US3419920A - Mattress - Google Patents

Description

Jan. 7, 1%9 F- MADDUX, R. ETAL 3,419,920

MATTRESS Filed Oct. 17, 1966 Sheet of 3 INVENTORS.

JOHN R. GREENO.

ATTO NEYS FORREST E. MADDUX,JR.

Jan. 7, 1969 F. E. MADDUX, JR. ET AL MATTRESS Filed Oct. 17, 1966 Sheet of INVENTORS.

FORREST E. MADDUX, JR. BYJOHN R. GREENO,

Jan. 7, 1969 F. E. MADDUX, JR, ETAL MATTRESS Sheet 3 of 5 Filed 001,. 17, 1966 INVENTORS. FORREST E. MADDUX ,JR. JOHN R are}? i A: iORNEYS United States Patent 9 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE The present invention discloses a mattress particularly adapted for hospital use wherein the head portion of the mattress is hingedly connected to a fixed central portion and a foot portion of the mattress is hingedly connected at the opposite end of said fixed portion. In addition to forming the mattress with hinged portions, each portion is provided with a different compression resistance, the head portion being softer than the central portion while the foot portion is softer than the head portion since it does not need to provide as much support and the central portion may be harder than either the head or foot portions since it supports the most weight thereby making the patient more comfortable. The mattress is further provided with a bed pan which is supported by the material of the mattress in a recess formed therein so the patient may be comfortably disposed on the pan for long periods of time.

This invention relates to a hospital bed mattress and, more particularly, to a hospital bed mattress of hinged construction and adapted to accommodate a bed pan.

Hospital beds are available in which the head portion is hingedly connected to one end of a fixed central portion so that the head portion may be elevated with respect to the fixed central portion. Furthermore, these hospital beds have a foot portion, which is hingedly connected to the other end of the fixed central portion, to permit raising and lowering of the foot portion with respect to the fixed central portion. Thus, this type of hospital bed permits relative movement of various portions thereof so that the patient may be accommodated in various positions. This type of bed is particularly useful where the patients are required to remain in bed for long periods of time as in nursing homes, for example.

The movement of the head or foot portion of the bed is not readily followed by the presently available hospital bed mattresses. Thus, the mattress does not follow the contour of the bed so that the patient is not as comfortable as the patient should be when the head portion is elevated or the foot portion is raised or lowered. The mattress also may tend to bunch because of the move ment of the ticking of the mattress with respect to the remainder thereof, and this bunching will cause uncomfortableness.

The present invention satisfactorily overcomes the foregoing problem by providing a mattress having portions hingedly connected to each other. Thus, the mattress of the present invention will follow the contour of the bed, and there will be no bunching when either the head portion of the bed is elevated or the foot portion of the bed is raised or lowered.

By forming the mattress of the present invent-ion with hinged portions, the various portions of the mattress may have different compression resistances. Thus, by not forming the entire mattress of the same compression resistance, the patient is more comfortable.

The head portion of the mattress may be softer than the central portion upon which the body of the patient is supported when the head portion of the bed is elevated. Furthermore, the foot portion of the mattress may be invention 18 more comfortable for a patient than presently available mattresses.

With bed-ridden patients, it is necessary to utilize a bed pan. While it has been suggested to utilize a mattress with a receptacle for a bed pan, none of these previously suggested mattress constructions provided comfort for the patient while using the bed pan. That is, none of the previously suggested mattresses provided any type of support beneath the bed pan during its use. The present invention satisfactorily overcomes this problem by designing the bed pan receptacle so that the bed pan is supported by the material of the mattress whereby the patient may be comfortably disposed on the bed pan for long periods of time.

The present invention also provides a unique sheet arrangement for use with a hospital bed mattress adapted to accommodate a bed pan. This unique sheet arrangement provides a central portion, which is disposed adjacent the bed pan receptacle, of a material such as fleece lined rubber sheeting so as to be readily washable with two overlapping cotton sheets, which are fitted to opposite ends of the mattress.

An object of this invention is to provide a hospital bed mattress having hinged portions for cooperation with the hinged portions of a hospital bed.

Another object of this invention is to provide a mattress formed of portions with different compression resistances.

A further object of this invention is to provide a hospital bed mattress having an easily insertable bed pan.

Other objects, uses, and advantages of this invention are apparent upon a reading of this description, which proceeds with reference to the drawings forming part thereof and wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a top plan view of one form of hospital bed mattress of the present invention.

