EP0617907B1

EP0617907B1 - Soothing mattress

Info

Publication number: EP0617907B1
Application number: EP94200779A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Rakeshwar Sachathamakul
Original assignee: MOTHER'S LOVE Pte Ltd; Mother s Love Pte Ltd
Current assignee: MOTHER'S LOVE PTE. LTD.
Priority date: 1993-03-29
Filing date: 1994-03-25
Publication date: 1997-06-18
Anticipated expiration: 2014-03-25
Also published as: DE69403837D1; EP0617907A1; ATE154498T1

Abstract

A soothing mattress for use as a portable crib and womb environment stimulator for an infant, comprising a crib simulator (10) formed of a non-allergic urethane foam material having a substantially U-shaped inner portion (12,14,16) into which a baby's head and torso can be fitted and protected from the external environment, the foam material crib simulator is coupled with a vibrator (28) for imparting to the crib simulator a vibratory motion simulating a general type of motion to which an unborn infant is subjected in at least the last trimester of a mother's pregnancy, and an activator (26) externally of the U-shaped inner portion for activation of the vibrator. <IMAGE>

Description

This invention relates to a soothing mattress for simulating a resting environment of a mother's womb in which an infant or young child has the environment of closeness of the mother's womb as well as sounds and movements imparted to a foetus to simulate the environment of the last four months and preferably the third trimester of a mother's pregnancy.
More particularly, the invention is concerned with providing, either together or individually, a sound simulating the sounds of a mother's womb as well as movement of a mother's womb which can be analogized to vibrations outside of a mother's womb as imparted to the foetus during at least the last trimester and possibly four months prior to birth of the child.
The invention is also concerned with a soothing mattress which can also be used as a portable bed for use by an infant which is easily foldable and placed into a more compact condition, so that it will be easily transportable from place to place and yet have the necessary elements for use as a bed.
The closest prior art known to the applicant is U.S.-A-5,063,912 issued on November 12, 1991 in the name of John Stewart Hughes, and this pertains to a baby sleep inducer calming method and device adapted for placement in a concealed or unobtrusive place in a baby crib or on a mattress, free of any connection to an energy source, having a housing for containing a self-contained source of energy and sound developer coupled thereto for producing a sound characteristic of a womb sound in the last four months of a foetus gestation period having a soothing, calming and sleep-inducing affect for a newborn infant when energized by the source of energy, which is free of external leads extending from the housing; the housing includes a protective casing to conceal and prevent unwanted access to the sound developer and the source of energy.
There is other prior art which indicates that work has been done in this area. For example, Belkin, U.S.-A-3,292,611, is concerned with an infant mattress provided with heating and ticking mechanisms, primarily to distract or pacify an infant by using such distractions. The sounds emitted are intended to simulate a heartbeat and, at the same time, heat is generated. The device uses external leads and separate electrical energization which can be harmful to an infant, both from a point of view of accidental strangulation as well as a fire hazard from the explosive wires, albeit covered wires.
U.S.-A-4,157,088 to Gracey is concerned with a relaxation and massaging device for a grown individual. This device is in the form of a full body pad to accommodate an average human body. The pad is equipped with vibrating and heating devices to massage the body. A compact cassette tape player is disposed within the pad adjacent the portion to receive the head of the user.
The purpose of Gracey is to achieve a state of relaxation. The cassette player provides a recorded message to provide specific instructions concerning relaxation techniques.
While the sleep inducer and baby calmer of the aforementioned U.S.-A-5,063,912 is quite satisfactory and useful for its purpose, it has been found that an infant, particularly a newborn infant, and a child during its early years is also affected by movement as well as sound and, in order to establish an environment simulating the mother's womb during at least the last trimester or the last four months of a mother's pregnancy, it has been found necessary to take other factors into consideration. One of these factors is the internal movement of the mother's womb which is the environment of the foetus prior to birth, and it has been found that a vibration device in combination with a sound emitting device has a greater effect of simulating the conditions in a mother's womb during the last trimester and possibly the last four months of the gestation period, and an enhanced effect on the newborn baby by on soothing and calming the baby and inducing sleep to the newborn infant as well as in the early stages of life of the infant child.
