Other Classes:
5/81.10T, 5/925, 5/482, 5/926, 5/81.10R
Field of Search:
5/81,92,320,334,335,337,339,354 247/456
Claims:
What is claimed is
1. A sheet for use on a bed, having a central inner portion of substantially frictionless material selected from the group consisting of satin and sateen attached by attachment means to outer ends of normal sheeting material, such that the outer ends can be tucked into the bed to securely position the central inner portion in the area of the bed upon which the major portion of the user's body normally rests, to enable the user in contact with said central inner portion to slide easily thereover while the user's extremeties in contact with the normal sheeting material can manuplate body position.
2. A drawsheet as recited in claim 1 wherein the attachment means comprises a zipper assembly.
3. A drawsheet as recited in claim 1 wherein the attachment means comprises a button and hole assembly.
4. A drawsheet as recited in claim 1 wherein the attachment means comprises a sewed seam.
5. A bedsheet of normal sheeting material having a section of substantially frictionless material selected from the group consisting of satin and sateen attached by attachment means to the central portion thereof, such that when the bedsheet is tucked into a bed said section of substantially frictionless material is securely positioned in the area of the bed upon which the major portion of the user's body normally rests, to enable the user in contact with said central inner portion to slide easily thereover while the user's extremeties in contact with the normal sheeting material manipulate body position.
6. A bedsheet as recited in claim 5 wherein the attachment means comprises a zipper assembly.
7. A bedsheet as recited in claim 5 wherein the attachment means comprises a button and hole assembly.
8. A bedsheet as recited in claim 5 wherein the attachment means comprises a sewed seam.
Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to the field of drawsheets, and has particular utility in providing a drawsheet for use on a bed. It provides a substantially frictionless surface over which the user may easily slide to change position on the bed.
2. Description of the Prior Art
It is known in the art that a sheet consisting of a first material and having a second material secured to the central portion thereof may be used in order to provide a central portion of flexible waterproof material. For example note McMurry U.S. Pat. No. 2,779,035 and Kintner U.S. Pat. No. 3,066,321. The central portion of material according to these patents however comprises a latex or a paste of elastomers in a solvent in order to provide a high degree of waterproofing. Such materials have a relatively high degree of friction, which would prevent the user from sliding thereon. It is also known in the art that a turning sheet with a pad arranged thereover may be provided to enable turning of a patient to any desired degree or angle on the bed. For example the Higdon U.S. Pat. No. 1,334,901 discloses such a device. However the pad disclosed by Higdon would inherently have a high degree of friction in order to enable the patient to be so turned.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
These and other disadvantages of the prior art are solved by the instant invention. In particular the invention provides for a drawsheet which may be placed over a normal sheet or may be attached thereto, the drawsheet providing a surface of substantially frictionless material over which the user can easily slide. This enables a relatively immobile person such as an invalid to easily move and change positions while in bed. The substantially frictionless material may comprise satin, sateen, rayon satin, rayon sateen, acetate satin or any natural or synthetic substantially frictionless material.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a plan view of the drawsheet according to the invention showing a substantially frictionless center portion attached to outer ends of normal bed sheeting;
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a bed made up to include the drawsheet according to the invention, the drawsheet being located such that the substantially frictionless material is located in the area of the bed upon which the major portion of the user's body normally rests;
FIG. 3 shows another embodiment of the invention wherein a sheet of normal material comprises a central portion of substantially frictionless material.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
FIG. 1 illustrates the drawsheet according to the invention with a central portion 10 comprising a substantially frictionless material attached at seams 11 and 12 to ends 13 and 14, the ends 13 and 14 comprising normal sheeting material. For example such normal sheeting material may comprise cotton, muslin or synthetic materials normally employed to produce sheets. Central portion 10 comprises a substantially frictionless material such as satin, sateen, rayon satin, rayon sateen, acetate satin, etc. The substantially frictionless material enables the user to easily slide thereover. Central portion 10 is attached to end portions 13 and 14 by conventional means such as sewing, a zipper assembly, a button and hole assembly, or the like.
FIG. 2 shows the placement of the drawsheet of FIG. 1 on a bed. The bed 20 is made up with an undersheet 21 of normal sheeting material. The drawsheet is placed over sheet 21 such as to position central portion 10 thereof in the area of the bed upon which major portion of the user's body normally rests. Ends 13 and 14 (not shown) of the drawsheet are of sufficient length to enable the drawsheet to be tucked into the bed to secure the drawsheet thereto. The described arrangement illustrated in FIG. 2 enables an incapacitated person to easily slide over the central portion 10 of the drawsheet, to enable said person to easily change positions.
FIG. 3 shows another embodiment of the invention wherein an undersheet 30 of normal bed sheeting material is employed, with a drawsheet 31 of substantially frictionless material being secured to the central portion thereof by sewing, zippers, buttons or other conventional means.
By selecting the materials comprising the undersheet 30 and drawsheet 31 to be washable, the combination can be easily cleaned by conventional laundering techniques. This also applies to the drawsheet described with respect to FIG. 1.
The embodiment shown in FIG. 3 ensures that the central portion of substantially frictionless material 31 will remain in place and will not move as the user moves. This is a substantial problem encountered by incapacitated persons when placed on materials in a bed which are not securely positioned. This problem is especially compounded when the incapacitated person must remain in bed for long periods of time and is not constantly attended.
The embodiments of the invention shown and described enable the central portion of substantially frictionless material to be detached if desired. For example, it may be transferred to another undersheet.
It is intended that the examples of substantially frictionless materials disclosed above are for exemplary purposes and other materials may be substituted therefor without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, provided such materials are substantially frictionless in character and permit the user to easily slide thereover.