Claims
- 1. An apparatus for use on a siderail of a bed, the apparatus comprising:an air bladder including an interior region configured to receive air from an air supply, an inwardly facing surface configured to be located adjacent a patient located on the bed, and an outwardly facing surface, the inwardly facing surface including an air permeable surface configured to permit a limited amount of air to escape from the air bladder, an air bladder-to-siderail fastener configured to couple the air bladder to a siderail, and a connector configured to couple the air bladder to the air supply.
- 2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the fastener includes at least one strap coupled to the air bladder, the at least one strap being configured to couple the air bladder to the siderail.
- 3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the air permeable surface includes a plurality holes which allow a limited supply of air to escape from the interior region through the inwardly facing surface.
- 4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the connector includes an air inlet connection coupled to the air bladder and a tube having a first end coupled to the air inlet connection and a second end configured to be coupled to the air supply.
- 5. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a leg support air bladder having a bottom surface, a side wall, and a contoured top surface, the top surface of the leg support air bladder having a central elevated portion configured to define first and second spaced apart zones for receiving and separating first and second legs, respectively, of the patient.
- 6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the top surface includes opposite first and second elevated side portions, the central elevated portion being located between the first and second side elevated portions to form first and second recessed portions therebetween for receiving the first and second legs, respectively.
- 7. The apparatus of claim 5, further comprising at least one strap coupled to the bottom surface of the leg support air bladder, the at least one strap being configured to couple the air bladder to a deck of a bed.
- 8. An apparatus for use on a siderail of a bed, the apparatus comprising an air bladder including an air permeable surface configured to permit a limited amount of air to escape from the air bladder, a fastener configured to couple the air bladder to the siderail, a connector configured to couple the air bladder to an air supply, a leg support air bladder having a bottom surface, a side wall, and a contoured top surface, the top surface of the leg support air bladder having a central elevated portion configured to define first and second spaced apart zones for receiving and separating first and second legs, respectively, of the patient, the bed including an articulating deck having a foot section that is movable from a generally horizontal bed position to a generally vertical chair position, the leg support air bladder being coupled to the foot section of the deck and configured to be inflated when the deck is in its horizontal bed position and deflated when the deck is in its generally vertical chair position, and further comprising a cover surrounding the air bladder, and an elastic cord coupled to the cover, the elastic cord being configured to gather the cover and the air bladder toward the foot section of the decks the air bladder is deflated.
- 9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the elastic cord is stretched when the air bladder is inflated and retracted when the air bladder is deflated.
- 10. The apparatus of claim 8, further comprising a dump valve apparatus configured to selectively inflate and deflate the leg support air bladder, the dump valve apparatus including an elongated housing having an interior region extending along a longitudinal axis, the housing having first and second open ends and a central opening located between the first and second open ends, the central opening being configured to be coupled to the leg support air bladder, a mounting portion configured to couple the housing to the foot section so that the longitudinal axis of the housing is aligned at an angle relative to the foot section to position the second end of the housing below the first end of the housing when the foot section is in its generally horizontal bed position, a connector coupled to the first end of the housing to couple the housing to an air supply, and a piston located within the interior region of the housing, the piston being slidable within the interior region of the housing from a first position adjacent the second end of the housing when the foot section is in the generally horizontal bed position to permit air to pass from the air supply into the interior region of the housing, through the central opening, and into the leg support air bladder to inflate the leg support air bladder, the piston also being slidable within the housing to a second position located adjacent the first end of the housing as the foot section moves to its generally vertical chair position so that the piston blocks air flow from the air supply into the first end of the housing, the piston permitting air to pass from the leg support air bladder, through the central opening, and through the open second end of the housing to deflate the leg support air bladder when the piston is in its second position.
- 11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the piston is formed to include a helical groove to provide an air bearing surface on the piston.
- 12. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the mounting portion is formed integrally with the housing.
- 13. A support apparatus comprising:a bed having a frame, a deck coupled to the frame, a support surface located on the deck, and a siderail coupled to the frame; an air supply; and an air bladder coupled to the siderail of the bed, the air bladder also being coupled to the air supply, the bladder including an interior region configured to receive air from the air supply, an inwardly facing surface configured to be located adjacent a patient located on the bed, and an outwardly facing surface, the inwardly facing surface including an air permeable surface configured to permit a limited amount of air to escape from the air bladder.
