5 6
greater than the width or outer diameter of the arms 24 each disposed on a plane which connects the longitudi
thus permitting the free ends of the tines 60 to "over- nal axes of the upper and lower stays 18.
hang" an arm 24 somewhat when such is received Positioned atop each of the side panels 88 is a sheet of
within the slot. As the free end of each tine 60 is pro- foam padding material 76. The foam material 76 is gen
vided with a small bore 64, an appropriately sized pin 66 5 erally rectangular in outline and is of an even thickness
may be inserted therein so as to close the entrance to the throughout. Preferably, the thickness of the material is
slot 62 and positively secure the stay 18 and connector i of the diameter of the pads 68 so as to present a
20 in position relative to one another. Although one smooth surface to the user on each side of the support
connector 20 is shown in the preferred embodiment of 10. The upper and lower ends of the material 76, indi
the invention, their number may be increased for added 10 cated respectively at 90 and 92, may also be tapered in
strength. thickness as shown to accommodate the curved outer
The frame 12 is jacketed with foam padding for user surface of the pads 68. Preferably, the foam material 76
comfort. As may be seen most clearly in FIGS. 2 and 6, is secured to the underlying fabric with well-known
each of the longitudinal stays 18 is covered with a tubu- adhesive cements which provide a relatively permanent
lar, close-fitting, foam pad 68 of sufficient size and den- 15 ^ inexpensive bond. Nevertheless, hook and loop
sity to minimize decubitus ulcer formation opportunities fasteners, snaps, zippers, and buttons, among other fas
and promote healing of ulcers already formed. The temnS means> could be used in the alternative to retain
inner diameter of the pad 68 is adequate to securely fit the foam material 76 m place on an impermanent basis.
about each of the arms 24 and their connecting tubular The mventive support 10 would most commonly be
hinges 46. The outer diameter of the pad 68, however, 20 employed by a bedridden mdividual to prevent the
is sufficiently great to prevent contact of the user's body onset of decubitus ulcers and promote the healing of
with the arms 24 when the foam is compressed during e£stmS sores ^easing air and blood circulation to
periods of normal use. A longitudinal cut 70 connecting fectfd ^ f538- F?T use; thKe fPP°* 10,1S flrf P0S1:
f, • j „ r.? c J £t> 4.tT tioned on the top surface of a bed with the longitudinal
the inner and outer walls of the foam pad 68 permits the „ -it_ . y ^B „ , „ A , , ., 5, , .,
,. , , ,. ,, . „ ,. T- t , 25 axes of the stays 18 parallel to the bed sides. Bed side
pad to be opened slightly and laterally slipped mto place -i / * i_ \ 4.4.1. _4,nr I-j
v r ... ... rails (not shown) prevent the support 10 from sliding
upon a corresponding stay 18. The cut 70 also accom- , ^ , -4-4.1. 1 • x- J 1 4
v , x ^, ,v %s laterally and maintain the support in a fixed location
modates the keepers 56 of the transverse connector 20, ^ feed ... The be^dden individuai is then
providing an opening through which they may ad- ^sitioned so that his buttocks ^ within the frame
vance. Similarly, the legs 22 of the triangular braces 16 3Q m ... the tent 14 ^ back of the mAividv^
are each covered with foam pads 72 similar uiL every i$ concurrently d at an le a ^ the tent 14
respect to the pads 68, afoeit shorter m length. To fur- itsdf ^ brace 16 sitioned remotely from the tent
ther elimmate the possibility of injury, the ends of all the u supports the user's legs at the same as his torso.
pads 68 and 72 may be suitably cut or beveled so that when of the individual is reqUired, the support
none of the comer brackets 26 are exposed at the junc- 35 1Q may be moved t0 the 0pposite side of the bed and the
tures formed between the pads. individual again placed in the desired position against
A body supporting tent 14, suspended from the frame the opposite side Qf the support. 12 and partially covering the padded stays 18, supports when not ^ usg) the mstant support 10 may be disasthe back of a user at an inclined orientation. Broadly, sembled to greatly reduce its volume for storage. Disasthe tent 14 comprises a fabric sheet 74, having a width 40 sembiy may be accomplished by partially removing the slightly less than that of one of the arms 24, suspended cylindrical foam pads 68 and 72 from the frame 12 to from the stays 18 in the form of an inverted "V". A expose each of the supporting corner brackets 26. Only layer of padding material 76 is joined to the top surface a minimal puu need be applied to the pads 68 and 72 to of the sheet 74. When examined closely, the fabric sheet uncover the brackets 26 as the resiliency of the pad 74 is seen to be rectangular in outline and includes later- 45 material readily allows the longitudinal cuts 70 to open ally-spaced tubular pockets or sleeves at each of its ana reveai tne more rigid framework beneath. The ends, and at its midpoint, for joining the sheet to the spring-biased pins 36 are next depressed and the brackstays 18. The padding material 76 fills the slight depres- ets 26 disengaged from their associated arms 24 and legs sions in the top of the sheet 74 so that an uninterrupted, 22. The tent 14 is then slipped from the still-padded planar surface may be presented on each side of the 50 stays 18, folded like a book hinged at the sleeve 82, and frame 12 for supporting a user. set aside. The pads 68 and 72 are removed from the
As is revealed in FIG. 6, each of the outermost frame 12 and collected. The pins 66 are next removed
sleeves 78 is formed by folding one end of the sheet 74 fr0m the keepers 56 for separation of the transverse
back upon itself and affixing the now adjoining fabric connector 20 from the two lowermost stays 18, and the
layers together with a linear, sewn seam 80. The cen- 55 arms 24, legs 22, and connector 20 are gathered to
trally positioned sleeve 82, however, is formed by sew- gether in a bundle for later use. Of course, it should be
ing the opposing sides of a rectangular, fabric segment apparent that the reassembly of the instant support 10
84 to the sheet 74 along a pair of seams 86 positioned may be readily accomplished by simply reversing the parallel to the seams 80. Although the fabric segment 84 above outlined steps.
has a length equivalent to that of the sheet 74, its width 60 It should also be apparent to one skilled on the art is preferably only \ of the circumference of the engaged that various materials may be used in the construction foam pad 68. A fold or gather in the sheet 74 supplies of the instant invention. In this regard, plastics, graphite the remaining material required to encircle the pad 68. and fiberglass composites may be substituted with equal Both of the sleeves 78 and 82 have inner diameters just facility in the construction of the frame 12. All are lightlarge enough for a stay 18, covered by a pad 68, to be 65 weight and high-strength materials which could readily closely received therein. When formed in this manner, accommodate the loads imparted from individual users and slipped upon the padded frame 12, the sheet 74 is of any size and weight when appropriately selected, provided with a pair of laterally opposed side panels 88 Further, the foam material employed in the pads 68 and
