GB2397761A

GB2397761A - A mattress

Info

Publication number: GB2397761A
Application number: GB0228563A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Stacey Andrew Tull
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2002-12-06
Filing date: 2002-12-06
Publication date: 2004-08-04
Anticipated expiration: 2022-12-06
Also published as: GB0228563D0; GB2397761B

Abstract

A mattress (2) for inducing a calming effect on a person using the mattress (2) , which mattress (2) comprises an upper portion (4) for being laid upon by the person, and movement-creating means (6) that causes the upper portion (4) to rise and fall with a movement that is smooth and rhythmical and substantially the same as the rising and falling action of a mother's chest as the mother reclines and breathes with an infant resting on her chest. The movement creating means may be pneumatic.

Description

239776 1

A MATTRESS

This invention relates to a mattress and, more especially, this invention relates to a mattress for inducing a calming effect on a person using the mattress.

Persons such for example as babies often need to be calmed so that they can go to sleep. Typically a mother may hold the baby or rock a cradle.

Both of these methods are time consuming for the mother. Older children and adults also often require calming in order to induce sleep, especially those suffering from insomnia. Even those persons not requiring to go to sleep often feel the need for a calming effect.

It is an aim of the present invention to provide a mattress for inducing a calming effect on a person using the mattress.

According, in one non-limiting embodiment of the present invention there is provided a mattress for inducing a calming effect on a person using the mattress, which mattress comprises an upper portion for being laid upon by the person, and movement-creating means that causes the upper portion to rise and fall with a movement that is smooth and rhythmical and substantially the same as the rising and falling action of a mother's chest as the mother reclines and breathes with an infant resting on her chest.

The mattress of the present invention may be especially useful for inducing a calming effect on babies and thereby enabling them to go to sleep. The mattress may however be used by children and adults suffering from insomnia or simply requiring calming.

Preferably, the movement creating means is a pneumatic movement- creating means. Other types of movement-creating means may however be employed so that, for example, the movement-creating means may be a mechanical cam device.

The pneumatic movement-creating means preferably comprises a first inflatable container, and inflatorldeflator means for inflating and deflating the first inflatable container in order to cause the container to provide the movement.

The first inflatable container is generally circular in shape. The first inflatable container may however be in other shapes if desired. The first inflatable container may be like a bladder used for inflating footballs.

Various types of inflator/deflator means may be employed. A preferred inflator/deflator means comprises a cylinder, a piston operating in an end of the cylinder nearest the first inflatable container, a second inflatable container positioned in an end of the cylinder furthest from the first inflatable container, and conduit means, and the inflatable/deflator means being such that when the piston compresses the second inflatable container then air is caused to be forced from the second inflatable container to the first inflatable container, and when the piston moves away from the second inflatable container then the first inflatable container contracts and air is caused to be forced from the first inflatable container to the second inflatable container.

The mattress may include regulator means for regulating the amplitude of the movement.

The regulator means may comprise a bleed arrangement for bleeding off unwanted air that would otherwise cause the first inflatable container to make the amplitude of the movement larger than required. Other types of regulator means may be employed.

Usually, the mattress will have a lower portion. Also usually the movement-creating means will be positioned at least partially between the upper and lower portions of the mattress. If desired, a main working and controlling part of the movement-inducing means can be contained in a control area at one end of the mattress.

The mattress may include audio means for playing soothing sounds.

Thus the soothing sounds may be the noise of a heart beating, the noise of breathing, or the soothing voice of a parent. The audio means may play pre-recorded sounds, or it may be such as to be able to record a person's voice and then play back what has been recorded.

The mattress may include timer means for controlling the period of operation of the movement-creating means. Thus the timer means can be employed to cause the mattress to operate for any one of a plurality of predetermined length periods.

The mattress may include heat-dissipating means for dissipating unwanted heat caused by operation of the movement-creating means. The heatdissipating means may include a fan.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described solely by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a side view of a mattress, with the mattress being shown providing a rising movement; Figure 2 is a side view like Figure 1 but with the mattress being shown provided a falling movement; Figure 3 is a perspective view of the top part of the mattress shown in Figure 1 and illustrates movement-creating means; Figure 4 is a top view of the part of the mattress as shown in Figure 3; Figure 5 illustrates the operation of the movement-creating means; Figure 6 shows control means for the mattress; and Figure 7 is a circuit diagram for the mattress.

