Pneumatic mattress

Abstract

A mattress has a cover enclosing two layers of pneumatic cells made of impermeable material welded into desired shapes. A bottom layer comprises edge cells extending the length of the mattress, partially closed at hip and knee positions so the cells have head and back, upper leg and lower leg portions that pivot relative to adjoining portions, without pressure in them tending to keep them rigid. Six head cells are arranged with their length in the direction of the length of the mattress, separate from the edge cells. Six lower leg cells are between the lower leg portions. A central space in the bottom layer is filled by a group of nine transversely extending cells held together by toggles. An upper layer has a head back and upper leg group of twelve transverse cells and a second group of seven lower leg cells.

1 . A pneumatic mattress comprising:
 a top layer of pneumatic cells and a bottom layer of pneumatic cells,
 the cells in each layer being integrated together in two or more groups of one or more cells and 
 the groups of cells in each layer including:
 means disconnectably connecting the groups to each other, 
 
   a cover enclosing the layers,   a multi-way umbilical hose for selective supply of air to the groups of cells and   a pneumatic connector for connecting the multi-way umbilical hose to a source of pressure air.   
     
     
         2 . A pneumatic mattress according to  claim 1 , wherein the top and bottom layers of pneumatic cells have means for disconnectably connecting the layers. 
     
     
         3 . A pneumatic mattress according to  claim 1 , wherein the means for disconnectably connecting the groups and the layers along connection zones, when the said means disconnectably connects the layers, comprises:
 strips along cells where the cells extend parallel to the zones or tabs at the ends of cells where the cells extend transverse to the connection zones,   apertures in the strips or tabs and   connecting means connecting the strips at the apertures.   
     
     
         4 . A pneumatic mattress according to  claim 3 , wherein the connecting means between complementary pairs of apertures comprises a pair of toggles and an interconnection between the toggles at least within the top layer and between the top layer and the bottom layer. 
     
     
         5 . A pneumatic mattress according to  claim 4 , including an additional flap co-extensive with at least some of the strips and covering the toggles. 
     
     
         6 . A pneumatic mattress according to  claim 3 , wherein in the bottom layer the disconnectably connecting means comprises:
 strips along cells where the cells extend parallel to the zones or tabs at the ends of cells where the cells extend transverse to the connection zones, and   pop fasteners connecting the strips.   
     
     
         7 . A pneumatic mattress according to  claim 3 , wherein within a group of cells the tabs are continuous as strips. 
     
     
         8 . A pneumatic mattress according to  claim 1 , wherein the cells of the groups in the top layer extend transversely of the length of the mattress. 
     
     
         9 . A pneumatic mattress according to  claim 1 , wherein the top layer includes two groups of cells connected at a knee position. 
     
     
         10 . A pneumatic mattress according to  claim 9 , wherein the connection at the knee position is substantially level with a bottom surface of the top layer, whereby as the two groups of cells are hinged about the connection, a gap opens at the top surfaces of the groups. 
     
     
         11 . A pneumatic mattress according to  claim 1 , wherein at least some of the cells in the groups in the bottom layer extend longitudinally of the mattress. 
     
     
         12 . A pneumatic mattress according to  claim 11 , wherein the bottom layer includes edge cells disconnectably connected to cells there between, the edge cells extending longitudinally of the mattress and at least one group of transverse cells between the longitudinal cells. 
     
     
         13 . A pneumatic mattress according to  claim 12 , including longitudinal cells at the head and leg ends of the bottom layer between the longitudinal edge cells. 
     
     
         14 . A pneumatic mattress according to  claim 13 , wherein longitudinal leg cells are necked or divided to allow bending of the mattress at a knee position. 
     
     
         15 . A pneumatic mattress according to  claim 12 , wherein the longitudinal edge cells extend to the ends of the mattress and are turned in at their ends. 
     
     
         16 . A pneumatic mattress according to  claim 12 , wherein the edge cells are necked for bending at the knee and hip regions. 
     
     
         17 . A pneumatic mattress according to  claim 1 , wherein the cover is an integral portion of either of the layers, or at least integrally connected to one of the groups of cells in one of the layers. 
     
     
         18 . A pneumatic mattress according to  claim 1 , wherein the cover is separable from the cells. 
     
     
         19 . A pneumatic mattress according to  claim 1 , wherein the cover includes straps extending underneath the bottom layer of cells for lifting of the mattress. 
     
     
         20 . A pneumatic mattress according to  claim 4 , wherein in the bottom layer the disconnectably connecting means comprises:
 strips along cells where the cells extend parallel to the zones or tabs at the ends of cells where the cells extend transversely to the connection zones, and   pop fasteners connecting the strips.