Classifications

• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
  • A47C—CHAIRS; SOFAS; BEDS
  • A47C7/00—Parts, details, or accessories of chairs or stools
  • A47C7/02—Seat parts
  • A47C7/021—Detachable or loose seat cushions
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
  • A47C—CHAIRS; SOFAS; BEDS
  • A47C7/00—Parts, details, or accessories of chairs or stools
  • A47C7/36—Support for the head or the back
  • A47C7/40—Support for the head or the back for the back
  • A47C7/42—Support for the head or the back for the back of detachable or loose type
  • A47C7/425—Supplementary back-rests to be positioned on a back-rest or the like
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61G—TRANSPORT, PERSONAL CONVEYANCES, OR ACCOMMODATION SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR PATIENTS OR DISABLED PERSONS; OPERATING TABLES OR CHAIRS; CHAIRS FOR DENTISTRY; FUNERAL DEVICES
  • A61G1/00—Stretchers
  • A61G1/01—Sheets specially adapted for use as or with stretchers

Definitions

• the present invention relates to a lying underlay comprising on the one hand a thin first layer of an all-round flexible material of large wear and tear strength, having a substantially elongate basic form and forming a carrier, for instance for enabling the use of the lying underlay as a stretcher, and on the other hand a considerably thicker second layer of elongate basic form which is permanently joined or integrated with the carrier layer and which consists of a porous or fluffy soft material being intended for forming a mattress part for enabling a comfortable reclining upon the underlay.
• a lying underlay of the sort generally described above is previously disclosed in the Applicant's WO87/04614 (PCT/SE87/00062) .
• the two layers are intimately integrated with another by being formed of one and the same polymer material, for instance polyethylene, the thin carrier layer having a thickness of about 0,6 to 1 mm and a density of 0,9 to 1,0 kg/dm 3 , while the thick, porous layer has a thickness of about 5 mm and a density which is many times lower, for instance about 0,05 kg/dm 3 .
• the lying underlay has a total thickness of around 6 mm; this making it possible to roll it into a spirally wound roll which can be stored in an easy way, e.g. on or in a rucksack.
• a substantial advantage of this known lying underlay is that, when needed, it may be quickly and smoothly used as a stretcher. Of this reason, this product is particularly well suited for being used in open-air and wilderness activities.
• the lying underlay may advantageously be included into the pack of a soldier and fulfil a double function, viz .
• stretchers rarely or never are accessible in a satisfactorily large number at or in the proximity of general establishments of different sorts. For instance, in railway and underground train sets often only one, or possibly a few stretchers (in worst case, none at all) are in readiness, which, what is more, not seldom are stowed away in difficultly accessible spaces, occasionally forgotten by the responsible staff. If an accident with many injuries on humans occurs, then the absence of sufficiently many easily accessible stretchers constitutes a circumstance which makes the required rescue work more difficult and retards it, sometimes to such an extent that the injuries are seriously aggravated and even become fatal.
• Objftf-l-.B and Characteristics of the Invention aims at further developing the underlay unit known from WO87/04614 in such a way that, besides being usable as a stretcher, it also may be used as a comfortable lying underlay directly upon a plane, hard surface.
• a primary object of the invention is to create an underlay unit which in a state of readiness, in which it is ready to be quickly used as a stretcher, may be used in a general way as a shock absorbing and/or load distributing soft unit, e.g., as an effect or part of an effect.
• the unit during a long time in a storage or readiness state the unit shall be usable as a shock absorbing and/or supporting soft part, e.g. in the shape of a support-forming part for the back or a seat-forming part, whereafter it shall be possible to quickly and easily convert it into a stretcher.
• a mattress-like bed underlay which is capable of being folded into a seat- forming package.
• the folding takes place laterally, the bed underlay lacking any sort of longitudinal slits of the sort that characterizes the invention.
• the underlay shown in this document capable of being used as a stretcher.
• Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing a lying underlay according to the invention, ready for being used as a stretcher;
• Fig. 2 is a perspective view showing the same lying underlay in a folded state of readiness in which it is packeted in a covering envelope;
• Fig. 3 is a schematic cross-section showing the underlay packeted in another envelope
• Fig. 4 is a similar end view showing three different sections comprised by the underlay and each one being separatel covered by different parts of a covering envelope;
• Fig. 5 is an end view showing an alternative embodimen of the underlay
• Fig. 6 is an end view illustrating a further alternative embodiment of the underlay
• Fig. 7 is a perspective view corresponding to Fig. 1, showing an embodiment with an alternative design of the lying surface of the underlay
• Fig. 8 is a schematic perspective view illustrating th use of the lying underlay as a part of an interior
• Fig. 9 is a partially cut end view showing a lying underlay provided with aeration channels
• Fig. 10 is an end view showing an embodiment with two lying underlays just being enclosed into a common envelope,-
• Fig. 11 is an end view showing a further alternative embodiment of the invention.
• Fig. 12 is a perspective view showing a further alternative embodiment
• Fig. 13 is a cross-section showing the underlay according to Fig. 12 enclosing a patient.
• Fig. 14 is a perspective exploded view illustrating a further alternative embodiment of the invention.
• Fig. 1 shows a lying underlay which in its entirety is designated by reference numeral 1 and which comprises on the one hand a thin first layer 2 of an all-round flexible material with large wear and tear strength, and on the other hand a considerably thicker second layer 3 which is permanently joined or integrated with the first layer and consists of a porous or fluffy soft material intended to form a mattress part that makes it possible to comfortably repose on it.
• the two layers 2,3 may be produced in the way disclosed in WO-A- 87/04614, i.e., of one and the same polymer material, for instance polyethylene or polypropylene, the material in the strong, thin and carrier layer 2 having a density many times larger than the density of the porous layer 3.
• each of the two layers has a rectangular basic form, although it is feasible to confer to them a slightly tapering form.
• the basic form is elongate in so far as the length of the underlay always is larger than its largest width.
• layer 3 forming the soft mattress part of the lying underlay is divided by one or several longitudinal slits 4,4' into several elongate sections 5,6,7 which are jointly held together by the thin carrier layer 2. More precisely, the holding together of the mattress sections 5,6,7 is effected in portions 8,8' which form longitudinal folding lines permitting a folding of the lying underlay into a package in which the two sections 6,7 are folded inwards toward the middle section 5, with the carrier layer parts 2', 2", 2'" turned towards each other.