Referring to the drawings, there is a shown a mattress 2 for inducing a calming effect on a person using the mattress 2. The mattress 2 comprises an upper portion 4 for being laid upon by the person. The mattress 2 also comprises movement-creating means 6. The movement- creating means 6 causes the upper portion 4 to rise and fall with a movement that is smooth and rhythmical, and substantially the same as the rising and falling action of a mother's chest as the mother reclines and breaths with an infant resting on her chest.

The movement-creating means 6 is a pneumatic movement-creating means comprising a first inflatable container 8, and inflator/deflator means 10. The inflator/deflator means 10 is for inflating and deflating the first inflatable container 8 in order to cause the first inflatable container 8 to provide the movement.

As can be seen from Figures 1 and 2, the first inflatable container 8 is generally circular in shape. As can be seen from Figures 3 and 5, the inflator/deflator means 10 comprises a cylinder 12 and a piston 14 operating in an end 16 of the cylinder 12 nearest the first inflatable container 8. The inflator/deflator means 10 also comprise a second inflatable container 18 positioned in an end of the cylinder 12 furthest from the first inflatable container 8. Conduit means in the form of conduits 22, 24 are provided as shown. The inflator/deflator means 10 is such that when the piston 14 compresses the second inflatable container 18 then air is caused to be forced from the second inflatable container 18 to the first inflatable container 10. When the piston 14 moves away from the second inflatable container 18, then the first inflatable container 10 contracts and air is caused to be forced from the first inflatable container 8 to the second inflatable container 18.

The mattress 2 includes regulator means for regulating the amplitude of the movement. The regulator means comprises a bleed arrangement in the form of an air valve 26 (not shown). The air valve 26 has three ports.

The first port allows air to flow to and from the second inflatable container 18 which acts as a master inflatable container. The second port allows air to flow to and from the first inflatable container 8 which acts as a slave inflatable container. The third port allows air to be released from the first and second inflatable containers 8, 10 simultaneously, or to be pumped to both the first and second inflatable containers 8, 10 simultaneously. In this way, the overall pressure can be regulated and it affects the size of the first inflatable container 8, and consequently the amplitude of the created movement. Thus by simply controlling the air valve 26, a user can control the amplitude of the movement.

As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the mattress 2 has a lower portion 28.

This lower portion 28 is thicker than the upper portion 4 of the mattress 2.

The lower portion 28 is provided with a recess 30 as shown in Figures 3 and 4 for receiving the first inflatable container 8. As can be seen from the shape of the recess 30 and the first inflatable container 8 as shown in Figure 4, the first inflatable container 8 has a neck part 32 which connects to the conduit 24.

A base 34 is provided underneath the lower portion 28.

The first inflatable container 8 forms part of the movement-creating means 6 and it is positioned as shown between the upper and lower portions 4, 28 of the mattress 2. The remainder of the movement-creating means 6 is of a control and mechanical type nature and it is housed in a box 36 provided at one end of the mattress 2. The box 36 has side walls 38 and a lid 40. The lid 40 is hinged by hinges 42 to one of the sidewalls 38 as shown. The lid 40 is closed by magnetic closure means 44 comprising a magnetic part 46 secured to the inside of one of the walls 38, and a ferrous metal plate 48 secured to the underside of the lid 40, see Figure 3.

The mattress 2 comprises audio means (not shown) for playing soothing sounds for a baby using the mattress 2. The soothing sounds may be the sound of a heart beating, the sound of a person breathing, or recorded words or singing from a parent of the baby.

The mattress 2 has heat dissipating means including a cooling fan (not shown), an inlet 50 and an outlet 52. The inlet and outlet 50, 52 are arranged that air flow is made to travel across the components of the movement-creating means 6 that requiring cooling. This thus effectively removes excess heat. The cooling fan is an electric fan which is powered by a battery 54.

The period of operation of the mattress 2 may be controlled by timer means 56. The timer means 56 is able to control the period of operation of the movement-creating means 6 so that, for example, a user can control the time period during which the device is required for use. For example, the user might want the movement-creating means 6 to operate for a one hour period, a two hour period or some other period. At the end of the predetermined time period, the movement-creating means 6 will stop. The provision of predetermined periods of operation is advantageous in avoiding unnecessary movement of the baby once the baby has fallen asleep, and this in turn avoids unnecessary wear of the mechanical components of the movement-creating means 6. Still further, if a parent or cater should have forgotten to turn off the movement-creating means when it is no longer required, then the movement-creating means 6 will automatically be turned off by the timer means 56. The timer means 56 may be any suitable and appropriate device such for example as a mechanical clockwork device or an electronic timer device.

The mattress 2 may also include a speed control device 58. The speed control device 58 may be any suitable an appropriate device such for example as a voltage regulator circuit or a potentiometer.

