GB1588724A

GB1588724A - Combined mattress and overlay

Info

Publication number: GB1588724A
Application number: GB4932576A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1977-11-01
Filing date: 1977-11-01
Publication date: 1981-04-29

Description

(54) COMBINED MATTRESS AND OVERLAY (71) We, JOHN HARRY DAWSON RODGERS, a British Subject, of Bentley Lodge, Normans Lane, Higher Whitley Near Warrington, Cheshire; and LYNDA MARY STEVENS, a British Subject, of Galdana, 34 Lawrence Avenue, Letchworth, Hertfordshire, do hereby declare the invention, for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement:: This invention concerns a combined mattress and overlay suitable for use, for example, in a cot, a pram or an infant's bed, and has for its object to provide a construction thereof which can easily be kept washed and clean, for purposes of hygiene, which ensures that its user will remain warm, which can be produced so as to be aesthetically pleasing in appearance, and which can, if desired, readily be constructed to embody a waterproof panel so as to protect its components against contact with fluids, for instance arising as a result of incontinence of the user or unintentional contact with a user's fluid-absorbent diaper.

With this object in view, the present invention provides a combined mattress and overlay comprising a fabric pocket defining a space removably accommodating a resilient or pliable mattress pad, and an overlay overlying the majority of the pocket, from one end thereof, said overlay being connected to the fabric pocket either so as to be nonreleasable or so as to be at least partially releasable to enable it to be folded back from its position overlying the pocket, wherein the pocket comprises an upper panel over which the overlay is disposed, and a lower panel, with the space accommodating the mattress pad being disposed between said upper and lower panels the upper panel of the pocket being a padded or quilted panel comprising a top fabric layer, an inner fabric layer, and a filling of padding material therebetween.

The lower panel is preferably constituted by two lower panel sections which overlap at a location between the ends of the pocket, thereby to provide an opening to within the pocket for removal and replacement of the mattress pad.

The mattress pad may be in the form of a slab of resilient plastics or rubber foam, for example a pliable polyurethane.

For achieving a pleasant appearance, that part of the top fabric layer not overlaid by the overlay, which part may be regarded as a pillow part of the article is conveniently of a decorative or patterned fabric and it may additionally be formed with a frill or trimming around its perimeter.

The mattress pocket preferably has, on its upper surface, fastening means serving to hold in place, in a position beneath the overlay, a detachable waterproof panel. The arrangement may be such that the waterproof panel extends from side to side of the mattress pocket and over at least one-half of the length thereof overlaid by the overlay, from the pillow end of such length. This fastening means may comprise, for example, hooks engageable with eyes on the waterproof panel or vice versa, but it preferably comprises one or more hooked or looped pile fabric fastener elements engageable with complementary looped or hooked pile fabric fastener elements on the waterproof panel, these fastener elements being commercially available under the Trade Mark "VEL CRO".

The waterproof sheet may be fastened along its top edge and/or along its lower edge.

The overlay is conveniently formed so as to be permanently connected to the pocket along the said one end of the pocket.

In the case where the overlay is nonreleasable, it will, of course be connected to the pocket at appropriate locations, for instance across the said one end and partially along the two side edges of the pocket, it readily being understood that the other end of the overlay must be unattached, to permit entry of a user of the product between the overlay and the mattress pocket.

In the case where the overlay is releasable it may have sliding clasp fasteners along both its side edges or it may have such fastener(s) along one edge or along part of one edge only. Alternatively, the overlay may be pro vided with a centrally-disposed fastener arrangement, opening of which separates the overlay into two parts which can be folded back outwards from the middle of the product. Other arrangements with one or more sliding clasp fasteners extending diagonally, longitudinally or transversely of the overlay are possible.

