GB2308297A - Ventilated mattress for child - Google Patents

Abstract

A foam mattress body (10) has two apertures (12,13) therein, which open out on the top surface of the mattress body (10). The two apertures (12,13) have substantially the same dimensions. A removable insert (14,15) is provided for filling each aperture. At least one of the inserts (15) has a plurality of perforations extending therethrough for ventilation purposes. A perforated insert can be positioned in any aperture and can be quickly replaced should it become soiled.

Description

MATTRESS This invention relates to a mattress, and primarily to a cot mattress having perforations to reduce the danger of suffocation.

Such a mattress is known and has been manufactured for many years. One known mattress is rectangular in shape, is made of foam material, and has perforations extending through part thereof from the top surface to the bottom surface to provide for passage of air should the baby bury its face in the mattress. A ventilated mattress cover is provided for this mattressing part and a waterproof cover fits over the rest of the mattress.

One difficulty with this mattress is that it is not easy to wash should for example the baby vomit while lying on the mattress. In particular the difficulty of cleaning inside the perforations and subsequently drying the mattress is considerable and especially inconvenient if it is night time.

It has therefore been proposed in GB 2121275 to provide a single aperture through the head of a mattress for receiving an insert therein, the insert being of corresponding dimensions to the aperture so as to fit therein in a snug manner. Perforations are provided through the insert for providing ventilation between the top and underside of the mattress. This arrangement provides no flexibility with regard to the sleeping position of the infant. The applicants of the present invention have noted that the infant may prefer to sleep in any of a number of positions in the cot. Thus the provision of ventilation at the head of the mattress may be of no use if the infant tends to sleep with its head at the base of middle of the mattress.However, it is not practical to provide ventilation throughout the entire mattress body in that this would diminish the overall strength of the mattress.

The present invention has been made of a consideration of this.

According to the present invention there is a mattress comprising a foam mattress body and a top surface and a bottom surface, the mattress body having at least two apertures, which apertures open out on the top surface of the mattress body and extend from the top surface to the bottom surface of the mattress body, the said apertures having substantially the same dimensions, a removable foam insert being provided for each aperture, at least one of the inserts having a plurality of perforations extending from the top face through to the bottom face, the inserts having an outline shaped to correspond generally to the perimeter of the apertures, the thickness of the insert being such that the top face thereof lies substantially flat with the top surface of the mattress body, and the perforations providing for ventilation between the said top face and the underside of the mattress.

Preferably only one of the inserts has the said perforations extending therethrough, the other insert or inserts having no such perforations.

This arrangement facilitates the provision of a perforated mattress region for the baby's head at any one of a number of positions in the mattress. Thus the perforated region may be provided at the area of the mattress at which the baby regularly rests his head. The other apertures may be filled with non-perforated foam inserts so as to maintain the structural integrity of the mattress.

The size and shape of the insert corresponds generally to the area likely to be affected should the baby vomit, and the perforations referred to above are produced in the insert itself. The perforations may be positioned asymmetrically in the insert, in which case it is preferable to provide a key portion shaped to fit in a recess on one side of the aperture so that the insert is always replaced in the correct orientation, with the perforations correctly positioned.

The mattress in accordance with the invention has the advantage that a solid insert can be quickly and easily removed, and can be replaced by a spare dry insert. Compared to the mattress as a whole the insert is relatively small in size so that it can more easily be washed and spin-dried in a domestic washing machine.

The ability to replace the insert quickly and easily has the additional advantage of largely avoiding the temptation merely to wipe the top surface of the mattress, possibly leaving the perforations soiled, or worse blocked.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention, movement of the insert at its boundary relative to the surrounding main body of the mattress when the baby rolls towards the side of the mattress tends to prevent further rolling movement, so keeping the baby's head within the protected area.

A further feature of the preferred embodiment is that the insert is directed into two separate layers having the same outline. This tends to reduce the possibility of shape distortion during manufacture, and can assist in preventing the rolling movement referred to above.

In order that the invention may be more readily understood specific embodiments thereof will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying diagrams in which: Fig.l shows one mattress in accordance with the invention; Fig.2 shows the mattress of Fig.1 in which the two inserts therefor have been interchanged; Fig.3 shows a second mattress in accordance with the invention; and Fig.4 shows a third mattress in accordance with the invention.

