GB1594741A

GB1594741A - Supports for use on a bed

Info

Publication number: GB1594741A
Application number: GB5045177A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Foulstone M S
Current assignee: Foulstone M S
Priority date: 1978-05-31
Filing date: 1978-05-31
Publication date: 1981-08-05

Description

(54) SUPPORTS FOR USE ON A BED (71) I, MICHAEL SYDNEY FOULS TONE, a British subject, of "Mansard", Parkfield Road, Topsham, Exeter, Devon, do hereby declare the invention, for which I pray that a patent may be granted to me, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: The present invention relates to supports for use on a bed.

People, such as the sick or elderly, who spend a considerable amount of time in bed, often prop pillows or cushions against the bedhead to support themselves in a sitting position. Such improvised supports are inconvenient and uncomfortable when used for prolonged periods, especially since the user tends to slip gradually down the bed into a lying position and needs to readjust the Supports and his own position at frequent intervals. A further problem is a tendency for the user to develop bedsores, particularly on the buttocks, due to the unnatural sitting position.These difficulties are to some extent countered in, for example, hospitals by the provision of beds of the type having an adjustable section which can be raised to provide a stable, upright back support for the occupant, but except with the more sophisticated and expensive equipment, the problems of slip and the formation of bedsores are not substantially reduced.

The object of the present invention is to provide a combination of supports which can be used on an ordinary bed to support an occupant comfortably in the sitting position for prolonged periods and to reduce the tendency to slip into the lying position.

According to the present invention there is provided a combination of supports for use on a bed, comprising a back support for location at the bedhead to provide a substantially upright support face for a user's back, a thigh support for location on the bed to provide a thigh support face inclined, in use, upwardly towards the foot of the bed, and releasable means interconnecting the back support and the thigh support, the angle of inclination to the vertical of the back support face and the inclination to the horizontal of the thigh support face being adjustable independently of each other.

The back support of the present invention provides a more convenient support than the pile of pillows and cushions commonly resorted to on an ordinary bed, while the thigh support raises at least one thigh and upper leg from the bed so that the occupant is effectively seated in a depression and movement down the bed is resisted, the retaining means preventing slipping of the thigh support itself. The thigh support also spreads the weight of the occupant onto the thigh or thighs, relieving the pressure on the buttocks, and helping to reduce the incidence of bedsores. The thigh support would for most purposes be sufficiently wide to support both thighs although in certain instances, for example for use by a person having one leg encased in plaster, the thigh support may be of sufficient width to support only one thigh.The thigh support is preferably sufficiently long to support only the thighs and upper parts of the legs of a patient so that the lower parts of the legs and the feet rest on the bed or on an additional support, but for some patients it may be desirable to support the whole of the lower limbs at an angle to the horizontal in which case the thigh support may be extended.

A combination of supports according to the present invention preferably includes a head support which surmounts the back support in use and which, in preferred embodiments, is integral with the back support.

The Supports of the present invention may be made in any convenient form; for example, they may have support frameworks of tubular metal, plastics or other suitable material or may be formed in one piece from for example, resilient foam material. One or more of the supports may alternatively be inflatable.

The back support may be adapted to be carried by the bedhead, or may also rest on the bed, against the bedhead. Retaining means may be provided to keep the back support in position althrough the pressure of the user's back on the back support may suffice.

The support faces may be substantially planar or alternatively they may be moulded to conform to the shape of the respective parts of the body to be supported thereby.

They may also be hard, in particular for use by a person with back trouble, or they may be padded by, for example, the provision of a covering of resilient foamed plastics material.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention each support is made substantially entirely from foamed-plastics material, and is of sufficient size and rigidity to be selfsupporting while at the same time being sufficiently resilient to provide comfort in use.

Such supports could be cut from a block of the foamed-plastics material or be made by injection moulding and could be produced relatively cheaply, in quantity, for use in hospitals or nursing homes, and would in any case be much cheaper to provide than the present specialised beds having adiustable sections. If made from a substantially rigid foamed plastics material, the Supports may be covered with a layer of more resilient foamed-plastics material.

A foamed plastics back support according to the present invention preferably comprises two or more portions which can cooperate with each other in two different relative positions to provide back support faces inclined at two or more different angles to the vertical, in use.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention the portions, when fitted together in one of the said positions, form substantially a cuboid which provides a substantially vertical support face, in use, and a convenient form for storage.

The thigh support preferably fits into a cavity in the back support for ease of storage.

