US20030000011A1

US20030000011A1 - Laminar spread for beds, transformable into a bathtub

Info

Publication number: US20030000011A1
Application number: US09/896,300
Authority: US
Inventors: Juan Lagomarsino
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2001-06-29
Filing date: 2001-06-29
Publication date: 2003-01-02

Abstract

LAMINAR SPREAD FOR BEDS, TRANSFORMABLE INTO A BATHTUB; being applied as covering means of a bed, stretcher or similar thing, is characterized because it includes:

a square sheet, of waterproof and flexible material, defined by two longitudinal borders and two traverse borders, parallel by twos;

two longitudinal fold lines that, in respectively parallel disposition to said longitudinal borders, extend the complete length of the sheet to finish in the traverse borders of the same; so that among such longitudinal fold lines and said longitudinal borders longitudinal walls are conformed, foldable around their own fold lines;

two traverse fold lines that, in respectively parallel disposition to said traverse borders, extend the complete width of the sheet crossing the longitudinal fold lines and finishing in the longitudinal borders of the same; so that among such traverse fold lines and those mentioned traverse borders, bolster walls are conformed, being foldable around their fold lines;

four oblique fold lines that, uniting the respective intersections of the lines of longitudinal fold and traverse with the corner proximal of the sheet, they define corresponding corner folds foldable against one of said walls;

a bottom that, defined by the longitudinal and traverse fold lines, has a mouth for the discharge of liquid, with closing means of the same;

a means for supplying rigidity of at least one of the lateral walls, constituted by a rigid member supportable to the border of the wall of application; and

means of positional support among the corner folds and the proximal lateral wall against which the same is foldable.

Description

I—BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present utility model refers to a laminar spread for beds, transformable into a bathtub and its purpose is the protection of the bed where it is applied to allow the one using the same to take a bath, without necessity of being transferred for such end.

A great quantity of affections exist due to which it is not advisable to make the patient move outside of the bed in which the person is confined. There even are cases in which it is not even convenient to carry out movements inside the bed where the patient lies.

Such is the situation present with certain type of wounds, bone problems, post-surgery, burns, etc. When some of these cases happen and the sick person should remain lying on a bed for a long time, the hygiene of the same becomes a problem since to do so the patient should be transferred up to the place where the corresponding bathtub is located. The alternatives are to carry out this transfer once the conditions of the patient allow it, or to make a superficial hygiene “in situ.” That is to say that, anyway, the permanent and thorough hygiene is affected by the condition of the one affected.

One of the resources to solve this problem consists in, as soon as the conditions allow it, to transfer the sick person using a canvas that is passed below the person's body and, maintaining said canvas stretched by its edges borders, it allows to transport the patient up to the bathtub. In other cases a not very thick frame on which a strongly tensed fabric mounts so that it does not yield with the weight of the body.

The problem is that, in the case of the canvas, if the stretcher bearers do not maintain it extremely and constantly tight when being carried, traumatic disarrangements of the body can take place. In the case of the frame, the problem can take place when passing the body over the same.

As alternative or complementary means of those already mentioned, different stretchers are used which allow to transfer the body between said stretcher and its adjacent area, or vice versa reducing close contacts or disarrangements that can be traumatic. Among these well-known stretchers there are units provided of beds including movable tracts, as well as beds that can be disassembled from the structure.

In most of the cases it is stretchers to which it has been tried to endow of the biggest possible versatility, with the purpose that they adapt to the different stages that compose the operation of transfer of a body. That is to say that they can be prepared appropriately for the quick displacement on different support planes.

Contrary to all these means, the present utility model supplies a laminar spread whose employment does not require the patient's transfer to take a bath. Indeed, it is a laminar spread applicable as covering means on the application bed and that it can be transformed into a bathtub. It includes a square sheet provided, so much of longitudinal and traverse fold lines, as of oblique fold lines, among all which the lateral walls are defined. Against these last ones they are foldable and sustainable corresponding corner folds, including one of said lateral walls a means for supplying rigidity.

So much the longitudinal lateral walls as the bolsters are foldable around their respective fold lines, for what they can be elevated until they are erect, while the corner folds that are formed fix to the longitudinal walls by means of the respective means of positional support.

The presence of a rigid member on one of the borders, on the other hand, supplies support to the set arranged in this way, supplemented by its means of support.

With this disposition the spread is transformed in a bathtub that, once the bath has been carried out, can be evacuated of liquid through the corresponding outlet mouth and exhaust tube. Finally the lateral walls are depressed being the sheet disposed as a spread.

