US5568660A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Wheelchair cushion and cover
Assignee: Span America Medical Systems Inc
•
Filing: 1995-06-01
•
Granted: 1996-10-29
•
Expires: 2015-06-01
Abstract
Abstract Pressure relief for wheelchair patients is improved by use of a relatively higher density foam, such as 2.4 pounds per cubic foot or above and a 25 percent ILD characteristic of at least about 50 pounds, together with independently acting cube shaped segments. The segments have predetermined respective separation and rounded upper edges with a predetermined radius of curvature which is larger about the periphery of the wheelchair pad. A relatively lowered pad thickness of about 3 inches facilitates patient movement onto and off from a wheelchair cushion. A removable covering of laminated materials is stretchable so as to slide over the rounded edges of the segments and down into separations therebetween to maintain independent action of such segments during use with the covering. An upper layer of the covering comprises a base layer of woven fabric of elastic synthetic fibers. A lower layer of the covering comprises a water resistant coating of urethane generally at least about 1 mil thick. The stretchable covering features can be used separately with other forms of patient supports, such as mattress pads having convolutions or other forms of independent support segments with separations therebetween.
Inventors
- 👤 Richard W. Raburn
- 👤 Fred T. Wickis, Jr.
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 08:27
CPC Classifications
A; A47; A47C; A47C27/00; A47C27/14; A47C27/142; A47C27/146; A47C27/144; A47C27/148; A47C7/00; A47C7/02; A47C7/021; A47C7/029; A47C7/18; A61; A61G; A61G5/00; A61G5/10; A61G5/1043; A61G5/1045; A61G5/1091; A61G7/00; A61G7/05; A61G7/057; A61G7/05707; A61G7/05784
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 24
Claim 1
Independent Claim
165 words
A patient support, comprising: a body of resilient foam material having a predetermined thickness substantially in a range of about 6 to 9 centimeters, a density of at least about 2.5 pounds per cubic foot, a 25 percent indentation load deflection rating of at least about 50 pounds, and defining at least one main patient support surface thereon, said surface defining a plurality of independent support segments with respective separations therebetween and adjacent relatively rounded upper edges with a predetermined radius of curvature; and a stretchable covering for said body inclusive of said one main patient support surface thereof, said covering defining a base layer of woven fabric comprised of elastic synthetic fibers and a water resistant coating layer on said base layer, which is stretchable with said base layer so that said stretchable covering can stretch into separations between said independent support segments so as to permit independent action thereof whenever said patient support receives a patient on said body main patient support surface.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
165 words
A patient support, comprising: a body of resilient foam material having a predetermined thickness substantially in a range of about 6 to 9 centimeters, a density of at least about 2.5 pounds per cubic foot, a 25 percent indentation load deflection rating of at least about 50 pounds, and defining at least one main patient support surface thereon, said surface defining a plurality of independent support segments with respective separations therebetween and adjacent relatively rounded upper edges with a predetermined radius of curvature; and a stretchable covering for said body inclusive of said one main patient support surface thereof, said covering defining a base layer of woven fabric comprised of elastic synthetic fibers and a water resistant coating layer on said base layer, which is stretchable with said base layer so that said stretchable covering can stretch into separations between said independent support segments so as to permit independent action thereof whenever said patient support receives a patient on said body main patient support surface.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
20 words
A patient support as in claim 1, wherein said base layer is stretchable at least along one major axis thereof.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
19 words
A patient support as in claim 2, wherein said base layer comprises a two-way Rochelle knit of polyester material.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
20 words
A patient support as in claim 2, wherein said coating layer comprises an application of urethane to said base layer.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
25 words
A patient support as in claim 4, wherein said coating layer of urethane comprises an application of clear urethane at least about 1 mil thick.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
30 words
A patient support as in claim 4, wherein said body of resilient foam material comprises a generally rectangular wheelchair cushion and said independent support segments comprise generally cube shaped elements.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
22 words
A patient support as in claim 6, wherein said generally cube shaped elements have adjacent separations of at least about 3 millimeters.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
18 words
A patient support as in claim 4, wherein said body of resilient foamed material comprises a mattress pad.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
14 words
A patient support as in claim 8, wherein said independent support segments comprise convolutions.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
21 words
A patient support as in claim 8, wherein said independent support segments comprise generally rectangular shaped elements with air channels therebetween.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
22 words
A patient support as in claim 1, wherein said base layer is stretchable at least along two mutually perpendicular major axes thereof.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
