Abstract:
A nursing bed, including at least a net-shaped fabric with a plurality of mesh openings and a bearing frame. The net-shaped fabric includes a warp and a weft. The diameter or inscribed circle diameter of the mesh opening is 2 to 6 times the diameter of the warp and the weft. The ratio of the sum of the areas of the mesh openings with respect to the area of the net-shaped fabric is 35% to 78%. The diameter or the inscribed circle diameter of the mesh opening is less than 1.5 mm. The diameter of the warp and the weft is less than 0.55 mm. The thickness of the net-shaped fabric is less than 1.1 mm. At least two edges of the net-shaped fabric are connected to two opposite edges of the bearing frame, respectively.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No. 14/093,091, filed on Nov. 29, 2013, now pending, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No. 12/954,597, filed on Nov. 24, 2010, issued as U.S. Pat. No. 8,615,832, on Dec. 31, 2013, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. Ser. No. 12/634,066 filed on Dec. 9, 2009, now abandoned, which claims priority benefits to Chinese Patent Application No. 201020281211.4 filed on Aug. 4, 2010, and to Chinese Patent Application No. 201010244717.2 filed on Aug. 4, 2010, and which is a continuation of U.S. Ser. No 10/568,245 filed on Feb. 14, 2006, now abandoned, which is a National Stage Application of International Patent Application No. PCT/CN2004/000934, with an international filing date of Aug. 12, 2004, which claims priority benefits to Chinese Patent Application No. 03271456.4, filed Aug. 16, 2003. The contents of all of the aforementioned applications, including any intervening amendments thereto, are incorporated herein by reference. Inquiries from the public to applicants or assignees concerning this document or the related applications should be directed to: Matthias Scholl P.C., Attn.: Dr. Matthias Scholl Esq., 14781 Memorial Drive, Suite 1319, Houston, TX 77079. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    The invention relates to a nursing bed, and more particularly to a nursing bed for bedridden patients. 
         [0004]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0005]    Nowadays nursing beds are widely used in hospitals. A typical nursing bed includes a single layer of sheet fabric with mesh openings by interweaving a warp and a weft in a vertical direction. Usually, an interweaving point of the warp and the weft is fastened by a fixed connection. Also usually, a diameter or diagonal length of the mesh opening is more than or equal to a diameter of the warp and the weft and less than 30 times the diameter of the warp and the weft. However, this type of fabric easily hurts the skin of patients and affects air permeability of the skin and overall recovery of the patients. 
         [0006]    Furthermore, the warp and the weft generally have a diameter of less than 0.55 mm. Thus, the resulting interweaving point has a small area. Even though the interweaving points are bonded by special adhesives, they are unfirm and prone to detachment. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    In view of the above-described problem, it is one objective of the invention to provide a nursing bed that solves the above-mentioned problems. 
         [0008]    To achieve the above objectives, in accordance with one embodiment of the invention, provided is a nursing bed, comprising a net-shaped fabric with a plurality of mesh openings and a bearing frame. The net-shaped fabric comprises a warp and a weft interwoven in a vertical direction; an interweaving point of the warp and the weft is fastened by a fixed connection; the diameter or inscribed circle diameter of the mesh opening is 2-6 times the diameter of the warp and the weft; the ratio of the sum of the areas of the mesh openings with respect to the area of the net-shaped fabric is 35% to 78%; the diameter or inscribed circle diameter of the mesh opening is less than 1.5 mm; 
         [0009]    the diameter of the warp and the weft is less than 0.55 mm; the thickness of the net-shaped fabric is less than 1.1 mm; at least two edges of the net-shaped fabric are connected to two opposite edges of the bearing frame, respectively, whereby forming a mutual positioning structure; a plurality of warp interwoven strips or weft interwoven strips are disposed on the net-shaped fabric in a direction of either the warp or the weft or in directions of both of the warp and the weft; the width of the interwoven strip is less than 3 mm, and the interwoven strips are uniformly distributed on the net-shaped fabric and in the shape of a pectination or a grid. 