II—ILLUSTRATIONS

For better clarity and understanding of the object of the model, it is illustrated by means of several figures in which the same has been represented in one of its preferred embodiments, everything as an illustrative example, not limitative: [0012]
FIG. 1 is a view in perspective of the spread disposed on the application bed and with its longitudinal lateral walls and erected bolsters conforming the bathtub. The corner folds foldable which can be supported to the longitudinal lateral walls by means of the means of positional support are clearly distinguished. On one of the traverse borders, the means for supplying rigidity can be seen. [0013]
FIG. 2 is a superior view of the spread in which you can observe the displayed square sheet. The longitudinal and traverse fold lines can be observed and, starting from their intersection, their respective corner tracts. The oblique fold lines are also seen. On the longitudinal lateral walls the means of positional support destined to the foldable corner folds are seen. [0014]
FIG. 3 is a longitudinal cut, seen laterally, in which the spread disposed on the base of the bed is illustrated. In this case it can be seen how the outlet of liquid discharge ends in an exhaust tube.[0015]
In the different figures, the same reference numbers indicate same or corresponding parts, and the groups of several elements have been pointed out with the letters. [0016]
Listing of the main references: [0017]
(a) laminar spread. [0018]
(b) application bed. [0019]
([0020] 1) square sheet.
([0021] 2) longitudinal edge of the square sheet (1).
([0022] 2′) longitudinal fold lines.
([0023] 2″) corner tracts of the longitudinal fold lines (2′)
([0024] 3) traverse edge of the square sheet (1).
([0025] 3′) traverse fold lines.
([0026] 3″) corner tracts of the traverse fold lines (3′).
([0027] 4) oblique fold lines.
([0028] 5) bottom of the spread.
([0029] 6) longitudinal lateral walls.
([0030] 7) lateral bolster walls.
([0031] 8) mouth of liquid discharge.
([0032] 9) exhaust tube.
([0033] 10) means of positional support of the corner folds (11).
([0034] 11) foldable corner folds.
([0035] 12) rigid member [means for supplying rigidity].
([0036] 12′) support of the rigid member (12).
([0037] 13) base of the bed (b).
([0038] 14) legs of the bed (b)

III—MAIN OBJECT

To the specified ends, said utility model consists on a laminar spread (a) for beds (b), TRANSFORMABLE INTO A bathtub; the one that being applied as covering means of a bed (b), stretcher or similar thing, is characterized because it includes: [0039]
a square sheet ([0040] 1), of waterproof and flexible material, defined by two longitudinal borders (2) and two traverse borders (3), parallel by twos;
two longitudinal fold lines ([0041] 2′) that, in respectively parallel disposition to said longitudinal borders (2), extend the complete length of the sheet (1) to finish in the traverse borders (3) of the same; so that among such longitudinal fold lines (2′) and said longitudinal borders (2) longitudinal walls are conformed (6), foldable around their own fold lines (2′);
two traverse fold lines ([0042] 3′) that, in respectively parallel disposition to said traverse borders (3), extend the complete width of the sheet (1) crossing the longitudinal fold lines (2′) and finishing in the longitudinal borders (2) of the same (1); so that among such traverse fold lines (3′) and those mentioned traverse borders (3), bolster walls are conformed (7), being foldable around their fold lines (3′);
four oblique fold lines ([0043] 4) that, uniting the respective intersections of the lines of longitudinal fold (2′) and traverse (3′) with the corner proximal of the sheet (1), they define corresponding corner folds (11) foldable against one of said walls (6);
a bottom ([0044] 5) that, defined by the longitudinal (2′) and traverse (3′) fold lines, has a mouth (8) for the discharge of liquid, with closing means of the same;
a means for supplying rigidity of at least one ([0045] 7) of the lateral walls (6)(7), constituted by a rigid member (12) supportable to the border (3) of the wall (7) of application; and
means of positional support ([0046] 10) among the corner folds (11) and the lateral wall (6) proximal against which the same is foldable.