FIGURE 2. is a side elevational view of the mattress of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is a bottom plan view of the mattress of FIGURE 1. I

FIGURE 4 is a sectional view of the mattress of FIG- URE 1 and taken along the line 4-4 of FIGURE. 1.

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged sectional view of a portion of the mattress of FIGURE 4 and showing the hinged arrangement between the central portion of the mattress and the foot portion of the mattress.

FIGURE 6 is an enlarged sectional 'view of a corner of the mattress of the present invention and showing the connecting relation of portions of the mattress cover.

FIGURE 7 is a top plan view of another form of hospital bed mattress of the present invention wherein the mattress may accommodate a bed pan.

FIGURE 8 is a sectional view of the mattress of FIGURE 7 and taken along the line 88 of FIGURE 7.

FIGURE 9 is a top plan view partly in perspective, of the mattress of FIGURE 7 with portions removed therefrom and showing two types of removable sections adapted to be used with the mattress.

FIGURE 10 is a top plan view of a mattress, similar to the mattress of FIGURE 7, and showing a unique sheet arrangement.

FIGURE 11 is an enlarged sectional view of the mattress of FIGURE 10 and taken along the line 1111 of FIGURE 10.

FIGURE 12 is a top plan view, similar to FIGURE 10', and showing a bed pan in position for use.

FIGURE 13 is an enlarged sectional view of the mattress of FIGURE 12 and taken along the line 1313 of FIGURE 12.

Referring to the drawings and particularly FIGURES 1-4, there is shown a mattress 10. The mattress includes a head portion 11, a central portion 12, and a foot portion 14.

The portions 11, 12 and 14 form the body of the mattress and are formed of a suitable material such as polyurethane foam, for example. The central portion 12 is the firmest of the three portions while the foot portion 14 is the softest of the three portions. The specific compression resistance of each of the three portions 11, 12, and 14 will depend upon the particular planned use of the mattress. That is, whether it is to be used by older persons in nursing homes or in hospitals. It also would depend upon the weight of the patients expected to utilize the mattress.

As one example, the central portion 12 could be formed of polyurethane foam having a compression resistance of 51, i.e., the foam requires 51 pounds per square inch to compress it to one-quarter of its thickness. Likewise, the head portion 11 could be formed of polyurethane foam having a compression resistance of 31. The foot portion 14 could be formed of polyurethane foam having a compression resistance of 21.

The adjacent surfaces of the central portion 12 and the head portion 11 are cut along a diagonal 15 (see FIGURE 4) to form a hinged relation therebetween. With a mattress having a body thickness of four and one-half to five inches, the diagonal 15 is cut so that the horizontal distance between its two terminal ends is three inches,

The portions 11, 12, and 14 of the mattress 10 are enclosed within a cover, which is preferably formed of nylon and coated on its outer surface with a suitable material that is impervious to all types of acids and alkalies, which the human body may discharge. One suitable example of the coating material for the nylon is a material, which is sold under the trade mark Hypalon by Du Pont.

As shown in FIGURE 4, the cover has a bottom 16, which extends beneath the portions 11, 12, and 14. In addition to the nylon being coated on its upper surface by Hypalon, the bottom 16 of the cover also is coated on its lower surface by neoprene. Thus, the bottom 16 is double coated.

The bottom 16 has an elastic portion 13 (see FIG- URES 3 and 4), which is disposed directly beneath the diagonal 15, to permit hinging of the sections 11 and 12, as will be explained hereinafter. One suitable example of the material for the portion 13 is Lycra cloth woven of Du Pont fibers.

The cover includes a top 17 having a side portion 18 and a side panel 19, which cooperate with the bottom 16 to enclose the head portion 11 and the central portion 12 of the mattress 10 therein. The side panel 19- is attached to the bottom 16 and the top 17 including its side portion 18 by suitable means so that the portions 11 and 12 are sealed therein.

One means of securing the side panel 19 to the bottom 16 and the top including its side portion 18 is shown in FIGURE 6 wherein an inside seam is formed through a cotton woven tape 20 being sewed around an end of the top 17 and an end of the side panel 19 on the inside of the mattress. A sealing material 21 is disposed within the seam on the outside of the mattress. One suitable example of the sealing material 21 is a cement, which is sold by the Adhesive Division of the United States Rubber Company under the number M-6384.

In order to form the mattress 10, the side panel 19 is attached to the bottom 16 and partially attached to the top 17. However, all of the seams between the side panel 19 and the top 17 are not connected so that the portions 11 and 12 may be inserted within the cover.