For this purpose, it is proposed to provide a soothing mattress which can also serve as a portable crib and womb environment simulator for an infant, which includes a foam material crib simulator for simulating a womb enclosure of a foetus to establish the surrounding internal environment. The crib has a substantially U-shaped inner portion into which a baby's head and torso can be fitted and protected from any external environment, and a vibration mechanism is coupled with the foam material crib simulator to form an integral unit therewith for imparting to the crib a vibratory motion simulating a general type of motion to which an unborn infant is subjected in at least the last trimester of a mother's pregnancy; and externally of the crib an activation is provided to activate the U-shaped inner portion for imparting the vibratory motion to the crib and to the infant when in the crib.
The soothing mattress according to the invention is most suitable for an infant up to nine months of age. However, the soothing mattress has also been found suitable for an infant up to twenty-four months or two years of age.
The foam crib simulator or soothing mattress includes a base portion to form both a mattress portion and a bottom protector for the infant child and a bumper portion connected with the base portion to partially surround an infant resting on the mattress portion. The bumper portion includes a head surround portion to protect the head of the newborn infant which is easily subjected to harm and two opposed side portions each having one end connected with the bumper portion.
The foam material is urethane foam which is preferably a soft, non-allergic urethane foam.
A vibration imparting device is preferably housed in the base portion and isolated from direct contact with the surface of the base portion on which the baby would rest, and a control mechanism housed in the bumper portion and isolated from the interior between the bumper portions and the head surround portion. It has been found that a large frequency range may be used and, in our preferred embodiment, it is preferred to use a range above 1500 Hz. While the vibrators may be placed in different areas of the mattress, the soothing effect is created even if only one vibrator is used, because the vibrators are generally distributed throughout the entire area of contact with the infant, and the vibrations would be along the entire extent of the mattress. More than one vibration device may also be used and placed in different areas of the mattress in order to achieve more uniformity of the level of intensity of the vibrations.
The bumper portion includes an interior portion facing towards the base portion and at least one receptacle in the bumper portion for receiving a switch and power mechanism; the switch and power mechanism includes an energization mechanism connected to the vibration imparting device for energization thereof for activating the vibration imparting device. The bumper portion also includes an exterior portion and a pair of spaced cavities, a self-contained battery powered sound mechanism housed in one of the cavities for imparting sound to an interior portion defined by the base portion and the bumper portion, the electrical connectors are housed within another of the cavities for activation of the vibration imparting device housed within the base portion. Each of the cavities is provided with a cover and a suitable lock or closure is provided for locking the cover to an outer portion of the bumper. If desired, a secure locking mechanism can be provided to prevent unauthorized tampering or changing of the electrical connections.
A receptacle is provided in the base portion for housing the vibration imparting device in the base portion, and the vibration imparting device when activated imparts vibrations to the base portion simulating movements of a mother's womb to which an unborn child is subject when in the mother's womb during the last trimester of pregnancy and possibly the sixth month of the mother's pregnancy.
A second receptacle is provided in the bumper portion for housing electrical controls for the vibration imparting device and isolated from the interior of the bumper portion and the top of the base of the mattress, and means coupling the electrical controls with the vibration device and isolated from the base portion of the mattress facing the bumper.
A third receptacle is provided in the bumper portion isolated from the interior thereof for receiving a self-contained sound producing device of the type disclosed in U.S.-A-5,063,912 for imparting sounds to an interior portion defined by the interior of the bumper and the base of the mattress facing the bumper, the vibration imparting device and sound producing device cooperating with each other to impart both physical stimulation as well as oral soothing sounds to a newborn infant user of the portable unit.
If desired, a plurality of vibrators can be provided in the foam material, as noted heretofore, which vibrators are placed in the base and the bumper, and individual electrical energizers can be provided for individually energizing each of the vibrators. If more than one vibration device is used, it is preferred that they be arranged to vibrate at substantially the same frequency without too much variation from the selected frequency of vibration.
Separate or the same electrical energizers may be used for energizing the sound mechanism and the vibration mechanism so as to energize and activate them individually or together as a unit.

