U.S. patent number 3,667,075 [Application Number 05/013,601] was granted by the patent office on 1972-06-06 for mattress spring bellows assembly as for hospitals, and the like.
Invention is credited to Wesley D. Ballard, John H. Staley.
United States Patent |
3,667,075 |
Ballard , et al. |
June 6, 1972 |
MATTRESS SPRING BELLOWS ASSEMBLY AS FOR HOSPITALS, AND THE LIKE
Abstract
The invention discloses a mattress, as for a hospital bed, an
assembly of inflatable bellows spring segments being interposed
between the under side of the mattress and a support box therefor
which may be said to correspond to the conventional bed spring
supporting slats under the springs of conventional mattresses. All
of the adjustments offered by conventional hospital bed frames, and
more, may be made for the mattress of this invention by virtue of
the shapes into which the combinations of spring bellows segments
may be inflated. The invention, in effect, employs a careful
selection of bellows spring segment shapes, not only to provide a
wide range of positional adjustments of the mattress, but these
segments may serve, cooperatively, to provide the springs of the
mattress, also with the degree of spring or cushioning effect being
infinitely adjustable by virtue of the selective inflation of
bellows segments, and the selectivity provided as to degree of
inflation of the respective bellows.
Inventors: |
Ballard; Wesley D. (Waco,
TX), Staley; John H. (Waco, TX) |
Family
ID: |
21760777 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/013,601 |
Filed: |
February 24, 1970 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
5/722; 5/660;
5/610; 5/615; 137/625.65 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47C
20/048 (20130101); Y10T 137/86622 (20150401) |
Current International
Class: |
A47C
27/08 (20060101); A47c 027/08 () |
Field of
Search: |
;5/348,68,66,69,62,63,327 ;137/625.65 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Gay; Bobby R.
Assistant Examiner: Marquette; Darrell
Claims
We claim:
1. In combination with a transversely bondable mattress having
longitudinally spaced apart first and second transversely extending
bend lines thereacross, adjacent the head and foot ends of the
mattress, respectively, the combination of a spring bellows
assembly comprising separate bellows, a support box comprised of
substantially rigid bottom, ends and sides, and of rectangular
cross-section in plan and of height to receive said separate
bellows assembly therein when deflated, and also the lower part of
said mattress upon said deflated separate bellows assembly with
mattress to extend with upper surface at a level above the upper
level of said box, said separate bellows comprising a head bellows
spring segment extending from said first bend line toward said head
end and selectively inflatable to subtend a head end lift degree in
side elevation, a knee lift bellows spring segment having base
dimension from substantially mattress first bend line to said foot
end, and being selectively inflatable to dispose an apex at
mattress second bend line beneath the knees of a patient, said
assembly also including selectively operable means to inflate,
deflate and lock in selective degrees of inflation, each of said
segments, said box providing outlet opening means from which
compressed air conduits from said selective spring bellows segments
may extend, said conduits being included by said selectively
operable means.
2. The combination as claimed in claim 1, in which said selectively
operable means includes a bank of solenoid operated valves,
selectively switch actuated to control compressed air delivery to
selective bellows segment, compressed air venting from selective
bellows segment, and blockage of compressed air passage into or
from said selective bellows segment.
3. The combination as claimed in claim 1, in which said selectively
operable means for each bellows segment includes a spool valve,
selectively movable between position of compressed air supply open
to selective bellows segment in a spool valve upper position,
blockage of compressed air communication in a spool valve central
position, and compressed air passage open from selective bellows
segment to vent in a spool valve lower position.
4. The combination as claimed in claim 1 in which said separate
bellows additionally include a lower head end bellows spring
segment extending from below mattress first bend line toward said
head end and selectively inflatable to subtend an under head lift
degree in side elevation.
5. The combination as claimed in claim 1 in which said separate
bellows additionally includes, under the bellows aforesaid, a
segment of full mattress length in extent, and with other segments
deflated, being adapted to raise the mattress to a straight tilt
position.
6. The combination as claimed in claim 1 in which said separate
bellows additionally includes, under the bellows aforesaid, a
segment of full mattress length in extent, and with other segments
deflated, being adapted to raise the mattress to a head end
upwardly, foot end downwardly, full tilt position.
