GB2469540A

GB2469540A - Sleeping support for preventing falls or for providing a level sleeping surface

Info

Publication number: GB2469540A
Application number: GB0916442A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Francis William Outram
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2009-04-17
Filing date: 2009-09-18
Publication date: 2010-10-20
Also published as: GB0906672D0; GB0916442D0

Abstract

A sleeping support 2 comprises at least one inflatable tube 4, 6 and a non-inflatable sheet 8 which is connected to the tubes. Valve means 10 provides the access for tube inflation. The sheet is dimensioned to enable at least one person 12, 38 to lie on the sheet parallel to the inflatable tubes, and is located at the bottom of the tubes in use so that the tube extends above the sheet when inflated. The sheet may extend beyond the tube to form 'tuck-in' portions on each side of the device. The individual components may be designed to be packed into a bag for ease of transport. Multiple units may be combined and fastened together. The support can be used to prevent the occupant rolling or falling out of bed, when used with a fitted sheet 32 on a standard bed 30; or to provide a level sleeping surface, when used as a groundsheet with an inflatable mattress 18 on sloped or uneven ground.

Description

A SLEEPING AID

This invention relates to a sleeping aid.

When persons are camping, there are often occasions when sleeping is difficult due to sloping ground. The sloping ground tends to cause the persons to roll downwards and this can interrupt a good night's sleep.

There are also occasions when persons sleeping in beds are at risk of falling out of the beds and injuring themselves. For example, when a young child is first introduced to a bed from a cot, there is a danger that the young child will roll out of bed during the night. Also, some elderly persons have a tendency to fall out of bed with the result that they may either injure themselves or spend the rest of the night on the floor because they are unable to get up by themselves and get back into bed.

It is an aim of the present invention to reduce the above mentioned problems.

Accordingly, in one non-limiting embodiment of the present invention there is provided a sleeping aid comprising at least one tube and a sheet portion which is connected to the tube, and the sleeping aid being such that the tube is inflatable and deflatable by valve means on the tube, the sheet portion is of a width which enables at least one person to lie on the sheet portion with their body parallel to the tube, the sheet portion is of a length suitable for receiving the person, the sheet portion is non-inflatable, and the sheet portion is located at the bottom of the tube in use so that the tube extends above the sheet portion when the tube is inflated.

The sleeping aid of the present invention is advantageous in that it can be used in a number of ways. Firstly, for example for camping, the sleeping aid is able to provide a level sleeping base on sloping ground. In this case, the sleeping aid will usually be used with an inflatable or self-inflating mattress, or a foam bed roll. Secondly and also by way of example, the sleeping aid can be used with a sleeping bag and in this case the sleeping aid will not be used so much as to provide a level sleeping base, but will be used with one of the tubes providing a guard to prevent a person rolling further down the sloping ground during the night. Thirdly and also by way of example, the sleeping aid can be used on beds in bedrooms to prevent young children from falling off the bed Whilst they are asleep, and especially young children who are just graduating from sleeping in cots. Fourthly and also by way of example, the sleeping aid of the present invention can be used on beds in bedrooms in order to prevent elderly persons from falling out of their beds during the night.

The sheet portion may be of a width for receiving a single person. In this case the sleeping aid will basically be a single sleeping aid that may be used with a single mattress. Alternatively, the sheet portion may be of a width for receiving two persons side by side. In this case, the sleeping aid will basically be a double sleeping aid which may be used with a double mattress.

Usually, the sheet portion and the tube will be of a length which is substantially the same as the length of a mattress.

Usually, the sheet portion will engage the bottom of the tube. The sheet portion coutd however engage the sides or the top of the tube providing that the arrangement is such that in use with a person lying on the sheet portion, the sheet portion is located at the bottom of the tube with the tube extending about the sheet portion.

Preferably, the tube and the sheet portion are made of the same material. If desired however the tube may be made of a different material to the sheet portion. Preferably the tube is made of polyvinyl chloride or nylon.

