WO1995035055A1

WO1995035055A1 - Mattress

Info

Publication number: WO1995035055A1
Application number: PCT/FI1995/000349
Authority: WO
Inventors: Kari Olkkonen; Simo Paltere
Original assignee: A. Ahlstrom Corporation
Priority date: 1994-06-17
Filing date: 1995-06-15
Publication date: 1995-12-28
Also published as: FI942946A0; FI942946A; AU2739695A

Abstract

The invention relates to a mattress, particularly an air mattress. It comprises a bottom element (1) and a number of elongated, bag-like mattress elements (2), which may be inflated with gas such as air and are adjacently secured to the bottom element (1) of the mattress, transversely to the lengthwise direction (D - D) of the mattress and in such a fashion that they form, when inflated with gas, loop-like members, resembling an overturned U-shape or the like in cross section, and extending outwards from the bottomn element. The mattress may also comprise a number of second elongated, air-inflatable or similar resilient bag-like mattress elements. In that case, the first mattress elements are arranged to encompass, at least partly, the second mattress elements. According to the invention, the mattress elements (2) are secured to the bottom element of the mattress by means of fastening members, which may be mechanically locked to each other so that each mattress element (2) may be detached from the bottom element (1) and replaced.

Description

MATTRESS

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a mattress, particularly an air mattress, defined in the preamble of the accompanying patent claim 1.

The present invention also relates to a mattress, particularly an air mattress, defined in the preamble of accompanying patent claim 2.

Prior Art

European patent no. 296689 discloses a mattress, particularly an air mattress, comprising a number of adjacent, elongated bag-like elements which may be filled with gas such as air, or with some other fluid medium. The elements have been arranged in the bottom part of the mattress, transversally with respect to the longitudinal axis of the mattress and/or the bed. The elements have been attached at longitudinal seams at appropriate points spaced apart in the bottom part of the mattress, and the element areas between said seams are formed as cross-sectionally loop-like structures directed upwards from the mattress bottom.

The same patent application also discloses a mattress, where below the successive elements, between the seam joints, there is located a second set of elongate, bag-like elements, which may be fiHed with air or the like, or which are as such made of some solid, resilient material or filled with such material.

A drawback with the known mattresses described above is, that when one of the mattress elements is broken, the whole mattress must be replaced with a new one. A mattress element may be deflated for instance when a hypodermic syringe used for giving an injection to a patient accidentally punctures a mattress element. It is also pointed out that even the breaking of only one element may raise the patient's skin surface pressure in the area of this element, and thus the danger of bedsores increases. In the prior art there is known, from the British patent publication 2,141,333, a bed comprising a mattress composed of separate, adjacent sac-like elements . The elements have been arranged inside the bed frame structure, transversally with respect to the longitudinal direction of the bed. Further, the elements have been divided into five groups, and each of these groups has been connected by means of separate conduits to an air supply device and an outlet channel. The elements have been attached to the frame structures of the bed sides, so that the inlet and the outlet air channels lead to the elements.

A drawback of the bed structure described is that the mattress is built as an integrated part of the bed, and cannot be used as a separate mattress in other beds. Another drawback is, that if one of the elements is broken, the pressure in a whole group of elements decreases, and in the worst case the whole bed becomes unusable and the patient must immediately be transferred to another bed. It is also pointed out that the bed and mattress combination introduced in the British patent publication is designed particularly for hospital environment, and that it is complicated in structure and expensive to manufacture , and consequently by no means suitable to be used as an ordinary mattress for example at home.

Disclosure of the Invention

The object of the present invention is to provide an improved mattress , particularly an air mattress, by means of which for example the drawbacks of the mattresses described above can be avoided. The characteristic features of the invention are defined in the characterizing portions of the patent claims 1 and 2.

The mattress of the invention , particularly an air mattress , comprises an essentially rectangular, bendable, plate-like bottom element; and a number of elongated bag-like mattress elements, which may be inflated with gas such as air, or with some other fluid medium, and have been attached adjacently in the bottom element, transversally with respect to the lengthwise direction of the mattress , so that they form, when inflated with gas or the like, loop-like elements extending outwards from the bottom element and in cross-section resemble an overturned letter U or a similar shape. According to the invention, each mattress element has been secured to the bottom element of the mattress by means of interlockable fastening members; each mattress element may thus be detached from the bottom element and replaced by a new one.