7. The combination as claimed in claim 1 in which said separate
bellows additionally includes, under the bellows aforesaid, a
segment of full mattress length in extent, and with other segments
deflated, being adapted to raise the mattress to a foot end
upwardly, head end downwardly, full tilt position.
Description
The invention relates to a mattress spring bellows assembly, as for
hospitals, taking the place of conventional springs, and including
a support box to take the place of the conventional bed slats;
control of selective inflation and deflation of respective bellows
spring segments determining mattress positions of adjustment, and
also its degree of cushioning or spring effect.
As a primary object the invention sets out to provide a mattress
spring bellows assembly employable both as the means to selectively
control mattress positions of adjustment, also degree of cushioning
and spring effect.
It is also an important object of this invention to provide a
mattress spring bellows assembly of this class including an
assembly of spring bellows segments replacing conventional bed
spring units, and a bellows segment support box replacing
conventional bed slats.
It is yet another important object of this invention to provide a
mattress spring bellows assembly of this class in which adjustments
obtained by selective inflation and deflation of spring bellows
segments may range through a widest selection of mattress
positions.
It is another primary object of the invention to provide a method
of selectively adjusting mattress position, as for hospital beds,
by using selectively resilient cushion means to effect selective
positions of the mattress, while at the same time using the
adjustment means to provide cushion or spring effect.
It is also another important object of the invention to provide
mattress bellows spring segment assembly and method of use, whereby
to selectively control degree of mattress spring support or
cushioning, over a wide range of degree of cushioning effect, and
over a wide range in patient elevations.
Other and further objects will be apparent when the specification
herein is considered in connection with the drawings, in which:
FIG. 1 is an isometric view of the head, top, and right side of an
embodiment of mattress comprised by the invention; the view also
showing diagrammatically the control system for spring bellows
operations;
FIG. 2 is a side elevational view, partially diagrammatic, showing
the mattress with a first bellows selectively inflated to raise the
head of the mattress to support a patient in head partially
elevated position;
FIG. 3 is a side elevational view, partially diagrammatic, showing
the mattress with a first and second bellows selectively inflated
to raise the head of the mattress to support a patient in head
substantially raised position;
FIG. 4 is a side elevational view, partially diagrammatic, showing
the mattress disposed to support the head of a patient, as set
forth in description of FIG. 2, and with a third bellows
selectively inflated to raise the mattress to dispose an apex under
the knees of the patient, as lower body is thus lifted;
FIG. 5 is a side elevational view, with a fourth bellows
selectively inflated partially diagrammatic, showing the mattress
whereby to support the patient in a straight tilt position, head
upwardly, feet downwardly;
FIG. 6 is a side elevational view, partially diagrammatic, showing
the mattress with a fifth bellows selectively inflated, whereby to
support the patient in a straight tilt position, head downwardly,
feet upwardly;
FIG. 7 is a side elevational view, partially diagrammatic, showing
the mattress with the aforesaid five bellows each slightly
inflated, whereby to support a patient on the flatly disposed
mattress, as upon spring cushions;
FIG. 8A is a sectional view, partially diagrammatic, typical of the
operation of the solenoid actuated valves SOL 1-5, FIG. 1, showing
supply and vent conduits blocked, whereby the respective spring
bellows controlled thereby retains degree of inflation or deflation
at which blockage has occurred;
FIG. 8B is a sectional view, partially diagrammatic, typical of the
operation of the solenoid actuated valves SOL 1-5, FIG. 1, showing
compressed air supply open to one of the mattress spring
bellows;
FIG. 8C is a sectional view, partially diagrammatic, typical of the
operation of the solenoid actuated valves SOL 1-5, FIG. 1, showing
air vented from a deflating spring bellows;
FIG. 9 in an enlarged, fragmentary, sectional elevational view of
bellows construction in which respective bellows are separated by
common sheet therebetween; and
FIG. 10 is an enlarged, fragmentary, sectional elevational view of
bellows construction in which each bellows is a separate member,
the bellows being disposed one upon the other.
