GB2169798A - Mattress - Google Patents

Abstract

A folding mattress comprises an upper foam panel 1, and two lower foam panels 2, 3. A cover 7 extends around the top and sides of panel 1, and around the bottom and sides of panels 2 and 3, so forming a hinge 8 about which the mattress can be folded. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Mattress The present invention relates to an improved hinged mattress.

Currently hinged mattresses arm known which generally comprise two separate foam mattress sections each enclosed in separate mattress covers, the mattress covers being joined together down a single hinge seam which then appears on the top surface of the mattress. A disadvantage of this type of mattress is that when used by incontinent patients the top surface of the mattress cover, which is generally made of a water resistant material, must be wiped over with a special fluid. If a seam is present on this top surface the fluid can enter through the holes in the stitching of the seam and penetrate the mattress causing degradation of the foam.

It is the purpose of the present invention to provide a hinged mattress with at least one hinge which presents an unbroken, unseamed surface which may easily be wiped clean without damaging the foam of the mattress.

According to the present invention there is provided a mattress comprising a mattress body including an upper rectangular panel for placing over the top of two or more lower rectangular panels, said lower rectangular panels being arranged side by side along the length of the mattress, and a cover extending around the top and all sides of the upper panel and around the bottom and all sides of each lower rectangular panel so that at least one bight portion is formed directly below the upper panel thereby forming at least one transverse hinge about which the mattress may be folded.

This arrangement gives the advantage that no seam or discontinuity in the covered surface of the upper panel is present, thus improving the resistance of the mattress to wiping with cleaning fluid.

Preferably the mattress cover includes opening means for removal and fitting of the cover to the mattress and means to pull the cover over the mattress.

Preferably the cover includes, in the region of the bight portion an air vent to allow air to enter the interior of the covered mattress.

This serves to cool down body contact points in the central portion of the mattress.

Preferably each panel is made of polyurethane foam, and includes strips of reconstituted polyurethane foam along each long edge.

The mattress may have only a single hinge, or alternatively it may have a number of hinges at various points along its length, one or more of which may allow the mattress to be folded in an opposite direction to the other hinges.

Embodiments in accordance with the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a mattress in accordance with the present invention; Figure 2 is a plan view of a mattress and cover in accordance with the present invention; Figure 3 is a plan view of a mattress and cover in accordance with the present invention in a fully folded position; Figure 4 is a plan view of a mattress and cover in accordance with the present invention in a reclining position; Figure 5 shows the outward appearance of a mattress and cover in accordance with the present invention when the cover is fitted to the mattress; Figure 6 shows the construction of a mattress cover in accordance with the present invention; and, Figure 7 is a view of the inside of the mattress cover in accordance with the present invention, showing reinforcements in the region of the hinge seam.

With reference to Fig. 1 a hinged mattress in accordance with the present invention is provided which comprises three panels, an upper panel 1, a first lower panel 2 and a second lower panel 3. Panels 1, 2 and 3 are all rectangular in shape with dimensions such that the thickness of the lower panels 2 and 3 is about three times the thickness of the upper panel 1, and the length of the lower panel 3 is about one and a half times the length of the lower panel 2. The panels 1, 2 and 3 are arranged with the edges 4 and 5 of panels 2 and 3 respectively lying parallel and close together. Reinforcement 6 is provided along each side of each panel, this reinforcement acting to present a patient from rolling off the mattress and also to provide resistance should a patient sit on the side of the mattress.

Preferred materials for the mattress are polyurethane foam for the panels 1, 2 and 3 with reconstituted polyurethane foam for the reinforcement 6. The preferred dimensions are 1960mmX762mm for the upper panel 1, 1200mmX762mm for the lower panel 3 and 760mmX762mm for the lower panel 2.

With reference to Fig. 2 there is provided a mattress cover 7 in accordance with the present invention which, when constructed from its component pieces, surrounds the panels 1, 2 and 3 as shown, the cover extending transversely along each edge 4 and 5 of panels 2 and 3 respectively and extending vertically as far as the lower surface of the upper panel 1. The cover has a seam running between the edges 4 and 5 underneath the upper panel 1, this seam forming a hinge seam such that the mattress can be folded about this hinge seam in the direction shown.

