while being careful to prevent the outer material of the cover1from touching any contaminants. For example, the user may spread the left-side surface400and the right-side surface500out over their respective side rails904; the user may also spread the rear surface300out over the head board902; the user may then ensure the cover1is secured to the superstructure900of the bed9by applying the entire rim760around the perimeter of the undersurface909.

Referring toFIG. 11, a user may apply a portion of the rim760closest to a particular side or end surface of the cover1to an upper portion of the corresponding hospital bed9structure. For example, the user may apply a portion of the rim760closest to the front surface200of the cover1to an upper portion of the foot board901. The user may then spread the remaining surfaces of the cover1out, while being careful to prevent the outer material of the cover1from touching any contaminants, and apply a portion of the rim760closest to a side or end surface of the cover1opposite to the previously chosen side or end surface of the cover1to its corresponding hospital bed9structure. For example, the user may apply a portion of the rim760closest to the rear surface300of the cover1to an upper portion of the head board902. The user may then ensure the remaining rim760portions closest to the remaining surfaces of the cover1are aligned to fit over their respective hospital bed9structures and carefully slide the cover1down so that each respective surface of the cover1completely covers its corresponding hospital bed9structure. For example, the user may ensure the left-side surface400and the right-side surface500are aligned to fit over their respective side rails904and carefully slide the cover1down so that the front200, rear300, left-side400, and right-side500surfaces each cover their respective hospital bed9structures and the top surface600comes to rest against the highest structure from the foot board901, the head board902, and a side rail904as measured from the undersurface909of the superstructure900to the top-most surface of the respective structure from the foot board901, the head board902, and a side rail904.

Referring toFIGS. 12A-12C, the cover1may be easily removed from the superstructure900without tools. Referring toFIGS. 12A-12B, when the cover1has been in use and in contact with or in close proximity to bodily fluids or other contaminants, the user may carefully remove the cover1from the bed9by gently pulling a portion of the rim760closest to a particular side or end surface of the cover1away from the superstructure900and furling (e.g., rolling up or folding up) the rim760into the inside of the particular side or end surface of the cover1so that any contaminants that may have touched the inner surface of the cover1remain on the inside of the rolled up cover1. For example, the user may pull a portion of the rim760closest to the front surface200of the cover1away from the superstructure900and roll it into the front surface200of the cover. The user may then pull the remaining portions of the rim760closest to the remaining sides and end surfaces away from the superstructure900, while being careful to prevent the outer material of the cover1from touching any contaminants, and furling the remaining portions of the rim760into the inside of their closest respective sides and end surfaces. Thereby, the user may ensure contaminants are not spilled or projected onto other surfaces intended to be kept clean and free from contamination.

Referring toFIG. 12C, once the cover1has been removed from the superstructure900, the cover1can be disposed of by, for example, placing it in a waste basket specifically for medical waste. Because the cover1is composed of a thin, flexible plastic material, the cover1can be rolled up into, for example, a ball shape with the surface of the cover1that was in contact with contaminants facing inside the ball shape, thereby ensuring the user and/or others do not come into contact with the contaminants that may have transferred to the interior surface of the cover1.

The cover1may be manufactured according to the following process. A raw polyethylene solution (e.g., a CPE solution) may be prepared and placed into a machine configured to blow a sheet of polyethylene into a large roll. A non-woven material may then be applied to the blown polyethylene material. The material may then be machine cut into sections having the individual cover dimensions. The gussets may then be made. The elastic may then be applied. The individual covers may then be wound into individual rolls, bound, and placed into product packaging with multiple covers per package.

While the present invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to some example embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that various changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention as set forth in the following claims and their equivalents.