According to a parallel independent patent claim the mattress according to the invention, particularly an air mattress, comprises an essentially rectangular, bendable, plate-like bottom element; and a number of first elongated bag-like mattress elements, which may be inflated with gas such as air, or with some other fluid medium, and have been attached adjacently in the bottom element, transversally with respect to the lengthwise direction of the mattress, so that they form, when inflated with gas or the like, loop-like elements extending outwards from the bottom element and in cross-section resemble an overturned letter U or a similar shape; and a number of second elongated bag-like mattress ele¬ ments, which may be filled with gas or some other fluid medium, or are made of some solid, resilient material or filled with such material; so that a first mattress element has been arranged to encompass, at least partly, each second mattress element. According to the invention the first mattress elements have been secured to the bottom element of the mattress mechanically by means of interlockable fastening members; each mattress element may thus be detached from the bottom element and replaced by a new one.

The matching fastening members provided in the mattress element and in the bottom element may be effected in many different ways. It is advantageous that the fastening members may be easily locked and unlocked; for instance they may be means which are connected by pressing them together, and respectively disconnected by pulling them apart. On the other hand, in addition to easy locking and unlocking functions, a further requirement is that the mattress elements remain reliably attached in the bottom element and do not come off by themselves. Thus it is advantageous that the mattress elements are connected with fastening members to the bottom element either at several successive spots, or continuously, in which case the gripping surface is large. In an embodiment of the mattress, the fastening members are formed of matching male and female fastening means. Thus, the fastening members are easily locked together and respectively unlocked.

The longitudinal sides of the mattress elements, preferably having a cross section of a U or the like, and the bottom element of the mattress have preferably been provided with openings for attaching the fastening members to each other. Adjacent mattress elements may then be placed overlapping, i.e. two mattress elements are secured to the bottom element by one pair of fastening members by placing the longitudinal side of each mattress element and the bottom element between the fastening members which are then interlocked . The adjacent mattress elements may also be secured each separately whereby one of the fastening members may be provided in the mattress element and the other one in the bottom element of the mattress.

In an embodiment of the mattress, the male fastening member is formed of an elongated thin piece provided with one or more brackets and the female fastening member is formed of an elongated counterpart provided with holes for locking the brackets thereto . The fastening members are preferably elongated plastics batten strips made for example of polycar¬ bonate. They may be for example 12 cm (length) x 1.2 cm (width) x 0.8 cm (height) in size whereby three of them are needed for securing one long side of a mattress element, having the shape of a U or the like, to the bottom element. The fastening members may also be batten strips substantially as long as the mattress element. If it is desirable to effect only one of fastening members as a separate loose member, the male fastening member , for example , may be an integrated part of the mattress bottom element and the male fastening members may be for example pins or studs provided in the bottom element instead of the openings, and the pins or studs are locked to the openings in the female fastening members .

In an embodiment of the mattress , the fastening members are formed of press buttons , particularly of its opposite pieces to be connected to each other. The flange of the press button must be adequately large, preferably having a diameter of approx . 30 mm and an adequate number of the press buttons must be provided at appropriate spacing so as to ensure safe securing of the mattress elements. The counterparts of the press button could also be provided directly in the mattress element and/or the bottom element whereby the fastening openings in the bottom element mentioned above could be dispensed with.

In a preferred embodiment of the mattress, fastening members formed of an elongate bracket, essentially having the shape of a circle segment in cross-section, are provided preferably along the whole length but at least along a part of the length of both of the longitudinal sides of the U- shaped or the like mattress element. These elongate brackets are detachably connected to fastening members made of elongate counterparts provided with a slot, the width of the slot aperture being smaller than the diameter of the bracket.

