Support surface assembly for a sleeping person

Abstract

A support surface assembly for a sleeping person that comprises a rigid frame with an upper edge for supporting an air-permeable layer and an air-permeable layer that is fixedly joined to the upper edge in a desired tension, such that the upper edge is entirely covered by the outer perimeter of the air-permeable layer. The air-permeable layer comprises a lattice grid structure such as a mesh material, a netting or a web-like material. The outer perimeter of the air-permeable layer is joined to the frame at the side wall or at the bottom wall of the frame.

1 . A support surface assembly for reducing risk of injury to a sleeping person, said assembly comprising:
 a. an air-permeable layer;   b. an essentially rigid frame comprising an upper portion having an upper edge, a lower portion having a bottom wall, and side walls, for supporting said air-permeable layer, said frame extending along the perimeter of said support surface assembly; and   c. means for fixedly joining said air-permeable layer to said frame,   wherein said joining means is applied such that said air-permeable layer is provided with a desired tension and entirely covers said upper edge,   wherein the thickness of said upper edge is less than that of said bottom wall and ranges from 0.5 to 3 mm, thereby reducing risk of injury with respect to said frame if the sleeping person falls on said air-permeable layer.   
   
   
       2 . A support surface assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the upper portion of the frame has a triangular cross section. 
   
   
       3 . A support surface assembly according to  claim 2 , wherein the frame has a truncated right triangular shape. 
   
   
       4 . A support surface assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the upper edge of the frame is rounded. 
   
   
       5 . A support surface assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the air-permeable layer comprises a lattice grid structure that may be chosen from the group consisting of:
 a. a mesh material;   b. a netting; and   c. a web-like material.   
   
   
       6 . A support surface assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the outer perimeter of the air-permeable layer is joined to the frame at the side wall of said frame. 
   
   
       7 . A support surface assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the outer perimeter of the air-permeable layer is joined to the frame at the bottom wall of said frame. 
   
   
       8 . A support surface assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the upper edge of the frame is covered by padding. 
   
   
       9 . A support surface assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the frame further comprises a plurality of passageways for providing additional air flow means. 
   
   
       10 . A support surface assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one transverse cross bar is situated transversely within the frame. 
   
   
       11 . A support surface assembly according to  claim 10 , wherein a breathing and movement monitor is positioned below the cross bar. 
   
   
       12 . A support surface assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein a conventional mattress is situated at the underside of the frame. 
   
   
       13 . A support surface assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the frame further comprises pivotable transverse sides, for inwardly folding said frame. 
   
   
       14 . A support surface assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein a movement sensor is attached to the air-permeable layer, for sensing mechanical vibrations caused by a respiratory movement and for transmitting signals that represent the profile or pattern of the sensed vibrations to a monitoring device. 
   
   
       15 . A support surface assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the frame further comprises opposing transverse walls joined to opposing longitudinal walls by a mechanism for correcting sagging of the air-permeable layer. 
   
   
       16 . A support surface assembly according to  claim 15 , wherein the mechanism is spring loaded. 
   
   
       17 . A support surface assembly according to  claim 15 , wherein the mechanism is chosen from the group consisting of:
 a. a spring loaded hinge; and   b. a hinge and a compression spring.   
   
   
       18 . A support surface assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein vibratory motion of the air-permeable layer is transmitted to a movement sensor placed on a frame support by means of a vibration transmitter. 
   
   
       19 . A support surface assembly according to  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of pivotable legs for elevating one longitudinal end of the frame. 
   
   
       20 . A vibration transmitter for transmitting vibratory motion of a suspended surface, comprising an upper member in contact with an underside of said suspended surface, a lower member in contact with a movement sensor placed on a stationary surface and coupled to said upper member, and spring means extending from said lower member to a surface of said upper member, said lower member adapted to oscillate in response to said vibratory motion, whereby to induce a corresponding electrical signal by means of said movement sensor. 
   
   
       21 . The vibration transmitter according to  claim 20 , wherein a portion of an upper member body surrounds a lower member body and the lower member is coupled with the upper member by means of one or more pins protruding from the side of the lower member body and received in a corresponding vertically oriented groove formed in the upper member body. 
   
   
       22 . The vibration transmitter according to  claim 20 , wherein the spring means is a stiff coiled spring by which the upper and lower members are vertically displaced in unison in response to the vibratory motion. 
   
   
       23 . The vibration transmitter according to  claim 20 , wherein the upper member has a flange for contacting the suspended surface, said flange being made of, or covered by, a resilient material for protecting a person located on the suspended surface. 
   
   
       24 . The vibration transmitter according to  claim 20 , wherein the suspended surface is an air permeable layer, said air permeable layer being supported by an essentially rigid frame comprising an upper portion having an upper edge, a lower portion having a bottom wall, and side walls,
 wherein said air-permeable layer is fixedly joined to said frame such that said air-permeable layer is provided with a desired tension and entirely covers said upper edge,   wherein the thickness of the upper edge is less than that of said bottom wall, thereby reducing risk of injury with respect to the frame if a sleeping person falls on the air-permeable layer.   
   
   
       25 . The vibration transmitter according to  claim 24 , wherein the thickness of the upper edge ranges from 0.5 to 3 mm.