US20050076437A1

US20050076437A1 - Material mover having a fluid film reservoir

Info

Publication number: US20050076437A1
Application number: US10/926,839
Authority: US
Inventors: Raynor Johnson
Original assignee: Gray Tek Inc
Current assignee: Gray Tek Inc
Priority date: 2002-11-12
Filing date: 2004-08-26
Publication date: 2005-04-14
Also published as: US7725963B2; EP1572060A2; CA2504763C; US20050283905A1; WO2004043792A2; CA2504763A1; CN1711063A; ATE405241T1; CN100455277C; AU2003291412A1; AU2003291412B2; EP1572060A4; DE60323137D1; WO2004043792A3; EP1572060B1

Abstract

A material mover includes substantially rectangular top and bottom sheets connected to perimeter side walls. The width of the bottom sheet which is perforated with orifices at least in a central portion, is greater than the width of the top sheet at least in middle and lower regions of the top and bottom sheets. A plurality of partition members connect at least portions of the top and bottom sheets to one another, and extend parallel with lateral edges of the top and bottom sheets and are spaced in from the perimeter side walls. A fluid weir is defined at an outer periphery of the bottom sheet to provide a fluid film reservoir under at least the central portion of the bottom sheet having the plurality of orifices formed therein. The dispersion of the fluid from underneath the material mover is inhibited by the fluid weir.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of International Application No. PCT/US2003/035709, having an international filing date of Nov. 10, 2003, which designated the United States, and which in turn claims the benefit under 35 USC § 19(e) of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/425,673, filed Nov. 12, 2002, the entireties of which are incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to a fluid-elevated material mover, and more particularly to a fluid-elevated material mover providing enhanced control of a fluid film contained underneath the material mover, at least at a central portion thereof, to facilitate easy transfer of a wide variety of objects.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The need to translocate objects without damaging the object or the transfer surfaces, while conserving electric power and manpower resources, spans the gamut of practical applications. From industrial to medical settings, it is often extremely difficult to easily and practically move an object, even with the aid of a transfer device to assist in the transport.
The range of applications desiring an improved transport device is vast. Examples of objects which require occasional, careful and economically feasible transport include artistic sculptures or other museum exhibits, and large animals, examples of which are horses, cattle, deer or elephants, in need of medical attention at farms, zoos, conservation sites or veterinary hospitals. Moving objects in the shipping industry such as, for example, transferring loads from shipping vessels, which include air, truck and cargo ship freight, to storage facilities (e.g., warehouses, docks) is yet another application in which it would be highly desirable to employ an improved transfer mechanism having decreased electric power consumption requirements.
One application example includes moving persons, such as accident victims, the elderly, or comatose, paralyzed or otherwise immobilized patients, who are frequently difficult to transfer or move in a safe, comfortable manner from one support surface, such as a bed, to another support surface, such as a gurney or wheeled hospital cart. Patients who cannot by themselves sit up or move can be particularly difficult to move from a stretcher to a bed or vice versa, and repositioning such patients frequently requires two or three nurses, orderlies or other attendants.
Prior art patient transfer devices frequently take the form of “floating” or air-elevated air mattress-type movers. Examples of such air mattress-type movers are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,073,291 issued to David T. Davis on Jun. 13, 2000 and entitled “INFLATABLE MEDICAL PATIENT TRANSFER APPARATUS” and U.S. Pat. No. 5,561,873 issued to Robert E. Weedling on Oct. 8, 1996 and entitled “AIR CHAMBER-TYPE PATIENT MOVER AIR PALLET WITH MULTIPLE CONTROL FEATURES,” the entireties of which are incorporated herein by reference. These air mattress-type transfer devices include small perforations in the bottom and are inflated with air to obtain and at least temporarily maintain the mattress in an inflated state. During such inflation, a continuous supply of pressurized air is expelled from the bottom of the transfer device through the perforations to form an air film which supports the inflated transfer device or mat on any reasonably flat, semi-continuous surface, in the same manner as an air pallet used for industrial applications within shops and plants.
The prior art inflatable transfer devices operate by continuously supplying enough air under pressure into a plenum chamber, which is defined by the transfer structure itself, to maintain inflation of the plenum chamber. A serious drawback of such prior art inflatable transfer devices is that there is no way of controlling the air which exits perforations in the bottom of the transfer apparatus. As such, the air blowers used to inflate these types of inflatable transfer structures tend to inefficiently consume relatively large amounts of electric power during use, because no attempt has been made to control or inhibit the random dispersion of the air film expelled from underneath the bottom portion of the transfer apparatus. That is, since the air film dissipates at a high and steady rate, a relatively large amount of electric power is required to drive the blower to maintain inflation of the plenum chamber.