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of a portable bed according to the invention; and
Fig. 2 is a modification of the portable bed shown in Fig. 1; and
Fig. 3 is a schematic circuit diagram of the wiring used in connection with the invention.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, bed portion 10 generally comprises a base portion 12 made from plastic foam material or other suitable baby material so as not to damage or hurt or injure the infant, and a pair of side or a set of bumper members 14 and 16 on each side of the longitudinal extent of member 12 and a rear or head surround portion 18 into which a baby's head can be placed so that portions 14, 16 and 18 provide the necessary protection for the head and upper torso of the infant. Portion 18 is also to be considered as a head bumper portion. The rear portion or head surround portion 18 includes on an external part thereof two instrument receiving sections or cavities 20 and 22.
Bumper portions 14 and 16, and head portion 18 may be formed as a single unit as shown to provide a single uniformly continuous member, or it can be formed from three individual units, as shown in Fig. 2.
Section or cavity 20 is adapted to receive a sound device 24 of the type disclosed in U.S.-A-5,063,912 issued on November 12, 1991, and a control unit 26. The specific location of the sound device 24 can be in different areas, so long as the sound properly reaches an infant in the crib.
Base portion 12 is shown as being provided with a receptacle 28x for housing an electrical vibrator 28 having its wires 36 connected to control unit 26 and controlled thereby. For the sake of simplicity, wires 36 are not shown as being connected with control unit 26 but, once assembled, the wires 36 are connected with control unit 26 which can suitably contain a battery compartment, not shown, in a manner similar to sound device 24. A cover unit 30 is provided, which can be connected by means of a conventional zipper or zippers 32 to the cover material 34 covering the base 12 and side and rear portions 14, 16 and 18. In lieu of the conventional zippers 32, a locking zipper, which is a zipper with a lock 32' can be used, as shown in Fig. 2. Also, VELCRO (trademark) closures can be used.
The vibrator 28 is a conventional type of vibrator having a coil and movable piston or other conventional vibration mechanism so as to impart very light vibrational movement as well as, in effect, a light massage to the baby. In some respects, the vibration device imparts an undulating movement to the crib which, in turn, is imparted to the infant.
Referring now more particularly to Fig. 2 which shows a modification of the Fig. 1 embodiment.
In the Fig. 2 embodiment, which is generally similar to the Fig. 1 embodiment, but is specifically intended to be portable and easily rolled up or packed for travel, base portion 12 is provided a pair of individual separately oppositely disposed side bumpers 14a and 16a which sit on top of base 12 and is preferably aligned with the edges thereof; and the side bumpers 14a and 16a may be removably connected to base 12 by means of zippers or other forms of connection, such as VELCRO (trademark). Head portion 18a may include the instrument receiving sections or cavities 20 and 22, as in Fig. 1, or they can be placed into a side portion of base portion 12 such as cavities 20a and 22a to avoid close contact with the infant (not shown). Also, the cavities 20a and 22a can be placed in the rear portion 18b of base 12 below bumper or head portion 18a. Accordingly, instrument receiving sections 20a and 22a are shown on one side of base portion 12, somewhat remote from the head of the infant. Also, the cavities 20a and 22a can be placed in other portions of base 12 (not shown) so as not to interfere with an infant's usage of the crib. If desired, cavities 20a and 22a can also be placed in head or bumper portion 18a.
For this purpose, section 20a is adapted to receive a sound device 24a, and section 22a is adapted to receive a control unit 26a, in much the same manner as the embodiment shown in Fig. 1.
In Fig. 2, four vibrators 28a, 28b, 28c and 28d are shown, and the vibrators can be used individually or together, depending upon the type of vibration it is desired to achieve and the motion imparted to the mattress 12. The control unit 26a is wired to vibrator 28a as shown at 36a and the other vibrators are in turn connected by wires 36b which are connected to vibrators 28b, 28c and 28d, so that the vibrators can be individually or collectively operated or two or more vibrators can be operated together, depending upon the effect it is desired to achieve. Electrical connection between the control unit and the vibrators is schematically shown by wires 36a and 36b.
It has been found that when a vibrator is used to produce a vibratory motion, such vibration helps to relax a newborn child and almost results in the infant being instantaneously soothed and put to sleep. It has also been found that, while the vibration is suitable for most purposes, a further advantage is obtained when the vibration movement is used in connection with the sounds emitted from the sound device 24 or 24a.
The foam material 12 which is used is a non-allergic foam, and it has been found that the rubbery type of material would not work.
In Fig. 1, a receptacle 40 may be provided in bumper portion 18 and a vibration device 42 similar to vibration device 28 may be used and controlled by control unit 26. In Fig. 2, rear portion 18b may be provided with a receptacle 40a and a vibration device 42a in a somewhat similar manner to that shown in Fig. 1 so that the wiring is not interfered with when head portion 18a is transported separately from rear base portion 18b, and separate wiring and connections are not necessary.
Referring to Fig. 3 which illustrates a schematic circuit diagram, a source of power or battery supply 50 is connected with an electrical vibrator generally designated 28 through line 52 and switch 54, and the battery supply is also connected to sound device 24 through line 56 and switch 58. Therefore, when switches 54 and 58 are closed together, both sound device 24 and vibrator 28 are rendered operative. When switches 54 and 58 are selectively closed, the electrical vibrator 28 and the sound device are selectively operated. It is possible to have all vibrators operating together as a unit or individually. When it is desired to have the vibrators operated individually, another separate line 60 can be used together with switch 62 to operate a vibrator, such as vibrator 28x separately or together with vibrator 28. If desired, all of the vibrators can be individually operated.
In its present form, because of the flexibility of the foam material, it can be folded into a smaller package and used as a portable crib when parents travel with a newborn infant.
While there has been shown and described what is considered to be the presently preferred mode for carrying out the invention, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