The tube may be made of other materials as long as the chosen material enables the tube to remain inflated for appropriate use periods. The sheet portion may be made of polyvinyl chloride, nylon, a micro-fibre breathable material, or other chosen material. The tube and/or the sheet portion may be treated with a fire retardant chemical.

The valve means is preferably a tube and a stopper on each of the tubes. Other types of valve means may be employed.

Preferably, the tube and the sheet portion are integral with each other, for example attached together by stitching, welding, adhesives, or any other suitable fixing means. The sleeping aid is then a one piece sleeping aid. If desired however the sleeping aid may be one in which the tube is separate from the sheet portion, and in which the tube locates in a pocket formed on the sheet portion.

The sleeping aid may be one in which there are two of the tubes, the sheet portion connects the tubes together, the tubes extend parallel to each other, and the tubes are spaced apart by an amount which enables at least one person to lie on the sheet portion with their body parallel to the tubes.

The sleeping aid may be one in which the sheet portion extends width wise beyond the tubes to form a pair of tuck-in portions, one on either side of the sleeping aid. The tuck-in portions may then tuck under a mattress or sleeping bag. Where the sleeping aid comprises only one of the tubes, the sheet portion may be of a width which is sufficient to enable the free side of the sheet portion to form a tuck-in portion.

The sleeping aid of the present invention may include a container into which the or each tube and the sheet portion are able to packed when the or each tube is deflated. The container is preferably a bag.

The container may have closure means. The closure means may be a cord or string closure means. The closure means may be a pull closure means in the form of a draw cord or a draw string.

The sleeping aid of the present invention may include fastener means for fastening two or more of the sleeping aids together when the tubes are inflated and the sleeping aids are positioned side by side. The fastener means is preferably a plurality of clips. The clips are preferably quick release clips. Other types of fastener means may be employed.

The present invention also extends to the sleeping aid when including an inflatable mattress. The inflatable mattress will usually be positioned on top of the or each tube. The inflatable mattress may have a coating on its upper side for providing a warm and/or an anti-slip facility. The coating may be a flock coating.

Embodiments of the invention will now be described solely by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is an end view of a first sleeping aid of the present invention in a first mode of use; Figure 2 is a perspective view of the sleeping aid shown in Figure 1; Figure 3 is a view of the sleeping aid shown in Figure 1 and in a second mode of use, with the parts slightly spaced apart for ease of understanding; Figure 4 shows the sleeping aid of Figure 1 in a third mode of use, with the parts slightly spaced apart for ease of understanding; Figure 5 is an end view of a second sleeping aid; Figure 6 is an end view of a third sleeping aid; Figure 7 is a plan view of a fourth sleeping aid; Figure 8 is an end view of the sleeping aid shown in Figure 7; Figure 9 is an end view of a fifth sleeping aid; Figure 10 is a perspective view of the sleeping aid shown in Figure 9; and Figure 11 is an end view of a sixth sleeping aid.

Referring to Figures 1 and 2, there is shown a sleeping aid 2 comprising a pair of tubes 4, 6 and a sheet portion 8 which connects the tubes 4, 6 together. The sleeping aid 2 is such that the tubes 4, 6 are inflatable and deflatable by valve means 10 on the tubes 4, 6. The tubes 4, 6 extend parallel to each other as can best be appreciated from Figure 2. The tubes 4, 6 are spaced apart by an amount which enables at least one person 12 to lie on the sheet portion 8 with their body parallel to the tubes 4, 6.

The sheet portion 8 is non-inflatable. The sheet portion 8 is located at *the bottom of the tubes 4, 6 in use so that the tubes 4, 6 extend above the sheet portion 8 when the tubes 4, 6 are inflated and the person 12 is lying on or above the sheet portion 8.

In Figures 1 and 2, the sleeping aid 2 is being used in a first mode of use in a tent 14 which is pitched on sloping ground 16. An inflatable mattress 18 is shown with one end 20 abutting the inflated tube 6, and the other end 22 lying on top of the inflated tube 4. In this way, by appropriately inflating the tube 4, the inflatable mattress 18 is able to be horizontally positioned with respect to the sloping ground 16 as shown in Figure 1. The person 12 is thus able to get a good night's sleep.

