EP3842020A1

EP3842020A1 - Inflatable cushion with volume indicator

Info

Publication number: EP3842020A1
Application number: EP19219234.2A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Peter Egelund
Original assignee: Levabo Aps
Current assignee: Levabo Aps
Priority date: 2019-12-23
Filing date: 2019-12-23
Publication date: 2021-06-30
Also published as: WO2021130164A1

Abstract

The present invention relates to an inflatable cushion having at least one volume indicator, the cushion comprising an outer surface and at least one chamber, wherein the at least one chamber is constructed of one or more foils joined together, thereby forming one or more airtight chambers wherein the cushion further comprising a valve opening for connecting an air supply line, the valve opening being accessible from the cushion's upper surface. The invention further relates to a method for inflating such an inflatable cushion with volume indicator. The new feature of a cushion according to the invention is that the cushion volume indicator comprises at least two fingers, wherein the at least one finger is arranged relative to the upper surface of the cushion, where the other finger is arranged relative to the lower surface of the cushion and the at least two fingers partially enclose the cushion where the physical configuration of the clamp restricts the full inflation of the pump's internal volume, thus constituting a volume indicator for optimal inflation.

Description

Field of the invention

The current invention relates to an inflatable cushion with at least one volume indicator, where the cushion comprises one exterior side and at least one chamber, where the at least chamber, is constructed from one or more foils, which are joined together, and thus create one or more airtight chambers, where the cushion additionally comprises a valve opening to connect an air supply conductor, where the valve opening is accessible from the cushion's upper surface. The invention further relates to a method for inflation of such an inflatable cushion with volume indicator.

Background of the invention

At inflation of the cushion, especially when seating of people, it is very important that the cushion contains the right amount of air, so that it provides an optimum searing while providing a cushion with a suitable soft and resilient surface. It is therefore important that the cushion is not pumped up so that it is too hard, as in such cases it will have a negative effect in relation to the seating of persons, with a high risk of pressure on the skin with subsequent pressure ulcers in the tissue. At the same time, it is also important that there is just so much air in the cushion that the skin on the body's hard projections (heels, elbows, bones, etc.) do not rest directly on the hard surface under the cushion.
Cushions for this purpose are known, which are pumped up manually or with an electric pump, but there is just the rather big disadvantage that it is almost impossible to indicate an appropriate degree of inflation. In fact, the staff members each build an experience, but since it is not always the same person serving the individual patients, it is incredibly difficult to offer uniform treatment and support with the current cushions.
The correct amount of air in the cushion at optimum seating is equivalent to the cushion containing air at a pressure corresponding to atmospheric pressure. This basically means that there may be more air in the cushion, but that under normal inflation there is no measurable pressure difference between the air inside the cushion and the ambient air outside the cushion. It also means that normally used indicators for indicating pressure in the inflated item - here a cushion, cannot be used for this purpose. Likewise, it will not be possible to use specific time intervals for inflating volume in the individual cushion, using different pumps with different output for inflating the same type of cushion.
Therefore, it is often a challenge to find the right airflow for cushion so that it provides optimum seating.

Object of the invention

It is the object of the invention to overcome the aforementioned disadvantages of the known types of cushion. It is at the same time intended to indicate when a correct amount of air is pumped into a seat - and pressure distribution cushion - here called an air cushion or a cushion, so that it is suitable for the prevention and seating of persons in the risk group for pressure ulcers. The current type of cushion is typically one-patient articles used for a relatively short period of time and primarily by the same user.