Figure 3 shows the timer means 56 and the speed control device 58 forming part of a control module 60 having a housing 62. The control module 60 is connected via a cable 64 to the equipment within the box 36.

In an alternative arrangement of the invention not shown, the timer means 56 and the speed control device 58 may be located on the box 36.

A motor 66 is provided in the box 36. The motor 66 is for driving the piston 14. The motor is connected to the piston 14 by a worm and gear wheel linkage 68.

During operation of the mattress 2, the piston 14 is caused to reciprocate by the linkage 68, via a connecting rod 70, see Figure 5.

Advantageously, the piston 14 does not have to have a perfect air-tight seal against the inside wall of the cylinder 12. This is because the first and the second inflatable containers 8, 10 are themselves sealed. Thus the inflator/deflator means 10 can be produced economically.

The upper portion 4 of the mattress 2 may be a separate mattress portion. It can be made of foam material or any other suitable and appropriate type of material as currently employed for mattresses. Similarly the lower portion 28 can be separately formed, and produced of foam or any other suitable and appropriate type of material currently used for mattresses.

The upper portion 4 may be held in place by an Masticated sheet (not shown) which will thus retain the upper portion 4 in position and only a central zone of the upper portion 4 adjacent the first inflatable container 8 will rise and fall with the required movement. During the reciprocating action of the piston 14, the elastic nature of the first inflatable container 8 causes the second inflatable container 18 to reinflate as the piston 14 withdraws.

The lower portion 28 may be held in place with simple straps, or it may be held in place with an elasticated sheet. This elasticated sheet may be a separate elasticated sheet from the elasticated sheet holding the upper portion 4 in position. Alternatively, a single Masticated sheet may be employed for holding both the upper and lower portions 4, 28 in position.

Still further, if desired, instead of one or more elasticated sheets, straps or other appropriate securing means may be employed.

It is to be appreciated that the embodiment of the invention described above with reference to the accompanying drawings has been given by way of example only and that modifications may be effected. Thus, for example, an alternative pneumatic pump system to that shown in the drawings may be employed. A hydraulic system could alternatively be employed. Still further, a mechanical system such for example as a mechanical cam could be employed. Although the mattress 2 has been shown for use by a baby in calming the baby and getting the baby to sleep, larger mattresses 2 could be used for children or adults for helping to cure insomnia or simply to relax.

The mattress 2 may also be used for other purposes.

Claims

1. A mattress for inducing a calming effect on a person using the mattress, which mattress comprises an upper portion for being laid upon by the person, and movement-creating means that causes the upper portion to rise and fall with a movement that is smooth and rhythmical and substantially the same as the rising and falling action of a mother's chest as the mother reclines and breathes with an infant resting on her chest.

2. A mattress according to claim 1 in which the movement-creating means is a pneumatic movement-creating means.

3. A mattress according to claim 2 in which the pneumatic movementcreating means comprises a first inflatable container, and inflator/deflator means for inflating and deflating the first inflatable container in order to cause the first inflatable container to provide the movement.

4. A mattress according to claim 3 in which the first inflatable container is generally circular in shape.

5. A mattress according to any one of the preceding claims in which the inflator/deflator means comprises a cylinder, a piston operating in an end of the cylinder nearest the first inflatable container, a second inflatable container positioned in an end of the cylinder furthest from the first inflatable container, and conduit means, and the inflator/deflator means being such that when the piston compresses the second inflatable container then air is caused to be forced from the second inflatable container to the first inflatable container, and when the piston moves from the second inflatable container then the first inflatable container contracts and air is caused to be forced from the first inflatable container to the second inflatable container.

6. A mattress according to any one of the preceding claims and including regulator means for regulating the amplitude of the movement.

7. A mattress according to claims 5 and 6 in which the regulator means comprises a bleed arrangement for bleeding off unwanted air that would otherwise cause the first inflatable container to make the amplitude of the movement largerthanrequired.

8. A mattress according to any one of the preceding claims and including a lower portion.

9. A mattress according to claim 8 in which the movement-creating means is positioned at least partially between the upper and lower portions of the mattress.

10. A mattress according to any one of the preceding claims and I including audio means for playing soothing sounds.

11. A mattress according to any one of the preceding claims and including timer means for controlling the period of operation of the movementcreating means.

12. A mattress according to any one of the preceding claims and including heat-dissipating means for dissipating unwanted heat caused by operation of the movement-creating means.

13. A mattress according to claim 12 in which the heat-dissipating means includes a fan.

14. A mattress for inducing a calming effect on a person using the mattress, substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.