In the drawings similar reference numerals are used to represent like parts.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2 a single layer mattress body 10 is cut from a porous, resilient fire-retardant foam plastics material. The body 10 has a top surface 11 and a bottom surface which, in this embodiment, are interchangeable in that the bottom surface could be used as the top surface to support the child. Two similarly sized apertures 12,13 extend through the main body of the mattress from the top surface 11 to open out at the bottom surface.

Each of the apertures 12,13 are shaped so as to accommodate one of two generally rectangular removable and replaceable foam inserts 14,15 having a top face which is normally flush with the top surface 11 of the main body 10 of the mattress, and a bottom face which is normally flush with the bottom surface of the main body 10 of the mattress.

One 15 of the two inserts has channel perforations 16 extending therethrough and opening out at the top and base thereof. These perforations 16 allow passage of air through the insert should the child bury its face in the mattress, so reducing the damage of suffocation. No such perforations are provided through the other insert 14.

For optimum positioning beneath the child's head, the perforations 16 are grouped together within a perforated area in the insert 15. In order that the perforations 16 are correctly positioned when the insert 15 is replaced, means are provided for ensuring that the insert 15 can only be fitted into its aperture in one orientation, such means in this embodiment being a key portion 17 projecting from one side edge of the insert 15 for co-operation with a correspondingly shaped recess cut in the corresponding side wall of the aperture 13.

If, in use, the insert 15 becomes soiled it can be quickly removed and a clean replacement insert fitted so that the child has a clean, dry mattress with the minimum delay, the original insert being washed later. The size of the insert is such that washing is comparatively easier than washing the complete mattress as has been necessary with prior art cot mattresses.

The two inserts 14 and 15 are interchangeable. Fig.1 shows the inserts 14,15 disposed in one arrangement and the sleeping position of the baby. Fig.2 shows the inserts 14,15 disposed in a second arrangement and the sleeping position of the baby.

Fig.3 shows a similar mattress to that described in Figs.

1 and 2 except in that both of the inserts have perforations extending therethrough.

Fig.4 shows a further mattress having a mattress body similar to that previously described except in that three apertures are provided through the main body. Two of the inserts 15 for the mattress have perforations provided therethrough and one of the inserts 14 does not. All three inserts are interchangeable.

It is to be understood that the above described embodiments have been described by way of illustration only.

Many modifications and variations are possible.

It is noted that any number of apertures may be provided through the mattress provided that an equal number of inserts are provided. Any number of the inserts may have perforations extending therethrough.

The inserts may be provided in more than one part such that the top part of the insert is separate from its lower part. This reduces the bulk of the top part of the insert should it need washing following soiling.

The mattress may be used in combination with a mattress cover. The mattress cover is ideally air permeable in the region of the inserts.

Claims (8)

1. A foam mattress body and a top surface and a bottom surface, the mattress body having at least two apertures, which apertures open out on the top surface of the mattress body and extend from the top surface to the bottom surface of the mattress body, the said apertures having substantially the same dimensions, a removable foam insert being provided for each aperture, at least one of the inserts having a plurality of perforations extending from the top face through to the bottom face, the inserts having an outline shaped to correspond generally to the perimeter ofthe apertures, the thickness of the insert being such that the top face thereof lies substantially nat with the top surface ofthe mattress body, and the perforations providing for ventilation between the said top face and the underside ofthe mattress.

2. A foam mattress body as claimed in claim 1, wherein only one ofthe apertures has perforations threrethrough.

3. A foam mattress body as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the body has two apertures therein.

4. A foam mattress body as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the body has three apertures therein.

5. A foam mattress body as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein at least one of the inserts is provided with means for ensuring that the insert can only be fitted into its aperture in one orientation.

6. A foam mattress body as claimed in claim 5, wherein said means comprises a key portion for co-operation with a corresponding shaped recess.

7. A foam mattress body as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein at least one of said inserts to be located in one of said apertures is provided in more than one part.

8. A mattress body substantially as defined herein with reference to the accompanying figs. 1 and 2, fig.3 or fig.4.