Therapeutic mattress assembly

• US 8,789,224 B2
• Filed: 11/06/2001
• Issued: 07/29/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 11/07/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Tempur World LLC (Tempur Sealy International, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Tempur-Pedic Management Incorporated (Tempur Sealy International, Inc.)
• Inventors: Fontaine, Ricky J., Wyatt, Charles C.
• Primary Examiner(s): CONLEY, FREDRICK C
• Application Number:
  US10/415,629
• Publication Number:
  US 20040031103A1
• Time in Patent Office: 4,648 Days
• Field of Search: 571/0, 571/3, 571/5, 564/4, 564/8
• US Class Current: 5/710
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 27/088 incorporating elastic bodies, e.g. foam
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 27/10 with two or more independently-fillable chambers
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 2200/32 lying
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 2200/56 Calf
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/008 tiltable around longitudinal axis, e.g. for rolling
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/0525 Side-bolsters rests specially adapted for beds A61G7/065; non-medical devices for prevention against falling-out A47C21/08
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/05715 with modular blocks, or inserts, with layers of different material
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/05776 with at least two groups of alternately inflated chambers
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/05784 with ventilating means, e.g. mattress or cushion with ventilating holes or ventilators
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/0755 for the legs or feet
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/1021 Inflatable cushions
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/481 Method

Abstract

A therapeutic mattress assembly comprising a mattress having a substrate assembly that includes a plurality of cylinders positioned side by side over the length of the mattress. Each cylinder is configured as a low air loss system to allow air to flow into the cylinder from a source and out of the cylinder through small holes located on the top of each cylinder. An overlay assembly provides a foam cushion that provides a supporting surface above the substrate assembly for the patient. A calf lift bladder operates to effectively raise or lower the patient'"'"'s feet to prevent pressure related injuries. A lateral rotation assembly selectively raises and lowers a selected half of the mattress to turn patients in a lateral direction. A bolster inflates in response to the lateral rotation assembly to secure the patient within the mattress.

Claims

1. A mattress assembly for supporting a body, the mattress assembly comprising:

a low air loss mattress including

a first low air loss cylinder having a first cylinder wall defining a plurality of holes allowing air to flow from the first low air loss cylinder; and

a second low air loss cylinder having a second cylinder wall defining a plurality of holes allowing air to flow from the second low air loss cylinder;

a blower connected to the first and second low air loss cylinders;

a controller connected to the blower and operable to control air supply to inflate the first and second low air loss cylinders in an alternating manner, wherein in one state, air is supplied to expand the first low air loss cylinder while the second low air loss cylinder deflates, and wherein in another state, air is supplied to expand the second low air loss cylinder while the first low air loss cylinder deflates;

a first layer foam atop the first and second low air loss cylinders and through which air escaping from the first and second low air loss cylinders passes toward the body;

a second layer of foam within each of the first and second low air loss cylinders; and

two foam members in side-by-side relationship within each of the first and second low air loss cylinders.

2. The mattress assembly of claim 1, wherein the two foam members are formed of the same foam material.

3. A mattress assembly for supporting a body, the mattress assembly comprising:

a low air loss mattress including

a first low air loss cylinder having a first cylinder wall defining a plurality of hales allowing air to flow from the first low air loss cylinder; and

a second low air cylinder having second cylinder wall defining a plurality of holes allowing air to flow from the second low air loss cylinder;

a blower connected to the first and second low air loss cylinders;

a controller connected to the blower and operable to control air supply to inflate the first and second low air loss cylinders in an alternating manner, wherein in one state, air is supplied to ex and the first low air loss cylinder while the second low air loss cylinder deflates, and wherein in another state, air is supplied to expand the second low air loss cylinder while the first low air loss cylinder deflates;

a first layer of viscoelastic foam atop the first and second low air loss cylinders and through which air escaping from the first ad second loss cylinders passes toward the body;

a second layer of foam within each of the first and second low air loss cylinders;

a cylinder internal wall within each of the first and second low air loss cylinders and dividing an interior of each of the low air loss cylinders into a first air chamber portion and a second air chamber portion; and

a layer of foam in one of the first and second air chamber portions, the other of the first and second air chamber portions being located above the one of the first and second air chamber portions.