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US20110247142A1 - Pneumatic mattress - Google Patents

️Thu Oct 13 2011

US20110247142A1 - Pneumatic mattress - Google Patents

Pneumatic mattress Download PDF

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Publication number

US20110247142A1

US20110247142A1 US13/109,174 US201113109174A US2011247142A1 US 20110247142 A1 US20110247142 A1 US 20110247142A1 US 201113109174 A US201113109174 A US 201113109174A US 2011247142 A1 US2011247142 A1 US 2011247142A1 Authority

United States

Prior art keywords

cells

pneumatic

mattress according

groups

pneumatic mattress

Prior art date

2008-11-18

Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)

Abandoned

Application number

US13/109,174

Inventor

Brian Frank Pile

Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)

Linet sro

Original Assignee

Individual

Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)

2008-11-18

Filing date

2011-05-17

Publication date

2011-10-13

2011-05-17 Application filed by Individual filed Critical Individual

2011-05-17 Assigned to LINET SPOL. S R.O. reassignment LINET SPOL. S R.O. ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST (SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS). Assignors: PILE, BRIAN FRANK, MR.

2011-10-13 Publication of US20110247142A1 publication Critical patent/US20110247142A1/en

Status Abandoned legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
- A61G—TRANSPORT, PERSONAL CONVEYANCES, OR ACCOMMODATION SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR PATIENTS OR DISABLED PERSONS; OPERATING TABLES OR CHAIRS; CHAIRS FOR DENTISTRY; FUNERAL DEVICES
- A61G7/00—Beds specially adapted for nursing; Devices for lifting patients or disabled persons
- A61G7/05—Parts, details or accessories of beds
- A61G7/057—Arrangements for preventing bed-sores or for supporting patients with burns, e.g. mattresses specially adapted therefor
- A61G7/05769—Arrangements for preventing bed-sores or for supporting patients with burns, e.g. mattresses specially adapted therefor with inflatable chambers
- A61G7/05776—Arrangements for preventing bed-sores or for supporting patients with burns, e.g. mattresses specially adapted therefor with inflatable chambers with at least two groups of alternately inflated chambers

