EP3698673B1 - Support body - Google Patents

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a support body for supporting a person on a surface, preferably on a bed, in a sitting position, the support body comprising a back element and two side elements connected to the back element, the back element and side elements being designed in such a way that when in use the Supporting body mounted, preferably sitting on the base, person is supported by the back element in a first direction and by the side elements transverse to the first direction.

STATE OF THE ART

In the field of nursing care for the elderly and/or the sick, both in the mobile and in the stationary area, people are cared for who, due to their limited mobility, cannot sit in a sitting position on their own. While it is usual, at least in the stationary area, to bring such persons into a sitting position by means of a support that is height-adjustable in several zones, for example by means of such a bed, this is not always possible in the mobile area. In addition, for therapeutic or logistical reasons, both in the stationary and in the mobile area, it may be desirable for the person being cared for to be able to assume a different position on the surface than the lying position. It is particularly desirable to be able to bring the person into a sitting position transversely to the base or transversely to the bed and to be able to store them in this position. In such a position across the bed, for example, the person's legs can be bent over the edge of the bed, for example in order to carry out rehabilitation measures or to take a meal. The inpatient area includes hospitals and geriatric facilities understood; under the mobile area, for example, mobile nurses or mobile geriatric nurses.

A back element and two side elements comprising a support body are already known from the prior art, which are designed such that the person supported in the support body is supported by the back element in a first direction and by the side elements transversely to the first direction. For this purpose, the elongate side elements protrude from the back element on both sides, so that a volume is formed between the side elements and the back element, with a person lying within this volume being generally supported on their back by the back element and being prevented from slipping sideways by the side elements of the person is prevented by the thighs and pelvis of the person being contacted by the respective side element, at the latest when slipping.

Known supporting bodies consist either of a padded metal rod or of a foam material. In both cases, a disadvantage of the prior art can be seen in the fact that the support bodies are extremely bulky and can therefore only be transported or stowed to a limited extent.

The DE 806 896 C discloses an inflatable piece of seating furniture which comprises a seat part made up of tube parts, a back part made up of tube parts and a fabric part stretched over the seat part and back part as a seat and backrest. The side parts of the seat part are connected to the back part by means of a triangular fabric part as side parts.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

It is therefore an object of the invention to overcome the disadvantages of the prior art and to propose a support body which can be transported and handled in a simple manner without having to make deductions in the stability of the support body in order to To guarantee the safety of a person stored in the supporting body.

PRESENTATION OF THE INVENTION

As mentioned above, the invention relates to a support body according to the invention for supporting a person on a base, preferably on a bed, in a sitting position, the support body comprising a back element and two side elements connected to the back element. The back element and the side elements are designed in such a way that in an application state the person supported in the support body and sitting at least in sections on the base is supported by the back element in a first direction and by the side elements transversely to the first direction, i.e. in other words that the back element essentially extends in a vertical direction, preferably perpendicular to the first direction, and has a first support surface to support the back of the person being supported when in use, and that the side elements, which are preferably elongate, are essentially parallel extending to the first direction, the side panels being spaced from one another, preferably by the back panel, in a transverse direction, preferably normal to the first direction and the height direction. Usually, the extent of the side elements in the height direction is less than that of the back element in order to support the supported person in the transverse direction when in use.

It is advantageous if the back element and the side elements are dimensioned in such a way that the person being supported can support their back on the back element when in use and can rest their arms on the side elements. In particular, so that the person being supported does not have to be lifted onto the support body, it is provided that the person being supported sits on the support itself at least in sections, preferably over the entire surface, in the application state. In this case the supporting body is in an accommodation volume delimited on three sides by the back element and side elements at the bottom, ie in the direction of the base when in use, and in other words has no floor or seat element. In this case, the supported person can, for example, be raised with the aid of the support body, since the person does not prevent the support body from moving in the first direction. Alternatively, the person being supported can first be raised up and in a second step the supporting body is pushed towards the person, preferably from behind.

However, design variants are certainly conceivable in which the support body also has a seat element, for example made of tarpaulin-like plastic, which rests on the base when in use and partly acts as a seat for the person to be supported. The seat element can be designed as one or more sub-elements partially closing off the accommodation volume at the bottom, which can, for example, prevent the person being supported from slipping out. In this case, the person being supported sits both on the at least one partial element and on the base when in use.

The object is achieved in a support body according to the invention in that the back element and the side elements are designed to be inflatable in order to be able to bring the support body from an uninflated transport state into the inflated use state, with each side element also being connected to the back element via a stabilizing element,
and wherein the supporting body has at least two, preferably three, fixing sections in order to be able to fasten the supporting body to the base via the fixing sections in the application state.