The overlay advantageously is a quilted component composed of an outer fabric layer and an under fabric layer with a fibrous or cellular filling therebetween, and the outer fabric layer may be of a decorative or patterned fabric, which may be the same as, or complementary to, that of the top fabric layer at the pillow part of the article. A frill or trimming may be provided around the overlay, and at its end towards the pillow it may have a decorative flap attached thereto give the appearance of a fold-back.

The invention will be described further, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, it being understood that the following description is illustrative, and not limitative, of the scope of the invention.

In the drawings: Fig. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a first embodiment of the combined mattress and overlay of the invention; Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1 but showing the fasteners released and the overlay lifted away from the mattress to reveal the upper surface of the latter; Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic sectional side elevation taken along the line 3-3 of Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is an underneathperspective view of the embodiment of Figs. f to 3, but with part thereof cut away to enable details of its construction to be appreciated; and Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 1 but illustrating an embodiment having a different fastener arrangement.

The embodiment of the combined mattress and overlay of the invention illustrated in Figs. 1 to 4 comprises a mattress having a rectangular fabric pocket, indicated generally by the reference numeral 10, composed of an upper panel 11 and a lower panel 12 defining between them a space which is occupied by a rectangular slab of flexible foamed polyurethane, or other suitable resilient material, forming a mattress pad 13 as shown in Fig. 3. The upper panel 11 is of quilted or padded construction being composed of a top fabric layer 14 sewn around its periphery to an inner fabric layer 15, these two layers holding between them a filling 16 consisting of a fibrous lap or batt. Of course, a cellular, feather or other filling 16 of customarily-used padding materials may be used in the place of this lap or batt.

The top fabric layer 14 is composed of two sections, namely a pillow section as indicated at 17 in Figs. 1 and 2 occupying about onethird of the top fabric layer 14 from one end thereof, and being of a decorative or patterned fabric with a decorative frill 18 around its periphery, and a body section as indicated at 19 in Fig. 2 being the remaining area, about two-thirds of the area of the top fabric layer 14, these being connected by an appropriate seam 20 transversely across the top fabric layer 14. The seam 20 has been omitted from Fig. 3 for clarity.

A first fastener element 21 , in the form of a band of a hooked pile fastener fabric, is secured transversely across the top fabric layer 14, in register with the transition or seam 20 between the pillow section 17 and the body section 19. This fastener element 21 serves to enable a complementary fastener element 22, in the form of a band of looped pile fastener fabric, to be connected thereto, thereby to secure a separate waterproof fabric panel 23 corresponding in area to just over half of the body section 19 over the upper surface of the top fabric layer 14.

The lower panel 12 of the pocket 10 is of textile fabric and, as can be seen from Figs. 3 and 4, comprises two sections 24 and 25 approximately of equal areas and disposed so as to overlap as at 26 approximately midway along the length of the pocket 10. These sections 24 and 25 are sewn to the upper panel 14 of the pocket 10 around the outer periphery of the latter, so that the overlapping portions 26 of the two lower panel sections 24 and 25 provide an entry to the interior of the pocket 10 whereby the mattress pad 13 can be removed from the pocket, 10 e.g. for washing purposes, and can be replaced therein.

Along each longitudinal edge of the pocket 10, in correspondence with the body section 19 of the top fabric layer 14 thereof, is a respective half 27 of a respective sliding clasp fastener 28.

The components described so far constitute a mattress of the arrangement of the invention. An overlay thereof, indicated generally by the reference numeral 30, is formed so as to be integral with the mattress being connected thereto at the end (for convenience referred to as "the foot end") remote from the pillow section 17. This overlay 30 is a quilted component whose area corresponds approximately to that of the body section 19 of the top fabric layer 14 of the pocket 10. It is composed of an outer fabric layer 31 of a decorative fabric similar to that providing the pillow section 17 of the top fabric layer 14 of the pocket 10, and an under fabric layer 32, these two layers sandwiching between them a respective filling 33 (Fig. 3) similar to that of the quilted upper layer 11 of the pocket 10. At its end towards the pillow, a curved flap 34 is secured to the overlay 30 this flap 34 also being made of the same decorative fabric as the pillow section 17 of the layer 14 and having a respective decorative frill 35. The longitudinal edges of the overlay 30 have secured thereto the respectively complementary halves 36 of the sliding clasp fasteners. Thus, the overlay 30 is connected permanently to the pocket 10 of the mattress across the foot end of the pocket, and is connected detachably along its two longitudinal sides by the sliding clasp fasteners 28, 36, an opening 37 existing between the overlay 30 and the mattress therebelow at the fourth side of the overlay 30 adjacent the pillow section 17 of the mattress for a child or infant to occupy the space therebetween, e.g. when the arrangement is used in a cot, pram or infant's bed.

