WO2008012297A1 - Bedding set - Google Patents

Abstract

The bedding set for a bedridden person comprises a bottom sheet element (11) and a top sheet element (12), which are identical and include assembly means (3) to form a sleeping bag closed on both lateral sides (13, 14) and on a lower foot side (15). The assembly means comprise at least one dual opening (35, 36) zipper fastener (3) and separable at the two ends (311, 312), which extends along the length of the lateral sides and the lower side between the upper ends (131, 141) of said lateral sides, and shoulder strap means (41, 42, 46), arranged on the upper ends of the sheet elements in order to connect said upper ends to each other while passing over the shoulders of the person occupying the sleeping bag.

Description

 Sleeping package

The present invention relates to a sleeping arrangement, in particular but not exclusively intended for the elderly dependent and / or very agitated.

It concerns in particular all the means for covering such persons, ensuring both their comfort and their safety.

In general, a bottom sheet is used, often a fitted sheet, which envelops the mattress, and a top sheet, supplemented where appropriate by one or more blankets, to cover the bedridden person and guarantee him sufficient heat. In case of incontinent persons, a disposable or washable mat is also used. For agitated people, it is necessary to avoid that they discover themselves and take cold. It is also necessary to guarantee their safety by keeping them on the bed to avoid any falls. It may also be necessary to prevent the bedridden person from having access to certain parts of his body or clothing, for example to prevent it from removing the protective layers it is wearing and to defile the bedding, or to prevent the patient from tearing off a probe, an infusion or any other measuring device attached to his body.

Currently, to avoid the problems posed by a restless patient, various types of means are used, depending on the risks involved and the importance of the agitation of the patient. For example, barriers on the sides of the bed are used to prevent falls from the bedridden person. In even more serious cases, or to ensure the safety of patients against falls in periods of incomplete consciousness, restraining means are used to immobilize the patient on his bed, or at least part of his body. Known restraining means are, for example, straps or the like which are arranged transversely on the bedridden person and fixed on both sides on the bed base. It is already known, for example by EP0996397 or US5070557, to add such a strap to a top sheet, also bordered in a conventional manner at the foot and on the sides of the bed, in particular at the upper edge of the top sheet. , or at the level of the belt of the patient, to both maintain the patient and also ensure the maintenance of the sheet and thus ensure the comfort of the patient, keeping him warm, possibly prevent him from slipping his hands under the sheet, etc.

Also known, by US4653131, a contention system using a sheet or the like covering virtually all of the bed base and attached at different points distributed over its entire periphery and leaving only an opening for the passage of the head of the bedridden person .

The document GB1293993 shows a kind of holding and compression vest formed of a piece of tissue in which a hole is made to pass the head and which extends on the chest and in the back of the person wearing this vest. The vest also includes means such as straps and rings to fix it, particularly at the waist and shoulders, on a bed or a wheelchair for example, and thus to maintain the person. But this vest is only a means of restraint, without ensuring any warmth or comfort particular to the wearer. In the field of coating systems essentially intended to improve comfort, GB2412843 is also known, for example, sleeping bag systems or duvets arranged to removably receive an inner sheet held to the sleeping bag by the edges. To improve the maintenance of a blanket for the sleeping of small children, GB1338622 proposes a cover assembly comprising a bottom bound to a top, the underside being adapted to wrap an end portion of the mattress and thus hold the assembly relative to the mattress, in combination with a system of straps. Straps secured to the cover are arranged to hold the baby in it. For a similar purpose, it is also known from EP-1637045 sleeping bags with straps for children arranged to be able to adapt a kind of outer bag as a cover and held on the inner bag on its periphery. Also known from US-2003/0226205 systems for children combining sleeping bag and mattress.

The present invention aims to solve the problems of restraint and comfort posed by the elderly. It aims in particular to allow these people to spend the night without discovering, without being cold, safely without risking falling from the bed, over the protective barriers. It also aims to prevent the said people from getting stuck in the bars of the bed. It also aims to prevent the incontinent patient from tearing his diapers and stains the bedding, or snatches infusions or probes or any other device implanted or attached to the body. It aims to facilitate hygiene by allowing easy access to the lower parts of the patient, and simplifying the replacement of the pads.

It is also intended to allow the caregiver access to the various parts of the body of the bedridden person while at least partially maintaining the restraint, in particular to allow access to the lower parts of his body without fully discovering it or to remove the restraint. the upper portion. It is also intended to allow the patient, if necessary, to stand up and possibly walk without being discovered.

It is also optional to allow the degree of heat to be adapted according to the patient and the ambient temperature.

It also aims to allow easy transfer of a patient from his bed to an armchair or other bed.

