Compressible or retractable support for air blower cavity of air flow mattress
A compressible or retractable support ( 10, 80, 90, 100 ) is installed inside an air blower cavity ( 36 ) of a body support system ( 30 ), such as a medical mattress with forced air flow. The support is compressed or retracted within the cavity when the air blower ( 40 ) is inserted in the dynamic configuration of the body support system. The support rebounds to an uncompressed state to fill a greater portion of the air blower cavity when the air blower is removed to convert the body support system to a static configuration.
1. A body support system convertible from a dynamic configuration to a static configuration, comprising:
a body supporting surface;
at least one cavity defined in the body support system with a depth into the body support system and a cavity height, said at least one cavity having a cavity opening disposed below the body supporting surface, said cavity adapted to house an air flow unit or air blower;
a retractable support with a resilient core having a first length when uncompressed, wherein the first length is the same or substantially the same as the depth of the at least one cavity, and having a second length that is shorter than the first length when compressed or retracted, and with an outer cover surrounding the resilient core, said retractable support adapted for removable insertion into the at least one cavity; and
an air flow unit or air blower adapted for removable insertion into the at least one cavity, with said air flow unit or air blower in contact with the retractable support when so inserted to compress the retractable support to its compressed or retracted position corresponding to its second length when the air flow unit or air blower and retractable support are both held within the at least one cavity, wherein said retractable support rebounds from its second length to its first length when the air flow unit or air blower is removed from the at least one cavity.
2. The body support system of claim 1 , wherein the resilient core of the retractable support comprises a polyurethane foam structure.
3. The body support system of claim 2 , wherein the polyurethane foam structure defines a center and comprises a plurality of outwardly extending arms from the center of the polyurethane foam structure.
4. The body support system of claim 3 , wherein the polyurethane foam structure has four outwardly extending arms and comprises an X-shape in cross-section.
5. The body support system of claim 2 , wherein the polyurethane foam structure has a shape selected from the group consisting of: cross, oval, ellipse, circle and zig-zag.
6. The body support system of claim 1 , wherein the outer cover of the retractable support comprises a vapor permeable material.
7. The body support system of claim 1 , wherein the outer cover of the retractable support is formed of a material selected from the group consisting of:
fabrics, ticking fabrics, vinyl films, vapor permeable laminates that incorporate expanded polytetrafluoro-ethylene and nonwoven polypropylene fabrics.
8. The body support system of claim 1 , wherein the resilient core is formed of a polyurethane foam that has been formulated to contain in situ one or more additives or has been coated with a coating that incorporates one or more additives, wherein said one or more additives are selected from the group consisting of:
antimicrobial materials, antimicrobial compositions, fire retardant materials, fire retardant compositions, pigments, colorants and mixtures thereof.
9. The body support system of claim 1 , wherein the body support system comprises a mattress, a pillow, a seat cushion, a mattress overlay, a mattress topper, or another cushioning device.
10. The body support system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one cavity opens to an end wall or a side wall edge of the body support system, and a rim is installed at least partially around the cavity opening to maintain the retractable support and the air blower within the at least one cavity.
11. A body support system, comprising:
a body-supporting surface;
at least one cavity defined within the body support system with a cavity opening that is located below the body-supporting surface, said cavity having a depth into the body support system and a cavity height;
a retractable support with a resilient core having a first length when uncompressed that is the same or substantially the same as the depth of the cavity and having a second length that is shorter than the first length when compressed or retracted, said retractable support adapted for removable insertion into the at least one cavity of the body support system; and
an air flow unit or air blower adapted for removable insertion into the at least one cavity, with said air flow unit or air blower in contact with the retractable support when so inserted to compress the retractable support to its compressed or retracted second length inside the at least one cavity when the air flow unit or air blower and retractable support are both held within the at least one cavity,
wherein said retractable support rebounds from its second length to its first length or substantially its first length when the air flow unit or air blower is removed from the at least one cavity.
12. The body support system of claim 11 , wherein the resilient core of the retractable support comprises a polyurethane foam structure.
13. The body support system of claim 11 , further comprising an outer cover surrounding the resilient core, wherein said outer cover comprises a vapor permeable material.
14. The body support system of claim 13 , wherein the outer cover of the retractable support is formed of a material selected from the group consisting of:
fabrics, ticking fabrics, vinyl films, vapor permeable laminates that incorporate expanded polytetrafluoro-ethylene and nonwoven polypropylene fabrics.
15. The body support system of claim 11 , wherein the body support system comprises a mattress, a pillow, a seat cushion, a mattress overlay, a mattress topper, or another cushioning device.
16. The body support system of claim 11 , wherein the at least one cavity opens to an end wall or a side wall edge of the body support system.
17. The body support system of claim 16 , further comprising a rim installed at least partially around the cavity opening to maintain the retractable support and the air blower within the at least one cavity.