Patient underpad

Claim 2

A patient underpad, as set forth in claim 2, wherein said top layer is formed of expanded polystyrene.

Claim 3

A patient underpad, as set forth in claim 1, wherein said top layer has spaced apart parallel rows of lozenge-like openings, with openings in alternate rows being substantially aligned transversely of the rows and with the openings being staggered such that openings of intervening rows overlap the adjacent transversely aligned openings.

Claim 4

A patient underpad, as set forth in claim 1, wherein said top layer is dimensionally stable.

Claim 5

A patient underpad, as set forth in claim 1, wherein said layers are coextensive and including moisture-impervious means disposed around the edges of said coextensive layers for preventing the flow of liquid exteriorily of the underpad.

Claim 6

A patient underpad, as set forth in claim 1, wherein said moisture-impervious bottom layer includes edge portions extending around edge portions of said moisture-absorbing layer and said top layer and overlapping marginal edge portions of said top layer for preventing the flow of liquid exteriorly of the underpad.

Claim 7

A patient underpad, as set forth in claim 1, wherein said top layer comprises a plurality of closed cell, expanded thermoplastic superposed layers, each of said layers having spaced apart rows of lozenge-like openings with openings in adjacent rows being in predetermined staggered relation so that air may circulate between communicating openings of said top layer.

Claim 8

A patient underpad, as set forth in claim 8, and wherein said moisture-impervious bottom layer includes edge portions extending around edge portions of said moisture-absorbing layer and said plurality of expanded thermoplastic layers and overlapping marginal edge portions of said expanded thermoplastic layers for preventing the flow of liquid exteriorly of the underpad.

Claim 9

A disposable patient underpad adapted to be positioned between the patient and a supporting mattress and characterized in its ability to provide cushioning for a patient and to readily absorb large volumes of liquid in a manner such that the liquid absorbed does not thereafter irritate the patient, said underpad comprising a moisture-impervious bottom layer, a moisture-absorbing layer substantially covering said bottom layer, an outermost top layer comprising a sheet of non-moisture absorbing, dimensionally stable, closed cell, expanded thermoplastic foam material substantially covering said moisture-absorbing layer and having spaced apart rows of lozenge-like openings therein of suFficient number and size to permit liquids, such as body excretions, to freely pass therethrough to be absorbed by said moisture absorbing layer, said lozenge-like openings having been formed by forming a plurality of parallel incisions in the material and then stretching the material in a direction transverse to the direction of the incisions while expanding the same, said top layer providing cushioning for the patient while supporting the patient in spaced relation from the liquid absorbed by said moisture-absorbing layer, and said moisture-impervious layer including edge portions extending around edge portions of said moisture-absorbing layer and said top layer and overlapping marginal edge portions of said top layer for preventing the flow of liquid absorbed by said moisture-absorbing layer exteriorly of the underpad.