         [0010]    In a class of this embodiment, a tensile layer is disposed at the edge (also called cutting line) of the net-shaped fabric. 
         [0011]    In a class of this embodiment, the tensile layer contains coating materials coated on the net-shaped fabric, and the materials block or partially block the mesh openings on the net-shaped fabric. 
         [0012]    In a class of this embodiment, the tensile layer comprises one of a soft fabric, a film, or a non-woven fabric that is coated and fixed on the net-shaped fabric or on the coating materials coated on the net-shaped fabric. 
         [0013]    In a class of this embodiment, multiple fixing edges are disposed on edges or strengthening edges of the net-shaped fabric that are connected to the bearing frame. The fixing edge comprises a sleeve surrounded by the edges and the tensile layer and a columnar pin disposed in the sleeve. The bearing frame comprises a cavity for receiving the sleeve and the columnar pin and a groove allowing the net-shaped fabric to pass thereby. 
         [0014]    In a class of this embodiment, the bearing frame is a rectangular frame formed by a pair of long edges and a pair of short edges. The fixing edge comprising the columnar pin are capable of rotating a circumference less than 6 cm in a reverse direction in a cavity formed by the long edges, and the rotation of the fixing edge can be fixed at any position. 
         [0015]    In a class of this embodiment, multiple fixing edges are disposed on edges or strengthening edges of the net-shaped fabric that are connected to the bearing frame. The fixing edges are edges or strengthening edges fixed on a columnar pin, and the bearing frame comprises a cavity for receiving the fixing edges and a groove allowing the net-shaped fabric to pass thereby. 
         [0016]    In a class of this embodiment, a rigid strip is disposed on the tensile layer. The width of the rigid strip is less than that of the tensile layer. The rigid strip and the tensile layer form a fixing edge. A hanging hole is disposed on the fixing edge. A hanging column is disposed on the bearing frame. The hanging hole and the hanging column form a removable positioning structure. A normal displacement of a fixing edge between adjacent hanging holes due to elastic bending is less than 5 mm. 
         [0017]    In a class of this embodiment, the edges or the tensile layer of the net-shaped fabric is fixed on the bearing frame via an adhesive. 
         [0018]    In a class of this embodiment, the bearing frame is a rectangular frame formed by a pair of long edges and a pair of short edges. The distances between the long edges and between the short edges are adjustable. An adjusting range of the distance between the long edges is no greater than 6 cm. An adjusting range of the distance between the short edges is no greater than 9 cm. The long edges simultaneously move in a reverse direction and the short edges separately move during adjustment, and the movement of the long edges and the short edges can be fixed at any position. 
         [0019]    In a class of this embodiment, edges of the net-shaped fabric and the bearing frame mutually positioning each other correspond to hip curves and each has wave ruffling, and the wave ruffling is fixed in the tensile layer. 
         [0020]    In a class of this embodiment, the width of the net-shaped fabric disposed between two edges of the bearing frame is 1 mm to 20 mm longer than the distance between the two edges of the bearing frame. The diameter or inscribed circle diameter of the mesh opening is less than 0.8 mm. The diameter of the warp and the weft is less than 0.27 mm. The thickness of the net-shaped fabric is less than 0.55 mm. 
         [0021]    In a class of this embodiment, the diameter or inscribed circle diameter of the mesh opening is less than 0.3 mm. The diameter of the warp and the weft is less than 0.08 mm. The thickness of the net-shaped fabric is less than 0.16 mm. 
         [0022]    In a class of this embodiment, the net-shaped fabric is a single-layered plain-weave structure interwoven by the warp and the weft. An error in length of the warp and the weft is within a range of ±20% of a rating value. An angle between the warp and the weft is greater than 60°. 
         [0023]    In a class of this embodiment, the warp and the weft at the edges of the net-shaped fabric, especially at the edges of the net-shaped fabric connected to the bearing frame are densely interwoven. 
         [0024]    In a class of this embodiment, a minimum space between two adjacent interwoven strips is 3 mm, and a maximum space between two adjacent interwoven strips is 50 mm. 