19 words
A patient support as in claim 11, wherein said base layer comprises a four-way Rochelle knit of polyester material.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
23 words
A patient support as in claim 12, wherein said coating layer comprises an application of clear urethane at least about 1 mil thick.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
187 words
An improved wheelchair cushion comprising a generally rectangular body of resilient foam material having a predetermined thickness substantially in a range of about 6 to 9 centimeters, a density of at least about 2.5 pounds per cubic foot, a 25 percent indentation load deflection rating of at least about 50 pounds, and an upper support surface comprised of a plurality of projections extending though about one-half the thickness of said body, said projections further having adjacent relatively rounded edges at said upper support surface with a predetermined radius of curvature for said adjacent edges of at least about 5 millimeters, and having peripheral relatively rounded edges about the periphery of said upper support surface with a predetermined radius of curvature for said peripheral edges of at least about 10 millimeters, and further having a predetermined separation distance between adjacent projections of at least about 2 millimeters, so that said plurality of projections provide improved independent action and support of a patient thereon while overall thickness of said body is relatively minimized to facilitate patient movement onto and off from a wheelchair with which said cushion is used.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
187 words
An improved wheelchair cushion comprising a generally rectangular body of resilient foam material having a predetermined thickness substantially in a range of about 6 to 9 centimeters, a density of at least about 2.5 pounds per cubic foot, a 25 percent indentation load deflection rating of at least about 50 pounds, and an upper support surface comprised of a plurality of projections extending though about one-half the thickness of said body, said projections further having adjacent relatively rounded edges at said upper support surface with a predetermined radius of curvature for said adjacent edges of at least about 5 millimeters, and having peripheral relatively rounded edges about the periphery of said upper support surface with a predetermined radius of curvature for said peripheral edges of at least about 10 millimeters, and further having a predetermined separation distance between adjacent projections of at least about 2 millimeters, so that said plurality of projections provide improved independent action and support of a patient thereon while overall thickness of said body is relatively minimized to facilitate patient movement onto and off from a wheelchair with which said cushion is used.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
68 words
An improved wheelchair cushion as in claim 14, wherein said predetermined body thickness is about 7.6 centimeters, said body density is about 2.8 pounds per cubic foot, said 25 percent indentation load deflection rating is about 55 pounds, said adjacent edge radius of curvature is about 10 millimeters, said peripheral edge radius of curvature is about 19 millimeters, and said separation distance is at least about 3 millimeters.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
33 words
An improved wheelchair cushion as in claim 15, wherein said separation distance increases from about 3 millimeters relatively adjacent the base of said projections to about 5 millimeters adjacent said upper support surface.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
28 words
An improved wheelchair cushion as in claim 14, wherein said projections comprise generally cube shaped elements having sides substantially in a range of from 3.5 to 5.5 centimeters.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
30 words
An improved wheelchair cushion as in claim 14, further including air channels formed at the base of said respective projections and extending out to lateral side edges of said body.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
28 words
An improved wheelchair cushion as in claim 18, wherein said air channels comprise circular channels having diameters substantially in a range of from 6 millimeters to 9 millimeters.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
20 words
An improved wheelchair cushion as in claim 18, further including generally water resistant cover means received about said rectangular body.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
36 words
An improved wheelchair cushion as in claim 20, wherein said cover means are removable and elastic for stretching at least part way down into separations between adjacent projections whenever a patient is seated on said cushion.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
35 words
An improved wheelchair cushion as in claim 21, wherein said cover means includes a woven fabric base layer of elastic synthetic fibers and a water resistant coating layer of polyurethane secured to said base layer.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2082151A
Cited
US2659421A
Cited
US2785739A
Cited
US3284817A
Cited
US3789441A
Cited
US4073020A
Cited
US4092751A
Cited
US4265484A
Cited
US4522447A
Cited
US4485505A
Cited
US4539057A
Cited
US4573456A
Cited
US4646374A
Cited
US4686725A
Cited
US4726087A
Cited
US4862538A
Cited
US5025519A
Cited
US4768251A
Cited
USD307687S
Cited
USD307690S
Cited
USD307689S
Cited
USD307688S
Cited
US4901387A
Cited
US5007124A
Cited
USD322907S
Cited
US5007123A
Cited
US5079790A
Cited
US5193237A
Cited
US5160785A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1999-10-29 | 2000-04-29 | 2000-10-29 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2003-10-29 | 2004-04-29 | 2004-10-29 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2007-10-29 | 2008-04-29 | 2008-10-29 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |