GB2045604A

GB2045604A - Cover for cushion assembly

Info

Publication number: GB2045604A
Application number: GB8007203A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Dunlop Ltd
Current assignee: Dunlop Ltd
Priority date: 1979-03-24
Filing date: 1980-03-03
Publication date: 1980-11-05

Abstract

A cover for a cushion assembly comprises two or more discrete compartments joined together along a common edge. Each compartment may contain a cushion, pillow or bolster. When the cover is in use, the cushions, pillows or bolsters are maintained in a predetermined spatial relationship relative to one another and this feature is of particular application for supporting the human body in a reclining position (e.g. a hospital patient sitting up in bed). The compartments may be fitted with pillows, cushions or bolsters of different degrees of resilience. Alternatively, one or more compartments may be left empty. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Cover for cushion assembly This invention relates to a cover for an assembly of cushions, bolsters of pillows and to an assembly of cushions, bolsters or pillows including such a cover.

The present invention will be described herein with particular reference to an assembly of cushions, bolsters or pillows for supporting the human body in a reclining position, e.g. for supporting a hospital patient sitting up in bed. It is to be understood, however, that covers and assemblies according to the present invention can be used in any situation where support is required for a reclining human body.

In most U.K. hospitals, patients are supported in a reclining position in bed by means of a number of conventional pillows stacked behind the patient. Conventional pillows, when used in this manner, tend to slide relative to one another and to the patient and this problem is exacerbated by the pillowcovers, made of proofed nylon, which are fitted by most hospitals. In an attempt to provide a "stable" stack of pillows, the pillows are often deformed into varying shapes.

Having been deformed in this way, the pillows do not readily recover their original shape.

It has been proposed to provide a speciallydesigned support-pillow of generally U- or Vshape. An example of one such support-pillow is described in U.K. Patent Specification No.

1,508,809 and is available under the name TRIPILLOW. However, such U- or V-shaped supporting-pillows are relatively bulky when compared with conventional pillows and this creates a storage problem whem the pillows are not in use. For example, overnight storage of several hundred such support-pillows in a hospital would be extremely difficult.

The present invention overcomes the storage problem by providing a cover having two or more discrete compartments to contain pillows or other supports of conventional size and to maintain them in a stable relationship one to another.

Accordingly, the present invention provides a cover for a cushion assembly, the cover comprising two or more discrete compartments, each said compartment being attached to the remaining compartments along a common edge and being adapted to contain a cushion, bolster or pillow.

The present invention also provides a cushion assembly comprising two or more cushions, bolsters or pillows maintained in a predetermined spatial relationship relative to one another by being contained within a cover as described in the immediately-preceding paragraph.

In a preferred embodiment, the cover is provided with three discrete compartments, each compartment containing a cushion, pillow or bolster of conventional size. Thus, the pillows can be placed behind a reclining patient, but will not slide over one another since they are kept in a predetermined spatial relationship relative to one another. When not required as a support, the pillows can be removed from the cover and used normally.

Consequentially no undue storage problems will arise.

Alternatively, one of the cushions, pillows or bolsters may be replaced by a shaped support member (made, for example, of a resilient foam material) wilst the remaining compartments contain conventional pillows. A system including such a shaped support member can provide greater stability than one relying solely on conventional pillows. The support member may be so shaped as to facilitate stacking for storage purposes and the pillows can, on removal from the cover, be used normally.

It is not essential to provide a cushion or pillow in each of the compartments of the cover. For example, in a cover having three compartments, one of the compartments may be left empty. Thus, assemblies including covers according to the present invention are capable of considerable flexibility in use.

Again, the compartments in the cover can be provided with cushions or pillows of different degrees of resilience.

If desired, any one of the compartments may be made to be detachable from the remaining compartments. Covers according to the present invention may be made of a washable material. Optionally, the covers may be provided with a decorative outer surface.

The present invention will be illustrated, merely by way of example, in the following description and with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the drawings: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a cover according to the present invention; Figure 2 is a perspective view of a shaped support for insertion into the cover of Fig. 1; Figure 3 is a series of schematic perspective views of alternative embodiments of the cover of Fig. 1.

Referring now to Fig. 1, a cover according to the present invention comprises three discrete compartments 10, 11 and 12. Conventional pillows, bolsters or cushions can be inserted into one or more of the compartments.

Alternatively, a shaped support 20 (as shown in Fig. 2) may be used instead of one of the pillows. The support 20 may be made of, for example, a resilient foam and can be provided with a rebate 21.

Other alternative configurations of the cover and assembly of the present invention are shown in Fig. 3.

Claims

1. A cover for a cushion assembly, the cover comprising two or more discrete compartments, each said compartment being attached to the remaining compartments along a common edge and being adapted to contain a cushion, bolster or pillow.

2. A cover according to Claim 1 comprising three discrete compartments.

3. A cover according to Claim 1 or 2, in which at least one of the compartments is detachable from the remaining compartments.

4. A cover according to any one of Claims 1 to 3, in which each of the compartments is made of a washable material

5. A cover according to any one of Claims 1 to 4, in which one or more of the compartments is provided with a decorative outer surface.

6. A cover for a cushion assembly, substantially as hereinbefore described, with reference to and as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 3 of the accompanying drawings.

7. A cushion assembly comprising two or more cushions, bolsters or pillows maintained in a predetermined spatial relationship relative to one another by being contained within a cover according to any one of Claims 1 to 6.

8. An assembly according to Claim 7, in which one of the cushions, bolsters or pillows is replaced by a shaped support member.

9. An assembly according to Claim 8, in which the shaped support member is made of a resilient foam material.

1 0. An assembly according to Claim 7, and to Claim 8 or 9 when dependent upon Claim 7, in which each cushion, bolster, pillow or support member is made of a material having a different degree of resilience.

11. An assembly according to Claim 7, and to Claim 8, 9 or 10 when dependent upon Claim 7, in which one of the compartments of the cover is left empty.

1 2. A cushion assembly and cover therefor, substantially as hereinbefore described.