         [0025]    In a class of this embodiment, a surface of the interwoven strip comprises grooves filled with a waterproof adhesive substance. 
         [0026]    Advantages of the invention include: the net-shaped fabric comprises the mesh openings and dense warp and weft interwoven with each other and is fixed to the bearing frame along the edge thereof via the tensile layer, which ensures that the warp and the weft do not hurt skin of patients, guarantees good air permeability of the skin, prevents bedsore, and creates a good environment for recovery of burns. The dimensions of the materials specified herein are critical for achieving these advantages and are not a simple matter of engineering design choice. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0027]      FIG. 1  is a schematic view of a nursing bed of an exemplary embodiment of the invention; 
           [0028]      FIG. 2  is a schematic view of a net-shaped fabric of the invention; 
           [0029]      FIG. 3  is a partial enlarged view of  FIG. 2 ; 
           [0030]      FIG. 4  is a partial view of a net-shaped fabric; 
           [0031]      FIG. 5  is another partial view of a net-shaped fabric; 
           [0032]      FIG. 6  is a further partial view of a net-shaped fabric; and 
           [0033]      FIG. 7  is a partially cross-sectional view of a tensile layer. 
       
    
    
       [0034]    In the drawings, the following reference numbers are used: 
         [0035]      1 —bearing frame;  2 —net-shaped fabric;  3 —tensile layer;  4 —fixing edge;  11 —cavity;  12 —groove;  21 —warp and weft;  22 —mesh opening;  23 —outlet;  24 —interwoven strip;  25 —wave ruffling;  31 —coverage area;  32 —half coverage area;  33 —soft fabric;  41 —sleeve;  42 —columnar pin;  43 —rigid strip;  44 —hanging hole;  45 —edges of the net-shaped fabric; and  46 —opposite edges of the bearing frame. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS 
       [0036]    As shown in  FIG. 1 , a nursing bed of the invention comprises a bearing frame  1  and a net-shaped fabric  2  disposed within on the bearing frame  1 . The bearing frame  1  is disposed on a normal bedstead, or on a bedstead of a heat-insulating nursing bed with a temperature and humidity regulating function, or legs are disposed at four corners of the bearing frame  1  whereby forming a simple nursing bed. 
         [0037]    The width of the net-shaped fabric  2  disposed between two opposite edges of the bearing frame  1  is 1 mm to 20 mm longer than the distance between the two opposite edges of the bearing frame  1 . 
         [0038]    The diameter or inscribed circle diameter of the mesh opening is less than 0.8 mm, the diameter of the warp and the weft is less than 0.27 mm, and the thickness of the net-shaped fabric is less than 0.55 mm. 
         [0039]    For better resolution of force applied by a patient, the net-shaped fabric  2  is slightly concave and loose and is not in a tension state so that elastic elongation or fracture does not occur. 
         [0040]    As shown in  FIG. 4 , the diameter or inscribed circle diameter of the mesh opening  22  on part of the net-shaped fabric  2  is less than 0.8 mm, the diameter of the warp and the weft  21  is less than 0.27 mm, and the thickness of the net-shaped fabric  2  is less than 0.55 
         [0041]    The diameter or inscribed circle diameter of the mesh opening  22  on other part of the net-shaped fabric  2  is less than 0.3 mm, the diameter of the warp and the weft  21  is less than 0.08 mm, and the thickness of the net-shaped fabric  2  is less than 0.16 mm. The part of the net-shaped fabric  2  is more fine and close, which is optimized for treating the wound of skin of the patient. In details, the part is corresponding to wound that is pressed by the patient himself in bed, and an area thereof is larger than a wound area. Nurses can spray cleaning fluid or liquor on the wound via the mesh openings  22 . 
         [0042]    An outlet  23  is disposed at a hip of the patient, and a tensile layer  3  is disposed at the edge of the outlet  23 , whereby reinforcing the net-shaped fabric  2  and preventing drawnwork or partial fracture. 
         [0043]    As shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , edges of the net-shaped fabric  2  and the bearing frame  1  mutually positioning each other correspond to the hip curve of the patient, and each has a wave ruffling  25 , and the wave ruffling  25  is fixed in the tensile layer  3 . 
