Pressure relief support system for a mattress
First Claim
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1. A pressure relief support system for a mattress, comprising:
- a substantially rectangular casing, said casing including an inner area removably supporting a plurality of respective sealable fluid filled elongate cylinders therein in a predetermined substantially parallel arrangement along the length of a longitudinal first direction of said casing so as to substantially define the shape and size of said mattress;
a plurality of substantially mutually parallel sleeves formed on a selected first side of said casing, said sleeves being situated over the length of said elongate cylinders and extending in a lateral direction substantially perpendicular to said first direction of said casing, and said sleeves being formed for removably receiving respective independent slats therein for providing independent lateral slat user support for reducing longitudinal shear forces on such user;
a plurality of individual relatively firm slats respectively and removably received in said plurality of sleeves such that selected of said slats may be easily alternately inserted into and removed from respective of said sleeves without disturbing the remainder of said slats and without disturbing said predetermined arrangement of said cylinders;
selective closure means for selectively exposing said casing inner area such that selected of said elongated cylinders with selected amounts of fluid therein may be easily alternately inserted into and removed from said casing inner area without disturbing said arrangement of the remainder of said cylinders in relation to said casing and without disturbing said slats received in their respective sleeves; and
support means within said casing inner area for forming predetermined compartments for the insertion of at least selected of said elongate cylinders therein so as to form said predetermined arrangement thereof.
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Abstract
The pressure relief support system contains longitudinal air cylinders having wood slats extending across the air cylinders along the length of the air cylinders forming the shape of a mattress. Foam strips may be included on each of these slats to provide an improved pressure relief mattress system for optimal patient comfort.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A pressure relief support system for a mattress, comprising:
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a substantially rectangular casing, said casing including an inner area removably supporting a plurality of respective sealable fluid filled elongate cylinders therein in a predetermined substantially parallel arrangement along the length of a longitudinal first direction of said casing so as to substantially define the shape and size of said mattress; a plurality of substantially mutually parallel sleeves formed on a selected first side of said casing, said sleeves being situated over the length of said elongate cylinders and extending in a lateral direction substantially perpendicular to said first direction of said casing, and said sleeves being formed for removably receiving respective independent slats therein for providing independent lateral slat user support for reducing longitudinal shear forces on such user; a plurality of individual relatively firm slats respectively and removably received in said plurality of sleeves such that selected of said slats may be easily alternately inserted into and removed from respective of said sleeves without disturbing the remainder of said slats and without disturbing said predetermined arrangement of said cylinders; selective closure means for selectively exposing said casing inner area such that selected of said elongated cylinders with selected amounts of fluid therein may be easily alternately inserted into and removed from said casing inner area without disturbing said arrangement of the remainder of said cylinders in relation to said casing and without disturbing said slats received in their respective sleeves; and support means within said casing inner area for forming predetermined compartments for the insertion of at least selected of said elongate cylinders therein so as to form said predetermined arrangement thereof. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. An improved patient support system with laterally self-equalizing static air pressure relief, said system comprising:
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a selectively closable inner casing comprised of air permeable material and forming a generally rectangular inner chamber; at least four generally cylindrical respectively inflatable air bladders removably received in parallel inside said inner casing inner chamber, said bladders having respective valves for selected respective inflation thereof; compartment means integrally formed in predetermined locations within said inner casing for positioning of said air bladders in a longitudinal direction relative to said inner casing and with a predetermined air spacing among said bladders, said compartment means and said inner casing collectively permitting individual bladders to be removed, adjusted, and reinserted relative to said inner casing inner chamber without disturbing other of said bladders therein; a plurality of sleeves integrally formed on an upper side of said inner casing, and in spaced, mutually parallel relationship along the full longitudinal direction of said inner casing and perpendicular to such longitudinal direction; a plurality of slats corresponding with said sleeves and respectively removably received therein, said slats independently providing longitudinal shear force relief to a patient using said system while also providing lateral transmission of patient pressure forces across the longitudinally positioned air bladders therebeneath, so that such forces are laterally self-equalized, said slats also being selectively and respectively removable and insertable relative to said sleeves without disturbing other of said slats; a border of resilient foam material formed around the perimeter of said inner casing and extending thereabove; a main body of foam having a first surface received on top of said sleeves, said main body of foam being situated within said border and having an upper patient support surface opposite said first surface thereof; and a selectively closable outer casing received about all other elements of said system, and comprised of air and moisture permeable material for coolness and comfort of a patient using said system. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
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Specification