It will be understood that in use of the article, the waterproof panel 23 prevents the other components thereof from coming into contact with fluid, e.g. arising from incontinence of the user or from unintentional contact with a wet diaper worn by the user. The user, in position between the overlay 30 and the mattress is, of course, kept warm by the overlay, and the entire arrangement is, of course, of pleasing appearance by reason of the presence of the decorative fabric components.

For washing, the mattress pad 13 can be removed from the pocket 10 and the overlay 30 can be folded away from the pocket 10 after unfastening of the two sliding clasp fasteners 27, 36, as shown in Fig. 2. This facilitates not only the washing, but also subsequent drying.

Fig. 5 of the drawings illustrates a second embodiment which is basically similar in its construction to that already described, similar reference numerals having been allocated to those parts which are similar to corresponding parts already described in relation to Figs. I to 4. In this case, however, the overlay 30 is fixedly connected to the mattress pocket 10 along its longitudinal edges as at 70, and a single sliding clasp fastener 71 is provided centrally down the overlay 30 to enable the latter to be divided and folded back for entry into the space between the overlay 30 and the pocket 10.

Naturally the invention is not confined to the precise details of the foregoing examples, and variations may be made thereto. It is not essential to employ the decorative or patterned fabrics and plain fabrics can be employed in their place. The overlay 30 can, if desired, be arranged to be completely detachable from the mattress pocket 10, and the decorative flap 34 can be omitted. Snap fasteners, hooks and eyes, or other separable fasteners can be employed in the place of the sliding clasp fasteners, and the waterproof panel 23 and its fasteners 21,22 can be omitted if desired.

The arrangement may, if desired, be furnished with a one-piece sheet (not shown), or a pair of sheets (not shown) which are disposed between the mattress pocket 10 and the overlay 30 being held in position by any suitable fastenings, such as hooked pile or sliding clasp fasteners, buttons or the like.

This sheet, or these sheets, may be made of a textile fabric, a waterproof material, or of a disposable material such as absorbent paper or wadding, and the fastenings may be respectively on the underside of the quilt, near the mouth thereof, and to the top end of the mattress.

Straps, for example of reinforced textile fabric, may be connected to the arrangement, either permanently or detachably, enabling it to be carried, either by hand or by way of a shoulder harness.

The embodiments of Figs. 1 to 4 and Fig. 5 can be designed with the pillow portions thereof thickened to provide a raised pillow or headrest. This can be achieved, for example, by making the pillow section 17 of the top fabric layer 14 of the fabric pocket 10 which houses the mattress pad so as to be capable of accommodating an appropriate pillow-like insert. This could, for instance, be a separate insert accommodated in a respective space in the pocket or could be an integral thickened portion of the mattress pad.Of course, the pillow need not be provided within the pocket which houses the mattress pad, but could be disposed on top of the pillow section 17 of the top fabric layer, being held in any convenient manner, such as by a so-called "housewife" flap a sliding clasp fastener, ties, buttons, press studs, hook pile fasteners or the like, and may, if desired, be accommodated in its own respective fabric sheath or envelope.

In the article of the invention, of course, the mattress pad 13 can be of any suitable material and/or construction. It can, for instance, be inflatable, and/or of a material and/or configuration such as to ensure that the breathing of the user of the article is not impaired. The same applies, of course, to the pillow, if provided.

