AU2001100052B4 - Mattress underlay - Google Patents

Description

MATTRESS UNDERLAY This invention relates to beds or bedding accessories, particularly for supporting and/or protecting a mattress lying on a bed base.

Many bed bases are made of a frame having multiple slats which extend across the frame, the slats being spaced apart. In use, a mattress is laid onto the slats and the normal bedding materials are then fitted to and/or laid on top of the mattress. In many bed bases, the spacing between the slats enables the mattress to sag or bulge downwardly into the space between the slats. This can compromise the effectiveness of the support provided by the mattress for a person lying on the bed. At the very least, the bottom surface of the mattress can be marked, damaged, or even permanently deformed. If the mattress is later inverted for continued use in the inverted position, e.g. to prolong the life of the mattress by using it for periods of time with the previous bottom surface turned so as to face upwardly, the damage to the mattress can prevent, compromise or deter its use in the inverted position.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a product which can overcome or alleviate the problem discussed above.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a method of supporting and protecting a mattress on a slatted bed base.

According to the present invention there is provided a bed assembly including: a bed base having a plurality of spaced slats, a mattress, and a mattress underlay lying beneath the mattress and on the bed base, the underlay including a generally planar core providing support for the mattress across the spaces between adjacent slats of the bed base and a protective fabric covering overlying the core and on which the mattress is lying, the core and covering 1 being secured together so as to resist separation or sliding movement relative to each other.

The core is preferably composed of a panel of compressible material. The compressible material may be any suitable material such as a foam material or a non-woven fibrous mat material.

The protective fabric covering may be composed of a quilted material having an outer fabric sheath and an inner non-woven stiffening layer.

The underlay preferably has a thickness of less than about 2cm and is composed of materials that enable the mattress underlay to be rolled up into a generally tubular roll for packaging, storage and transport.

According to the present invention there is also provided a method of supporting and Sprotecting a mattress supported on a bed base having a plurality of spaced slats, the method including the steps of providing a mattress underlay and laying the mattress underlay on the bed base covering the slats followed by laying the mattress on top of the mattress underlay, the mattress underlay including a generally planar core providing support for the mattress across the spaces between adjacent slats of the bed base and a protective fabric covering overlying core and on which the mattress is laid, the core and covering being secured together so as to resist separation or sliding movement relative to each other.

Possible and preferred features of the present invention will now be described with particular reference to the accompanying drawings. However it is to be understood that the features illustrated in and described with reference to the drawings are not to be construed as limiting on the scope of the invention. In the drawings: Fig. 1 is a perspective sectioned view of a fragment of a mattress underlay to be used according to the present invention.

The mattress underlay in the drawing is in use laid on a bed base having multiple spaced slats (not shown) and a mattress (not shown) is then laid on top of the underlay so that the underlay provides some protection and support for the mattress. The underlay includes a core 11 which provides support for the mattress across the spaces between adjacent slats of the bed base. The core 11 is in the form of a planar panel of substantially constant thickness and is of the same shape and area as the slatted bed base. The core 11 is made of a compressible material schematically illustrated as a foam material 12, such as a synthetic foam rubber. If desired however, the core 11 could be made of a non-woven fibrous mat, e.g.

a mat of dacron fibres. The thickness of the core 11 may be for example about 6mm although 05/06/2881 14:39 +613-9890-1337 PATENT ATT/HZH INSUR PAGE 86/10 this thickness could be significantly less if stiffer foam or fibrous mnat Materials are Used or if there are relatively small spaces between slats at the bed base, or could be significantly greater if the material of which the core is composed provides lesser stiffness and support or if the spacing between adjacent slats of the bed base is greater.

On the upper surface of the core I11 there is provided a protective fabric covering on which the mattress lies. The coveting 15 and core I11 are secured together so as to resist separation or sliding movement relative to each other. This can be achieved in any conventional manmer, e.g. by an intervening adhesive between the covering 15 and the core 11I or by upholstery buttons provided on the upper and lower faces which are held together by a thread passing through the core.

In the illustrated embodiment, the covering 15 has an outer fabric sheath 16 and an inner non-woven stiffening layer 17. The sheath 16 and inner layer 17 can be quilted as shown by the quilting lines 18.

The sheath 16, stiffening layer 17, as well as the core 11 are all preferably made of non-allergenic materials. For example, the sheath 16 may be made of a polyester material and the stiffening layer 17 may be made of dacron fibres.

As shown in the drawing, the covering 15 preferably is provided on the bottom surface of the core 11 as well as the top surface so that the mattress underlay can be inverted and used with either broad surface facing up. The fabric sheath 16 can also extend around the side and end edges as shown at 19 so that the core I I is totally enclosed.

The mattress underlay preferably has a total thickness of less than about 2cm so that, with this thickness, and the appropriate choice of materials for the core and covering, the 05/06/2001 14:39 +613-9890-1337 PATENT ATT/HRH INSUR PAGE 07/10 mattress underlay can be rolled up into a tubular roll for convenient packaging, storage and transport.

It will be seen that the mattress underlay described and illustrated herein can provide protection and support for a mattress lying on a slatted bed base so that the mattress is better supported across the spaces between adjacent slats. This can reduce sagging or bulging of the mattress downwardly into the spaces with possible compromise of the support provided by the mattress and possible distortion of the mattress which may become semi-permanent or permanent thus preventing or deterring the inversion of the mattress and use after inversion.

The sagging or bulging can also lead to abrasive wear of the surface of the mattress at the edges of the slats so that the mattress underlay also protects the mattress against this kind of damage.

Claims (4)

1. A bed assembly including: a bed base having a plurality of spaced slats, a mattress, and a mattress underlay lying beneath the mattress and on the bed base, the underlay including a generally planar core providing support for the mattress across the spaces between adjacent slats of the bed base and a protective fabric covering overlying the core and on which the mattress is lying, the core and covering being secured together so as to resist separation or sliding movement relative to each other.

2. A bed assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein the core is composed of a panel of compressible material, the compressible material being selected from the group of compressible materials consisting of a foam material and a non-woven fibrous mat material.

3. A bed assembly as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the protective fabric covering is composed of a quilted material having an outer fabric sheath and an inner non-woven stiffening layer.

4. A bed assembly as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the underlay has a thickness of less than about 2cm and is composed of materials that enable the mattress underlay to be rolled up into a generally tubular roll for packaging, storage and transport. A method of supporting and protecting a mattress supported on a bed base having a plurality of spaced slats, the method including the steps of providing a mattress underlay and laying the mattress underlay on the bed base covering the slats followed by laying the mattress on top of the mattress underlay, the mattress underlay including a generally planar core providing support for the mattress across the spaces between adjacent slats of the bed base and a protective fabric covering overlying core and on which the mattress is laid, the core and covering being secured together so as to resist separation or sliding movement relative to each other. Dated this 17th day of July 2001 PATENT ATTORNEY SERVICES Attorneys for BODY REST BEDDING CO PTY LTD