U.S. patent application number 09/879678 was filed with the patent office on 2001-10-11 for side bolster system for a mattress.
Invention is credited to Clark, Timothy G., Jalbert, Ronald B., Kosumsuppamala, Suppawat.
Application Number | 20010027576 09/879678 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 22341248 |
Filed Date | 2001-10-11 |
United States Patent
Application |
20010027576 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Kosumsuppamala, Suppawat ;
et al. |
October 11, 2001 |
Side bolster system for a mattress
Abstract
A side bolster system is provided for use with a mattress having
a first side and a second side. The side bolster system of the
present invention includes a first side bolster configured to be
positioned along the first side of the mattress, and a second side
bolster configured to be positioned along the second side of the
mattress.
Inventors: |
Kosumsuppamala, Suppawat;
(Mt. Pleasant, SC) ; Clark, Timothy G.;
(Charleston, SC) ; Jalbert, Ronald B.; (North
Charleston, SC) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Intellectual Property Group
Bose McKinney & Evans LLP
2700 First Indiana Plaza
135 North Pennsylvania Street
Indianapolis
IN
46204
US
|
Family ID: |
22341248 |
Appl. No.: |
09/879678 |
Filed: |
June 12, 2001 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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09879678 |
Jun 12, 2001 |
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09458931 |
Dec 10, 1999 |
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6243894 |
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60111939 |
Dec 11, 1998 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
5/633 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47C 23/007 20130101;
A47C 21/08 20130101; A47C 27/18 20130101; A61G 7/0507 20130101;
A47C 27/066 20130101; A47C 27/081 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
5/633 |
International
Class: |
A47C 020/00; A47C
031/00 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A side bolster system for a mattress, the mattress including a
first side member and a second side member, the side bolster system
comprising: a first bolster, a second bolster, and means for
coupling the first bolster to the first side member, the second
bolster to the second side member, and the second bolster to the
first bolster.
2. The side bolster system of claim 1, wherein the mattress has a
top side and a bottom side and the means for coupling the second
bolster to the first bolster is adjacent to the bottom side of the
mattress.
3. The side bolster system of claim 1, wherein the first side
member and the second side member each include a manifold.
4. The side bolster system of claim 1, wherein the first bolster
has a first length, the second bolster has a second length, the
mattress has a perimeter length, and the sum of the first length
and the second length is less than the perimeter length.
5. The side bolster system of claim 1, wherein the first and second
bolsters are configured to engage the first and second side
members, respectively.
6. The side bolster system of claim 1, further comprising a cover
having an interior region, wherein the first and second bolsters
and the mattress are positioned in the interior region of the
cover.
7. The side bolster system of claim 1, wherein the first and second
bolsters each include a foam core.
8. A side bolster system for a mattress, the mattress including a
first side member and a second side member, the side bolster system
comprising: a first bolster positioned along the first side member
of the mattress, a second bolster positioned along the second side
member of the mattress, and a coupler having a first coupler
portion and a second coupler portion, the first coupler portion
coupled to the first bolster and the first side member and the
second coupler portion coupled to the first bolster and the second
bolster.
9. The side bolster system of claim 8, wherein the coupler is
positioned under a patient support surface of the mattress.
10. The side bolster system of claim 8, wherein the first side
member includes an air bladder.
11. The side bolster system of claim 8, wherein the first bolster,
the second bolster, the mattress, and the coupler are enclosed in a
cover.
12. The side bolster system of claim 8, wherein the first coupler
portion is adjustably coupled to the second coupler portion.
13. The side bolster system of claim 8, wherein the first coupler
portion extends around the first side member.
14. A side bolster system for a mattress having first and second
sides, the side bolster system comprising: a first bolster having a
concavity configured to mate with the first side of the mattress,
and a second bolster having a concavity configured to mate with the
second side of the mattress.
15. The mattress assembly of claim 14, further comprising a cover
defining an interior region, wherein the mattress and first and
second bolsters are positioned inside the interior region.
