(19)
(11) EP 0 878 150 A3

(12) EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION

(88) Date of publication A3:
15.03.2000 Bulletin 2000/11

(43) Date of publication A2:
18.11.1998 Bulletin 1998/47

(21) Application number: 98303914.0

(22) Date of filing: 18.05.1998
(51) International Patent Classification (IPC)7: A47C 27/10, A47C 27/18
(84) Designated Contracting States:
AT BE CH CY DE DK ES FI FR GB GR IE IT LI LU MC NL PT SE
Designated Extension States:
AL LT LV MK RO SI

(30) Priority: 17.05.1997 GB 9709958

(71) Applicants:
  • Verna Limited
    Lancashire, BL1 2HP (GB)
  • S. TEASDALE (HOSPITAL EQUIPMENT) LIMITED
    Stockport SK3 0AN (GB)

(72) Inventors:
  • Waller, Martin
    Edgworth, Bolton BL7 0AJ (GB)
  • Teasdale, Barry Charles
    Hazel Grove, Stockport SK7 5BT (GB)

(74) Representative: Manley, Nicholas Michael 
W.P. Thompson & Co. Coopers Building Church Street
Liverpool L1 3AB
Liverpool L1 3AB (GB)

   


(54) Inflatable support


(57) An inflatable support (e.g. a mattress or seat cushion) comprises a plurality of elongate inflatable cells (12) containing a solid deformable material such as resilient foam, beads or fibres. Typically, the cells are inflated and deflated periodically by means of a pump (P). The solid within the cells reduces the volume of air within the cells, and thus a pressure pump of a lower rating for supplying pressurised air can be used. Moreover, if the supply of pressurised air should fail for any reason a patient on the mattress will still be supported by the deformable material within the cell.






Search report