Patents Examined by A. Grosz
  • Patent number: 7472441
    Abstract: A chiropractic table has a power-operated linkage that will simultaneously tilt the table as it is lowered from an elevated position and also return the table to a horizontal position as it is elevated. The table employs a modified, movable parallelogram type of linkage, as opposed to a scissors-type linkage, which when combined with an open center frame allows the table to be lowered to a height not attainable with the prior art tables. A patient footplate assembly includes additional linkage and is operated by the tilt actuator so that when the table is elevated, the footplate is rotated out of the way, and when the table is tilted and lowered, the footplate will be rotated upwardly into position so that the patient can easily step off the table.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2009
    Assignee: Lloyd Table Company
    Inventor: Lloyd A. Steffensmeier
  • Patent number: 7472440
    Abstract: In various embodiments, a therapeutic bed is provided which comprises a base frame, a patient support frame having a support for supporting a patient in a prone position, said patient support frame being rotationally mounted on the base frame, such that the patient support frame is capable of rotating with respect to the base frame for repositioning said patient between a supine position and a prone position. In various embodiments, the therapeutic bed includes a control member having an engaged, disengaged, and neutral position. In such embodiments, each of the engaged disengaged, and neutral position controls at least one of an electrical rotation of the bed and a mechanical rotation of the bed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2009
    Assignee: KCI Licensing, Inc.
    Inventors: Alan L. Bartlett, Christopher T. Niederkrom
  • Patent number: 7469435
    Abstract: A pillow that has a channel which extends from one end toward a second end and which has a wall defined from a head-supporting surface of the pillow toward a bottom of the pillow. The wall of the channel is located adjacent to the second end of the pillow. The channel allows sound to reach a user's ear that is located in the channel while the user lies his or her head on the pillow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2008
    Inventor: Bryan C. Cullifer
  • Patent number: 7467430
    Abstract: A patient support is disclosed, including a deck comprising openings that accommodate removable modules.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2008
    Assignee: Hill-Rom Services, Inc.
    Inventor: David W. Hornbach
  • Patent number: 7467429
    Abstract: The bedding article includes upper and lower fabric layers which are substantially identical in configuration and are secured to each other around the peripheries thereof. A plurality of channels are defined by channel baffle members which extend in a longitudinal direction of the bedding article. A plurality of curved, cup-like baffle elements are positioned in the channels, attached to the upper and lower fabric sections. The baffle members alternate in orientation, i.e. their direction of opening, along the length of the channel, wherein adjacent baffles which curve toward each other are spaced apart so as to permit fill to be blown into the channels and the volumes bounded by the baffle elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2008
    Assignee: Pacific Coast Feather Company
    Inventor: Tamara P. Soreano
  • Patent number: 7467435
    Abstract: A breathable mattress including a plurality of layers, where one of the mattress layers is further comprised of a plurality of sections and the sections are comprised of different types of materials, which have varying firmnesses and feel, and where each of the layers is comprised of material that is perforated or of an open-cell structure to allow for air circulation. The mattress is supported by an air filtration foundation capable of creating an air flow within the mattress.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2008
    Assignee: King Koil Licensing Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Larry C. McKay, David J. Roberts
  • Patent number: 7461424
    Abstract: The present subject matter includes a pillow having a variety of foam pieces, including foam pieces of different sizes and irregular shapes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2008
    Inventor: Michael Lindell
  • Patent number: 7461422
    Abstract: An alarm pillow and associated method includes a pillow with an opening at a proximal end thereof, a core member, and an outer layer positioned thereabout. A cavity is formed between the core member and the outer layer respectively. The cavity has an open end defined along the proximal opening of the pillow, and a closed distal end seated medially of the proximal end and a distal end of the pillow respectively. A portable electronic alarm device is removably positioned within the cavity. The device has a planar top surface with a user interface, and a planar bottom surface extending parallel to the top surface. The device is slidably positional through the proximal opening of the cavity and abuts against the distal end of the cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2008
    Inventor: Carl Baker
  • Patent number: 7458114
    Abstract: Clips for securing one or more accessories to a play yard or crib and methods of operating the same are disclosed. A disclosed example includes a first engagement member, a second engagement member, and a first joining member joining the first and second engagement members. The first and second engagement members are joined in a spaced apart relation such that a distance between the first and second engagement members is less than a diameter of the rail.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2008