Definitions

the present invention relates to a pneumatic mattress.
a pneumatic mattress is a mattress having a plurality of pneumatic cells which are so connected that sets of them can be selectively and cyclically pressurized and exhausted—or inflated and deflated—in sequence to support a user, normally a patient liable to suffer or actually suffering from pressure sores. Cycling the mattress simulates movement that a patient would make if fit and healthy so as to avoid supporting his/her weight in the same place all the time. Pneumatic mattress design suffers from a dichotomy that separate independent cells held together only by an outer cover make for simplicity and cheapness, whereas integrally fabricated and smaller cells provide support in such a way that portions of the patient's anatomy are not liable to slip between two pressurized cells when an intervening one is deflated.
Pneumatic mattresses are usually pressurized with air drawn from the ambient atmosphere. However, the term is not intended to preclude use of any other inflation gas.
the object of the present invention is to provide an improved pneumatic mattress.
a pneumatic mattress comprising:
the cells of a top layer extend transversely of the length of the mattress.
the groups of cells in the top layer are connected at a knee position, that is to say a nominal position in the mattress at which a user's knee can be expected to be.
This arrangement allows the mattress to flex when supported on a bed base having a transverse hinge at the knee position.
connection at the knee position is substantially level with a bottom surface of the top layer, whereby as the two groups of cells are hinged about the connection, a gap opens between the top surfaces of the groups.
Such an arrangement is an improvement compared with conventional integration of the entire top layer, which causes the pneumatic inflation of the cells to tend to resist bending of the top layer at the knee hinge.
the top layer could have three groups of cells, it is preferred to maintain the integration of the cells through the hip region, where the patient's body weight is available to deform the mattress to a hinging up of a back region of the bed base. Further, such integration guards against risk of the mattress opening under the weight of the patient.
the cells in the top layer preferably extend transversely, at least some of those in the bottom layer preferably extend longitudinally of the mattress. This helps with the general structural form of the mattress, in retaining its shape for handling for instance.
the bottom layer has disconnectable full bed length side/edge aligned cells, disconnectably connectable longitudinal head and leg cells and transverse torso cells.
the disconnectably connected groups and layers conveniently have strips along cells where the cells extend parallel to the zones or tabs at the ends of cells where the cells extend transverse to the connection zones.
the strips or tabs are disconnectably connected by connecting means connecting the strips at the apertures.
Complementary pairs of apertures in the strips can be connected by pairs of toggles with an interconnection between the toggles at least within the top layer and between the top layer and the bottom layer.
An additional flap can be co-extensive with at least some of the strips and covering the toggles.
the disconnectably connecting means comprises strips along cells where the cells extend parallel to the zones or tabs at the ends of cells where the cells extend transverse to the connection zones and pop fasteners connecting the strips.
the tabs are continuous as strips.
the cover could be an integral portion of either of the layers, or at least integrally connected to one of the groups of cells in one of the layers, preferably the cover is separable from the cells.
the cover could be replaced alone without the need to replace undamaged parts of the mattress.
the bottom layer has:
the side cells of the bottom layer can be necked for bending at the knee and hip regions. However, in the preferred embodiment, they are pneumatically divided and provided with common pneumatic pressure.
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a hospital bed equipped with a pneumatic mattress of the invention
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a pneumatic mattress of the invention
FIG. 3 is a transverse cross-sectional view of the mattress
FIG. 4 is a longitudinal cross- sectional view of the mattress
FIG. 5 is an exploded view of the cells of the mattress
FIG. 6 is a partially similar view of the cells partially assembled
FIG. 7 is an assembled view showing the arrangement of the individual cells
FIG. 8 is a similar view of the assembled cells
FIG. 9 is an end view of a representative cell connection within a layer
FIG. 10 is a plan view of the cell connection of FIG. 9 ;
FIG. 11 is a view similar to FIG. 9 of inter-layer cell connection
FIG. 12 is an exploded perspective view of a varied mattress of the invention.
FIG. 13 is a scrap underneath view of the bottom layer of the mattress of FIG. 11 .
a mattress 1 has a cover 2 enclosing two layers 3 , 4 of pneumatic cells.
the cells are made of impermeable sheet or tube material welded into desired shapes, typically of polyurethane material. The manner in which the cells are made is conventional, known to the skilled reader and will not be described here.
the bottom layer comprises edge cells 31 extending the full length of the mattress. These cells are closed at two positions, a hip position 32 and a knee position 33 . Thus these cells have a head and back portion 34 , an upper leg portion 35 and a lower leg portion 36 .
the portions can hinge or pivot with respect to their adjoining portions, without the pneumatic pressure in them tending to keep them rigid.
the head cells are manufactured as a group separate from the edge cells.
six lower leg cells 38 are provided between the lower leg portions 36 .
the central space in the bottom layer left by cells just described is filled by a group of nine transversely extending cells 39 .
the groups of cells are held together by toggles described in more detail below.
the upper layer consists of a head back and upper leg group of twelve transverse cells 41 and a second group of seven lower leg cells 42 .
the cover is of impermeable material and consists of a lower part 21 having an under-sheet 22 , peripheral webs 23 , and inwards projecting top lips 24 .
a sliding clasp fastener strip 25 extends around the edges of the lips.
the upper part 26 has an over sheet 27 for filling the opening 28 within the lips and provided with the complementary sliding clasp fastener strip 29 .
the top sheet extends to the webs 23 and further depending webs 261 extend down the outside the webs 23 .
the two cell layers 3 , 4 are contained within the cover and protected by it from any liquid spilled on it.
the under-sheet is provided with straps of two types 221 , 222 . The former are loose ended for securing the mattress to a bed frame and the latter are looped to enable the entire mattress to be lifted for patient evacuation.
a multi-way umbilical hose 5 extends from within the cover and for connecting the cells to a pressure air source via a connector 6 .
the hose includes four pipes, three having cyclically applied pressure and the fourth having constantly applied pressure air.
the majority of the cells within the groups are arranged in sets of three, of which two are normally inflated at any one time, with the pipes pneumatically connected to the cells in a known way.
Adjoining cells 71 , 72 are provided with strips 73 , 74 of material of which the cells are made at a height to allow hinging of the mattress in use.
the strips have regularly spaced eyelets 75 , provided opposite each other. These are connected by pairs of toggles 76 connected together with a fabric loop 77 . One toggle is passed through one eyelet, the other is passed through the opposite one.
the adjoining cells are mechanically connected.
FIG. 11 Connection of the layers of cells is shown in FIG. 11 .
the ends of the top layer of cells have tabs 83 similar to strips 73 , each cell having a tab.
the tabs could be separated, but since the cells of the group are formed from sheet material extending from one cell to the next, the tabs are normally connected as a strip.
the edge cells of the bottom layer have strips 84 .
the tabs/strips have eyelet apertures 85 connected together with looped toggles 86 .
a flap 87 over-lying the tabs/strips 83 is provided.
the mattress there shown is varied by the head and foot ends of the edge cells 131 being curved in to allow a drip bag post to extend up at the corner of the mattress.
the leg end cells 138 of the bottom layer extend towards the head end past the knee connection zone of the top layer of cells, to provide improved support of the region.
the edge cells also have divisions 102 , comprising a heat seal between the top and bottom layers of the cells, on the same transverse line 103 for the same purpose.
the bottom layer also includes head end longitudinal cells 137 and transverse cells 139 .
head end longitudinal cells 137 and transverse cells 139 .
the top layer consists of two groups of cells, transverse leg cells 142 and transverse head and torso cells 141 .
the invention is not intended to be restricted to the details of the above described embodiments.
the number of cells shown in FIGS. 4 to 7 was those in a prototype.
the number shown in FIG. 12 represents a production number, but the total number of cells can vary from mattress to mattress.
the torso portion of the top layer can have 12 or 14 cells and the leg portion can have 5 or 6 cells.

