EP3694378A1

EP3694378A1 - Padded article and associated external container

Info

Publication number: EP3694378A1
Application number: EP18779702.2A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Stefania Ferrari
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2017-10-09
Filing date: 2018-10-05
Publication date: 2020-08-19
Also published as: WO2019072711A1; IT201700113252A1

Abstract

A padded article for human use and suitable to act as support for a human body or part thereof, comprising at least one internal body (11) and at least one external container (12) for covering and protection of the at least one internal body (11) and made of a material which is bioinert and coherent with the human body; the external container (12) furthermore comprises a covering portion (16) which during use is arranged on a support surface (14) of the internal body (11), a base portion (18), which lies opposite the covering portion (16), and a perimetric band (22) configured to connect the covering portion (16) to the base portion (18).

Description

PADDED ARTICLE AND ASSOCIATED EXTERNAL CONTAINER

The present invention relates to a padded article such as a mattress, a pillow, or the like, to be used in a home, tourist, hospital, hotel environment, in nursing homes, or in general in environments in which the padded article must have particular characteristics of healthiness, cleanliness, suffocation prevention and breathability.

The present invention also relates to an external container configured to cover and protect an internal body of the padded article.

Padded articles, such as mattresses or pillows, provided with an internal body and with an external container that encloses the internal body, are known.

The external container is provided with an upper covering portion, which makes contact with the body of a person, with a base portion, which makes contact with a supporting surface of the padded article, and with a perimetric band, which connects the covering portion and the base portion.

It is known, in hospital environments, to arrange an impermeable layer which is located on top of the padded article to collect any liquids. However, such a solution retains liquids, i.e., the impermeable layer remains damp and adequate breathability is not ensured, and this is harmful for a user since an adequate level of hygiene is not ensured.

It is also known to provide the covering portion with a breathable and absorbent material such as to allow to absorb any liquids.

It is also known that the internal bodies can be made of a solid material, optionally provided with springs, which absorbs and retains liquids.

The above cited internal bodies, optionally combined with a breathable covering portion, retain humidity and require prompt washing and sanitizing, which are complicated to perform.

Also, if the internal body is made of a material adapted to facilitate the drainage of liquids, the liquids continue their flow beyond the base portion, thus dirtying the supporting surface and/or the other surfaces that are located below the padded article.

Furthermore, it is problematic to handle the padded article, because if it is tilted the liquids spill, dirtying the surrounding environment. EP2506732 A1 discloses a system usable for being placed above, or integrated into mattresses, cushions, seats or to be integrated inside a shoe, for keeping the skin of a user dry and removing therefrom the sweat and the humidity. The system has a case, a first portion made of hydrophilic and hydrophobic fibres, a second portion opposite to the first portion, a third portion that joins the first portion with the second portion, a padding enclosed between the first and second portions; holes are provided on the second and/or third portion; the holes connect the padding inside the case with the outside so as to enable both the air to enter the padding and the sweat and/or humidity to exit from inside outwards.

DE20309793 U1 discloses a mattress cover having a water vapor-permeable top layer connected to a liquid-absorbing lower layer by spacer fibers. A liquid-impermeable layer is bonded to the underside of the liquid-absorbing lower layer.

GB2189993 discloses an absorbent sheet having a first sheet element of a material impermeable to liquids in one direction and a second sheet element having an area which is permeable to liquids in one direction, the two sheet elements lie one on top of the other and are attached together forming a pocket in the permeable area, into which an absorbent material can be inserted, the first sheet element prevents liquids from passing out of the absorbent sheet and the second sheet element permits the passage of liquids into the absorbent sheet in its permeable area.

EP0375782 discloses a sheet type mat obtained by partitioning the interior of a mat cover into bag-type spaces. Bagged desiccants or desiccant sheets are inserted into the bag type spaces.

An object of the present invention is to provide a padded article which, at least in the portion in contact with a user, does not retain biological liquids and can retain and collect liquids at a portion that is not in contact with the user.

A further object is to provide a padded article in which each part thereof can be easily washed, sanitized, and/or sterilized even with aggressive products or methods.

A further object is to provide a padded article that can be sanitized using ozone.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a padded article that does not facilitate the onset of fungi and bacteria or the growth of mites and in any case allows their rapid and complete elimination.

These and other objects which will become better apparent hereinafter are achieved by a padded article as claimed in the appended claims.