With these various objectives in view, the invention relates to a bedding unit for a bedridden person, comprising a bottom sheet element and a top sheet element, characterized in that the sheet elements from below and from above are identical and comprise means of assembly to form a closed sleeping bag on two lateral sides and a bottom side of the foot, the assembly means comprising at least one zipper, the zipper (s) extending into together, along the lateral sides and the lower side, between upper ends of said side sides, and strap means being arranged on the upper ends of the sheet elements to connect said upper ends together by passing over the shoulders of the person occupying the sleeping bag.

According to a preferred arrangement, the slide fastener or zippers are double slider and separable at both ends.

Thanks to the zippers, the sleeping set can be easily closed on three sides, as is customarily done for the usual duvets or sleeping bags. But, unlike these, the zippers according to the invention have their separable ends separable located at the opening of the bag thus formed. On each zipper, the two sliders can be arranged one right next to the other, so as to close the bag along the entire length of the zipper, at any point of the closure, and in particular away from the opening of the bag, preventing thus the person to access and open his bed. The straps also prevent the person pushes the bed to extract it. Thus, thanks to the invention, the bedridden person can not be discovered or leave the bed by his own means, but still retains great freedom of movement of his body inside the sleeping set. In addition, insofar as its arms are arranged outside the sleeping set, the straps prevent the person from ironing his hands inside, and for example to tear the probes, layers or other suitable accessories on his body. On the other hand, as explained later, the possibility of opening by spreading the sliders in particular at the level of the lower part, allows an easy access for the nursing staff.

A notable advantage of the invention is that the two sheet elements are identical, and therefore can be assembled in pairs without distinguishing between top sheet and bottom sheet, since of course they are of the same size, typically 1 m on 1.9 m. In addition, the manufacture of these sheet elements is simplified since there is only one sheet to manufacture.

Another advantage is the use of a double slider zipper and separable at both ends. This allows, for example, by using a single zipper extending continuously from one upper end of one of the lateral sides to the upper end of the other side side, various possibilities of opening the sleeping bag, especially : - lateral opening, the closure now then the two sheet elements assembled on one lateral side,

- opening of the lower part, between the two sliders, maintaining the assembly of the lateral sides, by the ends of the zipper, at least on an upper part of these sides, which allows access to the lower part from the body of the bedridden person without discovering it, or by discovering it only up to the necessary height. small localized opening, anywhere along the length of the zipper, to allow the passage of probes, infusions, cables or various piping of control devices, etc. The possibility of opening only in the lower part can also allow the person occupying the sleeping set to clear his feet and thus be able to put them on the ground, and therefore move while keeping the sleeping set on it, and so without discovering and staying warm. To facilitate such movements it is advantageously provided cords fixed on the lower edges of each sheet element to allow to maintain the lower part of the sheet elements temporarily raised, without touching the ground.

According to alternative complementary provisions:

- The braces means have strings to tie passing over the shoulders and can also be connected together in the patient's back to prevent these cords slip from the shoulders.

the straps means comprise, self-gripping strips with, on each sheet element, on one side a velvet part, and on the other a hook part, the said velvet and hook parts being the conventional components of VELCRO ® Velcro Strips.

each cloth element has on one side an armhole formed between an upper part of a lateral side of the sheet element and a thin border connected to the sheet, and the zipper extends along the said border to a neckline, the braces means being constituted by the connection of the two sheet elements by means of the zipper in the part located between the armhole and the neckline.

According to other optional additional provisions:

- Each sheet element has on its edges, on the inner side relative to the slide fasteners, first fixing means for the removable attachment of an inner mattress. The sleeping set may also comprise pants leggings or panty adaptable in the sleeping set and serving as a mattress or having a mattress pad, and that the person can keep on it when leaving the sleeping set, or when a replacement of the sleeping set.

each sheet element comprises on its edges, on the outer side with respect to the slide fasteners, second fastening and / or handling means for the removable fixing of an outer cover or for adapting holding means on the bed; or to handle the sleeping set occupied by a person.

- The first and / or second fixing means comprise: bias elements sewn punctually on the sheet elements to form a garland, and / or self-gripping tape elements. each sheet element comprises means for adjusting the neckline and / or armholes. the adjustment means comprise, for each cloth element, a draw cord passing through a sheath sewn towards the edges of the neckline and the armhole, or in loops formed by a seam stitched at several points spaced along its length along said edges. - The sleeping set comprises two zippers, each zipper extending from an upper side end to the middle of the lower side.

the lower part of the sleeping unit is shaped to constitute two leggings, the sleeping unit comprising two zippers each extending from one upper lateral end to the bottom of a leggings, and a third one to slide linking the two sheet elements between the legs.

