Bedclothes support assembly

A bedclothes support assembly maintains bedclothes in an elevated condition over the feet or other part of a person's anatomy. An upper member which extends across the mattress is supported at both ends above the selected part of the anatomy by upright members whose lower ends are supported by one of a variety of structures. The supporting structure may, for example, be a horizontal tongue extending from a horizontal member and abutting against the lower surface of the mattress, a floor mounted base or tubular cross-members with lengthwise slots for engagement on the frame of the bed. The upper horizontal member supports the bedclothes high enough to provide clearance between the bedclothes and the mattress for the selected portions of the anatomy.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to care for bedfast patients and more particularly concerns an assembly for supporting the bedclothes of patients restricted to a bed, whether in a hospital, a nursing home or an in-home environment.

There is presently available a device known as a “foot cradle” used to support bedclothes above the feet of bedfast patients, such as patients suffering as a result of gangrenous toes, decubitus, hip and knee repair and replacement, traction, casting, stroke, paralysis, back injuries and so on. The “foot cradle” has a C-shaped base that slides between the bed frame and the mattress, a post extending upwardly from one end of the base at the side of the mattress and a cross-member extending horizontally from the top of the post above and over the base. The base is intended to support the post and cross-member in their vertical and horizontal alignments while the cross-member extends under the bedclothes and supports the bedclothes above the feet of the patient. However, the weight of the bedclothes and incidental external forces exerted on the assembly are transferred by the cross-member and post to one point on the base, tending to produce torque on the base. The torque produced is frequently sufficient to overcome the resistance afforded by the weight of the mattress on the base so that the assembly will tip, allowing the bedclothes to lower onto the feet of the patient. Sometimes, the assembly itself will fall onto the patient. The torque problems are exacerbated because the post supports only one end of the cross-member. As a result, the free end of the cross-member tends to dip downwardly under the weight of the bedclothes and the C-shaped base is inadequate to maintain the vertical orientation of the post. Furthermore, the flexibility of the post and cross-member also allow the unsupported end of the cross-member to dip downwardly under the weight of the bedclothes. The tendencies to tip and deflect further weaken the stability of the assembly and accentuate the impact of any forces that may be applied to the bedclothes or the assembly by the patient or others. Consequently “foot cradles,” even when at hand, are generally not used by immediate care givers and merely take up valuable space in the care-giving area. This is unfortunate because supporting bedclothes above the patient's feet and creating a space around the patient's feet for circulation of air would be helpful to keep the skin clean and dry and to prevent bed linens from further irritating skin that is already compromised.

It is, therefore, an object of this invention to provide a bedclothes support assembly which is stable under the weight of the bedclothes. Another object of this invention is to provide a bedclothes support assembly which is easily mountable in relation to a bed. A further object of this invention is to provide a bedclothes support assembly which has components not easily deflected by the weight of the bedclothes. Yet another object of this invention is to provide a bedclothes support assembly which supports bedclothes from both sides of the bed. It is also an object of this invention to provide a bedclothes support assembly which resists tipping as a result of torque applied by the covers.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with the invention a bedclothes support assembly is provided which maintains bedclothes in an elevated condition to protect the feet or other selected portion of a person's anatomy. An upper member is of length at least equal to the width of the mattress of the bed. A pair of upright members are of equal height substantially greater than the distance from the lower surface of the mattress to the uppermost point of the part of the anatomy to be protected. The upper ends of each of the upright members are attached to the ends of the upper horizontal member. The lower ends of each of the upright members are supported at the same elevation which is at least equal to the elevation of the mattress. The upper horizontal member supports the covers and the upright members hold the upper horizontal member at an elevation sufficient to provide clearance between the cover and the mattress for protection of the selected portions of the anatomy. The upper horizontal member and the upright members are sufficiently rigid to substantially prevent deflection of these members by the weight of the covers on the upper horizontal member.

In a first embodiment, the upright members are supported in their vertical condition by a lower horizontal member attached between the lower ends of the upright members and disposed under the mattress. A horizontal tongue extends from the lower horizontal member for abutment against the lower surface of the mattress. In a second embodiment, the upright members are supported by a floor mounted base. For example, two pairs of legs may be connected to a downward extension of each of the upright members by use of horizontal cross-members which are substantially transverse to the upper horizontal member.