- 14. The apparatus of claim 13, further comprising a fastener coupled to the air bladder, the fastener being configured to couple the air bladder to the siderail.
- 15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the fastener includes at least one strap coupled to the air bladder.
- 16. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the air bladder includes an air inlet connection coupled to the air bladder and a tube having a first end coupled to the air inlet connection and a second end configured to be coupled to the air supply.
- 17. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the support surface includes a leg support air bladder having a bottom surface, a side wall, and a contoured top surface, the top surface of the leg support air bladder having a central elevated portion configured to define first and second spaced apart zones for receiving and separating first and second legs, respectively, of the patient.
- 18. A support apparatus comprising:a bed having a frame, a deck coupled to the frame, a support surface located on the deck, and a siderail coupled to the frame, the support surface including a leg support air bladder having a bottom surface, a side wall, and a contoured top surface, the top surface of the leg support air bladder having a central elevated portion configured to define first and second spaced apart zones for receiving and separating first and second legs, respectively of the patient; the deck having a foot section that is movable from a generally horizontal bed position to a generally vertical chair position, the leg support air bladder being coupled to the foot section of the deck and configured to be inflated when the deck is in its horizontal bed position and deflated when the deck is in its generally vertical chair position, and further comprising a cover surrounding the leg support air bladder, and an elastic cord coupled to the cover, the elastic cord being configured to gather the cover and the leg support air bladder toward the foot section of the deck as the leg support air bladder is deflated, an air supply, and an air bladder coupled to the siderail of the bed, the air bladder also being coupled to the, air supply, the bladder including an air permeable surface configured to permit a limited amount of air to escape from the air bladder.
- 19. The apparatus of claim 17, further comprising a dump valve apparatus configured to selectively inflate and deflate the leg support air bladder.
- 20. An apparatus for use on a siderail of a bed, the apparatus comprisinga bladder, means for allowing a limited amount of air to escape from the bladder to provide air flow toward a person located on the bed, a bladder-to-siderail fastener configured to couple the bladder to a siderail, and a connector configured to couple the bladder to an air supply.
- 21. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the fastener includes at least one strap coupled to the bladder, the at least one strap being configured to couple the bladder to the siderail.
- 22. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the bladder includes an interior region configured to receive air from the air supply, an inwardly facing surface configured to be located adjacent a patient located on the bed, and an outwardly facing surface, and wherein the means for allowing a limited amount of air to escape from the bladder includes a plurality holes formed in the inwardly facing surface.
- 23. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the connector includes an air inlet connection coupled to the bladder and a tube having a first end coupled to the air inlet connection and a second end configured to be coupled to the air supply.
- 24. An apparatus for use on a siderail of a bed, the apparatus comprising:a bladder, a bladder-to-siderail fastener configured to couple the bladder to the siderail, and a connector configured to couple the bladder to an air supply, the bladder including an interior region configured to receive air from the air supply and a surface configured to be located adjacent a patient located on the bed, the surface being formed to include a plurality holes which allow a limited supply of air to escape from the interior region through the surface.
- 25. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the fastener includes at least one strap coupled to the bladder, the at least one strap being configured to couple the bladder to the siderail.
- 26. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the connector includes an air inlet connection coupled to the bladder and a tube having a first end coupled to the air inlet connection and a second end configured to be coupled to the air supply.
- 27. An apparatus for use on a siderail of a bed, the apparatus comprising:a first air bladder including an interior region configured to receive air from an air supply, an inwardly facing surface configured to be located adjacent a patient located on the bed, and an outwardly facing surface, the inwardly facing surface including an air permeable surface configured to permit a limited amount of air to escape from the air bladder, and means for fastening the first air bladder to a siderail, and a connector configured to couple the first air bladder to the air supply.
- 28. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein the bed includes first and second spaced apart siderails, and the apparatus includes a second air bladder, the first and second air bladders coupled to the first and second siderails, respectively.
