# US 9,526,349 B2 · Patient support cover > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,526,349 B2 - Document ID: US9526349B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 14/308,131 - Filed: 2014-06-18 - Published: 2014-12-25 - Granted: 2016-12-27 - Earliest claimed: 2013-06-19 - Assignees: Stryker Corporation - Applicants: Stryker Corporation - Inventors: Patrick Lafleche; Christopher Cate; Todd Zeilinger; Kent Douglas Pilcher; Stephen F. Peters; Michael T. Brubaker; Manikantan Seshradinathan; David Allen Dunlap; Ryan Ross - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9526349B2 ## CPC - A47C 27/10: with two or more independently-fillable chambers - A47C 27/088: {incorporating elastic bodies, e.g. foam} - A61G 7/001: {with means for turning-over the patient} - A61G 7/05: Parts, details or accessories of beds (devices for prevention against falling out A47C21/08, A47D7/00 {; mattresses A47C27/00}) - A61G 7/05776: {with at least two groups of alternately inflated chambers} - A61G 2205/50: using icons or symbolic figures, e.g. by a graphical representation symbolising the type of pathology or the organ by an image - A47C: CHAIRS; SOFAS; BEDS - 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 A cover for a mattress for supporting a patient is adapted to provide a generally smooth top surface over the mattress while still accommodating the movement of portions of the mattress or changes in thickness of the mattress, for example, when turning the patient. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A patient support comprising: a mattress; and a cover, the cover including an upper panel of flexible fabric extending over a top side of the mattress, a lower panel extending under a bottom side of the mattress, and end panels and side panels joined with the upper panel and with the lower panel, the side panels each extending along a respective side of the mattress and having upper and lower edges, the upper edges of the side panels being joined with the upper panel, the lower edges of the side panels being joined with the lower panel, and the side panels being configured to prevent liquid intrusion into the mattress and further so that their upper and lower edges separate and/or diverge to accommodate variations in height of the mattress to allow the upper panel to remain generally smooth even when the mattress undergoes a change in its surface topology, wherein the side panels each include a fold, the folds at least partially unfolding from an unexpanded configuration to an expanded configuration when the side of the mattress to which it is adjacent increases in height. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The patient support according to claim 1, wherein the cover includes a zipper. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The patient support according to claim 2, wherein each of the side panels includes an upper side panel portion and a lower side panel portion, the upper side panel portions are joined with the upper panel, the lower side panel portions are joined with the lower panel, and the zipper joins the upper side panel portions with the lower side panel portions. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The patient support according to claim 3, wherein the upper side panel portions each include a flap of fabric extending over the zipper when the zipper is closed. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The patient support according to claim 4, wherein each flap is formed by a loop of fabric. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The patient support according to claim 1, wherein each of the folds is biased in its non-expanded configuration such that when the mattress increases in height, at least a portion of one fold of the folds will at least partially unfold, but when the mattress decreases in height, the one fold will generally return to a non-expanded configuration. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The patient support according to claim 6, wherein each of the folds may be biased in its un-expanded configuration by one or more elastic strands. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The patient support according to claim 7, wherein the one or more elastic strands extend between the upper panel and the lower panel. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The patient support according to claim 1, wherein the mattress includes a plurality of inflatable bladders. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The patient support according to claim 9, wherein the inflatable bladders are supported on a foam crib. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The patient support according to claim 9 further comprising turning bladders positioned in the cover beneath the inflatable bladders. ### Claim 12 A patient support comprising: a cushioning layer; and a cover with an upper side extending over the cushioning layer and two sides joined with the upper side, the two sides extending along the sides of the cushioning layer and secured at a bottom side of the cushioning layer, and the two sides being configured to fold or unfold to accommodate variations in height of the cushioning layer to allow the upper side of the cover to remain generally smooth even when the cushioning layer undergoes a change in its surface topology. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The patient support according to claim 12, wherein the cushioning layer comprises a cushioning system, said cushioning system including a bladder layer or a gel layer or a foam layer or a combination of a gel layer and a foam layer. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The patient support according to claim 12, wherein the sides are secured at the bottom side of the cushioning layer by a bottom panel that extends under the bottom side of the cushioning layer. ### Claim 15 (depends on 12) The patient support according to claim 12, wherein the cover is formed from an upper panel, the upper panel forming the upper side, and the two sides are formed by side panels joined with the upper panel. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The patient support according to claim 15, wherein the cover further includes a bottom panel joined with the side panels. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The patient support according to claim 15, wherein the upper panel is formed from a liquid impermeable material.