In a third embodiment, the upright members are supported by two tubular cross-members substantially transverse to the upper horizontal member. One cross-member is fixed to the lower end of each of the upright members. Each cross-member has a lengthwise slot in a wall thereof for engagement on the frame of the bed. The slots may be in horizontally diametric outside walls of the tubular members for engagement on a frame with horizontal flanges or in vertically diametric lower walls of the tubular members for engagement on a frame with vertical flanges.

While the invention will be described in connection with preferred embodiments thereof, it will be understood that it is not intended to limit the invention to those embodiments or to the details of the construction or arrangement of parts illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Looking atFIGS. 1,4,7,10and14, several embodiments20,60,70,90and100of the bedclothes support assembly are illustrated. Each of the embodiments20,60,70,90and100has an upper horizontal member21with its ends22and23supported by a pair of upright members24and25. The length of the upper horizontal member21is equal to or greater than the width27of a mattress28so that the mattress28fits between the upright members24and25.

As shown inFIGS. 2,5,8,11and15, the upper horizontal member21is supported above the mattress28at an elevation substantially higher than the uppermost point of the protected part of the anatomy of the patient. The bedcovers30, as shown including linens31and a blanket32, extend over the upper horizontal member21so as to create a cavity33around the protected part of the anatomy. The support provided by the upright members24and25at the ends22and23of the horizontal member21assures that both ends22and23will be maintained at the desired elevation. The upper horizontal member21and the upright members24and25are further sufficiently rigid so as to substantially prevent deflection of these members21,24and25under the weight of the bedcovers30. The bedcovers30will not tend to shift toward either end22or23of the upper horizontal member21because neither end22or23can drop below the other end23or22. The bedcovers30will not tend to shift toward the center of the upper horizontal member21because it is sufficiently rigid to resist sagging. Therefore, absent application of some exterior force to the bedcovers30or to the support assemblies20,50,70,90and100, the integrity of the cavity33will be secure provided the upright members24and25are adequately supported.

The upper horizontal member21and upright members24and25may be of any material and cross-section provided the rigidity and cavity requirements above mentioned are satisfied. However, as best seen inFIGS. 1,4,7,10and14, it is preferred that the upper horizontal member21and the upright members24and25be made of ¾ inch PVC pipe with the upper ends34and35of the upright members24and25connected to the ends22and23of the horizontal member21by ninety degree elbows36and37, also preferably made of PVC plastic. An upper horizontal member21approximately 36 to 38 inches long will extend across most single bed mattresses. An upper horizontal member21approximately 54–56 inches long will extend across most double bed mattresses. Upright members24and25approximately 20 to 24 inches long will hold the bedcovers30sufficiently above the bottom surface29of the mattress28or the top surface of the bed frame29to provide a sufficient elevation for the cavity33to accommodate any part of the patient's anatomy.

In the embodiment20of the bedclothes support assembly illustrated inFIGS. 1,2and3, the upright members24and25are supported in their vertical condition by a horizontally planar base40. The base40shown inFIGS. 1,2and3extends from a lower horizontal member38having ends39and41attached between the lower ends42and43of the upright members24and25. The planar base40functions like a tongue sandwiched between and abutting the bottom surface26of the mattress28and the top surface of the bed frame29. It should be noted, by reference toFIG. 2, that this embodiment20of the bedclothes support assembly is free-standing. That is, when placed on a horizontal surface, the assembly will remain in its upright condition and is not reliant upon any external structures to remain in the upright condition. Sandwiching the base40between the crosswires of the bed frame29and the bottom surface26of the mattress28locks the bedclothes support assembly20in its vertical upright condition. The base40can be made of any material and cross-section provided the free-standing capability of the assembly20is not compromised. Preferably, it consists of three tubular members44,45and46connected to each other by ninety degree elbows47and48and connected to the lower horizontal member38by T-junctions49and51. Most preferably, the base40is formed from ¾ inch PVC pipe connected by PVC elbows and T-junctions and the ends39and41of the lower horizontal member38are connected to the lower ends42and43of the upright members24and25by ninety degree elbows52and53of PVC plastic. As shown, using ¾ inch PVC pipe, the elbows52and53can be seated on the horizontal flanges54and55and between the vertical flanges56and57of the bed frame29.