After the portions 11 and 12 are disposed therein, a suitable adhesive material is applied between the adjacent surfaces of the portions 11 and 12 along the diagonal 15 and between the top surfaces of the portions 11 and 12 and the top 17 of the cover. One suitable example of the adhesive is a water soluble, soft drying cement, which is sold under the trade name Javatex by the Java Latex & Chemical Corporation. Thus, by having a connection between the top 17 of the cover and the head portion 11 and the central portion 12 of the mattress 10, there is no wrinkling of the cover beneath the patient.

When the head portion of a hospital bed is elevated with respect to the central fixed portion of the bed, the head portion 11 of the mattress 10 will hinge with respect to the central portion 12 of the mattress 10 Without any bunching of the mattress. Thus, the mattress 10 is capable of following the contours of the hospital bed.

The foot portion 14 is enclosed with a top 22 having a side portion 23 and a side panel 24 of the cover. The side panel 24 is attached to the bottom 16 and the top 22 including its side portion 25 in the same manner as the side panel 19.

The mattress has its entire top cover, which includes the top 17, the side portion 18, the top 22, and the side portion 25, formed of one piece of Hypalon coated nylon to facilitate easy cleaning and disinfecting on the bed. Thus, the side portions 19 and 25 are integral with each other and their junction is attached to the bottom 16 of the cover (see FIGURE 5) by suitable adhesive material such as M6384 and two rows of stitching.

Accordingly, an open hinge is provided between the foot portion 14 and the central portion 12 of the mattress 10. When the foot portion of the hospital bed is raised or lowered, the foot portion 14 of the mattress 10- will follow the movement thereof and is hingedly connected through the bottom 16 of the cover to the central portion 12. It should be understood that there is no requirement for any type of cementing between the foot portion 14 and the top 22 of the cover as is necessary for the portions 11 and 12 with respect to the top 17 of the cover.

Referring to FIGURES 79, there is shown another form of mattress construction wherein a mattress 30 is formed of a head portion 31, a central portion 32, and a foot portion 33 in the same manner as the mattress 10. However, the central portion 32 includes a removable section 34 and removable section 35. The portions 31, 32, and 33, which form the body of the mattress 30, are preferably formed of polyurethane foam.

The cover of the mattress 30 includes a bottom 37, which is formed of the same material and in the same manner as the bottom 16- of the cover of the mattress 10 including an elastic portion 36. The side panel 38 extends around all sides since the top 39' does not have a side portion as does the top 17. The head portion 31 is cut along a diagonal 40. Thus, there is a hinged cemented connection between the head portion 31 and the central portion 32 through the top 39 of the cover.

The foot portions 33 of the mattress 30 is enclosed by a top 4.1 and a side panel 42 of the cover in the same manner as the foot portion 14 of the mattress 10 is enclosed. However, the side panel 42 extends around all sides since the top 41 does not have a side portion as does the top 22. The side panel 38 and the side panel 42 are spaced from each other to form a recess or receptacle therebetween with the bottom 37 of the cover extending across the recess or receptacle.

The removable sections 34 and 35 are disposed within the recess 32. While the removable section 34 and the removable section 35 have the same width, the removable section 35 extends for a much greater length than the length of the removable section 34 as shown in FIGURE 7.

As shown in FIGURE 9, the bottom 37 of the cover has adhesive strips 43 attached thereto for cooperation with matching adhesive strips 44 on the bottom of the removable section 34. The adhesive strips may be formed of any suitable material. One example is an adhesive strip sold under the trade mark Velcro by Velcro, Inc. The Velcro strips are washable and hold firmly when pressed together. The Velcro strips may be easily pulled apart when desired to remove the removable section 34 from engagement with the bottom 37 of the cover.

In order to permit ready grasping of the larger removable section 35, a handle 45 is provided on each end thereof. Thus, either end of the removable section 35 may be disposed adjacent the side of the mattress The removable sections 34 and 35 are formed of the same compression resistance. Accordingly, the entire central portion 32. has the same compression resistance.

As shown in FIGURE 8, the body of the removable section 35 is enclosed by a cover 46. The cover 46 is formed of the same material as the top 39, the side panel 38, the top 41, and the side panel 42, of the cover. This is preferably nylon, which has been coated in the same manner as described for the cover used in the embodiment of FIGURES 1-4.

The material of the central portion 32 has a more firm compression resistance than the material of either the head portion 31 or the foot portion 33. Furthermore, the material of the foot portion 33 is softer than the material of the head portion 31. Thus, the same comfort arrangement, as was described with respect to FIGURES 1-4, is available with this embodiment.