The fact that the side elements and the back element are designed to be inflatable, in other words with a can be filled with gaseous fluid, on the one hand the dimensional stability of the back element and side elements required for the positioning of the person can be achieved in the application state with a sufficiently high internal pressure achieved by appropriate filling. On the other hand, the supporting body can easily be removed by omitting the pressurized gaseous fluid from the side elements and the back element can be brought into the transport state, in which transport state the back element and side elements are reduced to a volume that is greatly reduced in comparison to the use state, for example by more than 50%, in particular between 66% and 75% can be. The volume of the supporting body in the transport state is preferably about one third of the volume in the use state. Likewise, in order to be considered inflatable, the inflatable elements, i.e. the side elements and the back element, must be sealed or sealable in such a way that the gaseous fluid can enter the inflatable elements can be held. The support body can thus be stowed away in a space-saving manner during transport and is particularly suitable for mobile use or for stowage in premises where little storage space is available, for example in hospital wards that are usually overcrowded with medical devices and medical material. Equally, the weight of the supporting body can also be significantly reduced in comparison to the metallic constructions known from the prior art, which makes handling easier. In other words, when in use, the supporting body forms a chair-like shape, with the side elements serving as armrests and the back element serving as a backrest, so that the person being supported is supported in a sitting position.

In order to ensure the dimensional stability of the entire support body despite the flexibility of the side elements and back element due to the ability to be inflated, at least two stabilization elements are also provided according to the invention, with each stabilization element connecting a side element to the back element. The connection by means of the stabilizing elements is usually an additional connection, since each side element is basically direct or, if necessary, indirectly via a connecting element with which Back element is connected. The support body is stiffened by the stabilizing elements via the additional connection between the side elements and the back element, thus further increasing the dimensional stability. This ensures that the person being supported is securely supported by the supporting body and neither the back element nor the side elements give way as a result of a force exerted by the person in such a way that the person can tip over from the sitting position into an undesirable position.

Finally, due to the comparatively low weight of the support body, which is in turn attributable to the inflatable capability of the side elements and back element, it is also necessary to ensure that the inflated support body can be securely fixed relative to the base when in use, so that the support body does not move due to the application of force when the person is positioned can move. For this purpose, the support body has at least two fixing sections, via which the support body can be attached to the base, in particular to a bed, such as a hospital bed, for example via appropriate connecting means. It is advantageous if one of the fixing sections is designed for fixing in the first direction and one of the fixing sections for fixing against the first direction. A number of possibilities are conceivable for the design of the fixing section: For example, the fixing sections can be designed as bands, for example with a hook or Velcro fastener, straps, for example with a plug or clip fastener, or hooks. It is preferred if the fixing sections are in the form of eyelets, in particular metal-reinforced eyelets, in order to fix the support body to the base by means of connecting means such as belts or belt systems, the eyelets advantageously being attached to flexible straps connected to the respective inflatable elements. In particular, it is advantageous if at least three, in particular precisely three, fixing sections are provided.

In order to further increase the dimensional stability of the support body by fixing it to the base in the application state and at the same time to ensure particularly secure fixing to the base, one embodiment of the invention provides that the first side element has a first fixing section, and the second side element has a second fixing section has and the back element has a third fixing portion. Thus, each of the inflatable elements (i.e. at least the side elements and the back element) can be connected to the underlay via its own fixing section, so that when in use each of the inflatable elements can be separately attached to the underlay via the fixing section assigned to it and, if necessary, a connecting means. It is particularly advantageous if the first and second fixing sections assigned to the side elements and the third fixing section assigned to the back element are arranged as far as possible in end regions of the support body which are distant from one another. It is conceivable, for example, for the first and second fixing section to be arranged in the area of the front ends of the side elements facing away from the back element and/or for the third fixing section to be arranged on a rear side of the back element facing away from the side elements or the person being supported. It can also be advantageous if the third fixing section is arranged in the second or third quarter of the rear side, viewed in the height direction.

Usually, the back element protrudes beyond the side elements in a height direction, since a larger contact surface is required for the back of the person to be supported to rest on it and, on the other hand, the mobility of the arms of the person being supported is restricted due to side elements that are too high. In a further embodiment variant of the invention, for optimal stabilization of the back element in the application state, it is provided that the stabilization elements are designed to absorb a force acting on the back element by the person being supported in the application state, in particular by absorbing tensile stresses, in the first fixing section and/or in to initiate the second fixing section. Such stabilizing elements, which are under tension when in use, can prevent the section of the back element that protrudes beyond the side elements from twisting, particularly if the stabilizing elements are fastened in the upper region, preferably in the upper quarter viewed in the vertical direction, of the back element. Likewise, the forces exerted by the person can also be distributed evenly over the three fixing sections.

In a further embodiment variant of the invention, it is provided that the stabilizing elements each have at least one attachment section for attaching a securing means, preferably a belt, for securing the person positioned in the application state. The connection sections can also be designed as eyelets, preferably metal-reinforced, into which the securing means can be hung. It is also conceivable that the securing means can be designed as a table-like element. Finally, the connection sections, in particular if they are designed analogously to the fixing sections, can also be used in a simple manner for lateral bracing of the support body by means of the connecting means.

While it is conceivable that the side elements and the back element each have their own separate inflatable inner volume and the inner volumes are not connected to one another, so that each inflatable element has to be inflated separately, it is provided in a further embodiment variant of the invention that the back element and the side elements each have an inflatable inner volume, the inner volumes being flow-connected to one another. This guarantees simple and quick handling, since all inflatable elements can be converted into the use state by a common inflation process or can be brought back into the transport state by a common deflation process.