Other features and advantages will appear in the description which will be made of several embodiments of a coating assembly according to the invention.

Reference is made to the accompanying drawings, in which: FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment, comprising straps fastenable by self-gripping strips, the coating assembly being shown open laterally and with a cover adapted to cover the whole externally,

- Figure 2 illustrates the possibility of opening the assembly in the lower part, while leaving the upper part closed, to allow access to the legs for example. On this view, there is no cover.

FIG. 3 shows a possibility of holding the sheet element on the bed by straps, Figure 4 shows the two separate sheet elements, in a second embodiment with the straps formed by knotted cords. FIG. 5 shows, in this second embodiment, the complementary use of a cover attached to the top sheet element, and another possibility of holding on the bed by straps FIG. 6 shows the two elements of separate sheet, in a third embodiment with the straps formed from the sheet elements connected by the zipper, with armholes provided between the main part of each sheet element and a border or strap carrying a part of the closure zipper. FIG. 7 is a plan view of the two assembled sheet elements,

FIG. 8 represents the practical use of the assembly according to this third embodiment. FIGS. 9 and 10 illustrate an example of means for adjusting the neckline and the armholes,

FIG. 11 shows an embodiment with j ambiances,

FIG. 12 illustrates the use of this latter embodiment by a bedridden patient; FIG. 13 shows an embodiment of a panty panty that can be used with the coating assembly according to the invention.

In the drawing of Figure 1, the coating assembly according to a first embodiment is shown disposed on a bed 1, open laterally in a position adapted to receive a person. This set comprises a first cloth element 11 forming a bottom sheet, and a second sheet element 12 constituting a top sheet. These two sheet elements are identical and connected on one side only in the position shown, by a zipper 3. In fact, each sheet element 11 and 12 comprises a half, that is to say one of the racks 31, 32, of the zipper, sewn on the side edges 13, 14 and the lower edge 15. Each rack has a retainer 33, 34 located at the end of the rack upwardly from a lateral side, and carries a slider 35, 36.

At its upper end, each piece of cloth 11, 12 comprises a short strap 41 on one side and a long strap 42 on the other, the latter carrying an element of a self-gripping band 43 adapted to grip on the corresponding element 44 carried by the short strap of the other cloth element, as can be seen in Figure 2 where the strap 42 is passed over the shoulder of the bedridden person. The Velcro tape member 44 is visible in Figure 3 where the short strap 41 is shown folded forward. The location between the straps 41, 42 forms a half-neckline 45. When the two sheet elements are assembled, the area between the shoulder straps 41, 42 and the upper portions 131, 141, side edges form an armhole where passes the arm of the bedridden person.

In the situation shown in FIG. 1, the lateral edge 14 of the bottom sheet 11 is connected to the lateral edge 13 of the top sheet 12, by the engagement of the two racks 31 and 32 from the stopper 33 connected to the bottom sheet 11 until at the position obtained by sliding the slider 35, linked to the rack 31 of the bottom sheet. The slider 36 connected to the rack 32 of the top sheet is not engaged on the rack 31 of the bottom sheet and is held against the retainer 34.

To close the bed, after the person has taken place, the top sheet is folded down and the slider 36 is engaged on the upper end 311 of the rack 31, then the slider 36 is slid to down to join the other cursor 35. The position of the sliders does not in itself affect the closure, as long as they are well brought against each other. They may for example be placed just in the middle of the lower side 15, but also more on one side, as illustrated in FIG. 8, or even on one of the lateral sides 13, 14, while being then slightly spaced from each other for passing a thread 91 of a control apparatus or the like. In FIG. 2, the coating assembly is shown while the two sliders 35 and 36 have been moved to mid-height thus separating the lower portion 15 of the top sheet 12 from that of the bottom sheet 11 while retaining the two sheet elements connected by the zipper on each side between the stops 33, 34 and the sliders 35, 36 respectively. The lower part 15 of the top sheet 12 is then raised, giving access to the lower part of the body of the bedridden person. FIG. 1 also shows mattresses 51 which can be fixed on the internal face of each of the sheets, by elements 52 of self-gripping tape, represented in FIG. 3, or by knotted cords 53 as illustrated in FIG. 4, or any other means adapted to allow easy separation of the mattress with respect to the sheets, to facilitate the replacement of soiled mattresses.

