Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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TITLE OF THE INVENTION
SECURITY COVER
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to security devices
adaptable to hospital beds or other beds. More particularly, the present
invention relates to an apparatus for preventing a person lying on a bed
from falling off the bed.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART
In hospitals, nursing homes and the like, it is widely
known that it may become necessary, for various reasons, to use an
apparatus for preventing a person lying on a bed from falling off the bed
during periods when the patient is unsupervised.
For example, if a patient is agitated in his sleep, he may
fall off the bed, perhaps inflicting serious injuries upon himself. In
hospitals, it is common for hospital workers to pull up rails mounted on the
sides of hospital beds to prevent patients from rolling off the bed. In most
cases where the patient is not overly agitated, the use of such side rails
is generally satisfactory. However, if the patient becomes quite agitated
or confused, the patient may easily climb over the side rails and
subsequently injure himself.
Similar circumstances occur when hospital bed side rails
will be insufficient to protect patients who become aggressive, very
agitated, delirious, or who purposely attempts to climb over the side rails
and off the bed. Again, it is possible for the patient to seriously injure
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himself by falling off the bed or side rails. In many cases, the hospital
staff have resorted to restraining patients by attaching their wrists and
ankles to the side rails using specially designed restraint straps. While
this procedure will generally prevent the patient from falling off the bed,
it also has many disadvantage. Firstly, it is not visually pleasing, for
example for visiting loved ones, to see a patient physically restrained to
a bed. Secondly, the patient may become uncomfortable and will be
unable to change his position on the bed, resulting in perhaps long
periods of discomfort and perhaps bruising of the patient. Thirdly, the
restraint straps used to attach the wrists and ankles of the patient are
generally difficult to clean. Finally, the extent of time and effort necessary
for hospital staff to install and remove the physical restraints is also a
disadvantage.
There is therefore clearly a need for an improved
apparatus for preventing a person lying on a bed from falling off the bed.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
An object of the present invention is therefore to provide
an improved apparatus for preventing a person lying on a bed from falling
off the bed. The novel apparatus being free from the above discussed
limitations and drawbacks identified in the prior art.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
More specifically, in accordance with the present
invention, there is provided a security cover apparatus for use in
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preventing a person lying on a bed from falling off the bed, the bed being
of the type having a mattress mounted on a mattress support including
two opposite longitudinal sides, the security cover apparatus comprising:
a pair of apertured hooking elements mounted to each
longitudinal side of the mattress support;
a pair of flexible lines each having respective first and
second ends provided with hooks; each flexible line being removably
extendable along one longitudinal side of the mattress support between
the apertured hooking elements and secured in place by the passage of
10- each hook in one of the apertured hooking elements;
a security cover having opposite longitudinal sides and
made of a sturdy material; the security cover including a plurality of
securing loop elements mounted to each longitudinal sides thereof; the
securing loop elements being adapted to be slidably traversed by the
flexible line; the security cover further including fastening loop elements
mounted to the longitudinal sides thereof; the fastening loop elements
being removably mountable to one of the (i) hook of the flexible line and
(ii) the hooking elements whereby:
a) the security loop elements allow the cover to be
releasably mounted to the mattress support to
thereby form, with the mattress, an enclosed
space around the person lying on the bed
thereby preventing the person from falling off the
bed; and
b) the fastening loop elements prevent unintentional
sliding of the securing loop elements on the
flexible lines.
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In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the
present invention, there is provided a security cover apparatus for use in
preventing a person lying on a bed from falling off the bed, the bed being
the type having a mattress mounted on a mattress support including two
opposite longitudinal sides, the security cover apparatus comprising:
a pair of rigid posts mounted to each longitudinal side
of the mattress support; each rigid post being mounted on an individual
bracket; the brackets being secured to the mattress support two-by-two
by means of a band of elastically deformable material; each post
including a ring-shaped head;
a pair of flexible lines each having respective first and
second ends provided with hooks adapted to cooperate with the ring-
shaped heads of the rigid posts; each flexible line being removably
extendable along on side of the mattress support between the rigid posts
and secured in place by the passage of each hook in one of the ring-
shaped head of the rigid posts;
a security cover having opposite longitudinal sides and
made of a sturdy material; the security cover including a plurality of
securing loop elements disposed along the longitudinal sides of the cover,
the loop elements being adapted to be slidably traversed by the flexible
line; the security cover further including fastening loop elements mounted
to the longitudinal sides thereof; the fastening loop elements being
removably mountable to the hooks of the flexible line;
whereby (a) the securing loop elements allow the cover
to be releasably mounted to the mattress support to thereby form, with
the mattress, an enclosed space around the person lying on the bed
thereby preventing the person from falling off the bed, and (b) the
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fastening loop elements prevent unintentional sliding of the securing loop
elements on the flexible lines.