In a preferred embodiment of the mattress, the fastening members are formed of elongate hook strip ribbons/loop strip ribbons. The hook strip ribbon may be for instance Velcro (TM) tape or some other commercially available adhesive fabric . In this case both fastening members are advan¬ tageously similar in structure . They stick together by the tiny hook-like or loop-like members contained in the ribbon.

In a preferred embodiment of the mattress, the fastening members in the U-shaped or the like mattress element or in the bottom element are formed of a zipper, particularly of the opposite, linearly fixable members thereof.

As for the advantages of the mattress of the invention, it is generally maintained that such persons or patients who have long been or permanently are confined to bed and cannot themselves turn or move their limbs, do not get bedsores on the mattress of the invention, unlike when the patient is lying on an ordinary bedding . The pressures in the mattress elements can be easily adjusted, taking into account both the patient's weight and the body parts to be supported, to be such that the skin surface pressure in each part of the body is as low as advantageous .

A particular advantage of the mattress of the invention is, that its elongated bag-like mattress elements are replaceable by new corresponding elements when for one reason or another the gas or other fluid pumped therein flows out. Moreover, a leaking mattress element is easily replaced even when a patient is lying on the bed, because the fastening members are simple and are easily unlocked and locked, respectively. When an element is broken the whole mattress would have to be taken to be maintained if individual mattress elements were not detachable. This is very inconvenient particularly if the mattress has been used by a patient carrying a contagious disease. According to the invention, an individual mattress element may be replaced by a new one on the spot and people outside the unit do not come in contact with the mattress. This greatly reduces the risk of spreading contagious diseases .

Yet another advantage provided by the present invention is that the mattress is simple in structure and economical in production costs. The reason for this is that the fastening members used are simple pieces, which are easily attached to each other.

A further advantage of the invention is that the fastening members may be effected in many different ways, depending on the type of use and the preset requirements.

Brief Description of the Drawings

In the following the invention is explained in detail by way of example with reference to the appended drawings, in which;

Figure 1 illustrates a schematic top-view of a mattress of the present invention; Figure 2a illustrates a part of the mattress of Fig. 1, seen from the side;

Figure 2b is an enlarged cross-sectional illustration of the fastening members of the mattress of Fig. 1, detached from each other; Figures 3a and 4a illustrate other embodiments of a part of the mattress of Fig. 1, seen from the side; and

Figures 3b and 4b illustrate corresponding fastening members; Figure 5 is a schematic top-view illustration of another mattress of the invention; Figure 6 illustrates mattress elements of the mattress of Fig. 5, seen from the side; Figure 7 illustrates a mattress element of a third mattress of the invention, seen from the side; Figure 8 illustrates a mattress element of a fourth mattress of the invention, seen from the side. Figure 9a illustrates a part of a fifth mattress of the invention, seen from the side;

Figure 9b is an enlarged cross-sectional illustration of the fastening members of the mattress of Fig. 9a, detached from each other; Figure 10 illustrates a part of a sixth mattress of the invention, seen from the side;

Figure 11 illustrates a mattress element of the mattress of Fig. 10, seen from the side; Figure 12 illustrates a mattress element of a seventh mattress of the invention, seen from the side; Figure 13 illustrates a mattress element of a eight mattress of the invention, seen from the side; and Figure 14 illustrates a mattress element of a ninth mattress of the invention, also seen from the side.

The mattress of figures 1 and 2 comprises a bottom element 1 and a number of elongated, bag-like mattress elements 2. The bottom element

1 is a rectangular, plate-like and pliable piece. It has beem formed for instance of one or several plastic material layers . The mattress elements

2 may be inflated with gas, advantageously air, to a suitable pressure. They have been attached side by side to the bottom element 1 of the mattress , and transversally to the longitudinal direction D-D of the matt¬ ress . The mattress elements 2 form protruding members, in cross-section resembling the shape of an overturned U or the like, which extend outwards from the bottom element 1, as illustrated in Fig. 2. The mattress elements have been manufactured for example by welding together two rectangular elongated pieces of material so that the joint at the long side of the mattress element is wide enough to allow securing of the mattress element at this side to the bottom element. The joint is preferably several centimetres wide.

