GB2489426A

GB2489426A - Infant mattress

Info

Publication number: GB2489426A
Application number: GB1105066.3A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Jan Van Der Velde
Original assignee: Kit for Kids Ltd
Current assignee: Kit for Kids Ltd
Priority date: 2011-03-25
Filing date: 2011-03-25
Publication date: 2012-10-03
Also published as: WO2012131331A1; EP2688444A1; GB201105066D0; US20140289968A1

Abstract

A mattress 10 for cots and infant beds comprises a mattress core 11 having first and second faces 20, 21, each face overlayered by a comfort layer 22, 23 and a cover layer 24, 25. The mattress core comprises a relatively firm core layer 12 and a relatively soft core layer 14. The firm core layer 12 includes an array of helical springs 15.

Description

MATTRESSES

The present invention relates to mattresses. In particular, it relates to mattresses for cots and infant beds.

S

Traditionally, as a child grows and develops from a baby, it moves from sleeping in a cot to sleeping in a conventional bed. A cot mattress should be soft in comparison with a bed mattress to avoid damage to the developing bone structure of the child, such as flattening of the skull (positional plagiocephaly). A bed mattress is then firm in comparison with a cot mattress in order to provide good support for the child as their weight increases.

However, in recent years, there has been an increase in demand for cots which are convertible into beds as the child grows so that the need to purchase both a cot and a bed can be avoided. Nevertheless, although the frame can be converted from a cot to a bed, a replacement mattress has to be provided when the child moves from the cot configuration to the bed configuration. It is not possible to provide a single mattress that is both soft and firm due to safety legislation limiting the depth for cot mattresses, currently to 15cm in the middle of the mattress and 10cm at the edges.

The present invention seeks to provide a solution to this problem.

Accordingly, in its broadest sense, the present invention provides an infant mattress comprising a mattress core having first and second faces each face overlayered by a comfort layer and a cover layer. The mattress core comprises a relatively firm core layer and a relatively soft core layer.

Preferably, at least the firm core layer is overlayered on both faces thereof by a boundary layer.

Advantageously, the firm core layer comprises an array of helical springs.

I

In one embodiment, the firm core layer comprises an array of open coil springs, preferably at a density of at least 87 springs per square metre.

In an altemative embodiment, the firm core layer comprises an array of individually S pocketed springs. Preferably, the springs are arranged in a density of at least 169 springs per square metre.

Preferably, the springs are formed of spring steel wire. Preferably, the wire of an open coil spring has a diameter between about 1.6mm and 2.4mm, more preferably from 1.9 to 2.2mm. Preferably, the wire in a pocketed spring core has a diameter of between about 1.4mm and 2.2mm, more preferably from 1.5 to 1.9mm.

Optionally, the array of springs of the firm core layer is further provided with a surround or border of a compressible material, suitably a foamed polymeric material.

Preferably, the soft core layer is formed of a foamed polymeric material; a polymeric fibrous material; or a natural material, such as wool.

Advantageously the firm core layer has a thickness of about 4cm to 5cm and the soft core layer has a thickness of about 3cm to Scm.

Preferably, each said boundary layer is formed of a fibrous layer material; more preferably a non-woven fibrous layer material. The boundary layer is advantageously formed of a felt or polypropylene material which may be woven or non-woven.

Suitably, the comfort layer is formed of a foamed polymeric material; a polymeric fibrous material or a natural material such as woven or non-woven wool.

Suitably, each comfort layer is at least about 1.5cm in thickness, preferably up to about 2.5cm in thickness.

Suitably, at least one of the cover layers is formed of a breathable polyurethane sheet material.

The above and other aspects of the present invention will now be described in further detail, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a schematic sectional view of an embodiment of a mattress in accordance with the present invention; and Figure 2 is an enlarged, partially exploded, view of a portion of the mattress of Figure 1.

The figures show an embodiment of a mattress 10 in accordance with the present invention. The mattress has a mattress core 11, comprising a relatively firm core layer 12, bounded on upper and lower surfaces by boundary layers 13, 13', and a relatively soft core layer 14.

