Patent Publication Number: US-2004049853-A1

Title: Expandable elevating bolster for legs and back

Description:
PRIORITY  
     [0001] This invention is based on U.S. Provisional Application, Serial No. 60/410,248, filed Sep. 12, 2002. 
    
    
     
       FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002] This invention relates generally to devices to aid in blood circulation and more particularly to a bolster to support and elevate a portion of a person&#39;s body.  
       BACKGROUND INFORMATION  
       [0003] When there is obstruction from proximal pressure or some other impeding condition, the return of blood and lymph fluid proximal to the heart and chest results in pain, swelling, ulceration, pigmentation, and other maladies of the lower extremity. Injuries such as fractures, lacerations, contusions, for example, that are accompanied with tissue swelling similarly decrease the natural return of blood and lymph. Such may result in longer healing processes. When blood pools in the deep venous system thrombophlebitis and lymph edema can occur from simple external pressure to the calf or a prolonged dependent position.  
       [0004] External compression dressings help to overcome these problems, but the most effective method is simply to elevate the lower extremity above the level of the heart. In such a position gravity accompanied by the muscular contraction and the negative venous pressure supplied by the normal cardiac contractions will rapidly resolve the peripheral edema in most instances. Following childbirth and certain operative procedures, in order to prevent both superficial and deep phlebitis, the legs are elevated. Many methods of doing this are ineffective or dangerous. Such is found when pillows are placed beneath the calves. Other methods include elevating the bottom and the head of special hospital type beds. This results in pooling blood in the pelvis and setting the stage for a pelvic phlebitis. Still other methods to elevate the bed require placing a chair or some sort of jack under the foot of the bed. This is cumbersome and the angle of elevation is severely limited.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0005] With the same apparatus, elevation of the head and back of the person in bed is also possible. By simply reversing the apparatus, the head and shoulders or a reclining individual can be elevated to a secure and comfortable position.  
       [0006] Moreover, in order to prevent the apparatus from changing position, the base is covered by a material with a high coefficient of friction so that it is superficially adherent to the ordinary sheets.  
       [0007] Attention is addressed to the material used to construct the apparatus so that it is safe, effective, light weight, simple, and comfortable.  
       [0008] Other objectives and advantages of this invention will become apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein are set forth, by way of illustration and example, certain embodiments of this invention. The drawings constitute a part of this specification and include exemplary embodiments of the present invention and illustrate various objects and features thereof.  
     
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
     [0009]FIG. 1 is a side view of the apparatus of this invention; and  
     [0010]FIG. 2 is an end view of the apparatus of FIG. 1. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
     [0011] Although the invention has been described in terms of a specific embodiment, it will be readily apparent to those skilled in this art that various modifications, rearrangements and substitutions can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. The scope of the invention is defined by the claims appended hereto.  
     [0012]FIG. 1 shows the lateral view of an apparatus  10  and the component parts of an expandable elevating bolster for the legs and back. It is comprised of three main members: an end member  1 , a center member  2 , and base member  3 . End member  1  is attached at its superior end to center member  2  with through connectors  14  to a hinge  6 . At the inferior end, center member  2  is attached to the base member  3  by flexible joints  10 .  
     [0013] A ratchet device  5  with multiple slanted depressions or detents  8  is fixedly attached, approximately midway, with through connectors  14  to the base member  3 . The free end of the end member  1  cooperates with the ratchet  5  to form a triangular shaped frame. The interior angles of the triangular shaped frame are adjustable as the free end of end member  1  engages different ratchet positions.  
     [0014] Attached to the upper surface of member  2  is a cover  11  on which is fixedly attached a soft surface with lateral elevations  7 . The cover  11  or the top portion of the cover for the soft surface extends past the joints  10  to rest on the surface  4  on which the entire apparatus is positioned. Pillows  12  and stick figures  13  demonstrate the alternate positions with foot or head elevated on the apparatus.  
     [0015] The invention is used for therapeutic purposes and for comfort when elevation of the head and torso or the legs is preferable to the supine state. The apparatus  10  rest on a surface  4  and is comprised of three main parts:  1 , 2 , and  3 . Member  1  is attached to member  2  by a hinge  6  that may be inside or outside the attached site and permits free movement to member  1 . Member two is attached to member three at the other end by flexible joints  10 . A member  14  that has multiple deep depressions  8  is fixedly attached to member  3 . By placing member  1  in various depressions  8  in  14 , the angle of elevation of member  2  is changed. Between the members  2  is attached a sturdy material  9  on whose surface placed a soft pad with elevations along the sides  7 . The covering of the pad extends past the flexible joints  10  to rest on the surface  4  in order for the body weight to keep the apparatus from moving. The two positions of application are depicted by stick FIG. 13 and pillows  12 .  
     [0016] It is to be understood that while I have illustrated and described certain forms of my invention, it is not to be limited to the specific forms or arrangement of parts herein described and shown. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes may be made without departing from the scope of the invention and the invention is not to be considered limited to what is shown in the drawings and described in the specification.