Description of the invention

As mentioned initially, the invention also relates to an inflatable cushion having at least one volume indicator, wherein the cushion comprises an outer surface and at least one chamber, wherein the at least one chamber is constructed of one or more foils joined together, thereby forming one or more airtight chambers, wherein the cushion further comprises a valve opening for connecting an air supply line, the valve opening being accessible from the upper surface of the cushion.
Such inflatable cushions are often re-used items used by many different users and cleaned between uses by individual patients. A cushion according to the invention is typically a disposable article or one-patient article used for the same patient and can be used by the same patient several times before being discarded, which will be discussed in examples below.
A cushion is often formed of one or more pieces of plastic foil which are joined along the periphery to obtain a desired and appropriate shape. In its simplest form, these may be two rectangular foils joined together along the four edges, but as suggested, there can be innumerable shapes and structures with many foil pieces and also with multiple layers of foil. However, the structure of the cushion itself, and the material of which it is made, are not so important with respect to the present invention as such.
The new feature of a cushion according to the invention is that the cushion volume indicator comprises at least one clamp with 2 equal long fingers, wherein the at least one finger is arranged relative to the top of the cushion and the at least second finger is arranged parallel to. the back of the cushion, and where the at least the two fingers are arranged to physically hold the upper and lower cushions of the inflatable chamber together during inflation, thus constituting a restriction of the full volume of the cushion when inflating.
A cushion according to the invention will typically be folded into a suitable shape and when inflated prior to use, it will unfold during inflation. By arranging a volume indicator - here in the form of a clamp - in relation to the top surface and the bottom surface of the cushion, the clamp will maintain a limited unfolding of the cushion during inflation and thus act as volume limiter and indicator.
When a volume indicator is arranged relative to the upper and lower sides of the cushion, this means that the amount of air in the cushion after inflation with the clamp mounted is limited in relation to the total volume of the cushion's air chamber, so that when the clamp is removed, the cushion will be soft and compliant. The volume indicator is mounted relative to a predefined inflated volume of the cushion in question and, when the right amount of air is supplied, will limit further inflation.
A cushion according to the invention may comprise several volume indicators, each arranged to limit a given volume in cushion. Thus, a cushion may be arranged to be used for various purposes with different degrees of inflation. For example, volume indicators can be placed in different positions just as the cushion can be folded in various ways before inflating, thereby adjusting the volume to the specific configuration.
In a variant of an inflatable cushion according to the invention, said at least one finger on the clamp, located on the upper side of the cushion, and where the at least another finger on the clamp, located on the underside of the cushion, opens or separates when the correct amount of air is pumped into cushion.
The clamp can in principle be a continuous material or joined by two parts, the fingers mentioned above being joined at one end. Such jointing may be affected by various means including adhesive applied either directly or indirectly via a jointing sticker, or mechanical joining with heat, pop rivet, button function, magnet or the like.
The fingers of the clamp, for indication of properly inflated volume in the cushion, can have any length / size and can be fixed anywhere on the top and bottom of the cushion. An advantage of this is that the clamp does not have to enclose all or a large part of the cushion, but that it may be arranged in a local area which is easy to observe during inflation or where the cushion is folded together to obtain the correct volume after inflating. In principle, the pillow can also be a mattress or other rather large cushion placed in a bed or similar prior to a user going to bed.
The distance between the at least 2 fingers of the clamp is typically from 0 to a few millimeters, so that the defined position of the clamp on the cushion is maintained in the un-inflated state as well as during inflation.
In yet another preferred variant of an inflatable cushion according to the invention, a volume indicator in the form of a clamp with at least two fingers may be made of a flexible polymer-opal material. Said flexible polymer-opal material changes color when stretched and again when unloaded.
Furthermore, it is possible to imagine that the fingers on the clamp are designed so that on the upper side of the individual fingers can be placed illustrations or user instructions in the form of prints or labels.
The invention as set forth above also relates to a method of inflating an inflatable cushion with volume indicator, the method comprising at least the following steps:

connecting an air supply line to the cushion valve opening,
visual location of the volume indicator's location,
inflating the cushion until it is filled, with the volume indicator in position, or there is an indication from the volume indicator.