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Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
Nursing (AREA)
Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
Animal Behavior & Ethology (AREA)
General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
Public Health (AREA)
Veterinary Medicine (AREA)
Invalid Beds And Related Equipment (AREA)
Mattresses And Other Support Structures For Chairs And Beds (AREA)

Abstract

A mattress has a cover enclosing two layers of pneumatic cells made of impermeable material welded into desired shapes. A bottom layer comprises edge cells extending the length of the mattress, partially closed at hip and knee positions so the cells have head and back, upper leg and lower leg portions that pivot relative to adjoining portions, without pressure in them tending to keep them rigid. Six head cells are arranged with their length in the direction of the length of the mattress, separate from the edge cells. Six lower leg cells are between the lower leg portions. A central space in the bottom layer is filled by a group of nine transversely extending cells held together by toggles. An upper layer has a head back and upper leg group of twelve transverse cells and a second group of seven lower leg cells.

Description

This application is the continuation of PCT Application No. PCT/GB2009/002691 filed on Nov. 18, 2009, which claims priority to Application No. 0821066.8 filed on Nov. 18, 2008 in Great Britain, the disclosures of all of which are incorporated herein by reference.
The present invention relates to a pneumatic mattress.
A pneumatic mattress is a mattress having a plurality of pneumatic cells which are so connected that sets of them can be selectively and cyclically pressurized and exhausted—or inflated and deflated—in sequence to support a user, normally a patient liable to suffer or actually suffering from pressure sores. Cycling the mattress simulates movement that a patient would make if fit and healthy so as to avoid supporting his/her weight in the same place all the time. Pneumatic mattress design suffers from a dichotomy that separate independent cells held together only by an outer cover make for simplicity and cheapness, whereas integrally fabricated and smaller cells provide support in such a way that portions of the patient's anatomy are not liable to slip between two pressurized cells when an intervening one is deflated.
Pneumatic mattresses are usually pressurized with air drawn from the ambient atmosphere. However, the term is not intended to preclude use of any other inflation gas.
It is known to provide pneumatic mattresses with upper and lower layers of cells. Often these are pressurized and exhausted in phase that is the cells above each other being pressurized and exhausted together. Advantages of this are not only that in the event of accidental puncturing of a cell in the upper layer, the corresponding cell in the lower layer can guard against the patient being dropped onto a hard bed base beneath the mattress; but also that two smaller cells on top of each other have less tendency to fill the space left by a deflating neighboring cell, thus the portion of the patient supported by the neighboring cell when inflated is more certainly relieved of support by the deflating cell than would be the case if the two superposed cells were a single cell.
It is also known to provide cells as triplets in each layer, with one cell in every three being deflated at any one time.
Accidental puncturing is a significant and costly risk. It is liable to result in the entire mattress or at least an entire layer of the mattress being scrap, except in basic designs of mattress employing a single layer of individual cells held together within an outer cover.
The object of the present invention is to provide an improved pneumatic mattress.
According to the invention there is provided a pneumatic mattress comprising:

- a top layer of pneumatic cells and a bottom layer of pneumatic cells,
  - the cells in each layer being integrated together in two or more groups of one or more cells and
  - the groups of cells in each layer including:
    - means disconnectably connecting the groups to each other,
- a cover enclosing the layers,
- a multi-way umbilical hose for selective supply of air to the groups of cells and
- a pneumatic connector for connecting the multi-way umbilical hose to a source of pressure air.

