Global Patent Index - EP 0349620 A4

EP 0349620 A4 19900322 - GEL-FILLED, VARIABLY-ADJUSTABLE CUSHIONING SYSTEM FOR SUPPORTING A PERSON.

Title (en)

GEL-FILLED, VARIABLY-ADJUSTABLE CUSHIONING SYSTEM FOR SUPPORTING A PERSON.

Title (de)

MIT GEL GEFÜLLTES, EINSTELLBARES KISSENSYSTEM ZUM TRAGEN EINER PERSON.

Title (fr)

SYSTEME DE COUSSIN REMPLI DE GEL ET A REGLAGE VARIABLE POUR SUPPORTER UNE PERSONNE.

Publication

EP 0349620 A4 19900322 (EN)

Application

EP 89900161 A 19881130

Priority

  • US 12777687 A 19871202
  • US 25919488 A 19881017

Abstract (en)

[origin: WO8905110A1] A cushioning device (10), which can be a mattress, mattress pad or seat for supporting a person by distributing force over a support area of the person's body, comprises a gel-filled flexible enclosure assembly with variably-adjustable supportive force distribution to prevent pressure points and resultant decubitus ulcers (bed sores) in patients and others who must spend long periods of time in prone or seated positions. The flexible enclosure assembly has multiple gel-containing compartments (20a-20d) each underlying a different portion of the supportive surface (14) of the device and preventing the transfer of gel from one compartment to another. Selectively openable and closable ports (26a-26d) each communicate between the interior of a respective compartment and the exterior of the enclosure for enabling the infusion or extraction of gel from a particular compartment so as to variably adjust the distribution of supportive force. One or more gel containers (34), separate from the flexible enclosure, matingly coupled with the respective ports of delivering gel to or receiving gel from the respective compartments. Gel is initially formed within each compartment by adding water to a highly absorbent gel-forming material (72) provided in dry form with the compartment.

IPC 1-7

A47C 27/10

IPC 8 full level

A47C 27/00 (2006.01); A47C 27/10 (2006.01); A61G 5/10 (2006.01); A61G 7/05 (2006.01); A61G 7/057 (2006.01)

CPC (source: EP)

A61G 5/1043 (2013.01); A61G 7/05715 (2013.01); A61G 7/05738 (2013.01)

Citation (search report)

See references of WO 8905110A1

Designated contracting state (EPC)

BE CH DE FR GB IT LI NL SE

DOCDB simple family (publication)

WO 8905110 A1 19890615; CA 1320595 C 19930720; DE 3881037 D1 19930617; DE 3881037 T2 19940105; EP 0349620 A1 19900110; EP 0349620 A4 19900322; EP 0349620 B1 19930512; JP 2579692 B2 19970205; JP H02502344 A 19900802

DOCDB simple family (application)

US 8804222 W 19881130; CA 584497 A 19881129; DE 3881037 T 19881130; EP 89900161 A 19881130; JP 50023789 A 19881130