    Assignee: Kolcraft Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventor: Damon Oliver Casati Troutman
  • Patent number: 7458120
    Abstract: An inflatable item includes a hollow body and a valve is connected to the hollow body. The valve is a bladder which has an inlet from which air is introduced in the bladder, and an outlet through which the air is introduced into the hollow body. A tubular insertion is engaged with the inlet and has a passage defined therethrough. A bouncing member is mounted to the tubular insertion so that the user compresses the bladder to push the air in the bladder into the hollow body and the bouncing member bounces the bladder back to original status. The hollow body can be inflated by repeatedly compressing the bladder. A cap removably seals the inlet after the inflatable item is inflated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2008
    Inventors: Hsien-Wen Chang, Simon Yu
  • Patent number: 7458113
    Abstract: A winch for moving a patient laying on a pad is disclosed. The winch includes an enclosure that has a winching mechanism fixed within the enclosure, a power means, a motor, a gearing means, a power switching means, and a spool means. Preferably the winch further includes a bedrail hook attached to the front wall, the hook comprising at least one rigid U-shaped member. As such, the enclosure may be fixed to a bedrail of a bed to move the patient laying on the pad on the bed. A winching strap is connected at one end thereof to the spool means. The winching strap traverses an aperture in the at least one side wall of the enclosure, and a distal end of the winching strap terminates in a pad clamping means. The pad clamping means is preferably a clamping bar having at least two clamps, such that when the winching mechanism pulls the clamps towards the enclosure the clamps are further tightened upon the pad.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2008
    Inventor: Angela Milam
  • Patent number: 7454809
    Abstract: An inflatable cushion cell has first and second inflatable compartments. Each inflatable compartment is defined by at least one diagonal seal structure. In addition, each inflatable compartment also has at least one fluid opening. In one embodiment the diagonal seal structure is offset from opposite corners of the inflatable cushion cell. In one embodiment patient support system includes a plurality of inflatable such cushion cells are located within a frame. In one embodiment a pressure control system is used control the inflation of the first and second inflatable compartments. In one embodiment a method is used to move a patient in an inflatable patient support system, such as a support system that employs an inflatable cushion cell with a diagonal seal structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2008
    Assignee: Kap Medical
    Inventor: Raj K. Gowda
  • Patent number: 7451503
    Abstract: Bedding assembly comprising a piece of furniture in which two beds for one person are rotatably mounted around a horizontal axis, between an active position where the bed/s is/are parallel to the floor and close thereto, and a lifted position, or vertical position, where the bed/s is/are folded up in the piece of furniture, wherein the bedding assembly has means allowing the lateral translation of at least one bed in a direction parallel to the rotation axis of the beds. One of the beds is fixed in translation, while the other one is mobile in translation. The assembly comprises a carriage on which one of the beds is rotatably mounted, and mobile in translation on at least one rail. The carriage moves on two parallel rails, i.e. a rear rail and a front rail, by means of a slide (for each rail) that is integral with the carriage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2008
    Assignee: Griffon SA
    Inventor: Gilbert Caillaud
  • Patent number: 7451505
    Abstract: A bed elevating apparatus is provided which includes a mechanism for elevating a longitudinal side of a bed while the other side remains in place and acts as a pivot. The act of alternating the side of the bed that is raised shifts the pressure between the person and the bed and thus helps to reduce or prevent bedsores. The bed elevating apparatus can be used with preexisting hospital or nursing home beds. The apparatus is placed between the bed frame and the lower legs portion of the bed such that the legs of the bed remain on the floor and only the bed frame is longitudinally raised.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2008
    Inventor: Jurgen Johannsen
  • Patent number: 7444706
    Abstract: A bed construction having a one-sided mattress assembly supported on a rigid foundation. The one-sided mattress assembly includes a core of pocketed coil springs having a layer of resiliently compressible material covering the upper surface thereof and having a bottom surface constructed of a substantially rigid material without a compressible layer. The core of coil springs is attached to the bottom surface around its periphery. The foundation has a rigid inner construction and a noncompressible top layer. The bed construction reduces the amount of compressible padding in the mattress by one-half and consequently the mattress is capable of exhibiting a substantial reduction in the amount of permanent deflection in use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2008
    Assignee: Dreamwell Ltd.
