Inflatable Mattress Guard

Abstract

An inflatable mattress guard is provided. The present invention relates to a mattress guard having a sheet with side pockets on the top surface of the sheet wherein inflatable bladders can be inserted into the pockets and selectively inflated and deflated by the user of the mattress depending on the user's needs and preferences. The invention has application to bed safety devices for hospitals and nursing homes, as well as to general use for toddlers and young children in a home environment.

1 . A mattress guard fitted for placement on the top side of a mattress, the mattress guard comprising:
 a mattress sheet having a longitudinal pocket along the top edge of a long side of the mattress;   an air bladder configured for placement within the longitudinal pocket;   an inflation device operably connected to the bladder; and   a control unit in communication with the inflation device for a user of the mattress to selectively inflate and deflate the bladder.   
     
     
         2 . The mattress guard of  claim 1 , wherein the air bladder comprises a pressure sensor for sensing when the user is in contact with the air bladder. 
     
     
         3 . The mattress guard of  claim 1 , wherein the air bladder has a flat surface aligned, within the pocket, along the top edge of the long side of the mattress. 
     
     
         4 . The mattress guard of  claim 3 , wherein the air bladder has a cross-sectional shape of a semicircle. 
     
     
         5 . The mattress guard of  claim 3 , wherein the air bladder has a cross-sectional shape of a right triangle, the right triangle comprising a short leg, a long leg, and a hypotenuse, and wherein the long leg is placed, within the pocket, along the top edge of the long side of the mattress and the short leg is placed on an outer edge of the mattress. 
     
     
         6 . A mattress guard fitted for placement on the top side of a mattress, the mattress guard comprising:
 a mattress sheet having more than one longitudinal pockets along the top edge of a long side of the mattress;   air bladders configured for placement within the longitudinal pockets;   an inflation device operably connected to the bladders; and   a control unit in communication with the inflation device for a user of the mattress to selectively inflate and deflate the bladders.   
     
     
         7 . The mattress guard of  claim 6 , wherein the air bladders comprise pressure sensors for sensing when the user is in contact with the air bladders. 
     
     
         8 . The mattress guard of  claim 6 , wherein the air bladders have a flat surface aligned, within the pockets, along the top edge of the long side of the mattress. 
     
     
         9 . The mattress guard of  claim 8 , wherein the air bladders have a cross-sectional shape of a semicircle. 
     
     
         10 . The mattress guard of  claim 8 , wherein the air bladders have a cross-sectional shape of a right triangle, the right triangle comprising a short leg, a long leg, and a hypotenuse, and wherein the long leg is placed, within the pockets, along the top edge of the long side of the mattress and the short leg is placed on an outer edge of the mattress. 
     
     
         11 . A method of guarding against a user of a mattress accidentally falling off the mattress, the method comprising the steps of:
 securing a mattress sheet to a top surface of the mattress, the mattress sheet having longitudinal pockets along a top edge of a long side of the mattress and air bladders configured for placement within the longitudinal pockets;   connecting an inflation device to the bladders, the inflation device and bladders being in communication with a control unit;   allowing the user of the mattress to selectively inflate and deflate the bladders using the control unit depending on the user's needs and preferences.