Inclined mattress pad

Abstract

A full length mattress pad is provides improved patient support for all parts of the user's body through provision of a support surface supplement for use with existing support surfaces, such as for use on top of a conventional mattress or hospital bed. The pad has a body of resilient material having a relatively flat, planar lower surface for being received on top of the existing support surface, and has a length at least generally the same as that of the mattress, or at least long enough to support the full length of a user. An inclined upper surface is defined by the body of resilient material, and has a plurality of different longitudinal sections. The plurality of different longitudinal sections collectively define a predetermined angle of inclination for the inclined upper surface which is relatively constant along the entire length of the body of resilient material relative to its planar lower surface. At least one of the plurality of different longitudinal sections has a relatively flat surface inclined at the predetermined angle of inclination, while at least one other of the plurality of different longitudinal sections has a surface formed with respective or different projections therein, so that improved patient support is provided through a combination of the inclined upper surface and the plurality of different longitudinal sections. Preferably, the predetermined angle of inclination is no more than about 10°. Characteristics of the plurality of longitudinal sections are selected based upon one or more of the type of resilient material used, the thickness of such material, the change in thickness of such material due to the predetermined angle of inclination, the material density, and the indention load deflection characteristics of such material, with such selection and combination of characteristics determined so as to optimize the inclined pad for support for the user's body which is engineered on the basis of the intended end use of said mattress pad. The longitudinal sections are also formed by one or both of longitudinal and lateral cuts within a selected portion of the inclined upper surface, also preselected to address the relieving of support pressure points to decrease the chance of decubitus ulcers in users of the mattress pad. At least one of the depths, widths, and lengths of such cuts, forming cross-sectional shapes of the different or respective projections, are preselected on the basis of the intended end use of said mattress pad. A plurality of channels may be formed between adjacent of the respective projections, for dissipating heat and moisture from a user who is supported on the inclined upper surface, to increase the health and comfort of such user.

1 . A full length mattress pad, for providing improved patient support for all parts of the user's body through provision of a support surface supplement that is formed for use with existing support surfaces, such as for use on top of a conventional mattress or hospital bed, said mattress pad comprising: 
 a body of resilient material having a relatively flat, planar lower surface for being received on top of an existing support surface, and having a length at least generally the same as that of a mattress; and    an inclined upper surface defined by said body of resilient material, having a plurality of different longitudinal sections disposed on said inclined upper surface;    wherein said plurality of different longitudinal sections collectively define a predetermined angle of inclination for said inclined upper surface which is relatively constant along the entire length of said body of resilient material relative to said planar lower surface thereof, with at least one of said plurality of different longitudinal sections having a relatively flat surface inclined at said predetermined angle of inclination, and with at least one other of said plurality of different longitudinal sections having a surface formed with different projections therein, so that improved patient support is provided through a combination of said inclined upper surface and said plurality of different longitudinal sections.    
   
   
       2 . A full length mattress pad as in  claim 1 , wherein at least one of said plurality of longitudinal sections may be formed with different projections therein having specific cross-sectional shapes in both a top view and side view perspective.  
   
   
       3 . A full length mattress pad as in  claim 1 , wherein characteristics of said plurality of longitudinal sections are selected based upon one or more of the type of resilient material used, the thickness of such material, the change in thickness of such material due to said predetermined angle of inclination, the density of said material, and the indention load deflection characteristics of such material, with such selection and combination of characteristics determined to optimize said inclined pad so as to provide engineered support for the user's body.  
   
   
       4 . A full length mattress pad as in  claim 1 , wherein said predetermined angle of inclination is no more than about 10°.  
   
   
       5 . A full length mattress pad as in  claim 1 , where said predetermined angle of inclination is between about 2° to 5°.  
   
   
       6 . A full length mattress pad as in  claim 2 , wherein said cross-sectional shapes of said different projections forming said plurality of longitudinal sections are formed by one or both of longitudinal and lateral cuts within a selected portion of said inclined upper surface of said resilient body of said mattress pad, preselected to address the relieving of support pressure points to decrease the chance of decubitus ulcers in users of said mattress pad.  
   
   
       7 . A full length mattress pad as in  claim 6 , wherein at least one of the depths, widths, and lengths of said cuts, forming said cross-sectional shapes of said different projections, are preselected on the basis of the intended end use of said mattress pad.  
   
   
       8 . A full length mattress pad as in  claim 7 , wherein the angles of said cuts are shifted to accommodate said angle of inclination of said inclined upper surface, so as to create the desired projections within each of the sections having projections therein.  
   
   
       9 . A full length mattress pad as in  claim 2 , wherein said cross-sectional shapes of said different projections forming said plurality of longitudinal sections are formed by at least longitudinal cuts within a selected portion of said inclined upper surface of said resilient body of said mattress pad, and wherein said longitudinal cuts extend across the entire body of said mattress pad.  
   
   
       10 . A full length mattress pad as in  claim 2 , wherein said cross-sectional shapes of said different projections forming said plurality of longitudinal sections are formed by at least longitudinal cuts within a selected portion of said inclined upper surface of said resilient body of said mattress pad, and wherein said longitudinal cuts extend only partially across the entire body of said mattress pad.  
   
