Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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BED COVER
This disclosure relates to the field of bedding and in particular a waterproof
cover for a
bed used in patient care facilities.
BACKGROUND
Patient in care facilities such as hospitals, nursing homes, convalescent
homes, and the
like often have serious mobility issues with little ability to move
themselves, and many
are incontinent as well. The beds used in such facilities typically include
numerous
different coverings serving to confine solid and liquid waste, as well as to
facilitate
moving the patient.
For example the coverings typically include a waterproof mattress cover, a
cloth sheet
over the mattress cover, a slider drape of slippery fabric material that
allows the care staff
to grasp the slider sheet to pull the patient across the cloth sheet and roll
the patient to
place the patient in different positions to reduce bed sores and the like. An
incontinence
pad of absorbent fabric is then laid on top of the slider sheet. Where
mobility issues are
serious and the patient is heavy, a sling may also be laid under the patient
to allow a
mobile crane to be attached to lift and reposition the patient into a wheel
chair or the like.
The incontinence pad, slider drape, and cloth sheet require almost daily
laundering. This
laundering is costly both in terms of laundry costs themselves, and in labor
costs for
changing the bed coverings. Further, the various coverings often become
wrinkled and
bunched under the patient causing pressure points and resultant discomfort and
sores.
Mattress systems to address incontinence are disclosed for example in United
States
Patent Numbers 5,675,854 to Zibelin and 4,752,293 to Smith. Mattress slings
arc
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disclosed in United States Patent Application Number 2003/0192118 of
Carbonneau et al.
and in United States Patent Number 8,566,977 to Davis.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present disclosure provides a mattress cover assembly that overcomes
problems in
the prior art.
The present disclosure provides a mattress cover assembly for covering a
mattress. The
assembly comprises a waterproof sheet with a bottom surface that is configured
to slide
readily across a mattress surface on which same is spread, and the waterproof
sheet is
configured to cover the mattress surface and to extend downward along right
and left
sides of the mattress. An incontinence pad is fastened to a middle portion of
a top surface
of the waterproof sheet, and a plurality of loops are spaced about a perimeter
of the
waterproof sheet.
The mattress cover assembly prevents soiling of the mattress and allows for
the patient to
be maneuvered by sliding readily along the mattress. Ready hookup to a patient
hoist is
provided by the loops. Fastening the incontinence pad to the waterproof sheet
reduces
wrinkling and allows wrinkles to be readily pulled tight when they occur,
enhancing
patient comfort and reducing sores. The entire assembly can be easily and
quickly
removed as a single unit and replaced with a fresh one when laundering is
required.
Laundering costs are reduced as the assembly replaces the conventional sheet,
slider
drape, and incontinence pad such that fewer items must be laundered. Labor
costs are
reduced as well since it takes less time to remove and replace the assembly
than to
remove and replace the conventional numerous separate items. Patient comfort
is further
enhanced since each bed equipped with the assembly also conveniently includes
a patient
sling, such that necessary repositioning is accomplished easily by care
personnel and with
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reduced discomfort to the patient, since it is not necessary to position a
conventional sling
under the patient to accomplish the task.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
While the invention is claimed in the concluding portions hereof, preferred
embodiments
are provided in the accompanying detailed description which may be best
understood in
conjunction with the accompanying diagrams where like parts in each of the
several
diagrams are labeled with like numbers, and where:
Fig. 1 is a schematic top view of a mattress supported on a bed frame, with an
embodiment of a mattress cover assembly of the present disclosure beside the
mattress;
Fig. 2 is a schematic top view of the mattress cover assembly of Fig. 1
installed on the
mattress of Fig. 1;
Fig. 3 is a schematic side view of the mattress cover assembly of Fig. 1
installed on the
mattress of Fig. 1;
70 Fig. 4 is a schematic sectional end view of the mattress cover assembly
of Fig. I
installed on the mattress of Fig. 1.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENTS
Figs. I - 4 schematically illustrate an embodiment of a mattress cover
assembly 1 of the
present disclosure for covering a mattress 3 shown supported on a mattress
frame 5 as
would be typical of a bed used in a care facility. The assembly 1 comprises a
waterproof
sheet 7 with a bottom surface 7A that is configured to slide readily across a
mattress
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surface 9 on which the waterproof sheet 7 is spread. The waterproof sheet 7 is
configured to cover the mattress surface 9 and to extend downward along right
and left
sides of the mattress 3 as schematically illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4.