In Figures 1 and 2, the sheet portion 8 is of a width for receiving a single person 12. In an alternative embodiment of the invention, the sheet portion 8 may be of a width for receiving two persons side by side.

The sheet portion 8 and the tubes 4, 6 are of a length which is substantially the same as the length of the inflatable mattress 18. For example, the sleeping aid 2 may be such that the distance between the tubes 4, 6 is 18 inches (45.7cm), and the length of the tubes 4, 6 is 78 inches (198.1cm). The tubes 4, 6 may be of 7 inches (17.8cm) diameter when fully inflated. The tubes 4, 6 and the sheet portion 8 are made of the same material. Presently preferred materials are polyvinyl chloride and nylon.

The valve means 10 are a tube 24 and a stopper 26 on each of the tubes 4, 6. The valve means 10 are positioned on the ends of the tubes 4, 6 so that they do not engage the mattress 18. If desired the valve means 10 may be positioned around the circumference of the tubes 4, 6.

The tubes 4, 6 and the sheet portion 8 are integral with each other so that the sleeping aid 2 is a one piece unit. The tubes 3, 6 may be connected to the sheet portion 8 by spot welding or a continuous weld. Other types of fixing means may be employed.

Referring now to Figure 3, the sleeping aid 2 is shown in a second mode of use. More specifically, the sleeping aid 2 is shown on a non-inflatable mattress 28 on a bed 30. The tube 4 is inflated whilst the tube 6 is not inflated. The sleeping aid 2 is positioned Underneath a bed sheet 32. The inflated tube 4 ensures that a young child 34 cannot roll over the side 36 of the bed 30. The other side of the bed 30 may be positioned against a wall (not shown). If the bed 30 is wide enough, the young child 34 will basically be caused by the inflated tube 2 to sleep in the middle of the bed 30 instead of falling over the side 36.

Figure 4 shows the sleeping aid 2 in a third mode of use. In Figure 4, the sleeping aid 2 is again shown on the bed 30 and positioned underneath the bed sheet 32. However in Figure 4, it will be seen that both tubes 4, 6 are inflated, so that the person 38 is located between the tubes 4, 6. The person 38 may be a young child or an elderly person who is prone to falling out of bed.

Figure 5 is an end view of a second sleeping aid 40. The sleeping aid comprises two tubes 42, 44 and a sheet portion 46. The tubes 42, 44 equate to the tubes 4, 6 and the sheet portion 46 equates to the sheet portion 8. The sleeping aid 40 is however different from the sleeping aid 2 in that the sheet portion 46 extends widthwise beyond the tubes 42, 44 to form a pair of tuck-in portions 48, 50, one on either side of the sleeping aid 40. The tuck-in portions 48, 50 can be tucked under a mattress such for example as the mattress 18 or the mattress 28, or under a sleeping bag (not shown).

Figure 6 shows a third sleeping aid 52. The sleeping aid 52 is shown with the same part numbers as in Figure 1 for ease of comparison and understanding. In Figure 6, the sleeping aid 52 is such that the tubes 4, 6 are separately formed from the sheet portion 8. ln the sleeping aid 52, the tubes 4, 6 locate in pockets 54, 56 formed on the sheet portion 8.

Figures 7 and 8 show a fourth sleeping aid 58. The sleeping aid 58 has its tubes 60, 62 formed as half circles so that each tube 60, 62 has a flat portion 64 for resting on the ground. The tubes, 60, 62 are spaced apart by a sheet portion 66. The tubes 60, 62 each has a valve means 68. As shown in Figure 7, the sleeping aid 58 may optionally be provided with a bag 70 for receiving the deflated tubes 60, 62 and the sheet portion 66 for storage purposes. The bag 70 has an opening 72 which is closed by a cord 74.

