FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to the technical field of devices for bedridden persons, in particular it relates to devices for allowing bedridden persons to be washed.

DESCRIPTION OF PRIOR ART

As it is known, bedridden persons are obliged to stay in bed for long time generally because of precarious physical conditions, handicaps, chronicle diseases etc...

In such a situation, anyway it is to be guaranteed that the bedridden person is washed and that her/his own personal hygiene is provided, without this leading to her/his own displacement or fatigue.

In hospital field there are known washing modes of the bedridden person which provide to position a waterproof cloth, generally in non-woven fabric, interposed between the sheet and bedridden person, and in the following to fix the angles of such waterproof cloth to the bed-head and footboard of the bed by means of tongs so that the cloth reproduces a containment structure shaped as a bath.

After defining the bath shape of the waterproof cloth, the operator can wash the patient with a shower, can remove the water from the bath shaped cloth and dry the same person.

At the end of drying the angles of the waterproof cloth are disengaged from the bed-head and footboard of the bed, thus removing the waterproof cloth from the bed and disengaging it from the bedridden person.

The main disadvantage of said mode consists in that it's feasibility is necessarily linked to the provision of a bed, provided with bed-head and footboard, where the person lies.

No footboard or bed-head compromises the feasibility of such mode requiring that the bedridden person is to be displaced.

Moving a bedridden person is extremely dangerous for the same person, due to possible falls, and in particular it is hard for the operators who have to perform it.

In hospital field such conditions are generally realized since the beds for long stay are usually provided with bed-head and footboard.

At home such conditions are very much rarer, above all concerning the footboard which usually lacks or has a very limited height to allow the cloth to be shaped according to a bath shape.

Document US 6,088,848 discloses a device for allowing a bedridden person to be washed, realized according to the pre-characterizing preamble of claim 1. SUMMERY OF THE INVENTION

Aim of the present invention is to obviate said problems by providing a device which allows a bedridden person to be washed without needing the person to be displaced.

Another aim of the invention is to provide a device for allowing a bedridden person to be washed, able to minimize the physical effort of the operator and the risks for the bedridden person.

The above described aims are obtained by means of a device for allowing a bedridden person to be washed, who is positioned laying on ones back on a bed, realized according claim 1.

According to particular embodiments, the present device for allowing a bedridden person to be washed, comprises one or more of the following features, considered alone or in combination:

- the support structure is shaped according to an annular geometry which surrounds the bedridden person;

- there are provided gripping means sustained by the support structure and able to allow the waterproof cloth to take the bath geometry;

- the dimensions of the support structure can be reduced from a configuration of maximum dimensions, in which it allows the waterproof cloth to be supported according to the bath geometry, to a configuration of minimum dimensions, in which the support structure is not joined to the waterproof cloth; - the support structure comprises a base frame which can be leant on the mattress of the bed, and a plurality of uprights provided with gripping means to allow the waterproof cloth to take the bath geometry;

- the base frame comprises a tubular ring provided with a first couple of uprights positioned at the head of the bedridden person, and a second couple of uprights positioned at the feet of the bedridden person; wherein the gripping means associated to each upright are able to support the portions of the waterproof cloth at angles;

- the tubular ring is shaped according to a rectangular geometry and comprises at each angle a connection group connecting removably the confluent sides of the rectangular ring, and a corresponding upright which stands up angularly with respect to the plane containing the confluent sides;

- each side of the rectangular ring comprises a plurality of segments which can be fixed with respect to each other, the end segments being able to be fixed to the corresponding connection groups; moreover, means for connecting such segments with respect to each other and to the connection groups are provided so that a configuration of minimum dimensions of the rectangular ring and the uprights is allowed;

- such connection means comprise an elastic rope for the connection groups and the inner region of the tubular structure of the segments of the sides of the rectangular ring;

- the gripping means comprise groups able to pinch the waterproof cloth.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

The features of the invention will be highlighted in the following where some embodiments are described only as a way of not limiting example, with reference to the appended drawings, in which:

- figures 1 , 1A show assembled and exploded perspective views, respectively, of a particularly significant element of the present device for allowing washing;

- figure 2 shows an assembled perspective view of the present device for allowing washing; - figure 3 shows, in magnified scale, a perspective view of the element shown in figure 1 in a configuration of minimum dimensions;

- figures 4, 4A show assembled and exploded perspective views, respectively, of a detail of the element shown in figure 1 ;

- figure 5 shows an assembled perspective view of the present device for allowing washing, in a first embodiment variant;

- figure 6 shows an assembled perspective view of the present device for allowing washing, in a second embodiment variant.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

With reference to said drawings, reference number 1 indicates the present device for allowing a bedridden person, laying on ones back on a bed, to be washed.

