WO1996014817A1

WO1996014817A1 - Method and system for translating bodies

Info

Publication number: WO1996014817A1
Application number: PCT/GB1995/002672
Authority: WO
Inventors: John Robert Norris
Original assignee: John Robert Norris
Priority date: 1994-11-15
Filing date: 1995-11-15
Publication date: 1996-05-23
Also published as: AU3853295A

Abstract

Method, system and apparatus for directionally controlled translation of bodies etc. using two surfaces having selective reliefs (1-7) that cooperate in superposed contact in one relative orientation to favour one direction of relative sliding movement. Handling of incapacitated persons is facilitated by slider board (10) or inflatable (90) or sheets (55; 61) and slide parts (20, 30; 98) or simple sheets (56; 63) with such selectively relieved surfaces, and by more complex sheets (40, 50) of composite directional relief characteristics (42, 44A,B; 52, 54A,B) obstructing the sliding movement beyond desired limit(s) thereof. Flexible sheets can provide effective surface reliefs, including textiles (1-7) by weave and/or thread contribution(s).

Description

METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR TRANSLATING BODIES

DESCRIPTION

Technical Field

This invention relates to systems, methods and means for aiding translation of bodies etc.

Background Art

This invention originates in seeking to alleviate problems in home nursing of severely incapacitated people (though results are not seen as necessarily limited to such application, as will appear). It can be very difficult for one carer alone to handle physically inert or uncontrolled patients, particularly move them bodily, even to perform such routine tasks as turning a body in bed and/or helping achieve satisfactory use of a bed-pan. Such problems become exacerbated the larger and heavier the patient; and known available aids appear to be limited to two items. One is a slider board with its ends chamfered for pushing under a body, and intended to be kept highly polished for the patient to be slid over and along. Another is a tube of elastomeric material for use flat and under a body, then to roll and slip on itself in aiding movement of the body. In use, the sliding board does not always permit or promote sliding of a body, for example if in contact with bare flesh or non-slippy (e.g. damp) cloth, and can be difficult for loading and unloading a body; and doubled contacting layers of elastomeric tube can have a quite alarming lack of directional control in moving of a superposed body.

It is an object of this invention to provide aid for bodily translation in ways that are advantageous, say in alleviating one or more noted problems.

Disclosure of Invention

According to one aspect of this invention, there is provided a body etc translation system, method or means utilising surfaces having selective reliefs, for example of flexible sheet material having selective surface relief formations, such that two such surfaces superposed with their said selective reliefs in contact can exhibit directional relative sliding capability one over the other when disposed in one relative orientation. In preferred embodiments, and at least under load from a body or object to be moved, relative sliding in directions other than one permitted or preferred direction is resisted by engagement between those surfaces in said one relative orientation of superposition; further or otherwise preferably with permitted relative sliding in any direction for other relative orientations of superposition.

As will become apparent later herein, the size, shape and proportions or general scale and dimensions of suitable or preferred surface reliefs can be small; indeed, so small as not to be particularly noticeable to naked and untrained eyes, and typically as can actually readily be provided by textile weaving techniques in affording localised raising of portions of wefts or warps at thread densities of up to ten or more per centimetre. Also, the nature and composition of the surfaces, for example a tough smooth hard synthetic plastics material, such as polyester or polypropylene or nylon etc, can contribute usefully to ease of sliding, often appearing almost as though lubricated for the permitted sliding, even compared with a material such as silk having inherently omnidirectional slidability over surfaces such as smooth polished wood. Specific lubrication is not ruled out, whether dry or otherwise.

For woven fabric/textile material said one relative orientation of superposition for said permitted or preferred direction of relative movement can correspond with that of parallel confronting threads having raised portions; and shape or configuration of those raised portions can allow those confronting raised thread portions to ride on or over each other in the one preferred sliding direction and along the corresponding threads, but engage to obstruct or block any transverse relative movement. A satisfactory basic shape or configuration is as successive hump formations with progressive rises/falls in traversing alternate crossing threads, but edged and/or surfaced to contribute to mutual engagement obstructing or blocking transverse relative sliding.

