Inflatable, pressure alleviating, eggcrate mattress pad

Abstract

The inflatable, pressure alleviating, eggcrate mattress pad is a mattress pad that is placed on top of a conventional mattress. The mattress pad has an eggcrate-shaped surface and separate air channels inflate and deflate alternating air cells at different intervals and pressure levels. The air cells are alternately inflated or deflated in a checkerboard pattern so that as one air cell point is inflated, the adjoining air cell point is deflated. The mattress pad is also equipped with two inflatable wedges on the underside of the mattress pad. One wedge is on each side of the centerline of the mattress pad. When either of the wedges is inflated it will tip one side of the mattress upwards to assist turning over an immobilized patient.

1 - 7 . (canceled)  
   
   
       8 . A mattress pad for immobile patients, comprising: 
 a first group of air cells and a second group of air cells arranged in a checkerboard pattern of rows and columns, adjacent air cells in the checkerboard pattern alternating between an air cell of the first group and an air cell of the second group, the checkboard pattern of air cells defining a mattress pad having a top surface and a bottom surface, and a head end and a foot end, each of the air cells having a protruding top face, whereby the top surface of the mattress pad is eggcrate-shaped;    a first air supply path connecting the air cells of the first group, and a second air supply path connecting the air cells of the second group, the air supply paths being formed from tubing;    a first inflatable wedge and a second inflatable wedge attached to the bottom surface of the mattress pad on opposite sides of an axis bisecting the mattress pad from the head end to the foot end; and    an air pump connected to the first and second supply paths and to the first and second inflatable wedges;    wherein said air pump further comprises a first manual control connected to said first wedge and a second manual control connected to said second wedge, whereby said wedges are inflatable under manual control;    whereby the first and second groups of air cells are alternately inflatable and deflatable to alleviate pressure, and the first and second wedges are selectively inflatable to assist turning an immobilized patient onto his side.    
   
   
       9 . The mattress pad according to  claim 8 , further comprising a first, a second, a third, and a fourth air supply line connecting said air pump to said first air supply path, said second air supply path, said first wedge and said second wedge, respectively, said air supply lines being independently controllable.  
   
   
       10 . The mattress according to  claim 8 , further comprising a plurality of straps attached to the mattress pad, the straps being extendible below the bottom surface of the mattress pad and adapted for firmly attaching the pad to a mattress, the straps having free ends having releasable fasteners rigidly attached thereto.  
   
   
       11 - 14 . (canceled)