When the patient will require a bed pan, it is only necessary to replace the removable section 35 by a removable section 47. The section 47 is formed of the same material as the removable section and has the same compression resistance. However, a receptacle 48 is provided in the section 47 to receive a bed pan 58 (see FIGURE 13). It should be understood that the bottom of the receptacle 48 terminates short of the bottom of the section 47 so that there is material, which is preferably polyurethane foam as previously mentioned, beneath the bottom of the bed pan 58 (see FIGURE 13) when it is disposed within the receptacle 48.

The cover for the section 47 includes a hinged flap 49, which has an adhesive strip 50 on one end thereof for cooperation with an adhesive strip 51 on a side of the section 47. The adhesive strips 50 and 51 are preferably Velcro strips. Handles 52 are provided on each end of the removable section 47 to permit grasping thereof.

The receptacle 48 in the removable section 47 is normally filled by a filler pad 57 (see FIGURE 10) of the same material as the material of the section 47 when the bed pan 58 is not being used. Thus, with the flap 49 secured to the remainder of the cover of the removable section 47, the removable section 47 functions as a part of the central portion 32 in the same manner as the removable section 35. When it is desired to use the bed pan 58, it is only necessary to fold the flap 49 back under the section 47 and replace the filler pad 57 with the bed pan 58 in the receptacle 48.

Of course, if the patient is ambulatory and does not require the service of abed pan, then the removable section 35 is employed rather than the removable section 47. While the section 47 is relatively similarly comfortable as the section 35 because of the filler pad 57 in the receptacle 48, it would be slightly more expensive to manufacture. Since the sections 35 and 47 Will be sold as separate units, nursing homes and hospitals would determine how many of each type of removable section would be required. Since the sections 35 and 47 are of the same overall size, they would be used interchangeably.

Referring to FIGURES 10-13, there is shown the unique sheet arrangement of the present invention when used with the mattress 30. The section 47 is shown disposed on the bottom 37 with the flap 49 folded back under the section 47.

A rubber sheet 53, which is fleece lined, has an opening 54 therein for alignment with the recess or receptacle 48 in the removable section 47. The rubber draw sheet 53 extends over all of the removable section 47 and the removable section 35. It also extends over part of the central portion 32 and part of the foot portion 33.

The tops 39 and 41 of the cover of the mattress 30 have Velcro pile strips 55 (see FIGURE 9) sewed thereon. The strips 55 match with Velcro hook strips 56 (see FIGURES 10 and 12) which are sewed to the underside of the rubber sheet 53, to secure the sheet 53 to the mattress 30.

A contour sheet 59, which is formed of suitable sheet material such as cotton, is adapted to be fitted over the head portion 31 of the mattress 30. One end of the sheet 59 has a pocket so as to be contour fitted over the mattress 30.

A similar contour sheet 60 is adapted to be fitted over the foot portion 33 of the mattress 30. Again, one end of the sheet 60 has a contour pocket for cooperation with the mattress 30 to retain the sheet 60 thereon in fitted relation.

The sheets 59 and 60 overlap the ends of the rubber draw sheet 53. Velcro pile pieces are sewed to the open corner edges of the cotton sheets 59 and 60. These pile pieces fasten to hook pieces, which are sewed on the bottom of top covers 37 of the cover of the mattress 30, to keep the sheets 59 and 60 held tightly across the mattress 30 under the patient.

With this sheet arrangement, the easily washable and cleanable rubber sheet 53 is disposed where the bed pan is located. Thus, the sheets 59 and 60 will not normally become contaminated by the use of the bed pan.

As shown in FIGURE 11, the receptacle 48 within the removable section 47 is filled by the filler pad 57. As previously mentioned, the recess or receptacle 48 terminates short of the bottom of the removable section 47. Thus, the material of the removable section 47 functions as a resilient base when the pad 57 is removed from the recess or receptacle 48 and the bed pan 58 (see FIGURE 13), which is preferably formed of plastic, is disposed within the recess or receptacle 48 in the removable section 47.

The overall thickness, approximately five inches, of the mattress section 47 permits the average size adult bed pan to be placed down in the receptacle 48 and rest on a layer of the mattress filling, which is preferably polyurethane foam, with the top of the pan about one-half inch below the top surface of the mattress. This provides comfort for the patient and enables an attendant to care for more people in the same time.

The unique sheet arrangement is not required when the mattress 30 is employed with only the section 35 along with the section 34. In this arrangement, a normal sheet may be employed.