FIG. 2 of the '291 patent appears to show that outer peripheral portions 17a-17c of bottom sheet 17 are raised or elevated with respect to central portion 17x. This, however, is merely an artist's rendition of the mat when it is free-standing. The outer peripheral portions of the bottom sheet are not raised or elevated with respect to a central portion when the transfer apparatus is put into actual use. For example, the '291 patent discloses that when the transfer apparatus is resting on a more or less level surface as in actual use, the bottom also assumes a more or less planar configuration and the raised side portions of the top become even more pronounced (as is clear from the views of the transfer apparatus shown in FIGS. 5-7 of the '291 patent). Consequently, the '291 patent provides no structure that actually controls the rate of air film dispersion from underneath the transfer apparatus, and thus, increased operating costs result from the higher demand for electric power, which is needed to operate the air blower used to drive the transfer apparatus and to counter-balance the high and steady rate of air film dissipation from underneath the transfer apparatus.
In addition to the lack of control over the fluid film randomly expelled from the plenum chamber, prior art inflatable transfer apparatuses are plagued by plenum chamber air loss due to the effects of certain types of stresses, such as stress from maintaining the plenum chamber in an inflated state or vertical or lateral pulling stresses, being placed on the stitched seam lines, which connect the various sheets of the transfer device. FIG. 9 illustrates such a prior art seam line structure in which portions of top sheet 100 and bottom sheet 200 are folded under to form a double layer of top and bottom sheets 100 and 200, respectively, and the double layers are placed parallel to one another and stitched to form the seam line junction. Due to the stretching motion imposed on the sheets during inflation of the mattress, a separation or gap between top sheet 100 and bottom sheet 200 tends to develop during use. Air loss from the plenum chamber through such separations or gaps in the seam lines yields an even more inefficient transfer apparatus due to even a higher level of electric power required by the blower unit to maintain an inflated plenum chamber. The cumulative effect between air loss through the seam lines and lack of air retention beneath the air mattress not only negatively affects the safe and easy transfer of an object using the transfer apparatus, but also requires a relatively high power blower that is more costly, bulky and disadvantageously consumes a large amount of electricity.
Accordingly, it would be highly desirable to provide a material mover employing a structure for obtaining and maintaining a fluid film reservoir beneath a bottom portion of the material mover, in addition to providing an improved, fluid retaining seam line junction between the sheets forming the material mover.
Yet another problem associated with prior art air mattress-type movers is that the air inlet for receiving the hose from the blower is positioned in the side wall of the air mattress, typically at the head-end. Although some prior art movers include air inlets at both sides of the head-end in an effort to improve access, it is still often inconvenient to connect the blower hose to the air mattress at this location. Specifically, since the blower hose typically will extend perpendicularly out of the air mattress, substantial clearance must be provided at the side of the air mattress to allow this connection.
In addition, the blower hose is usually simply inserted into the air inlet in the side of the air mattress, without any means for retaining the hose in the air mattress. If there is a sudden shift of the load on the air mattress, or if the patient is obese, there is the possibility that the blower hose will be forced back out of the air mattress due to the increased air pressure within the air mattress plenum chamber. If the blower is of sufficient power, the loose blower hose flailing about could cause a significant threat of injury to the patient or the medical personnel operating the air mattress.
In view of the foregoing, it would also be desirable to provide an improved connection mechanism between the air mattress and the blower hose that is both more convenient and safe to use.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to overcome the drawbacks of the prior art.
In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, a material mover includes a plenum chamber, which is divided into a plurality of smaller, open-ended chambers through the use of partition members, defined by substantially rectangular top and bottom sheets, and perimeter side walls connecting the top and bottom sheets. Easy, safe and efficient movement of a load placed upon the material mover is achieved by controlling the dispersion of a fluid film formed under the material mover, which is formed by fluid exiting from a plurality of orifices in the bottom sheet. Specifically, a fluid film weir is provided along the bottom periphery of the material mover to inhibit the escape of the fluid film from underneath the material mover. The fluid film weir effectively defines a fluid reservoir under the material mover for maintaining the position of the fluid film and preventing the fluid from randomly and easily escaping from underneath the material mover. Accordingly, by maintaining and controlling a sufficient fluid film beneath a portion of the material mover, substantially less manual effort and electric power is required to move the load.
In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the material mover includes a substantially rectangular top sheet having longitudinal and lateral edges, and upper, middle and lower regions. A substantially rectangular bottom sheet includes longitudinal and lateral edges, and upper, middle and lower regions. The bottom sheet has a greater width than a width of the top sheet at least in the middle and lower regions of the top and bottom sheets. A portion of the bottom sheet is perforated with a plurality of orifices at least in a central portion thereof.