Preferably, the cells of a top layer extend transversely of the length of the mattress.
Conveniently, the groups of cells in the top layer are connected at a knee position, that is to say a nominal position in the mattress at which a user's knee can be expected to be. This arrangement allows the mattress to flex when supported on a bed base having a transverse hinge at the knee position.
Preferably, the connection at the knee position is substantially level with a bottom surface of the top layer, whereby as the two groups of cells are hinged about the connection, a gap opens between the top surfaces of the groups. Such an arrangement is an improvement compared with conventional integration of the entire top layer, which causes the pneumatic inflation of the cells to tend to resist bending of the top layer at the knee hinge.
Whilst it can be envisaged that the top layer could have three groups of cells, it is preferred to maintain the integration of the cells through the hip region, where the patient's body weight is available to deform the mattress to a hinging up of a back region of the bed base. Further, such integration guards against risk of the mattress opening under the weight of the patient.
Whilst the cells in the top layer preferably extend transversely, at least some of those in the bottom layer preferably extend longitudinally of the mattress. This helps with the general structural form of the mattress, in retaining its shape for handling for instance.
In the preferred embodiment, the bottom layer has disconnectable full bed length side/edge aligned cells, disconnectably connectable longitudinal head and leg cells and transverse torso cells.
The disconnectably connected groups and layers conveniently have strips along cells where the cells extend parallel to the zones or tabs at the ends of cells where the cells extend transverse to the connection zones. The strips or tabs are disconnectably connected by connecting means connecting the strips at the apertures.
Complementary pairs of apertures in the strips can be connected by pairs of toggles with an interconnection between the toggles at least within the top layer and between the top layer and the bottom layer. An additional flap can be co-extensive with at least some of the strips and covering the toggles.
In the bottom layer, the disconnectably connecting means comprises strips along cells where the cells extend parallel to the zones or tabs at the ends of cells where the cells extend transverse to the connection zones and pop fasteners connecting the strips. Preferably, within a group of cells the tabs are continuous as strips.
Whilst it is envisaged that the cover could be an integral portion of either of the layers, or at least integrally connected to one of the groups of cells in one of the layers, preferably the cover is separable from the cells. Thus it or a damaged part of it, or a damaged group of cells could be replaced alone without the need to replace undamaged parts of the mattress.
In the preferred embodiment, the bottom layer has:

- side cells extending from end to end;
- longitudinal head region cells between the side cells;
- longitudinal lower leg cells between the side cells and
- a removable group of torso and upper leg cells extending laterally.