WHAT WE CLAIM IS: 1. A combined mattress and overlay comprising a fabric pocket defining a space removably accommodating a resilient or pliable mattress pad, and an overlay overlying the majority of the pocket, from one end thereof, said overlay being connected to the fabric pocket either so as to be nonreleasable or so as to be at least partially releasable to enable it to be folded back from its position overlying the pocket, wherein the pocket comprises an upper panel over which the overlay is disposed, and a lower panel, with the space accommodating the mattress pad being disposed between said upper and lower panels the upper panel of the pocket being a padded or quilted panel comprising a top fabric layer, an inner fabric layer, and a

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Claims

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17 of the layer 14 and having a respective decorative frill 35. The longitudinal edges of the overlay 30 have secured thereto the respectively complementary halves 36 of the sliding clasp fasteners. Thus, the overlay 30 is connected permanently to the pocket 10 of the mattress across the foot end of the pocket, and is connected detachably along its two longitudinal sides by the sliding clasp fasteners 28, 36, an opening 37 existing between the overlay 30 and the mattress therebelow at the fourth side of the overlay 30 adjacent the pillow section 17 of the mattress for a child or infant to occupy the space therebetween, e.g. when the arrangement is used in a cot, pram or infant's bed.

It will be understood that in use of the article, the waterproof panel 23 prevents the other components thereof from coming into contact with fluid, e.g. arising from incontinence of the user or from unintentional contact with a wet diaper worn by the user. The user, in position between the overlay 30 and the mattress is, of course, kept warm by the overlay, and the entire arrangement is, of course, of pleasing appearance by reason of the presence of the decorative fabric components.

For washing, the mattress pad 13 can be removed from the pocket 10 and the overlay 30 can be folded away from the pocket 10 after unfastening of the two sliding clasp fasteners 27, 36, as shown in Fig. 2. This facilitates not only the washing, but also subsequent drying.

Fig. 5 of the drawings illustrates a second embodiment which is basically similar in its construction to that already described, similar reference numerals having been allocated to those parts which are similar to corresponding parts already described in relation to Figs. I to 4. In this case, however, the overlay 30 is fixedly connected to the mattress pocket 10 along its longitudinal edges as at 70, and a single sliding clasp fastener 71 is provided centrally down the overlay 30 to enable the latter to be divided and folded back for entry into the space between the overlay 30 and the pocket 10.

Naturally the invention is not confined to the precise details of the foregoing examples, and variations may be made thereto. It is not essential to employ the decorative or patterned fabrics and plain fabrics can be employed in their place. The overlay 30 can, if desired, be arranged to be completely detachable from the mattress pocket 10, and the decorative flap 34 can be omitted. Snap fasteners, hooks and eyes, or other separable fasteners can be employed in the place of the sliding clasp fasteners, and the waterproof panel 23 and its fasteners 21,22 can be omitted if desired.

The arrangement may, if desired, be furnished with a one-piece sheet (not shown), or a pair of sheets (not shown) which are disposed between the mattress pocket 10 and the overlay 30 being held in position by any suitable fastenings, such as hooked pile or sliding clasp fasteners, buttons or the like.

This sheet, or these sheets, may be made of a textile fabric, a waterproof material, or of a disposable material such as absorbent paper or wadding, and the fastenings may be respectively on the underside of the quilt, near the mouth thereof, and to the top end of the mattress.

Straps, for example of reinforced textile fabric, may be connected to the arrangement, either permanently or detachably, enabling it to be carried, either by hand or by way of a shoulder harness.