    Inventors: Richard F. Gladney, Kurtis A. Ling, Douglass D. Kinde
  • Patent number: 7444703
    Abstract: The invention here provides a support, in particular a mattress or a part of a mattress, that preferably has a number of layers (11, 12) of elastic tubes (13). The tubes (13) of each layer (11 and 12) extend parallel to one another. The tubes (13) of different layers (11, 12), however, extend in a preferably crosswise manner to one another. Due to the elastic tubes (13), the inventive support or mattress provides a high degree of sitting and lying comfort with amazingly simple means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2008
    Assignee: Thomas GmbH + Co. Technik + Innovation KG
    Inventor: Klaus Jansen
  • Patent number: 7437784
    Abstract: A mattress cover envelops a mattress in order to protect the mattress during moving and storage and has a body member that has a pair of faces joined by left and right side portions and a bottom portion forming an interior space with closed bottom, closed sides, and an open top. A flap extends upwardly from one of the faces and is releasably attachable to the other face in order to provide closure to the cover once a mattress is held therein. Side flaps extend from each side portion to provide added protection to the mattress. A strap extends along the bottom and up a section of each side portion. Loops on the ends of the strap provide carrying handles for the movers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2008
    Inventor: Steven Turnipseed
  • Patent number: 7434281
    Abstract: A pillow for supporting the head of a user during sleeping includes a main body formed of a resiliently compressible foam material in a generally rectangular configuration having opposite ends with opposed upper and lower surfaces extending between the opposite ends. The lower surface is configured to overlie stably on a sleeping platform, and the upper surface is formed with beveled indentations adjacent the opposite ends of the main body and with a convex contour extending lengthwise between the beveled indentations presenting a generally central crown area and inclined facial support areas respectively sloping downwardly away from the crown area toward the beveled indentations. Each facial support area is adapted to impart a pulling effect on the facial skin of a user when lying thereon in a downwardly sloping orientation with a cheek of the user's face on the facial support area and the user's face facing the adjacent beveled indentation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2008
    Assignee: I Care Sleep, LLC
    Inventors: James Mike Holliday, Bradley Coleman McNeely, James Alexander Wall, Gerry Borreggine
  • Patent number: 7430771
    Abstract: A patient support including a siderail movable between a raised position and a lowered position relative to the patient support. A controller coupled to the sideail moves between a deployed position and a stored position in response to movement of the siderail between the raised position and the lowered position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2008
    Assignee: Hill-Rom Services, Inc.
    Inventor: Richard H. Heimbrock
  • Patent number: 7430770
    Abstract: A enclosure assembly with a support for a mattress of a bed to accommodate a person on the mattress, the enclosure assembly including a framework having connectors to secure the framework in an upstanding relation peripherally about the mattress, the framework including corner posts each extending a generally common distance above the mattress, and frame members spanning the corner posts. A net having inside and outside surfaces is supported on the framework and has at least one normally closed opening provided with a closure member which may only be opened from the outside of the net, thereby at least partially defining a “safe zone” about the periphery of the mattress. The enclosure assembly also comprises a coverlet which overlies the mattress and is removably interconnected along its periphery to the inside surface of the net, thereby further defining the “safe zone” about the mattress on which the person may rest without risk of falling off the mattress and harming themselves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2008
    Inventor: Elizabeth Ramirez