According to a further embodiment variant of the invention, it is provided that at least the back element and the side elements are made of a tarpaulin-like plastic material, in particular by means of a plastic welding process and/or a sewing process and/or a gluing process. Tarpaulin-like plastic materials are particularly suitable for use in support bodies according to the invention, since on the one hand they have robust and tear-resistant properties and on the other hand they have the flexibility required for inflatability and compressibility in the transport state. Tarpaulin-like plastic materials include, on the one hand, flexible foil-like plastic materials, which have greater flexibility and are usually comparatively thin, such as PVC foils (roughly comparable to materials for inflatable mattresses or the like) and, on the other hand, rigid foil-like plastic materials, which generally have less flexibility, but a higher dimensional stability. Examples of stiff, film-like plastic materials are, for example, tarpaulins as are used for trucks, or drop-stitch fabrics as are known, inter alia, from the water sports sector. Tarpaulin-like is understood to mean in particular that the thickness of the plastic material is small in comparison to the other dimensions. The tarpaulin-like plastic material of the inflatable elements is preferably a flexible film-like plastic material, in particular a PVC film. For example, the thickness of the tarpaulin-like plastic material, in particular the PVC film, can be between 0.3 mm and 5 mm, in particular between 0.5 mm and 3 mm, particularly preferably between 0.75 mm and 1.5 mm. Another advantage of tarpaulin-like plastic materials lies in the low permeability, which ensures that the gaseous fluid can be kept inside the inflatable elements, and the possibility of being able to process and seal them using the aforementioned methods. For example, the side element or the back element can be formed from several tarpaulin-like sections by being sewn, glued or welded together.

Equally, side elements and back element can also be connected to one another by means of the aforementioned methods.

Since the tarpaulin-like plastic materials are also suitable for being able to absorb tensile forces in particular and, as mentioned above, can be easily folded up during transport, another variant of the support body provides that the stabilizing elements are made of a tarpaulin-like plastic material, with the tarpaulin-like plastic material being the Stabilizing elements preferably has a higher rigidity than the tarpaulin-like plastic material from which the back element and the side elements are made. This means, among other things, that the stabilizing elements can also be compressed in a space-saving manner in the transport state. In principle it is also conceivable that the stabilizing elements are made of the same plastic material as the back element and the side elements. However, it is advantageous if the tarpaulin-like plastic material of the stabilizing elements has greater rigidity in order to guarantee greater dimensional stability. For example, the stabilizing elements can be made of the aforementioned rigid sheet-like plastic material.

When the side panels, back panel and stabilizing members are made of a sheet-like plastic material, the connection between the inflatable members and the stabilizing members can be efficiently made by means of a plastic welding process and/or a sewing process and/or a gluing process. This is possible both when all elements are made of the same tarpaulin-like plastic material and when some elements, especially the inflatable elements, are made of the flexible sheet-like plastic material and other elements, especially the stabilizing elements, are made of the stiff sheet-like plastic material. According to a further embodiment of the invention that the connection between the Stabilizing elements and the side elements and between the back element and the stabilizing elements is produced by means of a plastic welding process and/or by means of a sewing process and/or by means of a gluing process.

In order to enable the inflatable elements to be inflated efficiently by means of the gaseous fluid or to enable the gaseous fluid to be let out efficiently, a further embodiment variant of the invention provides that the support body has at least one main valve, preferably two different main valves, for inflation by means of a gaseous Having fluids and / or for discharging the gaseous fluid. Equally, the sealing of the inflatable elements in the application state can be ensured via the at least one main valve, since an unwanted loss of pressure can be prevented by the at least one main valve when the main valve is in a closed state. If the inner volumes of the inflatable elements are connected to one another, one main valve is sufficient in principle, while a separate main valve would be necessary for separate inner volumes. Irrespective of the number of main valves required, it can be advantageous if there are two different types of main valves. For example, one type of main valve may be designed to connect to a conventional manually operated pump and the other type of main valve may be designed to connect to a stationary fluid supply line, such as a compressed air line in a hospital.

Irrespective of whether the support body has one main valve or two different main valves, it is advantageous if the support body has at least one pressure relief valve in order to allow pressure equalization with the environment when a critical pressure is reached inside one of the inflatable elements, thus preventing possible structural failure to prevent the supporting body.

In particular for people with restricted mobility, who cannot or only with difficulty keep themselves in a sitting position using their own muscle tension, it is necessary for the position of the back element to enable the person lying in a comfortable, reclined position. If the angle between the back element and the side elements or the base is too steep, there is a risk that the person lying on the bed will tip over. Therefore, in a further embodiment of the support body according to the invention, it is provided that the back element in the application state encloses an angle of between 5° and 30°, preferably between 10° and 20°, in particular 15°, with a plane oriented normal to the first direction. Such an adjusted angle makes it possible to support the stored person in a slightly backward leaning position. In the application state, the plane usually corresponds to a vertical plane. The back element is inclined via the angle relative to the side elements in the direction away from the side elements, ie in the first direction or backwards.

