Patent Publication Number: US-2005114998-A1

Title: Inflatable bedrest

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
      This application is a continuation-in-part of co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/459,037 filed on Jul. 11, 2003, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. Pat. No. 6,681,425 which issued on Jan. 27, 2004 and provisional Application Ser. No. 60/587,171 filed on Jul. 12, 2004 each of which is hereby incorporated herein in their entirety by reference. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
      1. Field of the Invention  
      The present invention generally relates to an inflatable bedrest of triangular configuration and which is adapted to be positioned upon one end of a bed. More specifically, an inflatable bedrest that includes a cover.  
      2. Description of Related Art  
      Adjustable beds have found widespread use beyond nonambulatory patients and are used in many homes among persons of all age groups, in particular beds that raise the head and/or feet. Among the devices used to raise the head or feet are inflatable air bladders intended for use with conventional beds. A number of patents disclose bladders for this purpose. For example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,392,412 and 3,606,623 to Aymer provide a bedrest having an inflatable bellows placed under a mattress and filled with compressed air. The bladder is filled with air by a conventional electric motor which is activated by a switch to turn the motor on and off. One problem with such devices is that when the bladders are inflated, the mattress will occasionally slide out of position on the bladder due to the combination of gravity and the low coefficient of friction of the material used to make the bladder.  
      A number of patents are directed to maintaining the position of a mattress on a bed, but they typically use brackets and are more complex and more cumbersome than the invention disclosed herein. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,297,754 and U.S. Pat. No. 4,017,919 each disclose a plurality of mattress retention brackets associated with a bed. In each of these inventions, the mattress is supported upon box springs, and the mattress retention brackets prevent each mattress from shifting relative to its associated box spring.  
      Similarly, U.S. Pat. No. 5,978,992 to Antinori discloses a mattress retention bracket for an adjustable bed to prevent an associated mattress from sliding laterally thereon. The mattress retention bracket is a generally U-shaped member defined by a loop portion and a pair of legs with each leg having first and second end portions normally offset from each other.  
      Another adjustable bed rest is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 3,667,075 which discloses a bellows assembly placed under the mattress wherein the mattress is raised either at the head section or under the knee to different heights through the expandable bellows. The bellows assembly is activated by a motor containing three position switches that are manually turned upwardly to actuate respective spool valves. When the switches are turned downwardly, they operate respective solenoid valves.  
      The Cammack patent, U.S. Pat. No. 4,309,783, discloses an inflatable bladder that is triangular in shape. The bladder in Cammack includes flexible elements which extend from adjacent the apex to adjacent a sidewall of the triangle designed to limit the expansion of the bladder. These flexible elements of specific length are designed to reinforce maintenance of the general shape of the bag in its generally triangular shape. The control mechanism has two double acting rocker buttons associated respectively with valve outlets. Upon depression of a rocker button in one direction, the motor is energized at the same time that the valve outlet is opened, allowing air to be delivered to the air bag through a hose. The same rocker button rocked in the opposite direction enables air to be removed from the bag.  
      U.S. Pat. No. 5,170,522 to Walker discloses a foundation that has a first open top housing or recess located below a backrest plate. A first lift air bag is located in a first recess. When expanded, the first air bag has a generally triangular configuration so as to elevate the backrest plate in a generally upward inclined position. A second air lift bag is located adjacent the leg portion of the structure. When expanded, this has a generally trapezoidal configuration. An air mattress is located on top of the foundation and the air mattress is adapted to bend with the transverse plates when the plates are elevated with the first and second lift air bags. A hand control is used to control the operation of a pump to change the air pressure in the mattress and also to change the air pressure in the first and second lift air bags. The controller has air operated switches for regulating a pump to supply air to air mattresses and lift air bags. Switches also control separate solenoid valves that are used to direct to the air mattress and lift bags.  
