WO2017207870A1

WO2017207870A1 - Mattress for aeroplane

Info

Publication number: WO2017207870A1
Application number: PCT/FI2017/050400
Authority: WO
Inventors: Juha Isosomppi
Original assignee: Unikulma Oy
Priority date: 2016-05-31
Filing date: 2017-05-29
Publication date: 2017-12-07
Also published as: FI11778U1; EP3462994A4; EP3462994A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a mattress (10) for an aeroplane. At the end of the mattress (10), there is a hood (15) inside the inner space (G) of which the mattress (10) may be rolled for storage. The hood (15) may be placed around a headrest of an aeroplane seat to support the mattress (10) to the seat. The mattress (10) further comprises notches (gl, g2) for seat belts to ensure their trouble-free functioning and to keep the mattress in place in relation to the seat.

Description

Mattress for aeroplane

Background of the invention

The invention relates to a mattress for an aeroplane.

Brief description of the invention

The goal of this application is a mattress structure by means of which the comfort of an aeroplane seat is improved.

A known solution for the mattress structure of an aeroplane is that a separate blanket or a sheet filled with cotton wool has been stocked.

The known solutions have not provided relief to the fact that a seat on an aeroplane has poor or non-existent support for the lumbar region. In addition, an unpleasant area of discontinuity, that is, a gap may remain between a backrest of the seat and the seat, which reduces travel comfort in particular when the seat is placed in a sleeping position or near it.

It is known that 1 kg of additional weight on an aeroplane causes ma- jor additional costs during the life cycle of the aeroplane.

In this application, a solution is sought for a new mattress structure for aeroplanes, in particular for their cabins, the mattress being lightweight, easy to store, good as to both the sitting and sleeping properties, and being elastic, equalizes surface pressures, is breathable, the mattress is washable, the mattress is fireproof and does not absorb impurities.

A new type of mattress is disclosed in the application, which comprises a mattress cover, on the inside a noodle-like extruded inner layer made of a synthetic fibre by extrusion. The fibres of the fibre structure are advantageously hollow structures and they are of a plastic substance.

The mattress cover is advantageously of a fabric. The fabric is advantageously of a 3d fabric, which comprises a top part and a bottom part and, between them, arrays of a fishline-like intermediate layer. The arrays are formed of fibre columns interconnecting the top fabric and the bottom fabric. The structure is synthetic and of a plastic substance.

On the cover, the mattress structure comprises a top fabric and a bottom fabric. Between them, there is one or more zip fasteners, a self-adhesive fastener or another quick-release fastener.

In such a case, the inner layer is removable and washable. The entire mattress, too, is washable as a single structure, and the total structure also dries fast. At the end of the mattress, there is a hood that is reversible.

The mattress may be wound into a roll inside the hood into a storage position.

The hood is reversible, whereby its outer surface becomes its inner surface. This way, the handedness of the mattress may be changed. It may be placed on the seats on one side of an aisle on an aeroplane. This concerns the longer model of the mattress structure. The shorter model, extending to the hollow of the knee, may be used on both sides of the aisle on all the seats of the plane when the mattress is turned over. The symmetry of the padding layer additionally supports use of the mattress on both sides.

The mattress may comprise a support for the lumbar region. Further, the mattress may comprise a filler part for the discontinuity section, that is, the gap between the backrest of the seat and the seat part.

The mattress comprises on its sides notches through which the seat belts of the aeroplane pass. The notches guarantee reliable operation of the seat belts and fasten the mattress in relation to the seat.

The mattress according to the invention is characterised by what is disclosed in the claims.

Brief description of the figures

The invention will in the following be described by reference to the embodiments in the attached drawings. The invention is not solely restricted thereto.

Figure 1 is an axonometric representation of the mattress structure.

Figure 2 is a cross section A-A of Figure 1.

Figure 3 shows a cross-section B-B of Figure 2,

Figure 4 is a cross section C-C of Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a cross section D-D of Figure 1.

Figure 6 shows the mattress rolled up for storage inside a hood.

Figure 7 is a schematic representation of a seat module in an aero- plane cabin.

Figure 8 shows an embodiment of the invention where the mattress extends all the way to the feet of a sleeper.

Detailed description of the invention

Figure 1 shows a mattress 10 in a spread form and axonometric man- ner. The mattress 10 comprises an openable and closable cover 11. The cover 11 is opened by fastening means 13a, 13b, such as a zip fastener of self-adhesive fastening means. The cover 11 may also be manufactured as a fixed structure with the intermediate layer 14.

The cover 11 is of a fabric. It consists of the cover halves 12a and 12b. The fabric of the cover 11 is advantageously of a synthetic 3d fabric. Inside the cover 11 there is a filler layer 14. The intermediate layer 14 is of a loose fabric 14a of a plastic material, wound in a noodle-like manner. The fibre 14a is advantageously a hollow structure, formed by extrusion into a mould and of a coil-like, ribbon-like, noodle-like structure. The structure includes plenty of air space be- tween the fibre coils. The fibre 14a is advantageously of a synthetic material, such as plastic. According to an embodiment, the material is of a thermoplastic elastomer, available under the trade name Pelprene. Further, according to an embodiment, the intermediate layer 14 is formed of a mattress material available under the trade name Breathair.