We have envisaged that it may be advantageous to provide a sheet between the side cells to extend beneath the torso and upper leg cells.
The side cells of the bottom layer can be necked for bending at the knee and hip regions. However, in the preferred embodiment, they are pneumatically divided and provided with common pneumatic pressure.
To help understanding of the invention, a specific embodiment thereof will now be described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
FIG. 1
is a perspective view of a hospital bed equipped with a pneumatic mattress of the invention;
FIG. 2
is a perspective view of a pneumatic mattress of the invention;
FIG. 3
is a transverse cross-sectional view of the mattress;
FIG. 4
is a longitudinal cross- sectional view of the mattress;
FIG. 5
is an exploded view of the cells of the mattress;
FIG. 6
is a partially similar view of the cells partially assembled;
FIG. 7
is an assembled view showing the arrangement of the individual cells;
FIG. 8
is a similar view of the assembled cells;
FIG. 9
is an end view of a representative cell connection within a layer;
FIG. 10
is a plan view of the cell connection of
FIG. 9
;
FIG. 11
is a view similar to
FIG. 9
of inter-layer cell connection;
FIG. 12
is an exploded perspective view of a varied mattress of the invention; and
FIG. 13
is a scrap underneath view of the bottom layer of the mattress of
FIG. 11
.
Referring to the drawings, a
mattress
1 has a
cover
2 enclosing two
layers
3, 4 of pneumatic cells. The cells are made of impermeable sheet or tube material welded into desired shapes, typically of polyurethane material. The manner in which the cells are made is conventional, known to the skilled reader and will not be described here.
The bottom layer comprises
edge cells
31 extending the full length of the mattress. These cells are closed at two positions, a
hip position
32 and a
knee position
33. Thus these cells have a head and back
portion
34, an
upper leg portion
35 and a
lower leg portion
36. The portions can hinge or pivot with respect to their adjoining portions, without the pneumatic pressure in them tending to keep them rigid. Between the edge cells at the head end of the bed, i.e. between the
head portions
34, six
short head cells
37 are arranged with their cell length in the direction of the length of the mattress. The head cells are manufactured as a group separate from the edge cells. Similarly six
lower leg cells
38 are provided between the
lower leg portions
36. The central space in the bottom layer left by cells just described is filled by a group of nine transversely extending
cells
39. The groups of cells are held together by toggles described in more detail below.
The upper layer consists of a head back and upper leg group of twelve
transverse cells
41 and a second group of seven
lower leg cells
42.
The cover is of impermeable material and consists of a
lower part
21 having an under-
sheet
22,
peripheral webs
23, and inwards projecting
top lips
24. A sliding
clasp fastener strip
25 extends around the edges of the lips. The
upper part
26 has an over
sheet
27 for filling the
opening
28 within the lips and provided with the complementary sliding
clasp fastener strip
29. The top sheet extends to the
webs
23 and further depending
webs
261 extend down the outside the
webs
23. The two
cell layers
3, 4 are contained within the cover and protected by it from any liquid spilled on it. The under-sheet is provided with straps of two
types
221, 222. The former are loose ended for securing the mattress to a bed frame and the latter are looped to enable the entire mattress to be lifted for patient evacuation.
A multi-way
umbilical hose
5 extends from within the cover and for connecting the cells to a pressure air source via a
connector
6. The hose includes four pipes, three having cyclically applied pressure and the fourth having constantly applied pressure air. The majority of the cells within the groups are arranged in sets of three, of which two are normally inflated at any one time, with the pipes pneumatically connected to the cells in a known way.
In use, the entire lower layer of the mattress apart from the
central cells
39, together with the end three cells of the head portion of the upper layer, are permanently inflated. All the other cells in these sets of three, of the upper layer together with the lower cells at 39, are cyclically inflated and deflated, in a known manner.
Mechanical connection of the groups of cells will now be described. The same connection is used between the side and inner cell groups of the lower layer, wherever separate groups are joined along zones of their connection. It is also used in the top layer, between its two groups along the interconnection zone where the two groups are joined. Accordingly a representative connection only will be described between the cells of the two top groups. Adjoining
cells
71, 72 are provided with
strips
73, 74 of material of which the cells are made at a height to allow hinging of the mattress in use. The strips have regularly spaced
eyelets
75, provided opposite each other. These are connected by pairs of
toggles
76 connected together with a
fabric loop
77. One toggle is passed through one eyelet, the other is passed through the opposite one. Thus the adjoining cells are mechanically connected.
Connection of the layers of cells is shown in
FIG. 11
. The ends of the top layer of cells have
tabs
83 similar to
strips
73, each cell having a tab. The tabs could be separated, but since the cells of the group are formed from sheet material extending from one cell to the next, the tabs are normally connected as a strip. The edge cells of the bottom layer have strips 84. The tabs/strips have
eyelet apertures
85 connected together with looped toggles 86. To mitigate against protrusive effects of the toggles, a
flap
87 over-lying the tabs/strips 83 is provided.
Turning to
FIG. 12
, the mattress there shown is varied by the head and foot ends of the
edge cells
131 being curved in to allow a drip bag post to extend up at the corner of the mattress. The
leg end cells
138 of the bottom layer extend towards the head end past the knee connection zone of the top layer of cells, to provide improved support of the region. To allow the
cells
138 to hinge at this region, they are provided with
necks
101. The edge cells also have
divisions
102, comprising a heat seal between the top and bottom layers of the cells, on the same
transverse line
103 for the same purpose.
The bottom layer also includes head end
longitudinal cells
137 and
transverse cells
139. Thus there are three groups of
cells
137, 138, 139 and two groups of
edge cells
131, all the groups being disconnectably connected to their neighbors.
The top layer consists of two groups of cells,
transverse leg cells
142 and transverse head and
torso cells
141. The invention is not intended to be restricted to the details of the above described embodiments. In particular, the number of cells shown in
FIGS. 4 to 7
was those in a prototype. The number shown in
FIG. 12
represents a production number, but the total number of cells can vary from mattress to mattress. For instance, the torso portion of the top layer can have 12 or 14 cells and the leg portion can have 5 or 6 cells.

Claims (20)

1. A pneumatic mattress comprising:

a top layer of pneumatic cells and a bottom layer of pneumatic cells,

the cells in each layer being integrated together in two or more groups of one or more cells and

the groups of cells in each layer including:

means disconnectably connecting the groups to each other,

a cover enclosing the layers,

a multi-way umbilical hose for selective supply of air to the groups of cells and

a pneumatic connector for connecting the multi-way umbilical hose to a source of pressure air.

2. A pneumatic mattress according to

claim 1

, wherein the top and bottom layers of pneumatic cells have means for disconnectably connecting the layers.

3. A pneumatic mattress according to

claim 1

, wherein the means for disconnectably connecting the groups and the layers along connection zones, when the said means disconnectably connects the layers, comprises:

strips along cells where the cells extend parallel to the zones or tabs at the ends of cells where the cells extend transverse to the connection zones,

apertures in the strips or tabs and

connecting means connecting the strips at the apertures.

4. A pneumatic mattress according to

claim 3

, wherein the connecting means between complementary pairs of apertures comprises a pair of toggles and an interconnection between the toggles at least within the top layer and between the top layer and the bottom layer.

5. A pneumatic mattress according to

claim 4

, including an additional flap co-extensive with at least some of the strips and covering the toggles.

6. A pneumatic mattress according to

claim 3

, wherein in the bottom layer the disconnectably connecting means comprises:

strips along cells where the cells extend parallel to the zones or tabs at the ends of cells where the cells extend transverse to the connection zones, and

pop fasteners connecting the strips.

7. A pneumatic mattress according to

claim 3

, wherein within a group of cells the tabs are continuous as strips.

8. A pneumatic mattress according to

claim 1

, wherein the cells of the groups in the top layer extend transversely of the length of the mattress.

9. A pneumatic mattress according to

claim 1

, wherein the top layer includes two groups of cells connected at a knee position.

10. A pneumatic mattress according to

claim 9

, wherein the connection at the knee position is substantially level with a bottom surface of the top layer, whereby as the two groups of cells are hinged about the connection, a gap opens at the top surfaces of the groups.

11. A pneumatic mattress according to

claim 1

, wherein at least some of the cells in the groups in the bottom layer extend longitudinally of the mattress.

12. A pneumatic mattress according to

claim 11

, wherein the bottom layer includes edge cells disconnectably connected to cells there between, the edge cells extending longitudinally of the mattress and at least one group of transverse cells between the longitudinal cells.

13. A pneumatic mattress according to

claim 12

, including longitudinal cells at the head and leg ends of the bottom layer between the longitudinal edge cells.

14. A pneumatic mattress according to

claim 13

, wherein longitudinal leg cells are necked or divided to allow bending of the mattress at a knee position.

15. A pneumatic mattress according to

claim 12

, wherein the longitudinal edge cells extend to the ends of the mattress and are turned in at their ends.

16. A pneumatic mattress according to

claim 12

, wherein the edge cells are necked for bending at the knee and hip regions.

17. A pneumatic mattress according to

claim 1

, wherein the cover is an integral portion of either of the layers, or at least integrally connected to one of the groups of cells in one of the layers.

18. A pneumatic mattress according to

claim 1

, wherein the cover is separable from the cells.

19. A pneumatic mattress according to

claim 1

, wherein the cover includes straps extending underneath the bottom layer of cells for lifting of the mattress.

20. A pneumatic mattress according to

claim 4

, wherein in the bottom layer the disconnectably connecting means comprises:

strips along cells where the cells extend parallel to the zones or tabs at the ends of cells where the cells extend transversely to the connection zones, and

pop fasteners connecting the strips.

US13/109,174 2008-11-18 2011-05-17 Pneumatic mattress Abandoned US20110247142A1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Application Number	Priority Date	Filing Date	Title
GBGB0821066.8A GB0821066D0 (en)	2008-11-18	2008-11-18	Pneumatic mattress
GB0821066.8		2008-11-18
PCT/GB2009/002691 WO2010058158A1 (en)	2008-11-18	2009-11-18	Pneumatic mattress

Related Parent Applications (1)

Application Number	Title	Priority Date	Filing Date
PCT/GB2009/002691 Continuation WO2010058158A1 (en)	2008-11-18	2009-11-18	Pneumatic mattress

Publications (1)

Publication Number	Publication Date
US20110247142A1 true US20110247142A1 (en)	2011-10-13

Family

ID=40194816

Family Applications (1)

Application Number	Title	Priority Date	Filing Date
US13/109,174 Abandoned US20110247142A1 (en)	2008-11-18	2011-05-17	Pneumatic mattress