Patent Publication Number: US-6341395-B1

Title: Ventilating bed cushion

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a ventilating bed cushion, and more particularly to a ventilating bed cushion in which the ventilating device is movable to a desired position for forcedly ventilating a specific portion of a patient&#39;s body lying on the bed cushion so as to avoid decubitus. The air supplying device can also provide steaming treatment effect and massaging effect. The ventilating bed cushion has wide application range and can be easily operated. In addition, the ventilating bed cushion has simple structure and is manufactured at low cost. 
     FIG. 1 shows a conventional bed  90  including a hard bed board  91  and a soft bed cushion  92 . with respect to physically defective users, especially those who need to live in a hospital or lie on the bed for a long term, such as a patient, a maimed person or an old-timer, a relative or a guardian must frequently turn the patient&#39;s body on the bed. However, in the case of hot weather or poor ventilation or insufficient turning, the patient often suffers decubitus on the back and additionally get hurt. 
     Therefore, it is necessary to provide an improved bed product which is manufactured at low cost and can be easily operated to avoid the above problem. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is therefore a primary object of the present invention to provide a ventilating bed cushion which is able to avoid decubitus and has wide application range and can be easily operated. 
     It is a further object of the present invention to provide the above ventilating bed cushion which can also provide steaming treatment effect and massaging effect. 
     It is still a further object of the present invention to provide the above ventilating bed cushion which has simple structure and is manufactured at low cost. 
     The present invention can be best understood through the following description and accompanying drawings wherein: 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a conventional bed; 
     FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the present invention; 
     FIG. 3 is a sectional of the present invention; 
     FIG. 4 is an enlarged perspective view of a part of the present invention; 
     FIG. 5 is a side view showing the use of the present invention; 
     FIG. 6 is a top view of the present invention; and&#39; 
     FIG. 7 is an enlarged sectional view of the ventilating device of the present invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Please refer to FIGS. 2 to  7 . The ventilating bed cushion of the present invention includes a frame  10 , a ventilating device  20 , an air supplying device  30 , an upper layer of air-permeable fabric  40  and a lower layer of waterproof fabric  50 . 
     The frame  10  is pivotally connected with a front and a rear rollers  11 ,  12 . A front and a rear cranks  111 ,  121  respectively outward extend from the front and rear rollers  11 ,  12 . 
     The ventilating device  20  has a polished upper surface and a lower surface with low frictional coefficient. The upper surface is formed with multiple vents  2 l. The ventilating device  20  is formed with an inner air guide way  22 . In addition, the ventilating device  20  is disposed with multiple connecting straps  23  for connecting with the front and rear rollers  11 ,  12 . 
     A switch  31  (or a flow controlling valve) and a connecting tube  32  are disposed between the air supplying device  30  and the ventilating device  20  for supplying a predetermined amount of air to the ventilating device  20  or shutting off the air. 
     The soft upper air-permeable fabric  40  and the lower waterproof fabric  50  are both fixed on the frame  10  to enclose the ventilating device  20 . 
     In operation, in the case that a ventilation operation is performed to the back of a user lying on the present invention, an operator can crank (or scroll) the front or the rear crank  11 ,  12 . Accordingly, by means of the pulling of the connecting straps  23 , the ventilating device  30  is moved to a desired position for supplying a predetermined amount of air to the surface of a user&#39;s body lying on the upper air-permeable fabric  40 . 
     The present invention has the following functions and advantages: 
     1. Avoiding decubitus: With respect to physically defective users, such as an old-timer, a patient living in a hospital and a maimed person, a specific portion of the body can be forcedly ventilated so as to avoid decubitus caused by long term of poor ventilation of the skin. 
     2. Steaming and massaging treatment effect: The air supplying device can provide an air flow at a normal temperature. Moreover, the air supplying device can provide hot wind or steam instead of the air for thermally treating a specific portion of the patient&#39;s body such as the waist. Furthermore, the air supplying device can be used in cooperation with specific herbal medicine to achieve a herbal steaming treatment effect. Also, when moving the air supplying device, a massaging effect is achieved for the patient&#39;s back. 
     3. Wide application range: The present invention is applicable to a clinic bed of a hospital, a domestic bed and even a spring bed cushion with sufficient height. The present invention is only rested on the existent bed without changing the structure of the bed. 
     4. Simple operation: The cranks are manually operable to move the air supplying device. Therefore, a relative or a medical guardian taking care of the patient can easily operate the present invention. 
     5. Simple structure: The present invention is composed of a frame, a ventilating device, an air supplying device, an upper layer of air-permeable fabric and a lower layer of waterproof fabric so that the components of the present invention are simple. 
     6. Low manufacturing cost: The present invention is manufactured at low cost so that the patient can easily afford the present invention.