GB2341544A

GB2341544A - Pressure reducing mattress

Info

Publication number: GB2341544A
Application number: GB9820253A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Colin Alexander Laidlaw
Original assignee: MSS
Current assignee: MSS
Priority date: 1998-09-18
Filing date: 1998-09-18
Publication date: 2000-03-22
Also published as: GB9820253D0

Abstract

A mattress 10 comprises a tray 11, a support 12 and an insert 13. The insert 13 is of foam, whilst the tray is rigid or semi-rigid and is provided with lifting locations 23 to enable easy lifting of the mattress. The tray may also be provided with transverse ridges 22, some of which include holes 24 to allow air flow. When a patient lies on the mattress air expelled through the holes 24 acts both to absorb shock and encourage air flow around the base of the foam reducing the build-up of mould. In certain instances the tray may be replaced by one or more smaller elements.

Description

2341544 PRESSURE REDUCING MATTRESS This invention relates to pressure

reducing mattresses. It is well known that people who spend a lot of time in bed, whether due to old age or infirmity, can develop pressure sores. There is a wide range of pressure reducing mattresses which aim to mitigate against the creation of pressure sores. Mattresses having foam constructions have proved particularly successful in combining good pressure relief with realistic pricing and they are particularly commonly used in hospitals and old peoples, homes. An example of such a mattress Js described in our British Patent No. 2263398.

However, the foam construction of such mattresses can make them difficult to handle and many nurses are showing a is reluctance to carry out any awkward lifting operation for health and safety reasons.

The present invention consists in a pressure reducing mattress comnrising a support defining an upwardly facing recess and a pressure reducing insert located in the recess characterised in that the mattress further comprises at least one rigid or semi-rigid element for receiving or being received in the support and in that the element defines lifting locations for the mattress.

The element could simply be moulded into the support during the formation of the support, but this is unlikely to be satisfactory in most cases, because the foam shrinks on formation and the element would then be likely tO produce 2 distortion. Alternatively the element could be generally u shaped in cross-section so that the support can sit within it, in which case the element may have a sufficient width to provide space lifting locations or there may be two or more elements spaced along the length of the support. In another construction the element could pass through a tunnel in to support, however, it is particularly preferred that the element is in the form of a tray for receiving the whole of the support.

The element may have a plurality of spaced ridges and the underside of the support may have corresponding troughs. In this case at least some of the ridges may include an opening to allow air to flow into and out of the troughs. The troughs may also be over-sized relative to the ridges in order to produce localised softening of the support. It is generally preferred that the ridges -and troughs extend transversely to the longitudinal axis of the support, but they may be parallel or at an acute angle to that axis.

The element may be moulded from plastics material and the lifting locations may be moulded hand holds. There may be a pair of space lifting locations in or adjacent each J side of the support and/or a pair of space lifting locations adjacent each end of the support.

The support and/or insert may be made of foam, in which case the foam of the support is preferably more rigid than the foam of the insert. The support may be waterproof, for example it may be formed with a film or sprayed with a sealant.

3 The mattress may have rebates along the longitudinal sides to allow it to sit on beds having raised edges.

The mattress may be provided with a cover. In the case where the element is a tray, the tray may have one or more 5 zips around its periphery for engaging the cover.

Although the invention has been defined above it is to be understood that it includes any inventive combination of 0 features set out above or in the following description.

The invention may be performed in various ways and a specific embodiment will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which; Figure 1 is an exploded view of a mattress according to the invention; Figure 2 is an enlarged scrap section of a trough in is the base of the support; Figure 3 is an enlarged detail of the insert and support combination of Figure 1; and Figure 4 illustrates an alternative element.

A mattress generally indicated at 10, comprises a tray 11, a support 12, and an insert 13.

The insert 13 is manufactured from foam and has a profiled upper surface 14 arranged to provide areas (15 - 17) having different pressure reducing characteristics for supporting different portions of a patient. The areas 15 - 17 are formed by means of longitudinal and transverse cuts in the surface 14 and are similar to those described in more detail in our British Patent No. 2263398 the disclosure of which is incorporated herein in relation to the construction

4 of the insert.