For a woven fabric material, other or further factors may include enhancement of extent to which thread portions are raised, and/or of desirable elements of their shapes/ configurations, by such treatment as calendering and/or use of multifilamentary threads with component filaments having at least a general tendency to be aligned (rather than spun thus twisted about each other) along the length of the thread and/or use of groups or sets of threads disposed side-by-side in each traverse of the weave pattern. Both of the latter provisions have potential for guidance in the preferred direction when in mutual superposed engagement in said one relative orientation. Further variables include numbers of crossing threads traversed to different sides, differences between adjacent threads or thread groups in the preferred direction and/or how they traverse crossing threads, and further possible patterning effects of the raised thread portions. By way of illustrative example only, envisaged pattern variations include conventional textile weaving techniques such as applied in manufacture of hopsack and twill types of fabrics.

In considering feasible alternatives to woven fabrics, even for the latter as far as emulatable, suitable surface reliefs could comprise substantially parallel relatively higher relief parts spaced by likewise substantially parallel relatively lower relief parts wide enough to afford transverse clearance for the higher relief parts of two such surfaces superposed with their parallel relief parts in aligned and staggered relation for the higher parts of one to register with and lie in the lower parts of the other. Directional relative sliding will be permitted substantially along said parallel relief parts, but transverse mutual engagement of the higher relief parts of the two surfaces will resist their significant relative sliding in other directions. The lower relief parts can be continuous to extents of the surfaces concerned with desired or required directional relative sliding, and the higher relief parts could also be continuous, the latter continuity is not essential for either of the surfaces concerned. Thus, for at least one of the surfaces concerned, the higher relief parts can be discontinuous, say in parallel rows each of spaced raised formations. If discontinuous for both of the surfaces concerned, spacings of the raised formations along the rows of each of the surfaces can ensure that engagement of their raised formations will obstruct those of rows of one of the surfaces from passing between those of the adjacent rows of the other surface. Where spacings between rows of raised formations of each surface concerned is always sufficiently less than lengths of the raised formations along the rows of the other surface concerned, relative sliding of the surfaces will be unrestricted in any superposed relative orientation other than with the rows facing, aligned and staggered to intercalate.

It will be appreciated generally that cooperating selective reliefs of two surfaces concerned may be the same or they may be different; and that unwanted-slideobstructing engagement of their raised formations need not be for every raised formation in every one of rows thereof. Indeed, depending on specific practical requirements, effective obstruction may well need only engagement between distributions of enough of respective raised formations of the surfaces involved to give whatever is an acceptable or desired degree of slide obstruction. For example, even where the raised formations are only or predominantly in parallel rows, respective raised formations of two superposed surfaces may be such as, at any one time, to obstruct unwanted directions of sliding only at some of adjacent rows thereof, even only partially along lengths of those rows; and even with contributions to obstruction between rows and/or along rows changing as directional relative sliding progresses.

Restriction of extent of desired directional sliding requires only effective obstruction of sufficient of the aforesaid substantially parallel lower relief parts at whatever is the desired limiting position. Whilst suitable selective obstructions can readily be included in formation of surfaces hereof, it is advantageous to be able to apply same later, then typically by easy addition of compatible material.

