US20070033738A1

US20070033738A1 - Air bed having independent air chambers

Info

Publication number: US20070033738A1
Application number: US11/203,369
Authority: US
Inventors: Terry Tu
Original assignee: Eezcare Medical Corp
Current assignee: Eezcare Medical Corp
Priority date: 2005-08-15
Filing date: 2005-08-15
Publication date: 2007-02-15

Abstract

An air bed having independent air chambers is disclosed for the patients suffering with bedsores. The air bed has multiple air chambers and a pneumatic device, and the multiple air chambers are arranged in matrix on the bed. The pneumatic device includes at least one air pipe. The air chambers of odd numbers and even numbers rows are connected to different air pipes. The rows of odd number and even number chambers can be filled with air in turn, which is favorable to turn the patient, and promote blood circulation. The air chambers corresponding to the bedsore can be bound into an hour glass configuration, so that the bedsore part will not contact the air chambers, while healthy other parts supported by the air chambers will not endure much pressure, which is favorable to the patient.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an air bed, and particularly relates to an air bed having independent air chambers that can be selectively controlled in a matrix to match a particular pattern of a patient's body.
2. Description of Related Art
Some bedridden patients experience bedsores, even anaemia, contagion and decline of the immunity function. The best way to prevent the bedsores is to turn the patient frequently such that different parts of the body contact the bed. This has traditionally been done by nurses but is troublesome as leaning over to lift a patient is ironically hazardous to health of the people doing the lifting. Thus, an air bed has been devised to have the same effect of exposing different parts of the patient's body to contact with the bed. With reference to FIG. 6, multiple barrel shaped chambers (80) are mounted on a bed frame (81) and arranged in parallel with each other. The even and odd numbered rows of chambers are respectively connected to two air pipes (82), (83), so the chambers in odd number rows and in the even number rows can be alternately filled with air, which eliminates long-term contact between the patient's body and the bed. When the patients begins to suffer bedsores, the air will be released from the corresponding chamber, and the bedsore part will not contact the chamber, which permits the part to recover.
However, as each chamber (80) is barrel shaped, when the air is released, the respective chambers (80) collapse and a large part of the patient will not be in contact with the air bed, which results in more pressure being applied to other parts of the body. This causes patient discomfort.
Therefore, the invention provides an air bed having independent air chambers to mitigate or obviate the aforementioned problems.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The main objective of the present invention is to provide an air bed having multiple independent air chambers, which is more comfortable than the air bed in prior art. The air bed of this invention consists of multiple air chambers and a pneumatic device. The air chambers are configured as vertical cylinders and arranged in a matrix on bed. The air chambers separated into rows of odd numbers and even numbers are respectively connected to two air pipes, whereby the air chambers in rows of odd numbers and even numbers can be charged with air in turn, which facilitates turning the patients, and promotes blood circulation
As the air chambers are formed as vertical cylinders, a top area of each air chamber is comparatively smaller than the barrel shaped air chamber, whereby the air chambers corresponding to the bedsore of the patients can be shortened in height by being bound with ropes to protect the patients, and other parts of the patient's body are still supported by the air chambers, thus creating a bed which is comfortable and healthy for a bedridden patient to rest on. Other objectives, advantages and novel features of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the air bed having independent air chambers in accordance with this invention;
FIG. 2 is a schematic illustration showing passages between every two neighboring air chambers (10) in a same row;
FIG. 3 is a schematic illustration showing the way that the air chambers connect with the air pipes;
FIG. 4 is a schematic illustration showing the one of the air chambers is bound by a rope;
FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing the way to use the air bed; and
FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a conventional air bed.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