      U.S. Pat. No. 6,739,005 to Davis discloses an air adjustable mattress having a plurality of sections and an air chamber under each section that is to be raised. The contour and shape of the mattress is controlled by inflating and deflating each air chamber to elevate and incline the section of the mattress. The sections are connected together by fastener means. Because of the hinged construction of the mattress, the mattress does not tend to move from its original position when the air chamber is inflated.  
      It is an object of the present invention to provide a bedrest that includes a triangular-shaped bladder when inflated.  
      Another object of the invention to provide an easy, effective, and inexpensive way to maintain constant the position of a mattress relative to an inflatable bladder while the mattress is resting on the inflatable bladder by connecting the bladder to the mattress.  
      A further object of the present invention to provide a device for raising and lowering the head end and/or the foot end of a mattress that includes a triangular shaped inflatable bladder and a hand held microprocessor controller.  
      Yet another object of the invention to provide an inflatable assembly which can be assembled to an end portion of a bed mattress and which is adapted for lifting the one end portion of the bed mattress.  
      A further object of the present invention is to provide an adjustable bedrest that includes an inflatable bladder having a cover and connected to a mattress cover.  
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
      The above and other objects and advantages of the invention are achieved by the provision of a bed support which comprises a bladder fabricated of a flexible air impermeable sheet material which when inflated defines three longitudinally extending side walls disposed in a triangular configuration when viewed in transverse cross section. Opposite end walls close the ends of the bladder. The inflatable bladder may be trapezoidal shaped but is preferably triangular shaped with one side of the bladder cover being attached to the underside of the mattress cover. Also, the bladder includes interior baffle means for supporting the bladder in the triangular configuration when inflated, and in one embodiment the baffle means comprises a pair of longitudinally extending panels disposed in a V-shaped arrangement with each panel being joined to the interior of two adjacent side walls of the bladder.  
      In another embodiment, the baffle means comprises at least one transverse panel positioned within the bladder and joined to the interior of at least two of the side walls. In still another embodiment, the baffle means comprises both the V-shaped panels and the transverse panel, both as described above.  
      The bed support also includes an air delivery system which includes an opening communicating with the interior of the bladder.  
      The benefit of the interior baffle means is that once the bladder is inflated, the baffle means will cause the bladder to form into an appropriate triangular shape. Without this baffle means, even though the overall structure of the bladder is intended to be triangular when it is inflated, the shape cannot be as precisely controlled without the baffle means and the resultant bladder may form into a circle or an oblong shaped object of non-triangular shape. The interior baffle means therefore enables the structure to form more precisely into the desired triangular shape in order to perform more effectively when positioned upon or inserted under the mattress at the head location of the bed.  
      As a further aspect of the invention, the bed support as described above may be used as part of an inflatable assembly for being joined to and adjustably lifting one end portion of a bed mattress. In this configuration, the bladder is closely received in a fabric casing, and a tubular fabric cover is provided which is configured to slip over and encase the one end portion of the bed mattress. The cover is sized to overlie an upwardly inclined side wall of the bladder, and the cover is secured to the casing so as to prevent relative movement therebetween.  
      In another embodiment, there is provided a means for attaching the cover of the inflatable bladder to the underside of the mattress. In general, any means of attaching two covers can be used. Specifically, the means for joining the covers together can be a zipper, a hook and fastener apparatus, or sewing the covers together. Velcro® is a hook and fastener that is particularly effective in joining the mattress and the air bladder. Snaps and other fasteners can also be used.  
      An important aspect of the invention is that the air bladder and the mattress stay joined together even after the bladder is inflated. The user can inflate and deflate the bladder as needed without worrying about whether the two sections will keep together.  
      A microprocessor based hand controller enables an individual to inflate or deflate either the bladder under the head area or the bladder under the knee area of the bed to any desired amount with a simple control. In addition, the hand controlled microprocessor permits computer programming so that the mattress can be automatically raised and lowered to different levels during different periods of time. An additional feature is that one does not need to simply continue to hold the switch down in order to raise or lower the bladder portion but instead can press a simple button after the entire hand controlled microprocessor has been preprogrammed so that any one of a number of different adjustments can be made and these can be made at any given time and preset to any given time and interval.  
