Adjustable hospital mattress with removable inserts

A mattress for receiving a recumbent patient comprising:

• a main body of resilient material having a first principal surface for receiving said patient and an opposing surface, said main body including at least one cut out portion disposed to underlie a predetermined portion of said patient;
• a flexible generally impervious main covering, surrounding said main body, generally conforming to the exterior shape of said main body, and extending across said cut out portion to define, in cooperation with said cut out portion, a recess of a predetermined depth with respect to said principal surface;
• a first adhesion element, comprising a mesh formed of a first material of the type which releasably adheredly interacts with a second material when such first and second materials are pressed together;
• said first adhesion element covering said main covering in said recess substantially completely;
• a plurality of inserts of predetermined shape of a height in accordance with said predetermined depth, adapted to be received in said recess each of said inserts comprising:
• an insert body of resilient material;
• a generally impervious insert covering, surrounding said insert body, generally conforming to the shape of the insert body;
• vent means, for permitting air to communicate through said insert covering to said insert body;
• and
• a second adhesion element, formed of said second material, fixed to said insert covering, disposed to interact with said first adhesion element, to releasably fix said insert within said recess, the position of said insert being adjustable over a continuous range of positions over substantially the entirety of said main covering within said recess.

In a mattress of the type comprising a body including a cut out section disposed to underlie a patient recumbent thereon, and insert cushions adapted to be received in said cut out section, the improvement wherein said mattress further includes:

• a first cover element, formed of flexible, generally impervious, material, covering the exterior surfaces of said main body and forming a floor in respect of said cut out section;
• second cover elements, associated with each said insert cushion, formed of flexible, generally impervious, material and covering the exterior surfaces of said associated insert cushion;
• respective vent means, at least one associated with each of said insert cushions, for facilitating compression and re-expansion of said insert cushion, each of said vent means comprising a screen covering an orifice in each of said second cover elements and a flexible, generally impervious flap depending from each insert cushion and folded over said screen from above said screen to completely cover said screen, said flap being effective for preventing soiling liquids running down the side of said insert cushions from entering said insert cushion through said screen;
• repeatable adhesion means for releasably securing said insert cushions within said cut out section, said adhesion means comprising a first element disposed on said floor of said cut out section and respective second elements disposed on said insert cushions, said first and second adhesion means elements being formed of respective materials which releasably interact to adhere when pressed together;
• and
• a step disposed on each of said second cover elements for preventing said flap from obstructing air flow through said screen.

A mattress for receiving a recumbent patient comprising:

• a main body of resilient material having a first principal surface for receiving said patient and an opposing surface, said main body including at least one cut out portion disposed to underlie a predetermined portion of said patient;
• a flexible generally impervious main covering, surrounding said main body, generally conforming to the exterior shape of said main body, and extending across said cut out portion to define, in cooperation with said cut out portion, a recess of a predetermined depth with respect to said principal surface;
• a first adhesion element, comprising a mesh formed of a first material of the type which releasably adheredly interacts with a second material when such first and second materials are pressed together;
• said first adhesion element overlying said main covering in said recess;
• a plurality of inserts of predetermined shape of a height in accordance with said predetermined depth, adapted to be received in said recess each of said inserts comprising:
• an insert body of resilient material;
• a generally impervious insert covering, surrounding said insert body, generally conforming to the shape of the insert body;
• vent means, for permitting air to communicate through said insert covering to said insert body;
• and
• a second adhesion element, formed of said second material, fixed to said insert covering, disposed to interact with said first adhesion element, to releasably fix said insert within said recess;
• wherein said second adhesion elements each comprise a plurality of strips, and said second adhesion elements each include a first pair of parallel, spaced apart strips disposed on undersides of each of said inserts, and a second pair of parallel, spaced apart strips disposed on undersides of each of said inserts, said second pair of strips being substantially perpendicular to said first pair of strips;
• and
• said vent means comprises a screen covering an orifice in said impervious insert covering, and said screen is centrally disposed on the underside of each of said insert cushions between the strips of said first pair and also between the strips of said second pair.