Abstract: An inflatable air mattress adapted to be securely disposed on top of a conventional mattress for proper support of a patient employs a first upper air impervious rectangularly shaped flexible layer having opposite ends and opposite sides and a second lower air impervious rectangularly shaped flexible layer having like opposite ends and like opposite sides. The peripheries of the first and second layers are joined together in air impervious sealed relationship. The first and second layers are also joined together in air impervious sealed relationship in small selected areas spaced from each other and from said peripheries. An air inlet port is secured to the second layer and communicates with the interior of the layers. An air outlet port spaced from the inlet port is also secured to the second layer and communicates with the interior of the layers. First and second spaced strap engaging members are secured to the second layer adjacent one side of the second layer.

Abstract: Disposable hyperbaric oxygen dressing adapted to treatment of a body sore on the skin of a patient. A thin flexible oxygen impermeable plastic film has upper and lower surfaces. A rigid flat open cell plastic member is oxygen permeable. The member has a central opening, a flat upper surface and a flat lower surface. The upper member surface is sealed to the lower surface of the film, the film-member seal being oxygen impermeable. A first self-adhesive layer is secured to the lower surface of the member. A second layer of release paper is removably secured to the first layer. The first layer, after the second layer has been removed, is adapted to be removably sealed in an oxygen impermeable manner to the skin of the patient with the sore being disposed in the opening. An oxygen feed tube extending through the member into the central opening, said tube being oxygen impermeable and sealed to the member, the tube-member seal being oxygen impermeable.

Abstract: An instrument for measuring the pressure exerted upon a portion of the body of a bedridden individual lying on a mattress by that section of the mattress which is engaged by this body portion. A small flexible hollow member has a first air inlet and is adapted to be positioned for use between the body portion and the mattress section. A switch is disposed in the member with connecting leads extending out of the member. The switch is open when the air pressure in the member is at least equal to the exerted pressure and is closed when the air pressure in the member is less than the exerted pressure. A circuit including a lamp and an electric power source is connected to the switch to cause the lamp to be energized and lit when the switch is closed, the lamp being deenergized and dark when the switch is open. An air pressure meter has a second air inlet. A manually operated air pump is connected to both air inlets.

Abstract: A collapsible bathtub adapted for placement on top of a mattress employs a horizontal flexible plastic rectangular sheet having two opposite sides and two opposite ends. First and second flexible plastic parallel side walls are integral with the sheet, each side wall having a collapsed position at which it is essentially coplanar with the sheet, each side wall having an erect position at which it extends vertically upwards from a corresponding one of the two sides of the sheet; First and second flexible plastic end walls disposed at right angles to said side walls are integral with said sheet.

Abstract: A hollow flexible body adapted to rest upon a mattress has the general shape of a rectangular parallelepiped which is horizontally elongated and is vertically shallow. The body has a closed bottom and sides with a top having a rectangular opening therein. The opening conforms in shape and size to the top but is somewhat smaller whereby a rectangular border separates the opening from the outer peripher of the top of the body. At least one water filled cushion is disposed in the body with a main portion exposed in the opening and with end portions extending in the body underneath the border. The cushion is detachably secured to the body.

Abstract: A mattress employs a first plastic unit which is flat and horizontal and is provided with a peripherally disposed horizontal endless hollow tube which is inflatable. The tube, when inflated, defines a raised peripheral border surrounding and enclosing an inner flat horizontal central area of the first unit. A second plastic unit is removably disposed on top of the central area. The second unit has a first upper section having oppositely disposed inner and outer surfaces, the outer surface being disposed above the inner surface and permanently defining a plurality of closely spaced raised regions which are interconnected by channels disposed below the top surfaces of the regions. The inner surface permanently defines a like plurality of deep recesses, each deep recess constituting the inside of a corresponding region, the deep recesses being interconnected by shallow recesses, each shallow recess constituting the inside of a corresponding channel.