In preferred embodiments, firm core layer 12 is formed of a plurality of helical compression springs 15 each retained in individual pockets 16 between the pair of opposed boundary layers 13, 13'. In alternative embodiments, (not shown), a low-height open coil spring layer is used.

The springs are typically formed of spring steel wire. Preferably, the wire of an open coil spring has a diameter between about 1.6mm and 2.4mm, more preferably from 1.9 to 2.2mm and the array of open coil springs has a density of at least 87 springs per square metre. Preferably, the wire in a pocketed spring core has a diameter of between about 1.4mm and 2.2mm, more preferably from 1.5 to 1.9mm and the springs are arranged in a density of at least 169 springs per square metre. Advantageously, each spring has an uncompressed length of between 2.5 and 6cm.

Soft core layer 14 provides a soft compressible surface, particularly intended for a baby or younger child. It may be made of any correspondingly suitable material such as foamed polyurethane; polyester fibre or wool.

Advantageously, the soft core layer is formed of a foamed polymeric material; a polymeric fibrous material; or a natural material, such as wool.

Advantageously the firm core layer has a thickness of about 4cm to 5cm and the soft core layer has a thickness of about 3cm to 5cm.

Boundary layers 13, 13' act to distribute the weight of a body more evenly over the spring layer and prevent the springs from breaking into or through the comfort layer 23 or the soft core layer 14. Suitably, the boundary layers are formed of woven or non-woven material such as felt or polypropylene. In a pocketed spring firm core layer 12, boundary layers 13, 13' are typically inherent in the construction of the spring pocketing.

Core 11 thereby has two surfaces, a first surface 20 to the soft core layer and a second surface 21 to the firm core layer. To each face 20, 21 of core 11 is provided a respective comfort layer, first comfort layer 22, associated with first core face 20, and second comfort layer 23, associated with second core surface 21. In preferred embodiments, first comfort layer 22 is substantially thicker than second comfort layer 23. This allows the surface of the mattress having the first comfort layer 22 to provide a softer, more compressible surface, suitable for a baby; and that having the second comfort layer 23 to provide a firmer surface, more suitable for an older child.

Comfort layers 22,23 can be formed from fife-retardant foamed materials of the type conventionally used in child mattresses and complying with relevant safety requirements. Suitably, the comfort layer is formed of a foamed polymeric material; a polymeric fibrous material or a natural material such as woven or non-woven wool.

First and second comfort layers 23,24 are then provided with respective first and second covers 24,25. First cover 24 is appropriately formed from a conventional waterproof breathable polyurethane sheet material, as is conventional in mattresses for babies. Second cover 25 is suitably formed from a more comfortable woven fabric material, which becomes more appropriate for an older child as the risk of leaking nappies and so on diminishes. Additional covers may be provided as required and the covers may be removable.

Claims

CLAIMS1 An infant mattress comprising a mattress core having first and second faces each face overlayered by a comfort layer and a cover layer; wherein the mattress core comprises a relatively firm core layer and a relatively soft core layer.
2 A mattress as claimed in Claim 1 wherein the firm core layer comprises an array of helical springs.
3 A mattress as claimed in Claim 2 wherein the firm core layer comprises an array of open coil springs, preferably arranged at a density of at least 87 springs per square metre.
4 A mattress as claimed in Claim 2 wherein the firm core layer comprises an array of individually pocketed springs, preferably, the springs are arranged in a density of at least 169 springs per square metre.
A mattress as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 4 wherein the array of springs of the firm core layer is further provided with a surround or border of a compressible material, suitably a foamed polymeric material.
6 A mattress as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the soft core layer is formed of a foamed polymeric material; a polymeric fibrous material; or a natural material, such as wool.
7 A mattress as claimed in any preceding claim wherein at least the firm core layer is overlayered on both faces thereof by a boundary layer.
8 A mattress as claimed in Claim 7 wherein each said boundary layer is formed of a fibrous layer material; preferably a non-woven fibrous layer material.
9 A mattress as claimed in Claim 8 wherein the boundary layer is formed of a felt or polypropylene material.A mattress as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the comfort layer is formed of a foamed polymeric material; a polymeric fibrous material or a natural material such as woven or non-woven wool.