Perimeter side walls connect at least portions of the longitudinal edges of the top and bottom sheets to one another. The perimeter side walls have a lesser height than the height of the partition members along at least a portion of the longitudinal edges of the top and bottom sheets. The perimeter side walls preferably extend along substantially the entire length of the longitudinal edges in the middle region of each of the top and bottom sheets. A plurality of partition members connect at least portions of the top and bottom sheets to one another. The partition members extend generally parallel with the lateral edges of the top and bottom sheets and are spaced from the perimeter side walls. A fluid weir is defined along an outer periphery of the bottom sheet to provide a fluid film reservoir under at least the central portion of the bottom sheet having the plurality of orifices. The fluid weir advantageously inhibits the dispersion of the fluid film from underneath the central portion of the bottom sheet. Accordingly, the fluid exiting the orifices in the bottom sheet is retained for a longer duration within the fluid film reservoir, thus enhancing the performance and efficiency of the material mover.
In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, a seam line junction is formed between any one of the top sheet, the bottom sheet and the perimeter side walls. The seam line junction between the top and bottom sheets includes an end portion of the top sheet being folded over an end portion of the bottom sheet and looped around a terminal end of the bottom sheet, such that a terminal end of the top sheet is interposed between a region of the end portion of the bottom sheet and the terminal end of the bottom sheet.
Preferably, the seam line junction between the top and bottom sheets and the perimeter side walls includes end portions of any one of the top and bottom sheets being folded over an end portion of the perimeter side walls and looped around a terminal end of the perimeter side walls. The terminal ends of the top and bottom sheets are interposed between portions of the end portion of the perimeter side walls and the terminal end of the perimeter side walls.
In this manner, the seam line junction between the sheets of the material mover is reinforced and does not easily separate due to stretching motion imposed on the sheets during inflation of the mattress. Accordingly, the fluid retaining seam line junction allows for the use of a relatively lower power blower because air loss at the seam lines is prevented.
In accordance with yet another embodiment of the present invention, a fluid inlet arrangement includes at least one fastener, such as, for example, a hook-and-loop fastener (e.g., Velcro®) or a mating surface for a snap-button, positioned on an upper surface portion of the substantially rectangular top sheet. The hook-and-loop fastener includes a first mating surface having a fluid inlet orifice located in a portion thereof and a second mating surface corresponding to the first mating surface to provide a flap covering for the first mating surface. The first and second mating surfaces can also include a mating surface for a snap-button and a corresponding snap-button, respectively, in addition to or in place of the hook and loop fastener. The first mating surface also corresponds to a hook-and-loop fastener and/or snap-button fastener mating surface of a coupler from a fluid provider system to provide coupling between the fluid inlet orifice of the first mating surface and the hook-and-loop and/or snap-button fastener mating surface of the coupler from the fluid provider system.
In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, a material mover for transferring a load includes a substantially rectangular top sheet having longitudinal and lateral edges, and upper, middle and lower regions. A substantially rectangular bottom sheet has longitudinal and lateral edges, and upper, middle and lower regions. The bottom sheet has a greater width than a width of the top sheet at least in the middle and lower regions of the top and bottom sheets. A portion of the bottom sheet is perforated with a plurality of orifices at least within the mass of the footprint of the load.
Perimeter side walls connect at least portions of the longitudinal edges of the top and bottom sheets to one another. A plurality of partition members connect at least portions of the top and bottom sheets to one another. The partition members extend generally parallel with the lateral edges of the top and bottom sheets and are spaced from the perimeter side walls.
A fluid weir is defined along an outer periphery of the bottom sheet to provide a fluid film reservoir under at least the central portion of the bottom sheet having the plurality of orifices. The dispersion of the fluid film from underneath the central portion of the bottom sheet is advantageously inhibited by the fluid weir.
At least one fastener, such as, for example, a hook-and-loop and/or snap-button fastener, is positioned on a side surface portion of the material mover. The hook-and-loop and/or snap-button fastener includes a first mating surface having a fluid inlet orifice located in a portion thereof and a second mating surface corresponding to the first mating surface provides a flap adaptable to cover the first mating surface. The first mating surface corresponds to a hook-and-loop and/or snap-button fastener mating surface of a coupler from a fluid provider system to provide coupling between the fluid inlet orifice of the first mating surface and the coupler.
Providing a fastener on a side surface portion of the material mover allows the material mover to easily function as a means for jacking a load positioned thereon to a desired height. For example, the material mover, having a patient placed thereon, can be positioned adjacent to a bed mattress and inflated to elevate the patient to an appropriate height for safely transferring the patient from the material mover onto the bed mattress.
The fluid inlet arrangement can be positioned on portions of the side or the upper surface of the material mover. Preferably, the fluid inlet arrangement is positioned only on the upper surface portion of the material mover.
Since at least one fluid inlet orifice is provided on the surface of the top sheet, attachment and detachment of the fluid provider system can be accomplished in the Z-axis direction of the material mover. This “top sheet only” arrangement of the fluid inlet orifice eliminates the requirement of (and drawbacks associated with) connecting/disconnecting the fluid provider system to a port located on a side surface of the material mover. Accordingly, the ability to attach/detach the fluid provider system to inlet orifices in the Z-axis direction advantageously allows for attachment/detachment in tight or cramped conditions, such as at an accident scene, small cargo container or the like, where it may be practically difficult or even impossible to access the side portions of the material mover.
