Apparatus and method for positioning a seated patient

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10206830-B2
Application number	US-201514818955-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 5, 2015
Priority date	Apr 12, 2012
Publication date	Feb 19, 2019
Grant date	Feb 19, 2019

Abstract

An apparatus is configured for use with a chair having a supporting surface, and includes a cushioning member adapted to be placed above the supporting surface, a bottom sheet connected to the cushioning member and having an engagement surface opposite the cushioning member, a top sheet having a bottom surface positioned in confronting relation to the engagement surface and a top surface opposite the bottom surface, and a selective gliding assembly positioned between the top and bottom sheets. The top sheet has at least one end connected to the bottom sheet, and the top sheet further has a slip resistant material positioned on the top surface. The selective gliding assembly includes engagement members positioned on the engagement surface and on the bottom surface of the top sheet, and the engagement members engage each other to resist forward sliding of the top sheet and to permit rearward sliding of the top sheet.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus for use with a chair having a supporting surface, the apparatus comprising:
a bottom member adapted to be placed above the supporting surface of the chair, the bottom member having an engagement surface with at least one elongated strip positioned thereon; and
a top member having a bottom surface positioned in confronting relation to the engagement surface of the bottom member and comprising a pad of slip resistant material positioned thereon and a top surface opposite the bottom surface;
wherein the pad has a greater width than the at least one elongated strip so as to overlap the at least one elongated strip, and wherein at least one elongated strip and the pad form a selective gliding assembly; and
wherein the at least one elongated strip and the pad engage each other to resist sliding of the top member in a forward direction relative to the bottom member and to permit sliding of the top member in a rearward direction relative to the bottom member.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the top member has at least one end connected to the bottom member.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the top member has a front edge connected to the bottom member, a rear edge connected to the bottom member, and side edges that are free with respect to the bottom member, such that the top and bottom members form a loop structure.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the bottom member comprises a cushioning member and a bottom sheet connected to the cushioning member and having the engagement surface thereon.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the cushioning member comprises a bladder that is adapted to be filled with fluid to provide cushioning, the bladder comprising a first chamber and a second chamber each configured to be filled with fluid, wherein the first chamber and second chamber are sealed apart from each other.

6. The apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the cushioning member further comprises a stiffening member positioned near a front end of the apparatus, the stiffening member providing added rigidity to the cushioning member and the bottom sheet.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the at least one elongated strip comprises a brushed fiber material and the pad comprises a stitched material with a directional stitching pattern extending in a width direction of the apparatus.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the stitched material has a herringbone stitching pattern extending in the width direction, and wherein the at least one elongated strip and the pad engage each other to resist sliding of the top sheet in the forward direction relative to the bottom sheet and to permit sliding of the top sheet in the rearward direction and in both lateral directions relative to the bottom sheet.

9. The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the engagement surface of the bottom member has two strips of the brushed fiber material extending across the engagement surface in the forward direction and spaced laterally from each other, and the pad comprises a pad of the stitched material, the pad having a width that completely overlaps both of the two strips of the first engagement member.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising two straps attached to the top member and extending from opposed lateral edges of the top member, the straps configured to be grasped by a user to move the top member in the rearward direction relative to the bottom member.

11. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the at least one elongated strip comprises a brushed fiber material and the sheet comprises a material with a directionally oriented texture extending in a width direction of the apparatus.

12. An apparatus for use with a chair having a supporting surface, the apparatus comprising:
a first member adapted to be placed above the supporting surface of the chair, the first member having a bottom configured to confront the supporting surface and an engagement surface opposite the bottom;
a second member connected to the first member and having a bottom surface positioned in confronting relation to the engagement surface of the first member and a top surface opposite the bottom surface, the second member being connected to the first member such that at least a portion of the second member is slidable with respect to the first member;
at least one elongated strip positioned on the engagement surface of the first member; and
a pad of slip resistant material positioned on the bottom surface of the second member and positioned in confronting relation to the first engagement surface;
wherein the pad has a greater width than the at least one elongated strip so as to overlap the at least one elongated strip; and
wherein the at least one elongated strip and the pad engage each other to resist sliding of the second member in a forward direction relative to the first member and to permit sliding of the second member in a rearward direction.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the second member has a front edge connected to the first member, a rear edge connected to the first member, and side edges that are free with respect to the first member, such that the first and second members form a loop structure.

14. The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the first member further comprises a cushioning member forming at least a portion of the bottom thereof, the cushioning member comprising a bladder that is adapted to be filled with fluid to provide cushioning.

15. The apparatus of claim 14 , wherein the cushioning member further comprises a stiffening member positioned near a front end of the apparatus, the stiffening member providing added rigidity to the cushioning member and the first member.

16. The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein one of the at least one elongated strip and the pad comprises a brushed fiber material and the other of the at least one elongated strip and the pad comprises a stitched material with a directional stitching pattern extending in a width direction of the apparatus.

17. The apparatus of claim 12 , further comprising two straps attached to the second member and extending from opposed lateral edges of the second member, the straps configured to be grasped by a user to move the second member in the rearward direction relative to the first member.

18. The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the at least one elongated strip and the pad engage each other to further permit sliding of the second member in both lateral directions relative to the first member.

19. A method comprising:
providing a chair having a supporting surface and a back positioned at a rear of the supporting surface;
placing an apparatus on the chair, the apparatus comprising:
a bottom member placed above the supporting surface of the chair, the bottom member having an engagement surface with at least one elongated strip positioned thereon; and
a top member having a bottom surface positioned in confronting relation to the engagement surface of the bottom member and having a pad of slip resistant material positioned thereon and a top surface opposite the bottom surface, the top member having a slip resistant material positioned on the top surface;
wherein the pad has a greater width than the at least one elongated strip so as to overlap the at least one elongated strip, and wherein the at least one elongated strip and the pad form a selective gliding assembly; and
wherein the at least one elongated strip and the pad engage each other to resist sliding of the top member in a forward direction relative to the bottom member and to permit sliding of the top member i

Assignees

• Sage Products Llc

Inventors

• Fowler Paul M
• Golden Craig S

Classifications

• A61G5/1045

  for the seat portion · CPC title

• A47C27/08

  Fluid mattresses · CPC title

• A61G7/1032

  Endless belts · CPC title

• A61G5/10 Primary

  Parts, details or accessories · CPC title

• A61G7/1025

  Lateral movement of patients, e.g. horizontal transfer · CPC title