The thigh support may also comprise two or more portions which can cooperate to provide thigh support faces at differing angles of inclination to the horizontal.

The supports according to the invention are preferably provided with removable, washable covers. Waterproof covers or under-covers may also be provided, particularly for use in geriatric wards. The waterproof covers may be readily removable or may comprise plastics skins formed on the surface of the support.

One embodiment of the invention will now be more particularly described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying purely diagrammatic drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a side elevational view of a support combination shown in use on a bed; Figure 2 is a plan view of the support combination of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a longitudinal sectional view taken on a line corresponding to line III-III of Figure 2, showing the support combination in a different position of use; and Figure 4 is a perspective view of a back support of the support combination in the position of use shown in Figure 3.

Referring to the drawings, a support combination according to the invention is shown in use on a single bed, generally indicated 1, having a headboard 2 and a footboard 3.

The support combination comprises a back support formed in two portions 4, 5, two similar thigh supports 6, and two similar wedge-shaped supports 7. All the supports 4, 5, 6, 7 are cut from a single cuboidal block of foamed plastics material, such as foamed polyurethane, approximately 2 feet high, by 7 inches deep by 20 inches wide.

The width may be varied according to the width of the bed with which the support combination is to be used; the other dimensions are suitable for use by a normal-sized adult but may be varied, for example, for use by a child. The separate thigh supports 6 may alternatively be formed as a single support of sufficient width to support both thighs of a user. The support 7 may similarly comprise a single support.

The back support 4 comprises the major portion of the cuboidal block which is placed upright against the headboard 2, such that a lower, front support face 8a, 1 foot in height is substantially vertical and faces the footboard 3. An upper support face 9a of the portion 4, adjoining the face 8a along an edge 10, is inclined to the vertical, and is formed with a curved uppermost portion 11 which serves as a head support.

The back support portion 5 is formed from the right-angled, substantially triangular section piece of the cuboidal block which is removed to form the face 9a of the portion 4 and has a support face 9b which can cooperate with the face 9a. The face 9b meets a further support face 8b at an edge 12. A triangular-section cavity 14 is cut in the support face 8b, the portion removed being divided to form the two wedge-shaped supports 7. A further cavity, best shown in Figure 4, which opens from the cavity 14 into the third external rectangular face of the portion 5, has a curved surface 16 which provides an additional head support of the support combination.

The portions 4, 5 of the back support are joined to each other along their respective edges 10, 12 by a length of tape 13, of any suitable flexible material, such as plastics or woven material, which is glued or otherwise attached to the faces 8a, 8b.

The tape 13 acts as a hinge about which the portion 5 can be rotated from a lower position, shown in Figure 1, to an upper position shown in Figures 3. In the lower position the portion 5 rests on the bed 1 with its face 8b opposed to the face 8a of the portion 4 such that the support faces 9a, 9b are exposed providing a first, substantially continuous, inclined back support face 9a, 9b, surmounted by the head support 11.

In the upper poSition, shown in Figures 3 and 4, the face 9b abuts the cooperating face 9a of the portion 4, exposing the lower substantially upright back support face 8a of the portion 4, and the support face 8b of the portion 5 together with its cavity 14 and surmounting head support 16.

The support faces 8a and 8b in this position are coplanar and inclined towards the headboard 2 at a small angle to the vertical.

The portion 5 may be attached to the portion 4 by additional fastenings (not shown) to retain it in the upper position.

The thigh supports 6 are of substantially triangular section and are cut out of a rear face 17 of the cuboidal block of foamed plastics material forming a cavity 15, which like the cavity 14, extends the full width of the foamed-plastics block. Each support has a flat lower surface, which, as shown in Figure 1, can be rested on the bed 1, and a slightly rounded, upper thigh support face 18, inclined upwardly towards the footboard 3.

The supports 6 are retained in position on the bed 1 by means of two straps 19 each fastened at one end to a support 6 and at the other end to the support portion 4. The straps 19 are adjustable in length so that the position of the supports 6 relative to the support 4 may be varied.

Each of the wedge shaped supports 7 is hinged to one of the thigh supports 6 along respective adjacent edges by means of a length of tape 20, similar to the tape 13, such that each end support 7 can be placed in one of two differing positions as seen in Figures 1 and 3 respectively. In the first position, shown in Figure 1, each support 7 lies between a support 6 and the footboard 3, and can act as a foot support for an occupant of the bed, if required. In the second position, shown in Figure 3, each support 7 is placed under the support 6 to which it is attached, the support 6 being raised such that its thigh support face 18 is at a greater angle to the horizontal than in the position shown in Figure 1.