         [0044]    As shown in  FIG. 4 , the net-shaped fabric  2  comprises a plurality of mesh openings  22  and a warp and a weft  21  interwoven in a vertical direction, an interweaving point of the warp and the weft  21  is fastened by a fixed connection, adhesive, or heating. As the adhesive is used, one of two adjacent interweaving points of the warp and the weft  21  is fastened by a fixed connection, and the other one thereof is fastened by an unfixed connection (as shown in a dashed line in  FIG. 4 ). This ensure smooth surface of the net-shaped fabric and prevents the surface thereof from being contaminated by the adhesive. 
         [0045]    In the invention, plain weave using square holes is used. Plain weave facilitates optimum effect in terms of stretch proofing of the net-shaped fabric, easy cleaning, the mesh opening, the thickness of the fabric, and so on. Preferably, the net-shaped fabric  2  is a single-layered plain-weave structure interwoven by the warp and the weft  21 , an error in length of the warp and the weft  21  is within a range of ±20% of a rating value, an angle between the warp and the weft  21  is greater than 60°. The mesh opening  22  is surrounded by a warp and a weft  21 . 
         [0046]    As shown in  FIG. 5 , a tensile layer  3  is disposed at the edge (also called cutting line) of the net-shaped fabric  2 , and the tensile layer  3  and the bearing frame  1  form a mutual positioning structure. The edge described hereinafter comprises surrounding edges, cutting edges, edges at the opening, and so on. The warp and the weft  21  at the edge of the net-shaped fabric, especially the edge of the net-shaped fabric connected to the bearing frame  1  are densely interwoven whereby improving tensile force at the edge. 
         [0047]    As shown in  FIG. 6 , a plurality of warp interwoven strips  24  or weft interwoven strips  24  are disposed on the net-shaped fabric  2  in a direction of either the warp or the weft or in directions of both of the warp and the weft, the width of the interwoven strip  24  is less than 3 mm, and the interwoven strips  24  are uniformly distributed on the net-shaped fabric  2  and in the shape of a pectination or a grid, whereby improving bearing capability and tensile capability of the fabric and positioning performance of the warp and the weft. The warp and the weft  21  on the interwoven strips  24  are fastened via a fixed connection. In an embodiment, adhesive is disposed on strip at the back of the net-shaped fabric  2  for connection. Optionally, a minimum space between two adjacent interwoven strips is 3 mm, and a maximum space between two adjacent interwoven strips is 50 mm. The surface of the interwoven strips comprises grooves filled with a waterproof adhesive substance. 
         [0048]    As shown in  FIG. 5 , the tensile layer  3  includes coating materials coated on the net-shaped fabric  2 , and the coating materials block or partially block the mesh openings  22  on the net-shaped fabric  2 . The edge of the net-shaped fabric  2  is completely coated by the coating materials, and the mesh openings on the edge of the net-shaped fabric  2  are completely blocked by the coating materials, forming a coverage area  31  as indicated in  FIG. 5 . The thickness of the coating materials on the net-shaped fabric  2  becomes thinner from the edge of the net-shaped fabric  2  to the center thereof whereby forming a half coverage area  32  in which the mesh openings are partially blocked by the coating materials. 
         [0049]    The coating materials are coated on an intersection point between the warp and the weft, and thickness thereof gradually decreases, or stepwisely decreases, whereby preventing sudden changes of intensity occurring at a junction between the tensile layer and the non-tensile layer. The coating materials are soft flexible structural adhesive, which is better than normal adhesive in terms of shear strength, tensile strength, peel strength, non-uniform tear strength, and so on. 
         [0050]    The tensile layer  3  comprises one of a soft fabric  33 , a film, or a non-woven fabric that is coated and fixed on the net-shaped fabric  2  or on the coating materials coated on the net-shaped fabric  2 . The soft fabric  33  can be coated on one side or both sides of the net-shaped fabric  2  whereby improving strength thereof and implementing mutual positioning between the net-shaped fabric  2  and the bearing frame  1 . 
