Seating or lying surface

Abstract

The present invention relates to a seat or lying surface (1) with a grid structure (2) comprising a plurality of nodes (K, K6, K3) which are connected to each other by arms (A). The arms (A) converge in a star shape at the nodes (K, K6, K3) and connect each pair of adjacent nodes (K, K6, K3). A first subset of the nodes is designed as 6-armed nodes (K6), such that in the 6-armed node (K6) six arms (A) converge in a star shape and connect it to six neighboring nodes (K, K6, K3) via the respective six arms (A). A second subset of the nodes is designed as 3-armed nodes (K3), such that in the 3-armed node (K3) three arms (A) converge in a star shape and connect it to three neighboring nodes (K, K6, K3) via the respective three arms (A). The 6-armed nodes (K6) are each connected by their six arms (A) to six adjacent 3-armed nodes (K3). The 3-armed nodes (K3) are each connected by their three arms (A) to three adjacent 6-armed nodes (K6).

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a seat or lying pad, in particular for the prevention of pressure ulcers.

[0002] A pressure ulcer (decubitus ulcer, bedsores ulcer) is a local injury to the skin and underlying tissue caused by prolonged pressure that disrupts blood flow to the skin and occurs in patients with reduced mobility, especially if they are bedridden or wheelchair-bound.

[0003] A pressure ulcer not only causes great pain, but also represents an entry point for pathogens that can lead to local infections as well as fatal secondary diseases such as pneumonia or blood poisoning.

[0004] Against this background, preventing pressure ulcers through appropriate measures is a central task of nursing care.

[0005] Pressure ulcers develop when human tissue is subjected to pressure over extended periods, disrupting blood flow to the tissue. While healthy individuals reflexively reposition themselves to relieve pressure on vulnerable skin areas before damage occurs, patients with pressure ulcers fail to do this, thus neglecting the necessary pressure relief.

[0006] There are a number of extrinsic factors that promote the development of pressure ulcers or have a detrimental effect on healing: - Shear forces acting on the vulnerable area of ​​skin, as these twist the blood vessels and thus further impair the blood supply. - High temperatures. Prolonged exposure to moisture, e.g. through sweating, softens the upper layer of skin, making it more susceptible to injury.

[0007] To prevent the development of pressure ulcers as much as possible, patients are repositioned regularly and aids are used that aim to minimize the risk factors mentioned above.

[0008] In particular, alternating pressure mattresses, which allow the patient's position to be changed, as well as specially adapted pillows and rolls, are used as aids. In this context, reference is made to documents EP 4013365 A4, CN 202961013 U, EP 4013365 A4 and KR 1845298 B1 as examples.

[0009] Document EP 3 292 795 A1 describes an elastic support element produced by additive manufacturing, consisting of a three-dimensional polymer grid with nodes and struts connecting the nodes.

[0010] Document DE 10 2017 118 157A1 describes a cushion made of a grid with nodes connected to each other by branches, produced using an additive manufacturing process.

[0011] Against the background of this prior art, the present invention is based on the objective of providing a seat or lying support as an aid for decubitus prophylaxis, which is characterized by improved practicality, in particular with regard to effectiveness, manufacturability and ease of handling in everyday nursing care.

[0012] This problem is solved by the seat or lying surface according to claim 1 and the method for producing a (seat or lying) surface according to the invention according to claim 9. Advantageous embodiments of the surface can be found in dependent claims 2 to 8.

[0013] The seating or lying support according to the invention (for pressure ulcer prophylaxis) comprises - a multitude of (lattice) nodes connected to each other by arms, wherein - the arms converge in a star shape at the knots and connect each pair of adjacent knots, - a first subset of the nodes is designed as 6-armed nodes, such that in each 6-armed node six arms converge in a star shape and connect this (6-armed node) with six neighboring nodes via the respective six arms, - a second subset of the nodes is designed as 3-armed nodes, such that in each 3-armed node three arms converge in a star shape and connect this (3-armed node) with three neighboring nodes via the respective three arms, - the 6-armed knots are each connected with their six arms to six adjacent 3-armed knots, and - the 3-armed knots are each connected with their three arms to three adjacent 6-armed knots.