A second embodiment60, illustrated inFIGS. 4,5and6, is substantially identical in all respects to the embodiment20illustrated inFIGS. 1,2and3except that the base40extends both forwardly and rearwardly of the lower horizontal member38so as to provide additional stability to the free-standing capability of the bedclothes support assembly60. As best seen inFIG. 6, this can be accomplished by replacing the T-junctions49and51illustrated inFIG. 3with four-way junctions61and62. Additional members62,63and64are connected to each other with ninety degree elbows65and66and the ends of this assembly are connected to the four-way junctions61and62.

In a third embodiment70illustrated inFIGS. 7,8and9, floor-mounted bases support the uprights24and25in their upright condition. In the preferred configuration shown, the lower ends42and43of the upright members24and25have downward extensions72and73terminating at horizontal cross-members74and75which may rest directly on the floor or may be supported above the floor by vertical legs76and78and77and79. As shown, the cross members74and75are connected to the downward extensions72and73of the upright members24and25by T-junctions81and82and the legs76and78and77and79are connected to the cross members74and75by ninety degree elbows83and85and84and86. The bases can be made of any material and cross-section provided the free-standing capability of the embodiment70is not compromised. Preferably, the components are made of ¾ inch PVC pipe and compatible PVC elbows and T-junctions. Cross-members74and75having a length or a distance between legs76and78and77and79of approximately 9 inches and upright extensions72and73and legs76,77,78and79having a combined length of approximately 12 inches have been found to perform satisfactorily.

In a fourth embodiment90illustrated inFIGS. 10–13, two bed frame mounted bases support the uprights24and25in their upright condition. In the configuration shown, the lower ends42and43of the upright members24and25are connected to cross members92and93which extend horizontally and in substantially transverse relationship to the upper horizontal member21. As best seen inFIG. 13, the cross-member92has a lengthwise slot94which is horizontally radially disposed through the lower wall of a tubular portion95of the cross-member92. The vertical flange56extends into the slot94as the cross member92is seated on the horizontal flange54of the bed frame29. The tubular member95need not necessarily be round or hollow so long as the slot can receive the vertical flange56. The cross member93is identical to the cross member92illustrated inFIG. 13. The cross members92and93may be of any material in cross section provided the free-standing capability of the embodiment90is not compromised. Preferably, the cross members92and93are T-junctions having a horizontal length of approximately three inches or more and are made of PVC plastic. As shown, the T junctions can be extended by use of additional sections of PVC pipe96and98and97and99having slots in their lower walls aligned with the slots94in the T-junctions92and93. Again, the bases can be made of any material in cross section provided the free-standing capability of the embodiment90is not compromised.

In a fifth embodiment100illustrated inFIGS. 14–17, bed frame mounted bases support the uprights24and25in their upright condition. The embodiment100is in all respects the same as the fourth embodiment illustrated inFIGS. 10–13except that the cross-members102and103have lengthwise slots104which are through a horizontally radial side wall of the cross members102and103. Thus, the cross members102and103can be engaged on the horizontal flanges54and55by insertion of the inside edges of the horizontal flanges54and55into the slots104of their respective cross members92and93. As best seen inFIG. 17, the horizontal length of the cross members92and93can be extended by use of additional segments of pipe106and108and107and109which can be added to their respective cross members92and93.

The various embodiments of the bedclothes support assembly herein illustrated and described have been generally dimensioned to accommodate a single bed. However, the bedclothes support assembly can be used with any size bed, from single to king size, with appropriate variations in the width of the assembly.

Thus, it is apparent that there has been provided, in accordance with the invention, a bedclothes support assembly that fully satisfies the objects, aims and advantages set forth above. While the invention has been described in conjunction with specific embodiments thereof, it is evident that many alternatives, modifications and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art and in light of the foregoing description. Accordingly, it is intended to embrace all such alternatives, modifications and variations as fall within the spirit of the appended claims.