Referring now in detail to the drawings in which like elements are
assigned like reference numerals in the various views, a mattress
10 is shown in FIG. 1 with a support box 11 thereunder, of wood,
metal or plastic, as desired. In this view the head portion 10a of
the mattress 10 is shown as having been partially raised, the
mattress being transversely bent at 10b, while the lower portion
10c of the mattress 10 extends in flat position. In this view no
conventional bed springs are indicated under the support box 11,
but rather this support box may be comparable with the conventional
frame of a hospital bed, usually mechanically adjustable. As is
well known, such conventional frame is supported by, or comprises
part of the bedstead. A conventional bedstead 13 is shown in dotted
lines in FIG. 1 supporting the aforesaid mattress support box
11.
In FIG. 1 an upper head bellows segment or first portion 12a of a
bellows spring assembly or unit 12, is indicated as having been
inflated, compressed air having been admitted therein into through
a flexible conduit 14a. Also, in this view flexible conduits 14b,
14c, 14d, and 14e are indicated as extending through a central head
slot 11a in the support box 11, the flexible conduits extending
from second, third, fourth and fifth bellows spring segments to be
hereinbelow described.
FIG. 2 shows the mattress 10 in substantially the same position in
side elevation as the mattress is shown disposed in the isometric
view of FIG. 1. That is, the upper portion 10a of the mattress 10
has been elevated by admitting compressed air into the first or
upper head bellows segment 12a through the flexible conduit
14a.
In this position the mattress 10 is indicated as having bended
transversely along bend line 10b substantially where a conventional
mattress would bend as manipulated by the adjustment mechanism of a
conventional hospital bed frame. As aforesaid, the lower portion
10c of the mattress extends flatly or prone. In this view a second
bellows spring or lower head bellows segment 12b is indicated in
deflated position under the upper head bellows segment 12a, a third
bellows spring or uppermost foot bellows segment 12c is indicated
in deflated position under the lower mattress portion 10c, a fourth
bellows spring or upper full mattress length segment 12d and a
fifth bellows spring or lower full mattress length segment 12e, are
both indicated in deflated position. The lower edges (away from
head) of the bellows segments 12a and 12b, and the upper edge (away
from foot) of the bellows segment 12c may be considered adjoined
together along a transverse junction line 15 on the under side of
the mattress 10 opposite the aforesaid bend line 10b. In this view
the flexible conduit 14a is alone indicated for purposes of
clarity, as extending through the slot 11a, centrally through the
head of the support box 11. In the successive views, FIGS. 3-7,
inclusive, these aforesaid bellows segments (five) will be
designated by the same reference numerals.
Referring now to FIG. 3, additional compressed air has been
admitted through the flexible conduit 14b into the bellows spring
or under head segment 12b, the bellows spring or upper head segment
12a remaining inflated as aforesaid. Thus the head portion 10a of
the mattress 10 has been brought into substantially uppermost
raised position corresponding with the uppermost head raised
position of a conventional hospital bed mattress as adjusted by a
conventional mechanical adjustment for a conventional hospital bed
frame.
As shown in FIG. 4, the second bellows or lower head bellows
segment 12b is shown deflated, the upper head bellows segment 12a
being shown deflated. In this view the uppermost foot bellows
segment or third bellows spring segment 12c is shown as having been
inflated to provide an apex 16 as shown, so that the lower portion
of the mattress 10c is raised to dispose a transverse bend line 10d
uppermost under the knees of the patient so that the knees are
raised to an upwardly raised position. In this view the flexible
conduit 14c is shown as passing rearwardly under the support box 11
and then upwardly into the support box, and outwardly through the
central head slot 11a. The flexible conduit 14a from the inflated
upper head bellows segment 12a is shown as in FIG. 2, the flexible
conduits from the remaining or deflated bellows segments being
omitted for purposes of clarity.