It is also possible to add to the assembly according to the invention a cover 54, which can cover all of the two sheet elements, as shown in FIG. 1, by being connected thereto by self-gripping strip elements, or other similar means. The cover may also be adapted to cover only one piece of sheet, being attached easily removable by links or cords, as shown in Figure 5. FIG. 3 also shows the possible retention of a sheet element 11 on the bed by straps 61 passing through suitable buttonholes 62 provided in the sheet, and which can be fastened to the sides of the bed. Such straps can be provided to only hold the bottom sheet on the bed, or also to hold the bedridden more firmly by passing over the body. It may for example be expected to hold firmly the legs, but to maintain the trunk more flexibly to allow the person to rise at least slightly, but without it can for example fall to the bottom of the bed. To prevent the strap from spreading across the sheet and detracting from comfort, it is also possible to hold each side of the sleeping set by separate straps passing independently through the buttonholes 62 or any other suitable passer, such as on the floor. example of Figure 5.

FIGS. 4 and 5 show a second embodiment, in which the holding means at the shoulders are formed by simple ties or cords 46 sewn on the upper edges of each sheet element, on each side of the neck 45 , and knotted between them. in Figure 4, the bottom sheet 11 has its inner face, and the top sheet 12 has its outer face, that is to say, its top face.

In the embodiment shown in these figures, there is also shown strips 55 of resistant textile sewn in a succession of spaced points along the zipper on the side of the inner face of the sheet elements, so as to form a sort of garland. This textile strip thus forms a plurality of attachment zones that can be used for fastening the mattresses by binding the cords 53 thereof, as shown in FIG. to adjust the positioning of said pads as needed.

Similarly, strong textile strips 56 can be sewn in a succession of dots along the zippers on the outside of the sheets, to be used to hold a single cover 57, as shown in FIG. 5, by connecting cords. holding 58 sewn on said blanket. The attachment zones thus defined by the textile strips 56 can also be used to fix or to pass thereon retaining straps 61. They can also be used as handles to move the sleeping set, or even to carry the whole sleeping with a person inside. It will be noted in the example shown in Figures 4 and 5 links or cords 59 sewn at the lower side, and can be attached to a suitable equipment of the bed, to allow in particular to maintain this raised end, to maintain the legs of the bedridden person in elevation. These cords can also be used to separately lift the said lower sides of the sheets, after having separated them by means of the zipper, so that the person placed in the sleeping set can get up and put their feet on the ground and walk. while keeping the sleeping package wrapping around his body. The cords can then be simply held in the hand, or tied up on each of the sheets.

In the embodiment of Figures 6 to 10, each rack 31, 32 of the zipper 3 extends from the edge of the neck 45 from one side to the edge of the neck on the other side . Each sheet element has a thin border 16 which defines with the edge 131a of the upper end 131 of a side 13 an armhole 17. Each rack 31, 32 of the slide fastener thus extends from the stop 33, 34 located at the edge of the neck 45 on the opposite side to that having the armhole 17, to the edge of the neck 45 located armhole side, passing on said thin edge, or even constituting thereof. In Figure 6, the bottom sheet 11 and the top sheet 12 show their inner faces, while in Figure 7, showing the closed coating assembly, we see the outer face of the top sheet.

The assembly of the two sheets is performed by folding the top sheet over that underneath, as shown by the arrows of Figure 6, after having passed the arms in the armholes corresponding; in the example shown, and considering the person lying normally on the back, his left arm will be passed in the armhole 17 of the bottom sheet, and his right arm will be passed in the armhole of the top sheet, to finally obtain 8 The slider 35 of the bottom sheet 11 is engaged on the end 312 of the rack of the top sheet 12, and the slider 36 of the top sheet is engaged on the end 311 of the sheet rack. from below. From this commitment, the two upper ends of the two sheets are connected and form the shoulder straps that firmly hold the shoulders. Then simply slide the sliders towards each other to completely close the sleeping bag.

To be able to adapt the sleeping set to the morphology of each person, it is also provided means for adjusting the neckline and armholes. Such means are shown by way of example in FIGS. 9 and 110, in the case of the third embodiment, but may easily be transposed to the other modes. These adjustment means comprise for example a cord 71 passing through a sheath 72 sewn near the edge 131a of the armhole 17 and the neck 45, and the cord is also secured to one end of said sheath. As illustrated in FIG. 10, it suffices to pull on the free end of the cord 71 to gather the sheath and thus the part of the surrounding sheet, and thus obtain a decrease in the dimensions of the neckline and the armholes.

The sheet elements according to the invention may be made of various textile materials.

The zippers can be of any type, sufficiently resistant, and note that the term rack should not be understood as limiting the invention to zippers with teeth, but also any other types of closures commonly called "zip".

