METHODS AND DEVICES FOR IMPROVING QUALITY OF BEDREST

Abstract

Systems and methods for improving the quality of bedrest are contemplated. It is contemplated that a repositionable resilient article may be placed atop a sleeping surface and underneath one or more articles of bedding for elevating the one or more articles of bedding above the level of the sleeping surface, and in particular above a particular height of an extremity of the user for reducing, mitigating, or preventing contact of the one or more articles of bedding with the extremity of the user, in order to achieve benefits conducive to improved bedrest, especially for convalescent users having a particularized need for such improved bedrest conditions owing to certain types of injuries or illnesses.

Claims

1. A method for improving quality of bedrest, the method comprising the steps of: providing a repositionable resilient article for placement atop a sleeping surface and underneath one or more articles of bedding, the resilient article having a bottom surface and a top portion, the bottom surface being configured for placement atop at a selected location of the sleeping surface, the top being portion configured to elevate the one or more articles of bedding to above at least the level of the selected location of the sleeping surface atop which the bottom surface is placed; and positioning the bottom surface repositionable resilient article atop a selected location of the sleeping surface with the top portion underneath one or more articles of bedding in order to elevate the one or more articles of bedding above the level of the selected location of the sleeping surface.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the repositionable resilient article is sized and configured so as to elevate the one or more articles of bedding to above at least the height of an extremity of a user positioned atop the sleeping surface and underneath the one or more articles of bedding.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the elevation of the one or more articles of bedding above at least the height of an extremity of a user positioned atop the sleeping surface is operative to reduce pressure applied against the extremity by one or more of the articles of bedding.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the elevation of the one or more articles of bedding above at least the height of an extremity of a user positioned atop the sleeping surface is operative to eliminate contact of the one or more articles of bedding against at least a portion of that extremity.

5. The method of claim 2, wherein the elevation of the one or more articles of bedding above at least the height of an extremity of a user positioned atop the sleeping surface is operative to improve airflow about at least a portion of that extremity.

6. The method of claim 2, wherein the elevation of the one or more articles of bedding above at least the height of an extremity of a user positioned atop the sleeping surface is operative to mitigate temperature increase in at least a portion of that extremity.

7. A device for improving the quality of bedrest, comprising a repositionable resilient article for placement atop a sleeping surface and underneath one or more articles of bedding, the resilient article having a bottom surface and a top portion, the bottom surface being configured for placement atop at a selected location of the sleeping surface, the top portion being configured to elevate the one or more articles of bedding to above at least the level of the selected location of the sleeping surface atop which the bottom surface is placed.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein the resilient article defines a triangular cross-sectional profile.

9. The device of claim 2, wherein the resilient article defines a right triangular cross-sectional profile.

10. The device of claim 2, wherein the resilient article defines an equilateral triangular cross-sectional profile.

11. The device of claim 1, wherein the top portion of the resilient article defines a generally arcuate surface.

12. The device of claim 1, wherein the top portion of the resilient article defines a linear edge.

13. The device of claim 1, wherein the top portion of the resilient article defines an arcuate or curvilinear edge.

14. The device of claim 1, wherein the bottom surface of the resilient article is generally flat.

15. The device of claim 1, wherein the bottom surface of the resilient article is configured for placement against and engagement with a corresponding portion of the sleeping surface.

16. The device of claim 1, wherein the resilient article is formed of a rigid material.

17. The device of claim 1, wherein the resilient article is formed of a flexible material.

18. The device of claim 1, wherein the resilient article is formed of a viscoelastic material.

19. The device of claim 12, where in the resilient article is formed of a viscoelastic polyurethane foam.

20. A system for improving the quality of bedrest comprising a resilient article configured to be associated with a sleeping surface and being configured for placement underneath one or more articles of bedding placed atop that sleeping surface, the resilient article having a bottom portion being operative for association with the sleeping surface at a selected location of the sleeping surface, and the resilient article having a top portion configured to elevate the one or more articles of bedding to above at least the level of the selected location of the sleeping surface with which the bottom portion is operative for association with.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0016] These and other features and advantages of the various embodiments disclosed herein are better understood with respect to the following descriptions and drawings, in which:

[0017] FIG. 1 is a cutaway side view of an embodiment of a system for improving quality of bedrest illustrating use of a device having a right triangular cross-sectional profile;

[0018] FIG. 2 is a perspective cutaway view of an embodiment of device for improving quality of bedrest having a right triangular cross-sectional profile;

[0019] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a device for improving quality of bedrest having a right triangular cross-sectional profile;

[0020] FIG. 4 is a side view of the device for improving quality of bedrest having a right triangular cross-sectional profile illustrated in FIG. 3;

[0021] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a device for improving quality of bedrest having an equilateral triangular cross-sectional profile;

[0022] FIG. 6 is a side view of the device for improving quality of bedrest having an equilateral triangular cross-sectional profile illustrated in FIG. 5;

[0023] FIG. 7 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a device for improving quality of bedrest having a top portion defining a generally arcuate surface; and

[0024] FIG. 8 is a side view of the device for improving quality of bedrest having a top portion defining a generally arcuate surface illustrated in FIG. 7;