• the mattress part 3 has a thickness of at least 30, suitably at least 50 mm, whereby the lying underlay in question is capable of being used as a conventional mattress, in particular in its folded configuration, for instance in a hospital bed.
• the mattress part i.e. the thick soft layer 3
• middle section 5 then has a width within the range of 600 to 800 mm, while the width of each separate side section 6,7 amounts to about half of the width of middle section 5. Therefore, in the folded state shown in fig.
• the lying underlay gets the form o a parallelepiped with a thickness of about 100 mm, a length of about 2 000 mm and a width within the range of 600 to 800 mm. O course, also the length and the thickness may deviate from thes absolute values.
• straps 9 may be connected to the thin and strong carrier layer 2, which straps on the one hand may consist of carrying straps, on the other hand of strap for holding together the side portions against the body of a lying person.
• each individual dividing slit 4 has a height equal to the thickness of mattress part 3 in order to cut the latter down to carrier layer 2.
• the dividing slits keep side sections 6,7 completely separate from middle section 5. Folding is carried out solely along previously mentioned portions 8,8' of carrier layer 2.
• envelope 10 comprises a large-surface which is placed against the inwardly folded side sections 6,7 and against the edge parts 11 extending along both the long and the short sides, which edge parts 11 are kept elastically strained against the upper side of middle section 5, for instance by a flexible straining band 12, for example in the form of a rubber band.
• envelope 10 consists of a suitable textile material, e.g. terry cloth, furniture fabric or similar.
• envelope 10 may be easily and quickly pulled off from the packeted lying underlay in order to make it possible for the latter to function as a stretcher.
• the unit 13 shown in Fig. 2 and comprising both the packeted lying underlay 1 and the enclosing envelope 10 may be used as an effect in the most diversed circumstances, e.g., as a support-forming part for the back or as a seat-forming part, for instance in a room or in a vehicle.
• the unit in its storage or readiness state, the unit may during long times be used as for instance a furniture forming element, whereafter it may be rapidly converted into a rescuing stretcher.
• Fig. 3 an alternative envelope 14 is shown which encloses and covers the two opposite large-surfaces of the package and at least the longitudinal side edges, in that the envelope is endless.
• the envelope may also cover the shortends of the package.
• the envelope may consist of a textile material, although also other materials are feasible, e.g., shrinking plastic, adhering plastic or similar. It should be observed that envelope 14, equally to envelope 11, holds together mattress sections 5,6,7 and locks these relative to each other in the folded state.
• an envelope 15 comprises three different sectors 15', 15", 15'", each separately enclosing the different mattress sections 5,6,7.
• the envelope is placed on the lying underlay when the different mattress sections are folded out or are in a common plane, the envelope enclosing the mattress sections all-round and being in contact with their surfaces.
• FIG. 5 an embodiment is shown according to which carrier layer parts 2",2'" have a smaller width than side sections 6,7 of the mattress part.
• the outer longitudinal side parts of the side sections become more flexible and softer than at the embodiment according to Fig. 1.
• Fig. 6 shows an embodiment according to which each individual side section is divided into two part-sections 6',6" and 7',7", respectively, by a corresponding dividing slit 4",4'".
• the side sections are capable of being more easily connected to the body of a patient.
• Fig. 7 an embodiment is shown according to which the upper surface 16 on the middle section 5 of the mattress part has been conferred an uneven surface structure, for instance in the form of longitudinal grainings, with the object of reducing the risk for bedsores in cases when the underlay is used for long periods as a mattress, for instance in a hospital bed.
• Fig. 9 is illustrated an embodiment according to which the different layers in the sections of the lying underlay have been made with through aeration channels 17 which promote the evacuation of humidity and vapour from the underlay and which may bring about a current of air upwards towards a reposing body, for instance by bringing air to the boundary zone between the mattress sections.
• Fig. 10 shows an embodiment according to which two identical lying underlays are supposed to be laid adjacent to each other, with the lying surfaces of middle sections 5 in contact with each other. According to this embodiment, the side sections are folded inwards towards the middle sections, thus forming a package of four-fold thickness in comparison with the individual mattress layer 3, and then the package is enclosed in an envelope.
• Fig. 11 shows an embodiment according to which the individual side section is divided into two lamella-like parts 19,19' by a slit 18,18' parallel to the carrier layer 2, which parts 19,19' are held together along longitudinal side edges by a reinforcing layer 20 which protrudes from carrier layer 2.
• the lamella part 19' next to the lying surface of middle section 5 may be shorter than the outer lamella part 19. In this way, the arms of a lying patient or person may be placed between the two lamella parts and be kept locked after the outer lamella parts having been connected to each other, for instance by straps 9.
• Fig. 14 an embodiment is shown according to which the middle section 5 of the mattress part is composed of on the one hand a lower partial layer 21 and on the other hand of a plurality of superficial part elements 22,22' , etc.
• These separate surface elements 22,22' may have different densities in order to satisfy the requirements on the lying surface in the best way, which requirements are different for different parts of the body.
• the longitudinal slits that form folding lines at the different embodiments of the invention, along which lines the different sections of the mattress may be folded inwards towards each other may be brought about in the most different ways.
• One way is cutting or sawing in the porous material, after its production into a homogenous continuous mattress part.
• Another way is to, already in connection with the producing of the porous layer, form the layer so that dividing slits of desired depth and form are immediately formed.
• the cross-sectional form of the individual slit may advantageously be triangular or otherwise tapering, so that wedge-wisely tapering edge parts are formed in the mattress sections adjacent to each other.
• the slits may also be made by a melting or pressing operation.
• the material always maintains one and the same electrical resistance, thus producing an even heating temperature.
• the geometrical form of the lying underlay can vary most considerably.
• the soft and porous mattress layer may be composed of two or more part layers.
• the strong carrier layer 2 may in practice be designed with handles or handle-forming recesses in order to make possible the use of the unit as a stretcher. It is further possible to provide the carrier layer with longitudinal pockets in which stiffening bars may be inserted if desired.

