Importance

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Abstract

There is disclosed a system for selectively supporting a mattress at a predetermined angle of inclination with respect to a support surface, such as a box spring, or the like. The system comprises primarily an inflatable mattress support member which is connected to a selectively operable pneumatic pump via a combination check valve and release valve. In practice, the user or patient can inflate the mattress support member to provide the desired degree of inclination and when not in use the support member can be easily deflated to dispose the mattress in a relatively normal position. The mattress support member is provided by a plurality of adjacent interconnected inflatable cells, with the adjacent cells sharing a common wall portion having port means formed therein to pneumatically interconnect the respective cells. The cells are of declining size, starting at a first end of the inflatable mattress support member and progressing toward the opposite, second end thereof, and preferably ten or more cells are provided. The construction of the mattress support member is provided by a pair of sheet members which are bonded together about the periphery thereof, and are further bonded together at selected areas intermediate the ends thereof, which selected areas of bonding are spaced apart by varying distances and extend generally across the width of the mattress support member, except for those locations wherein the bonding is interrupted to provide openings or ports between the respective cells.

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First Claim