In use, an occupant of the bed 1 wishing to be in a sitting rather than a lying position, would have the supports 4, 5, 6, 7 placed on the bed in any desired combination of positions: the back supports 4, 5 may be positioned either as shown in Figure 1 or as in Figure 3 to support the occupant's back in an upright but inclined position or a substantially vertical position respectively, while the thigh supports 6 and associated wedge supports 7 may also be placed in either of the positions shown in Figures 1 to 3 to raise the thighs into one of the two respective inclined positions of the support faces 18 in order to prevent the occupant from slipping down the bed into a lying position, and also to spread the weight of the body on to the thighs in order to relieve the incidence of bedsores.The straps 19 may also be adjusted to vary the distance between the supports 4 and 6 to suit the occupant. If the occupant needs to- keep one leg flat on the bed, only one pair of supports 6, 7 may be used.

If the patient needs protection in the ischial area the support 6 may have a cutout, approximately semi-circular in cross section, to allow the patient's buttocks to rest on the outer edge only of the support 6.

The support 6 in this case would be drawn closer to the back supports 4, 5 than the support 6 shown in Figure 1, for example by drawing in the straps 19.

After use the supports may be removed from the bed 1 and packed together for storage; the supports 6 may be fitted back into the cavity 15 in the rear face 17 of the support portion 4, and, the portion 5 being in its raised position, the supports 7 may be refitted into the cavity 14 in the portion 5, such that the cuboidal block is substantially reformed.

As well as providing storage space for the supports 6, the provision of the cavity 15 in the back support portion 4, makes the portion 4 more resilient and more comfortable in use. The cavity 14 in the portion 5 provides a similar advantage when the portion 5 is in its lower position, shown in Figure 1.

Each of the supports 4, 5, 6, 7, is provided with a fabric cover (not shown) which is readily removable for washing. The hinge tapes 13, 20 and retaining straps 19 may be attached to the covers rather than to the supports themselves. Waterproof undercovers may also be provided.

WHAT I CLAIMS IS:- - 1. A combination of supports for use on a bed, comprising a back support for location at the bedhead to provide a substantially upright support face for a user's back, a thigh support for location on the bed to provide a thigh support face inclined, in use, upwardly towards the foot of the bed, and releasable means interconnecting the back support and the thigh support, the angle of inclination to the vertical of the back support face and the inclination to the horizontal of the thigh support face being adjustable independently of each other.