The range of effective selective surface reliefs, and combinations thereof, extends from highly regular and quite simple patterns to relatively or very complex, even quite irregular, patterns, albeit in ways always subsidiary to achieving desired permitted and obstructed relative sliding movements. Usually, to facilitate manufacture, operative surface reliefs will be in a pattern or patterns having a repeat. At least in principle, it does not matter how effective surface reliefs are formed; nor does the precise nature of the surfaces involved, including as to materials or combinations of materials involved (for example of or carried on or in substrates that could be stiff, even rigid, or flexible or whatever), so long as there is satisfactory strength and durability of engagement required for limiting to a desired directional sliding. Moulding or impressing with rollers or selective removal or addition or insertion of material could be as viable as other ways to fabricate with desired relief inherent. Despite such inprinciple ubiquity, profound advantages are envisaged herein for use of flexible sheets providing surface relief characteristics concerned, perhaps especially in relation to handling incapacitated people, i.e. the particular environment from which this invention has been developed and which appears to date to be so deficient in effective aids. Suitably surfaced flexible sheet material can be used on other surfaces over which sliding is required or desired, associated either temporarily and removably or intendedly more permanently by affixing thereto. One such sheet can be associated with or fixed to a sliding board; and/or the other cooperating sheet associated with or fixed to a carrier for the body to be slid, say underside of a cushion or seat/ring or a full-length prone body support (such possibly being of inflatable type). It can even be advantageous for sheet material hereof to line the inner surface of a slipping tube and to be orientated for circumferential directional sliding (as would readily tolerate the slight misalignment required to engage parallel cooperating formations of the sheet material round the tube). For application to a bed, particularly moving a patient in bed, one required surface may be sheet material of or on a mattress or mattress cover, perhaps after the manner of a fitted bottom bedding sheet, and the other required surface can be of another and overlying sheet, typically also underlying a normal bedding sheet. An upper translation sheet of sufficient width, typically substantially wider than the mattress or bed itself, say on a lower translation sheet that might well be secured to the mattress as commonplace for a fitted bottom sheet, will greatly facilitate sliding a patient sideways in alternately opposite directions for turning at required or desired intervals.

The contribution so made to control and safety of handling incapacitated people can be quite startling, and perhaps especially good for the lone carer, including the consequent improvement in confidence.

It can be advantageous, perhaps particularly in view of the small scale of selective surface relief features that have been found to be satisfactory, for surfaces of this invention to have or bear indication of the direction of orientation for permitted sliding, for example by marking(s), such as arrow(s), at least unless such can be made apparent from pattern(s) of and/or coloration applied, selectively or otherwise, to either or both of relatively higher or lower surface formations of the two translation components concerned; or unless required orientation is obvious from physical shape or application or other provision (s) such as for gripping and pulling one component relative to the other. Where the translation components comprise or include sheet material, their effective surface reliefs may be on both main faces, and could be different on each face.

It can be advantageous for intendedly upper and/or lower translation components to be of a composite nature as to their effective surface relief formations, i.e. areas that have different directional sliding and related relative orientations, say with one or both of side and/or end areas or strips different from another or central area or panel. This can afford both of limited directional sliding and arresting of that sliding, say using orthogonal directional sliding requiring related relative orientations of parts of each component.

For example, the lower component may have a central part that corresponds, in its permitted directional sliding and related relative orientation, with side parts of the upper component flanking its central part which is preferably wider than the central part of the lower component and corresponds, in its different and normally transverse permitted directional sliding and related relative orientation, with both side parts of the lower component. Then, directional sliding of the upper component over the lower component can proceed controlled as to direction by the central part of former and the side parts of the latter until arrested when one of the side parts of the upper component engages the central part of the lower component. Such components could, of course, be inverted.

It will be appreciated that one translation component can contribute to achieving limited directional sliding and arrest thereof, even relative to a simple other translation component, and involving no more than interrupting or blocking lower parts of substantially parallel relief formations concerned, say by a transverse edge or medially applied formation. Locking the translation components into a desired relative position might be enhanced by parts that can engage so as not to permit otherwise intended and desired directional sliding, but are engagable and disengagable, say by lifting and lowering such parts of an upper translation component. Parts of both of the translation components so cooperating for such locking can be different from other parts cooperating for directional sliding, say as though to cooperate for orthogonal directional sliding. Alternatively, only one of the translation components may be different, say with spaced raised formations to straddle discontinuous directional sliding raised formations along rows thereof, thus in slide obstructing relation. Use of such further composite components with side or edge locking provisions can be useful even though effectiveness requires loading of the components, for the simple reason that totally inert patients would not require such locking and other patients liable to translate themselves in reaction to their own movements, including involuntary ones, are, in fact, likely to apply such loading where required for locking.

