Abstract:
A bedclothes support assembly maintains bedclothes in an elevated condition over the feet or other part of a person&#39;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.

Description:
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&#39;s feet and creating a space around the patient&#39;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&#39;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. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent upon reading the following detailed description and upon reference to the drawings in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a front elevation view of a first embodiment of the bedclothes support assembly; 
         FIG. 2  is a side elevation view of the bedclothes support assembly of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a top plan view of the bedclothes support assembly of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 4  is a front elevation view of a second embodiment of the bedclothes support assembly; 
         FIG. 5  is a side elevation view of a second embodiment of the bedclothes support assembly of  FIG. 4 ; 
         FIG. 6  is a top plan view of the bedclothes support assembly of  FIG. 4 ; 
         FIG. 7  is a front elevation view of a third embodiment of the bedclothes support assembly; 
         FIG. 8  is a side elevation view of the bedclothes support assembly of  FIG. 7 ; 
         FIG. 9  is a top plan view of the bedclothes support assembly of  FIG. 7 ; 
         FIG. 10  is a front elevation view of a fourth embodiment of the bedclothes support assembly; 
         FIG. 11  is a side elevation view of the bedclothes support assembly of  FIG. 10 ; 
         FIG. 12  is a top plan view of the bedclothes support assembly of  FIG. 10 ; 
         FIG. 13  is a front elevation view of the mounting bracket of the bedclothes assembly of  FIG. 10 ; 
         FIG. 14  is a front elevation view of a fifth embodiment of the bedclothes support assembly; 
         FIG. 15  is a side elevation view of the bedclothes support assembly of  FIG. 13 ; 
         FIG. 16  is a top plan view of the bedclothes support assembly of  FIG. 13 ; and 
         FIG. 17  is a front elevation view of the mounting bracket of the bedclothes assembly of  FIG. 14 . 
     
    
    
