PROTECTIVE PADDING SYSTEM

Abstract

A simple, convenient, contaminant-resistant padding system for adding protective padding to a wide variety of hospital operating room and non-hospital related equipment is disclosed. The padding system includes an anchor having a first surface configured to be affixed to a mounting surface of an object to be protected and a second surface. The anchor also includes a protruding element formed on the second surface. The protruding element extends outward from the second surface. The system also includes a pad having a deformable recess configured to form-fit over the protruding element to hold the pad in place adjacent the mounting surface of the object to be protected. In various embodiments, the protruding element consists of one of the following shapes: hook-shaped, round, ball, oval, square, or rectangular. The deformable recess in the pad has a complementary shape. In various other embodiments, the pads can be shaped to fit over and protect one or multiple sides of an object to be protected.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention is described herein with reference to the following drawings:

FIG. 1 shows a cross-sectional view of an anchor and a pad of the padding system of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is another cross-sectional view of the pad retained by the anchor and mounted onto a surface of an object to be protected according to the present invention.

FIGS. 3A through 3C illustrate various pad shapes according to the present invention.

FIGS. 4A through 4C illustrates various arrangements of anchors used to secure the pads to different surfaces of the objects to be protected according to various embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 5A is a diagram of a pad used for a video display monitor and

FIG. 5B is a diagram of a medical boom using the pad of the present invention on video display monitors according to one application of the pad system of the present invention.

Claims

1. A padding system, comprising: an anchor having a first surface intended to be affixed to a mounting surface of an object to be protected and a second surface;a protruding element formed on the second surface of the anchor, the protruding element extending outward from the second surface; anda pad having a deformable recess configured to form-fit over the protruding element to hold the pad in place adjacent the mounting surface of the object to be protected when the anchor is affixed to the mounting surface.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the pad is made of a resilient material.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the anchor and the protruding element are made from a unitary molded inert material.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the inert material comprises polyethylene.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the anchor further includes a plurality of the protruding elements.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the pad includes a plurality of the deformable recesses configured to form-fit over the plurality of protruding elements of the anchor respectively.

7. The system of claim 1, further comprising an affixing element configured to affix the anchor to the mounting surface, the affixing element consisting of one of the following: an adhesive, tape, double-sided adhesive tape, screws, nails, bolts or other fasteners.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the pad consists of one of the following types of a soft or resilient material.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the pad includes a cleanable surface.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the pad consists of one of the following shapes: rectangular, square, round, oval, straight, curved, L-shaped, multi-sided or curved.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the pad further comprises a deformable edge that forms a seal with the mounting surface when the pad is form-fitted over the anchor.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein one or more of the anchors are configured to be affixed to one or more mounting surfaces on the object to be protected.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the pad is intended to protect the one or more mounting surfaces on the object to be protected.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein the protruding element consists of one of the following shapes: hook-shaped, round, ball, oval, square, or rectangular.

15. A method, comprising: affixing an anchor having a protruding element to a mounting surface to be protected; andinstalling a protective pad over the mounting surface to be protected by form-fitting a deformable recess in the pad over the protruding element of the anchor.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising forming a seal between the pad and the surface to be protected with a compressible edge on the pad.

17. The method of claim 15, further comprising periodically cleaning the protective pad when installed over the mounting surface to be protected.

18. The method of claim 15, further comprising periodically replacing the protective pad with a new protective pad when appropriate.

19. The method of claim 15, wherein the installing the protective pad further comprises one or more of the following: installing the protective pad over adjacent sides of an edge surface of the object to be protected; orinstalling the protective pad over a corner of the object to be protected.