[0014] The invention is based on the understanding that the synergistic combination of the features according to the invention allows for the realization of a seating or lying support for pressure ulcer prophylaxis, whose special grid structure, on the one hand, helps to minimize extrinsic risk factors (shear forces, temperature, humidity), and, on the other hand, enables simple, fast and cost-effective production of the support using injection molding: Minimizing extrinsic risk factors

[0015] Compared to conventional cushions, the grid structure promotes air circulation at the pressure ulcer-prone skin area, thereby removing moisture and heat and minimizing pressure ulcer risk factors.

[0016] According to the invention, the patient's pressure ulcer-prone skin area rests on a multitude of the (three-armed) nodes of the grid structure. Compared to conventional cushions, which typically make contact with the skin area over a large area and tend to "stick" or "curb" to the patient's body, especially in humid conditions, the "multi-point support" of the skin area according to the invention transmits significantly fewer shear forces.

[0017] The inventive combination of 6-armed and 3-armed nodes enables the realization of the inventive grid structure, which provides both sufficient support points for positioning the patient and sufficiently large distances between the nodes and arms for air circulation. Manufacturability via injection molding

[0018] The inventive geometry of the lattice structure, which is reflected in the combination of 6-armed and 3-armed nodes, enables the realization of a complex lattice structure without undercuts and thus the large-scale manufacturability in injection molding.

[0019] The following section describes some aspects and features of the seat or lying surface in more detail: The phrase that (two or more) arms converge in a star shape at a (lattice) node expresses the fact that these arms lead into the node.

[0020] An arm typically has a linear segment to which an arm axis can be assigned. The arm axes of the arms converging at a node do not necessarily have to meet at a common intersection point, but can (within certain limits) be skew to each other.

[0021] The grid structure, and therefore the nodes and arms, can be made in one piece.

[0022] An arm that connects two adjacent nodes terminates at one end in one of the two adjacent nodes and at the other end in the other of the two adjacent nodes.

[0023] In the present sense, two nodes are considered adjacent if there is no other node in the area between them.

[0024] The seat or lying support according to the invention can also be used outside of decubitus prophylaxis, for example as a comfort-enhancing seat support for a chair or bench.

[0025] It is particularly advantageous that the grid structure of the seat or lying pad according to the invention allows for simple and compact stacking of several pads on top of each other, thus enabling significantly more space-saving transport and storage of several pads.

[0026] Furthermore, the fact that, compared to conventional cushions, the mat according to the invention does not absorb water due to its grid structure and can be dried quickly and easily, e.g. by vigorous shaking, also benefits its use as an outdoor mat.

[0027] Such an outdoor mat, which is used, for example, in weather-exposed outdoor areas, would therefore not need to be brought indoors when a rain shower is approaching, but could remain outdoors and then be dried easily and quickly.

[0028] Furthermore, the grid structure allows for easy and quick washing or disinfection of the seat or lying surface, which is also a very significant advantage in connection with the use of the surface for decubitus prophylaxis.

[0029] Furthermore, the seat or lying pad can also be used as back padding for backpacks and similar items. The grid structure allows air circulation in this application as well, thus dissipating heat and moisture (between the backpack wearer and the backpack). This reduces or even completely prevents perspiration, significantly increasing the carrying comfort of the backpack.

[0030] According to a preferred embodiment of the seat or lying surface according to the invention - the nodes are arranged in three mutually parallel (imaginary) lattice planes, namely a first (lower) lattice plane, a second (upper) lattice plane and a third inner lattice plane enclosed by the first (lower) and the second (upper) lattice planes, - the 6-armed nodes are arranged in the third inner lattice plane, and - the 3-armed nodes are arranged in the first (lower) lattice plane or the second (upper) lattice plane.