The European patent application EP 15182182.4 A1 (Markus Pöltenstein ) or the one granted thereon European patent EP 3135259 B1 (Markus Pöltenstein ) describes a device for fixing a person on a base in the form of a safety belt, this safety belt being characterized in that it is placed around the person in such a way that the person has maximum freedom of movement and the chest area is free. In the following, the term safety belt is understood to mean the device described in the cited application. A central aspect is that the safety belt is dimensioned and guided in such a way that the belt crosses behind the person's head at a crossing point or at a proximity point, such as in the figures 4 and 5 of the application cited, with the crossing point or the proximity point being fixed by means of a fixing element. In order to be able to use this safety belt for a person stored in the supporting body, according to a further An embodiment variant of the invention provides that the back element has a first fixing element in order to fix a crossing point or an approximation point of a safety belt relative to the back element, with the safety belt being attached to the back of the person being supported when in use, then cranially under the armpits and finally dorsally behind the head of the positioned person, crossing at the crossing point, or dorsally behind the head of the positioned person, approaching the point of approximation, can be arranged running. Thus, the first fixing element, preferably designed as a loop, forms the fixing element described in the cited application and thus prevents the crossing point or proximity point of the safety belt from shifting relative to the back element, so that the person being supported is always secured by means of the safety belt. It is advantageous if the first fixing element is arranged on an upper side of the back element that faces away from the support when it is in use. It should not go unmentioned that the inflatable side elements and the inflatable back element as well as the fixing sections and the stabilizing elements are not absolutely necessary in order to combine the safety belt with a support body via the fixing elements, but that a support body according to the preamble of claim 1 is basically sufficient is. The attachment sections or end sections of the safety belt can also be fixed directly to the base, for example.

In order to be able to attach the safety belt directly to the support body, a further embodiment variant of the invention provides that the back element has a second fixing element for attaching a first end section of the safety belt to the support body and/or a third fixing element for attaching a having the second end portion of the safety belt. The first and/or second fixing element can advantageously each be designed as a loop around which loop the end sections or connection sections of the safety belt or, if necessary, additional belt elements can be looped to connect the end sections. If the supporting body has three fixing elements, both the position of the crossing point or approach point of the safety belt can be fixed relative to the supporting body using the first fixing element and the end sections of the safety belt can be fastened to the supporting body using the second and third fixing elements.

Accordingly, the invention also relates to a system comprising the support body according to the invention and a safety belt, preferably as in the previously cited application EP 15182182.4 A1 (Markus Pöltenstein ) is described, with a first end section of the safety belt being fastened to the second fixing element and a second end section of the safety belt being fastened to the third fixing element, the safety belt being guided through the first fixing element and the safety belt crossing in the first fixing element either at a crossing point or at a proximity point approaching. In particular, the system also relates to a person positioned in the supporting body, with the contact section of the safety belt when in use on the back of the person positioned, then under the armpits cranially and finally dorsally behind the head of the positioned person, crossing in the first fixing element at the crossing point, or dorsally behind the head of the person being supported, approaching in the first fixing element in the approach point.

Furthermore, the invention also relates to a support body according to the invention and a base, preferably a bed, with each fixing section of the support body being fastened to the base by means of a belt system each comprising at least one belt element. The base can also be the rust or the frame of a bed, for example. A large number of different connecting means are conceivable for connecting the fixing sections to the base, belt systems representing a particularly preferred variant. It is conceivable, for example, that Belt system consists of a single belt element, such as a belt or a cable tie. However, it is also conceivable that the belt system comprises several, i.e. two, three, four or more belt elements, for example a first belt element which is attached to the base, a second belt element which is attached to the corresponding fixing section and a third belt element which connects the first to the second belt element. It goes without saying that, in principle, a different belt system can be provided for each fixing section or that several fixing sections, preferably all fixing sections, are fastened by means of analogous belt systems. Preferably, the strap elements each have a closure mechanism, for example a buckle or a plug-in closure or a clip closure, and/or are variable in length. Of course, the previously mentioned system comprising the safety belt attached to the fixing elements can also be attached to the base as described above.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

The invention will now be explained in more detail using an exemplary embodiment. The drawings are exemplary and are intended to explain the idea of the invention, but in no way restrict or even conclusively reproduce it.

Fig. 1

eine dreidimensionale Abbildung von vorne eines Ausführungsbeispiels des erfindungsgemäßen Stützkörpers im Anwendungszustand;

Fig. 2

eine dreidimensionale Abbildung von hinten des Stützkörpers gemäß Fig. 1;

Fig. 3

eine Seitenansicht des Stützkörpers gemäß Fig. 1;

Fig. 4

eine Ansicht von unten des Stützkörpers gemäß Fig. 1;

Fig. 5

eine Seitenansicht des erfindungsgemäßen Stützkörpers im Anwendungszustand, welcher an einer Unterlage fixiert ist;

Fig. 6

eine dreidimensionale Ansicht des an der Unterlage fixierten Stützkörpers gemäß Fig. 5;

Fig. 7

einen dreidimensionale Ansicht des erfindungsgemäßen Stützkörpers, wobei eine Person im Stützkörper gelagert ist und mittels eines Sicherungsgurtes gesichert ist;

Fig. 8

eine weitere dreidimensionale Ansicht des Stützkörpers samt darin gelagerter Person gemäß Fig. 7;

Fig. 9

eine Draufsicht des Stützkörpers samt darin gelagerter Person gemäß Fig. 7.