In addition, by using a fastener at the junction between the fluid provider coupler and the fluid inlet of the material mover, safety is enhanced by assuring a secure connection between the fluid provider and the material mover.
In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, a fluid mattress for supporting a patient includes a substantially rectangular top sheet having longitudinal and lateral edges, and upper, middle and lower regions, and a substantially rectangular bottom sheet having longitudinal and lateral edges, and upper, middle and lower regions. The top sheet has a greater width than a width of the bottom sheet at least in the middle and lower regions of the top and bottom sheets. A portion of the top sheet is perforated with a plurality of orifices through which fluid exits to provide therapy to the patient. The orifices are located at least in a central portion of the top sheet. A patient restraint is defined by the extra width of the top sheet along an outer periphery of the top sheet to facilitate keeping the patient centered on the fluid mattress.
Perimeter side walls connect at least portions of the longitudinal edges of the top and bottom sheets to one another. A plurality of partition members connect at least portions of the top and bottom sheets to one another. The partition members extend generally parallel with the lateral edges of the top and bottom sheets and are spaced from the perimeter side walls.
Providing orifices in the top sheet of the fluid mattress suppresses decubitis ulcer formation because a fluid film exists between the patient and the upper surface of the fluid mattress. Accordingly, the fluid film lessens the severity of damage occurring at pressure areas on the patient's body, which often occur on bony prominences and cause, for example, sacral decubitus.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a fuller understanding of the nature and objects of the invention, reference should be made to the following detailed description read in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:
FIG. 1 is a bottom perspective view of an inflated material mover according to one embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view along line B-B of the material mover of FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view along line A-A of the material mover of FIG. 1;
FIG. 4 is a top view of an uninflated material mover according to the present invention;
FIG. 5 is bottom view of the material mover of FIG. 1;
FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of a fold-over seam line junction between top, bottom and perimeter side wall sheets of the material mover according to another embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 7 is a top view of a fluid inlet arrangement according to the present invention;
FIG. 8 is a perspective view illustrating the coupling between a fluid provider and the fluid inlet arrangement of FIG. 7; and
FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of a conventionally known seam line junction between two sheets of an inflatable transport apparatus.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIGS. 1-3 show a material mover 10 that includes a plenum chamber 302 (seen more clearly in FIG. 3), from which a fluid, such as air, oil, water or the like, exits through a plurality of orifices 207 to produce a fluid film 303 underneath at least a central portion of material mover 10. The plenum chamber 302 is defined by substantially rectangular top and bottom sheets 100 and 200, respectively, and perimeter side walls 107 connecting portions of the top and bottom sheets to one another.
FIGS. 4 and 5 show that portions of longitudinal edges 102 of top sheet 100 are connected to perimeter side walls 107, which, in turn, are connected to portions of longitudinal edges 201 of bottom sheet 200. The perimeter side walls 107 extend substantially the entire longitudinal length of lower and middle regions 106 and 105, respectively, of top sheet 100, and lower and middle regions 203 and 204, respectively, of bottom sheet 200. Lateral edges 103 are located in upper region 104 and lower region 106 of top sheet 100 and are connected to lateral edges 202 in upper region 205 and lower region 203 of bottom sheet 200. In this manner, plenum chamber 302 is defined by top sheet 100, bottom sheet 200 and perimeter side walls 107.
A plurality of partition members 108, which form a plurality of smaller, open-ended chambers in the interior of plenum chamber 302, connect at least portions of top and bottom sheets 100 and 200, respectively, to one another, along seam lines 108 a and 108 b, respectively. The partition members 108, which extend parallel with respect to lateral edges 103 of top sheet 100 and lateral edges 202 of bottom sheet 200, are spaced from perimeter side walls 107, as seen most clearly in FIG. 2. Partition members 108 have a height that is greater than the height of perimeter side walls 107, again, as seen most clearly in FIG. 2.
Bottom sheet 200 provides a surface from which a fluid is expelled to create a fluid film reservoir 301 (seen most clearly in FIG. 3) between a portion of bottom sheet 200 and a surface over which material mover 10 is to be moved. At least a central portion 206 of bottom sheet 200 is perforated with a plurality of orifices 207 (seen more clearly in FIG. 5) to provide openings in bottom sheet 200 from which fluid exits. Accordingly, the fluid film accumulates to form fluid film reservoir 301 between central portion 206 of bottom sheet 200 and the surface over which the material mover, having a load or object positioned thereon, is to be moved.