         [0051]    As shown in  FIGS. 1 and 7 , mutual positioning between the net-shaped fabric  2  and the bearing frame  1  is implemented by adhesion and is removable so that replacement, disassembly or cleaning is convenient. The specific method is as follows: 
         [0052]    1. multiple fixing edges  4  are disposed on the tensile layer  3  of edges of the net-shaped fabric  2  and the bearing frame  1  mutually positioning each other, the fixing edge  4  comprises a sleeve  41  surrounded by the tensile layer  3  and a columnar pin  42  disposed in the sleeve  41 , and the bearing frame  1  comprises a cavity  11  for receiving the sleeve  41  and the columnar pin  42  and a groove  12  allowing the net-shaped fabric  2  to pass thereby. After the columnar pin  42  is pulled out, the net-shaped fabric  2  is separated from the bearing frame  1 , which is suitable for a bed partially using the net-shaped fabric  2 . In details, the net-shaped fabric  2  in  FIG. 1  is a whole piece of net-shaped fabric  2 , or a partially used net-shaped fabric  2 , and is used for a hip of a patient during cleaning of defecation; other parts thereof can use normal fabrics that are assembled altogether. 
         [0053]    2. multiple fixing edges  4  are disposed on the tensile layer  3  of edges of the net-shaped fabric  2  and the bearing frame  1  mutually positioning each other, the fixing edge  4  is a tensile layer  3  fixed on a columnar pin  42 , and the bearing frame  1  comprises a cavity  11  adapted to receive the fixing edges  4  and a groove  12  allowing the net-shaped fabric  2  to pass thereby. The columnar pin  42  is fixed to the tensile layer  3 , which features good integrity. 
         [0054]    3. A fixing edge  4  is a rigid strip  43  disposed on the tensile layer  3 . As shown in  FIG. 5 , the width of the rigid strip  43  is less than that of the tensile layer  3 , the rigid strip  43  and the tensile layer  3  form a fixing edge  4 , a hanging hole  44  is disposed on the fixing edge  4 , a hanging column is disposed on the bearing frame  1 , the hanging hole  44  and the hanging column form a removable positioning structure, and a normal displacement of a fixing edge between adjacent hanging holes due to elastic bending is less than 5 mm. 
         [0055]    For example, the hanging holes  44  are uniformly disposed on the rigid strip  43 , the hanging column received in the hanging hole  44  is disposed on the bearing frame  1 . Mutual positioning between the hanging hole  44  and the hanging column makes disassembly convenient and replacement simple 
         [0056]    4. The simplest method is to fix the net-shaped fabric  2  on the bearing frame  1  along the tensile layer  3  via adhesion whereby forming a mutual positioning structure. The method features high requirement for operation of changing the net-shaped fabric but a simple structure. 
         [0057]    To implement adjustment of tightness of the net-shaped fabric  2  on the bearing frame  1 , the bearing frame  1  is a rectangular frame formed by a pair of long edges and a pair of short edges, the distances between the long edges and between the short edges are adjustable, an adjusting range of the distance between the long edges is no greater than 6 cm, an adjusting range of the distance between the short edges is no greater than 9 cm, the long edges simultaneously move in a reverse direction and the short edges separately move during adjustment, and the movement of the long edges and the short edges can be fixed at any position. 
         [0058]    Alternatively, the bearing frame  1  is a rectangular frame formed by a pair of long edges and a pair of short edges, the fixing edge comprising the columnar pin  42  are capable of rotating a circumference less than 6 cm in a reverse direction in a cavity  11  formed by the long edges, and the rotation of the fixing edge can be fixed at any position. 
         [0059]    The net-shaped fabric  2  is disposed on two long edges, and the long edge of the nursing bed can be divided into multiple sections according to posture of the patient in bed, and the sections can be connected to each other via hinges whereby forming a sitting and sleeping bed. 
         [0060]    While particular embodiments of the invention have been shown and described, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that changes and modifications may be made without departing from the invention in its broader aspects, and therefore, the aim in the appended claims is to cover all such changes and modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.