The embodiments of Figs. 1 to 4 and Fig. 5 can be designed with the pillow portions thereof thickened to provide a raised pillow or headrest. This can be achieved, for example, by making the pillow section 17 of the top fabric layer 14 of the fabric pocket 10 which houses the mattress pad so as to be capable of accommodating an appropriate pillow-like insert. This could, for instance, be a separate insert accommodated in a respective space in the pocket or could be an integral thickened portion of the mattress pad.Of course, the pillow need not be provided within the pocket which houses the mattress pad, but could be disposed on top of the pillow section 17 of the top fabric layer, being held in any convenient manner, such as by a so-called "housewife" flap a sliding clasp fastener, ties, buttons, press studs, hook pile fasteners or the like, and may, if desired, be accommodated in its own respective fabric sheath or envelope.

In the article of the invention, of course, the mattress pad 13 can be of any suitable material and/or construction. It can, for instance, be inflatable, and/or of a material and/or configuration such as to ensure that the breathing of the user of the article is not impaired. The same applies, of course, to the pillow, if provided.

WHAT WE CLAIM IS: 1. A combined mattress and overlay comprising a fabric pocket defining a space removably accommodating a resilient or pliable mattress pad, and an overlay overlying the majority of the pocket, from one end thereof, said overlay being connected to the fabric pocket either so as to be nonreleasable or so as to be at least partially releasable to enable it to be folded back from its position overlying the pocket, wherein the pocket comprises an upper panel over which the overlay is disposed, and a lower panel, with the space accommodating the mattress pad being disposed between said upper and lower panels the upper panel of the pocket being a padded or quilted panel comprising a top fabric layer, an inner fabric layer, and a

filling of padding material therebetween.

2. A combined mattress and overlay as claimed in claim l wherein the lower panel is constituted by two lower panel sections which overlap at a location between the ends of the pocket, thereby to provide an opening to within the pocket for removal and replacement of the mattress pad.

3. A combined mattress and overlay as claimed in claim 1 or 2 wherein the mattress is in the form of a slab of resilient plastics or rubber foam.

4. A combined mattress and overlay as claimed in any preceding claim wherein that part of the top fabric layer not overlaid by the overlay, which is a pillow part of the said layer, is of a decorative or patterned fabric.

5. A combined mattress and overlay as claimed in Claim 4 wherein the pillow part of the top fabric layer is formed with a frill or trimming around its perimeter.

6. A combined mattress and overlay as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the mattress pocket has, on its upper surface, fastening means serving to hold in place, in a position beneath the overlay, a detachable waterproof panel.

7. A combined mattress and overlay as claimed in Claim 6 wherein the waterproof panel extends from side to side of the mattress pocket and over at least one-half of the length thereof overlaid by the overlay, from the pillow end of such length.

8. A combined mattress and overlay as claimed in Claim 6 or 7 wherein the fastening means comprises one or more hooked or looped pile fabric fastener elements engageable with complementary looped or hooked pile fabric fastener elements on the waterproof panel.

9. A combined mattress and overlay as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the overlay is permanently connected to the pocket along the said one end of the pocket.

10. A combined mattress and overlay as claimed in Claim 9 wherein the overlay is connected to the pocket partially along the two side edges of the pocket.

11. A combined mattress and overlay as claimed in Claim 9 wherein the overlay is connected to the pocket along the two side edges of the pocket by means of sliding clasp fasteners.

12. A combined mattress and overlay as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the overlay is a quilted component composed of an outer fabric layer and an under fabric layer with a fibrous or cellular filling therebetween.

13. A combined mattress and overlay as claimed in Claim 12 in which the outer layer is of a decorative or patterned fabric.

14. A combined mattress and overlay as claimed in any preceding claim wherein a frill or trimming is provided around the overlay.

15. A combined mattress and overlay as claimed in any preceding claim in which the end of the overlay towards the pillow has a decorative flap attached thereto.

16. A combined mattress or overlay as claimed in any preceding claim wherein a pillow pad is provided in or on the mattress at the portion thereof not covered by the overlay.

17. A combined mattress and overlay substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in Figs. 1 to 4 or in Fig. 5 of the accompanying drawings.