Abstract: A body supporting structure is disposed upon the upper surface of a flat rectangularly shaped member which is adapted to be upon the top of a rectangularly shaped mattress in a hospital bed. The structure includes at least one hollow element rising above the upper surface and filled with air or water. A device secured to the lower surface of the member in a region intermediate the ends of the member but closer to one selected end of the member than to the other end includes a pocket which removably receives and encloses an end of the mattress adjacent the selected end of the member. The pocket holds the member in position and prevents the member from sliding downward toward the other end of the mattress when the adjacent mattress end is raised.

Abstract: A body supporting device comprises a first plastic section having oppositely disposed inner and outer surfaces. The outer surface is disposed above the inner surface and permanently defines a plurality of closely spaced regions of like size and contour which are interconnected by channels disposed below the regions. The inner surface of the first section permanently defines a like plurality of deep recesses. Each deep recess constitutes the inside of a corresponding region. The deep recesses are interconnected by shallow recesses. Each shallow recess constitutes the inside of a corresponding channel. The device further comprises a second plastic section sealed to the inner surface of the first section in a manner at which the deep and shallow recesses communicate with each other. A flexible hollow tube is diposed about the periphery of the sections and is secured thereto. The tube interior is connected via openings in the tube to the shallow recesses.

Abstract: A thin flexible member, vertically elongated and hollow, has a rear surface and an oppositely disposed exposed front surface. The member has top and bottom edges and oppositely disposed side edges. The front surface has a slit communicating with the interior of the member which extends between the side edges thereof adjacent but below the top edge thereof. A horizontally elongated flexible strip extends across said member intermediate the top and bottom edges thereof and adjacent the front surface. The strip is secured to the side edges and is otherwise spaced from the front surface. The top portion of the member above the strip can be folded upon the remaining portion of said member and extend through the space between the strip and the member with the slit being disposed below the strip to seal the interior of the member. A flexible cushioning layer can be secured to the rear surface of the member. Alternatively, the member can have a rear pocket in which the cushioning layer can be removably disposed.

Abstract: A device for storing documents is provided with a flat rectangular member. A rectangular strip is disposed above and overlies one side of one surface of said member. A plurality of posts are employed, said posts being disposed between and secured to said strip and said member in spaced apart positions. A flexible rectangular sheet has at least one section having on one side thereof a like plurality of notches. Each notch is aligned with and detachably engages a corresponding post. The section can have a pocket for storing documents therein.

Abstract: A closed hollow waterproof chamber is disposed below the removable, sectional bottom floor of a building. The chamber is partially filled with water and contains air. The chamber is lined with plastic. A plastic sheet covers the water by resting upon the top surface thereof and is secured to the liner at the periphery in an air-tight manner preventing moisture from entering the building. A solar heat collecting unit is disposed on the roof of the building. The unit has an upper water inlet and a lower water outlet. Both the upper water inlet and the lower water outlet are extended horizontally on the top and the bottom of the solar heat-collecting unit. Water passing through the unit from inlet to outlet is heated by the sun. Water is pumped from the chamber to the inlet and released to flow downwardly to the outlet under the force of gravity and is drained from the outlet to the chamber whereby water in the chamber is heated.

Abstract: A self-supporting transparent plastic jacket for mounting and protecting display and advertising sheets, small and large photographic prints, stamps, coins, price tags, shelf labels, advertising posters, data cards and the like, and for attaching the same to supporting surfaces. The jacket comprises a transparent thermo-plastic front panel which has at the back of its opposite border portions several separate, elongate, ribbon-like border strips. At least one of the strips is electronically heat sealed to the front panel along three corresponding edge portions, so as to form a shallow, receiving, pocket-like space in which one edge area of the sheet or card may be inserted to enable the card to be held flatwise behind the front panel of the jacket. The rear exposed surfaces of the border strips are provided with a pressure-sensitive adhesive and with release paper or sheet material covering the adhesive.