With reference to FIGS. 1-3, an air bed of this invention has multiple air chambers (10) and a pneumatic device.
Those air chambers (10) are arranged in a matrix and mounted on the bed frame (11), and the air chambers (10) are each configured as a vertical cylinder after being charged with air.
The pneumatic device comprises two air pipes (20,21), each air pipe (20,21) has a first end connected to an air pump (30), and a second end connected to the air chambers (10) located in one of two longitudinal edges of the bed frame (11) via branch pipes (50). Wherein the air pipes (20,21) are respectively connected to the air chambers (10) of odd numbers and of even numbers via the branch pipes (50), for example, one of the air pipes (20) is connected to the first row, the third row, the fifth row, etc; the other air pipe (21) is connected to the second row, the fourth row, the sixth row etc.
Between every two neighboring air chambers (10) in a same row, a passage (40) is provided, whereby the chambers (10) in a same row are able to communicate with each other. In addition, a supporter (41) is provided below the air chambers (10) to keep the passage (40) open. The air from the pump (30) enters via the air pipes (20) the air chambers that are located in the longitudinal edge of the bed frame (11), and then enters the other chambers in a same row via the passage (40). In this way, all the air chambers (10) are filled with air to support the patient.
The air pump (30) first compresses the air to travel the air pipes (20,21), then the air goes to the air chambers (10) through branch pipes (50). When it is necessary, the air is released from the air chamber (10) via the branch pipes (50) and the air pipes (20,21).
With reference to FIG. 4, when the patient begins to suffer bedsores in some parts of the body, a rope (60) is provided to bind the air chamber (10) that supports the bedsore part of the body, so the air can not fully extend that air chamber (10) and thus achieving an hour glass shape. In this way, the bedsore part is protected by being separated from the respective air chamber (10).
With reference to FIG. 5, in order to secure the air bed better, two pads (70) are respectively laid along in the two longitudinal edges and are approximately flush with the air chambers (10), whereby the air chambers (10) will not tilt outward. Furthermore, the air chambers (10) are covered by a counterpane (71) to make the patient more comfortable, and guard bars (72) are mounted in the two longitudinal edges to further secure the chambers (10) as well as protect the patient.
As the air chambers (10) of odd numbers and even numbers rows are connected to different air pipes (20,21), the rows of odd number and even number chambers (10) can be filled with air in turn, which is favorable to turn the patient, and promote blood circulation. The number of the air chambers (10) is adjustable if necessary, and can provide a unique pattern suitable for each patient.
If the patient suffers bedsores in some parts of the body, one or several air chambers (10) can be released. In this way, the bedsore part will not contact the air chambers (10), while the healthy other parts are supported by the air chambers but will not endure much pressure, which is favorable to the patient.
It is to be understood, however, that even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the present invention have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structure and function of the invention, the disclosure is illustrative only, and changes may be made in detail, especially in matters of shape, size, and arrangement of parts within the principles of the invention to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed.

Claims

1. An air bed having independent air chambers comprising

a bed frame (11) with two longitudinal edges;

multiple air chambers (10) arranged in matrix mounted on the bed frame (11), wherein the chambers (10) are configured in rows, each chamber (10) is configured as a vertical cylinder, and the chambers of each row communicate with each other;

a pneumatic device including at least one air pipe, wherein each one of the at least one air pipe has a first end connected to an air pump (30), and a second end connected to the air chambers (10) located in the longitudinal edges of the bed frame (11).

2. The air bed having independent air chambers as referred in claim 1, wherein the pneumatic device includes two air pipes (20,21), and each of the air pipes (20,21) has a first end connected to the air pump (30), and a second end connected to the air chambers (10) located in the longitudinal edges of the bed frame (11).

3. The air bed having independent air chambers as referred in claim 2, wherein the two air pipes (20,21) are located in one longitudinal edge of the bed frame (11).

4. The air bed having independent air chambers as referred in claim 1, wherein the at least one air pipe (20,21) is connected to the air chambers (10) through multiple branch pipes (50).

5. The air bed having independent air chambers as referred in claim 1, wherein two pads (70) are paved in the two longitudinal edges of the bed frame (11).

6. The air bed having independent air chambers as referred in claim 1, wherein a supporter (41) is provided below the air chambers (10).