      Thus, with the present invention there is provided a bed support for raising and lowering the head and/or leg area of a bed that is easy to install, simple in operation, and may be used with a conventional bed. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
      Having thus described the invention in general terms, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings, which are schematic in nature and not necessarily drawn to scale, and wherein:  
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an adjustable bed showing a bed support of the invention at the head of the bed in an elevated position, and also showing a second bed support positioned to underlie the knees of a user;  
       FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the triangular shaped bladder of the present invention with the near end wall removed;  
       FIG. 3  is a cross sectional view of the triangular shaped bladder taken along line  3 - 3  of  FIG. 2 ;  
       FIG. 4  is a perspective view, with part of one side wall broken away, as of a second embodiment of the bladder;  
       FIG. 5  is a perspective view, with part of one side wall broken away, of a further embodiment of the bladder;  
       FIG. 6  is a sectional view taken along the line  6 - 6  of  FIG. 5 ;  
       FIG. 7  is a fragmentary perspective view of the head end portion of a bed having an assembly which includes the bladder of the present invention joined to and underlying the end portion of the mattress;  
       FIG. 8  is a sectional view taken along the line  8 - 8  of  FIG. 7 ;  
       FIG. 9  is a view similar to  FIG. 8  but also illustrating the use of a reinforcing panel;  
       FIG. 10  is a perspective of another embodiment of the bedrest of the present invention showing a mattress having a cover surrounding the mattress and an air bladder having a cover surrounding the air bladder;  
       FIG. 11  is a perspective view looking upward showing an embodiment of the bladder of the present invention having a cover and a zipper for attaching the bladder cover to the underside of a mattress cover;  
       FIG. 12  is a view similar to  FIG. 11  and shows the bladder cover removed from the underside of the mattress cover;  
       FIG. 13  shows another embodiment of the present invention wherein the bladder cover is attached to the underside of the mattress cover using a Velcro® fastener; and  
       FIG. 14  shows yet another embodiment of the present invention wherein the bladder cover is sewn to the underside of the mattress cover. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
      The present invention now will be described more filly hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which preferred embodiments of the invention are shown. This invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art. Like numbers refer to like elements throughout.  
      Referring more particularly to the drawings,  FIG. 1  shows a bed  10  for use with the present invention. The bed  10  is generally rectangular and has conventional box springs or other suitable foundation  12 , and a mattress  14 . In other words, the bed used with the present invention may be a conventional bed. The mattress  14  has a head/back portion  15  and a leg/foot portion  13 .  
      An inflatable bed support  16  having an air supply tube  18  for inflating and deflating the bed support is provided for raising and lowering the head portion  15  of the mattress. As shown in  FIG. 1  there is also provided a second inflatable bed support  17  placed to underlie the knees of the user. It should be understood that the two bed supports  16  and  17  may be placed under the mattress  14  as illustrated, or upon the mattress. Also, the bed supports  16  and  17  are of like configuration as further described below, but with the support  16  being larger than the support  17 .  
      As shown more clearly in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the bed support  16  includes a bladder, which is a triangular shaped structure when inflated and contains an interior baffle  21 . More particularly, the bladder comprises a flexible air impermeable sheet material which when inflated defines three longitudinally extending side walls disposed in a triangular configuration when viewed in transverse cross section, note  FIG. 3 . The bladder is closed by opposite end walls  22 ,  23  to form a hermetically closed chamber.  