16. The side bolster system of claim 14, wherein the first bolster
includes a first shoulder bolster and a first seat bolster and the
second bolster includes a second shoulder bolster and a second seat
bolster.
17. The side bolster system of claim 16, wherein the mattress has a
head end and a foot end spaced apart from the head end, the first
and second shoulder bolsters are located adjacent the head end of
the mattress and the first and second seat bolsters are located
adjacent the foot end of the mattress.
18. The side bolster system of claim 14, further comprising a
coupler coupled to the first and second bolsters.
19. The side bolster system of claim 14, wherein the mattress
includes first and second members positioned along the first and
second sides of the mattress, respectively, and the first and
second bolsters are configured to receive the first and second
members, respectively.
20. The side bolster system of claim 19, wherein the first and
second members each include a manifold.
Description
[0001] Related Applications This application is a continuation
application of application Ser. No. 09/458,931, filed Dec. 10,
1999, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,243,894, the disclosure of which is
incorporated herein by reference, which claims the benefit of U.S.
provisional application, Ser. No. 60/111,939 filed Dec. 11,
1999.
BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention relates to a mattress for a bed, and
particularly to a side bolster system for a mattress. More
particularly, the present invention relates to a side bolster
system having a pair of opposing longitudinally-extending side
bolsters that provide lateral support to the mattress.
[0003] Conventional mattresses provide a soft surface on which a
person may lie. Some mattresses do not have sufficient lateral
support along the sides of the mattress to adequately keep the
person in a desired position on the bed.
[0004] A side bolster system of the present invention includes a
pair of side bolsters positioned on opposite sides of a mattress.
The side bolsters provide lateral support to the mattress. The
bolsters are positioned along opposite sides of the mattress to
minimize the effort needed in getting on or off the mattress while
maintaining adequate support of the mattress. In other words, the
bolsters improve a person's stability while positioned on the
mattress without hindering the person's ability to egress from the
mattress. The side bolster system of the present invention includes
a first side bolster configured to be positioned along a first side
of the mattress, a second side bolster configured to be positioned
along a second side of the mattress, and a transverse tether having
a first end coupled to the first side bolster and a second end
coupled to the second side bolster.
[0005] In an illustrated embodiment of the present invention, the
side bolster system includes a shoulder bolster section located
adjacent a head end of the mattress, and a seat bolster section
located toward the foot end of the mattress from the shoulder
bolster section. The shoulder bolster section includes an elongated
first shoulder bolster positioned along the first side of the
mattress and an elongated second shoulder bolster positioned along
the second side of the mattress. The seat bolster section includes
an elongated first seat bolster positioned along the first side of
the mattress and an elongated second seat bolster positioned along
the second side of the mattress. The side bolster system also
includes a plurality of tether links connecting the first shoulder
bolster to the first seat bolster, the second shoulder bolster to
the second seat bolster, the first shoulder bolster to the second
shoulder bolster, and the first seat bolster to the second seat
bolster.
[0006] Additional features and advantages of the invention will
become apparent to those skilled in the art upon consideration of
the following detailed description of illustrated embodiments
exemplifying the best mode of carrying out the invention as
presently perceived.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0007] The detailed description particularly refers to the
accompanying drawings in which:
[0008] FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a mattress
assembly including a mattress cover having an interior region
configured to receive a mattress core, the mattress core including
a foam base, longitudinally-extending side members positioned to
lie above the foam base, one of the side members defining a
manifold in fluid communication with a source of pressurized fluid
through a hose connected to the side member, and an air mattress
including a plurality of transversely-extending air sacks
positioned to lie above the foam base and above the side members,
and a side bolster system of the present invention to help maintain
a person in a desired position on the mattress;
[0009] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the side bolster system of
the present invention including first and second shoulder bolsters,
first and second seat bolsters, and a plurality of tethers
interconnecting the bolsters;
[0010] FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken through the mattress
assembly of FIG. 1 illustrating one of the shoulder bolsters having
a primary support section extending partially around one of the
side members of the mattress core and a secondary support portion
extending upwardly from the primary support portion to engage a
side wall of the air mattress, and showing the foam base positioned
to lie beneath one of the side members and the air mattress
positioned to lie on top of the foam base and on top of the side
member, the side member being formed to include a manifold in fluid
communication with an air sack of the air bladder through a flow
control assembly; and
[0011] FIG. 4 is a sectional view similar to FIG. 3 illustrating
one of the seat bolsters installed in a seat section of the
mattress assembly.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0012] Referring now to the drawings, FIG. 1 illustrates a mattress
assembly 12 includes a head end 14, a foot end 16 longitudinally
spaced-apart from head end 14, a longitudinally-extending first
side 18, and a longitudinally-extending second side 20 spaced apart
from first side 18. Mattress assembly 12 is equally appropriate for
use both in an institutional facility, such as a hospital or a
group care home, and for "in-home" use by consumers.