With the said method, an inflation of a cushion or the like is obtained, where the cushion is selected for the purpose, where a form of pump, manual, electric or possibly a nozzle for manual inflation is connected. Before or during inflation, the volume indicator is located and monitored until in some way or another it is indicated that the volume is sufficient.
A cushion according to the invention may comprise a plurality of volume indicators, where, for example, the respective volume indicators are removed one by one as the volume in the cushion increases. Thus, a specific type of cushion can be used with different degrees of filling and thus with different resilient carrying effect. Thus, at the largest filling, it may be that both a first and a second and a third volume indicator must be removed / broken before the correct filling degree is achieved.
A process according to the invention may further comprise at least one of the following steps:

regulating the amount of air in the cushion, by supplying additional air,
regulation the amount of air in the cushion, by the discharge of already supplied air.

This allows individual pumping or adjustment of the filling level to be achieved with a more or less fixed reference point his allows individual pumping or adjustment of the filling rate to be achieved with a more or less fixed reference point his allows individual pumping or adjustment of the filling rate to be achieved with a more or less fixed reference point - namely that the volume indicator shows a given degree of filling. In some cases, it will be up to the person who fills the cushion with air to be able to make an individual assessment and then adjust the volume of the cushion to the specific application. In other words, the personal experience of the person who inflates the cushion is used. Although it is possible that changing nursing staff does the work, a uniform result can be more easily achieved, since work is based on the reference filling according to the volume indicator.
The clamp can be made of different materials and in varying dimensions depending on the volume by which it is arranged to limit the inflection of the cushion or that the two fingers are broken to thereby indicate proper inflation.
Regardless of which of these variants is used, the correct volume and thus the correct filling degree are indicated by the clamp narrowing the portion of the cushion that does not need to be inflated to provide optimum seating.
Thus, the cushion will contain the right amount of air as soon as the clamp is removed / broken, and if the pumping is stopped at the same time it is an indication that the cushion contains the right amount of air in relation to the intended effect / function.
Training people on air is a good solution for preventing pressure ulcers, which is why air is often used for mattresses and cushions in the treatment and prevention of pressure ulcers. However, some areas of prevention and treatment of pressure ulcers (heel ulcers and seat ulcers) require more in-depth understanding and knowledge about airflow in the bearing subjects, if air is to be used properly.
Since a large proportion of caregivers do not have this in-depth knowledge and training in the use of air-based support products, the purpose of this invention is to create an indicator that in an easy way indicates the correct amount of air in the support units, to the caregiving personnel, without deep knowledge and training, which is stated above. At the same time, it allows for re-inflation of the same cushion with the correct volume after any air loss or cleaning thereof without air, for example at washing the cushion.

Description of the figures

The invention will be described in the following with reference to the drawing, in which:

Fig. 1: shows an un-inflated cushion with a mounted clamp.
Fig. 2: shows a folded un-inflated cushion with a mounted clamp.
Fig. 3: shows an inflated cushion with a mounted clamp.
Fig. 4: shows an unfolded cushion after inflation.
Fig. 5: shows a clamp in a continuous material.
Fig. 6: shows a clip from above with "guide" ("vejledning") printed on the finger.
Fig. 7: shows a side view of a clamp with fixing grooves on the inside of fingers.
Fig. 8: is a perspective view of a clip.
Fig. 9: shows a 2-part clamp, with one end joining.
Fig. 10: shows a partially inflated cushion, with a clamp that is not broken.
Fig. 11: shows a partially inflated cushion, with a clamp broken.

In the description of the figures, identical or similar elements will be denoted by the same reference numbers in the various figures. Thus, no explanation of all details will be given in connection with each figure / embodiment.

Reference list

1: Cushion
2: Clamp
3: Finger clamps
4: Fixing grooves
5: Joining point at one end of finger
6: The upper side of the cushion
7: The lower side of the cushion
8: Location on cushion
9: Label / guide