Brief Description of Drawings

Specific exemplary implementation for embodiments of this invention will now be described in more detail, including with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings, in which :

Figure 1 is a top plan view of a lower translation component in the form of a slider board, with enlarged detail in Figure 1A;

Figure 2 is a bottom plan view of a particularly simple lower translation component to cooperate with the slider board of Figure 1, and Figure 3 is a side view of an alternative; Figures 4A, B are top and bottom plan views of upper and lower composite translation sheet components for fitting to a bed;

Figures 5A,B,C are end/sectional view line drawings for a bed and basic use of translation sheets;

Figures 6A,B are similar line drawings for transfer between a bed and a trolley;

Figures 7A,B,C are sectional line drawings from the foot of a bed for use of a bed-pan via layers of a doubled single translation sheet;

Figure 8 is taken from a scanning electron micrograph of part of a woven textile material viewed to aid in distinguishing useful raised thread characteristics, and

Figure 9 is a broken outline sectional view through an inflatable support with strips of sheet material, and a body etc carrier sheet.

Best Modes for Carrying Out The Invention Suitable surface reliefs of flexible sheet material as afforded by woven fabrics can, for example, include as nowadays used for outdoor leisure applications, say in relation to such items as rucksacks requiring high strength and good wear-resistance, usually also being substantially water-proof, all factors attractive in relation to handling incapacitated persons. Of such fabrics put forward (by Pennine Outdoors) as typical, one (referenced P13A) said to be of polyester in what appeared to be a relatively medium but quite a tight weave (about 10 x weft by 15 × warp threads per square centimetre) has proved highly effective in trials using superposed surfaces. One such polyester fabric had one side smoother than the other, having originally been sought out merely to slide over a slider board with more strength than silk, and appears to be a socalled two-by-two weave in weft-surfaced form. This fabric was particularly effective using pieces with its coarser surfaces and relatively raised weft parts in superposed contact, and with relative orientation by alignment of weft threads (as appearing relatively raised in lines) . There was then a notable capability for sliding in that direction only, i.e. along such raised lines of formations. Moreover it is further the case that other relative orientations of superposed surfaces allow relative sliding in any direction, i.e. substantially without difference or restriction as to directionality.

It was noted that substantially finer, but otherwise similar, weave polyester fabrics, about 16 × 24, even 20 × 28 threads per centimetre, also showed mutual orientationdependent directional sliding characteristics, though appearing or feeling to present lesser resistance to undesired directions of sliding. That is presumably due to shallower mutual engagements, as, indeed, has been noted even for the smoother side of the 10 × 15 weave fabric on which first experimentation and trials have concentrated, see further as illustrated in Figure 8. Figure 8 shows raised warp humps 1 darker, staggered in lines 2A-H, with multiple tendingly parallel component filaments 3 following those lines, further flattened and bevelled for progressive rises and falls 4, 5 along those lines, but with relatively abrupt sides 6,7. Another piece of the same fabric placed inverted for engagement of confronting lines 2 of humps 1 gives very pronounced and highly acceptable ease of sliding along the lines 2 and obstruction transversely. However, acceptable performance might well be achieved in at least some circumstances, perhaps particularly taking into account normal assistance by gravity and weight of the body to be moved (whether an incapacitated person or animal or as something inanimate or otherwise wholly different).

