WO2008007410A1

WO2008007410A1 - Multi-use floating mattress

Info

Publication number: WO2008007410A1
Application number: PCT/IT2007/000493
Authority: WO
Inventors: Christian Tamburinelli
Original assignee: Bluestar Fashion Design Di Tamburinelli Christian
Priority date: 2006-07-14
Filing date: 2007-07-11
Publication date: 2008-01-17
Also published as: ITMC20060084A1

Abstract

The present invention relates to a floating mattress with structure made of suitable rigid or semirigid plastic materials, which is exactly contained in a case provided with means on the upper and/or lateral surface for fast coupling/uncoupling of accessories, such as headrest cushions or armchair backrests.

Description

Multi-use floating mattress

The present patent application relates to a multi-use floating mattress of non-inflatable type.

As it is known, inflatable mattresses have been available on the market for a long time, being designed to be used in water to float while lying down to sunbathe or relax.

However, regardless of their popularity, the said inflatable mattresses are impaired by significant functional disadvantages.

The most significant of the said disadvantages is probably represented by poor stability in water, which is basically due to the fact that the said mattresses lack structural rigidity.

All those who have tried an inflatable mattress in the water report that the user can lie down on the mattress only in calm sea conditions if he remains practically motionless.

The poor structural rigidity considerably impairs the versatility of traditional inflatable mattresses, also in view of possible alternative uses out of water.

As a matter of fact, the only alternative use that may be effectively devised for the current models of inflatable mattresses is as emergency mattress for campers and other users to replace a bed. The specific purpose of the present invention is to devise a mattress provided with satisfactory rigidity and stability properties, which ensures a versatility of use that is totally unknown to traditional mattresses.

Due to these advantageous features, the mattress of the invention is characterised by great stability while floating, and is not negatively affected by waves or user's movements, at least to a certain extent.

Moreover, the mattress of the invention can be easily provided with useful removable accessories that, for instance, allow the user to adjust the inclination of the neck or head as desired while lying down, or sit up on the mattress.

Furthermore, the mattress of the invention ensures high versatility of use also out of water, thanks to the possibility of being converted into a seat cushion or an armchair with backrest and armrests. For purposes of clarity, the description of the invention continues with reference to the enclosed figures, which are intended for purposes of illustration only and not in a limiting sense, whereby:

- figure 1 is an axonometric view of the mattress of the invention according to a first constructive embodiment; - figures 2, 3 and 4 are axonometric views showing the mattress of figure 1 in alternative conditions;

- figures 5, 6 and 7 are axonometric views of a second constructive embodiment of the mattress of the invention.

With reference to figure 1 , the mattress of the invention (1), which has a traditional rectangular shape, has a structure obtained from rigid or semirigid plastic materials, provided with floating properties, of closed-cell expanded materials, such as polyurethane, EVA, etc.

According to the embodiment shown in figures 1 to 4, the mattress (1 ) has an articulated structure composed of two identical adjacent segments (1a, 1 b) exactly contained in corresponding cases (60) obtained from marine imitation leather and mutually connected by means of a transversal connection line (L1 ) situated on the lower side of the mattress (1 ).

Due to the presence of the said connection line (L1), each segment of the mattress (1 ) can be rotated by 180° inside the corresponding case (60) with respect to the adjacent segment.

In this way, the two segments (1a, 1 b) are overlapped and the mattress (1) assumes the structure of a sort of cushion with lower surface and higher height, which is suitable to be used as a sort of stool out of water (as shown in figure 2). The upper side of the mattress (1) is provided with fast-coupling means for accessories designed to increase the possibilities of use.

The said fast-coupling means preferably consist in Velcro pieces (2) designed to cooperate with corresponding Velcro inserts provided under the accessories, which are preferably obtained from similar floating, rigid or semirigid plastic materials.

The first accessory consists in an armchair backrest (3) that includes a pair of armrests (3a), as shown in figures 2 and 3.

A second possible accessory consists in a headrest cushion (4), as shown in fig. 4.

In -particular, the said Velcro pieces (2) are _vapplied near one or both ends of the mattress (1 ) to guarantee the ideal location of the said removable .accessories (3, 4).