To control or inhibit the dispersion of the fluid film expelled from plenum chamber 302, a fluid weir 300 is defined at an outer periphery of bottom sheet 200 and surrounds central portion 206 of bottom sheet 200. No orifices are provided in the outer peripheral portion of bottom sheet 200 defining fluid weir 300. The provision of fluid weir 300 is made possible because bottom sheet 200 has a greater width than the width of top sheet 100, at least in lower and middle regions 203 and 204, respectively. As fluid exits orifices 207 in central portion 206 of bottom sheet 200, fluid film reservoir 301 is created and maintained due to the entrapment of fluid under at least central portion 206 of bottom sheet 200. That is, fluid weir 300 provides a physical structure which inhibits the dispersion of fluid from underneath central portion 206 of bottom sheet 200.
The inventor discovered that by providing fluid weir 300 to control the rate that the fluid film disperses from underneath the central portion of material mover 10, substantially less air blower power, in addition to a decrease in pulling efforts, manually or automated, is required to translocate a load or object placed on the material mover. In addition, material mover 10 can be easily adapted to move heavier loads, such as, for example, an obese patient, by increasing the lateral dimension of the fluid weir. This is accomplished by adding material to lateral edges 103 and 202 of top and bottom sheets 100 and 200, respectively, while maintaining the other dimensional relationships between the top and bottom sheets, the perimeter side walls and the partition members. That is, the partition members have a greater height than the height of the perimeter side walls and the width of the bottom sheet remains larger than the width of the top sheet.
FIGS. 4 and 5 show that load securing straps 109 extend parallel with lateral edges 103 across the surface of top sheet 100 to furnish a mechanism by which the load can safely be secured on the surface of top sheet 100. One end of each load securing strap 109 is securely fixed to material mover 10 by being attached between the seam line (e.g., seam line junction 400 shown in FIG. 6) joining top sheet 100 and bottom sheet 200.
Load pulling straps 110 and 111 are provided to supply gripping members for pulling material mover 10 over the terrain which the load is to be transported. Load pulling straps 110 provided in middle region 105 of top sheet 100 have two ends of a loop-type structure attached between the seam line joining top sheet 100 and perimeter side wall 107. Load pulling straps 111 formed in upper region 104 and lower region 106 of top sheet 100 and upper region 205 and lower region 203 of bottom sheet 200 have one end of a loop-type structure attached between the seam line joining top sheet 100 and perimeter side walls 107, and an opposite end of the loop-type structure is attached between the seam line joining perimeter side walls 107 and bottom sheet 200.
With reference to FIG. 6, a fold over seam line junction 400 is used between any one of top sheet 100, bottom sheet 200 and perimeter side walls 107. FIG. 6 is exemplary of seam line junction 400 in existence between longitudinal and/or lateral edges of top and bottom sheets 100 and 200, respectively (only a single seam line is present along lateral edges 103 and 202). An end portion 401 of top sheet 100 is folded over an end portion 402 of bottom sheet 200, and is looped around terminal end portion 403 of bottom sheet 200. In this manner, portions of end portion 402 of bottom sheet 200 are sandwiched between folded over portions of end portion 401 of top sheet 100. A terminal end portion 404 of top sheet 100 is interposed between a portion of end portion 402 and terminal end portion 403 of bottom sheet 200.
FIG. 7 shows that a fluid inlet arrangement 500 includes at least one inflatable chamber between substantially rectangular top and bottom sheets having lateral and longitudinal edges. Fluid inlet arrangement 500 includes at least one fastener, such as a hook-and-loop fastener 501 (e.g., Velcro®) positioned on a portion of substantially rectangular top sheet 508. A fluid inlet orifice 503 is located in a portion of a first mating surface 502 and corresponds to a second mating surface 505 of flap covering 504, which provides a closure for first mating surface 502 and fluid inlet orifice 503. The first and second mating surfaces 502 and 505, respectively, can also include other fastener structures, such as, for example, a snap-button mating structure.
The fluid inlet first mating surface 502 corresponds to a fluid provider system hook-and-loop fastener mating surface 506 to provide easy coupling between fluid inlet orifice 503 and an opening of fluid providing coupler 507, which is positioned on a portion of fluid provider hook-and-loop fastener mating surface 506. This quick coupling mechanism between fluid inlet arrangement 500 and the fluid provider system (not shown), an example of which is disclosed in copending U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/425,674, entitled “FLUID PROVIDER ASSEMBLY AND PORTABLE FLUID PROVIDER SYSTEM INCLUDING SAME,” filed on Nov. 12, 2002 (Attorney Docket No. 877_—022), the entirety of which is incorporated herein by reference, provides efficient and secure attaching and detaching of the fluid provider system from fluid inlet arrangement 500. Similar to the fluid inlet arrangement first and second mating surfaces discussed above, the fluid provider system fastener mating surface can be a snap-button mating surface corresponding to the fluid inlet first mating surface on the material mover.
The individual components of the invention as described above may be formed from a variety of known materials. For example, top and bottom sheets 100 and 200, respectively, and perimeter side walls 107 can be formed from any flexible, non-permeable material, for example 2-3 mm plastic (e.g., polyethylene), tyvek and coated nylon. Partition members 108 can be formed from the same materials used to form the top and bottom sheets and the perimeter side walls, except that partition members 108 are not required to be impermeable. Load securing and load pulling straps 109 and 110, respectively, can be formed from any relatively inelastic material.
While the present invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to the drawings, it will be understood by one skilled in the art that various changes in detail may be effected therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the claims.

