Abstract: A pillow includes a first pillow cushion consisting essentially of a gelatinous elastomer that is sized and configured to support a head and neck of a person using the pillow cushion and a second pillow cushion coupled thereto. The pillow cushion has deformable wall members located and configured to define voids therebetween such that the deformable wall members may be displaced into adjacent voids upon deformation of the deformable wall members. The deformable wall members are configured to buckle when a pressure applied to a cushioning surface of the first pillow cushion, in a direction perpendicular to a first major surface, exceeds a threshold pressure level. A pillow cover covers the first pillow cushion and the second pillow cushion. A method of fabricating a pillow includes enclosing such first and second pillow cushions in a pillow cover.

Abstract: A patient support apparatus comprises a support frame and a patient support deck carried by the support frame. The patient support deck has a foot section configured to articulate relative to the support frame. A deck extension assembly comprises an extension frame and a deck extension section configured to extend and retract relative to the support frame. One more bearings are arranged between the deck extension section and the support frame. The deck extension section is movably coupled to the extension frame so that the deck extension section is able to move relative to the extension frame and relative to the foot section when the deck extension section extends and retracts relative to the support frame such that the deck extension section maintains contact with the bearing when extending and retracting relative to the support frame.

Abstract: An adjustable patient support apparatus comprises a base, a support frame, and a patient support deck. The patient support deck comprises articulating deck sections, such as a leg section, seat section, and a back section pivotally coupled together. One or more actuators may be configured to move the leg and/or back section between a lowered position and one or more raised positions. The seat section may include one or more articulating seats to assist with ingress and egress from the patient support apparatus. The one or more seats may be articulated manually or electrically via a lever or actuator.

Abstract: A patient assisting system includes a frame having a sling assembly attachment point and a lifting arm which is movable relative to the frame and which includes a receptacle. When the sling assembly is attached to the attachment point and extends through the receptacle, a portion of the sling travels through the receptacle as the lifting arm moves relative to the frame. Another embodiment includes exactly one four bar linkage comprised of a frame having an attachment point for a sling assembly, a lifting arm having a receptacle, a lower cross arm and an upper cross arm. The lifting arm is adapted to be movable between a person-seated position and a person-standing position. The receptacle is located along the lifting arm so that motion of the lifting arm causes the receptacle to move along a curved path having a concave side which is person-facing.

Abstract: A mattress or mattress topper includes a cushioning element having an elastomeric material forming intersecting buckling walls that define hollow columns, and a knitted fabric disposed over the cushioning element and configured to move independently of the buckling walls. The elastomeric material includes an elastomeric polymer and a plasticizer. The knitted fabric includes a first layer of stretchable material; a second layer of stretchable material; and a layer of stretchable fill material between the first layer of stretchable material and the second layer of stretchable material. The first layer of stretchable material is knitted together with the second layer of stretchable material as a unitary sheet of fabric including the layer of stretchable fill material. A method of forming a mattress or mattress topper includes disposing a knitted fabric over a cushioning element comprising intersecting buckling walls and configuring the knitted fabric to move independently of the buckling walls.

Abstract: A portable support, pain or pressure relief device comprising a plurality of pillows where a first pillow comprises an opening. A second pillow is disposed in the opening forming an aperture and is selectively adjustable in the opening to adjust a shape and size of the aperture.

Abstract: One embodiment of a pillow for sleeping or resting having a supportive rigid or semi-rigid bowl (10) covered on its upper concave surface with a layer or layers of fill material (20) and a cover (12) which form a ridge (14) as they extend over the rim (18) of the bowl and fasten to an attachment site (16) on the lower convex surface of the bowl. The upper surface of the pillow receives the head of an individual securely and the pillow is capable of tilting in unison with the movement of the head in a plurality of directions to facilitate movement. The ridge of fill material provides comfort and gentle attenuation of the range of tilt of the pillow. Other embodiments are described as shown.

Abstract: A pillow with a removable rod-shaped insert is described herein. The rod-shaped insert is removably insertable into a cavity and/or trough within the pillow. Both the rod-shaped insert and the cavity and/or trough are substantially semi-circular at each vertically oriented cross-section thereof. The cavity includes an opening in a side of the pillow opposite a side thereof which is in contact with a user's head and/or body. The rod-shaped insert has a plurality of parallel ridges on at least one outer surface thereof and extends between both lateral sides of the pillow. In some configurations, the rod-shaped insert is a single substantially planar structure which is folded into a substantially semi-circular shape. In some configurations, the rod-shaped insert has an internal removably-insertable structure.

Abstract: A horizontally expandable bed rail having a guard rail frame that confronts a first side of a bed to prevent a child from falling out of the bed. The guard rail frame includes a pair of vertical support members interconnected by upper, lower and intermediate horizontal support members that slide horizontally in and out such that the vertical support members have an extended position where the vertical support members are spaced apart by a first distance and a drawn in position where the vertical support members are spaced apart by a second distance that is less than the first distance.

Abstract: Overhead lift units are disclosed. In one embodiment, an overhead lift unit includes a carriage having wheels engageable with a rail, a lift frame coupled to the carriage such that the lift frame is suspended from the carriage, and a pair of load beams. The lift frame includes a lift strap extending from the lift frame and a pair of connection points extending from the lift frame. Each load beam of the pair of load beams is attached to one connection point of the pair of connection points of the lift frame at an inferior end of the load beam. Each load beam of the pair of load beams is attached to the carriage at a superior end of the load beam. And each load beam of the pair of load beams comprises a strain gauge operable to register a weight supported on the lift strap.

