Patent Description:
Patients in hospital, for example, spend long periods confined to their bed, and they may, from time to time, wish to sit up in bed for medical reasons such as improvement in oxygenation - or for reading, eating or watching television. There is a tendency for them to slip down the bed after a while, simply due to the weight of the upper part of the body and the lack of friction between their clothes and the bedsheet over the mattress. The patient's back may be supported by pillows against a vertical or adjustable semi-vertical bedhead, and these too tend to slip so that they are no longer in the optimal position. To regain the upright or semi-upright position, the patient not only has to push himself back to the upright position, but also has to replace the pillows, which is itself an awkward action. This can be strenuous and distressing especially for weaker patients such as elderly patients. In some circumstances, nurse time is taken-up readjusting patients.

Hospital beds for use in intensive care can be arranged so that the mattress is adjustably inclined, so that the patient is at the best inclination for their medical treatment and recovery. Again, however, a patient tends to slip down the bed, until such time as the patient's centre of gravity is at the lowest position in the bed.

Similar problems arise, of course, with ordinary household beds, when the occupants wish to sit up for reading, eating or watching television, for example.

Some beds have been devised so as to avoid such problems by having different sections of the mattress each of which can have their angle of inclination adjusted. However, these are complex and expensive, and their success in preventing slipping has been limited. Accordingly, the purpose of the present invention is to provide a simple alternative, capable of widespread use.

<CIT> discloses a support pillow comprising a pillow-fill unit comprising pillow fill material, a neck support unit comprising an inflatable air bladder, and a pillowcase having a first sleeve for receiving the pillow-fill unit and a second sleeve for receiving the neck support unit.

<CIT> discloses a mattress including a plurality of individually removable fillers, the mattress having openings to allow removal of the fillers and closure members for the openings with hookless fastening means to retain the closure in a closed position.

According to the invention a support apparatus is provided for use in supporting a person propped-up in bed to prevent that person from slipping down the bed, comprising a sheet having a pocket, and an inflated bolster removably received therein, such that in use with the sheet arranged on the bed, the bolster is arrangeable between the person's pelvis and knees, wherein the inflated bolster includes an outer relatively low-friction sleeve for aiding the insertion and removal of the bolster into and out of the pocket, and wherein the bolster comprises a dump valve at one end thereof for rapid deflation of the bolster if necessary, characterised in that the low-friction sleeve comprises a handle at one end thereof to aid removal of the bolster from the pocket, the sheet comprises tightening means for pulling its sides towards one another underneath the mattress to thereby reduce the risk of the sheet and bolster moving down the bed in use, and the tightening means comprise a strap or cord.

In use, if an emergency requires the patient to be laid flat, such as for treating a sudden cardiac arrest, the dump valve may be opened to deflate the bolster. Alternatively, or additionally, the bolster may be quickly removed from the pocket.

The low friction sleeve not only eases the insertion and withdrawal of the bolster into and out of the pocket, but it will also reduce pressure sores due to the bolster being able to move more easily relative to the pocket, and thus the patient.

The bolster may be elongate and typically, but not exclusively, cylindrical, or have a semi-circular longitudinal cross-section; however, other shapes are contemplated. When inflated, the bolster may take the form of a relatively rigid object, such that in use, the person may lie with their thighs resting over the bolster so that the bolster provides a horizontal reaction force, preventing them from slipping down the bed.

The dump valve may include an orifice having a relatively large diameter (for example <NUM>). The sheet may comprise cotton, polyester, low friction material, and other materials typically used for bedding.

The sheet may comprise a mattress pocket at one end thereof for fitting over the mattress at the head-end of the bed. The term "mattress pocket" may include the tailored head-end of a 'fitted-sheet' style sheet.

The sheet may have a length such that it only extends approximately half-way along the length of a standard adult size bed.

The tightening means may comprise eyelets in the sheet. In this way, a cord may be used to lace the sides together.

The bolster may be arranged in two inflatable parts leaving a gap therebetween approximately at the centre, width-wise, of the bed. This may decrease pressure on certain parts of the patient's body, especially for males.

The longitudinal cross-section of the pocket may be cylindrical, or semi-circular; however, other shapes are contemplated. The pocket may be open at either or both ends. The bolster may be long enough to extend substantially the full width of a single bed.

The support apparatus may include an integral air pump for inflating the bolster. The support apparatus may include two handles on the low friction sleeve, one arranged at either end of the bolster. The bolster may include a dump valve at either end of the bolster. The bolster may include two outer, concentric, relatively low-friction sleeves for aiding the insertion and removal of the bolster into and out of the pocket.

It is to be understood that the terms so used are interchangeable under appropriate circumstances and that operation is capable in other sequences than described or illustrated herein. Likewise, method steps described or claimed in a particular sequence may be understood to operate in a different sequence.

Reference throughout this specification to "an embodiment" or "an aspect" means that a particular feature, structure or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment or aspect is included in at least one embodiment or aspect of the present invention. Thus, appearances of the phrases "in one embodiment", "in an embodiment", or "in an aspect" in various places throughout this specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment or aspect, but may refer to different embodiments or aspects. Furthermore, the particular features, structures or characteristics of any one embodiment or aspect of the invention may be combined in any suitable manner with any other particular feature, structure or characteristic of another embodiment or aspect of the invention, as would be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art from this disclosure, in one or more embodiments or aspects.