   
       11 . A full length mattress pad as in  claim 2 , wherein said cross-sectional shapes of said different projections forming said plurality of longitudinal sections are formed by longitudinal and lateral cuts within a selected portion of said inclined upper surface of said resilient body of said mattress pad, preselected to address the relieving of support pressure points to decrease the chance of decubitus ulcers in users of said mattress pad, and wherein said longitudinal and lateral cuts within different sections are varied in at least one of depth, numbering, and spacing thereof.  
   
   
       12 . A full length mattress pad as in  claim 2 , wherein said cross-sectional shapes of said different projections forming said plurality of longitudinal sections are formed by longitudinal and lateral cuts within a selected portion of said inclined upper surface of said resilient body of said mattress pad, preselected to address the relieving of support pressure points to decrease the chance of decubitus ulcers in users of said mattress pad, and wherein said longitudinal cuts and said lateral cuts within different sections are varied in depth thereof.  
   
   
       13 . A full length mattress pad as in  claim 2 , wherein said cross-sectional shapes of said different projections forming said plurality of longitudinal sections are formed by longitudinal and lateral cuts within a selected portion of said inclined upper surface of said resilient body of said mattress pad, with channels formed within said resilient body of said mattress pad, adjacent the bottom of said cuts thereof.  
   
   
       14 . A full length mattress pad as in  claim 13 , wherein said channels are formed for corresponding with one or both of said longitudinal and said lateral cuts.  
   
   
       15 . A full length mattress pad as in  claim 13 , wherein said channels are formed with predetermined cross-sectional shapes.  
   
   
       16 . A full length mattress pad as in  claim 15 , wherein said predetermined cross-sectional shapes of said channels include at least one of circular, trapezoidal, triangular, and rectangular shapes.  
   
   
       17 . A full length mattress pad, for providing improved patient support for all parts of the user's body through provision of a support surface supplement that is formed for use with existing support surfaces, such as for use on top of a conventional mattress or hospital bed, for providing beneficial rest of a user through providing raised extremities while reducing the incidence of damaged tissue conditions such as may occur from the application of sheer forces thereto, said full length mattress pad comprising: 
 a body of resilient material having a relatively flat, planar lower surface for being received on top of an existing support surface, and having a length at least generally the same as that of a mattress on which said mattress pad will be supported;    an inclined upper surface defined by said body of resilient material, having a plurality of different longitudinal sections disposed on said inclined upper surface;    a predetermined angle of inclination for said inclined upper surface which is relatively constant along the entire length of said body of resilient material relative to said planar lower surface thereof, collectively defined by said plurality of different longitudinal sections;    a relatively flat surface inclined at said predetermined angle of inclination and defined in at least one of said plurality of different longitudinal sections; and    respective projections forming a surface, at said predetermined angle of inclination, and within at least one other of said plurality of different longitudinal sections; and    a plurality of channels formed between adjacent of said respective projections, for dissipating heat and moisture from a user who is supported on said inclined upper surface, to increase the health and comfort of such user; and    wherein said predetermined angle of inclination is no more than about 10°, so that improved patient support is provided through a combination of said inclined upper surface and said plurality of different longitudinal sections.    
   
   
       18 . A full length mattress pad as in  claim 17 , wherein at least one of said plurality of longitudinal sections may be formed with respective projections therein having specific cross-sectional shapes in both a top view and side view perspective.  
   
   
       19 . A full length mattress pad as in  claim 17 , wherein said channels are formed with predetermined cross-sectional shapes.  
   
   
       20 . A full length mattress pad as in  claim 19 , wherein said predetermined cross-sectional shapes of said channels include at least one of circular, trapezoidal, triangular, and rectangular shapes.  
   
   
       21 . A full length mattress pad as in  claim 17 , wherein said predetermined angle of inclination is between about 2° to 5°.  
   
   
       22 . A full length mattress pad as in  claim 17 , wherein said cross-sectional shapes of said respective projections forming said plurality of longitudinal sections are formed by at least longitudinal cuts within a selected portion of said inclined upper surface of said resilient body of said mattress pad, and wherein said longitudinal cuts extend across the entire body of said mattress pad.  
   
   
       23 . A full length mattress pad as in  claim 17 , wherein said cross-sectional shapes of said respective projections forming said plurality of longitudinal sections are formed by at least longitudinal cuts within a selected portion of said inclined upper surface of said resilient body of said mattress pad, and wherein said longitudinal cuts extend only partially across the entire body of said mattress pad.  
   
   
       24 . A full length mattress pad as in  claim 17 , wherein said cross-sectional shapes of said respective projections forming said plurality of longitudinal sections are formed by longitudinal and lateral cuts within a selected portion of said inclined upper surface of said resilient body of said mattress pad, preselected to address the relieving of support pressure points to decrease the chance of decubitus ulcers in users of said mattress pad, and wherein said longitudinal and lateral cuts within different sections are varied in at least one of depth, numbering, and spacing thereof.  
   
   
       25 . A full length mattress pad as in  claim 17 , wherein said cross-sectional shapes of said respective projections forming said plurality of longitudinal sections are formed by longitudinal and lateral cuts within a selected portion of said inclined upper surface of said resilient body of said mattress pad, preselected to address the relieving of support pressure points to decrease the chance of decubitus ulcers in users of said mattress pad, and wherein said longitudinal cuts and said lateral cuts within different sections are varied in depth thereof.