Cover for deflatable support cushions

Abstract

A mattress cover and related system for removing and replacing same is disclosed herein. The cover is specifically designed for special cushions required for bedridden hospital patients or those confined to a wheelchair in preventing pressure ulcers (or bed scores). A rigid application guide is also provided to assist hospital staff in replacing the cover as well as novel means for fastening. It is further contemplated that the cover be disposable and comprised of two-ply material with a first being a plastic material and a second being paper based material.

1 . A cover for a mattress, the mattress having a plurality of cells, the cells being inflatable and deflatable cells, the cover comprising:
 a plurality of rows and columns corresponding to the plurality of inflatable and deflatable cells, the plurality of rows and columns further each comprising a plurality of summits and valleys, each of the summits and valleys surrounding each of the plurality of cells, wherein the plurality of summits and valleys prevent a hammock effect between two or more inflated cells with a deflated cell therebetween.   
     
     
         2 . The cover for a mattress of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a first, a second, a third and a fourth corner having a first midpoint between the first corner and the second corner;   a second midpoint between the first corner and the third corner;   a third midpoint between the second corner and the fourth corner; and   a fourth midpoint between the third corner and fourth corner, wherein each of the first, second third and fourth corners, and each of the first, second, third and fourth midpoints each comprise a means for fastening.   
     
     
         3 . The cover for a mattress of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of cells have a cell height and wherein the plurality of valleys has a valley height and wherein the valley height is less than the cell height. 
     
     
         4 . The cover for a mattress of  claim 3  wherein the valley height is approximately 1¾ inches and wherein the cell height is 2 inches. 
     
     
         5 . The cover for a mattress of  claim 3  wherein the valley height is approximately 87.5% of the cell height. 
     
     
         6 . The cover for a mattress of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a first layer comprising paper material; and   a second layer coupled to the first layer, the second layer comprising plastic material.   
     
     
         7 . The cover for a mattress of  claim 1 , wherein the cover is disposable. 
     
     
         8 . The cover for a mattress of  claim 1 , the plurality of cells having a shape chosen from a group consisting of a rectangular shape, a cylindrical shape, and a hexagonal shape. 
     
     
         9 . A cover system for a mattress, the mattress having a plurality of cells, the cells being inflatable and deflatable cells, the cover comprising:
 a mattress cover; and   a rigid application guide, the rigid application guide having a checkerboard frame for guiding the cover around the plurality of inflatable cells.   
     
     
         10 . The cover system for a mattress of  claim 9 , wherein the checkerboard frame comprises a plurality of checkerboard squares each corresponding to one of the plurality of cells. 
     
     
         11 . The cover system for a mattress of  claim 9 , wherein the checkerboard frame comprises structural lengths having a diameter approximately between 1/16 inches and ¼ inches. 
     
     
         12 . The cover system for a mattress of  claim 9 , the cover further comprising a plurality of rows and columns corresponding to the plurality of inflatable and deflatable cells, the plurality of rows and columns further each comprising a plurality of summits and valleys, each of the summits and valleys surrounding each of the plurality of cells, wherein the plurality of summits and valleys prevent a hammock effect between two or more inflated cells with a deflated cell therebetween. 
     
     
         13 . The cover system for a mattress of  claim 9 , the cover further comprising:
 a first, a second, a third and a fourth corner having a first midpoint between the first corner and the second corner;
 a second midpoint between the first corner and the third corner; 
 a third midpoint between the second corner and the fourth corner; 
 a fourth midpoint between the third corner and fourth corner, wherein each of the first, second third and fourth corners, and each of the first, second, third and fourth midpoints each comprise a flap, and wherein each flap further comprises a means for fastening. 
   
     
     
         14 . The cover system for a mattress of  claim 13  wherein the means for fastening comprises a color coding scheme. 
     
     
         15 . The cover system for a mattress of  claim 9 , wherein the plurality of cells have a cell height and wherein the plurality of valleys has a valley height and wherein the valley height is less than the cell height.