Heel pillow mattress

• US 5,398,354 A
• Filed: 07/07/1993
• Issued: 03/21/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 07/07/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Hill-Rom Services Incorporated (Baxter International Inc.)
• Original Assignee: B G Industries Inc.
• Inventors: Balonick, Arnold, Wyatt, Curtis, Lankard, Larry
• Primary Examiner(s): Grosz, Alexander
• Application Number:
  US08/088,135
• Time in Patent Office: 622 Days
• Field of Search: 5/464, 5/462, 5/470, 5/471, 5/481, 5/922, 5/645, 5/648, 5/473
• US Class Current: 5/728
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 27/148 of different resilience
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 27/20 with springs moulded in, or situated in cavities or openings in foamed material
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/05715 with modular blocks, or inserts, with layers of different material
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 5/922 with hook and loop type fastener

Abstract

A mattress to prevent the creation of pressure sores having a heel pillow portion intended for use in healthcare facilities having replaceable parts is disclosed. The heel pillow mattress of the present invention is made of foam and has a cavity located at the foot area of the mattress for containing a pillow therein. A soft, resilient pillow insert contained within the cavity provides cushion for the heels of a patient lying on the mattress. A layer of foam covers the top of the cavity containing the pillow insert. This layer of foam has a low indentation force deflection (IFD) to provide a high degree of cushioning for the heels. This layer of foam together with the pillow insert beneath it, provide increased cushioning when a patient'"'"'s heels apply a downward force on the mattress so that as the heels sink into the mattress, the foam layer and the pillow insert give way to the downward force of the heels and the mattress cradles the heels. The degree to which the heels sink into the mattress is proportional to the load applied. The increased cushion and cradling effect of the heel pillow mattress of the present invention effectively prevents and avoids the creation of pressure sores. The heel pillow mattress is covered by a water and moisture impervious cover.

Claims

1. A heel pillow mattress comprising:

a first layer of a compressible material;

a second layer of a compressible material, said second layer including a recess proximate one end;

an insert made of a compressible material inserted within said recess, said compressible material comprising a plurality of filler layers including a first top filler layer and a second bottom filler layer, said second bottom filler layer having a higher density and indentation force deflection than said first top filler layer; and

a cover material covering said recess

whereby when a user is lying on said heel pillow mattress, the user'"'"'s heels are positioned over said recess and are supported by said compressible material inserted within said recess.

2. The heel pillow mattress of claim 1 in which said insert is a pillow.

3. The heel pillow mattress of claim 2 in which said pillow comprises a top fabric and a backing, said top fabric fixed to said backing forming a pocket therebetween to contain said plurality of filler layers.

4. The heel pillow mattress of claim 3 in which said top fabric comprises a thin, non-woven polyester material.

5. The heel pillow mattress of claim 3 in which said backing comprises a highly densified polyester fiber, said backing having an outer surface capable of adhering to one half of a hook and loop fastening means.

6. The heel pillow mattress of claim 3 in which at least one of said plurality of filler layers is a siliconized, thermobonded hollow polyester fiber.

7. The heel pillow mattress of claim 1 in which said insert comprises a foam material.

8. The heel pillow mattress of claim 7 in which said foam insert has a different density than said second layer of compressible material.

9. The heel pillow mattress of claim 1 in which said first layer has a first section having a different density and indentation force deflection than the rest of said first layer.

10. The heel pillow mattress of claim 9 in which said first section corresponds and is positioned directly above said recess.

11. The heel pillow mattress of claim 1 in which said compressible material is foam.

12. The heel pillow mattress of claim 11 in which said foam is polyurethane having an open cell construction, said polyurethane foam being anti-microbial and flame retardant.

13. The heel pillow mattress of claim 1 in which said second layer includes body pressure relief cuts.

14. The heel pillow mattress of claim 1 including means for removably attaching said first layer to said second layer.

15. The heel pillow mattress of claim 1 in which said first and second layers of compressible material are permanently fixed to each other.