The present invention relates to a padded article for human use and suitable to act as support for a human body or for part thereof, the article including at least one internal body and at least one external container for covering and protection of the internal body which is made of a material that is bioinert and coherent with the human body.

The external container includes a covering portion which, during use, is arranged on a support surface of the internal body, a base portion, which is arranged opposite the covering portion, and a perimetric band, which is configured to mutually connect the covering portion and the base portion.

According to one aspect of the invention, the internal body has a structure which is suitable to drain liquids, the covering portion is provided by means of at least one first material and includes at least one breathable and draining layer and the base portion is provided by means of a second material and includes at least one impermeable layer.

In this manner, advantageously, any liquids pass in sequence through the covering portion and the internal body and accumulate at the impermeable layer, ensuring a dry covering portion for a user and at the same time preventing the liquids from falling beyond the padded article. The padded article thus provided prevents the liquids from dirtying the surfaces located below the padded article.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the internal body is made of bioinert material and is formed by a plurality of threads of polymeric material which are randomly mutually associated so as to form a three-dimensional structure with large empty spaces.

The internal body thus provided facilitates the drainage of the liquids toward the impermeable layer and at the same time ensures breathability and healthiness of the padded article also in its interior.

According to a further embodiment, the covering portion is formed by at least two breathable and draining layers, which face each other and are mutually spaced by a spacer means which is extended between the two breathable and draining layers so as to form large empty spaces.

The covering portion thus provided constitutes a good support surface for a user, ensuring adequate breathability and draining of any liquids.

According to a further embodiment, the base portion includes at least one absorbent layer which during use is arranged between the impermeable layer and a bottom surface of the internal body.

In this manner, the absorbent layer absorbs the liquids, allowing easy handling of the padded article without the risk of causing liquids to fall out of the padded article.

According to a further embodiment, the base portion includes at least one muffling layer in order to muffle the noise generated by the impermeable layer, which is arranged, during use, in contact with the impermeable layer and is arranged opposite with respect to the absorbent layer.

In this manner, advantageously, the impermeable layer is prevented from making noise by rubbing against a support surface of the padded article and is also prevented from sliding.

The present invention also relates to an external container for the covering and protection of an internal body of a padded article.

The external container includes at least one covering portion which during use is arranged on a support surface of the internal body, a base portion, which lies opposite the covering portion, and a perimetric band, which is configured to connect the covering portion and the base portion. The covering portion has at least one breathable and draining layer and the base portion has at least one impermeable layer.

These and other characteristics of the present invention will become apparent from the description that follows of embodiments, given by way of nonlimiting example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a padded article according to the present invention;

Figure 2 is a partial transverse sectional view of the padded article of Figure 1 ; Figure 3 is a partial transverse sectional view of the padded article according to a further aspect of the invention;

Figure 4 is a partial transverse sectional view of the padded article according to a further aspect of the invention;

Figure 5 is a partial transverse sectional view of the padded article according to a further aspect of the invention;

Figure 6 is a side transverse sectional view of the padded article according to an embodiment of the invention.

In order to facilitate comprehension, identical reference numerals have been used, where possible, to identify identical common elements in the figures. It is understood that elements and characteristics of one embodiment can be conveniently incorporated in other embodiments without further specifications.

With reference to the cited figures, the padded article 10, according to the invention, can be used for example in the hospital field, in hotels, or in nursing homes, and can be particularly suitable for patients affected by bedsores or who require a mattress having a reduced risk of accumulation of mites and/or growth of bacteria.

The padded article 10 has at least one internal body 1 1 and at least one external container 12.

The external container 12 is configured to cover and protect the internal body 1 1 and is made of a material which is bio-inert and coherent with the human body.

The internal body 11 is configured to support a patient and has a structure suitable to drain any liquids.

In accordance with an embodiment illustrated by way of example in Figure 5, the padded article 10 can include a first external container 12a and a second external container 12b, in which one each one covers a corresponding first internal body 1 1 a and a second internal body 1 1 b. The first external container 12a and the second external container 12b can be connected at one edge in order to allow a relative rotation, about a rotation axis R, of the first internal body 1 1 a with respect to the second internal body 1 1 b.

Merely by way of example, the first internal body 1 1 a has a length of up to approximately 120 cm, while the second internal body 1 1 b has a length of up to approximately 100 cm.

In this manner, advantageously, it is possible to incline the second internal body 1 1 b in order to support the head of the user, while the first internal body 1 a supports the rest of the body of a user.

