Inflatable mattress and bed assembly with taut, tensioned cover
OwnerEarl D. Musicinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A bed assembly for preventing the occurrence of bed sores on long term patients includes a bed frame which has a structural perimeter framework. An inflatable mattress has a bottom supported on the bed frame. The mattress has a top and a mattress periphery surrounding the top. A covering overlies the top of the inflatable mattress. The covering has a covering periphery. A plurality of tensioning devices are placed about the covering periphery and connected between the covering and the structural perimeter framework for holding the covering taut and smooth over the top of the inflatable mattress, and for holding down the mattress and preventing the mattress periphery from bending upwardly when a patient lies on the inflatable mattress.
Claims34
A bed assembly, comprising:
- a bed frame including a structural perimeter framework;
- an inflatable mattress having a bottom supported on said bed frame, said mattress having a top and a mattress periphery surrounding said top;
- a covering overlying said top of said inflatable mattress, said covering having a covering periphery with a plurality of connecting points throughout said periphery;
- and
- a plurality of tensioning means, placed about said covering periphery and connected between said connecting points and said structural perimeter framework, for holding said covering taut and smooth over said top of said inflatable mattress, and for holding down said mattress and preventing said mattress periphery from bending upwardly when a patient lies on said inflatable mattress.
An articulated bed assembly for use by a long term invalid patient, comprising:
- an articulated bed frame;
- an inflatable mattress supported on said articulated bed frame;
- a covering overlying said inflatable mattress, said covering having a plurality of connecting points along all sides of a periphery thereof;
- and
- a plurality of resilient tensioning means placed about said covering and attached between said connecting points and said articulated bed frame, for tensioning said covering in all directions on the plane of said covering and for holding said covering taut and smooth over said inflatable mattress in multiple articulated positions of said articulated bed frame, and for holding down said mattress and preventing said mattress from bending upwardly when a patient lies on said mattress.
A mattress assembly for use on a bed frame, comprising:
- an inflatable mattress;
- a covering means for covering said inflatable mattress, said covering means having a plurality of connecting points around all sides of a periphery thereof;
- and
- a plurality of tensioning means, adapted to be connected between said connecting points and said bed frame, for holding and covering taut and smooth over said inflatable mattress, and for holding down said mattress and preventing a periphery of said mattress from bending upwardly when a patient lies on said inflatable mattress.
A method of reducing the occurrence of bedsores on long-term bedridden patients, comprising:
- (a) providing an articulated bed frame and an inflatable mattress supported on said articulated bed frame;
- (b) covering said inflatable mattress with a cover;
- (c) applying tension forces between said articulated bed frame and a plurality of connecting points throughout a periphery of said cover and thereby holding said cover taut and smooth over said inflatable mattress in multiple articulated positions of said articulated bed frame;
- and
- (d) laying the patient directly on top of said covering.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.