It shows:

1

a three-dimensional image from the front of an embodiment of the support body according to the invention in the application state;

2

according to a three-dimensional image from behind of the support body 1 ;

3

a side view of the support body according to FIG 1 ;

4

a view from below of the supporting body according to FIG 1 ;

figure 5

a side view of the support body according to the invention in the application state, which is fixed to a base;

6

a three-dimensional view of the support body fixed to the base according to FIG figure 5 ;

7

a three-dimensional view of the support body according to the invention, wherein a person is stored in the support body and is secured by a safety belt;

8

according to FIG 7 ;

9

according to FIG 7 .

WAYS TO CARRY OUT THE INVENTION

The Figures 1 to 4 show an embodiment of a support body 1 according to the invention which is used to support a person 25 (see Figures 7 to 9 ) in a sitting position on a pad 18 (see figure 6 ) is formed in an application state. The supporting body 1 comprises a back element 2 and a first side element 3a and a second side element 3b. In the application state, the supporting body 1 can, as described below, be placed on the base 18 and, if necessary, fixed to it in order to support the person 25 lying on it.

The side elements 3a, 3b are elongate and extend essentially parallel to a first direction 19, which represents a longitudinal direction of the support body 1. The side elements 3a, 3b are aligned in a transverse direction 21 normal to the first direction 19 (see 4 ) spaced apart from each other, with the first side panel 3a being located on one side of the back panel 2, as seen from below, and the second side panel 3b being located on the other side of the back panel 2.

The first direction 19 also corresponds to the direction in which the supported person 25 is received in the support body 1 and thus also reflects the direction in which the person 25, when supported by the support body 1, is supported by the back element 2. The side elements 3a, 3b serve to support the person 25 in a position transverse to the first direction 19, in particular in the transverse direction 21 oriented normal to the first direction 19, and to prevent the person 25 from being able to slide laterally out of the support body 1 .

In order to make it possible for the person 25 in position to support or lean against the back element 2 with a large part of their back, the dimensions of the back element 2 are selected in such a way that the back element 2 protrudes beyond the side elements 3a, 3b in a height direction 20, with the Vertical direction 20 with the first direction 19 and the transverse direction 21 forms an orthogonal coordinate system. The side elements 3a, 3b are dimensioned in such a way that the extent in the first direction 19 enables the person 25 to be sufficiently stabilized and the extent in the vertical direction 20 enables the arms of the person 25 to be supported.

Viewed from above, the back element 2 and the side elements 3a, 3b form a U-shaped profile, with the side elements 3a, 3b forming the two legs and the back element 2 forming the connecting part of the U-profile.

In other words, due to the aforementioned features, the back element 2 and the side elements 3a, 3b are designed in such a way that, when in use, a person 25 lying in the support body 1 can pass through the back element 2 in a first direction 19 and through the side elements 3a, 3b transversely to the first direction 19, preferably in the transverse direction 21.

In the present exemplary embodiment, the support body 1 is open downwards, i.e. in the direction of the base 18 , so that the person 25 lying on it sits on the base 18 and is supported by the support body 1 in the first direction 19 and in the transverse direction 21 . In alternative embodiments, it is also conceivable that the support element 1, preferably comprises a flat seat element on which the person 25 sits at least in sections, the seat element resting on the base 18 over the entire surface or over part of the surface.

In order to enable compact storage of the support body 1 and to achieve easy transportability, preferably for use in the mobile sector, the side elements 3a, 3b and the back element 2 are designed to be inflatable, with these inflatable elements 2, 3a, 3b, i.e. at least the inflatable side elements 3a, 3b and the inflatable back element 2 as well as optionally additionally provided inflatable elements are inflated in the use state. In other words, the side elements 3a, 3b and the back element 2 each have an inner volume which can be filled with a gaseous fluid, for example compressed air, so that the inner pressure prevailing in the inner volume in the inflated state of use guarantees the dimensional stability of the support body 1. At the same time, the material of the inflatable elements 2, 3a, 3b is designed to be flexible, so that on the one hand the internal pressure prevailing in the inner volumes in the inflated state of use can correspondingly solidify the surfaces and on the other hand the support body 1 can be brought into an uninflated transport state.

In the deflated transport state, the internal pressure of the internal volumes essentially corresponds to the ambient pressure and the internal volumes are greatly reduced, in that the gaseous fluid causing the increased internal pressure is let out. The flexibility of the plastic material now makes it possible to fold or collapse the deflated or deflated supporting body 1, which has a greatly reduced overall volume, and thus to be able to transport or store it compactly, for example in a bag or suitcase.

Tarpaulin-like plastic materials have proven to be particularly well suited for the production of the inflatable elements 2, 3a, 3b, which due to their low thickness, high robustness, low permeability, especially for air, and good flexibility represent an ideal starting material. In the present exemplary embodiment, the inflatable elements 2, 3a, 3b are composed of several individual cut parts which are connected and sealed by means of a plastic welding process, whereby bonding processes, sewing processes or similar suitable processes and combinations of these processes can of course also be used for the connection. The side elements 3a, 3b themselves are connected to the back element 2 via the same connection methods. In the present exemplary embodiment, the inflatable elements 2, 3a, 3b are made from a flexible sheet-like plastic material, namely PVC, with the plastic material having a thickness of 0.75 mm.