[0025] Common reference numerals are used throughout the drawings and the detailed description to indicate the same elements.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0026] According to the disclosure herein, systems and methods for improving the quality of bedrest are contemplated. Specifically, it is contemplated that a repositionable resilient article may be placed atop a sleeping surface and underneath one or more articles of bedding for elevating the one or more articles of bedding above the level of the sleeping surface, and in particular above a particular height of an extremity of the user for reducing, mitigating, or preventing contact of the one or more articles of bedding with the extremity of the user, in order to achieve numerous benefits conducive to improved bedrest, especially for convalescent users having a particularized need for such improved bedrest conditions owing to certain types of injuries or illnesses. Furthermore, various configurations of devices which may be utilized as such a resilient article are contemplated and described herein, including repositionable as well as integrated devices.

[0027] Turning now to FIG. 1, an embodiment of a system for improving quality of bedrest illustrating use of a device having a right triangular cross-sectional profile is illustrated. As may be seen, a system for improving quality of bedrest may involve the use of a resilient article 10 that may be placed beneath one or more articles of bedding 12 and atop a sleeping surface 14 at a particular location in order to elevate the one or more articles of bedding 12 to above the level of selected location of the sleeping surface atop which the resilient article 10 is placed.

[0028] As may be seen, by elevating the one or more articles of bedding 12 in such a fashion via us of a resilient article 10, the articles of bedding 12 may be physically supported so as to no longer necessarily rest with their full weight upon the extremities of the occupant of the sleeping surface 14, but may instead be partially or fully lifted to at least above the level of the sleeping surface, which may or may not be a level above that of a proximal extremity of the user occupying the sleeping surface 14. In this manner, it may be seen that several benefits to the occupant of the sleeping surface 14 may be realized, including but not limited to a decrease in at least the localized pressure applied to their extremity or extremities from the weight of articles of bedding 12, an elimination of the localized pressure applied to their extremity or extremities from the weight of articles of bedding 12, an improvement in airflow about at least a portion of an extremity of the user occupying the sleeping surface 14, a mitigation in the rate of increase of temperature of at least a portion of an extremity of the user occupying the sleeping surface 14, as well as other benefits which will be readily apparent.

[0029] As may further be seen, the resilient article 10 may be positioned, according to the illustrated embodiment, at the foot of a sleeping surface 14 such as a mattress. Such positioning may be desirable where the desired extremity to be targeted for such above-described benefits may be the feet or legs of a wearer. However, it may also be seen that the resilient article 10 may be positioned elsewhere atop a sleeping surface 14, and indeed, anywhere atop a sleeping surface 14, that it may be desirable to position the resilient article 10, or multiple resilient articles 10, at a location where it will result in the elevating of the articles of bedding 12 proximal to a particular extremity. For example, if the extremity is an arm, it may be desirable to locate the resilient article 10 atop the sleeping surface 14 at a location to the side of the occupant lying down atop the sleeping surface 14. Likewise, it may be seen that the resilient article 10 may not necessarily need to correspond to the entire length of the sleeping surface 14, but rather may be tailored or adjusted to only correspond to a portion thereof, which, for example, may result in only a portion of the one or more articles of bedding 12 atop that length of the sleeping surface 14 being elevated. It may be appreciated that this may be useful to allow for the articles of bedding 12 to be elevated in a more targeted fashion, such as to correspond to only particular portions of extremities or extremities (e.g. for one leg of an occupant and not the other) for only one occupant of a sleeping surface 14 and not the other (e.g. two sleepers occupying the sleeping surface in a side-by-side arrangement.)

[0030] It may also be appreciated that the variations in which the articles of bedding 12 may be elevated according to the methods and systems described herein are essentially unlimited in their specifics and adjustability, and need not be confined to any one particular location and configuration of the resilient article 10, but rather, may be readily adjusted by the user or a caregiver, especially if a repositionable resilient article 10 is utilized. Likewise, it may be seen that a non-repositionable resilient article 10 may be utilized to accomplish the herein described objectives, and that, for example, a resilient article 10 may be incorporated with or formed as a component of a sleeping surface 14 or an article of bedding 12, or configured to be more fixedly attached or attachable to a sleeping surface 14 or an article of bedding 12. Furthermore, it may be seen the specific size of the resilient article 10 may be adjustable or configurable, and any size may be utilized which is suitable to accomplish the herein described methods.

[0031] With regard to the material utilized for a resilient article 10, it may be seen that any material or combination of materials may be utilized, so long as the basic function as described herein may be accomplished. However, according to more specific embodiments, it is contemplated that according to certain preferences or uses, a rigid material may be preferable, such as a hard plastic or rubberized material, while according to other preferences or uses, a flexible material may be preferable, such as a textile or woven material like a pillow. Likewise, it may be seen that a viscoelastic material may be utilized, such as a viscoelastic polyurethane foam, certain type of which are generally utilized in sleep products where it is called memory foam. However, it may be seen that any material for the resilient article 10 may be utilized which is suitable to accomplish the herein described methods, and should be considered to within the scope and spirit of the present disclosure.