It should be appreciated that there may be provided any number of lower panels and any number of corresponding hinge seams in the cover, and there may also be provided a reversed hinge. This reversed hinge may be achieved by having edges of adjacent panels cut at an angle to the vertical such that the distance between adjacent panels is greater at the lower surfaces of the panels than at the upper surfaces, thus allowing the mattress to be folded about the hinge seam in an opposite direction to that indicated in Fig. 2.

With reference to Fig. 3, in its fully folded position panel 2 is vertically above panel 3 with the folded end of panel 1 sandwiched between panels 2 and 3.

With reference to Fig. 4 the mattress may also be folded to a reclining position in order to be accommodated on a reclining bed frame 9 having a back support 10.

With reference to Figs. 5 and 6 a mattress cover in accordance with the present invention is provided which comprises three separate covers 11, 12 and 13 sewn together to form a single mattress cover as shown. The cover includes two zip fasteners 14 and 15, one at each end of the mattress cover and loops 16 attached at each end of each zip fastener. The cover includes a mesh air vent 30 to allow air to enter the covered mattress. The construction of the mattress cover is such that there are no seams on the upper surface of the upper panel, thus preventing an unbroken continuous surface. The preferred material for the mattress cover is a polyurethane coated woven nylon fabric "VITAPRUF". Since no seam is present on the upper surface of the upper panel, it may be wiped clean without cleaning fluid or other liquid entering the foam of the mattress.

With reference to Figs. 1 and 6 a mattress cover in accordance with the present is constructed in several stages. First covers 12 and 13 are constructed of the correct size and shape to fit panels 2 and 3 respectively, these covers 12 and 13 having bases and sides but no tops. Next a cover 11 is constructed, having a top and sides but no bottom, which is of the correct size and shape to fit the upper panel 1. Next two zip fasteners 14 and 15 are sewn into position on each end of the mattress cover, the zip fasteners extending a short distance down each side of the mattress cover, such that when each zip is closed, zip fasteners 14 joins edge 17 of the lower cover 12 to the edge 18 of upper cover 11 and zip fastener 15 joins edge 20 of the lower cover 13 to the edge 19 of the upper cover 11.

Next the upper edges 21 and 22 of the covers 12 and 13 respectively are sewn together to form a hinge seam. Finally the upper cover 11 is sewn to the lower covers 12 and 13, stitching at each side between the edges of zip fasteners 14 and 15, and the loops 16 are stitched into position one at each end of each zip fastener 14 and 15. All stitching is done on the inside of the cover.

With reference to Fig. 7 a means for reinforcing the hinge seam is provided. This is necessary because when the mattress is folded maximum strain occurs on the hinge seam at each side of the mattress. The reinforcement consists of two double pieces of material 23 and 24 which are stitched into position, with piece 24 overlying the inside of the upper cover 11 in the region of the hinge seam 25, and the piece 23 overlying both lower covers 12 and 13 in the region of the hinge seam 25 and the corner seams 26, 27 of the lower covers 12 and 13. This reinforcement is similarly provided at the opposite end of the hinge seam 25.

Claims (8)

1. A mattress comprising a mattress body including an upper rectangular panel for placing over the top of two or more lower rectangular panels, said lower rectangular panels being arranged side by side along the length of the mattress, and a cover extending around the top and all sides of the upper panel and around the bottom and all sides of each lower rectangular panel so that at least one bight portion is formed directly below the upper panel thereby forming at least one transverse hinge about which the mattress may be folded.

2. A mattress according to Claim 1 in which the cover includes, in the region of the bight portion, an air vent to allow air to enter the interior of the covered mattress.

3. A mattress according to Claim 1 or Claim 2 in which the cover includes opening means for removal and fitting of the cover to the mattress, and means to pull the cove over the mattress.

4. A mattress according to any of the preceeding claims in which each panel is made of polyurethane foam, and includes strips of reconstituted polyurethane foam along each long edge.

5. A mattress according to any of the preceeding claims in which there is included only one hinge.

6. A mattress according to any of Claims 1 to 4 in which there is included a plurality of hinges at various points along the length of the mattress.

7. A mattress according to Claim 1 and substantially as herein described.

8. A mattress substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.