In the embodiment of Fig. 1, the mattress elements 2 of the mattress have been divided, in the direction of the longitudinal axis D-D of the mattress, into three groups A, B and C. The first group A is meant to be under the head of the person lying on the mattress, the second group B under the middle part of the body, and the third group C under the legs. The mattress elements 2a, 2b, 2c of each group A, B, C communicate, via channels 3; 3a, 3b, 3c and valves 4; 4a, 4b, 4c fitted therein, with connecting duct 5; 5a, 5b, 5c of each group . The mattress element groups 2a, 2b, 2c are connectable, via the connecting duct 5; 5a, 5b, 5c further to an air pump 6 or to a suitable gas source by means of a connecting channel 7 and suitable connecting pieces 8. In connection with the air pump 6, there is arranged a discharge valve and a pressure gauge 9. By means of the air pump 6 and by utilizing the discharge valve the mattress element groups 2a, 2b, 2c may be inflated in turns, first to a basic pressure and then to the final desired pressure when the patient is lying on the mattress. The pressure of the mattress elements 2; 2a, 2b , 2c of the invention is most suitably adjusted within the range of 15

- 25 cm H₂0 while the mattress is in use.

The mattress elements 2 of the mattress have been attached to the bottom element 1 by means of fastening members. The bottom element 1 of the mattress has been provided with rows 10 of openings spaced apart from each other . There are corresponding openings also in the long sides of the mattress element 2. The fastening members have been formed of matching male and female members 11 and 12 as may be seen from Fig. 2b illustrating an embodiment of fastening members as seen from the top and the side . The male fastening member 11 has been formed of an elongated thin piece provided with two pins 13. The female fastening member 12 has been formed of an elongated counterpart provided with openings 14. The male part is placed under the bottom element 1 of the mattress at the fastening openings 10 and 15 and the pins 13 are pushed through the openings 10 and 15. Preferably the long sides of the adjacent mattress elements 2 are placed overlapping in such a way that the pins are pushed through the openings 15 of both the mattress elements. The female fastening member 12 is placed on top of the edge of the topmost mattress element and the pins 13 are secured to the openings 14. In the embodiment of Fig . 2b there are three pairs of fastening members per one long side of the mattress, thus one mattress element is secured to the bottom element with six pairs of fastening members.

When a mattress element must be replaced the fastening members illustrated in Fig. 2b may be detached from each other by means of a suitable tool by pushing the tool under the female fastening member and thus detaching the female fastening member 12 from the male fastening member 11. The tool may be for example a screwdriver or the like.

Figures 3a and 3b illustrate an embodiment resembling the one illustrated in Figures 2a and 2b , only the fastening member here is essentially as long as the mattress element 2 and thus only one pair of fastening members is required per one side of the mattress element 2 for securing the mattress element to the bottom element 1. The male fastening member 16 provided with several pins 17 is secured to the female fastening member 18 placed on top of the edge of the mattress element 2 whereby the pins 17 disposed in the openings 10 of the bottom element and the openings of the mattress element are locked into the openings 19 of the female fastening member.

Figures 4a and 4b illustrate yet another embodiment of a fastening member, i.e. a press button. This fastening member comprises a male part 20 having a pin 21 and a female part 22 having an opening 23 matching the pin of the male part. As in the embodiments of Figures 2a and 3a, also in this embodiment the male part is disposed under the bottom element 1 of the mattress . The pin is placed in the openings 10 and 15 and it is locked into the openings 23 of the female part.

Another mattress of the invention, particularly an air mattress , has been illustrated in Figures 5 and 6. This mattress comprises a bottom element 1, a number of first bag-like mattress elements 32 and a number of second bag-like mattress elements 33. The bottom element 1 and the first mattress elements 32 correspond the bottom element 1 and mattress elements 2 of the mattress illustrated in Figures 1 and 2a, 3a and 4a, respectively. In this case the bottom elements 1 are similar, and the same reference number has been used of both. The second elongated bag-like mattress elements 33 are inflatable with gas, such as air , or alternatively they are elements made of some solid, resilient material or inflated with such material. In this embodiment, the second mattress element 33 has been formed of an air-inflatable member. Encompassing each second mattress element 33, at least partly, there is provided the first mattress element 32, as can be understood for instance from Fig. 6. The second mattress elements are preferably separate elements encompassing the first mattress elements but they may be provided stationary for example by welding them to the bottom element 1 of the mattress. However, this alternative is not as advantageous as separate elements, in view of the maintenance and cleaning of the mattress .