2. A combination as claimed in Claim 1, in which the thigh support is sufficiently wide to support both thighs.

3. A combination as claimed in Claim 1

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. position, shown in Figure 1, to an upper position shown in Figures 3. In the lower position the portion 5 rests on the bed 1 with its face 8b opposed to the face 8a of the portion 4 such that the support faces 9a, 9b are exposed providing a first, substantially continuous, inclined back support face 9a, 9b, surmounted by the head support 11. In the upper poSition, shown in Figures 3 and 4, the face 9b abuts the cooperating face 9a of the portion 4, exposing the lower substantially upright back support face 8a of the portion 4, and the support face 8b of the portion 5 together with its cavity 14 and surmounting head support 16. The support faces 8a and 8b in this position are coplanar and inclined towards the headboard 2 at a small angle to the vertical. The portion 5 may be attached to the portion 4 by additional fastenings (not shown) to retain it in the upper position. The thigh supports 6 are of substantially triangular section and are cut out of a rear face 17 of the cuboidal block of foamed plastics material forming a cavity 15, which like the cavity 14, extends the full width of the foamed-plastics block. Each support has a flat lower surface, which, as shown in Figure 1, can be rested on the bed 1, and a slightly rounded, upper thigh support face 18, inclined upwardly towards the footboard 3. The supports 6 are retained in position on the bed 1 by means of two straps 19 each fastened at one end to a support 6 and at the other end to the support portion 4. The straps 19 are adjustable in length so that the position of the supports 6 relative to the support 4 may be varied. Each of the wedge shaped supports 7 is hinged to one of the thigh supports 6 along respective adjacent edges by means of a length of tape 20, similar to the tape 13, such that each end support 7 can be placed in one of two differing positions as seen in Figures 1 and 3 respectively. In the first position, shown in Figure 1, each support 7 lies between a support 6 and the footboard 3, and can act as a foot support for an occupant of the bed, if required. In the second position, shown in Figure 3, each support 7 is placed under the support 6 to which it is attached, the support 6 being raised such that its thigh support face 18 is at a greater angle to the horizontal than in the position shown in Figure 1. In use, an occupant of the bed 1 wishing to be in a sitting rather than a lying position, would have the supports 4, 5, 6, 7 placed on the bed in any desired combination of positions: the back supports 4, 5 may be positioned either as shown in Figure 1 or as in Figure 3 to support the occupant's back in an upright but inclined position or a substantially vertical position respectively, while the thigh supports 6 and associated wedge supports 7 may also be placed in either of the positions shown in Figures 1 to 3 to raise the thighs into one of the two respective inclined positions of the support faces 18 in order to prevent the occupant from slipping down the bed into a lying position, and also to spread the weight of the body on to the thighs in order to relieve the incidence of bedsores.The straps 19 may also be adjusted to vary the distance between the supports 4 and 6 to suit the occupant. If the occupant needs to- keep one leg flat on the bed, only one pair of supports 6, 7 may be used. If the patient needs protection in the ischial area the support 6 may have a cutout, approximately semi-circular in cross section, to allow the patient's buttocks to rest on the outer edge only of the support 6. The support 6 in this case would be drawn closer to the back supports 4, 5 than the support 6 shown in Figure 1, for example by drawing in the straps 19. After use the supports may be removed from the bed 1 and packed together for storage; the supports 6 may be fitted back into the cavity 15 in the rear face 17 of the support portion 4, and, the portion 5 being in its raised position, the supports 7 may be refitted into the cavity 14 in the portion 5, such that the cuboidal block is substantially reformed. As well as providing storage space for the supports 6, the provision of the cavity 15 in the back support portion 4, makes the portion 4 more resilient and more comfortable in use. The cavity 14 in the portion 5 provides a similar advantage when the portion 5 is in its lower position, shown in Figure 1. Each of the supports 4, 5, 6, 7, is provided with a fabric cover (not shown) which is readily removable for washing. The hinge tapes 13, 20 and retaining straps 19 may be attached to the covers rather than to the supports themselves. Waterproof undercovers may also be provided. WHAT I CLAIMS IS:- -

1. A combination of supports for use on a bed, comprising a back support for location at the bedhead to provide a substantially upright support face for a user's back, a thigh support for location on the bed to provide a thigh support face inclined, in use, upwardly towards the foot of the bed, and releasable means interconnecting the back support and the thigh support, the angle of inclination to the vertical of the back support face and the inclination to the horizontal of the thigh support face being adjustable independently of each other.

3. A combination as claimed in Claim 1

or Claim 2, in which the thigh support is sufficiently long to support only the thighs and upper parts of the legs of a patient.

4. A combination as claimed in any one of Claim 1 to 3, including a head support which surmounts the back support in use.

5. A combination as claimed in Claim 4, in which the head support is integral with the back support.

6. A combination as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the supports are formed in one piece from resilient foam material.

7. A combination as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 5, in which at least one of the supports is inflatable.

8. A combination as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the back support is adapated to be carried by the bedhead of a bed.

9. A combination as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the support faces are substantially planar or are moulded to conform to the shape of the parts of the body to be supported thereby.

10. A combination as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which each support is made substantially entirely from foamed-plastics material, and is of sufficient size and rigidity to be self-supporting while at the same time being sufficiently resilient to provide comfort in use.

11. A combination as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the back support comprises two or more portions which can cooperate with each other in two different relative positions to provide back support faces inclined at two or more different angles to the vertical, in use.

12. A combination as claimed in Claim 11, in which the portions of the back support, when fitted together in one of the said positions, form substantially a cuboid which provides a substantially vertical support face, in use, and a convenient form for storage.

13. A combination as claimed in Claim 11 or Claim 12, in which the thigh support fits into a cavity in the back support for ease of storage.

14. A combination as claimed in Claim 11, Claim 12 or Claim 13, in which the thigh support comprises two or more portions which can cooperate to provide thigh support faces at different angles of inclination to the horizontal.

15. A combination as claimed in any one of Claims 11 to 14 in which the portions of the back support and/or the thigh support are substantially triangular in cross-section and are hinged relatively to each other.

16. A combination as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the supports are provided with removable washable covers.

17. A combination as claimed in Claim 11, in which each foamed plastics support is formed with a plastics waterproof skin.

18. A combination as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, including flexible straps or tapes which interconnect adjoining longitudinal edges of the back and thigh supports to limit the distance between the said supports.

19. A combination of supports for use on a bed, substantially as herein described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.