[0031] The nodes of the grid structure are distributed across three parallel grid planes. The nodes located on the upper (second) and lower (first) grid planes, i.e., on the two outer grid planes, come into contact with the patient and the structure on which the seat or lying surface rests. This allows for air circulation and thus the removal of heat and moisture.

[0032] The terms “lower” and “upper” grid plane refer to the fact that the seat or lying surface is in a position intended for its intended purpose, in which it and with it the three grid planes are essentially horizontally aligned.

[0033] A particularly advantageous seating or lying surface can be achieved if - the 6-armed nodes are each connected with their six arms to three 3-armed nodes arranged in the first (lower) grid plane and to three 3-armed nodes arranged in the second (upper) grid plane, and optionally - adjacent arms of the 6-armed nodes are connected to 3-armed nodes that are arranged in different grid planes.

[0034] According to another advantageous embodiment of the invention, it is provided that - a first subset of the arms, hereinafter referred to as short arms, having a first length, and a second subset of the arms, hereinafter referred to as long arms, having a second length that is greater than the first length, - in the 6-armed knots, four long arms and two short arms converge in a star shape, and - in the 3-armed knot, two long arms and one short arm converge, and optionally - the angle between the projections of two adjacent long arms of the 6-armed nodes into the third inner lattice plane is smaller than the angle between the projections of one long arm and one adjacent short arm of the 6-armed nodes.

[0035] By having the shorter arms extend at a steeper angle from the 6-armed nodes of the middle lattice plane than the longer arms, it is possible to ensure that the 3-armed nodes, although connected to the middle lattice plane by both short and long arms, each have the same distance from the middle lattice plane.

[0036] Alternatively, it may be provided that - the arms are of the same length and especially - the angles between the projections of two adjacent arms of the 6-armed nodes into the (third) inner lattice plane are equal.

[0037] The manufacturability of the seat or lying surface using injection molding can be further improved by having the 6-armed nodes each have a flat plateau area on two opposite sides.

[0038] Ejector pins can engage at the plateau areas, by means of which a workpiece manufactured in injection molding can be removed from the reopened injection mold and thus ejected.

[0039] According to a further preferred embodiment of the invention, the grid structure is made of a plastic, in particular of - a thermoplastic, - a thermoset, or - is made of silicone.

[0040] The distance between adjacent nodes, the diameters of the arms, and the thickness of the grid structure largely determine the hardness or softness of the seating or lying surface. Against this background, it has proven particularly advantageous if... - the distance between two adjacent nodes is between 5 mm and 40 mm, in particular between 10 mm and 15 mm, - the diameter of the arms is between 1 mm and 5 mm, in particular between 2 mm and 4 mm, and / or - the lattice structure has a thickness of 5 mm to 50 mm, in particular 10 mm to 30 mm, perpendicular to a lattice structure plane.

[0041] The lattice structure plane is defined by a plane in which the lattice structure extends. In particular, the lattice structure plane extends parallel to the three lattice planes.

[0042] The invention is also manifested in a bed for decubitus prophylaxis comprising a seat or lying surface according to the invention.

[0043] Furthermore, the invention is manifested in the method for manufacturing a seat or lying surface according to the invention, wherein the seat or lying surface is manufactured by injection molding.

[0044] An embodiment of the invention will now be explained in more detail with reference to the drawing. The drawing shows Fig. 1 a schematic view of a seat or lying surface according to the invention in a perspective side view, Fig. 2A - 2C a first section of the seat or lying surface according to Fig. 1 in different perspective oblique views, Fig. 3A - 3E a second cutout of the seat or lying surface according to Fig. 1 in different oblique perspective views, and Fig. 4 a section of two stacked seat or lying surfaces according to the invention.