Seen from above , the mattress formed of the mattress elements 32 , 33 in

Fig. 5 looks the same as the mattress formed of mattress elements 2 in Fig. 1. The first and the second mattress elements 32, 33 may be divided into three groups in the same way as the mattress elements 2 mentioned above.

The first mattress elements 32 have been divided into three groups Al, Bl, Cl, comprising mattress elements 32a, 32b, 32c, respectively. The elements 32; 32a, 32b, 32c belonging to each group Al, Bl, Cl communicate via channels 3'; 3'a, 3'b, 3'c and via valves 4'; 4'a, 4'b, 4'c fitted therein, with the connecting duct 5'; 5'a, 5'b, 5'c of each group.

The mattress element groups 32a, 32b, 32c are connectable, through the connecting ducts 5'; 5'a, 5'b, 5'c, further to an air pump 6 or a corresponding gas source via a connecting channel 7 and suitable connecting pieces 8, as was described above in connection with Fig. 1.

The second set of mattress elements 33 has been divided into three groups A2, B2, C2, comprising mattress elements 33a, 33b, 33c, respectively. The mattress elements 33; 33a, 33b, 33c communicate via channels 34; 34a, 34b, 34c and valves 35; 35a, 35b, 35c fitted therein with a connecting duct 36; 36a, 36b, 36c, which is further connectable to an air pump 6 via a connecting channel 7 and suitable connecting pieces 8. By using the air pump 6, the second mattress elements 33; 33a, 33b, 33c of each group A2, B2, C2 may be inflated to a suitable basic pressure while the mattress is in use. The actual adjustment of the mattress may be effected by adjusting the pressures of the first mattress elements 32; 32a, 32b, 32c.

It is also possible not to divide the first mattress elements 32 into the groups Al, Bl, Cl mentioned above, in which case they comprise separate mattress elements 32, or alternatively small groups of two or three elements, so that the gas pressure of each mattress element can be measured and adjusted separately or in small groups, for instance by means of the air pump 6, the discharge valve and the pressure gauge 9, as was described above. This adjusting method is advantageous, because certain parts of the body (for example bony, protrusive points such as the heel, sacrum, shoulder blades and the back of the head) are particu- larly susceptible to the creation of bedsores. It is also possible that the patient already has bedsores, as a result of previous unfavourable circumstances, in other parts of the body, too. The surface pressure directed to the critical points can now be minimized by lowering the gas pressure in the mattress element located at the critical spot, for instance mattress element 32 at the heel, and respectively, raising the gas pressure in the adjacent mattress elements.

The first mattress elements 32 are secured to the bottom element 1 of the mattress in the same way as the securing of mattress elements 2 illustrated in Fig. 2 - 4. In the embodiment of Fig. 6 the mattress elements 32 have been secured to the bottom element 1 of the mattress by press buttons illustrated in Fig. 4b . The Figure shows how the mattress elements 32 have been placed overlapping, i.e. the long sides of the mattress elements 32 and 32 are placed one on top of the other on the bottom element and both the mattress elements are secured at the same time to the bottom element by pushing the pin of the male fastening member 20 through the openings in the bottom element and the mattress elements and by securing the pin to the counterpart 22 of the press button.