IV—DESCRIPTION

In general terms, this utility model refers to a laminar spread (a) for beds (b) that is transformable into a bathtub and it includes a square sheet ([0047] 1) provided, so much of longitudinal (2′) and traverse (3′) fold lines, as of oblique fold lines (4), among all which the lateral walls (6)(7) are defined. Against the latter walls (6)(7) there are foldable and supportable corresponding corner folds (11), one (7) of said lateral walls (6)(7) including a means for supplying rigidity (12). [see FIG. 1]
More particularly, the present laminar spread (a) includes a square sheet ([0048] 1) constituted by a waterproof and flexible material. This square sheet (1) is defined by two longitudinal (2) and by two traverse (3) borders, which are parallel. [see FIG. 2]
Parallel to said longitudinal borders ([0049] 2), the square sheet (1) presents two respective longitudinal fold lines (2′) that extend along the complete length of the sheet (1) ending in the traverse borders (3). In this way among each longitudinal fold line (2′) and their proximal border (2) a respective longitudinal lateral wall is conformed (6). Both longitudinal walls (6) this way conformed are foldable around their respective fold line (2′). [see FIGS. 1 and 2]
On the other hand, also in the square sheet ([0050] 1), but in parallel form respecting the traverse borders (3), there are two traverse fold lines (3′) that extend along the complete width of said sheet (1) so that they cross the longitudinal lines (2′) to in the longitudinal borders (2). With this disposition, among each traverse fold line (3′) and their proximal traverse border (3) a respective lateral bolster wall is conformed (7). Both bolster walls (7) are foldable around the respective fold lines (3′) that conform them. [see FIG. 2]
In each one of the four corners of the square sheet ([0051] 1) there is a respective oblique fold line (4) that joins the intersection of the lines of longitudinal fold (2′) and traverse (3′) with the proximal corner. These oblique fold lines (4), together with the corner tracts (2″) (3″) of the longitudinal fold (2′) and traverse (3′) lines, define corresponding corner folds (11). [see FIG. 2]
These corner folds ([0052] 11), on the other hand, are foldable against the longitudinal lateral wall (6) adjacent to each one of them (11), on which they have means of positional support (10 ). Another way of embodiment has also been foreseen in the one on which the corner folds (11) are foldable against the respective lateral bolster walls (7) in which the means of positional support (10) are found. [see FIG. 1]
Together with this, said longitudinal ([0053] 2′) and traverse (3′) fold lines, define a bottom (5) of the spread (a) provided of a mouth (8) for the discharge of liquid. This discharge mouth (8) that counts with closing means, ends in an exhaust tube (9). [see FIG. 3]
In the described embodiment, the laminar spread (a) has a means for supplying rigidity of one ([0054] 7) of the lateral walls (7)(6), consistent in a rigid member (12) supportable to the lateral bolster wall (7). This rigid member (12) is endowed with a means of support (12′) against any support, just as a wall. Nevertheless other ways of embodiment have been foreseen in which the spread (a) has rigid members (12) in several or in all the borders (2)(3) of the square sheet (1). [see FIG. 1]
The set works in the following way: [0055]
The laminar spread (a) is disposed on the bed (b) of application, so that the reverse of their bottom ([0056] 5) supports against the base of said bed (b). [see FIGS. 1 and 3]
Under these conditions, if the longitudinal lateral walls rise ([0057] 6), their respective fold lines (2′) allow their folding until the same (6) are completely erected with regard to the bottom (5).
The same happens to the lateral bolster walls ([0058] 7) that can be folded due to the presence of their respective traverse fold lines (3′). [see FIG. 1]
Together with this, in each corner of the sheet ([0059] 1), the presence of the oblique fold line (4) and of the corner tracts (2″) (3″) of the longitudinal (2′) and traverse (3′) lines, allows a folding of that section of the sheet (1), so that the foldable corner folds (11) are formed. The latter (11) fix to the longitudinal walls (6) by means of the respective means of positional support (10). [see FIGS. 1 and 2]
The rigid member ([0060] 12), on the other hand, contributes in this way sustentation to the group disposed, supplemented by the means of support (12′).
With this disposition the spread (a) is transformed into a bathtub that, once the bath has been carried out it can be the liquid can be evacuated through the corresponding discharge mouth ([0061] 8) and exhaust tube (9). [see FIGS. 3 and 1]
Once the liquid is evacuated, the liberation of the means of positional support ([0062] 10) allows the unfolding of the corner folds (11) and the depression of the longitudinal lateral (6) and bolster (7) walls with which the sheet (1) becomes a spread (a). [see FIG. 2]
It is certain that being the present utility model put into practice, modifications in certain details in construction and form details will be able to be introduced, without implying to move away from the fundamental principles that are clearly mentioned in the following claim clauses: [0063]

Claims

Having thus especially described and determined the nature of the present utility model, and how it can be put into practice, it is declared to claim, as of exclusive right and property:

1. LAMINAR SPREAD FOR BEDS, TRANSFORMABLE INTO A BATHTUB; being applied as covering means of a bed, stretcher or similar thing, is characterized because it includes:

2) LAMINAR SPREAD FOR BEDS, TRANSFORMABLE INTO A BATHTUB, in accordance with claim 1; characterized because the longitudinal and traverse fold lines, starting from their intersection, define respective corner tracts that finish in the borders of the square sheet.

3) LAMINAR SPREAD FOR BEDS, TRANSFORMABLE INTO A BATHTUB, in accordance with claim 1; characterized because the foldable corner folds are defined by the respective oblique fold lines and by the respective corner tracts of the longitudinal and traverse fold lines.

4) LAMINAR SPREAD FOR BEDS, TRANSFORMABLE INTO A BATHTUB, in accordance with claim 1; characterized because the corner folds is foldable against the longitudinal lateral walls in which the means of positional support are found.

5) LAMINAR SPREAD FOR BEDS, TRANSFORMABLE INTO A BATHTUB, in accordance with claim 1; characterized because the corner folds is foldable against the lateral bolster walls in which the means of positional support are found.

6) LAMINAR SPREAD FOR BEDS, TRANSFORMABLE INTO A BATHTUB, in accordance with claim 1; characterized because it includes rigid members supportable to each one of the lateral walls.