Claims

A soothing mattress construction for use as a portable crib and womb environment simulator for an infant, comprising : a non-allergic urethane foam material having a base portion (12) and a substantially U-shaped portion (14, 16, 18) on top of the base portion forming a U-shaped section into which a baby's head and torso can be fitted and protected from an external environment while the baby reclines on the base portion and is free to move its head and body within the inner portion of the substantially U-shaped portion; the base portion forming a mattress portion and being enclosed within an outer covering (34) and acting as a protector for the infant to insulate the infant from a surface on which the base portion rests to prevent injury to the infant and the U-shaped portion (14, 16, 18) forming part of a bumper portion which partially surrounds the head of the infant resting on the mattress portion; a vibrator (28, 28a, 28b, 28c, 28d, 42, 42a) unitarily coupled with the foam material for imparting a vibratory motion simulating a general type of motion to which an unborn infant is subjected in at least the last trimester of a mother's pregnancy, the vibrator being insulated from the infant by the urethane foam material; the bumper portion including an exterior portion and at least one cavity (20a, 20b) accessible from the exterior portion, a self-contained sound imparter (24, 24a) housed in the at least one cavity for imparting vibrations and sound to an interior portion of the crib defined by the base portion (12) and the bumper portion and isolated therefrom, and the bumper portion cooperating with the base portion to permit folding to provide for the portability of the crib; a cover (30) for the cavity remote from an interior portion of the substantially U-shaped inner portion and accessible from the exterior portion, and means for locking the cover to an outer portion of the bumper portion; and activation means (26, 26a) externally of the U-shaped inner portion isolated from direct or indirect contact with the infant for activation of the vibratory motion imparting means.
The device according to claim 1, wherein the bumper portion includes a head surround portion (18, 18a) to protect the head of an infant and two opposed side portions (14, 14a, 16, 16a) each having one end connected with the head surround portion to form a partially uniformly continuous surround to protect the infant and the infant's head, the head surround portion being sufficiently wide and the side portions being spaced from each other to provide for an area of movement of the infant while providing suitable protection.
The device according to claim 1, wherein the vibrator includes vibration imparting devices (28, 28a, 28b, 28c, 28d) housed in the base portion and isolated from direct contact with the surface of the base portion, and the activation means includes a control mechanism (26, 26a) housed in the bumper portion and isolated from the interior between the bumper portion and the head surround portion, the bumper portion forming an outer surround portion (14, 16, 18) for surrounding the head of an infant.
The device according to claim 1, wherein the bumper portion includes an interior portion facing towards the base portion and at least one receptacle (20, 20a, 22, 40, 40a) in the bumper portion isolated from the interior of the U-shaped portion for receiving a switch (54) and power mechanism, the switch and power mechanism including means connected to the vibrator (28) for activating thereof.
The device of claim 1, including a receptacle in the base portion for housing the vibrator (28) to impart vibrations to the base portion when activated for simulating movements to which an unborn child is subjected when in a mother's womb during at least the last three months of pregnancy and isolated from any physical contact with an infant in the portable crib.
The device of claim 5, including a second receptacle (22) in the bumper portion for housing electrical controls (26) for the vibrator (28) and isolated from the interior of the bumper portion and the top of the base of the mattress, and the electrical controls (26) being coupled with the vibrator and isolated from the base portion of the mattress facing the bumper portion.
The device of claim 5, including another receptacle (20) in the bumper portion isolated from the interior thereof for receiving a self-contained sound producing device (24, 24a) for imparting sounds and sound vibrations to an interior portion defined by the interior of the bumper portion and the base of the mattress facing the bumper portion.
The device of claim 1, wherein the vibrators include one or more vibrators (28a, 28b, 28c, 28d, 28x, 42) placed in the base and bumper portions for generating a vibration frequency of at least 1500 Hz.
The device of claim 1, including means (32) for detachably connecting the bumper portion from the mattress portion, and the bumper portion being formed of three individual portions 14a, 16a, 18a) which are connectable and disconnectable from each other, one of the portions being a head surround portion (18a) and the other two portions (14a, 16a) forming a pair of spaced leg portions between which a torso of an infant is adapted to be received with its head portion proximate to the head surround.
The device of claim 1, wherein the vibrator includes one or more vibrators, at least one of which (42) is housed in the bumper portion (18, 18a) and isolated from direct contact with the surface of the base portion (12) and the baby's head when a baby is placed onto the mattress portion with the head of the baby being proximate to the bumper portion and the body of the baby being disposed between the leg portions (14, 16); at least one or more receptacles including one in the base portion (12) for receiving the vibrators (28) isolated from the interior and direct contact with the infant's head, another receptacle (22) in the bumper portion for housing electrical controls (26) also isolated from the interior and the infant's head, and another receptacle (20) in the bumper portion isolated from the interior thereof for receiving a self-contained sound producing device (24) isolated from an infant, the sound producing device cooperating with the vibration producing device for imparting both physical as well as oral physical stimulation of a soothing nature.