When for one reason or another, one of the first mattress elements 22 is at least partly deflated and the pressure therein decreases, it can quickly be replaced while using the mattress, because the mattress elements are easily detachable from each other and the replacing does not necessarily cause problems to the patient lying on it. The defective mattress element 22 is located in the mattress element group Al, Bl, Cl, in case the mattress is divided into such groups, and the valves 4' of other mattress elements 32a, 32b, 32c are closed (in case they are open) . The fastening members 20 and 22 are detached from each other, after which the first mattress element 32 is removed from around the second mattress element 33. After that a new, undamaged first mattress element 32 may be installed, by similarly attaching the fastening members 20 and

22 to each other. The first mattress element 32 is connected, via the channel 3' and the valve 4' to the connecting duct 5' of the mattress element group Al, Bl, Cl in question. The air pump 6 is connected, by means of the connecting channel 7 and the connecting pieces 8 to the connecting duct 5' . The mattress element 32 is inflated by the air pump

6 up to a suitable pressure, after which the valve 4' can be closed and the air pump 6 detached by the connecting pieces 8 from the corresponding mattress element group 32; 32a, 32b, 32c. Now the mattress is again in condition for use.

Fig . 7 illustrates how at least one first loop-like mattress element 32 may be placed surrounding several other mattress elements 33, 33³. The purpose of providing several elements one on the other is to intensify the effect of the mattress . Further , the first loop-like mattress elements 32 , 37 may be provided at least one inside the other (see Fig. 8) .

Fig . 9a illustrates how the mattress elements 42 have been attached to the bottom element 1 by means of fastening members formed of matching fastening members 50 , 51. The first fastening member 50 has been arran- ged as a uniform fastening member at two longitudinal sides 42¹ , 42² of a

U-shaped or similar mattress element 42. Respectively, second fastening members 51 have been fastened spaced apart from each other to the bottom element 1 of the mattress, so that the two first fastening members 50 of the mattress element 42 can respectively be attached to the bottom element 1, to the adjacent second fastening members 51 spaced apart. The fastening member 50 of the mattress element 42 has been formed of an elongate, flexible bracket 50a, which has a cross-sectional shape of essentially a circle segment. The female fastening member 51 has been formed of an elongate flexible counterpart provided with a slot 51a, as is illustrated in Fig. 9b . The width of the aperture of the slot 51a is smaller than the diameter of the bracket 50a. The bracket 50a of the male fastening member 50 can be pressed into the slot 51a of the female member 51 while fastening the mattress element 42 to the bottom element 1 , and respectively the fastening members 50, 51 are easily detachable simply by pulling apart.

A mattress according to the invention has been illustrated in Fig. 10 and 11. This mattress comprises a bottom element 1 , a number of first elongate bag-like mattress elements 62 and a number of second elongate bag-like mattress elements 63. The second mattress elements 63 are inflatable with gas, such as air, or alternatively they are elements made of some solid, resilient material or filled with such material. In this embodiment, the second mattress element 63 is formed of an air-inflatable member. Encompassing at least partly each second mattress element 63, there is provided a first mattress element 62 , as can be understood for instance from Fig. 10.

Each first mattress element 62 includes, in the longitudinal direction thereof, first fastening members 60, such as male members, and respective second fastening members 61 of the bottom element 1, such as female members.

In this embodiment, the first and second fastening members 60, 61 are advantageously similar to the fastening members 50, 51 in the mattress element 42 and the bottom element 1 of Fig. 9a, 9b.

Fig. 11 illustrates the detaching of one first mattress element 62 from the bottom element 1, and - when observed in the opposite order - its fastening to the bottom element 1. When for one reason or another, one of the first mattress elements 62 is at least partly deflated and the pressure therein decreases, it can quickly be replaced while still using the mattress, and the replacing does not necessarily cause problems to the patient lying on it.

Yet another mattress according to the invention is illustrated in Fig . 12. This mattress comprises a bottom element 1 , a number of first elongate bag-like mattress elements 67 and respectively a number of second elongate bag-like mattress elements 68. In principle, the first and the second mattress elements 67 and 68 are similar to the elements described above, for example in connection with Fig. 10. In this embodiment, the first mattress element 67 has a tubular shape , wherein the long sides 67a ,

67b of a U-shaped mattress element are interconnected, and at this junc¬ tion or in the vicinity thereof, there is provided the first fastening member 69, i.e. a male member. In the bottom element 1 of the mattress, at a distance from each other, there are arranged female fastening members 70. These fastening members 69, 70 are in principle similar to the fastening members 50, 51 of the mattress element 42 and bottom element 1, described above in connection with Fig. 9b. Alternatively, the fastening members 59, 70 can be installed in an opposite fashion to the one described above. Also in this case, the second mattress element 68 is air-inflatable and is fitted inside the first mattress element 67, as is apparent from Fig. 12.