In the present exemplary embodiment, the inner volumes of the side elements 3a, 3b are flow-connected to the inner volume of the back element 2 and thus form a common inner volume. This makes it possible for the inflatable elements 2,3a,3b to be inflatable simultaneously via a fluid source. For the purpose of inflating side elements 3a, 3b and back element 2, support body 1 has at least one main valve 9,10, via which the gaseous fluid can be pumped into inflatable elements 2,3a, 3b or let out or pumped out . In the present exemplary embodiment, the support body 1 has a first main valve 9 and a second main valve 10, although the inflatable elements 2, 3a, 3b form a common interior volume, both of which are on a rear side 16 of the back element 2, which faces away from the person 25 being supported , are arranged, such as in 2 you can see. In the present exemplary embodiment, the first main valve 9 is designed to be connected to a conventional air pump, for example a manual hand or foot pump or an electrically operated pump. The second main valve 10 is designed to be connected to a stationary fluid supply source, for example a compressed air system as used in hospitals.

In alternative design variants in which the inflatable inner volumes are not connected to one another, it can be provided that each inflatable element 2 , 3 a , 3 b has at least one main valve 9 , 10 or a first main valve 9 and a second main valve 10 .

In addition, a pressure relief valve 11 is also provided in the present exemplary embodiment on the back 16 of the back element 2, which enables pressure equalization of the inner volumes with the environment when the inner pressure exceeds a critical limit value, in order to prevent the inflatable elements 2, 3a, 3b from bursting .

In order, on the one hand, to ensure the dimensional stability of the unloaded support body 1 itself in the inflated state of use, i.e. to define the relative position of the side elements 3a, 3b to the back element 2, and on the other hand also when the person 25 is supported on the support body 1, in particular on the inflatable ones Elements 2,3a,3b, forces acting to ensure that the person 25 is stored securely and cannot slip out of the sitting position, a first stabilizing element 4a is provided, which additionally connects the first side element 3a to the back element 2, and is a second Stabilizing element 4b is provided, which additionally connects the second side element 3b to the back element 2. These stabilizing elements 4a, 4b, which create an additional connection between the side elements 3a, 3b and the back element 2, allow the person 25 to be supported securely by the support body 1, since for example the back element 2 is prevented from twisting or the side elements 3a, 3b bending apart .

In the present exemplary embodiment, the two stabilizing elements 4a, 4b are made from a tarpaulin-like plastic material. It is a stiff foil-like plastic material that has a higher rigidity than the tarpaulin-like plastic material from which the inflatable elements 2,3a,3b are made. Due to the increased rigidity compared to the inflatable elements 2, 3a, 3b, the dimensional stability of the supporting body 1 can be further increased or the tensile stresses can be better transferred by means of the stabilizing elements 4a, 4b. The stabilizing elements 4a, 4b are glued to the respective side elements 3a, 3b and the back element 2, although other connection methods are also conceivable.

The support body 1 according to the present embodiment has three fixing sections 5,6,7, which serve to fix the support body 1 to the base 18 in the inflated state of use and thus to adjust the position of the support body 1 relative to the base 18. For example, if the base 18 is a bed, the support body 1 can be fixed on the base 18 transversely to the normal lying direction, so that the legs of the person 25 lying on the bed hang over the edge of the bed and a real sitting position with bent legs is made possible (please refer Figures 7 to 9 ).

As in particular in 4 As can be seen, the fixing sections 5,6,7 are arranged as follows: the first fixing section 5 is arranged in a front end area of the first side element 3a facing away from the back element 2, the second fixing section 6 is in a front end area of the second side element 3a facing away from the back element 2 Side element 3b is arranged and the third fixing section 7 is arranged on the rear side 16 of the back element 2 . This arrangement makes it possible to also fix the relative positions of the inflatable elements 2, 3a, 3b to one another by fixing the support body 1 to the base 18.

As shown, the fixing sections 5,6,7 are each formed as tabs made of sheet-like plastic material, in particular rigid sheet-like plastic material, and are connected to the respective inflatable element 2,3a,3a via one of the previously mentioned connection methods, the tabs one each have a metal-reinforced eyelet through which a connecting means, such as a belt element 23 (see Figure 5 and 6 ) can be performed. By fixing the support body 1 via the three fixing sections 5,6,7, a secure and stable position of the support body 1 on the base 18 can be ensured, since the support body 1 can neither be lifted off the base 18 in the vertical direction 20 nor in the first Direction 19 and / or transverse direction 21 can move. In the present exemplary embodiment, the third fixing section 7 is arranged in the vertical direction 20 above the side elements 3a, 3b.