The insert is designed to sit within an opening or recess 18 of the foam support 12. The support 12 provide firmer edge portions 19 to stop the patient rolling off the mattress and is generally formed of foam which is more rigid or pressure resistant than the insert 13. The support 12 is formed with a series of troughs or arches 20 extending transversely and it is also provided with cut-outs 21, some of which intersect with the troughs or arches 20.

The tray 11 is designed to be rigid or semi-rigid and is preferably moulded from plastics material. It has transverse ridges 22 which are located to lie within the troughs or arches 20 and moulded hand holes or lifting locations 23, which locate in the cut-outs 21 holes 24 are is provided in at least some of the ridges to allow air to f low in and out. The ridges 22 and troughs 20 are relatively dimensioned so that the troughs 20 are slightly oversized vis-A-vis the ridges 22. As well as encouraging air flow to the bottom of the support 12, this provides some softening of the support 12, because the support can flex relative to the ridges 22.

When a patient lies on L-he mattress air will be expelled through the holes 24. As well as providing a shock absorbing effect, this also encourages air flow and helps prevent any build-up of mould.

The support may be waterproofed by incorporating a surface film during its manufacture or spraying it with sealant. This means that in the event of bodily fluids 1 being spilt on the mattress, the support and tray can simply be hosed down. Rebates 25 may be provided along the side edges of the tray 11 and support 12 to allow the mattress to sit on bed frames which have slightly raised edges. The mattress may include a two way stretch vapour permeable fabric cover, or indeed any other appropriate cover. This may be zipped to the tray, by one or more zips extending around the periphery of tray 11.

In certain instances it may be desirable to provide less than a whole tray and an alternative form of element is shown at 26 in Figure 4. If the element 26 is narrow as shown in Figure 4, then two or more may be spaced along the length of the support 12. If it is broader, e.g. one third or more of the length of the support, then a single element is may suf f ice. Such elements may have ridges as discussed above. If the element 27 is formed in two engagable portions it may be inserted through a tunnel in the support 12.

It will be appreciated that the provision of an element or elements, such as the tray 11, both stiffen the foam portions of the mattress to allow easier handling and also provide good properly designed hand locations at appropriate places. when a full tray is used, it will also generally catch any bodily fluids or the like which fall on to the mattress and hence simplify cleaning. The provision of air circulation at the base of the mattress reduces the risk of a build-up of bacteria or mould and the combination of ridges and troughs adds to the comfort of the mattress.

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Claims

1 A pressure reducing mattress comprising a foam support defining an upwardly facing recess and a pressure reducing insert located in the recess characterised in that the mattress further comprises at least one rigid or semirigid element for receiving the support and in that the element defines lifting locations for the mattress.

2. A mattress as claimed in claim 1 wherein the element is in the form of a tray.

3. A mattress as claimed in claim 2 wherein the element has a plurality of spaced ridges and the underside of the support has corresponding troughs.

4. A mattress as claimed in claim 3 wherein at least some of the ridges include an opening to allow air to flow is into and out of the troughs.

5. A mattress as claimed in claim 3 or claim 4 wherein the troughs are over-sized relative to the ridges.

6. A mattress as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the element is moulded from Dlastics material.

7. A mattress as claimed in claim 6 wherein the lifting locations are moulded hand holds.

8. A mattress as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the element is a tray and wherein there are a pair of spaced lifting locations in or adjacent each side of the support.

9. A mattress as claimed in any one of the preceding 7 claims wherein the element is a tray and there are a pair of spaced lifting locations adjacent each end of the support..

10. A mattress as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the support and/or the insert are made of 5 foam.

11. A mattress as claimed in claim 9 wherein the foam of the support is more rigid than the foam of the insert.

12. A mattress as claimed in any one of the preceding claims having a rebate along its lower longitudinal edges.

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