The use of the term "at least one" may mean only one in certain circumstances. The use of the term "any" may mean "all" and/or "each" in certain circumstances.

The principles of the invention will now be described by a detailed description of at least one drawing relating to exemplary features. It is clear that other arrangements can be configured according to the knowledge of persons skilled in the art without departing from the underlying concept or technical teaching, the invention being limited only by the terms of the appended claims.

With reference to <FIG>, a first arrangement <NUM> is shown comprising a portion of a mattress <NUM> with a bedsheet <NUM> arranged over the top of the mattress. The outline of the part of the mattress hidden by the bedsheet <NUM> is shown in broken lines. A fitted "pocket" <NUM> is provided at the head-end of the bedsheet to fit around the head-end of the mattress <NUM> to maintain the sheet in place in use. The bedsheet <NUM> includes a pocket <NUM> into which a bolster <NUM> may be removably insertable. The bedsheet is arranged to cover a predetermined fraction, for example one third, or one half, of the length of a standard single mattress, and to span the full width of the mattress. Although not shown, the sheet may be wide enough to be tucked under the mattress along the sides of the bed.

The bolster <NUM> is cylindrical in shape with a circular cross-section. It is an inflatable bladder of suitable gas-impermeable, puncture-resistant fabric. A dump valve <NUM> is provided at one end thereof for inflating the bolster under normal lung pressure, and for allowing it to be deflated. When deflated, the bolster can be folded or rolled and can be packed away with the bedsheet <NUM>.

The bolster <NUM> is shown in more detail in <FIG>, where the low-friction sleeve <NUM> is shown as close-fitting to the outer surface of the inflatable bladder <NUM>. The low-friction sleeve <NUM> is shown, in this case, in the form of an open-ended cylinder. At one end a handle in the form of a strap <NUM> is arranged across the open end of the cylinder. Optionally, another one is arranged at the other end of the cylinder. These aid the insertion and removal of the bolster <NUM> from the pocket <NUM>. The dump valve <NUM> is also visible at one end. Optionally, another one is arranged at the other end of the cylinder.

As shown in <FIG>, the bedsheet <NUM> is positioned on a typically horizontal, planar mattress <NUM> arranged on a bed frame <NUM> such that, in use, with a patient <NUM> sitting upright with his back against a cushion or pillow <NUM>, his thighs <NUM> are resting against the bolster <NUM>. The bolster is arranged between the patient's pelvis <NUM> and knees <NUM>. Preferably, it is located at the top of the patient's thighs. The bolster <NUM> exerts a reaction force on the patient's thighs <NUM> and pelvis <NUM>, preventing him from sliding down the bed.

In <FIG>, the mattress <NUM> has been bent into an approximate "L" shape such that the head-end is raised relative to the foot-end, and the foot-end is raised slightly, relatively to the frame <NUM>. A bolster <NUM> is provided on a bedsheet <NUM> and is arranged between the patient's <NUM> pelvis <NUM> and knees <NUM> to thereby prevent the patient from slipping down the bed.

An alternative, or additional arrangement <NUM> for securing the bedsheet to a mattress is shown in <FIG> which shows the underside of a mattress <NUM>. The bedsheet <NUM> includes a pocket <NUM> at the head-end to secure it to the mattress and prevent movement thereof towards the foot-end. However, this pocket <NUM> is optional in this case because eyelets <NUM> are provided on the sides of the bedsheet towards the head-end when fitted, and at the head-end, when fitted. A cord <NUM> is laced through the various eyelets <NUM> and tightened to help retain the bedsheet <NUM> in place on the bed and prevent movement relative thereto. The outline of the part of the mattress hidden by the bedsheet <NUM> is shown in broken lines.

Claim 1:
A support apparatus for use in supporting a person (<NUM>) propped-up in bed to prevent that person from slipping down the bed, comprising a sheet (<NUM>,<NUM>) having a bolster pocket (<NUM>), and an inflated bolster (<NUM>) removably received therein, such that in use with the sheet (<NUM>,<NUM>) arranged on the bed, the inflated bolster (<NUM>) is arrangeable between the person's pelvis (<NUM>) and knees (<NUM>), wherein the inflated bolster (<NUM>) includes an outer relatively low-friction sleeve (<NUM>) for aiding the insertion and removal of the inflated bolster (<NUM>) into and out of the bolster pocket (<NUM>), and wherein the inflated bolster (<NUM>) comprises a dump valve (<NUM>) at one end thereof for rapid deflation of the inflated bolster (<NUM>) if necessary, characterised in that the low-friction sleeve (<NUM>) comprises a handle (<NUM>) at one end thereof to aid removal of the inflated bolster (<NUM>) from the bolster pocket (<NUM>), the sheet (<NUM>,<NUM>) comprises tightening means for pulling its sides towards one another underneath the mattress (<NUM>,<NUM>) to thereby reduce the risk of the sheet (<NUM>,<NUM>) and inflated bolster (<NUM>) moving down the bed in use, and the tightening means comprise a strap (<NUM>) or cord (<NUM>).