The waterproof sheet 7 is conveniently provided by a polyurethane laminate
fabric with a
shiny laminate layer bonded to a knit layer. The shiny laminate layer provides
the bottom
surface 7A and the knit layer provides the top surface 78. Such fabric is
breathable
allowing air to pass through the fabric, enhancing patient comfort.
An incontinence pad 11 is fastened to a middle portion of the top surface 78
of the
waterproof sheet 7. The incontinence pad 1.1 is typically fastened to the top
surface of
the waterproof sheet by stitches 13 as schematically illustrated in Fig. 4.
Such stitches 13
using a conventional thread provide a smooth soft fastening which will not
irritate the
patient.. Adhesives may also be used but using stitches 13 allows the
incontinence pad 11
to be removed and replaced when stained by simply cutting the stitches 13 and
sewing a
new incontinence pad 13 to the waterproof sheet 7. The incontinence pad 11 can
be
made from a soft absorbent fabric such as bamboo.
In the illustrated assembly 1 the waterproof sheet 7 has upper and lower edges
7C, 7D for
arranging at corresponding upper and lower ends 3C, 3D of the mattress 3 and
right and
left side edges 7E, 7F. The incontinence pad ii covers the middle portion of
the
waterproof sheet 7 from the upper edge 7C thereof to the lower edge 7D
thereof, such
that when placed on the mattress as shown in Fig. 2, the incontinence pad 11
covers the
mattress 3 from top to bottom providing a continuous comfortable resting
surface for the
patient. The side edges 7E, 7F of the waterproof sheet 7 may be tucked in
under the
mattress 3 to secure same to avoid wrinkling, and if wrinkles do occur, care
persons can
easily pull the waterproof sheet 7 tight again as the bottom surface 7A
thereof slides
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easily across the surface of' the mattress 3. The mattress 3 may be covered
with a sheet or
the like, however the shiny slippery bottom surface 7A will slide readily
across it.
A number of loops 15 are spaced about the perimeter of the waterproof sheet 7
to provide
a convenient location for attachment of a hoist such as is commonly used to
lift patients.
In the illustrated assembly I, a pair of loops 15 is provided adjacent to the
upper and
lower edges 7C, 7D on each of the right and left side edges 7E, 7F of the
waterproof
sheet 7, and each of the four straps from a patient hoist can be connected to
each pair,
providing substantial support for the patient along the sides of the
waterproof sheet 7.
The mattress cover assembly 1 prevents soiling of the mattress, allows for the
patient to
be maneuvered by sliding along the mattress 3, and provides ready hookup to a
patient
hoist. The incontinence pad 11 fastened to the waterproof sheet 7 resists
wrinkling and
allows wrinkles to be readily pulled tight when they occur. The entire
assembly 1 can he
easily and quickly removed and replaced with a fresh assembly 1 when the
assembly 1
requires laundering. Laundering costs are reduced as the assembly 1 replaces
the
conventional sheet, slider drape, and incontinence pad such that fewer items
must be
laundered. Labor costs are reduced as well since it takes less time to remove
and replace
the assembly 1 than to remove and replace the conventional numerous separate
items.
Each bed equipped with the assembly I also conveniently includes a patient
sling, such
that necessary repositioning is accomplished easily by care personnel and with
reduced
discomfort to the patient, since it is not necessary to position a
conventional sting under
the patient to accomplish the task.
The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the
invention.
Further, since numerous changes and modifications will readily occur to those
skilled in
the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction
and operation
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shown and described, and accordingly, all such suitable changes or
modifications in
structure or operation which may be resorted to are intended to fall within
the scope of
the claimed invention.
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