Abstract: A sleep system includes a ticking for a mattress, a bed cover, and a pillow cover. The ticking for a mattress is made of a first material. The ticking and the mattress together have a first set of temperature regulating performance-based properties associated therewith. The bed cover is made of the first material or of a second material having substantially the same temperature regulating performance-based properties as the first set of temperature regulating performance-based properties. The pillow cover is made of the first material, the second material, or of a third material having substantially the same temperature regulating performance-based properties as the first or second set of temperature regulating performance-based properties.

Abstract: A comfortable inflatable pillow, manufactured to be affordably priced, designed to withstand the weather challenges associated with beaches, and other outdoor settings, by utilizing soft fabric that wicks away water and sheds sand, that has an attached pouch that can be filled with sand, or other weighted objects, to prevent the pillow from being blown around in windy conditions, that contains an internal pocket that can accommodate a tailor-made cooling and heating gel pack for hot or cold external temperatures, and that provides an optional incline position for added comfort when reading or surveying the landscape.

Abstract: A system for use with a bed having a frame and a supporting surface includes a sheet having a bottom surface placed above the supporting surface of the bed, a top surface, and a plurality of tether straps connected to and extending from the sheet. Each tether strap is configured for connection to the bed. The bottom surface is at least partially formed of a low friction material, and the top surface is at least partially formed of a high friction material, such that the top surface provides greater slipping resistance than the bottom surface. The tether straps include at least two pairs of tether straps, with one pair connected proximate a top edge of the sheet and another pair connected proximate a bottom edge of the sheet. The sheet may further include a sliding member on the bottom surface to assist in lateral sliding of the sheet.

Abstract: Described is a bariatric version of foldup evacuation sled that includes a bottom sheet, a mattress disposed above the bottom sheet, and a support sheet disposed above the mattress. A margin stack including the bottom sheet and the support sheet forms a sandwiched margin left side and a sandwiched margin right side. The sled may further include a plurality of spinal boards disposed between the bottom sheet and the mattress. Wheel assemblies are mounted on each spinal board. The sled further includes a leg/torso cover coupled to the bottom sheet and dimensioned to substantially enclose legs and lower torso of the person when the leg/torso cover is folded upward over the person lying on the support sheet.

Abstract: A pillow is provided herein which includes a cover having opposing first and second panels. A gusset perimetrically bounds, and joins, the first and second panels. The gusset is formed of an open cell construction. Compliant fill material is disposed within the cover. Advantageously, with the subject invention, a pillow is provided allowing for lateral ventilation between opposing panels. This permits a cooling effect while a user is resting or sleeping.

Abstract: The invention provides an invertible bedding stability system comprising a fitted sheet, a top sheet that resembles a flat sheet at the head end and fitted sheet at the foot end, and a cover bearing a constellation of buttons. The top sheet is sewn by a seam to the fitted sheet along their foot end and one side, such that elastic straps are sandwiched between them and bisected by that seam. The elastic straps define button holes; the external half of each strap may mate to one or more respective buttons on the cover. When the system is mounted on an intended mattress, the bedding remains more reliably in a fully or partially made-bed state, thereby improving the user's sleeping experience.

Abstract: A patient support apparatus comprising a base movable about a floor surface and a deck comprising sections movable between deck configurations including an egress deck configuration. An articulation system coupled to the deck moves the sections. A lift mechanism moves the deck relative to the base between lift configurations including an egress lift configuration. An egress input is arranged for actuation by a user. A bed detection system monitors data associated with the patient support apparatus and communicates with a remote station. A controller interrupts communication of the bed detection system with the remote station, drives the articulation system to move the sections to the egress deck configuration, and drives the lift mechanism to move the support frame to the egress lift configuration in response to actuation of the egress input.

Abstract: A head shaping pillow is provided. The head shaping pillow includes an elongated flexible core disposed within a fabric casing. The elongated flexible core is coiled to define an upper ring and a lower ring, wherein the upper ring includes a diameter greater than a diameter of the lower ring. In some embodiments, the fabric casing includes a first panel affixed to a second panel along an upper edge and a lower edge of each, defining at least an open first end.

Abstract: A patient control unit for controlling functions of a hospital bed includes a housing having a first side that includes a plurality of user inputs to control the functions of the hospital bed. The housing has a second side that includes a dock to secure a handheld phone in place on the housing. A hospital bed has a head-of-bed angle (HOBA) lockout selector that is used to signal a controller to prevent a head section of the bed from being moved below a threshold.

Abstract: An objective of the present invention is to provide users a face cradle that form-fits to the unique contours of a user's face, as the user suspends their face within the elastic woven components of the face cradle. Accordingly, the present invention provides an apparatus comprising of a structure that holds a webbed elastic face rest. Preferably, the present invention comprises an arch shaped webbing formed over a rigid structure. According to a preferred embodiment, the present invention is shaped similar to that of a vortex or torus that can stretch, and form fit to the user's head/face with no pressure points. Furthermore, the present invention may exist as a standalone structure, or a removable attachment to a previously existing structure for attaching to a treatment table.