In order to insure that the mattress 10' or the mattress 30 remains on the hospital bed, the bottom 16 or the bottom 37 of the cover and the bed have adhesive strips, which are preferably Velcro strips, for attaching the mattress to the bed. Thus, the mattress cannot move with respect to the bed. These adhesive strips are placed on the underside of the mattress and the bed so that they do not interfere with regular or contour sheets when they are folded under the mattress.

With the mattress 30, it is observed that the head portion 31 may be elevated because of its hinged connection to the central portion 32 so as to provide a support for the patient when using the bed pan 58. Witlt the head portion 31 elevated, the patient is supported by the rubber draw sheet 53, is held securely by Velcro adhesive strips 56, therefore the patient receives the desired support. Furthermore, this is the most comfortable position in which to utilize the bed pan 58.

While the body of the mattress of the present invention has been described as being formed of polyurethane foam, it should be understood that any other suitable material may be employed. While the section 35 of the central portion 32 of the mattress 30 has been described as being removable, it should be understood that it could be formed integral with the removable section 44 of the central portion 32 if desired.

By coating the nylon cover of the mattress with Hypaion, the mattress has a surface, which is impervious to all body discharges and is flame proof. Thus, if a match or cigarette is placed on the surface of the mattress, it will flame out as soon as the fuel of the match or cigarette burns out. Furthermore, by forming the mattress body of polyurethane foam, there is no burning of the mattress body although it will melt. However, the mattress body will not support combustion.

An advantage of this invention is that the mattress is sanitary since the removable section, which supports the bed pan, may be readily dumped into boiling water or autoclaved for sterilization. Another advantage of this invention is that the bed pan is recessed into the mattress for comfort. A further advantage of this invention is that the mattress provides comfort for the patient in any position of the hospital bed. Still another advantage of this invention is that it is practically flame proof. A still further advantage of this invention is that there is no bunching of the mattress when portions of the hospital bed are moved to raise the head portion or lower the foot portion. Yet another advantage of this invention is that it follows the contours of the bed.

For purposes of exemplification, particular embodiments of the invention have been shown and described according to the best present understanding thereof. However, it will be apparent that changes and modifications in the arrangement and construction of the parts thereof may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A hospital bed mattress comprising a body having a head portion, a central portion, and a foot portion, said head portion being hingedly connected to one end of said central portion, said foot portion being hingedly connected to the other end of said central portion, said central portion being formed of a material firmer than the material of said head portion and said foot portion, and said head portion being formed of a material firmer than the material of said foot portion.

2. The mattress according to claim 1 in which the material of said body is polyurethane foam.

3. The mattress according to claim 1 including a cover having a bottom extending beneath said head portion, said central portion, and said foot portion, said cover enclosing said head portion and at least a part of said central portion within one part thereof and enclosing said foot portion within a second part thereof, and the adjacent surfaces of said head portion and said central portion being formed along a diagonal.

4. The mattress according to claim 3 in which said central portion includes at least one removable section disposed between the part of said central portion within said cover and said foot portion, said removable section resting on said bottom of said cover.

5. A hospital bed mattress comprising a body having a head portion, a central portion, and a foot portion, said head portion being hingedly connected ot one end of said central portion, said foot portion being hingedly connected to the other end of said central portion, said central portion having a recess formed therein to receive a bed pan, said recess terminating short of the bottom of said central portion, and a pad of the same material and compression resistance as said central portion adapted to fill said recess when a bed pan is not disposed therein.

6. The mattress according to claim 5 in which said central portion includes at least one removable section and said removable section having a recess formed therein to receive a bed pan.

7. The mattress according to claim 5 in which said central portion includes two removable sections, each of said removable sections having the same length, one of said removable sections being much wider than the other of said removable sections, the width of said two removable sections being equal to the width of said body, and said one removable section having said recess therein.

8. The mattress according to claim 5 in which the material of said central portion is firmer than the material of said head portion and said foot portion and the material of said head portion is firmer than the material of said foot portion.

9. The mattress according to claim 6 in which said removable section has a hinged cover disposed over said recess.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,469,084 5/ 1949 Schenker 5-91 2,924,833 2/1960 Klogether 5-335 2,982,976 5/1961 Ferolito 5-91 X 3,023,429 3/1962 Borotra 590 3,142,070 7/1964 Henry 5-91 3,188,660 6/1965 Guttman 591 3,210,781 10/1965 Pollock 5-351 3,249,952 5/1966 Janapol 591 3,308,490 3/1967 Cacioppo 5-345 CASMIR A. NUNBERG, Primary Examiner.

US. Cl. X.R. 5345

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