In the embodiment of Fig. 12, both mattress elements 67, 68 are detached from the bottom element 1 simultaneously by unlocking the fastening members 69 , 70 , and respectively a new first and second mattress element

67 and 68 can be fitted in place by rejoining said fastening members 69 , 70. This embodiment is simple; only one fastening member 69 is employed in connection with one mattress element 67. On the other hand, both the first and second mattress elements 67 and 68 must be removed from the mattress, even if only one of them is damaged.

Fig . 13 illustrates one mattress element of a mattress of the invention . The first element 71 and second element 72 of the mattress can be similar to the ones illustrated in connection with the previous embodiment, Fig. 10. In this case, both sides 71a, 71b of the first mattress element 71, have been provided with first hook strip ribbons 73 , in the longitudinal direction of the mattress element 71. In similar fashion, the bottom element 1 has been provided with second hook strip ribbons 74, spaced apart. The hook strip ribbons 73, 74 are advantageously identical and grip together in a way known per se at their tiny hook-like or loop-like protrusions.

Fig. 14 illustrates a mattress element of a mattress of the invention. The first and the second element 75 and 76 of the mattress can be similar to the ones illustrated in connection with the previous embodiment , Fig . 10. In this case, both long sides 75a, 75b of the first mattress element 75 have been provided with first halves 77a of a zipper 77, whereas the second halves 77b of the zipper 77 have respectively been attached to the bottom element 1 of the mattress, at a distance from each other. When the zipper 77 is pulled open, the first mattress element 75 can be detached from the bottom element 1, and respectively replaced by another similar first mattress element provided with a half 77a of a zipper

77.

In the above specification, the invention has been described with reference to several embodiments thereof, but it is naturally clear that the invention can be modified in many ways within the scope of the appended patent claims . It is also pointed out that the pressures in the mattress elements can be adjusted in many ways, as was described for instance in the EP publication no. 296689. Moreover, the mattress elements can be divided into more groups than in the above specification, and those mattress elements that are located in the marginal areas thereof can be divided into alternating groups, as also has been described in the patent publication mentioned.

Claims

PATENT CLAIMS

1. A mattress, particularly an air mattress, comprising

- a bottom element (1) which is essentially rectangular in shape, and forms a plate-like and bendable piece; and

- a number of elongated, bag-like mattress elements (2) , which may be inflated with gas such as air, or other fluid medium, and are secured side by side to the bottom element (1) of the mattress, transversally to the lengthwise direction ( D - D ) of the mattress and in such a fashion that they form, when inflated with gas or the like, loop-like members, resembling an overturned U-shape or the like in cross-section, and extending outwards from the bottom element, characterized in that the mattress elements (2) have been secured to the bottom element (1) of the mattress by means of mechanically interlockable fastening members so that each mattress element (2) may be detached from the bottom element (1) and replaced.

2. A mattress as claimed in claim 1 , comprising

- a bottom element (1) which is essentially rectangular in shape, and forms a plate-like and bendable piece;

- a number of first elongated, bag-like mattress elements (32) , which may be inflated with gas such as air, or other fluid medium, and are secured side by side to the bottom element (1) of the mattress, transversally to the lengthwise direction ( D - D ) of the mattress and in such a fashion that they form, when inflated with gas or the like, loop-like members, resembling an overturned U-shape or the like in cross-section, and extending outwards from the bottom element;

- a number of second elongated, bag-like mattress elements (33) which may be inflated with gas or other fluid medium or are made of some solid, resilient material or inflated with such material; a first mattress element (32) being arranged to encompass, at least partly, each second mattress element, characterized in that the first mattress elements (32) have been secured to the bottom element (1) of the mattress by means of mechanically interlockable fastening members so that each mattress element (32) may be detached from the bottom element (1) and replaced.