Detailed description of the invention

Fig. 1 shows an inflatable cushion 1, shown here in the un-inflated state. The cushion 1 is shown in a simple form, and it is to be imagined that it is made of one or more plastic foil layers which are joined together, thus forming an airtight chamber with a not showed opening. The cushion 1 is seen here in the unfolded state, where it is shown with a clasp 2 mounted partially enclosing the entire cushion 1.
Fig. 2 shows an inflatable cushion 1, as in Fig. 1, but here in the folded state, where it is shown with a clamp 2 mounted on the folding, partially enclosing the entire cushion 1.
The clamp 2 may advantageously be made in a color that is distinctly different from the surface 6 of the cushion so that it is easy to locate.
Fig. 3 shows a cushion 1 while it is filling with air or another medium. The cushion 1 is filled via the valve opening not shown, and will, as it can be seen, gradually unfold, whereby the clamp 2, made of a coherent material, at the same time limits the full inflating of the cushion 1.
Fig. 4 shows a properly inflated cushion 1 with the clamp 2 removed and the cushion 1 ready for use.
Fig. 5 shows a clip 2 with smooth fingers 3 is made of a continuous material, seen from the side and from the front.
Fig 6 shows a clip 2 with guide 6 printed on the upper side of one of the fingers of a clip 3. In addition, the clip 2 may partly consist of a resilient polymer opaque material which changes color as a result of its bending.
Fig. 7 shows a clip 2 with fixing grooves 4 is seen on the inside of the two fingers 3, made of a continuous material, seen from the side and front.
Fig. 8 shows a perspective view of a clip 2 with smooth fingers 3 made of a continuous material.
Fig. 9 shows a terminal 2 made in two parts with interconnecting device 5 at one end of the individual fingers 3.
Fig. 10 shows the cushion 1 while it is being filled with air or another medium. The cushion 1 is filled via the valve opening, not shown, and will, as seen, gradually unfold, whereby the clamp 2, made in two parts, simultaneously limits the full inflation of the cushion.
Fig. 11 shows the cushion 1, where the joining mechanism 5 is just broken, thereby indicating that the cushion 1 is properly inflated. The variant shown corresponds to the cushion seen in Fig. 1, but as mentioned, the principle can also be used for the cushion variants shown in Fig. 2

Claims

An inflatable cushion having at least one volume indicator, wherein the cushion comprises an outer surface and at least one chamber, wherein the at least one chamber is made of one or more foils joined together, thereby forming one or more airtight chambers, the cushion further comprising a valve opening for connection to an air supply line, wherein the valve opening is accessible from the upper surface of the cushion, characterized in that the cushion volume indicator comprises at least one terminal with at least two fingers, the at least one finger being arranged relative to the upper surface of the cushion, where the second finger is arranged relative to the lower surface of the cushion, where the two fingers partially enclose the cushion and where the physical design and placement of the clamp restricts complete inflation of the cushion, thus constituting a volume indicator for the correct amount of air in the cushion.
The inflatable cushion according to claim 1, characterized in that said at least one finger, at one end of the finger, has a coupling mechanism for coupling with the at least one finger, and wherein the at least other finger, at one end of the finger, has a coupling mechanism for coupling with the at least first finger, and wherein the clamp fingers, when coupled together, partially enclose a portion of the cushion, and wherein the physical design and location of the clamp restricts complete inflation of the cushion, thus forming a volume indicator for correct amount of air in the cushion when the two fingers are pressed apart while inflating.
Inflatable cushion according to claims 1 and 2, characterized in that a clamp with at least two fingers, at said ends, comprises joining means for joining said ends.
Inflatable cushion according to any of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that a two-finger clamp comprises a well-defined rupture area between the two fingers.
Inflatable cushion according to any of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that a clamp comprises a physically adjustable transformation area, where changes result from the cushion volume.
The inflatable cushion according to any of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that a clamp is made of a flexible polymer-opal material.
A method for inflating an inflatable cushion with a volume indicator according to claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the method comprises at least the following steps:
- connecting an air supply line to the cushion valve opening,

- visual determination of the volume indicator's location,

- inflating the cushion until the volume indicator provides an indication or the latter limits further inflation.
The method according to claim 7, characterized in that the method further comprises at least one of the following steps:
- adjusting the amount of air in the cushion, by supplying additional air,

- adjusting the amount of air in the cushion, by discharging already supplied air.