Universal bed bath envelope system

Abstract

A bed bath system having a mattress with a bed surface and mattress wall periphery about the bed surface; a support member having an inner wall sized and configured to contact and encircle the mattress wall periphery; a fluid impermeable sheet having a first side disposable on the mattress and an opposing second side, the sheet disposable in the support member to form an envelope on the second side, the envelope having a floor coplanar with the bed surface, a lateral wall coplanar with the support member inner wall, and a bath space interior to the lateral wall and the floor; an infusion reservoir with a dispensing port to dispense a bathing fluid; a nozzle in fluid communication with the dispensing port operative to emit bathing fluid into the envelope; and a drainage port positioned to drain waste fluid from the envelope.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This application claims the benefits of U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 60 / 839,955, entitled “Bed Bath Envelope” filed Aug. 23, 2006, the entire contents of which is expressly incorporated herein by reference.STATEMENT RE: FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH / DEVELOPMENT[0002]Not ApplicableBACKGROUND[0003]The present invention relates generally to a disposable bath envelope system for use on most beds by a bather.[0004]The challenges associated with the bathing of individuals with limited or no mobility are well known, both to caregivers and patients alike. Traditionally, patients suffering from the debilitating effects of Alzheimer's disease, paralysis, burn victims, and a host of other medical conditions are confined due to their immobility to their beds for extended periods of time, if not indefinitely. Caregivers assigned to such patients are responsible for providing the basic necessities of life, including washing and basic hyg...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0023]These features of the bed bath system are innovative in that they uniquely enable the bather, whether ambulatory or not, to experience a bathing experience comparable to that offered by a bath tub or shower facility in the comfort and convenience of their bed. The showerhead uniquely enables the bather to simultaneously and/or separately release different bathing fluids from each aperture, thereby giving the bather full control over what bathing fluids they wish to use and when, with precision. Alternatively, a non-ambulatory bather, such as a burn victim, may be able to apply medication using the bed bath system. Topical antibiotics, for example, may be administered to a localized area on the bather. The bather seeking a spa-like treatment may be able to administer oils or similar products from the convenience and comfort of their own bed, in their own home. The separation in the bed bath system of the plurality of infusion reservoirs, infusion lines, infusion channels, and apertures used for each bathing fluid prevents cross-contamination resulting from the residue left inside the bed bath system by the bathing fluids. The prior art systems appear to fail to disclose a showerhead capable of simultaneously and separately discharging a steady focused stream of different bathing fluids from each aperture.

[0024]According to other embodiments, a console may hold the plurality of infusion reservoirs. The console may have a top portion, a peripheral wall, and a bottom portion. The console may further have a console opening located in the top portion to enable the passage of each infusion line into each infusion reservoir. This feature uniquely allows the plurality of infusion reservoirs t...

Problems solved by technology

None of the prior art bed bath systems appear to utilize a support member that encircles substantially and is in contact with the mattress wall periphery for support of a bather on a bath envelope placed directly onto the bed surface of the mattress.

The prior art bed bath systems appear to be difficult to install, due to their apparent use of bulky and/...

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