[0032] Turning now to FIG. 2, one particular embodiment of device for improving quality of bedrest having a right triangular cross-sectional profile is illustrated, consisting of a repositionable resilient article 10. As may be seen, such an embodiment of a device may include a bottom portion 16, a top profile 18, a front portion 20, and a pair of side portions 24 bearing carry handles 26. As may be seen, the function of the bottom portion 16 may be to rest on and remain in place atop the selected location of sleeping surface 14, and the function of the top profile 18 may be to serve as a bearing surface for elevating the one or more articles of bedding 12 to above at least the level of the sleeping surface 14 at the selected location upon which the bottom surface 16 of the resilient article 10 is placed. It may further be seen that, by rotating the resilient article 10 in order to change which particular external surface is utilized as bottom surface 16, which accordingly will change which edge is selected as the top profile 18, the exact height to which the articles of bedding 12 is be elevated to may differ. In particular, for the illustrated embodiment in FIG. 2 which has a right-triangular cross section, two of the three sides, if used as the bottom surface 16, will result in the articles of bedding 12 being raised to the same height, which if the hypotenuse side is chosen as the bottom surface 16, then the articles of bedding 12 will be raised to a lower height. As such, the use of a right triangular cross-sectional profile may have certain advantages in enhancing the versatility of the resilient article 10.

[0033] Turning now to FIG. 3, another exemplary embodiment of a device for improving quality of bedrest having a right triangular cross-sectional profile is illustrated. As may be seen, the front portion 20 in this illustrated embodiment corresponds the hypotenuse side of the triangular profile, with the top portion 18 corresponding to a linear edge of opposite the bottom surface 16. However, it should be appreciated that rotation of the device may result in a different surface becoming the bottom surface 16, and the opposed edge to that surface becoming the top portion 18.

[0034] Turning now to FIG. 4, a side view of the device for improving quality of bedrest having a right triangular cross-sectional profile illustrated in FIG. 3 is shown. It may be appreciated that, by varying the height and width so that they are dissimilar, a device may be provided in which three different heights of the top portion 18 may be allowed for.

[0035] Turning now to FIG. 5, an embodiment of a device for improving quality of bedrest having an equilateral triangular cross-sectional profile is illustrated. It may be appreciated that according to such an embodiment, only a single height of a top portion 18 may be provided for. However, such an embodiment may result in more stability of the device, such that is remains more likely to remain in position atop a sleeping surface 14. Furthermore, it is to be appreciated that even though the illustrated devices have linear edges and linear surfaces along their length L, it is not necessary for the length L to be straight lines such that the top surfaces are likewise linear. It may be desirable for triangular devices to be curved, arcuate, or otherwise curvilinear along their edges according various permutations, which may be altered to allow for better elevation characteristics or localization, or for the devices to be reconfigurable so that they may be flexibly or non-flexibly transitioned from linear to non-linear configurations, such as via the introduction of kinks, bends, curves, etc., or the use of various features such as hinges, flaps, or any other systems or methods of altering the structure of a resilient article.

[0036] Turning now to FIG. 6, a side view of the device for improving quality of bedrest having an equilateral triangular cross-sectional profile illustrated in FIG. 5 is shown. It may further be appreciated that other triangular cross-sectional configurations are possible as well, such as acute, scalene, and indeed, configurations other than triangular. Furthermore, it may be appreciated that the surfaces themselves may include irregularities, openings, apertures, and other features, and need not be expressly flat surfaces. For example, it may be desirable to have an opening within the side of a resilient article 10 for the accommodation of a user's extremity, which may aid in maintaining the extremity and/or the resilient article 10 in position relative to one another.

[0037] Turning now to FIG. 7, an embodiment of a device for improving quality of bedrest having a top portion defining a generally arcuate surface is illustrated. It may be appreciated that such a configuration, in comparison to a triangular configuration, may be preferred, owing to a relatively broader bottom surface 16 resulting in a reduced likelihood of dislodgement or movement from the selected position against the sleeping surface 14, at the potential cost of a decreased ability to function in multiple rotatable configurations. Likewise, due to the increased surface area of the top surface 18 relative to the edge of a triangular cross-section, it may be seen that such a configuration might be more likely to retain an article of bedding in place due to greater frictional engagement, relative to a thinner edge as in the above-described embodiments.

[0038] Turning now to FIG. 8, a side view of the device for improving quality of bedrest having a top portion defining a generally arcuate surface illustrated in FIG. 7 is shown. It may be appreciated that such embodiment may also be desirable on an aesthetic basis, in that sharp edges are eliminated in favor of a curved top surface 18, which may be preferable in order to enhance the appearance of an article of bedding 12 when elevated by the curved top surface 18. It may additionally be seen that the height H or other parameters may be reconfigured by various known and future developed techniques, and that all of these should be considered within the scope and spirit of the present disclosure.

[0039] The above description is given by way of example, and not limitation. Given the above disclosure, one skilled in the art could devise variations that are within the scope and spirit of the invention disclosed herein. Further, the various features of the embodiments disclosed herein can be used alone, or in varying combinations with each other and are not intended to be limited to the specific combination described herein. Thus, the scope of the claims is not to be limited by the illustrated embodiments.