According to an aspect of the invention, the external container 12 can be shaped so as to be fixed and integral with the internal body 1.

According to an embodiment, the external container 12 can be shaped so that it can be disassembled from the internal body 1 1. In this manner it is advantageously possible to extract the internal body 1 1 from the external container 12 and perform separate treatments and simplify or improve the cleaning and/or treatment operations.

In accordance with the above cited embodiment, the external container 12 can be selectively opened/closed with a closure means 23 in order to allow the internal body 1 1 to be inserted in or removed from the external container 12.

The closure means 23 can be a zip fastener or buttons, clips, Velcro, laces.

The closure means 23 may also be provided as overlapping laps formed on the perimetric band 22.

The particular structure of the external container 12 and the materials used improve breathability and sanitary or hospital sanitizing and avoid the onset of molds or the proliferation of bacteria in addition to allowing quick and continuous cleaning of the padded article 10.

The internal body 1 1 has at least one support surface 14, which is configured to support a user, and a bottom surface 15, which is arranged opposite the support surface 14, for the positioning of the padded article 10 in a stable position, for example on a support surface.

The external container 12 has a covering portion 16 which, during use, is arranged on a resting surface of the internal body 1 1 , a base portion 18, which is arranged opposite with respect to the covering portion 16, and a perimetric band 22, which is configured to mutually connect the covering portion and the base portion.

The perimetric band 22 is configured to cover the thickness of the internal body 1 1 at least partially. The covering portion 16, the base portion 18 and the perimetric band 22 can be mutually connected by sewing or adhesive bonding.

The covering portion 16 has at least one breathable and draining layer 17 and the base portion 18 has at least one impermeable layer 19.

Therefore, the covering portion 16 is provided by means of at least one first material, i.e., a breathable and draining material, and the base portion 18 is provided by means of at least one second material, i.e., an impermeable material, which is different from the first material.

In this manner, the external container 12 performs both the function of breathability and drainage on the upper part of the padded article 10 and the function of protection and impermeableness against any outflows of liquids from the base of the padded article 10.

The impermeable layer 19 can be made of a polymeric material, such as for example polyurethane or PVC.

The impermeable layer 19 can be provided in order to withstand hot water and steam, for example, used to perform the washing and/or sanitizing of the padded article 10.

The impermeable layer 19 is preferably resistant also to sterilizing processes. Advantageously, the impermeable layer 19 can have anti-slip properties, at least on its surface directed outward during use. When a user rests on the padded article 10, the pressure applied to the covering portion 16 in fact allows to make the impermeable layer 19 well adhere to the support surface on which the padded article 10 is arranged, preventing it from slipping and changing its position.

For example, the impermeable layer 19 can be made of polyurethane, PVC, rubber or any material which gives anti-slip properties to the padded article 10.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the impermeable layer 19 can cover the thickness of the internal body 11 at least partially, in addition to completely covering the bottom surface 15 of the internal body 1 1.

Merely by way of example, the impermeable layer 19 can cover the thickness of the internal body 1 1 for a height of up to approximately 30 mm. According to a further embodiment, the impermeable layer 19 can completely cover the thickness of the internal body 11. In this manner, advantageously, even if the padded article 10 is tilted, liquids do not spill out.

According to an embodiment, the internal body 1 1 is made of bio-inert material and is provided by a plurality of threads 13 of polymeric material which are randomly mutually associated so as to form a three-dimensional structure with large empty spaces.

The threads 13 can have a solid transverse cross-section.

Alternatively, the threads 13 can have a tubular transverse cross-section. This allows to reduce the overall weight of the internal body 1 1 and advantageously give it elasticity.

According to an embodiment, the three-dimensional structure defined by the threads 13 of the internal body 11 has an apparent density comprised between 5 kg/m³ and 200 kg/m³, preferably between 15 kg/m³ and 70 kg/m³, advantageously between 25 kg/m³ and 60 kg/m³, even more preferably between 40 kg/m³ and 60 kg/m³.

The particular shape of the three-dimensional structure defined by the threads 13 of the internal body 1 1 allows to obtain an internal body 1 1 that has high breathability, merely by way of example comprised between 300 cm³/cm /s and 1000 cm³/cm²/s.

According to an embodiment, the breathable and draining layer 17 can have a plurality of apertures 20 to facilitate breathing and drainage.