[0045] Fig. Figure 1 shows a schematic view of a seat or lying surface 1 according to the invention in a perspective side view, which Fig. Figures 2A to 2C and 3A to 3E each show a section of the seat or lying surface 1 in a perspective view.

[0046] The seat or lying surface 1 comprises a grid structure 2, a frame 3 enclosing the grid structure 2, and a flag 4 arranged on the frame. The seat or lying surface is made in one piece and was manufactured from a plastic using an injection molding process.

[0047] The lattice structure 1 has a multitude of (lattice) nodes 5 which are connected to each other by a multitude of arms 6.

[0048] Especially in the Fig. In sections 3A to 3E, it can be seen that the arms A converge in a star shape at the nodes K and connect adjacent nodes K.

[0049] A first subset of the nodes K is implemented as 6-armed nodes K6. Six arms A converge in a star-like configuration at each 6-armed node K6. Each 6-armed node K6 is connected to six neighboring nodes K via its six arms A.

[0050] A second subset of nodes K is implemented as 3-armed nodes K3. Three arms A converge in each 3-armed node K3 in a star-like configuration. Each 3-armed node K3 is connected to three neighboring nodes K via its three arms A.

[0051] The nodes K are arranged in three mutually parallel lattice planes Gu, Go, Gi, namely in a first lower lattice plane Gu, a second upper lattice plane Go and a third inner lattice plane Gi, enclosed by the first lower and the second upper lattice plane.

[0052] The 6-armed nodes K6 are located in the inner lattice plane Gi, while the 3-armed nodes K3 are located in the first lower or the second upper lattice plane Gu, Go. Each of the 6-armed nodes K6 has a flat plateau region 5 on two opposite sides.

[0053] The six-armed nodes K6 are each connected via their six arms A to three three-armed nodes K3 located in the first lower lattice plane Gu, and to three three-armed nodes K3 located in the second upper lattice plane Go. Adjacent arms A of the six-armed nodes K6 are connected to three-armed nodes K3 located in different lattice planes. The adjacent arms A of the six-armed nodes K6 thus alternately point "upwards" and "downwards" from the inner lattice plane Gi.

[0054] Two of the six arms A of the 6-armed knot K6 are each designed as short arms Ak and have a first length L1, the remaining four arms are designed as long arms Al and have a second length L2, which is greater than the first length L1 - see in particular Fig. 3D.

[0055] The angle W1 between the projections of two adjacent long arms Al of the 6-armed nodes K6 into the inner lattice plane Gi is smaller than the angle W2 between the projections of one long arm Al and one adjacent short arm Ak of ​​the 6-armed nodes K6. This is also particularly evident in Fig. 3C is recognizable. The inner grid plane Gi, and thus the projection plane mentioned above, runs parallel to the drawing plane here.

[0056] The 3-armed nodes K3 are each connected via their three arms A to three 6-armed nodes K6. The lattice structure 2 has a thickness of 20 mm perpendicular to the lattice planes (or to the lattice structure plane) in the unloaded state.

[0057] The design of the grid structure 2 of the seat or lying pad 1 according to the invention makes it possible for two (or more) seat or lying pads 1 to be stacked on top of each other in a very space-saving manner.

[0058] Fig. Figure 4 shows a section of two stacked seat or lying pads 1.1, 1.2, each identical to the seat or lying pad 1 according to Fig. 1 are.

[0059] The lower seat or lying surface 1.1 comprises the lower grid structure 2.1, the upper seat or lying surface 1.2 comprises the upper grid structure 2.2. The two grid structures 2.1, 2.2 of the two seat or lying surfaces 1.1, 1.2 interlock and cause the two surfaces to fit closely together.