[0013] As used in this description, the phrase "head end 14" will
be used to denote the end of any referred-to object that is
positioned to lie nearest head end 14 of bed 10 and the phrase
"foot end 16" will be used to denote the end of any referred-to
object that is positioned to lie nearest to foot end 16. Likewise,
the phrase "first side 18" will be used to denote the side of any
referred-to object that is positioned to lie nearest the first side
18 of mattress assembly 12 and the phrase "second side 20" will be
used to denote the side of any referred-to object that is
positioned to lie nearest the second side 20 of mattress assembly
12.
[0014] Mattress assembly 12, as shown in FIGS. 1, 3 and 4 is
described in detail in U.S. Pat. No. 5,794,288 to Soltani et al.,
the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.
Mattress assembly 12 includes a cover 24 having a top cover 26 and
a bottom cover 28 connected to top cover 26 by a zipper 32 as shown
in FIG. 1. Top cover 26 includes a generally upwardly-facing
sleeping surface 34 above which a user will rest. Top and bottom
covers 26, 28 of mattress cover 24 cooperate to define an interior
region 30 of mattress cover 24. Illustrative and preferred cover 24
is made from material such as P061 material made by Penn Nyla
located in Europe. The material of cover 24 is illustratively
semipermeable allowing air to pass therethrough but sealing
mattress system 12 against the ingress of moisture. Such ticking
material is well-known for use with "low air loss" mattresses of
the type described below and disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,919,414
to Thomas et al., the specification of which is hereby incorporated
by reference.
[0015] Interior region 30 of mattress cover 24 receives a mattress
core which includes a foam base 38, a longitudinally-extending
first side member 40 positioned to lie above foam base 38 and
adjacent to first side 18 of foam base 38, a
longitudinally-extending second side member 42 positioned to lie
above foam base 38 adjacent to second side 20 of foam base 38, and
an air mattress 44 positioned to lie above foam base 38 and above
first and second side members 40, 42 as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4.
Mattress cover 24 holds the elements of mattress core together and
provides an interface between mattress assembly 12 and the person
supported by mattress assembly 12.
[0016] Foam base 38 is illustratively made from a plurality of
longitudinally spaced base sections including a head section 46
adjacent to head end 14 of mattress assembly 12, a seat section 50
adjacent to head section 46, and a leg section 52 adjacent to seat
section 50 and adjacent to foot end 16 of mattress assembly 12 as
shown in FIG. 1. Foam base 38 is preferably made from foam rubber
such as polyurethane foam which is well known and commonly used for
producing foam mattresses. Each illustrated base section is covered
by medical grade staff-check ticking such as the ticking material
from which mattress cover 24 is made. Preferably, the ticking
material covering base sections is Staff Check XL material made by
Herculite.
[0017] The illustrated first and second side members 40, 42 are
elongated air bladders defining interior regions 54, 56,
respectively. First and second side members 40, 42 are preferably
made from urethane having polyester knit reinforcement. Side
members 40, 42 are inelastic so that when side members 40, 42 are
inflated they provide rigid supports along first and second sides
18, 20 of mattress assembly 12.