Need for patent protection by filing at least a first patent application has preceded tackling full investigation of the capabilities even of alternative woven fabrics, whether as to thread materials, possibly mixtures, or as to weave types, including warp-surfacing with warp rather than weft raised; and all that might be involved with longer wefts than warps or vice versa even extra threads solely for the engagement purposes hereof. However, the above provisional analysis of some specific requirements of satisfactory selective reliefs and basic mechanisms of use, including for surfaces of non-woven material, is believed to be useful, at least in guiding trials of potentially useful surfaces. In particular, moulding or impressing or material insertion or material removal by etching or eroding or other material deforming etc should at least be able to match any successful fabric; indeed, be susceptible of realising any functional surface reliefs susceptible of logical development. Textiles and weaving etc techniques are also of such established sophistication that even surface reliefs developed or proposed as ideals may well at least mostly and adequately be matched or approximated closely enough for a very large range of thread materials and weaving methods to be practical.

Turning to Figures 1 to 3, a slider board 10 which can be of generally conventional elongate shape for use with incapacitated people, i.e. as shown with chamfered end edges 14A,B. However, prior requirement to finish with varnish or other highly smooth surface, and keep in smooth surfaced state is replaced by a layer 16 of the abovementioned polyester fabric material suitably associated with the board 10 on its intendedly patient-receiving side for sliding along its length. The fabric material 16 is perhaps best and preferably secured relative to the board 10, say turned over its side and/or end edges as shown at 16E, though it will be appreciated that operation can be achieved with less fabric material 16, say off side edges, feasibly finishing even inside raised side edgings 38. However, fabrication simply as an envelope for the slider board can be effective. The particular fabric material 16 (as above) used in trials had its relatively smooth side 16S against the board 10, and its relatively rough side 16R exposed as the working surface, i.e. with its raised wefts extending in parallel rows corresponding to the arrows 18.

Actual marking of the fabric material 16, such as with arrows 18, is operationally superfluous as manner of use is obvious. However, it could help to mark the fabric material 16 if supplied from stock for replacement or other fitting, say involving and then aiding making up to suit. However, there are many other practical ways to assist, such as inherent visibility of raised wefts simply as a physical pattern or further assisted by their coloration.

Figure 2 shows another piece 20 of the same fabric material, particularly its operative surface 20R, i.e. the relatively rougher one. In use, this piece 20 of fabric material will be inverted onto the fabric material 16 on the board 10 in the specific orientation for desired directional sliding along the board 10, i.e. with wefts aligned, see arrows 22. Body translation operation is feasible using the two components 10, 20 with the latter simply as a piece of fabric material and of anything from lesser to greater width (transversely of the arrows 16, 20) than the former. However, at least if constituting a translation component as a piece of fabric material alone, it can advantageously be wider, so as to avoid any risk of friction effects on the patient from the edges of the board 10.

Aids to handling such a component 20, particularly pulling along the board 10, are indicated by way of holes 24A,B and 26A,B affording useful hand grips. Such grip provisions may also render it superfluous in practice to mark with the arrows 22, likewise even without hand-grips and only simple provision in an oblong rather than a square shape. Moreover, a piece of fabric material 20 could be only part of a full translation component, for example fixed to or part of the covering of a cushion or a ring or other aid to seating a patient. Then, of course, grip provisions (such as specific handles rather than simple holes 24, 26 in the fabric material 20) could be made somewhere in or on the rest of the component.

Figure 3 shows a normally relatively rigid patient-carrying component 30 having a board or frame part 32 having handle provisions 34A,B at each end, and bearing fabric material 36 on its bottom. The fabric material 36 can conveniently be generally as for that reference 20 minus its extents for grip holes 24, 26 and generally of a size to fit the board or frame 32. It would be feasible for the frame 32 to fit relative to a raised edging (see dashed at 38 in Figure 1A) the slider board 10, even with rebating to assist location and/or sliding and/or avoiding unwanted edge-related friction effects.

It should be evident that translation systems of similar type, i.e. some lower component representing a track to be traversed and some upper component to be loaded and traverse track using directional sliding eliminating any transverse sliding, can be used for any load, i.e. not limited to incapacitated people, and whether animate (as envisaged could be particularly useful for veterinary surgeons dealing with large animals) or inanimate.