Although in the examples described above, there has been shown a single closure passing from one side to another continuously, it would also be possible to use for example two closures, each extending from the upper edge, at the from the armhole or neckline to eg the middle of the lower side. Such an arrangement makes it possible to offer additional possibilities for assembling the two sheet elements of the assembly, or to provide several localized openings between the sliders of each zipper. FIG. 11 illustrates an embodiment variant based on that of FIGS. 6 to 10, in which the coating assembly comprises leggings 110. For this purpose, each sheet element 11 is cut in such a way as to form half-housings 111 and has a zipper member 31, 32 extending from each side from the neckline to the foot, and a third zipper member 39 extending along the inner side of the leggings, one leg to the other. The bedridden person, as seen in Figure 12, thus has a greater independence of movement of his legs. The ends of the leggings can stay open to let the passage to the feet, laces 112 for tightening the ends of the leggings around the ankles of the user. These latter arrangements allow the person to stand up and move normally while wearing the sleeping set. It will be noted that in particular the third zipper may also have only one slider.

FIGS. 13 and 14 illustrate the use, complementary to that of any one of the previously described embodiments of the coating assembly according to the invention, of panty pants 300 made according to the view of FIG. 13, with a separable front and a rear and can be assembled after being folded over one another by zippers 301, and kept in addition to the waist and ankles by cords 302. The opening system by zippers allows for example to set up or remove the pants without the need to put on leggings, which greatly facilitates the operation for example on a bedridden person with reduced mobility. The panty 300 may comprise suitable removable means forming a mattress pad 303, or may itself constitute a mattress, adaptable in the bedding assembly, such as the mattress pad 51 of FIG. 4.

Of course, it will also be possible to use in each embodiment, the optional arrangements that have been previously described in connection with a single mode and relating in particular to the addition and fixing of mattresses, blankets, support straps, etc. .

Claims

A bedding unit for a bedridden person, comprising a bottom sheet element (11) and a top sheet element (12), characterized in that the bottom and top sheet elements are identical and comprise means assembly (3) to form a closed sleeping bag on two lateral sides (13, 14) and a lower foot side (15), the assembly means comprising at least one zipper (3), the the zippers extending in their entirety, along the lateral sides and the lower side between upper ends (131, 141) of said lateral sides, and strap means (41, 42, 46) being arranged on the upper ends of the sheet elements to connect said upper ends together by passing over the shoulders of the person occupying the sleeping bag. 2. Sleeping unit according to claim 1, characterized in that the slide fastener or zippers comprise at least one slide fastener (3) with double slider (35, 36) and separable at both ends (311, 312), 3. Sleeping unit according to claim 1, characterized in that the strap means comprise tie strings (46). 4. Sleeping unit according to claim 1, characterized in that the strap means comprise, self-gripping strips (43, 44) with, on each sheet element, on one side a velvet part (44), and on the other a hook part (43). Sleeping unit according to claim 1, characterized in that each cloth element has on one side an armhole (17) formed between an upper part (131) of a lateral side (13) of the sheet and a thin border (16) connected to the sheet, and the zipper (3) extends along said border to a neck (45), the strap means being constituted by the connection of the two elements of sheet by means of the zipper in the part situated between the armhole and the neckline. 6. Sleeping unit according to claim 1, characterized in that each sheet element has on its edges, on the inner side with respect to the slide fasteners, first fastening means (55) for the removable attachment of an inner mattress (51). 7. Sleeping assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that each sheet element comprises on its edges, on the outer side relative to the slide fasteners, second means (56) for fixing and / or manipulation for the removable attachment. an outer cover (57) or for adapting means (61) for holding on the bed or for handling the sleeping set occupied by a person. 8. Sleeping assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that the first and / or second fastening means comprise resistant textile strips (55, 56) sewn punctually on the sheet elements to form a garland, and / or Velcro tape elements (52). 9. Sleeping unit according to claim 1, characterized in that each sheet element comprises adjusting means (71, 72) for the neck (45) and / or armholes (17). 10. Sleeping unit according to claim 9, characterized in that the adjusting means comprise, for each sheet element, a pull cord (71) passing in a sheath (72) sewn towards the edges of the neck and the armhole, or in loops formed by a bias sewn at several points spaced along its length along said edges. 11. Sleeping assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises two zippers (3), each zipper extending from an upper lateral end to the middle of the lower side. 12. Sleeping assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that the lower portion of the coating assembly is shaped to form two leggings (110), the coating assembly comprising two zippers (31, 32) s' extending each from an upper side end to the bottom of a leg, and a third zipper (39) connecting the two sheet elements between the legs. 13. Sleeping unit according to claim 6, characterized in that it comprises a panty leggings (300) or adaptable panty serving as a mattress or having a mattress pad.