Merely by way of example, the breathing and draining layer 17 can be a two- dimensional fabric, advantageously knitted with a natural or synthetic fiber.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the apertures 20 occupy approximately 30%-80% of the overall surface of the breathable layers.

Also, the apertures 20 can be provided according to a predetermined pattern, for example a matrix pattern, so as to increase the breathing of the covering portion 16 as a whole.

The apertures 20 can be formed by the particular manner of weaving the breathable and draining layer 17 or can be provided by perforating the layer 17.

Also the perimetric band 22 can have a plurality of apertures 20 in order to increase the breathability of the padded article 10.

According to a preferred embodiment, shown by way of example in Figure 4, the covering portion 16 has at least two breathable and draining layers 17 which face each other and are mutually spaced by a spacer means 21 extended between the two breathable and draining layers 17 so as to form large empty spaces.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the breathable and draining layers 17 can be spaced with a distance comprised between 2 mm and 20 mm, preferably between 5 mm and 15 mm.

For example, the spacer means 21 can be spacer threads.

Advantageously, the apertures 20 of the two breathable and draining layers 17 in combination with the spacer means 21 form free channels to facilitate the drainage of liquids.

The spacer means 21 can yield elastically by virtue of the action of the weight of a person and allows to maintain empty spaces so as to ensure breathability, facilitate the drainage of any liquids and prevent the retention of humidity.

The spacer means 21 can have a diameter comprised between 0.01 mm and 0.1 mm.

The spacer means 21 can be made of a polymeric material, for example polyamide, polypropylene, or polyester, polyethylene or derivatives thereof.

According to an embodiment illustrated by way of example in Figure 3, the base portion 18 can include an absorbent layer 24 which during use is arranged between the impermeable layer 19 and the bottom surface 15 of the internal body 1 1.

The absorbent layer 24 can be chosen in a group which includes natural fibers such as cotton, linen, viscose, or the like, or synthetic fibers such as polyester, polyamide, polypropylene, or the like.

For example, the base portion 18 can be obtained by spreading the impermeable layer 19 on the absorbent layer 24. In particular, the impermeable layer 19 is an impermeable membrane for the absorbent layer 24 in order to retain liquids.

Merely by way of example, the material, in the liquid or viscous estate, that forms the impermeable layer 19 is distributed on a surface of the absorbent layer 24 and subsequently fixed by heat in order to anchor firmly to the absorbent layer 24.

Merely by way of example, the absorbent layer 24 can have a liquid absorption capacity from approximately 800 g/m² to approximately 1300 g/m² or more.

According to a further embodiment, the base portion 18 can include a muffling layer 25 in order to muffle the noise generated by the impermeable layer 19.

The muffling layer 25 is arranged, during use, in contact with the impermeable layer 19 and is arranged opposite with respect to the absorbent layer 24.

The muffling layer 25 can be chosen in a group which includes natural fibers such as cotton, linen, viscose, or the like, or synthetic fibers such as nylon, polyester, or the like.

The muffling layer 25 has the function of muffling or eliminating the noise generated by the impermeable layer 19 when the padded article 10 is moved or when the user moves on top of the padded article 10.

Merely by way of example, the absorbent layer 24 and the muffling layer 25 can be provided with a terry weave, respectively to increase the liquid absorption effect and the noise muffling effect.

According to a further embodiment, illustrated by way of example in Figure 3, the internal body 1 1 can include a first layer 26, which is formed by the plurality of threads 13 that define the three-dimensional structure, and at least one second layer 27, which is superimposed on the first layer 26.

The second layer 27 allows to reduce or optionally eliminate the perception of the threads 13 or of any irregularities of the first layer 26 on the part of the user when he lies on the padded article 10.

The second layer 27 is arranged, during use, so as to define the support surface 14 of the internal body 1 1 and has a lower density than the first layer 26.

The internal body 11 can also be provided by a first layer 26 on which multiple second layers 27 are superimposed and stacked.

The internal body 1 1 can have a thickness between 80 mm and 400 mm, in which the first layer 26 can constitute approximately 50% to approximately 70% of the total thickness of the internal body 1 1. According to an embodiment, the first layer 26 and the at least one second layer 27 can be fixed to each other by means of an adhesive substance 28 in order to provide a single internal body 1 1.

The adhesive substance 28 is resistant to cold and hot water and steam, for example it can withstand temperatures between approximately 60°C and approximately 120°C, and is suitable to bond together the first layer 26 and the at least one second layer 27 in order to form the internal body 1 1.

