EP1638844A1

EP1638844A1 - Packaging mattresses

Info

Publication number: EP1638844A1
Application number: EP04732136A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Simon Paul Spinks; David Clare
Original assignee: Harrison Spinks Beds Ltd
Current assignee: Harrison Spinks Beds Ltd
Priority date: 2003-05-12
Filing date: 2004-05-11
Publication date: 2006-03-29
Anticipated expiration: 2024-05-11
Also published as: WO2004099004A1; EP1638844B1; GB0310820D0; US20060231436A1; DE602004008627D1

Abstract

A method of packaging a mattress for storage and/or transportation comprises the steps of wrapping said mattress around a core and maintaining the mattress in position around said core. The method may include the additional steps of compressing the mattress prior to and/or during wrapping of the mattress around said core and the insertion of a topper for said mattress inside said core. In an alternative arrangement, the core may be constituted by a topper for the mattress. A mattress packaged according to the method is also disclosed.

Description

PACKAGING MATTRESSES

This invention relates to mattresses and is more particularly concerned

with the packaging, storing and transportation of mattresses.

Mattresses are usually stored and transported in their 'usable'

condition, i.e. in the form in which they are placed on a base or other

item which is to support the mattress. They are usually wrapped or

packaged in a bag or covering of plastics material for storage and

transportation. In such a condition, mattresses take up considerable

space - both in terms of storage and transportation - and it is the aim of

the present invention to provide an improved way of packaging a

mattress in order to alleviate the above-mentioned problem.

According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a

method of packaging a mattress for storage and/or transportation, the

method comprising the steps of wrapping the mattress around a core

and ma taining the mattress in position around said core.

The method may include the additional step of compressing the mattress prior to or during the wrapping of the mattress around said

core.

The core may be a topper for said mattress.

The method may include the step of securing the mattress in position

around said core, the further step of packaging the mattress and

core in a container, and the still further step of inserting a topper for

said mattress inside the core prior to or after wrapping the mattress

around said core.

According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided

a packaged mattress for storage and/or transportation comprising a

mattress wrapped around a core, and means for holding the mattress in

position around said core.

The core may be a topper for said mattress, or alternatively a topper for

said mattress may be located within the core within the mattress, and the means for mamtaining the mattress around said core may be

strapping and/or a bag or container of plastics material.

In order that the invention may be more readily understood,

embodiments thereof will now be described, by way of example only,

reference being made to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a schematic representation of a mattress being packaged in

accordance with the invention;

Figure 2 is a schematic representation of a mattress packaged in

accordance with the invention;

Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 2 and showing a topper for the

mattress packaged with said mattress; and

Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 2 and showing an alternative

embodiment of the invention.

Referring to the drawings and firstly to Figure 1, there is shown a

mattress - indicated generally by reference numeral 2 - whose leading

end 2A, as will be seen, is compressed. The mattress is being wrapped around a rigid or semi-rigid core 4 composed of, for example,

cardboard or other suitable material. To further the packaging, the

mattress continues to be wrapped around the core 4 until the mattress

2 completely envelops the said core 4.

To complete the packaging, the mattress 2 and core 4 may have

strapping applied thereto, after which the strapped package may be

inserted into a bag or container 6 of plastics material (Figure 2), or

the bag or container itself may be used to hold the mattress and core

together, thus obviating the need for the strapping which is not shown

in the drawings.

The completed packaged mattress is illustrated in Figure 2 of the

accompanying drawings.

In some instances, the mattress may include a removable topper

containing filling material for comfort in use of the mattress, and

where this is the case the topper will be packaged with the mattress. Thus, referring now to Figure 3, it will be seen that the packaged*

mattress includes a topper 8 which is rolled up inside the core 4. The

topper 8 may be placed inside the core 4 prior to the mattress 2 being

wrapped around the core 4, or alternatively the topper 8 may be

placed inside the core 4 after the mattress 2 has been wrapped around

the core.

Figure 4 shows an alternative arrangement of the invention. In Figure 4

- which has been exaggerated for the sake of clarity, it being under¬

stood that the various parts would be in closer proximity than shown in

the drawing - it will be seen mat a mattress 10 has been wrapped

around a topper 12 prior to being placed in a bag or container 14 of

plastics or other suitable material. Thus in this embodiment of the

invention, the topper 12 itself forms the core around which the

mattress is wrapped. Thus, the need for the discrete core of the

embodiment of Figures 1 to 3 is obviated, use being made instead of

the topper 12 for the mattress. Strapping (not shown) may be used,

the strapping serving the same purpose as previously described. Thus the invention provides a novel method of packaging a mattress

- and in some cases a topper also - for storage and/or transportation

purposes, resulting in space saving with respect to conventional

storage and/or transportation, thus reducing overall costs which are

associated with mattresses.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A method of packaging a mattress for storage and/or

transportation, the method comprising the steps of wrapping said

mattress around a core and maintaining the mattress in position around

said core.

2. A method according to Claim 1, including the additional step of

compressing the mattress prior to and/or during the wrapping of the

mattress around said core.

3. A method according to Claim 1 or Claim 2, including the

further step of packaging the mattress and core in a bag or container.

4. A method according to any of Claims 1 to 3, including the

further step of inserting a topper for said mattress inside the core prior

to or after wrapping the mattress around said core.

5. A method according to any of Claims 1 to 3, wherein the

core is a topper for said mattress.

6. A packaged mattress for storage and/or transportation

comprising a mattress wrapped around a core and means for

maintaining the mattress in position around said core.

7. A packaged mattress according to Claim 6, including a topper

for said mattress.

8. A packaged mattress according to Claim 7, wherein said topper

is located within said core.

9. A packaged mattress according to Claim 7, wherein said topper

constitutes said core.

10. A packaged mattress according to any of Claims 1 to 9, wherein

the means for holding the mattress in position around said core is strapping and/or a bag or container.