US2989962A - Bed protectors - Google Patents

Description

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M. DAHL 2,989,962

BED PROTECTORS Filed July 14, 1958 June 27, 1961 Laar), a/zz,

United States lPatent 2,989,962 BED PRoTucToRs Mary Dahl, tss- 12 178th st., Jamaica, N. Y. Filed July 14, 195s, ser. No. 748,344 2 claims. (ci. 12s- 215) The invention relates to bed protectors, and relates more particularly to bed protectors of the type wherein the occupant of a sick bed can eliminate in comfort without leaving the bed.

Desirable -features of bed protectors includes that they are safe and reliable and easy to handle, and these features are generally found in bed protectors now in use. Present bed protectors are deficient, however, therein that they do not protect the bed completely with attendant discomfort to the patient, and are not easily exchanged and cleaned, and do not protect the hands of the nurse.

One of the principal objects of the instant invention is to provide a bed protector which is safe in use and protects the bed completely against wetting. Further objects of the invention include the provision of bed protectors that are easily exchanged and laundered and moved to and from a position supporting the patient in bed.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will be set fort-h in part in the following specification and in part will be obvious therefrom without being specically referred to, the same being realized and attained as pointed out in the claims hereof.

For a fuller understanding of the nature and objects of the invention, reference should be had to the following detailed description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

F'IG. l is a plan view of a bed protector in accordance with an embodiment of the invention, showing in phantom outline a person using the protector;

FIG. 2 is a plan view similar to FIG. l, but showing the auxiliary protector extending outwardly, for clarity of presentation;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 3 3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken on the line 4 4 of FIG. 2; y

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken on the line 5 5 of FIG. 2; and

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary plan view, similar to FIG. 2 but embodying a modification.

In carrying the invention into eect in the embodiments which have been selected for illustration in the accompanying drawings and for description in this speciiication, and referring now particularly to FIGS. l and 2, there is provided a bed protector generally indicated at 11 which broadly is composed of a main protector or section 12 and an auxiliary protector or auxiliary section or cap or hood 13.

-In the drawing, the main protector 12 is shown in oval form, but it will be understood that it may have any other suitable shape, such as circular or square, or the like, though it is preferred that the difference of the extensions in the two perpendicular directions is but small; similarly, the auxiliary protector 13 need not have the exact outline shown in the drawing.

The main protector 12 has a bottom 14 and an endless cu 16 that is stitched or sealed otherwise permanently in waterproof manner secured to the outer edge of the bottom 14 and is superposed over that edge. Both the bottom 14 and the cuff 16 are composed of waterproof material, such as rubber faced with muslin, or plastic faced with organdy, or rubberized felt, or the like. The purpose of the muslin or organdy'or the like, facing on the plastic or rubber is to protect the skin of the patient Fice from direct contact with the rubber or plastic surface as the skin, owing to skin moisture, would adhere to such surface. The cuff 16 may be made integral with the bottom 14, if desired. The cuff 16 defines with its internal edge 17 an opening 18. A body or padding of absorbent material 19, such as a cotton padding or paper padding of one or more layers, rests on the bottom 14 and extends -below the cuff 16 and across the open top 18 and is tucked in between the cu 16 and the outer edge of the `bottom 14. The absorbent body 19 serves lto absorb moisture and liquids, while the bottom 14 provides protection from the liquids for the bed sheet, and the cuff 16 retains the liquid.

As -best shown in FIG. l, the patient rests with a part of the 4body on the main protector 12, positioned in such a manner that liquid eliminated will be received by the absorbent material 19.

An auxiliary protector 13 may either lbe connected permanently to the main protector 12, for instance to the cu 16 of the main protector 13, as shown at 21 in FIG. 2, or may be releasably connected thereto for instance in spaced relation by means of strings 22 as shown in the modification of FIG. 6. The auxiliary protector 13 has a bottom 23 and an endless cuff 24 either stitched or sealed or otherwise in a waterproof manner permanently connected to the bottom 23. The bottom 23 will in actual use, as best shown in FIG. l, practically be on top, as the auxiliary protector 13 generally is put Ibetween the legs of the person and rests in part on the abdomen of the person. The cuff 24 defines with its integral edge 26 an opening 27. Absorbent padding 28, such as cotton or paper in one or more layers, is retained by the flange 24 on the bottom 23, and elastic means 29 are provided, such as elastic bands, to bridge the narrow distance of the opening 27, for retaining the absorbent padding 28 in place. The auxiliary protector 13 is generally of elongated shape to fit between the legs of the patient and to extend over part of the abdomen. The material of the bottom 23 and cuff 24 is waterproof material, such as rubber faced with muslin or plastic faced with organdy or rubberized felt, or the like.

The absorbent padding materials 19 and 28 are both easily removable from their emplacements in the protectors.

The bottom 14 of the main protector 12 generally rests on the :bed sheet. It is inserted below the patient advantageously in the following manner: The person is rolled over to one side and the main protector 12 inserted underneath the person, with a portion at the side of the protector 12 folded. Thereafter, the person is rolled over the protector to lie on the other side, and the foldedover portion straightened out, and then the person may be moved on the back to rest on the protector as shown in FIG. l. The auxiliary protector 13 is inserted between the legs of the person resting in part on the abdomen of the person. In this position, the person may move from side to side, and the protector will still give adequate protection against wetting of the bed sheet, as well as of the blanket. The advantages of the Vinstant bed protector are that rubber sheets may generally be dispensed with below the bed sheet. Even patients who are bound to their bed for long periods of time will avoid by the use of the instant protector the chang of the skin and irritations otherwise caused by wetting, and generally be far more comfortable than with protectors now in use. The paddings may be removed by tongs.

I wish it to be understood that I do not desire tov be limited to the exact details of construction shown and described, for obvious modifications will occur to a person skilled in the art.

`Having thus described the invention, what I claim as t ing below said opening and having its edge throughout covered -by said culi, said auxiliary section being elongated and narrow and adapted to it between the legs of a person, and means connected to the cuff of said auxiliary section and bridging the narrow distance of said opening thereof and being operable to retain said absorbent material in said auxiliary section.

2. In a bed protector, a main protector section adapted to support a part of a body of a person and an'auxiliary protector section connected to the main section, each section being composed of waterproof material and comprising a bottom and an endless cui surmounting the edge portion of the bottom and defining an opening above the bottom, and a pad of absorbent material removably disposed in each section along said bottom and extending below said opening and having its edge throughout covered by said cuff, said auxiliary section being elongated and narrow and adapted to iit between the legs of a person, the cui of said auxiliary section being operable to retain said absorbent material in said auxiliary section.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 826,881 Powdermaker n July 24, 1906 2,638,095 Smythe May 12, 1953 2,686,518 Davis Aug. 17, 1954 2,754,824 Blaufus July 17, 1956 2,914,069 IOsborn Nov, 24, 1959

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