Figures 4A,B show composite operative areas of intendedly upper and lower translation components 40 and 50, respectively; to be operative with shown surfaces in contact in their illustrated orientations, and indicated as being of similar size (at least as to effective areas). Each has a central part 42 and 52, and flanking side parts 44A,B and 54A,B, respectively. The central part 42 of the upper translation component 40 is substantially wider than the central part 52 of the lower translation component 50. Both of the translation components 40 and 50 are made up from pieces of the aforementioned weft-raised polyester fabric material, the arrows 46X,Y and 56X,Y indicating the directions of the raised wefts and consequent orientations to match for corresponding restricted directional sliding.

When in operative superposition, typically on a mattress and under a normal bottom sheet that will be lifted at either side for access to either of the side parts 42A,B (or the latter gripped through it), the raised formations represented by the arrows 46Y and 56Y will be operative for controlling directional sliding. Thus, permitted directional sliding will be of limited range corresponding to the difference in widths of the central parts 42 and 52, i.e. will be arrested when either of side parts 44A,B comes into engagement with the central part 52. It will be appreciated that the arresting effect might equally well be accomplished by no more than an applied tape, even suitable stitching at what is shown as edges for the material piece of the upper central part 42, i.e. crossing the arrows 46Y. The different parts 44A,B might then not be required, i.e. the central and side parts 42 and 44A,B all be one piece with raised formations as for 46Y throughout.

Figures 5A,B,C indicate use of simple one-piece lower and upper translation sheets 55 and 56 fitted to a mattress 57 under a normal bottom sheet 58, say of cotton. The translation sheets 55 and 56 will be in superposed contact and the direction of permitted directional sliding will be across the mattress 57. The lower translation sheet 55 might be fitted securely to the mattress 57, including under at 59A,B, say at corners. The upper translation sheet 56 is wide enough to be easily movable to one side (Figure 5B) and the other (Figure 5C), which particularly facilitates repeated opposite turning of a patient, and is conveniently done with the normal bottom sheet 57 moving with the upper translation sheet 56. Figures 5A,B,C could, of course apply equally to using the composite translation sheets of Figures 4A,B.

As should be readily appreciated, but see further in Figures 6A,B, such an arrangement and analogous use of upper and lower simple translation sheets 61 and 63 particularly lends itself further to facilitating transfers of patients between beds 65 and trolleys 67, particularly where of much the same heights as tends to be the case in hospitals and nursing homes. Movements from beds to chairs and vice versa, and between chairs, would be facilitated by a slider board with surfacing etc as herein. The extent of easement of patient handling, particularly avoiding lifting, and enabling movement single-handed, is profound, and methods of doing so are seen as highly significant specific aspects of this invention.

Figures 7A,B,C show use of a simple single translation sheet 71 used with doubling over to present directional slide permitting and controlling surfaces hereof to each other, see arrows 73X,Y. Specifically, the activity being facilitated as illustrated is use of a bed-pan 75. The sectional line diagrams of Figures 7A-C demonstrate what is happening as seen from the foot of the bed 77. The lower layer 72A of the translation sheet 71 rests on the bottom sheet of the bed 77, and the bed-pan 75 is pressed down onto the reverse side of the other layer 72B (Figure 7A) in being pushed into the use position (Figure 7B) with the upper layer 72B sliding easily over the lower layer 72A. When use is completed, the bed-pan 75 is removed (Figure 7C) and the translation sheet 71 readily removed simply by pulling on the lower layer 72B.

Another way to facilitate use of a bed-pan would be to attach a pad of translation material hereof to its bottom and use a single layer of translation material on the bed, or to appropriately texture the bottom of the bed-pan directly, say by moulding or impressing.

