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, is cemented onto a base plate serving as a support for a multiplicity of square or rectangular inserts of like foam material detachably secured to the base plate with the aid of mating pegs and holes 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 recess 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.

Parent Case Text

This application is a continuation-in-part of my pending application Ser. No. 34,094, filed May 4, 1970 now U.S. Pat. No. 3,639,927.

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.

A more particular object is to provide a mattress of the character disclosed in my prior U.S. Pat. No. 3,639,927 with improved means for modifying its shape.

In accordance with the present improvement, the inserts and at least the underlying part of the base plate are provided with complementary formations, such as mating pegs and holes, which facilitate their separation but positively locate each insert within the cutout so as to prevent it from shifting therein upon the removal of an adjoining insert.

Advantageously, the male formations or projections (pegs) are provided on the undersides of the insert whereas the female formations or depressions (holes) are located on the base plate so as to leave more space underneath a sensitive part of a patient's body. In this case it is also possible to form all or most of the base surface with such holes so that different types of frames, with larger or smaller cutouts, can be fitted thereon as required. The frame could be permanently cemented onto the base plate but may also be detachably secured thereto with the aid of a pressure-activated adhesive.

The mattress disclosed in my copending application is 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, the frame and the inserts are supported on a base plate which underlies the cutout and has an outline substantially registering with that of the frame.

In accordance with the present improvement, the inserts and at least the underlying part of the base plate are provided with complementary formations, such as mating pegs and holes, which facilitate their separation but positively locate each insert within the cutout so as to prevent it from shifting therein upon the removal of an adjoining insert.

Advantageously, the male formations or projections (pegs) are provided on the undersides of the insert whereas the female formations or depressions (holes) are located on the base so as to leave more space underneath a sensitive part of a patient's body. In this case it is also possible to form all or most of the base surface with such holes so that different types of frames, with largers or smaller cutouts, can be fitted thereon as required. The frame could be permanently cemented onto the base plate but may also be detachably secured thereto with the aid of a pressure-activated adhesive.

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

FIG. 1 is a plan view of an improved mattress embodying my invention;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line II -- II of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a mattress similar to the one shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

The mattress shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 comprises a rectangular frame 2 of foam plastic cemented onto a rigid base plate 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 with smooth upper surfaces as shown are detachably secured to the base plate 1 by pegs 8 (FIG. 3) fitting into holes 9 as shown in FIG. 3. A headrest 4, also of foam plastic, is similarly cemented onto the right-hand end of frame 2 just beyond the cutout 7.

A pad 5, likewise of foam plastic, is 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 18. The wedge pieces 6 may be strips of foam plastic also detachably cemented to the underlying mattress portions. In its outward appearance, the mattress shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 resembles that illustrated in corresponding Figures of my U.S. Pat. No. 3,639,927.

In FIG. 3 I have shown a mattress generally similar to that of FIGS. 1 and 2, its frame 2' having a rectangular open-ended cutout 7' adjoining a headrest 4' but terminating short of a foot pad 5'. Base plate 1' has a wedge-shaped end supporting the headrest 4' which is here in the form of a simple strip extending across the open end of cutout 7'. An adhesive layer 10 secures the frame 2' and the headrest 4' to the base plate 1'. Foot pad 5' is constructed of several sections including blocks 5b defining the closed ends of recesses 5a.

The uniformly shaped inserts 3 of FIGS. 1 and 2 have been replaced in FIG. 3 by a variety of inserts including narrower pieces 3a and wider pieces 3b, the latter being of square shape and provided on their undersides with nine pegs 8 whereas the inserts 3a have only a single row of three pegs. These pegs fit into holes 9 of base 1' which are equispaced in an orthogonal array within cutout 7', the inserts 3a and 3b being thus positionable with different orientations anywhere within the cutout. Other inserts 3c and 3d overly groups of four and six holes 9, respectively, and are provided on their undersides with corresponding numbers of pegs 8. The availability of these diverse shapes affords great versatility in selecting an area free from pressure, particularly in the case of restless patients who may change their position frequently and for whom it may therefore become necessary to enlarge an insert-free zone originally provided in the mattress.

The illustrated cylindrical shape of the pegs and holes makes them easier to produce but is not essential; the same freedom of emplacement can be had with, say, prismatic or pyramidal formations of square outline as well as with conical (or frustoconical) pegs and holes.

The wedge pieces 6 of FIGS. 1 and 2, omitted in FIG. 3, can of course also be used with the latter embodiment.

The wege pieces 6, the headrest 4' and/or the pad 5' could also be removably attached to the frame 2' or the underlying base 1' with the aid of complementary formations such as pegs and holes.

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

Claims

I claim:

1. A mattress comprising a generally rectangular base plate, a horizontal frame of resilient material fixedly secured to said base plate and substantially coextensive therewith, said frame being provided with a central output positioned to underlie the major part of the body of a patient recumbent thereon, and a multiplicity of resilient inserts with smooth upper surfaces closely juxtaposed in said cutout to form a continuous surface with said frame, each of said inserts being provided on its underside with a plurality of depending pegs, said base plate being provided with a multiplicity of complementary holes receiving said pegs for enabling selective removal of any insert from said frame to relieve pressure on a sensitive part of the patient's body.

2. A mattress as defined in claim 1 wherein said holes are uniformly distributed throughout said cutout in an orthogonal array, each of said inserts being provided with a plurality of correspondingly equispaced pegs.

3. A mattress as defined in claim 2 wherein said inserts are rectangular and differ at least partly from one another in size and in the number of said pegs.