The stabilizing elements 4a, 4b are also designed in such a way that, in the application state, a force acting on the back element 2 by the person 25 being supported, in particular by absorbing tensile stresses, is introduced into the first fixing section 5 and/or into the second fixing section 6. In the present exemplary embodiment, this is achieved in that the stabilizing elements 4a, 4b are triangular in shape, with one leg of the triangle extending over at least 50%, here over 80%, of the longitudinal extent of the side elements 3a, 3b and thereby being flat with that of the person 25 facing away from the outside of the respective side element 3a, 3b is connected. The corner area of the triangle opposite the leg attached to the respective side element 3a, 3b is connected to the back element 2 in the upper third, preferably in the upper quarter or, as can be seen in the figures, in the upper fifth, of the back element 2, with an upwardly tapering cavity between the two unattached legs of the triangle and the back element 2 is formed. In order to achieve a more targeted introduction of the forces, the stabilizing elements 4a, 4b have an approximately triangular opening in their center, through which strut-like connecting sections are formed.

Another advantage of the stabilizing elements 4a, 4b is that in the present exemplary embodiment, they each have two connection sections 8 for connecting one Have securing means, such as a belt. The securing means that can be fastened to the connecting sections 8 can be used to prevent the person 25 lying on the bed from sliding forward, for example. At the same time, it is conceivable for the securing means to be in the form of a table, so that it can be used as a storage space, particularly when eating. The connection sections 8 are also designed as metal-reinforced eyelets and are arranged in the vicinity of the side elements 3a, 3b, in particular in the area of the attached leg of the stabilizing elements 4a, 4b.

figure 3 shows clearly that the back element 2 encloses an obtuse angle with the side elements 3a, 3b, so that the person 25 being supported assumes a slightly leaned-back position in the supporting body 1. The angle α is shown, which is measured between a normal plane to the first direction 19 and the front side 24 of the back element 2 and is 15° in the present exemplary embodiment, so that the person 25 is supported in a sitting position leaning slightly backwards in the support body 1 becomes.

The figures also clearly show that the front side 24 and the back side 16 of the back element 2 each have several, more precisely four, bead-like bulges, which on the one hand can prevent bed sores and on the other hand increase the dimensional stability of the back element 2.

In the Figures 5 and 6 one possibility for fixing the supporting body 1 via the fixing sections 5,6,7 on the base 18 is shown, the base 18 being shown in the form of a table for the purpose of illustration. The base 18 is preferably a bed, in particular a hospital bed, which offers a large number of connection options for belt systems 22 . Three belt systems 22 are shown, by means of which the fixing sections 5, 6, 7 are each fastened to the base 18 are. In the present exemplary embodiment, the belt systems 22 each include a belt element 23 which is guided through the corresponding fixing section 5 , 6 , 7 and fastened to the base 18 . The belt element 23 advantageously has a closure element and can be designed, for example, as a cable tie or fastening belt with a plug-in closure. However, it is just as conceivable to fix individual or all fixing sections 5,6,7 to the base 18 by means of a multi-part belt system 22: a first belt element can be guided through the respective fixing section 5,6,7, and a second belt element to the base 18 are fixed while a third connecting belt element connects the other two belt elements with each other. However, two-part belt systems 22 are also conceivable. Advantageously, the belt systems 22 are designed in such a way that they are variable in length and can be lashed down. By connecting the fixing sections 5 , 6 , 7 to the base 18 by means of the belt systems 22 , the support body 1 can be braced to the base 18 .

Based on Figures 7 to 9 a further aspect of the invention is to be illustrated, wherein the support body 1 as with reference to FIG Figures 5 and 6 described is fixed to the base 18. From the prior art, namely the EP 15182182.4 A1 (Markus Pöltenstein ) or the one granted thereon European patent EP 3135259 B1 (Markus Pöltenstein ), a safety belt 17 is known that enables a person to be secured while lying down and, thanks to a special design, allows the person being secured to have maximum freedom of movement by having a contact section of the safety belt 17 on the back of the person being secured, further under the armpits cranially and finally dorsally behind the head of the secured person, crossing at a crossing point, or dorsally behind the head of the lying person, approaching at a point of proximity, can be arranged running, the crossing point or the point of proximity being fixed by means of a fixing element. To this safety belt 17 also to secure in the support body 1 according to the invention in a sitting position stored person 25 to be able to use, the illustrated embodiment of the support body 1 on a first fixing element 13 which is attached to the top 12 of the back element 2. This first fixing element 13 is designed like a loop and is designed to fix the crossing point K of the safety belt 17 guided around the person 25 in position relative to the back element 2 . It is thus possible to prevent the safety belt 17 from slipping when the person 25 being supported moves and, for example, sliding down the side of the back element 2 and releasing the person 25 being supported.

In order to be able to attach end sections 26, 27 of the safety belt 17 directly to the supporting body 1, for example via corresponding connection sections, a second fixing element 14 and a third fixing element 15 are attached to the rear side 16 of the back element 2, by means of which the two end sections 26, 27 of the Safety belt 17 can be fastened to the support body 1, as in particular in figure 8 can be seen. The fixing elements 13,14,15 are all designed like loops. In this case, for example, a belt system 22 similar to that described above in connection with the attachment to the base 18 can be used. But it is also conceivable that the safety belt has a Velcro fastener and is attached directly to the second and third fixing element 14,15.

By arranged on the support body 1 fixing elements 13,14,15 can be performed in a simple manner of the safety belt 17 so that this - as in the Figures 7 to 9 shown schematically - on the back of the person 25 positioned, further cranially under the armpits and finally dorsally behind the head of the person 25 positioned, crossing at a crossing point K, or alternatively dorsally behind the head of the person 25 positioned, approaching at an approximation point , The position of the crossing point K or the proximity point being fixed relative to the back element 2 by the first fixing element 13 .