Allied or further variations or applications include the lower surface or sheet being of or affixed to one side of an inflatable support part to be translated over, see outline sectional view of Figure 8, where parallel strips of sheet material 96 are affixed along and with favoured direction of translation following outer surface parts of longitudinal compartments 94, usually rendering those parts inextensible, of an otherwise generally conventional inflatable mattress 90. A sheet 98 oriented with the same favoured translation direction facilitates hauling a body over the mattress 90 in that favoured translation direction, as can be particularly useful in traversing rough ground under the mattress 90, especially wher space is confined, for example in caving rescues. Looped over side returns of the sheet 98 for stretcher poles can be useful, or the sheet material 98 can be affixed to the bottom of a regular stretcher.

Whilst not intended to limit against use with any other desired bodies or loads, paricular usefulness is envisaged for handling large animal bodies, whether by veterinarians or other animal handlers, at least by way of two appropriately sized sheets with selective surface reliefs hereof, perhaps even a table or platform covered with one sheet fixed and the other slidable under the animal.

Industrial Applicability

As well as in method aspects, this invention can be seen as providing a translation system or means comprising two superposed contacting surfaces with cooperating surface reliefs favouring controlled directional sliding in one relative orientation, preferably flexible layers of sheet material one layer to support (not necessarily directly) what is to be translated and lie upon the other layer over which translation is desired; the surface reliefs in mutual contact serving to permit, facilitate or promote sliding in one desired direction and to oppose or obstruct relative sliding in another direction or directions, typically including at least transversely to the one direction. Distribution of such surface reliefs over much or all of effective cooperating surfaces, including small scale such as available from textile weaves, is a particular valuable feature and advantage of embodiments of this invention, which could use waterproofed textile sheet materials, perhaps even to some desired extent elasticated.

Claims

1. Body etc translating method wherein one part to carry the body etc is moved over another part in a desired direction corresponding to a particular relative orientation of contacting respective surfaces of the parts in which surface reliefs of those surfaces cooperate to favour the desired direction for relative sliding.

2. Body etc translation system of which one part to carry the body etc is intendedly slidingly movable over another part, the two parts having respective surfaces to contact each other when superposed for intended body etc movement, the respective surfaces having selective surface reliefs that, in one relative orientation of said surfaces cooperatingly interengage preferentially to favour and facilitate the desired direction of intended relative sliding movement of the parts.

3. Method or system according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein, with the body etc on the one part, the selective reliefs cooperate to oppose or obstruct relative sliding of the surfaces and parts in direction(s) other than the desired direction.

4. Method or system according to claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the selective reliefs in contact permit sliding in other direction(s) when in other relative orientation(s) of said respective surfaces.

5. Method or system according to any preceding claim, wherein the surface reliefs are distributed over the respective surfaces.

6. Method or system according to any preceding claim, wherein the surfaces have visual indication of and for desired orientation.

7. Method or system according to any preceding claim, wherein the surface reliefs of the respective surfaces are substantially the same.

8. Method or system according to any preceding claim wherein the surfaces are of flexible sheet material as or of said parts.

9. Method or system according to claim 8, wherein the flexible sheet material is of a woven textile nature affording the surface reliefs by its woven threads.

10. Method or system according to claim 9, wherein the woven threads in one direction being relatively raised contributes to said cooperation of said reliefs.

11. Method or system according to claim 9 or claim 10, wherein the woven threads being of a multi-filamentary nature along the desired direction contributes to said cooperation of said reliefs.

12. Method or system according to claim 9 , 10 or 11, wherein the woven threads having steep or abrupt sides along the desired direction contributes to said cooperation of said reliefs.

13. Method or system according to any preceding claim, wherein said other part is a slider board.

14. Method or system according to any one of claims l to 12, wherein said other part is inflatable.

15. Method or system according to any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein at least one of said parts has relative slide interruptive means extending transverse to the desired direction.

16. Method or system according to claim 15, wherein both of said parts have said slide interruptive means to permit limited desired extent of relative sliding in the desired direction.

17. Body etc translation method, system or apparatus substantially as herein described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.