Such new device 1 comprises: a waterproof cloth 2 which can be leant on the mattress 3 of the bed and on which the bedridden person is positioned; and a support structure 4 which can be leant on the mattress 3 of the bed, preferably at bedridden person's side, and which can support the waterproof cloth 2 according to a bath geometry 20.

More precisely the waterproof cloth 2 and the support structure 4 are sustained by the mattress 3 and are in contact to the sheet (not shown) which covers the mattress 3.

The containment walls of the waterproof cloth 2 shaped as a bath 20 allow to keep and collect washing water, while the bedridden person lies on the bottom of the bath.

According to a preferred embodiment, shown in the appended drawings, the support structure 4 is shaped according to an annular geometry which surrounds the bedridden person (figures 1 , 1A, 2).

The present device 1 for allowing washing can comprise gripping means 5 sustained by the support structure 4 and able to allow the waterproof cloth 2 to take the bath geometry 20.

Advantageously such gripping means 5 comprise groups for pinching the waterproof cloth 2.

As it is clear from figures 1 and 3, advantageously the dimensions of the support structure 4 can be reduced from a configuration of maximum dimensions A, in which it allows the waterproof cloth 2 to be supported according to the bath geometry 20 (figure 1), to a configuration of minimum dimensions B, in which the support structure 4 is folded as a packet and not joined to the waterproof cloth 2 (figure 2).

According to a preferred not limiting embodiment the support structure 4 comprises a base frame which can be leant on the mattress 3, and a plurality of uprights 41 provided with gripping means 5 to allow the waterproof cloth 2 to take the bath geometry 20.

The base frame can comprise a tubular ring 40 provided with a first couple of uprights 41 positioned at the head of the bedridden person, and a second couple of uprights 41 positioned at the feet of the bedridden person (figure 1 , 1A).

The gripping means 5 associated to each upright 41 , advantageously of tongs type, are able to support the portions of the waterproof cloth 2 at each angle (figure 2).

Advantageously, the tubular ring 40 is shaped according to a rectangular geometry and comprises at each angle 10 a connection group 11 connecting removably the confluent sides (40a, 40b, 40c, 40d) of the rectangular ring 40, and a corresponding upright 41 which stands up angularly with respect to the plane containing the same confluent sides (figure 4, 4A).

According to a preferred, not limiting embodiment the inclination of the upright 41 with respect to such plane is such that the sustained gripping means 5 is brought outside the inner shape of the tubular ring 40, as it is shown in figure 1.

As it is highlighted in figure 1A, each side (40a, 40b, 40c, 40d) of the rectangular ring 40 can comprise a plurality of segments 17 which can be fixed with respect to each other, the end segments 17a being able to be fixed to the corresponding connection groups 11. Moreover, means for connecting such segments (17, 17a) with respect to each other and to the connection groups 11 are provided, so that a configuration of minimum dimensions B of the rectangular ring 40 and uprights 41 , as a packet, is allowed.

According to a preferred embodiment, as it is shown in figure 1A, the connection means comprise an elastic rope 18 for the connection groups 11 and the inner region of the tubular structure of the segments (17, 17a).

Advantageously, the waterproof cloth 2 is realized in non-woven fabric and comprises outside the waterproof cloth, the inner side being realized in soft material for a greater comfort of the bedridden person who, in this way, does not feel the cold sensations typical of the waterproof cloth.

Starting from a situation in which it is ^' needed that a bedridden person has to be washed, it is possible to proceed according to different operational modes for positioning the waterproof cloth 2 and the annular frame 40.

According to a first mode, on the covering sheet of the mattress 3 it is firstly positioned the annular frame 40 and then the waterproof cloth 2 by positioning the bedridden person on ones side first and then on the other one, so that the person is positioned laying on the same waterproof cloth 2.