[0018] In the illustrated embodiment, a conduit 58 connects first
side member 40 to a source of pressurized fluid 60 as shown
diagrammatically in FIG. 1 so that interior region 54 of first side
member 40 is in fluid communication with a source of pressurized
fluid 60. Also in preferred embodiments, a second conduit (not
shown) connects second side member 42 to first side member 40 so
that interior region 56 of second side member 42 is in fluid
communication with interior region 54 of first side member 40.
Thus, the interior region 54 of first side member 40 and interior
region 56 of second side member 42 are each in fluid communication
with source of pressurized fluid 60 and each contains pressurized
fluid that is pressurized to substantially the same pressure in
each interior region 54, 56.
[0019] The mattress core of mattress assembly 12 additionally
includes air mattress 44 which has a plurality of
longitudinally-spaced apart and transversely extending air sacks
70. Air mattress 44 provides mattress assembly 12 with firmness and
support characteristics that can be varied by varying the pressure
of the pressurized fluid in the interior regions of each air sack
70. Illustratively, air mattress 44 includes four air sacks 70,
although there is no limit to the number of air sacks 70 that can
be included with air mattress 44 of mattress assembly 12 and
controlled by a control assembly in accordance with the present
invention. In addition, although air sacks 70 of air mattress 44
are longitudinally spaced apart and extend transversely, the shapes
and relative positioning of air sacks 70 can be varied without
exceeding the scope of the invention as presently perceived.
[0020] The illustrated air mattress 44 includes a head section air
zone 72 adjacent to head end 14 of bed 10 and positioned to lie
above head section 46 of foam base 38, a back section air zone 74
adjacent to head section air zone 72 and positioned to lie above
head section 46 of foam base 38, a seat section air zone 76
adjacent to back section air zone 74 and positioned to lie above
seat section 50 and leg section 52 of foam base 38, and a leg
section air zone 78 positioned to lie adjacent to seat section air
zone 76 and positioned to lie above leg section 52 of foam base 38
and adjacent to foot end 16 of mattress assembly 12. The flow of
pressurized fluid from side members 40, 42 to air mattress 44 is
described in detail in the '288 patent.
[0021] FIG. 2 illustrates a side bolster system 110 in accordance
with the present invention. Side bolster system 110 is adapted for
use with the mattress assembly 12. Side bolster system 110 is
configured to extend longitudinally along the opposite sides 18 and
20 of mattress assembly 12 to provide lateral support to mattress
assembly 12, without impeding entry or exit from mattress assembly
12.
[0022] The mattress assembly 12 can be used on any type of bed such
as a bed for use in a hospital or other care facility, a bed for
use in a home, or any other type of bed having an upwardly-facing
surface above which a user will rest. Such beds often include an
articulating deck having longitudinally-spaced sections that are
movable relative to one another. Mattress assembly 12 is compatible
with such articulating decks.
[0023] Side bolster system 110 is configured to provide support to
mattress assembly 12 along first and second sides 18, 20 of
mattress assembly 12. The support provided by side bolster system
110 helps to maintain the positioning of a person on the mattress
when the person moves toward the sides 18, 20 of mattress assembly
12. Side bolster system 110 includes a shoulder section 120, a seat
section 122, and a pair of tether links 123, 124 interconnecting
the shoulder section 120 to the seat section 122, as shown in FIGS.
1 and 2.
[0024] Shoulder bolsters 120 and seat bolsters 122 illustratively
include a foam core surrounded by a cover. The cover is
illustratively made from a Penn-Nyla material. Tether links 123,
124 are illustratively sewn to covers on shoulder and seat sections
120, 122, although a wide variety of fastening means (such as
snaps, zippers, buttons, Velcro, etc.) could be used to couple the
tethers 123, 124 to the shoulder section 120 and seat section
122.