In particular, such a location allows to place the headrest cushion (4) in such a way that the user can lay his head at one end of the mattress of the invention (1 ) and lie down on the remaining surface of the mattress.

As a matter of fact, the off-centred position of the fixing point of the said accessories can also be advantageously used to mount the backrest (3), after overlapping the consecutive segments (1a, 1 b) to form- the cushion shown in fig. 2.

In this way, the cooperation between the cushion and the backrest (3) creates an armchair that can be efficaciously used both in water (as a sufficiently stable floating armchair) and out of water.

Moreover, the presence of the Velcro inserts_v(2) at the two ends of the mattress (as shown in the enclosed figures) ensures the possibility to install • an opposite pair of the said accessories.

The mattress (1 ) is also provided with Velcro inserts (20) on the lateral borders to provide lateral fixing of additional units of the same mattress or additional accessories designed to be placed side by side, not overlapped.

Moreover, the mattress (1 ) is provided with a large eyelet (5), at least on one of the lateral borders to insert an ordinary mooring rope used to prevent the risk of being adrift at the mercy of the waves if the user falls asleep.

The embodiment of the invention (10) shown in figure 1 is characterised by the fact that it has a monolithic structure that cannot be folded over.

Also this second embodiment of the invention is exactly housed in a corresponding flexible case, with a sort of box-shaped lower compartment (6a) designed to be closed on top, after inserting the mattress (1), and a mat (6b); it being provided that the connection between the borders of the mat (6b) and the opening of the box-shaped lower compartment (6a) is preferably obtained by means of a zipper (6c).

The case (60) used by each of the two segments (1a, 1b) of the first embodiment of the mattress (1) has the same structure. Finally, it must be noted that the mattress (1 ). and consequently alsothe corresponding accessories (3, 4) can be provided with alternative fast- coupling means other than Velcro pieces, such as for example laces, eyelets, buttons, etc.

Claims

1 ) Floating mattress characterised by a structure made of suitable rigid or semirigid materials exactly contained in a case (6, 60) provided with means (2, 20) on the upper and/or lateral surface for fast coupling/uncoupling of accessories (3, 4). 2) Floating mattress as claimed in claim 1 , characterised by the fact that it is formed of several adjacent segments (1a, 1 b) connected by means of a transversal line (L1) between the cases (60) with the possibility of being mutually overturned by 180°. »

3) Floating mattress as claimed in first or both preceding claims, characterised by the fact that the said fast coupling/uncoupling means are composed of Velcro pieces (2, 20) designed to cooperate with corresponding Velcro pieces provided under the said accessories (3, 4).

4) Floating mattress as claimed in the first or both preceding claims, characterised by the fact that the said coupling/uncoupling means situated between the upper surface and the accessories (3, 4) consist in laces and eyelets.

5) Floating mattress as claimed in first or both preceding claims, characterised by the fact that the said coupling/uncoupling means situated between the upper surface and the accessories (3, 4) consist in buttons. 6) Floating mattress as claimed in one or more of preceding claims, characterised by the fact that it is provided with one eyelet (5) at least on one of its borders to insert and hold a mooring rope.

7) Floating mattress as claimed in one or more of the preceding claims, characterised by the fact that the case (6, 60) is composed of a box-shaped compartment closed on top with a sort of mat.

8) Floating mattress as claimed in claim 7, characterised by the fact that the stable connection between the perimeter borders of the mat and the opening of the box-shaped lower compartment is provided by means of a perimeter zipper (6c). 9) Floating mattress as claimed in one or more of preceding claims, characterised by the fact that the first of the said accessories consists in a shaped backrest (3) provided with a pair of armrests (3a).

10) Floating mattress as claimed in one or more of claims 1 to 9, characterised by the fact that the second of the said accessories consists in a headrest cushion (4).

11) Floating mattress as claimed in one or more of preceding claims, characterised by the fact that the plastic materials used for the structure are of closed-cell expanded materials.

12) Floating mattress as claimed in one or more of preceding claims, characterised by the fact that the case (6, 60) is made of marine imitation leather. ^■