Merely by way of example, the adhesive substance 28 can be based on water in which polychloroprene is dispersed.

In accordance with embodiments described herein, the adhesive substance 28 can be used in combination with an accelerator. The accelerator allows to reduce the bonding time of the first layer 26 with the at least one second layer 27 by using the adhesive substance 28.

Merely by way of example, the accelerator can be an acid in an aqueous solution.

According to a further embodiment, illustrated by way of example in Figure 3, the padded article 10 can include an interposition layer 29 which is arranged on top of the support surface 14 of the internal body 1 .

The interposition layer 26 can be made of a polymeric material which can be washed at high temperatures, such as for example polytrimethylene terephthalate.

In this manner, the interposition layer 29 allows to increase the feeling of comfort for a user.

In the claims that follow, the reference numbers in brackets have only the purpose of facilitating reading and must not be considered as limiting factors as regards the protective scope implied in the specific claims.

This application claims the priority of Italian Patent Application No. 102017000113252, filed on October 9, 2017, the subject matter of which is incorporated herein by reference.

Claims

1. A padded article for human use and suitable to act as support for a human body or part thereof, comprising at least one internal body (1 1) and at least one external container (12) for covering and protection of the at least one internal body (1 1 ) and made of a material which is bio-inert and coherent with the human body, said external container (12) further comprising a covering portion (16) which during use is arranged on a support surface (14) of said internal body (1 1 ), a base portion (18), which lies opposite said covering portion (16), and a perimetric band (22) that connects said covering portion (16) to said base portion (18), said at least one internal body (1 1 ) has a structure that is suitable to drain liquids, said covering portion (16) being made of at least one first material and comprising at least one breathable and draining layer (17), said base portion (18) being made of at least one second material which is different from said first material and comprises at least one impermeable layer (19); said padded article being characterized in that said covering portion (16) is formed by two breathable and draining layers (17) which face each other and are mutually spaced by a spacer means (21 ), said spacer means (21 ) extending between said two breathable and draining layers (17) so as to form large empty spaces.

2. The padded article according to claim 1 , characterized in that said at least one internal body (1 1 ) comprises a first layer (26) that is formed by said plurality of threads (13) which form said three-dimensional structure and by at least one second layer (27) which is superimposed on said first layer (26), and said second layer (27) has a lower density than said first layer (26).

3. The padded article according to claim 1 , characterized in that said at least one internal body (1 1) is made of bio-inert material and is formed by a plurality of threads (13) made of polymeric material which are randomly mutually associated so as to form a three-dimensional structure with large empty spaces.

4. The padded article according to claim 1 , characterized in that said at least one breathable and draining layer (17) has a plurality of apertures (20) in order to facilitate breathing and draining.

5. The padded article according to claim 1 , characterized in that said base portion (18) comprises at least one absorbent layer (24) which during use is arranged between said at least one impermeable layer (19) and a bottom surface ( 5) of said at least one internal body (1 1).

6. The padded article according to claim 5, characterized in that said base portion (18) comprises at least one muffling layer (25) in order to muffle the noise generated by said at least one impermeable layer (19); said at least one muffling layer (25) being arranged, during use, in contact with said at least one impermeable layer (19) and being opposite with respect to said at least one absorbent layer (24).

7. The padded article according to claim 1 , characterized in that it comprises a first external container (12a) and a second external container (12b), in which each one covers and protects a corresponding first internal body (1 1 a) and a second internal body (1 1 b), said first external container (12a) and said second external container (12b) being connected at a respective edge in order to allow a relative rotation of said first internal body (1 1 a) with respect to said second internal body (1 1 b).

8. An external container, for covering and protecting an internal body (11), comprising a covering portion (16) which, during use, is arranged on a support surface of said internal body (1 1), a base portion (18), which lies opposite said covering portion (16), and a perimetric band (22), which is configured to connect said covering portion (16) and said base portion (18), said covering portion (16) being made of a first material and comprising at least one breathable and draining layer (17), said base portion (18) being made of a second material that is different from said first material and comprises at least one impermeable layer (19); said external container being characterized in that said covering portion (16) is formed by two breathable and draining layers (17) which face each other and are mutually spaced by a spacer means (21), said spacer means (21 ) extending between said two breathable and draining layers ( 7) so as to form large empty spaces.