[0025] Shoulder section 120 of side bolster system 110 provides
support to the head section 46 of mattress assembly 12 along first
and second sides 18, 20 of mattress assembly 12 to help maintain
the positioning of a person on the mattress assembly 12. Shoulder
section 120 strengthens first and second sides 18, 20 of mattress
44 near the head section 46 of mattress assembly 12. Shoulder
section 120 of side bolster system 110 includes a first side
bolster 130 and a second side bolster 132, as shown in FIGS. 1 and
2. First and second side bolsters 130, 132 are positioned to extend
longitudinally along first and second sides 18, 20, respectively,
of mattress assembly 12 and are generally aligned with head section
46 of foam base 38. First and second side bolsters 130, 132 are
substantially identical to one another, and therefore, the
description of one applies equally to the other.
[0026] First and second side bolsters 130, 132 each include a
primary-support section 142 and a secondary-support section 144
extending vertically upwardly from the primary-support section 142.
The primary-support section 142 and secondary support section 144
may be formed as one piece as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 or as separate
pieces (not shown). Each primary-support section 142 includes a top
surface 146, a bottom surface 147, an exterior side surface 148,
and a concave interior side surface 149. Each secondary-support
portion 144 includes a rounded (convex) top surface 150, a bottom
surface 151, an exterior surface 152, and an interior surface 153.
The bottom surface 151 of the secondary-support portion 144 is
positioned to lie on the top surface 146 of primary-support portion
142 when primary and secondary-support portions 142, 144 are
separate pieces. When primary and secondary-support portions 142,
144 are formed as one piece, these surfaces 151, 146 are
coextensive.
[0027] Each side bolster 130, 132 of shoulder section 120 mates
with a head end of mattress assembly 12 as shown in FIG. 3. As
shown in FIG. 3, the concave interior side surface 149 of
primary-support section 142 is sized and shaped to receive first
side member 40 of mattress core 36. In addition, the interior side
surface 153 of secondary-support portion 144 is configured to
engage a side wall of air mattress 44 near the head end 14 of bed
10. Shoulder section 120 of side bolster system 110 is
illustratively positioned to lie within cover 24.
[0028] It is understood that in another embodiment of the present
invention the bolsters 120 and 122 may be located outside the
interior region 30 of the cover 24 and attached to the mattress
assembly 12 or to a bed on which the mattress assembly 12 is
positioned.
[0029] A pair of tether links 134, 136 are used to interconnect
first side bolster 130 to second side bolster 132, as shown best in
FIG. 2. Tether links 134, 136 are longitudinally spaced apart from
one another to adequately interconnect first and second side
bolsters 130, 132. Each tether link 134, 136 includes a central
portion 160 and two opposite end portions 162, 164. The central
portion 160 preferably includes an extension mechanism 166 to allow
the central portion 160 to be adjusted to various lengths to
accommodate varying sizes of mattresses. Each end portion 162, 164
of each tether link 134, 136 includes a first portion 168 and a
second portion 170. The first portion 168 is illustratively snapped
to the top surface 146 of primary support section 142 and the
second portion is illustratively snapped to the bottom surface 147
of primary-support section 142, although a variety of fastening
means (such as those discussed above) may be used instead of a
snap. The first and second portions 168, 170 of each end portion
162, 164 are preferably sewn to central portion 160, although a
wide variety of fastening means (such as those discussed above)
could also be used.
[0030] First and second portions 168, 170 are fastened to central
portion 160 to define an opening 172 between interior side surface
149 of primary support section 142 and first and second portions
168, 170. Opening 172 is sized to receive a respective side member
40, 42 therein, as shown in FIG. 4. Thus, side bolsters 130, 132
are held in place relative to side members 40, 42 by having first
and second portions 168, 170 of tether links 134, 136 extend about
side members 40, 42.
[0031] As shown in FIG. 3, top surface 146, bottom surface 147, and
interior side surface 149 of primary support section 142 cooperate
to define a first projection 154 and a second projection 155. First
projection 154 extends between air mattress 44 and side member 40.