Now considering FIG. 5, the hereinabove described bellows segments
12a, 12b and 12c are shown deflated, with the upper full mattress
length or fourth bellows segment 12d inflated, the lower full
mattress length segment 12e being deflated. Noticeably, the bellows
segment 12d is of five sided cross-section when inflated; with a
short upstanding side at foot, and a substantially larger opposite
dimension at head, thus to raise the mattress, (all other bellows
segments deflated), so that it is disposed in straight position,
tilted from head to foot, with head uppermost, foot lowermost. In
this view the flexible conduit 14d is shown extending from the
inflated fourth bellows segment 12d, other conduits being omitted
for purposes of clarity.
As shown in FIG. 6, bellows segments 12a, 12b, 12c and 12d are
shown deflated, with the lower full mattress length or fifth
bellows segment 12e inflated. The bellows segment 12e is shown of
five sided cross-section in elevation, correspondingly as in the
case of the upper full mattress length or fourth bellows segment
12d, hereinabove described. A short side upstands at the head, and
a substantially larger opposite dimension at foot, thus results in
raising the mattress so that it is disposed in straight position,
tilted from foot to head, with foot uppermost, head lowermost. In
this view the flexible conduit 14e is shown extending from the
inflated fifth bellows segment 12e through the aforesaid central
support box head slot 11a, other conduits being omitted for
purposes of clarity.
Referring now to FIG. 7, the mattress 10 is shown in a lowered,
prone position, with each of the bellows segments 12a, 12b, 12c,
12d and 12e being shown substantially deflated, with only enough
compressed air in each bellows segment for them collectively or
cumulatively to support the mattress 10 thereabove with a spring
cushion action or effect. The respective flexible conduits 14a,
14b, 14c, 14d and 14e for the respective bellows segments 12a, 12b,
12c, 12d and 12e, are shown, as extending from the slot 11a through
the head of the support box 11, such conduits being shown broken
off and not joined to their respective bellows segments, this for
purposes of clarity.
Referring back to FIG. 1, the respective conduits 14a, 14b, 14c,
14d and 14e are shown extending to a control box 17, there to be
connected onto respective projecting compressed air delivery
nipples 18a, 18b, 18c, 18d, 18e. These nipples receive supply
compressed air to be selectively passed outwardly therethrough, by
selective operation of solenoid valves SOL 1-5, inclusive, to pass
through the respective conduits 14a, 14b, 14c, 14d, 14e, into the
respective bellows segments 12a, 12b, 12c, 12d, 12e, as hereinabove
described.
Respective three position switches 19a, 19b, 19c, 19d, 19e are
provided to be selectively manually turned upwardly, as indicated
in FIG. 1, to close circuit, selectively, via respective contact
points 20a, 20b, 20c, 20d, and 20e, to operate the respective
solenoid valves SOL 1, SOL 2, SOL 3, SOL 4, SOL 5, in direction to
actuate respective spool valves, as the spool valve 21, FIG. 8A, to
be hereinbelow described.
Oppositely, if the three position switches 19a, 19b, 19c, 19d and
19e, are turned downwardly, as indicated in FIG. 1, to close
circuit via respective contact points 25a, 25b, 25c, 25d and 25e,
to operate the respective solenoid valves SOL 1, SOL 2, SOL 3, SOL
4 and SOL5, in direction to oppositely actuate respective spool
valves, as the aforesaid spool valve 21, FIG. 8A, to be hereinbelow
described, as aforesaid.
Normally the switches 19a-e are spring biased, as by opposed
springs 22a, 22b on opposite sides of switch buttons or levers
23a-e to place the respective spool valve 21 for each bellows
segment control in a neutral or blocking position. For each spool
valve, as the spool 21, FIG. 8A, its plungers 24a, 24b are thus
disposed to block respective SUPPLY and VENT, FIG. 8A. For
illustrative purposes in this view, the switch button or lever 23a,
connected to positive side of an electrical power line, is shown
spring biased by springs 22a, 22b to neutral position.
Also in FIG. 8A, the stem of the valve 21 is indicated as including
the wiring of the solenoid SOL 1.