Finally, the uprights 41 are fixed to corresponding connection groups 11 , folding the waterproof cloth 2 so that the bath geometry is realized, stabilized by fixing the angles of the cloth 2 to respective tongs 5 brought by uprights 41 (figure 2).

According to a second mode, substantially equivalent to the first one, the waterproof cloth 2 is firstly positioned on the covering sheet of the mattress 3 by positioning the bedridden person on ones side first and then on the other one, so that the person is positioned laying on the same waterproof cloth 2.

In the following, in order to surround the bedridden person the annular frame 40 is positioned on the covering sheet of the mattress 3 by paying attention to not abut the waterproof cloth 2 which is lifted in the peripheral portions thereof and folded such that a bath geometry 20 is realized, stabilized by fixing the cloth 2 to respective tongs 5 brought by uprights 41 (figure 2). In both cases the bedridden person is positioned on the bottom of the bath 20 defined by the waterproof cloth 2, the containment walls of the same bath 20 allowing to keep and collect washing water.

At the end of bedridden person washing, according to known techniques, it is provided the removal of the water from the bath 20 and the bedridden person is dried.

In the following, the waterproof cloth 2 is disengaged from the tongs 5, the annular frame 40 is removed with respective uprights 41 and tongs 5 and the waterproof cloth 2 is removed from under the bedridden person with the same technique used for the initial positioning, i.e. by positioning the bedridden person on ones side first and then on the other one.

In the following, the support structure 4 is brought from the configuration of maximum dimensions A, in which it allowed the support of the waterproof cloth 2 according to the bath geometry 20 (figure 1 ), to the configuration of minimum dimensions B, in which the support structure 4 is folded as a packet and not joined to the waterproof cloth 2 (figure 2).

In order to fold the annular frame 40 the segments (17, 17a) of each side (40a, 40b, 40c, 40d) are pulled so that they are decoupled from one another and from connection groups 1 1 , and so that their folding as a packet is allowed, wherein the uprights 41 and the tongs 5 remain outside the packet (figure 3).

As it is shown in figure 4A, the uprights 41 can be removable with respect to the connection groups 11 as well as the tongs 5 can be removable with respect to the uprights 41 , so that it is allowed their substitution in case of need and/or damage.

The description referred, only as a way of example, to an annular tubular frame of rectangular shape provided with angles of corresponding uprights/tongs groups.

For the purposes of the present invention, this does not mean that nonetheless the annular tubular frame can have a circular, elliptical or ovoid shape, with a number of uprights/tongs groups distributed on the periphery of the frame, which allows to obtain the bath shape of the waterproof cloth. Generally, it is not excepted that the support structure, able to sustain the waterproof cloth according to a bath geometry, can be also of inflatable type.

Similarly, as it is shown in the embodiment variant indicated in figure 5, the support structure 4 can comprise a frame, provided for leaning on the mattress 3, made up of a couple of traverses (43, 44) arched and crossing with respect to each other, which extend over the cloth 2 shaped as a bath 20 and provided with respective tongs groups 5, at the latter one.

In such case, the support structure 4 leans on the mattress 3 at the ends (43a, 44a) of the arched traverses (43, 44).

As it is shown in the embodiment variant indicated in figure 6, the support structure 4 can comprise alternatively a plate 45, leaning as well on the mattress 3, from which the uprights 41 /tongs 5 groups stand up.

Therefore, from what just described it is easily understood how the present device allows a bedridden person to be washed directly on her/his own bed and so without undesired displacements.

This allows greater comfort, safety and calmness for the bedridden person who avoids the risk of falls, and at the same time it is allowed to minimize the physical effort of the operator who can work also alone, without waiting for outer help.

Advantageously the present device allows a bedridden person to be washed in any kind of bed, devoid of bed-head and/or footboard as well, as it usually happens at home.

Thanks to the quickness and simplicity with which the waterproof cloth is shaped as a bath, the present device can be used also in case of beds provided with bed-head and footboard.

With the present device it is possible to use waterproof cloths of disposable type, which when used with the same bedridden person can also be used more than once, upon suitable washing.