      An air delivery system is provided for delivering pressurized air into the interior of each bed support  16  and  17 . The air delivery system includes an opening  24  in the end wall  22  of the bladder, and which is connected via an air supply tube  18  to an air pump motor  19  that is controlled by hand held control switch  20 . For purposes of the present invention, the air pump motor  19  and control switch  20  may be of conventional design. In a preferred embodiment however, the pump and switch as described in copending U.S. application Ser. No. 10/116,230 filed Apr. 4, 2002 may be employed. The disclosure of the referenced copending application is expressly incorporated herein by reference.  
      The interior baffle  21  is mounted within the bladder for supporting the bladder in the triangular configuration when inflated. The baffle  21  comprises a pair of longitudinally extending panels which are disposed in a V-shaped arrangement when viewed in cross section (note  FIG. 3 ), with each panel joined to the interior of two adjacent side walls of the bladder.  
      The panels of the baffle  21  have a longitudinal length which is slightly shorter than the longitudinal length of the side walls of the bladder  16 , so as to be spaced from the end walls  22 ,  23  and thereby permit air flow around both ends of the baffle within the bladder.  
      The benefit of this interior bladder is that once the bladder is inflated, the baffle will cause the bladder to form into an appropriate triangular shape. Without this baffle, even though the overall structure of the device is intended to be triangular when it is inflated, the shape cannot be as precisely controlled without the baffle and the resultant bladder will form into possibly a circle or an oblong shaped object of non-triangular shape. The interior baffle therefore enables the structure to form more precisely into the desired triangular shape in order to perform a more effective lifting when inserted under the mattress.  
      The bladder and the panels of the baffle may be fabricated of a variety of flexible air impermeable sheet materials, such as the plastic sheet materials commonly used in the construction of swimming pool toys. Such materials also facilitate the fabrication of the bladder, since the sides may be heat sealed to the ends of the bladder and to the panels of the baffle  21 . Furthermore, the dimensions of the inflatable bladder may vary depending upon the size of the bed intended to be elevated. Preferably, however, the inflatable bed support is of a longitudinal length approximate the width of the bed on which it is used.  
       FIG. 4  illustrates a second embodiment of the bed support of the present invention at  16   a.  In this embodiment, the baffle includes a transverse panel  25   a  positioned within the bladder and joined to the interior of at least two, and preferably all three of the side walls, by a heat seal or the like. Also, in the illustrated embodiment, the panel  25   a  is located at a medial location along the longitudinal length of the bladder to divide the interior into two chambers of substantially equal size. Further, by heat sealing the panel  25   a  to all three walls of the bladder, the two chambers will be hermetically sealed from each other. This improves the stability of the bed support for the user, particularly in the case of a double bed where the weight is not uniformly distributed along the length of the support.  
      Where the two chambers are hermetically sealed from each other, the air delivery system comprises separate openings  24   a  communicating with each of the chambers through one of the side walls of the bladder.  
       FIG. 5  shows an embodiment at  16   b  similar to that of  FIG. 4 , but where the panel  25   b  is not sealed about the entire periphery to the side walls of the bladder. Specifically, and as seen in  FIG. 6 , the corners of the panel  25   b  are separated from the bladder side walls to form passages. Thus only one air opening  24   b  is required, and the air is free to flow between the chambers at a slow or restricted rate. As an alternative to the open corners, the panel  25   b  may have one or more small openings (not shown) therethrough which permit restricted air flow between the chambers.  
      While a single transverse panel is illustrated in  FIGS. 4 and 5 , it will be appreciated that more than one panel may be employed, particularly in the case of bed supports sized to fit mattresses of double bed or larger size.  
       FIGS. 7-9  illustrate further embodiments of the invention and wherein the bed support  16  forms part of an assembly  30  for adjustably lifting one end portion of a bed mattress. In the illustrated embodiment, the assembly  30  comprises a bed support  16   a  as described above, but which is configured to form a right triangle rather than an isosceles triangle as in the embodiments of  FIGS. 1-6 . The bed support  16   a  is received in a fabric casing  31  which is sized to closely encase the bed support  16   a  when it is fully inflated. Also, there is provided a tubular fabric cover  32  which is configured to slip over and encase the head end portion of the mattress  14 . The cover  32  is sized to overlie an upwardly inclined side wall of the bladder of the support  16   a,  and the cover  32  is secured to the casing  31  so as to prevent relative movement therebetween.  