Landscapes

• Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
• Veterinary Medicine (AREA)
• Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
• Animal Behavior & Ethology (AREA)
• General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
• Public Health (AREA)
• Nursing (AREA)
• Mattresses And Other Support Structures For Chairs And Beds (AREA)
• Inorganic Fibers (AREA)
• Chair Legs, Seat Parts, And Backrests (AREA)
• Materials For Medical Uses (AREA)
• Prostheses (AREA)
• Absorbent Articles And Supports Therefor (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=20393139

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (11)

Families Citing this family (6)

Family Cites Families (4)

• 1994
  • 1994-07-26 WO PCT/SE1994/000713 patent/WO1996003102A1/en not_active Application Discontinuation
  • 1994-07-26 JP JP8505685A patent/JPH10503100A/ja active Pending
  • 1994-07-26 SK SK113-97A patent/SK11397A3/sk unknown
  • 1994-07-26 RO RO97-00136A patent/RO118253B1/ro unknown
  • 1994-07-26 EP EP94926410A patent/EP0776190A1/en not_active Withdrawn
  • 1994-07-26 CZ CZ97204A patent/CZ284553B6/cs not_active IP Right Cessation
  • 1994-07-26 AU AU76257/94A patent/AU691520B2/en not_active Ceased
• 1997
  • 1997-01-17 NO NO970205A patent/NO970205L/no unknown
  • 1997-01-20 BG BG101153A patent/BG61795B1/bg unknown
  • 1997-01-24 LV LVP-97-08A patent/LV11815B/lv unknown
  • 1997-01-24 FI FI970305A patent/FI970305A/fi unknown

Non-Patent Citations (1)

Also Published As

Similar Documents

Legal Events