As shown in FIGS. 8A, 8B and 8C, the respective plungers 24a, 24b
on the stem of the valve 21 are biased respectively downwardly by
respective compression spring 26a, and upwardly by respective
compression spring 26b, as such, disposed about the valve stem 27,
are based respectively upwardly and downwardly within the housing
28 of the respective solenoid involved. It thus follows that the
lower portion 29 of the valve stem 27 comprises the armature of the
solenoid SOL 1, as aforesaid. The double action of the solenoid
then results from circuit closure via armature winding 30a, common
ground 31, switch lever or button 23a upwardly against contact 20a,
or oppositely, circuit closure via armature winding 30b, common
ground 31, switch lever or button 23a downwardly against contact
25a.
Thus, in FIG. 8B, with the contact closure 23a, 20a, (FIG. 1 and
FIG. 8A) effective, the upper spring 26a is shown substantially
compressed by the upper plunger 24a, the lower spring 26b extended
behind the lower plunger 24b. This has placed the SUPPLY passage
open for compressed air passage therethrough into center bore 32,
then to pass via BELLOWS passage to a respective BELLOWS to be
inflated. In the case submitted as example, the compressed air
would pass from the BELLOWS passage, FIG. 8B, via the nipple 18a
and conduit 14a, FIG. 1, to inflate the upper head bellows or first
bellows spring segment 12a.
Then, in FIG. 8C, with the contact closure 23a, 25a, (FIG. 1 and
FIG. 8A) effective, the lower spring 26b is shown compressed by the
lower plunger 24b, the upper spring 26a having expanded behind the
upper plunger 24a. This has placed the VENT passage open to vent
the air from the aforesaid, now deflating first bellows spring
segment 12a, by way of the BELLOWS passage and plunger bore 32. The
vent from the respective solenoids may be directly from each
solenoid housing 28 to a vent manifold 33, indicated at the bottom
of the control box or panel 17 in FIG. 1. Note also that from the
AIR SUPPLY, a supply header 37 is indicated in FIG. 1 for carrying
the compressed air to the respective solenoid SUPPLY passages, as
though shown in FIGS. 8A, 8B and 8C.
The invention has great adaptability in usage in that the
respective five bellows or bellows spring segments may be inflated
altogether or selectively in parts or degrees of inflation. In
cases, conventional mattress springs may be provided under the
support box 11, but as a matter of fact the invention can be said
to eliminate conventional bed springs under mattresses as one of
its objects. Description of this feature has been set forth in
description of FIG. 7. Also wide variances of positioning of
mattress 10 can be obviated. For instance a condition may be
considered where it may be desirable to raise a mattress with
patient level thereon, to a substantial elevation above support box
11 and the bedstead on which it is installed. This can be done by
inflating both bellows spring segments 12d and 12e in some
considerable part, whereby they cumulatively provide the upper
surface of the upper full bed length bellows segment 12d to extend
flatly, with mattress 10 thereon, patient on mattress.
Noticeably, the segments may be adjoined, with common sheet of
material, as of plastic, separating adjacent bellows. Note the
exemplary common sheet 34 between bellows segments 12a and 12b,
FIG. 9. In this form of bellows construction the upper hem 34a of
the lower bellows segment 12b may be connected to an under, forward
strip of the common bellows sheet 34, separating segments 12a and
12b, as by applying flowable epoxly resin thereto to harden. On the
other hand note the construction shown in FIG. 10, where examples
of bellows segments 12d, 12e are shown, one disposed upon the
other, the lower sheet 34a of the upper full extent bellows segment
12d resting upon the upper sheet 34b on the lower full extent
bellows segment 12e.
The invention need not necessarily rely upon such a plurality of
bellows spring segments, but a practical and operable combination
may be provided simply by bellows spring segment combinations 12a
and 12c, the bellows spring segments 12b, 12d and 12e being
omitted. Or obviously combinations 12a, 12c, 12b may serve, or
combinations of 12a, 12c, 12d or 12a, 12c, 12d can also fit various
exactments. Such combinations of lesser segments obviously
eliminate respective conduits and solenoid actuated valves therefor
with a less expensive control system being necessitated. Obviously,
the invention is not limited to specific shapes and number of
bellows spring segments, nor to specific control systems therefor.
Thus the drawings, and their description in the specification are
by way of example, and not a limitation on the broad spirit of the
invention. The appended claims complete the disclosure.
* * * * *