Stand alone integrated cushion

• US 20040261184A1
• Filed: 06/27/2003
• Published: 12/30/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 06/27/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Gaymar Industries Incorporated (Stryker Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Gaymar Industries Incorporated (Stryker Corporation)
• Inventors: Flick, Roland E.
• Application Number:
  US10/608,649
• Publication Number:
  US 20040261184A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 5/713
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 20/048 by fluid means
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 27/083 with pressure control, e.g. with pressure sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 27/10 with two or more independently-fillable chambers
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/05769 with inflatable chambers

Abstract

The present invention is directed to a stand alone integrated mattress. The system has a self-contained mattress unit, at least one inflatable bladder, at least one fluid source, at least one dispersion unit and at least one control unit. The self-contained mattress unit has at least a head section and a foot section, and is capable of converting from a horizontal position or an inclined position to a chair-like conformation. There is at least one inflatable bladder in each section of the self-contained mattress unit. There is also at least fluid source. In addition there is at least one dispersion unit in each section and each dispersion unit provides a fluid, obtained from the fluid source, to a conduit which directs the fluid into the inflatable bladder positioned in the section of the dispersion unit. The control system is positioned in one of the sections and interconnected to each dispersion unit to control the dispersion of the fluid to the inflatable bladders in each section.

Claims

1. A stand alone integrated mattress comprising:

a self-contained mattress unit having at least a head section and a foot section, and capable of converting from a horizontal position or an inclined position to a chair-like conformation;

at least one inflatable bladder in each section of the self-contained mattress unit;

at least one fluid source;

at least one dispersion unit in each section and each dispersion unit provides a fluid, obtained from the fluid source, to a conduit which directs the fluid into the inflatable bladder positioned in the section of the dispersion unit;

a control system positioned in one of the sections and interconnected to each dispersion unit to control the dispersion of the fluid to the inflatable bladders in each section.

2. The stand alone integrated mattress of claim 1 wherein the at least one fluid source is ambient air.

3. The stand alone integrated mattress of claim 1 wherein the at least one fluid source is selected from the group consisting of a reservoir, ambient air and combinations thereof.

4. The stand alone integrated mattress of claim 1 wherein the fluid is selected from the group consisting of air and an aqueous solution.

5. The stand alone integrated mattress of claim 1 wherein the inflatable bladders are capable of vibrating, rotating, creating wave motions, providing not direct percussion, providing support, and combinations thereof to a user of the mattress.

6. The stand alone integrated mattress of claim 1 wherein the control system has an input unit that allows an operator to input data to control at least the inflation and/or deflation of the inflatable bladders.

7. The stand alone integrated mattress of claim 6 wherein the input unit is interconnected to the control unit as an integrated component thereof.

8. The stand alone integrated mattress of claim 6 wherein the input unit is interconnected to the control unit by a tethered electrical connection.

9. The stand alone integrated mattress of claim 6 wherein the input unit is interconnected to the control unit through an electrically connected hinge.

10. The stand alone integrated mattress of claim 6 wherein the input unit has a SIMM daughter board that interconnects to the control unit.

11. The stand alone integrated mattress of claim 6 wherein the input unit transmits a remote wireless signal to a receiver on the control unit.

12. A stand alone integrated mattress comprising:

a mattress unit having at least a head section and a foot section;

at least one inflatable bladder in each section of the self-contained mattress unit;

at least one fluid source;

at least one dispersion unit in the mattress and the dispersion unit provides a fluid, obtained from the fluid source, to a conduit which directs the fluid into the inflatable bladder;

a control system positioned in one of the sections and interconnected to each dispersion unit to control the dispersion of the fluid to the inflatable bladders

wherein the control system has an input unit that allows an operator to input data to control at least the inflation and/or deflation of the inflatable bladders

wherein the input unit is selected from the group consisting of the input unit (1) is interconnected to the control unit by a tethered electrical connection, (2) transmits a remote signal to a receiver on the control unit, (3) has a SIMM daughter board that interconnects to the control unit, or (4) is interconnected to the control unit through an electrically connected hinge.

13. The mattress of claim 12 wherein the mattress unit is a self-contained capable of converting from a horizontal position or an inclined position to a chair-like conformation;

wherein each section has at least one dispersion unit and each dispersion unit provides the fluid, obtained from the fluid source, to the conduit which directs the fluid into the inflatable bladder positioned in the section of the dispersion unit;

the control system positioned in one of the sections and interconnected to each dispersion unit to control the dispersion of the fluid to the inflatable bladders in each section.

14. The mattress of claim 13 wherein at least one fluid source is ambient air.

15. The mattress of claim 13 wherein the at least one fluid source is selected from the group consisting of a reservoir, ambient air and combinations thereof.

16. The mattress of claim 13 wherein the fluid is selected from the group consisting of air and an aqueous solution.

17. The mattress of claim 13 wherein the inflatable bladders are capable of vibrating, rotating, creating wave motions, providing percussion, providing support, and combinations thereof to a user of the mattress.