Novel bed seat

Abstract

A support system for use with a hospital bed a pillow having a pair of openings for the legs of a patient; means affixed to the bed for propping up the pillow so as to maintain the legs of the patient at an approximate 90 degree angle with respect to patient's upper torso.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims benefit to provisional application 60/642,680, filed on Jan. 10, 2005, entitled “Novel Bed Seat,” which is incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to the field of bed seats. In particular, the present invention is a bed seat that inclines so that a patient may rest more easily and avoid the collection of bodily fluids.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Being confined to a hospital bed may cause additional problems to a patient other than his original illness. Lying flat causes muscles to atrophy and bodily fluids to collect. It is particularly important for patients who have back or knee surgery to sit comfortably with their legs in an upward position, particularly while they eat.

There have been a number of patents directed to the area of bed seats and improved bed seats which prop up a patient. U.S. Pat. No. 5,398,357 is directed towards a hospital bed which is convertible to a chair configuration and which has a serially hinged normally horizontal head panel, seat panel, thigh panel and foot panel. The foot panel has a central section and a wing section longitudinally pivoted on each lateral side of the central section. To convert the horizontal bed to the chair configuration the head panel is pivoted upwardly and the foot panel pivots downwardly between parallel rail members of the bed frame. The hinged intersection of the foot panel and the thigh panel pivots upwardly to support the patient's knees. Through sliding contact with rail members of the bed frame each wing section pivots upwardly in response to the downward movement of the central section of the foot panel. With the foot end of the foot panel pivoted downwardly between the rails of the bed frame and the head end of the foot panel pivoted upwardly to support the patient's knees and the head panel pivoted upwardly to support the patient's back, the hospital bed is converted to a chair configuration.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,628,551 discloses a convertible bed chair that can be easily changed from a chair to a bed comprises a pair of horizontally spaced arms having crossbars there between forming a main frame which supports three interconnected cushion-support flat frame assemblies. A single movable cushion is slidably attached to the frame assemblies and the flat frame assemblies are removably attached to the main frame and to a movable seat structure which telescopically engages the main frame and moves over the crossbars.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,494,260 is directed towards a body support applicable to a hospital bed, seat or the like includes a substantially horizontal frame on which a series of carriers are mounted for oscillation about parallel axes transverse of the frame, substantially rectangular-section support blocks of resiliently yieldable material being mounted on the carriers, drive means being provided for oscillating the carriers and the support blocks mounted thereon in unison to tilt the upper faces of the support blocks alternately in both directions from horizontal, varying the pressure applied by all parts of a body supported by the support blocks.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,131,960 is directed towards a convertible seat-bed is provided in which seat and back cushions are attached to frames which are supported from a linkage for movement between a seating condition in which the back cushion extends upwardly and rearwardly from the rear edge of the seat cushion and a bed condition in which body-engaging surfaces of the cushions are in a common horizontal plane. The linkage includes a front swing arm pivotally connected at its upper end to a back frame, a rear swing arm connected at its upper end and to the back frame through a short link and a link between the swing arms extending forwardly to the lower end of another link which is pivotally connected at its upper end to a seat frame and which is connected through a further link to the front swing are. The linkage operates to keep the rear edge of the seat cushion in close proximity to an adjacent edge of the back cushion in both conditions and is located below and behind the seat and back cushions. The front of the seat cushion may be lifted for access to storage space and also to facilitate operation between the seating and bed conditions.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a support pad which permits patients to sit at a ninety-degree angle.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a back an leg support which enables patients to maintain their backs at an approximate 90 degree angle with respect to their backs.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a hospital bed leg support which facilitates a bed pan.

It is still a further object of the invention to provide a hospital bed leg support which can assist in natural body functions.

SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

A support system for use with a hospital bed: a pillow having a pair of openings for the legs of a patient; means affixed to the bed for propping up the pillow so as to maintain the legs of the patient at an approximate 90 degree angle with respect to patient's upper torso.

A support system for use with a hospital bed a pillow having a pair of openings for the legs of a patient; means affixed to the bed for propping up the pillow so as to maintain the legs of the patient at an approximate 90 degree angle with respect to patient's upper torso.

A support system for use with a hospital bed in assisting a patient's natural functions comprising: a substantially flat support having a pair of openings for the legs of a patient and further having central aperture to facilitate a patient's natural functions; pivotable means affixed to the sides of the substantially flat support for permitting the flat support to pivot so that the patient's legs may be retained at about a 90 degree angle relative to the upper torso.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 is an elevational view of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a side view of the leg support mechanism of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a front perspective view of the leg support mechanism of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is an overhead perspective view of the leg support mechanism of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is rear perspective view of the leg support mechanism of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is an elevational view of the alternative leg support mechanism of the present invention as used for natural functions.

FIG. 7 is an overhead view of the leg support mechanism when used for natural functions.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The present invention is described with reference to the enclosed Figures wherein the same numbers are used where applicable. Referring to FIGS. 1 to 4, the present invention is described. As shown, the invention comprises a specially designed support pillow 10 which is intended to support a patient 16 at a substantially 90 degree angle in a hospital bed 23.

The device 10 is a pillow with three sections 18, 20, 22 which define spaces 19, 21 for a patient's legs. The pillow is supported by a support board 14 which is retained in place by a support pole 12 with loops 31. The support pole 12 and board 14 prop up the pillow sections 18, 20, and 22 and support the patient's legs upward. The support pole 12 can slide along the rails of the bed to accommodate patients of varying heights.

FIGS. 5 and 6 illustrate an alternative embodiment of the invention which facilitate use with a bed pan. Here the patient's legs are held upward by a pivotable board 38. A central aperture 32 provides a space for a bed pan and to facilitate natural human functions. As with the first embodiment, the pivotable board can be moved longitudinally to facilitate use by people of varying heights. The legs fit between openings defined by side panels 34, 38 and central panel 36.

The present invention is described with reference to the enclosed detailed description. It is to be appreciated that the true nature and scope of the present invention is to be determined with reference to the claims appended hereto.

Claims

1. A support system for use with a hospital bed

a pillow having a pair of openings for the legs of a patient;

means affixed to the bed for propping up the pillow so as to maintain the legs of the patient at an approximate 90 degree angle with respect to patient's upper torso.

2. The support system of claim 1 further comprising means for

adjusting the propping up means.

3. A support system for use with a hospital bed

a pillow having a pair of openings for the legs of a patient;

means affixed to the bed for propping up the pillow so as to maintain the legs of the patient at an approximate 90 degree angle with respect to patient's upper torso.

4. A support system for use with a hospital bed in assisting a patient's natural functions comprising:

a substantially flat support having a pair of openings for the legs of a patient and further having central aperture to facilitate a patient's natural functions;

pivotable means affixed to the sides of the substantially flat support for permitting the flat support to pivot so that the patient's legs may be retained at about a 90 degree angle relative to the upper torso.