Method and apparatus for receiving fluids and wastes of a bedridden patient

• US 4,847,932 A
• Filed: 05/16/1988
• Issued: 07/18/1989
• Est. Priority Date: 05/16/1988
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Louis J. Baribault Jr
• Original Assignee: Louis J. Baribault Jr
• Inventors: Baribault, Louis J. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Smith, Gary L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Milano, Michael J.
• Application Number:
  US07/194,278
• Time in Patent Office: 428 Days
• Field of Search: 5/463, 5/91, 5/90, 5/484, 5/486, 5/487, 4/451, 4/452
• US Class Current: 5/695
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/02 with toilet conveniences, or specially adapted for use with toilets

Abstract

An apparatus for receiving fluids and wastes of a bedridden patient including a mattress with an elongated cavity generally in the middle portion, the cavity being the depth of the mattress and having an upper edge defined by the top surface of the mattress adjacent the cavity. A plug is selectively movable between an inserted position, which inserted position fills the cavity and makes the top surface of the mattress even. When the plug is in the retracted position, the cavity is open. A bottom sheet fitted over the mattress has a head portion, a foot portion and sides which cover the mattress. The bottom sheet also includes an opening registerable with the cavity in the mattress. An auxiliary short sheet is fitted over the bottom sheet and includes a body section that extends at least half way down the mattress to cover the plug. A waste container is also provided for inserting into the cavity of the mattress when the cavity is open. The invention further provides a method for receiving fluids and wastes from a bedridden patient which includes positioning the patient on the apparatus. The auxiliary short sheet is moved to expose the plug and the patient is positioned with legs astraddle the plug. The plug is removed from the cavity and the waste container is placed in the cavity and slid up under the patient. After the patient has deposited body wastes in the container, the container is removed and the plug reinserted into the cavity opening. The auxiliary short sheet is then placed back in position to cover the plug.

Claims

1. An apparatus for receiving fluids and wastes of bedridden patents consisting of:

a mattress having an elongated cavity formed generally in the middle thereof, said cavity being the depth of the mattress and having an upper edge defined by the top surface of the mattress adjacent said cavity;

a plug which is selectively movable between an inserted position wherein said plug fills the cavity and makes the top surface of the mattress even; and

a retracted position wherein said plug is removed from said cavity to leave said cavity open;

the plug extending lengthwise in the mattress and having head and foot ends thereof;

a bottom sheet having a head portion, a foot portion, and sides which cover the mattress, said bottom sheet having an opening registerable with said cavity;

an auxiliary sheet having a top section fitted over the head portion of the bottom sheet, and a body section extending only partially down the mattress a sufficient distance to cover said plug;

the auxiliary sheet terminating adjacent the foot end of the plug;

wherein, the auxiliary sheet includes both an overlapping flap and an underlapping flap movable between an open position and a closed position relative to said cavity wherein said overlapping flap overlies said underlapping flap in said closed position;

a waste container for inserting into the cavity of the mattress when said cavity is open, said container being shorter than the long dimension of the cavity to allow the container to be inserted into the cavity and then slide between the legs and then under the patient, wherein a longitudinal axis of the waste container is generally in alignment with the longitudinal axis of said mattress, eliminating the normal necessity of moving the patient for elimination to take place;

wherein, the waste container has a flanged top edge which rests on the upper edge of the cavity to support the container from dropping to the bottom of the cavity and the waste container has one end extending higher than the opposite end to form a handle for ease of insertion into and removal from said cavity, and also to serve as a splash shield; and

,

a removable liner for said waste container for ease of disposal of waste contents deposited into said removable liner.