[0060] The flags 4 of the seating or lying surfaces make it easier for a user to align the two seating or lying surfaces 1 in the same way, in order to enable the interlocking of the two superimposed grid structures 2. Reference sign 1 seat or lying pad 2 Lattice structure 3 frames 4 Flag 5 Plateau area K nodes K6 6-armed knot K3 3-armed knots L1 first length L2 second length A Arm Ak short arm Al long arm Gu first lower grid level Go to the second upper grid level Gi third inner lattice plane W1, W2 angles

Claims

[1] Seating or lying surface (1) comprising a grid structure (2) - a multitude of nodes (K, K6, K3) connected to each other by arms (A, Al, Ak), wherein - the arms (A, Al, Ak) converge in a star shape at the nodes (K, K6, K3) and connect each pair of adjacent nodes (K, K6, K3), - a first subset of the nodes is implemented as 6-armed nodes (K6), such that in the 6-armed node (K6) six arms (A, Al, Ak) converge in a star shape and connect it to six neighboring nodes (K, K6, K3) via the respective six arms (A, Al, Ak), - a second subset of the nodes is implemented as 3-armed nodes (K3), such that in the 3-armed node (K3) three arms (A, Al, Ak) converge in a star shape and connect it to three neighboring nodes (K, K6, K3) via the respective three arms (A, Al, Ak), - the 6-armed nodes (K6) are each connected with their six arms (A, Al, Ak) to six adjacent 3-armed nodes (K3), and - the 3-armed knots (K3) are each connected with their three arms (A, Al, Ak) to three adjacent 6-armed knots (K6). [2] Seating or lying surface (1) according to claim 1, wherein - the nodes (K, K6, K3) are arranged in three mutually parallel lattice planes (Gu, Go, Gi), namely a first lattice plane (Gu), a second lattice plane (Go) and a third inner lattice plane (Gi) enclosed by the first and the second lattice planes, - the 6-armed nodes (K6) are arranged in the third inner lattice plane (Gi), and - the 3-armed nodes (K3) are arranged in the first lattice plane (Gu) or the second lattice plane (Go). [3] Seat or lying surface (1) according to claim 2, wherein - the 6-armed nodes (K6) are each connected by their six arms (A, Al, Ak) to three 3-armed nodes (K3) arranged in the first grid plane (Gu) and to three 3-armed nodes (K3) arranged in the second grid plane (Go), and optionally - adjacent arms (A, Al, Ak) of the 6-armed nodes (K6) are connected to 3-armed nodes (K3) that are arranged in different lattice planes. [4] Seating or lying surface (1) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein - a first subset of the arms, hereinafter referred to as short arms (Ak), have a first length (L1) and a second subset of the arms, hereinafter referred to as long arms (Al), have a second length (L2) that is greater than the first length (L1), - in the 6-armed node (K6) four long arms (Al) and two short arms (Ak) converge in a star shape, and - in the 3-armed knot (K3) two long arms (Al) and one short arm (Ak) converge, and optionally - the angle (W1) between the projections of two adjacent long arms (Al) of the 6-armed nodes (K6) into the inner lattice plane (Gi) is smaller than the angle (W2) between the projections of one long arm (Al) and one adjacent short arm (Ak) of the 6-armed nodes (K6). [5] Seat or lying surface (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein - the arms (A) are of equal length and in particular - the angles between the projections of two adjacent arms of the 6-armed node (K6) into the inner lattice plane are equal. [6] Seating or lying surface (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the 6-armed nodes (K6) each have a flat plateau area (5) on two opposite sides. [7] Seat or lying pad (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the grid structure (2) is made of a plastic, in particular of - a thermoplastic, - a thermoset, or - is made of silicone. [8] Seating or lying surface (1) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein - the distance between two adjacent nodes (K) is between 5 mm and 40 mm, in particular between 10 mm and 15 mm, - the diameter of the arms (A) is between 1 mm and 5 mm, in particular between 2 mm and 4 mm, and / or - the lattice structure (2) has a thickness of 5 mm to 50 mm, in particular 10 mm to 30 mm, perpendicular to a lattice structure plane. [9] Method for producing a seat or lying pad (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the seat or lying pad (1) is produced by injection molding.

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