In another aspect, the present invention is concerned
5 with a kit of parts for forming a security cover apparatus for use in
preventing a person lying on a bed from falling off the bed, the bed being
the type having a mattress mounted on a mattress support including two
opposite longitudinal sides, the kit of parts comprising the following parts:
a pair of rigid posts mounted to each longitudinal sides
of the mattress support; each rigid post being mounted on an individual
bracket; the brackets being secured to the mattress support two-by-two
by means of a band of elastically deformable material; each post
including a ring-shaped head;
a pair of flexible lines each having respective first and
second ends provided with hooks adapted to cooperate with the ring-
shaped heads of the rigid posts; each flexible line being removably
extendable along on side of the mattress support between the rigid posts
and secured in place by the passage of each hook in one of the ring-
shaped head of the rigid posts;
a security cover having opposite longitudinal sides and
made of a sturdy material; the security cover including a plurality of
securing loop elements disposed along the longitudinal sides of the cover,
the loop elements being adapted to be slidably traversed by the flexible
line: the security cover further including fastening loop elements mounted
to the longitudinal sides thereof: the fastening loop elements being
removably mountable to the hooks of the flexible line;
whereby (a) the securing loop elements allow the
security cover to be releasably mounted to the mattress support to
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thereby form, with the mattress, an enclosed space around the person
lying on the bed thereby preventing the person from falling off the bed,
and (b) the fastening loop elements prevent unintentional sliding of the
security loop elements on the flexible lines.
Other objects, advantages and other features of the
present invention will become more apparent upon reading of the
following non restrictive description of preferred embodiments thereof,
given by way of example only with reference to the accompanying
drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
In the appended drawings:
Figure 1 illustrates a perspective view of a first
embodiment of the apparatus for preventing a person from falling from a
bed according to the present invention;
Figure 2 illustrates a perspective view of the
embodiment of Figure 1 with the cover installed in its operating position;
Figure 3 illustrates a post and a line according to the first
embodiment of the present invention;
Figure 4 illustrates a hook according to the first
embodiment of the present invention;
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Figure 5 illustrates a post and a line according to a
second embodiment of the present invention;
Figure 6 illustrates a hook according to the second
embodiment of the present invention;
Figure 7 illustrates a third embodiment of the apparatus
preventing a person from falling from a bed according to the present
invention;
Figure 8 illustrates a post according to the third
embodiment of the present invention; and
Figure 9 illustrates a loop according to the third
embodiment of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Referring now to Figures 1 to 4, a first embodiment of an
apparatus for preventing a person from falling from a bed according to the
present invention will be described.
The apparatus comprises a cover 10 which can be
removably secured to the sides 12 and 14 of a mattress support 16. The
mattress support 16 is conventionally used to support a mattress 18. The
cover 10 includes a plurality of snap hooks 20 mounted to the sides of the
cover 10.
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The cover 10 is advantageously made of a flexible and
sturdy material such as canvas, tarpaulin, or the like.
Referring to Figure 4, the snap hooks 20 comprise a
conventional snap hook portion 22 and a fastening ring 24. The fastening
ring 24 is fixedly mounted to the cover 10 through a flexible link 32
advantageously made of a material comparable to the material forming
the cover 10.
Returning to Figure 1, the apparatus also includes a line
34 on each sides 12, 14 of the mattress support 16 (only one shown).
The line 34 is mounted to the side 12 through two posts 36 and 38, fixedly
mounted to the mattress support 16. Figure 3 illustrates post 38 which
includes a circularly shaped head 40 and an externally threaded shank
42. The side 12 of the mattress support 16 comprises an aperture 44
sized to allow the introduction of the shank 42. A nut (not shown) is used
to fasten the post 38 in place when it is fully inserted in the aperture 44.
As illustrated, the line 34 forms a loop 30 at its end to thereby allow the
line 34 to be traversed by the shank 42 prior to the insertion of the shank
42 into aperture 44, thereby attaching the line 34 to the side 12 through
the post 38.
The line 34 is therefore fixedly mounted to the side 12
of the mattress support 16. As illustrated in Figure 1, the length of the
line 34 is such that when it is extended between the two posts 36 and 38,
it is moderately tight.
