# US 7,406,723 B2 · Inflatable mattress and method for positioning a patient

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- Number: US 7,406,723 B2
- Document ID: US7406723B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 11/848,329
- Filed: 2007-08-31
- Published: 2007-12-20
- Granted: 2008-08-05
- Earliest claimed: 2005-10-31
- Assignees: Woodlark Circle, Inc.
- Inventors: David T. Davis
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US7406723B2

## CPC

- A61G 7/05769: {with inflatable chambers}
- A61G 7/0755: {for the legs or feet}
- A61G 7/02: with toilet conveniences, or specially adapted for use with toilets
- A61G 7/1026: {Sliding sheets or mats}
- A61G 7/1028: {by a support moving on air cushion}
- A61G 2200/32: lying
- A61G: TRANSPORT, PERSONAL CONVEYANCES OR ACCOMMODATION SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR PATIENTS OR DISABLED PERSONS (appliances for aiding patients or disabled persons to walk A61H3/00); OPERATING TABLES OR CHAIRS; CHAIRS FOR DENTISTRY; FUNERAL DEVICES (embalming corpses A01N1/00)

## Abstract

An inflatable mattress having an inflated torso support pad, a first leg extending out from a first portion of the inflated torso support pad, and a second leg spaced from the first leg and extending out from a second portion of the inflated torso support pad. The first leg and the second leg define a gap between them to allow the legs to be spread apart for toileting or cleaning of the patient, or deflated and rolled upon themselves so as to provide easy access to the patient during clinical procedures. A method is provided for positioning a patient with the inflatable mattress.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A mattress adapted to support the body of a user comprising a top panel having a head portion, a first appendage portion, a second appendage portion, and a peripheral edge; a bottom panel having a head portion, a first appendage portion, a second appendage portion, a peripheral edge, and a plurality of perforations, said perforations providing a weight-bearing cushion of air that facilitates sliding when said mattress is being inflated; and a perimeter band having a top edge and a bottom edge so that said peripheral edge of said top panel is sealingly fastened to said top edge of said perimeter band and said peripheral edge of said bottom panel is sealingly fastened to said bottom edge of said perimeter band thereby forming a torso support pad, a first leg extending out from a portion of said torso support pad, and a second leg spaced from said first leg and extending out from said portion of said torso support pad, wherein said first leg and said second leg define a gap between them so as to be movable between (i) a first adjacent position, and (ii) a second spaced-apart position, and are simultaneously inflatable with said torso support pad, and further including an air inlet port positioned in a portion of said perimeter band.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

A mattress according to claim 1 wherein said first leg and said second leg are rollable upon themselves while in a substantially deflated state.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

A mattress according to claim 1 wherein said first leg and said second leg are arranged in air flow communication with one another.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

A mattress according to claim 1 further defining a crotch between said first leg and said second leg at a terminal end of said gap.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

A mattress according to claim 1 wherein said crotch comprises a shape comprising at least one of circular, trapezoidal, and oval.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

A mattress according to claim 1 including a retaining strap extending from an end surface of said first leg to an end surface of said second leg so as to limit spreading of said legs during transport.

### Claim 7

A method of positioning a patient for treatment comprising:
(A) providing an inflatable mattress a top panel having a head portion, a first appendage portion, a second appendage portion, and a peripheral edge; a bottom panel having a head portion, a first appendage portion, a second appendage portion, a peripheral edge, and a plurality of perforations; and a perimeter band having a top edge and a bottom edge so that said peripheral edge of said top panel is sealingly fastened to said top edge of said perimeter band and said peripheral edge of said bottom panel is sealingly fastened to said bottom edge of said perimeter band thereby forming a torso support pad, a first leg extending out from a portion of said torso support pad, and a second leg spaced from said first leg and extending out from said portion of said torso support pad, wherein said first leg and said second leg define a gap between them so as to be movable between (i) a first adjacent position, and (ii) a second spaced-apart position, and are simultaneously inflatable with said torso support pad, and further including an air inlet port positioned in a portion of said perimeter band;
(B) positioning said patient upon said inflatable mattress;
(C) inflating a torso support section, a first leg support section and a second leg support section so as to fully support said patient;
(D) repositioning said inflated mattress;
(E) deflating said first leg support and said second leg support; and
(F) rolling said deflated first and second leg supports upon themselves and toward said torso support section.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

A method according to claim 7 including:
(G) unrolling said deflated first and second leg supports so as to be repositioned under said patient's legs; and
(H) reinflating said deflated first and second leg supports.

### Claim 9

A method of positioning a patient for treatment comprising;
(A) positioning said patient upon a deflated inflatable mattress comprising an inflatable mattress a top panel having a head portion, a first appendage portion, a second appendage portion, and a peripheral edge; a bottom panel having a head portion, a first appendage portion, a second appendage portion, a peripheral edge, and a plurality of perforations; and a perimeter band having a top edge and a bottom edge so that said peripheral edge of said top panel is sealingly fastened to said top edge of said perimeter band and said peripheral edge of said bottom panel is sealingly fastened to said bottom edge of said perimeter band thereby forming a torso support pad, a first leg extending out from a portion of said torso support pad, and a second leg spaced from said first leg and extending out from said portion of said torso support pad, wherein said first leg and said second leg define a gap between them so as to be movable between (i) a first adjacent position, and (ii) a second spaced-apart position, and are simultaneously inflatable with said torso support pad, and further including an air inlet port positioned in a portion of said perimeter band;
(C) inflating said torso support pad, said first leg and said second leg so as to fully support said patient;
(D) repositioning said inflated mattress;
(E) deflating said first leg and said second leg; and
(F) rolling said deflated first and second legs upon themselves and toward said inflated torso support pad.

### Claim 10

A mattress adapted to support the body of a user comprising a top panel having a head portion, a first appendage portion, a second appendage portion, and a peripheral edge; a bottom panel having a head portion, a first appendage portion, a second appendage portion, a peripheral edge, and a plurality of perforations, said perforations providing a weight-bearing cushion of air that facilitates sliding when said mattress is being inflated; wherein said peripheral edge of said top panel is sealingly connected to said peripheral edge of said bottom panel thereby forming a torso support pad, a first leg extending out from a portion of said torso support pad, and a second leg spaced from said first leg and extending out from said portion of said torso support pad, wherein said first leg and said second leg define a gap between them so as to be movable between (i) a first adjacent position, and (ii) a second spaced-apart position, and are simultaneously inflatable with said torso support pad.