US1886637A - Pad for invalid cushions - Google Patents

Description

Nov. 8, 1932. H. M. BUCKLEY 1,886,637

PAD FOR INVALID CUSHIONS Filed June 19. 1951 Fir 7.

Patented Nov. 8, 1932 UNITED STATES HELEN M. BUCKLEY, F WESTIORT, CONNECTICUT PAD FOR INVALID CUSHIONS Application filed June 19,

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in cushions or pads particularly of the type used for the comfort of invalids or others confined to their beds and in use the pads are adapted to case a patient and prevent bed sores and the like.

An object of the invention is to provide a cushion particularly adapted for the purpose stated and which is more restful and comfortable than those heretofore known and which may be used continuously over a relatively long period of time without becoming uncomfortable to the patient.

Another object is to provide a cushion for the purpose stated and including an infla able core or center and one or more pads of soft material applied to said core to modify pressure against the patients and make them more comfortable, and an extensible cover enclosing the core and the pad or pads and secured at its edges in a more or less temporary manner so as to be readily removable as for laundering, renewal and the like.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent from a consideration of the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing wherein is shown a satisfactory embodiment of the invention. It is, of course, to be understood that the invention is not limited to the details disclosed but includes all such variations and modifications as fall within the spirit of the invention and the scope of the appended claims to which claims reference is to be had for a definition of the invention.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of an improved cushion in accordance with the present invention, parts being broken away to show more clearly the details of construction;

Fig. 2 is an edge view of the improved cushion, parts belng broken away;

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectlonal view through one side of the improved cushion; and

Fig. 4 is a plan view of aportion of a cushion cover showing one means of securing the outer edges of the cover.

Referring in detail to the drawing, the improved cushion as herein shown includes an inflatable core or center 5 which may be of 1931. Serial No. 545,440.

any desired shape, but which is usually a ring like member as herein shown. This core 5 is usually of rubber and is adapted to be inflated by the forcing of air into the core through the valve controlled entrance 6. The usual large inflatable rubber cushions, usually rings, when inflated and covered with a muslin slip are resistive and While these cushions change the position of the patient and for atime prove restful they must frequently be removed.

According to the present invention pads of the general shape of the core 5, that is, ring like pads, are cut'from some soft material such as cotton pads or felted or unwoven cotton, or other suitable soft material, and these pads are applied to the core at each of its sides. In the drawing, these ring like pads of soft material are designated 7 and it will be noted that three such pads are applied to'the core at each of its sides. The number of pads used will, of course, vary and will to a large extent be determined by their thickness. That is, if the pads are cut from a heavy or thick pad but one or two pads may be used, whereas, if the material from which the pads are cut is'not relatively thick a larger number of pads will be used.

These pads are not sewed together and are not in any way permanently secured to the 0 core 5. They are simply laid against the sides of the core and one on top of the other at each side of the core when more than one pad is applied to each of the sides of the core. Therefore, when a number of pads are in use about a core one or more of them may be easily removed or if desired additional pads may easily be applied to the core, the number being usually determined by the patients requirements.

A cover 8 of muslin or other suitable material is adapted to enclose the core and the pads and is preferably so applied as to be easily removable for laundering. To this end the outer edges of the covering may be only temporarily secured together whereby the cover is easily removable and whereby additional pads may be applied to the core or some of the pads removed from the core without entirely removing the cover from the 1 cushion. The cover is formed of upper and lower parts 9 and 10 each of which is in the form of a ring whereby the completed cover will be of the general shape of the cushion and the parts 9 and 10 are more or less permanently secured together at their inner edges as by the stitching 11. Secured intermediate their ends to th stitched edges of the parts 9 and 10 of the cover are a plurality of tapes or ribbons 12, the said tapes or ribbons being secured to the cover as by the stitching 11. Preferably,

a considerable number of these tapes are'used,

6 or more being suggested, and these tapes are preferably equally spaced. In use these tapes are carried over and under the pads 7 applied to the respective sides of the core 5 and are then tied as at 13 whereby to secure the pads in place on the core. The outer edges of the parts 9 and 10 forming the cover 8 may then be temporarily secured together as by basting as shown at 15 or as by the snap fasteners 14 shown in Fig. 4:. Since the outer edges of the cover are secured after the pads are tied to the core by the tapes 12 it will be appreciated that the cover is more or less extensible in that it is adapted to accommodate a varying number of pads.

From what has been said, it will be appreciated that the cushion of the present inven tion Will be extremely useful in making more comfortable those who are bed-ridden and that since it is often painful for such persons to move or be moved the use of a cushion which remains comfortable for a relatively long period of time is extremely desirable. As the cushion of the present invention includes a yielding core, an air cushion, and as the core is well padded by a soft material such as cotton or the like a very soft cushion is provided. Moreover, the cover being easily removable may be kept clean without appreciable difliculty and more or less of the pad 7 may be applied to either or both sides of the core as is found desirable.

Having thus set forth the nature of my in vention, What I claim is: V r

1. In a cushion, an inflatable core, a soft pad of the shape of said core applied to a side of the core, a cover, tapes carried by the cover and adapted to be tied about the pad and core to secure the pad in place on the core, and said cover adapted to enclose the core, pad and tapes when the cushion is in use. I 2. In a cushion, a ringlike inflatable core, a pad of soft material of the shape of said core and applied to a side thereof, a cover comprising a pair of ring like parts permanently secured at their inner edges and adapted to enclose the core and pad, tapes secured to the inner side of said cover and adapted to be passed around the core and pad and secure the pad to the core, and said cover adaptthe core, said cover adapted to enclose the tapes when the cover is in position, and means to temporarily secure the other adjacent edges of the parts of the cover together.

' In testimony whereof I affix my signature. HELEN M. BUCKLEY.

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