3. A mattress as claimed in claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the fastening members have been formed of matching male and female members (11, 12; 16, 18; 20, 22; 50, 51; 60, 61) .

4. A mattress as claimed in claim 3, characterized in that the male fastening member (11, 16) is formed of an elongated thin piece provided with one or several brackets, such as pins, (13, 17) and the female fastening member (12, 18) is formed of an elongated counterpart provided with openings (14, 19) , the bracket being locked to these openings.

5. A mattress as claimed in claim 4 , characterized in that the male and the female fastening members (11, 12) are essentially shorter than the U- shaped or the like mattress element (2, 32) whereby two or more of the fastening members are provided to secure one mattress element to the bottom element of the mattress.

6. A mattress as claimed in claim 4, characterized in that the male and the female fastening members (16, 18) are substantially as long as the U- shaped or the like mattress element (2, 32) whereby one male and one female fastening member secure the mattress element to the bottom element of the mattress.

7. A mattress as claimed in claim 4, characterized in that the fastening members are formed of opposite parts (20, 22) of a press button.

8. A mattress as claimed in claim 4 or 7, characterized in that the longitudinal sides of each U-shaped or the like mattress element (2; 32) and correspondingly the bottom element (1) of the mattress have been provided with securing openings (10, 15) at a distance from each other at which the separate fastening members are locked to each other when the longitudinal side of the mattress element and the bottom element have been placed between the fastening members.

9. . A mattress as claimed in claim 8 , characterized in that the longitudinal sides of adjacent mattress elements (2, 32) are overlapping.

10. A mattress as claimed in claim 3, characterized in that the male fastening member is formed of several brackets, such as pins, secured to the bottom element of the mattress or to the U-shaped or the like mattress element and the female fastening member is formed of an elongated counterpart provided with openings , the brackets being fitted to these openings via fastening openings in the longitudinal sides of the mattress elements.

11. A mattress as claimed in claim 3 , characterized in that in both the longitudinal sides (42¹ , 42² ) of the U-shaped or the like mattress element

(42) , there are fastening members (50) provided preferably along the whole length but at least along a part of the length thereof, both the fastening members being formed of an elongate bracket (50a) , having a cross-sectional shape of essentially a circle segment, and being detachably secured to the fastening members (51) provided spaced apart in the bottom element of the mattress and formed of counterparts provided with an elongate slot (51a) , the slot aperture being smaller than the diameter of the bracket.

12. A mattress as claimed in claim 3, characterized in that in the connected longitudinal sides (67a, 67b) of the U-shaped or the like mattress element, there is a fastening member (69) provided preferably along the whole length but at least along a part of the length thereof, the fastening member being formed of an elongate bracket, having a cross- sectional shape of essentially a circle segment, and being detachably secured to a fastening members (70) provided in the bottom element of the mattress and formed of a counterpart provided with an elongate slot, the slot aperture being smaller than the diameter of the bracket.

13. A mattress as claimed in claim 1 or 2 , characterized in that in both the longitudinal sides (71a, 71b) of the U-shaped or the like mattress element (71) , there are fastening members (73) provided preferably along the whole length but at least along a part of the length thereof, the fastening members being detachably secured to fastening members (74) provided spaced apart in the bottom element of the mattress and the fastening members (73, 74) being formed of elongate hook strip ribbons/loop strip ribbons.

14. A mattress as claimed in claim 1 or 2, characterized in that in both the longitudinal sides (75a, 75b) of the U-shaped or the like mattress element (75) , there are fastening members provided preferably along the whole length but at least along a part of the length thereof, the fastening members being detachably secured to the fastening members provided spaced apart in the bottom element of the mattress and the fastening members being formed of the opposite halves (77a, 77b) of a zipper.

15. A mattress as claimed in any of the preceding patent claims, characterized in that there are two or more of the first mattress elements (32, 37) disposed one inside the other. >

16. A mattress as claimed in any of the preceding patent claims, characterized in that the first mattress element (32) encompasses two or more of the second mattress elements (33, 33¹) .