Referring now to Figure 9 and 10, there is shown a sleeping aid 76 which is like the sleeping aid 58. Similar parts have therefore been given the same reference numerals for ease of comparison and understanding. Figure 9 shows an inflatable mattress 78 on top of the tubes 60, 62 of the sleeping aid 76. The inflatable mattress 78 is secured to the sleeping aid 76 by side walls 80 so that the sleeping aid 76 is formed as an integral part of the inflatable mattress 78.

Figure 10 shows how the sleeping aid 76 with the inflatable mattress 78 may optionally be provided with a bag 82 for receiving the deflated mattress 78, and also the sleeping aid 76 when the tubes 60, 62 are deflated.

The bag 82 has an opening 84 which is closed by a cord 86. The inflatable mattress 78 has valve means 88 which may be the same as the valve means 68.

Figure 11 shows a sleeping aid 90 which is like the sleeping aid 76 of Figures 9 and 10 but which has only one inflatable tube 62.

The sleeping aids shown in the drawings are easily and cheaply manufactured, and they are able to be used in a variety of situations ensuring a good night's sleep and/or safety for the person sleeping.

It is to be appreciated that the embodiments of the invention described above with reference to the accompanying drawings have been given by way of example only and that modifications may be effected. Thus, for example, the illustrated sleeping aids are single sleeping aids for a single person but they may be double sleeping aids for use with double mattresses. Where the illustrated sleeping aids have two tubes, one of these tubes may be omitted.

The bags 70, 82 may be other types of containers.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A sleeping aid comprising at least one tube and a sheet portion which is connected to the tube, and the sleeping aid being such that the tube is inflatable and deflatable by valve means on the tube, the sheet portion is of a width which enables at least one person to lie on the sheet portion with their body parallel to the tube, the sheet portion is of a length suitable for receiving the person, the sheet portion is non-inflatable, and the sheet portion is located at the bottom of the tube in use so that the tube extends above the sheet portion when the tube is inflated.
2. A sleeping aid according to claim I in which the sheet portion is of a width for receiving a single person.
3. A sleeping aid according to claim I in which the sheet portion is of a width for receiving two persons side by side.
4. A sleeping aid according to any one of the preceding claims in which the sheet portion and the tube are of a length which is substantially the same as the length of a mattress.
5. A sleeping aid according to any one of the preceding claim in which the sheet portion engages the bottom of the tube.
6. A sleeping aid according to any one of the preceding claims in which the tube and the sheet portion are made of the same material.
7. A sleeping aid according to any one of claim I -5 in which the tube is made of a different material to the sheet portion.
8. A sleeping aid according to any one of the preceding claims in which at least the tubes is made of polyvinyl chloride or nylon.
9. A sleeping aid according to any one of the preceding claims in which the valve means are a pipe and a stopper on the tube.
10. A sleeping aid according to any one of the preceding claims in which the tube and the sheet portion are integral with each other.
II. A sleeping aid according to any one of the preceding claims in which there are two of the tubes, the sheet portion connects the tubes together, the tubes extend parallel to each other, and the tubes are spaced apart by an amount which enables at least one person to lie on the sheet portion with their body parallel to the tubes.
12. A sleeping aid according to claim 11 in which the sheet portion extends widthwise beyond the tube to form a pair of tuck-in portions, one on either side of the sleeping aid.
13. A sleeping aid according to any one of the preceding claims and including a container into which the or each tube and the sheet portion are able to be packed when the or each tube is deflated.
14. A sleeping aid according to claim 13 in which the container is a bag.
15. A sleeping aid according to claim 14 in which the container has closure means.
16. A sleeping aid according to claim 15 in which the closure means is a cord or string closure means.
17. A sleeping aid according to any one of the preceding claims and including fastener means for fastening two or more of the sleeping aids together when the tubes are inflated and the sleeping aids are positioned side by side.
18. A sleeping aid according to claim 17 in which the fastener means is a plurality of clips.
19. A sleeping aid according to any one of the preceding claims including an inflatable mattress.
20. A sleeping aid according to claIm 19 in which the Inflatable matVees Is positioned on top of the or each tube.
21. A sleeping aid substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.