INTEGRATED USER SUPPORT SYSTEM
An integrated user support system includes a point pressure support surface overlay disposed upon and integrated with an underlying support surface. The support surface overlay may permanently or removably enclose the support surface and/or be permanently or removably attached to the support surface.
1 . A support system comprising:
a support surface overlay configured to support a user disposed thereon; and
a support surface underlying the first support surface overlay, the support surface configured to support the support surface overlay and the user disposed thereon;
wherein the support surface overlay comprises:
a selectively inflatable bladder comprising:
a first sheet of flexible material; and
a second sheet of flexible material bonded to the first flexible material to define a first selectively inflatable compartment, the first selectively inflatable compartment defining a plurality of contact nodes when inflated; and
an envelope bonded to and enclosing the selectively inflatable bladder, the envelope comprising:
a lower sheet underlying the selectively inflatable bladder and
an upper sheet overlying the selectively inflatable bladder,
wherein the support surface overlay: (i) encloses the support surface; (ii) is attached to the support surface; (iii) or both encloses and is attached to the support surface.
2 . The support system of claim 1 wherein the upper sheet of the envelope extends about and encases the support surface.
3 . The support system of claim 1 wherein the lower sheet of the envelope extends about and encases the support surface.
4 . The support system of claim 1 wherein the upper sheet of the envelope is attached to the support surface.
5 . The support system of claim 1 wherein the lower sheet of the envelope is attached to the support surface.
6 . The support system of claim 1 wherein an upper face of the support surface defines the lower sheet of the envelope.
7 . The support system of claim 6 wherein an upper face of the support surface is configured to resist deformation in response to the pressure imparted thereto by the nodes of the support surface overlay.
8 . The support system of claim 7 wherein the upper face of the support surface is configured to resist conforming to inflated nodes of the support surface overlay.
9 . A support system comprising:
a support surface overlay configured to support a user disposed thereon; and
a support surface underlying the support surface overlay, the support surface configured to support the support surface overlay and the user disposed thereon;
wherein the support surface overlay comprises:
a selectively inflatable bladder comprising:
a first sheet of flexible material; and
a second sheet of flexible material bonded to the first flexible material to define a first selectively inflatable compartment, the first selectively inflatable compartment defining a plurality of contact nodes when inflated; and
an upper cover sheet overlying the selectively inflatable bladder,
wherein the support surface overlay: (i) encloses the support surface; (ii) is attached to the support surface; (iii) or both encloses and is attached to the support surface.
10 . The support system of claim 9 wherein the upper cover sheet extends about and encases the support surface.
11 . The support system of claim 9 wherein the upper cover sheet is attached to the support surface.
12 . The support system of claim 9 wherein an upper face of the support surface is configured to resist deformation in response to the pressure imparted thereto by the nodes of the support surface overlay.
13 . The support system of claim 12 wherein the upper face of the support surface is configured to resist conforming to inflated nodes of the support surface overlay.
14 . The support system of claim 9 wherein the support surface overlay further comprises a lower cover sheet underlying the selectively inflatable bladder.
15 . The support system of claim 14 wherein the lower sheet of the envelope extends about and encases the support surface.
16 . The support system of claim 14 wherein the lower sheet of the envelope is attached to the support surface.
17 . The support system of claim 14 wherein the lower cover sheet resists conforming to inflated nodes of the support surface overlay.
18 . The support system of claim 9 , wherein:
the support surface overlay is configured to selectively apply point pressure to the user at ones of a first plurality of support nodes; and
the support surface is configured to redistribute pressure applied thereto by the support surface overlay.
19 . The support system of claim 9 wherein the support surface comprises a flexible and resilient material.
20 . The support system of claim 9 wherein the support surface comprises a flexible and resilient foam material.