16. The heel pillow mattress of claim 1 including an outer cover for containing therein said first and second layers.

17. The heel pillow mattress of claim 16 in which said outer cover comprises a corresponding first cover portion having a top and sides enclosing at least the top surface and sides of said first layer, and a corresponding second cover portion having a bottom and sides enclosing at least the bottom surface and the sides of said second layer.

18. The heel pillow mattress of claim 17 including zipper means for removably attaching said first cover portion to said second cover portion, said zipper means being covered on both its interior and exterior sides by at least one of said sides of said first and second covers.

19. The heel pillow mattress of claim 17 including means for removably fixing at least one of said layers in relationship to its corresponding cover.

20. A heel pillow mattress comprising:

a first foam layer having a top surface, a bottom surface and sides;

a second foam layer having a top surface, a bottom surface, and sides, said second foam layer having a cut-out therethrough proximate one end;

a third foam layer having a top surface, a bottom surface and sides, the bottom surface of said second foam layer being secured by adhesive means to the top surface of said third foam layer, said cut-out defining the opening of a recess in the top surface of said second layer, the top surface of said third foam layer defining the bottom surface of said recess; and

an insert made of a compressible material inserted within said recess, said compressible material comprising a plurality of filler layers including a first top filler layer and a second bottom filler layer, said second bottom filler layer having a higher density and indentation force deflection than said first top filler layer, said first foam layer covering said recess

whereby when a user is lying on said heel pillow mattress, the user'"'"'s heels are positioned over said recess and are supported by said compressible material inserted within said recess.

21. The heel pillow mattress of claim 20 in which said second foam layer has the same or lower density and a higher indentation force deflection than said first foam layer.

22. The heel pillow mattress of claim 20 in which said third foam layer has the same density and same or higher indentation force deflection as said second foam layer.

23. The heel pillow mattress of claim 20 in which said first foam layer having at least a first section having a different density and indentation force deflection than the rest of said first foam layer.

24. The heel pillow of claim 23 in which said first section of said first foam layer is positioned directly above said recess.

25. The heel pillow mattress of claim 20 in which said insert is a pillow.

26. The heel pillow mattress of claim 25 in which said pillow comprises a top fabric and a backing, said top fabric fixed to said backing forming a pocket therebetween to contain said plurality of filler layers.

27. The heel pillow mattress of claim 26 in which said top fabric comprises a thin, non-woven polyester material.

28. The heel pillow mattress of claim 26 in which said backing comprises a highly densified polyester fiber, said backing having an outer surface capable of adhering to one half of a hook and loop fastening means.

29. The pillow of claim 26 in which at least one of said plurality of filler layers is a siliconized, thermobonded hollow polyester fiber.

30. The heel pillow mattress of claim 20 in which said first, second and third foam layers are polyurethane foam having an open cell construction, said polyurethane foam being anti-microbial and flame retardant.

31. The heel pillow mattress of claim 20 in which the top surface of said second foam layer includes body pressure relief cuts.

32. The heel pillow mattress of claim 20 including first means for removably fixing said first foam layer to said second foam layer.

33. The heel pillow mattress of claim 32 in which said first means for removably fixing includes a hook and loop fastener.

34. The heel pillow mattress of claim 20 including second means for removably fixing said insert within said recess.

35. The heel pillow mattress of claim 34 in which said second means for removably fixing includes a hook and loop fastener.

36. The heel pillow mattress of claim 20 including a corresponding first cover portion having a top and sides enclosing at least the top surface and sides of said first foam layer.

37. The heel pillow mattress of claim 36 including a corresponding second cover portion having a bottom and sides enclosing at least the bottom surface of said third foam layer and the sides of said second and third foam layers.

38. The heel pillow mattress of claim 37 including zipper means for removably attaching said first cover portion to said second cover portion, said zipper means being covered on both its interior and exterior sides by at least one of said sides of said first and second covers.

39. The heel pillow mattress of claim 37 including third means for removably fixing at least one of said foam layers in relationship to its corresponding cover.

40. The heel pillow mattress of claim 39 in which said third means for removably fixing includes a hook and loop fastener.

41. The heel pillow mattress of claim 37 in which said first and second cover portions are water and moisture impervious.