      The cover  32  may be secured to the casing  31  by stitching or the like, and in a preferred embodiment the stitching forms a pocket which is open at the upper end so as to be adapted to receive a reinforcing relatively rigid flat plate  34  so as to be positioned between the casing  31  and cover  32  and overlie the upwardly inclined side wall of the bladder and reinforce the same.  
      The illustrated embodiment of the cover  32  includes a closed upper end which overlies the end of the mattress, but it will be understood that the cover may take the form of a sleeve with both ends being open. Also, it will be understood that the casing  31  may include suitable zippers or Velcro® closures (not shown) to permit the cover to be removed from the bladder for periodic cleaning.  
      In a preferred embodiment, the bedrest  10  comprises a foundation  12  such as a box springs, as shown in  FIG. 10 . It should be understood that the foundation can be any surface upon which a mattress can lie. In this embodiment, the inflatable bladder shown inside cover  16  lies on the box springs  12 , and the mattress  14  is inside mattress cover  32   a  lies on top of the inflatable air bladder, as shown in  FIG. 10 . A preferred air bladder is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,715,172, which is herein incorporated by reference. The bladder  16  inside cover  31   a  is inflated and deflated with compressed air through hose  24 .  
       FIGS. 11 and 12  show more clearly the embodiment of the invention wherein the mattress cover  14  and the bladder cover  31   a  are joined using a zipper  35 . The user need only join the zipper portions and pull the zipper handle in order to connect the air bladder cover  31   a  and the mattress cover  14 . As shown in  FIG. 12 , the inflatable air bladder  16  may be placed inside air bladder cover  31   a  and connected to the air hose  17  through a hole in cover  31   a.  The air bladder  16  can be inflated before, during, or after the air bladder and mattress are connected, but once they are connected a unitary article is formed.  
      To practice the method of the invention, the air bladder inside cover  31   a  and the mattress cover  32   a  are brought within close proximity of each other, with each part having one portion of the zipper. The female and male parts of the zipper are joined, and when the handle is pulled, the teeth of the opposing portions of the zipper interlock, thereby connecting the mattress and the air bladder. Once the two parts of the zipper are attached, the air bladder can be inflated as desired.  
      The means for joining the mattress cover  32   a  and the bladder cover  31   a  can be a hook and fastener apparatus, such as a Velcro® fastener  35 ′. In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 13 , a strip of Velcro® fastener having hooks is attached to the air bladder cover  31   a,  and a strip of Velcro® having fasteners is attached to the mattress cover  32   a.  The air bladder and the mattress instantly join when the hooks and fasteners are directly opposed and are touching each other.  
      In another alternative embodiment, that of  FIG. 14 , the bladder cover  31   a  is sewn  35 ″ to the underside of the mattress cover  32   a.  In this particular embodiment, the thread is tightly stitched between the air bladder and the mattress so that the two covers are connected.  
      As shown in the drawings of this application, the mattress and the inflatable air bladder each have covers which in the preferred embodiment are cloth. It should be understood, however, that the mattress cover, for example, might be cloth having a Velcro® fastener on its underside and the bladder might not have a cover but simply have the other half of the Velcro® fastener means attached to one of the sides of the bladder that comes into contact with the underside of the mattress and be connected together in that manner.  
      Many modifications and other embodiments of the inventions set forth herein will come to mind to one skilled in the art to which these inventions pertain having the benefit of the teachings presented in the foregoing descriptions and the associated drawings. Therefore, it is to be understood that the inventions are not to be limited to the specific embodiments disclosed and that modifications and other embodiments are intended to be included within the scope of the appended claims. Although specific terms are employed herein, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation.