Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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~ackqround of the Invention
Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an improved draw sheet for
bedding, and more particularly, but not by way of limitation, to
an improved draw ~heet having a removable and launderable water-
absorbent pad attached thereto.
DescriPtion of the Prior art
Many various combinations of bedding have been utilized in
hospitals and the like to prevent water and other fluids deposited
on the bedding from penetrating and causing damage to mattresses,
etc. For example, rubber, plastic and other waterproof materials
in the form of sheets have been utilized over the mattres~ beneath
textile ~heets or other bedding materials. While such waterproof
sheets successfully prevent water and other fluids from reaching
the mattress, they cause considerable discomfort to the person
or patient disposed on the bedding due to the poor heat transfer
characteristics of such materials. That i~, heat and moisture
generated by the patient are retained adjacent the patient's body
causing considerable discomfort, particularly when such patient
is required to remain on the bedding for long period~ of time.
In addition, the textile sheets and other bedding materials placed
on top of such waterproof sheets must be laundered frequently.
Recently, disposable water-abosrbent pads have been developed
and used which are formed of relatively thick water-ab~orbent
materials and which have a waterproof base formed of a plastic
material 3uch as polyethylene. In use, such water-absorbent pads
are placed on top of the bedding directly beneath the patient
disposed on the bedding whereby the pad can be replaced and dis-
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oosed of when required without the nece~sity of changing and
laundering textile sheets and other bedding materials utilized
on the bed. While the frequent change of such disposable water-
absorbent pads can prevent ~ubstantial discomfort to the patient,
the w~e of ~uch pads in many ca~es i~ ineffective in that they
readily become dislodged from beneath the patient or otherwise
allow fluids to reach the bedding resulting in the requirement
that the bedding be changed. More importantly, the use of such
disposable pads involves a considerable expense in that the pads
are not reusable.
In addition to the foregoing, a variety of water penetration-
resistant draw sheets have been developed and used, some of which
have relatively good heat transfer characteristics and thereby
obviate patient discomfort, but all of which must be changed and
laundered on a frequent basi~ in order to prevent the accumulation
of fluids directly beneath the patient.
By the present invention an improved bedding draw sheet is
provided which can be utilized directly beneath a patient on top
of other bedding materials, which prevents the penetration of
water and other fluids into the bedding materials, which has good
heat transfer characteristics, and which includes a removable
water-absorbent pad portion which can be changed and laundered
when required without changing and laundering the entire draw
; sheet or other bedding materials associated thereWith.
Summarv of the Invention
The present invention relates to an improved draw sheet for
bedding which comprises a base sheet formed of textile materials,
a panel bonded to the base sheet formed of a fine weave textile
104~
material having water penetration-resistant characteristics, a
water-ab~orbent pad positioned adjacent the panel and means for
remo~ably attaching the water-ab~orbent pad connected to the pad
and the panel.
It is, therefore, a general object of the present invention
to provide an improved bedding draw sheet.
A further object of the present invention is the provision
of a bedding draw sheet which prevents the penetration of water
and other fluids into the bedding material lying beneath the
draw sheet, but still has good heat transfer characteristics.
Yet a further object of the present invention is the pro-
vision of an improved draw sheet which includes a water-absorbent
portion which can be replaced and laundered at freguent intervals
without the necessity of changing and laundering the entire draw
5heet or other bedding materials associated therewith.
Other and further objects, features and advantages of the
invention will be readily apparent from a reading of the
description of preferred embodiments which follows when taken in
conjunction with the accompanying drawing.
Brief Description of the Drawinq
Figure 1 is a perspective view of a bed having the improvea
draw sheet of the present invention installed thereon.
Figure 2 is a top view of the improved draw sheet of this
invention.
FigUre 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 3-3 of
Figure 2.
DescriPtion of Preferred Embodiments
Referring now ts the drawing, and particularly to Figure 1,
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104617Z
a bed generally designated by the numeral 10 is illustrated. The
bed 10 is comprised of the usual box springs or equivalent means
12 having a mattre~s 14 disposed thereon. Positioned on top of
the mattress 14 is the usual textile sheet 16 upon which a per-
son dlsposed on the bed lies. As will be understood, any number
of other conventional bedding materials, such as mattress covers,
etc., can be utilized between the sheet 16 and mattress 14. The
customary pillow 18 upon which a person disposed on the bed places
his head i8 shown at one end of the bed 10. The improved draw
sheet of the present invention, generally designated by the numeral
20, is po~itioned on top of the sheet 16 at a point substantially
intermediate the ends of the bed 10.
The draw sheet 20 can take a variety of forms, e.g., the
form illustrated whereby it cover~ only an intermediate portion
of the sheet 16 and mattress 14, or the draw sheet 20 can be of
the same size as the textile sheet 16. In a preferred embodiment,
the draw sheet 20 is rectangular in shape having a length such
that the end portions 22 and 24 thereof can be disposed around
the sides of the mattress 14 and tucked therebeneath, and a width
such ~hat when disposea on the bed 10 as illustrated in Figure 1,
the portion of the bed 10 and bedding materials lying beneath the
intermediate portion of a patient's body disposed on the bed are
covered thereby. As best shown in Figure 3, the improved draw
sheet 20 includes a base portion or sheet 26 which can be formed
from any of a variety of conventional launderable textile
materials of the type generally utilized for bedding, i.e., tex-
tile materials or fabrics which have good heat transfer and com-
fort characteristics as well as good launderability such as 50%
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10~6172
cotton-50% polye~ter textile materials. A panel 28 formed of a
textile material or fabric having water penetration resistance,
but ~till having good heat transfer characteristics and launder-
abil~ty i8 po~ltioned adjacent and bonded to the top ~urface of
the base sheet 26. While the paneI 28 can be of the same shape
and æize as the base ~heet 26, it is preferably of rectangular
shape and of reduced size as compared to the base sheet 26. That
is, the panel 28 is of a smaller size than the base sheet 26 but
of a length and width such that the area of the bed 10 which
normally lies beneath the intermediate portion of a patient's
body disposed on the bed 10 is covered thereby.
The panel 28 is bonded to the base sheet 26 in a manner
such that the base sheet 26 and panel 28 retain their flexibility,
launderability and good heat transfer characteristic~. Thi~ is
accomplished in accordance with the present invention by inter-
posing between the base sheet 26 and the panel 28 a thin layer
30 of a binder which upon setting is flexible and adheres to the -
surfaces of the textile materials 26 and 28 for long period~ of
time without degradation from the subjection to moisture and high
temperatures associated with the laundry of the draw sheet 20.
A particularly preferre~ binder for use in accordance with the
present invention is a thermally settable plastic ha~ing char-
acteristics such that it is impervious to contact with acid or
alkaline fluids and high temperatures. The most preferred such
thermalplastic is polyethylene.
As stated above, the panel 28 is preferably formed of a
water-resistant textile material having good flexibility and heat
transfer characteristics. Suitable such materials are finely
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woven fabrics formed of cotton and/or synthetic fibers. A
particularly suitable fabric which i8 presently preferred for
use in accordance with the present invention i~ a cotton fabric
having a thread count in the range of from about 264 threads per
inch to about 280 threads per inch.
Po~itioned on top of the panel 28 is a pad 32 formed of
water-absorbent materials having good comfort and heat transfer
characteristics as well as good launderability. Preferably, the
pad 32 is formed of a soft commercially available felt material
having high water-absorbing properties. While the pad 32 can
take a variety of shapes, it is preferably rectangular and of a
size corre~ponding to the panel 28.
The pad 32 is removably attached to the panel 28 so that it
is retained over the panel 28 during use of the draw sheet 20.
Any of a variety of fastening methods or connector and fastener
devices ~an be utilized 80 long as the pad 32 remains relatively
flat whereby discomfort is not caused a patient lying thereon.
Particularly suitable means for removably attaching the pad 32 to
the panel 28 comprise a pair of elongated strips of material 32
to which felt adheres stitched or otherwise connected to opposite
ends of the panel 28 positioned parallel to the sides of the bed
10. A particularly preferred such adhesive material which with-
stands repeated laundering, etc., is marketed under the trade
name VELCRO and includes a plurality of upwardly extending plastic
barbed fingers which readily engage felt and other similar
materials.
Operation
In operation or use of the improved draw sheet 20 of the
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104~;1'72
present invention, the draw sheet is placed on top of other
bedding used on a bed and positioned so that the wator-absorbent
pad 32 and panel 28 lie beneath the intermediate portion of the
pati~nt's body occupying the bed. At intervals when the water-
absorbent pad 32 bocomes saturated with fluid or otherwise ~oiled,
the pad 32 is detached from the draw sheet 20 and replaced with
a fre~h, laundered pad. Because the panel 28 beneath the pad 32
resists penetration by water, it is unnecessary to change the
entire draw sheet 20 each time the water-absorbent pad 32 i9 .
changed. If the pad 32 becomes saturated with fluids prior to
changing, and as a result, excess fluids accumulate on the panel
28, such excess fluids can simply be toweled up prior to installing
a fresh and dry pad 32 thereon.
The draw sheet 20 has principal utility for u~e in hospitals
and the like where it i~ subjected to frequent deposits of water
and other fluids. In such applications, the water-absorbent pad
32 can be changed frequently and laundered without the necessity
of changing the entire draw sheet 20 or any of the other bedding
materials utilized therebeneath in a fast, efficient manner. In
addition, because the water-absorbent pad 32 as well as the en-
tire draw sheet 20 are launderableO they can be subjected to
repeated use over long periods of time while retaining good heat
transfer and other health and comfort characteristics.
As will be understood by those skilled in the art, the draw
sheet of the present invention and the component parts thereof
can take any of a variety of shapes and sizes and various textile
materials can be utilized. For example, the panel 28 can be con-
tiguous with the base sheet 26 and/or the base sheet 26 and panel
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~04~7Z
28 can be formed of the same or different fabrics. Such sizes,
shapes and materials will suggest themselves to those skilled in
the art upon a reading of the foregoing description of the inven-
tion, a~ will change~ in the arrangement of the various components
of the invention, which are within the spirit of this invention
as defined by the lawful scope of the appended claims.
