The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Apr. 10, 2001
Filed:
Mar. 31, 1999
James R. Stolpmann, Charleston, SC (US);
Kenneth R. Smith, Charleston, SC (US);
Roger D. Dalton, Moncks Corner, SC (US);
Gary W. Ferdon, Charleston, SC (US);
Jonathan H. Mueller, Mt. Pleasant, SC (US);
Hill-Rom, Inc, Batesville, IN (US);
Abstract
A mattress structure (,) having a plurality of side-by-side lower support elements (,), a layer of material (,) underlying the lower support elements (,), and a plurality of side-by-side upper support elements (,) overlying and being supported by lower support elements (,) is described. The upper support elements (,) are connected by a plurality of tethers (,) to the layer of material (,), with the tethers (,) extending between adjacent lower support elements (,). Each of one of the upper support elements (,) and lower support elements (,) is an inflatable air bladder with specified sets of air bladders defining tube set zones (,). The pressure of the zones (,) is controlled by an air pressure system (,).