REFERENCE LIST

1

supporting body

2

back panel

3

page element
3a first side element
3b second side element

4

stabilization element
4a first stabilizing element
4b second stabilizing element

5

first fixing section

6

second fixing section

7

third fixing section

8th

connection section

9

first main valve

10

second main valve

11

pressure relief valve

12

top

13

first fixing element

14

second fixing element

15

third fixation element

16

back

17

safety belt

18

document

19

first direction

20

height direction

21

transverse direction

22

belt system

23

belt element

24

front

25

person

26

first end section of the safety belt 17

27

second end section of the safety belt 17

K

cross point

Claims (14)

1. Support body (1) for supporting a person (25) on a base (18), preferably on a bed, in a sitting position,

   the support body (1) comprising a back element (2) and two side elements (3) connected to the back element (2),

   wherein the back element (2) and the side elements (3a, 3b) are designed to be inflatable in order to be able to bring the support body (1) from an uninflated transport state to the inflated use state,

   wherein each side element (3a, 3b) is additionally connected to the back element (2) via a stabilizing element (4a, 4b),

   and wherein the support body (1) has at least two, preferably three, fixing sections (5, 6, 7) in order to be able to fix the support body (1) in the use state to the base (18) via the fixing sections (5, 6, 7),

   characterized in that

   the back element (2) and the side elements (3a, 3b) are designed in such a way that, in a use state, the person (25) supported in the support body (1) sits on the base (18) at least in sections, wherein the person (25) is supported by the back element (2) in a first direction (19) and by the side elements (3a, 3b) transversely with respect to the first direction (19).
2. Support body (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the first side element (3a) has a first fixing section (5), the second side element (3b) has a second fixing section (6), and the back element (2) has a third fixing section (7).
3. Support body (1) according to one of claim 2, characterized in that the stabilizing elements (4a, 4b) are designed, in the use state, to introduce a force acting on the back element (2) by the supported person (25), in particular by absorbing tensile stresses, into the first fixing section (5) and/or into the second fixing section (6).
4. Support body (1) according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the stabilizing elements (4a, 4b) each have at least one connection section (8) for connecting a securing means, preferably a belt, for securing the person (25) supported in the use state.
5. Support body (1) according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the back element (2) and the side elements (3a, 3b) each have an inflatable inner volume, wherein the inner volumes are flow-connected to each other.
6. Support body (1) according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that at least the back element (2) and the side elements (3a, 3b) are made of a tarpaulin-like plastic material, in particular by means of a plastic welding process and/or by means of a sewing process and/or by means of an adhesive process.
7. Support body (1) according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the stabilizing elements (4a, 4b) are made of a tarpaulin-like plastic material, wherein the tarpaulin-like plastic material of the stabilizing elements (4a, 4b) preferably has a higher rigidity than the tarpaulin-like plastic material from which the back element (2) and the side elements (3a, 3b) are made.
8. Support body according to claim 6 and 7, characterized in that the connection between the stabilizing elements (4a, 4b) and the side elements (3a, 3b) as well as between the back element (2) and the stabilizing elements (4a, 4b) is made by means of a plastic welding process and/or by means of a sewing process and/or by means of an adhesive process.
9. Support body (1) according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the support body (1) has at least one main valve (9, 10), preferably two different main valves (9, 10), for inflation by means of a gaseous fluid and/or for discharge of the gaseous fluid, and/or in that the support body (1) has at least one pressure relief valve (11).
10. Support body (1) according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that, in the use state, the back element (2) encloses an angle (α) of between 5° and 30°, preferably between 10° and 20°, in particular 15°, with a plane aligned normal to the first direction (19).
11. Support body (1) according to one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the back element (2) has a first fixing element (12) for fixing a crossing point (K) or a point of approximation of a securing belt (17) relative to the back element (2) , wherein the securing belt (17), in the use state, can be arranged at the back of the supported person (25), further cranially under the armpits and finally dorsally behind the head of the supported person (25), crossing itself at the crossing point (K), or dorsally behind the head of the supported person (25), approaching itself at the point of approximation.
12. Support body (1) according to claim 11, characterized in that the back element (2) has, on a rear side (15) facing away from the person (25) in the use state, a second fixing element (14) for fixing a first end section (26) of the securing belt (17) to the support body (1) and/or a third fixing element (15) for fixing a second end section (27) of the securing belt (17).
13. System comprising a support body (1) according to claim 12 and a securing belt (17), wherein a first end section (26) of the securing belt (17) is fixed to the second fixing element (14) and a second end section (27) of the securing belt (17) is fixed to the third fixing element (15), wherein the securing belt (17) is guided by the first fixing element (13) and the securing belt (17) in the first fixing element (13) either crosses itself at a crossing point (K) or approaches itself at a point of approximation.
14. System comprising a support body (1) according to one of claims 1 to 12 or a system according to claim 13 as well as a base (18), preferably a bed, wherein in the use state each fixing section (5, 6, 7) of the support body (1) is fixed to the base (18) by means of a belt system (22), which comprises at least one belt element (23).

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