Claims

1. A disposable air mattress configured for single patient use, the air mattress comprising:

a first longitudinal air distribution channel;

a second longitudinal air distribution channel positioned in laterally spaced relation to the first air distribution channel; and

a plurality of laterally extending air tunnels, the air tunnels positioned adjacent to and parallel with each other, each of the air tunnels including opposing first and second ends, the first end of at least some of the air tunnels configured to be in communication with the first longitudinal air distribution channel and the second end of at least some of the air tunnels configured to be in communication with the second longitudinal air distribution channel,

wherein the first longitudinal air distribution channel, the second longitudinal air distribution channel, and the air tunnels being formed of polymeric sheet material configured to be incinerated without releasing toxic gases.

2. The air mattress of claim 1, further comprising an air source coupled to the first longitudinal air distribution channel and the second longitudinal air distribution channel.

3. The air mattress of claim 1, wherein the polymeric sheet material comprises a polyolefin film.

4. An air mattress, comprising:

a fluid weir; and

a plurality of laterally extending partition members surrounded by said fluid weir, said partition members positioned adjacent to and parallel with one another and including first and second ends, said first end of at least one of said partition members being configured to be in communication with said air weir, and said second end of at least one of said partition members being configured to be in communication with said air weir, wherein said fluid weir and said partition members being defined by a polymeric sheet material.

5. The air mattress of claim 4, further comprising an air source coupled to said fluid weir.

6. The air mattress of claim 4, wherein said polymeric sheet material comprises a polyolefin film.