Mattress For Invalids

Abstract

A frame of foam polymer with a rectangular cutout, positioned to underlie the major part of the body of a patient recumbent thereon, rests on a baseplate serving as a support for a multiplicity of square or rectangular inserts of like foam material detachably pasted onto the base so as to be removable at locations proximal to a pressure-sensitive part of the patient's body. A transverse pad at the foot end of the mattress has vertical recesses open toward the head end to receive the feet of the patient whose legs rest on anatomically shaped wedge pieces which extend into these recesses but terminate short of their closed ends to leave room for the unsupported heels of the patient.

Description

My present invention relates to a mattress to be used by invalids and other persons with oversensitivity to external pressure on parts of their body.

Amputees, paraplegics and other persons react with varying degrees of discomfort to such pressures which frequently lead to bruises at points of concentrated stress e.g., in the region of the hips or buttocks in the case of a recumbent body. It is therefore desirable to provide for a more even stress distribution by spreading the area of contact between the body and the mattress on which the patient is resting, a task calling for a wide variety of mattress configurations according to the size of the patient and the nature of the ailment.

It is, therefore, the general object of my present invention to provide a mattress construction which can be quickly and easily adapted to specific requirements for the purpose of relieving local pressure on the body of a patient.

A related object is to provide means in combination with such a mattress for keeping the feet of the patient free from pressure of both the underlying mattress and an overlying blanket.

A further object is to provide a mattress, e.g., for hospital beds, which can be quickly restored to use by a replacement of certain parts upon being soiled or otherwise damaged.

In accordance with the present invention, I provide a mattress in the form of a generally rectangular horizontal frame, commensurate with the body measurements of a patient whom it is intended to support, which has a central longitudinal cutout positioned to underlie the major part of the patient's body in a recumbent position, this cutout being filled by a multiplicity of preferably rectangular (e.g., square) inserts closely juxtaposed therein to form a continuous surface with the frame. Both the frame and the inserts are made of resilient cushioning material, preferably a foam polymer, as is a headrest carried by the mattress. The inserts are individually and selectively removable from the frame to relieve the pressure upon sensitive parts of the patient's body. For this purpose, advantageously, the frame and the inserts are supported on a baseplate which underlies the cutout and may have an outline substantially registering with that of the frame. The inserts may be detachably pasted onto that baseplate, as with the aid of a pressure-activated adhesive.

According to another feature of my invention, the foot end of the mattress frame carries a transverse pad formed with a pair of vertical recesses which are open toward the head end to receive the feet of the patient. Two elongate wedge pieces, shaped to support the legs of the patient up to the thighs, rise from the mattress and extend into these recesses but terminate short of the closed ends of the latter by a distance sufficient to accommodate the unsupported heels of the patient so as to keep them free from pressure. A blanket covering the lower body of the patient can then be draped over this pad so as to stay clear of his toes for the avoidance of possible discomfort. The pad may be made of the same polymeric foam material as the rest of the mattress structure.

The invention will be described in greater detail with reference to the accompanying drawing in which:

FIGS. 2, 4 and 6 are plan views of three different embodiments of my invention; and

FIGS. 1, 3 and 5 are cross-sectional views taken on lines I--I, III--III and V--V of FIGS. 2, 4 and 6, respectively.

The mattress shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 comprises a rectangular frame 2 of foam plastic resting on a rigid baseplate 1 coextensive therewith. Frame 2 has a rectangular central cutout 7, occupied by an array of substantially identical inserts 3 of like foam plastic and square outline. The inserts 3 are detachably cemented onto the baseplate 1 by a pressure-activated adhesive which also serves to hold the frame 2 in position. A headrest 4, also of foam plastic, is similarly cemented onto the right-hand end of frame 2 just beyond the cutout 7.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, several of the squares 3 of the preceding embodiment may be combined into larger inserts 3a (six squares), 3b (nine squares) or divided into smaller strips 3c; the latter may be partly removed, for example, at a location where the stump of a leg amputee overhangs the middle section 3a.

FIGS. 5 and 6 show a mattress similar to that of FIGS. 1 and 2 with the addition of a pad 5, likewise of foam plastic, detachably cemented onto the frame 2 just beyond the end of cutout 7. A part of the frame 2 and some of the inserts 3 are overlain by two elongate wedge pieces 6 which are anatomically shaped to conform to the hollow of the knees of the patient and to support his shanks down to the region of the ankles. Two forwardly open vertical recesses 5a in pad 5 receive the ends of the wedge pieces 6 with enough clearance to accommodate the heels of the patient whose toes do not quite reach the top of the pad so that they will not be contacted by an overhanging blanket 8. The wedge pieces 6 may be strips of foam plastic also detachably cemented to the underlying mattress portions.

It will be apparent that, in the case of a soiled mattress, only some of the inserts 3, 3a-3c will usually have to be replaced to provide a clean supporting surface for the patient.

Claims

I claim:

1. A mattress comprising a generally rectangular horizontal frame of resilient material provided with a central longitudinal cutout positioned to underlie the major part of the body of a patient recumbent thereon, a multiplicity of resilient inserts closely juxtaposed in said cutout to form a continuous surface with said frame, said inserts being selectively removable from said frame to relieve pressure on a sensitive part of the patient's body, a transverse pad extending entirely across said frame at the foot end thereof, said pad having a pair of vertical recesses open toward and defined in part by a vertical wall facing the head end for receiving the feet of the patient, and two elongate wedge pieces shaped to support the legs of the patient up to the thighs, said wedge pieces rising from said surface and extending into said recesses while being spaced from the respective walls thereof by a distance sufficient to accommodate the unsupported heels of the patient.

2. A mattress as defined in claim 1, further comprising a baseplate underlying said cutout and supporting said inserts.

3. A mattress as defined in claim 2 wherein said inserts are adhesively but detachably secured to said baseplate, said pad is adhesively but detachably secured to said frame and said wedge pieces are adhesively but detachably secured to and overlie said inserts.

4. A mattress as defined in claim 3 wherein said baseplate has an outline substantially registering with that of said frame.

5. A mattress as defined in claim 4 wherein said inserts are provided with pressure-activated adhesive layers on their undersides.

6. A mattress as defined in claim 3 wherein said inserts are rectangular.

7. A mattress as defined in claim 3 wherein said pad, said wedge pieces, said frame and said inserts consist essentially of foam polymer.

8. A mattress as defined in claim 3, further comprising a headrest at the head end of said frame, said cutout terminating substantially at said headrest.