GB2203037A

GB2203037A - A cot mattress

Info

Publication number: GB2203037A
Application number: GB08807651A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Raymond Dennis Stone
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1987-04-08
Filing date: 1988-03-31
Publication date: 1988-10-12
Also published as: GB8807651D0; GB8708416D0

Abstract

A cot mattress 10 comprises a body portion 11 and a separate head portion 12 and means for releasably interengaging the two portions, such as VELCRO (RTM) strips, snap fasteners, hooks and eyes, straps, a zip or other releasable positive fastener, or a suitably dimensioned fitted sheet fitting over the whole mattress. The body portion may be enclosed by a waterproof cover 14 which extends beyond one end to define a recess 15 for receiving the head portion 12. The head portion is preferably in the form of a safety 'pillow' but other forms may be used. <IMAGE>

Description

A Mattress This invention relates to a cot mattress and in particular, but not exclusively, to a cot safety mattress.

There are essentially two types of cot mattresses.

The first consist of fairly standard mattresses except that they are entirely covered with a waterproof material and typically they are interior sprung. These are simple to keep clean and provide good support as the child grows bigger and more active. The second group of mattresses are called safety mattresses and these have a cover which stops short about two thirds along their length to leave an exposed head portion which is constructed so as to allow air to pass through the mattress should a child sleep face down on'it. In general the mattress is made from a single block of foam, although inserts have been proposed which can be fitted in to the main block. British Standards require that the head end of the waterproof cover be secured so that a child cannot slip between it and the mattress and become trapped.In general this means that the cover is sewn on to the foam but another proposal is to make the cover integral with an air permeable head cover portion. In the latter case the foam mattress can be withdrawn through a zipped foot opening in the cover.

However, in all these instances as soon as the foam mattress becomes soiled the parent is faced with a considerable problem in cleaning the foam due to the substantial bulk of the mattress.

From one aspect the invention consists in a cot mattress comprising a body portion, a separate head portion and means for releasably interengaging the two portions.

Preferably the head portion is of foam material and may be partially enclosed by a sheet material envelope, which may be of waterproof material. Conveniently the envelope carries at least part of the interengaging means which may be in the form of Velcro (RTM), snap fasteners, hooks and eyes, a zip or other releasable positive fasteners.

The body portion is preferably enclosed in a cover which extends beyond the head end of the body portion to define a recess for receiving a part of the head portion.

The base of this recess may be constituted by the cover, so that the mattress forming element of the body portion is totally enclosed within the cover. The recess portion may carry a part of the interengaging means.

The mattress element of the body portion may be made of a different material or construction from the head portion, for example it may be interior sprung or filled with rubberised fibre, more rigid foam or other bedding material.

From another aspect the invention consists in a cot mattress comprising a head portion and a body portion enclosed by a cover which defines a recess for receiving a part of the head portion.

Although the invention has been defined above, it is to be understood that it includes any inventive combination of the features set out above or in the following description.

The invention may be performed in various ways and a specific embodiment will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a part sectional view of a cot mattress; and Figure 2 is an enlarged end view of the head end of the body portion of the mattress of Figure 1.

In the drawing a cot mattress is generally indicated at 10 and comprises a body portion 11 and a head portion 12. The body portion has a mattress element 13, which may comprise interior springing or a suitable filling such as rubberised fibre. The mattress element is totally enclosed by a waterproof cover 14 which extends beyond the mattress element 13 at the head end to define a recess 15. As can be seen in Figure 2 the base 16 of the recess is formed by a part of the cover 14 so that the mattress element 13 is totally enclosed and hence can be easily kept clean.

The head portion 12 comprises a block of foam 17 which is suitably apertured at 18 to form air passages and which is partially enclosed by a waterproof sheet envelope 19. This envelope reduces the likely soiling of the foam 17 whilst providing a sufficient opening for safety use. The envelope 19 carries a number of male portions 20 of stud fasteners 21.

As can be seen in Figure 1 the head portion can be inserted in to the recess 15 and releasably held therein by engagement of stud fasteners 21 so that when the mattress 10 is placed in a cot the body portion 11 and head portion 12 act as a single unit. It will be noted that the depth of the recess is such that there is no possibility of a baby becoming trapped under the cover 14.

This two-part construction has a number of advantages. First the body portion 11 can be made much more substantial than existing safety cot mattresses and hence will last for a number of children as well as providing good support as the child increases in weight.

Second as the body portion 11 is totally enclosed by a waterproof cover 14 there is no possibility of the bulk of the mattress becoming soiled. Third, the separable head portion 12 means that a number of head portions may be bought, quite cheaply, which can be interchanged as the need arises; the parent is therefore not faced with the problem of trying to wash and dry an enormous block of foam before the next sleep is due. Fourthly the dimensions of the head portion 12 are such that it can be handled relatively easily in a sink and can subsequently be placed in a tumble dryer. (Existing cot mattresses are much too big for such treatment).

Fifthly the head portion 12 is comparatively cheap compared with the more substantial body portion 11 and so it is quite economic to buy a replacement head portion for a new child. Currently most parents purchase a complete new mattress. Finally an interchangeable head portion may be provided which is totally covered in waterproof material. This can be used when the child is older to provide a totally wipe clean mattress.

It will be appreciated that instead of the stud fasteners and other arrangements mentioned above the head portion could be held on the body portion by straps passing through the head portion and attachable to the body portion, or by a suitably dimensioned fitted sheet fitting over the whole mattress or by attaching an air permeable cover extending over the head portion to the body portion by a zip or the like. In these cases at least the sheet envelope 19 can be dispensed with.

The head portion 12 and body portion 11 may be enveloped in a removable air permeable sheet which has an opening, closed by poppers, along the centre of the underneath of the mattress. The sheet is preferably of stretchable material and may hold the head portion 12 in the recess 15.

Claims

1. A cot mattress comprising a body portion, a separate head portion and means for releasably interengaging the two portions.

2. A mattress as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the head portion is of foam material.

3. A mattress as claimed in Claim 1 or 2, wherein the head portion is partially enclosed by a sheet material envelope.

4. A mattress as claimed in Claim 3, wherein the envelope carries at least part of the interengaging means.

5. A mattress as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the interengaging means comprises Velcro strips, snap fasteners, hooks and eyes, a zip or other releasable positive fastener.

6. A mattress as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the body portion is enclosed in a cover which extends beyond the head end of the body portion to define a recess for receiving a part of the head portion.

7. A mattress as claimed in Claim 6, wherein the base of the recess is formed by the cover.

8. A mattress as claimed in Claim 7, wherein the recess portion carries a part of the interengaging means.

9. A mattress as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the body portion is made of different material or construction from the head portion.

10. A mattress as claimed in Claim 9, wherein the body portion is interior sprung or filled with rubberised fibre, foam or other bedding material.

11. A mattress as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, having two interchangeable head portions; at least a part of one head portion being permeable to air and the other head portion being substantially enclosed in a water impermeable cover.

12. A mattress as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the body portion and the head portion are enveloped by an air permeable sheet.

13. A cot mattress comprising a head portion and a body portion enclosed by a cover which defines a recess for receiving a part of the head portion.

14. A cot mattress substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawing 7