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As illustrated in Figure 2, the snap hooks 20 may be
secured to the line 34. More specifically, the line 34 may be introduced
in the snap hooks 20 through the unbiasing of a spring 28 closing the
opening of the snap hook 20.
It is to be noted that the line 34 has a diameter such that
it allows the snap hooks 20 to longitudinally slide onto the line 34 after
they are traversed by the line 34.
The cover 10 and the sides of the mattress support 16
also comprise cooperating loops and hooks type fasteners, the function
of which will be explained hereinafter. A male part 50 is mounted to the
cover 10 while a female part 52 is mounted to the side 12 of the mattress
support 16.
In operation, when a person needs to be maintained in
a bed so that there are no risks that the person falls off, the cover 10 is
placed over the person and the snap hooks 20 are engaged to the line
34. The last step is to engage the fastener 50 to the fastener 52 so as to
prevent the sliding of the cover 10 onto the line 34.
Another way of performing the operation is to engage
the snap hooks 20 to the line 34 beforehand, slide the cover 10 toward
the foot end 46 of the mattress support 16, place the person on the bed
and then slide the cover 10 toward a head end 48 of the mattress support
16. Again, the last step is to engage the fastener 50 to the fastener 52
so as to prevent the sliding of the cover 10 toward the foot end 46 onto
the line 34.
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A second embodiment of the present invention will now
be described with references to Figures 5 and 6 which illustrate the
differences between the second embodiment and the first embodiment.
5 Figure 5 illustrates a post 54 having a ring-shaped head
56 mounted on an externally threaded shank 58. The side 12 of the
mattress support 16 includes an internally threaded aperture 60
corresponding to the threaded shank 58. Therefore, the post 54 may be
manually screwed into the aperture 60 of the side 12.
Also illustrated in Figure 5 is an end of the line 34 to
which is mounted a conventional snap hook 62. The snap hook 62 may
releasably be connected to the ring-shaped head of the post 54.
Therefore, since a second post similar to post 54 is mounted to the side
12 of the mattress support 16 (see Figures 1 and 2), the line 34 may be
releasably extended substantially parallel to the side 12 of the mattress
support 16. Of course, the side 14 of the mattress support 16 is also
provided with a line, similar to line 34, releasably extended between two
posts, similar to post 54.
Figure 6 illustrates a loop 64 which replaces the snap
hook 20 illustrated in Figure 4. Of course, many loops 64 are provided on
each sides of the cover 10.
The loop 64 is advantageously made of a material
similar to the material forming the cover 10. Therefore, the cover 10 may
be easily washed since it is entirely made of fabric material.
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Since the line 34 may be removed from the posts 54, the
installation of the cover 10 to the line 34 may be done by detaching one
end of the line 34 from its post 54, slipping the loops 64 on the line 34,
and to attach the snap hook 62 to the post 54.
Also illustrated in Figure 6 is a second fastening loop 66
replacing the cooperating loops and hooks type fasteners 50,52 illustrated
in Figures 1 and 2. Indeed, the fastening loop 66 may be inserted in the
snap hook 62, thereby preventing the sliding of the cover 10 onto the line
34.
Referring now to Figures 7 to 9, a third embodiment of
the present invention will be described. The third embodiment is very
similar to the second embodiment. The major difference is that in the
third embodiment, it is not necessary to make modifications to the
mattress support 16. Indeed, to install the posts 38 and 54 of the first and
second embodiments, respectively, it is necessary to provide the sides 12
and 14 of the mattress support 16 with apertures necessary to attach the
posts 38 or 54.
As illustrated in Figure 8, a ring-shaped post 68 is fixedly
mounted to a U-shaped bracket 70. The bracket 70 is dimensionned to
be mountable to the side 12 of the mattress support 16. A band of
elastically deformable material 72 is used to connect two brackets 70
together (see Figure 7). The length of the band 72 is somewhat smaller
than the width of the mattress support 16. Therefore, it is necessary to
elastically deform the band 72 to install it to the mattress support 16. This
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deformation of the band 72 ensure an essentially stable position of the
brackets 70 with respect to the mattress support 16.
Figure 9 illustrates a loop 64 slidably secured to the line
34, and a fastening loop 66 fastened to the snap hook 62. Therefore, the
cover 10 is maintained in a predetermined position with respect to the
mattress support 16 since the cover 10 cannot slide onto line 34.
Although the present invention has been
described hereinabove by way of preferred embodiments thereof, these
embodiments can be modified at will, within the scope of the appended
claims, without departing from the spirit and nature of the subject
invention.