Second projection 155 extends between side member 40 and foam base
38. As shown in FIG. 3, both mattress 44 and foam base 38 are
flexible and conform to the shape of each projection 154, 155.
[0032] As shown diagrammatically in FIG. 3, secondary support
section 144 provides lateral support to a head end of mattress 44.
This support inhibits the movement of mattress 44 axially outwardly
when a person is positioned near a side 18, 20 of mattress 44.
Thus, air mattress 44 will substantially maintain its shape along
the longitudinal sides of mattress 44 as the person moves closer to
the side of the mattress 44.
[0033] Seat section 122 of side bolster system 110 is substantially
similar to shoulder section 120 and includes a first side bolster
130 and a second side bolster 132. The only difference between seat
section 122 and shoulder section 120 is that each side bolster 130,
132 of seat section 122 only includes primary support section 142
and does not include secondary support section 144. Seat section
122 of side bolster system 110 provides some support to mattress
assembly 12, but it provides less support than shoulder section
120. Secondary support section 144 is eliminated from seat section
222 so that the person is less inhibited from exiting mattress
assembly 12 when the person is in a seated position and trying to
exit from an area adjacent to seat section 50 of foam base 38, than
if the secondary support section 144 were present. As shown in FIG.
4, seat section 122 includes first and second projections 154, 155
which extend between air mattress 44, side member 40, and foam base
38, in exactly the same manner as did shoulder section 120 which
was previously described. In addition, tether links 134, 136 are
used to interconnect first and second side bolsters 130, 132 of
seat section 122 in exactly the same manner as previously
described.
[0034] Each side bolster 130, 132 of shoulder section 120 and seat
section 122 includes a foam core material defining the primary and
secondary support sections 142, 144 and a cover extending around
the foam material. The foam material is illustratively of the type
known as K155X which is available from Carpenter Company located in
Russelville, Ky. In addition the foam material preferably has a
density of 2.4 to 2.5 and an ILD of 140 to 160. In addition, the
fiber content of the cover is preferably 100% nylon and is
available from Unitex-South, located in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
[0035] To install side bolster system 110 onto mattress assembly
12, a user first unzips cover 22 and pull back top cover 26 to
obtain access to air mattress 44, side members 40, 42, and foam
base 38. The user then positions shoulder section 120 of side
bolster system 110 near the head end 14 of mattress assembly 12.
First projection 154 is positioned between air mattress 44 and side
members 40, 42 and second projection 155 is positioned between side
members 40, 42 and foam base 38, respectively. Of course, seat
section 122 of side bolster system 110 is positioned in the same
manner as shoulder section 120 of side bolster system 110 except
that seat section 122 is positioned near the seat section 50 of
foam base 38. The user then rolls an air cushion of air mattress 44
back and snaps first and second portions 168, 170 of tether links
134, 136 to the appropriate side bolster 130, 132. The cover 24 can
then be positioned around the side bolster system 210 and
rezipped.
[0036] Shoulder section 120 and seat section 122 each include two
pairs of tether links 134, 136. The tether links 134, 136 are
spaced longitudinally apart from one another, as shown in FIG. 2,
to adequately anchor each side bolster 130, 132 to the first and
second sides 18, 20 of mattress assembly 12. Illustratively, as
shown in FIG. 2, tether links 134, 136 include a single central
portion 260 that extends between air mattress 44 and foam base 38.
However, side bolster system 110 could also be configured to
include a pair of tether links 134, 136 so that one tether link
could extend over mattress 44 and the other tether link could
extend under foam base 38. This would allow side bolster system 110
to be installed either inside cover 24 or outside cover 24. Of
course, bolster system 110 shown in FIG. 1 could also be installed
either inside cover 24 or outside cover 24 by having at least one
tether link 134, 136 that extends under bottom cover 28 of mattress
assembly 12.
[0037] Although the invention has been described in detail with
reference to a certain illustrated embodiment, variations and
modifications exist within the scope and spirit of the invention as
described and as defined in the following claims.
* * * * *