- 29. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein the air permeable surface includes a plurality of holes which allow a limited supply of air to escape from the interior region through the inwardly facing surface.
- 30. The apparatus of claim 27, further comprising a leg support air bladder having a bottom surface, a side wall, and a contoured top surface, the top surface of the leg support air bladder having a central elevated portion configured to define first and second spaced apart zones for receiving and separating first and second legs, respectively, of the patient.
- 31. The apparatus of claim 30, wherein the top surface includes opposite first and second elevated side portions, the central elevated portion being located between the first and second side elevated portions to form first and second recessed portions theybetween for receiving the first and second legs, respectively.
- 32. An apparatus for use on a siderail of a bed, the apparatus comprising:a first air bladder including an air permeable surface configured to permit a limited amount of air to escape from the air bladder, means for fastening the first air bladder to a siderail, and a connector configured to couple the first air bladder to an air supply, and a leg support air bladder having a bottom surface, a side wall, and a contoured top surface, the top surface of the leg support air bladder having a central elevated portion configured to define first and second spaced apart zones for receiving and separating first and second legs, respectively, of the patient, the bed including an articulating deck having a foot section that is movable from a generally horizontal bed position to a generally vertical chair position, the leg support air bladder being coupled to the foot section of the deck and configured to be inflated when the deck is in its horizontal bed position and deflated when the deck is in its generally vertical chair position, and further comprising a cover surrounding the leg support air bladder, and an elastic cord coupled to the cover, the elastic cord being configured to gather the cover and the leg support air bladder toward the foot section of the deck as the leg support air bladder is deflated.
- 33. An apparatus for use on a patient support, the apparatus comprising:a first cushion positioned on a deck of a patient support and a first air bladder coupled to a siderail of the patient support, the first air bladder including an interior region configured to receive air from an air supply, an inwardly facing surface configured to be located adjacent a patient located on the bed, and an outwardly facing surface, the inwardly facing surface including an air permeable surface configured to permit a limited amount of air to escape from the first air bladder.
- 34. The apparatus of claim 33, wherein the bed includes first and second spaced apart siderails, and a second air bladder, first and second air bladders coupled to the first and second siderails, respectively.
- 35. The apparatus of claim 33, wherein the a plurality of holes which allow the limited amount of air to escape from the interior region through the inwardly facing surface.
- 36. The apparatus of claim 33, further comprising a leg support air bladder having a bottom surface, a side wall, and a contoured top surface, the top surface of the leg support air bladder having a central elevated portion configured to define first and second spaced apart zones for receiving and separating first and second legs, respectively, of the patient.
- 37. The apparatus of claim 36, wherein the top surface includes opposite first and second elevated side portions, the central elevated portion being located between the first and second side elevated portions to form first and second recessed portions therebetween for receiving the first and second legs, respectively.
- 38. An apparatus for use on a patient support, the apparatus comprising:a first cushion positioned on a deck of a patient support, a first air bladder coupled to a siderail of the patient support, the first air bladder including an air permeable surface configured to permit a limited amount of air to escape from the first air bladder, a leg support air bladder having a bottom surface, a side wall, and a contoured top surface, the top surface of the leg support air bladder having a central elevated portion configured to define first and second spaced apart zones for receiving and separating first and second legs, respectively, of the patient, and an articulating deck having a foot section that is movable from a generally horizontal bed position to a generally vertical chair position, the leg support air bladder being coupled to the foot section of the deck and configured to be inflated when the deck is in its horizontal bed position and deflated when the deck is in its generally vertical chair position, and further comprising a cover surrounding the leg support air bladder, and an elastic cord coupled to the cover, the elastic cord being configured to gather the cover and the leg support air bladder toward the foot section of the deck as the leg support air bladder is deflated.
Parent Case Info
This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 09/266,959, filed Mar. 12, 1999, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,141,806, which is a divisional of U.S. application Ser. No. 08/883,516, filed Jun. 26, 1997, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,894,966.
US Referenced Citations (49)
Continuations (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
09/266959 |
Mar 1999 |
US |
Child |
09/669705 |
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US |