     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 at  FIGS. 1 ,  4 ,  7 ,  10  and  14 , several embodiments  20 ,  60 ,  70 ,  90  and  100  of the bedclothes support assembly are illustrated. Each of the embodiments  20 ,  60 ,  70 ,  90  and  100  has an upper horizontal member  21  with its ends  22  and  23  supported by a pair of upright members  24  and  25 . The length of the upper horizontal member  21  is equal to or greater than the width  27  of a mattress  28  so that the mattress  28  fits between the upright members  24  and  25 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 2 ,  5 ,  8 ,  11  and  15 , the upper horizontal member  21  is supported above the mattress  28  at an elevation substantially higher than the uppermost point of the protected part of the anatomy of the patient. The bedcovers  30 , as shown including linens  31  and a blanket  32 , extend over the upper horizontal member  21  so as to create a cavity  33  around the protected part of the anatomy. The support provided by the upright members  24  and  25  at the ends  22  and  23  of the horizontal member  21  assures that both ends  22  and  23  will be maintained at the desired elevation. The upper horizontal member  21  and the upright members  24  and  25  are further sufficiently rigid so as to substantially prevent deflection of these members  21 ,  24  and  25  under the weight of the bedcovers  30 . The bedcovers  30  will not tend to shift toward either end  22  or  23  of the upper horizontal member  21  because neither end  22  or  23  can drop below the other end  23  or  22 . The bedcovers  30  will not tend to shift toward the center of the upper horizontal member  21  because it is sufficiently rigid to resist sagging. Therefore, absent application of some exterior force to the bedcovers  30  or to the support assemblies  20 ,  50 ,  70 ,  90  and  100 , the integrity of the cavity  33  will be secure provided the upright members  24  and  25  are adequately supported. 
     The upper horizontal member  21  and upright members  24  and  25  may be of any material and cross-section provided the rigidity and cavity requirements above mentioned are satisfied. However, as best seen in  FIGS. 1 ,  4 ,  7 ,  10  and  14 , it is preferred that the upper horizontal member  21  and the upright members  24  and  25  be made of ¾ inch PVC pipe with the upper ends  34  and  35  of the upright members  24  and  25  connected to the ends  22  and  23  of the horizontal member  21  by ninety degree elbows  36  and  37 , also preferably made of PVC plastic. An upper horizontal member  21  approximately 36 to 38 inches long will extend across most single bed mattresses. An upper horizontal member  21  approximately 54–56 inches long will extend across most double bed mattresses. Upright members  24  and  25  approximately 20 to 24 inches long will hold the bedcovers  30  sufficiently above the bottom surface  29  of the mattress  28  or the top surface of the bed frame  29  to provide a sufficient elevation for the cavity  33  to accommodate any part of the patient&#39;s anatomy. 
     In the embodiment  20  of the bedclothes support assembly illustrated in  FIGS. 1 ,  2  and  3 , the upright members  24  and  25  are supported in their vertical condition by a horizontally planar base  40 . The base  40  shown in  FIGS. 1 ,  2  and  3  extends from a lower horizontal member  38  having ends  39  and  41  attached between the lower ends  42  and  43  of the upright members  24  and  25 . The planar base  40  functions like a tongue sandwiched between and abutting the bottom surface  26  of the mattress  28  and the top surface of the bed frame  29 . It should be noted, by reference to  FIG. 2 , that this embodiment  20  of 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 base  40  between the crosswires of the bed frame  29  and the bottom surface  26  of the mattress  28  locks the bedclothes support assembly  20  in its vertical upright condition. The base  40  can be made of any material and cross-section provided the free-standing capability of the assembly  20  is not compromised. Preferably, it consists of three tubular members  44 ,  45  and  46  connected to each other by ninety degree elbows  47  and  48  and connected to the lower horizontal member  38  by T-junctions  49  and  51 . Most preferably, the base  40  is formed from ¾ inch PVC pipe connected by PVC elbows and T-junctions and the ends  39  and  41  of the lower horizontal member  38  are connected to the lower ends  42  and  43  of the upright members  24  and  25  by ninety degree elbows  52  and  53  of PVC plastic. As shown, using ¾ inch PVC pipe, the elbows  52  and  53  can be seated on the horizontal flanges  54  and  55  and between the vertical flanges  56  and  57  of the bed frame  29 . 
     A second embodiment  60 , illustrated in  FIGS. 4 ,  5  and  6 , is substantially identical in all respects to the embodiment  20  illustrated in  FIGS. 1 ,  2  and  3  except that the base  40  extends both forwardly and rearwardly of the lower horizontal member  38  so as to provide additional stability to the free-standing capability of the bedclothes support assembly  60 . As best seen in  FIG. 6 , this can be accomplished by replacing the T-junctions  49  and  51  illustrated in  FIG. 3  with four-way junctions  61  and  62 . Additional members  62 ,  63  and  64  are connected to each other with ninety degree elbows  65  and  66  and the ends of this assembly are connected to the four-way junctions  61  and  62 . 
     In a third embodiment  70  illustrated in  FIGS. 7 ,  8  and  9 , floor-mounted bases support the uprights  24  and  25  in their upright condition. In the preferred configuration shown, the lower ends  42  and  43  of the upright members  24  and  25  have downward extensions  72  and  73  terminating at horizontal cross-members  74  and  75  which may rest directly on the floor or may be supported above the floor by vertical legs  76  and  78  and  77  and  79 . As shown, the cross members  74  and  75  are connected to the downward extensions  72  and  73  of the upright members  24  and  25  by T-junctions  81  and  82  and the legs  76  and  78  and  77  and  79  are connected to the cross members  74  and  75  by ninety degree elbows  83  and  85  and  84  and  86 . The bases can be made of any material and cross-section provided the free-standing capability of the embodiment  70  is not compromised. Preferably, the components are made of ¾ inch PVC pipe and compatible PVC elbows and T-junctions. Cross-members  74  and  75  having a length or a distance between legs  76  and  78  and  77  and  79  of approximately 9 inches and upright extensions  72  and  73  and legs  76 ,  77 ,  78  and  79  having a combined length of approximately 12 inches have been found to perform satisfactorily. 
     In a fourth embodiment  90  illustrated in  FIGS. 10–13 , two bed frame mounted bases support the uprights  24  and  25  in their upright condition. In the configuration shown, the lower ends  42  and  43  of the upright members  24  and  25  are connected to cross members  92  and  93  which extend horizontally and in substantially transverse relationship to the upper horizontal member  21 . As best seen in  FIG. 13 , the cross-member  92  has a lengthwise slot  94  which is horizontally radially disposed through the lower wall of a tubular portion  95  of the cross-member  92 . The vertical flange  56  extends into the slot  94  as the cross member  92  is seated on the horizontal flange  54  of the bed frame  29 . The tubular member  95  need not necessarily be round or hollow so long as the slot can receive the vertical flange  56 . The cross member  93  is identical to the cross member  92  illustrated in  FIG. 13 . The cross members  92  and  93  may be of any material in cross section provided the free-standing capability of the embodiment  90  is not compromised. Preferably, the cross members  92  and  93  are 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 pipe  96  and  98  and  97  and  99  having slots in their lower walls aligned with the slots  94  in the T-junctions  92  and  93 . Again, the bases can be made of any material in cross section provided the free-standing capability of the embodiment  90  is not compromised. 
     In a fifth embodiment  100  illustrated in  FIGS. 14–17 , bed frame mounted bases support the uprights  24  and  25  in their upright condition. The embodiment  100  is in all respects the same as the fourth embodiment illustrated in  FIGS. 10–13  except that the cross-members  102  and  103  have lengthwise slots  104  which are through a horizontally radial side wall of the cross members  102  and  103 . Thus, the cross members  102  and  103  can be engaged on the horizontal flanges  54  and  55  by insertion of the inside edges of the horizontal flanges  54  and  55  into the slots  104  of their respective cross members  92  and  93 . As best seen in  FIG. 17 , the horizontal length of the cross members  92  and  93  can be extended by use of additional segments of pipe  106  and  108  and  107  and  109  which can be added to their respective cross members  92  and  93 . 
     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.