The intermediate layer 14 forms an elastic layer. The mattress in its entirety is washable, or its intermediate layer 14 is removed for washing.

There is a hood 15 at the end of the mattress 10. The hood 15 comprises a bottom 15a and a cover 15b. Between them, there is an air space G. The hood has two tasks. Firstly, it acts as the storage place for the mattress 10 wound into a roll R, and secondly, when the mattress is used the mattress 10 may be supported to the seat by slipping the hood 15 around the headrest of the seat. The mattress 10 is then kept in place on a seat T. The mattress 11 is conformed to the shape of the seat T. The weight of the mattress 10 is 0.7 to 2 kg and advantageously less than 1 kg.

The hood 15 consists of two 3d fabrics, joined together. This way it stays in its shape with the mouth piece open, whereby the mattress part proper may easily be rolled into the inner space G of the hood.

The mattress comprises notches gl, g2 for the seat belts of the aeroplane. With the notches gl, g2, the trouble-free functioning of the seat belts is en- sured, and at the same time the mattress is locked in relation to the seat part. With their help, the mattress is kept in place in relation to the seat part. The notches gl, g2, on both sides of the longitudinal axis of the mattress, are rectangular. The width of the notch, that is its dimension in the longitudinal direction of the mattress, may be 5 to 20 cm, for example. The width of the notch is advanta- geously larger than the width of the seat belt buckle, whereby the mattress does not impede setting the mattress into a sleeping position and back into the sitting position. On the other hand, the width of the notch is advantageously reasonably small for the mattress to lock into the seat part in a reliable manner. The depth of the notch, that is, the transverse dimension in relation to the longitudinal axis of the mattress, may be 2 to 10 cm, for example.

The mattress 10 may comprise a bulge in the intermediate layer 14 in the fold of the seat part and backrest part as a support hi of the sleeper's lumbar region. Further, the mattress 10 may comprise a filler part h2 for the inconvenient discontinuity section, that is, the gap between the backrest part of the seat and the seat part. The support hi of the lumbar region and the filler part H2 may be positioned symmetrically or asymmetrically. Figure 5 shows with dotted lines the location of the filler part h2 of the gap. So, the mattress 10 may have either the lumbar region support hi or the gap filler part h2, or both. The hood 15 may be turned inside out (arrow LI). The bottom of the space G in the hood 15 and the cover as the inner surfaces 15a and 15b are then interchanged so that they be- come the outer surfaces of the hood 15. The same mattress 10 may be used on both sides by turning it over.

The intermediate layer 14 of the mattress 10 is a lightweight, noodlelike structure of a synthetic fibre. In may be removed from within the cover 11 for washing. The intermediate layer 14 comprises plenty of air space between the set of fibres. It is elastic, equalizes surface pressures, lightweight, breathable, fireproof, soil repellent, and allows moisture to pass through.

The bottom edge j of the mattress 10 extends all the way to the hollow of the knee of the sleeper.

Linked to the hood 15 there is a protective slip S to act as a cushion for a sleeping or sitting person. The protective slip S may be easily replaced with a new one, because it is removably attached to the hood 15 with a self-adhesive fastener W. The actual self-adhesive fastener W is located in the hood 15 on both sides of the hood, whereby the cushion may be used on both sides of the mattress.

Figure 2 shows a cross-section A-A of Figure 1, The mattress 10 com- prises a cover 11. The cover 11 is of a fabric. There is an intermediate layer 14 within the cover 11. The intermediate layer 14 is of a synthetic fibre wound in noodle-like fashion, advantageously of a fireproof plastic substance.

The cover 11 of the mattress 10 is of a fabric and consists of the cover portions 12a and 12b. The cover portions 12a and 12b are interconnected at one edge of the mattress 10 by zipper fasteners 13a and 13b. Figure 3 shows a cross-section B-B of Figure 2, A cross section of the fibre 14a is shown. The fibre is of synthetic fibre advantageously of a plastic substance. Within the fibre 14a, there is advantageously a hollow inner space 0. The fibre 14a is of a material that burns poorly. The fibre 14a is extruded into a mould whereby a glassy surface that keeps its form well is achieved for the intermediate layer 14. The fibre 14a may also be a solid structure.

In Figure 4, the structure of the cover 11 is shown as a cross section C- C of Figure 2. The cover 11 is advantageously of a plastic substance and 3d fabric.

The cover 11 comprises surface layers 16 and 17 that are connected by a middle layer which is formed of fishline-like fibre arrays 18, each having column-like fibres connecting the surface layers 16 and 17. Between the column arrays, there are air paths for air streams.

The fabric 11 is a so-called 3d fabric. It has three distinctive dimensions. The fabric is loose, breathable, allows moisture to pass through, equalizes surface pressures, soil repellent, elastic and fireproof.

Figure 5 is a cross section D-D of Figure 1. The intermediate layer 14 becomes steadily thinner at the seat part from its beginning j 3 towards the end j. The bulges act as both the support hi for the lumbar region and as the filler part h2 of the inconvenient discontinuity area, that is, the gap between the backrest of the seat and the seat part regardless of which way the mattress is being used.

The thinning is linear. This way, the sleeper's surface pressures are linearly equalized at the legs. The intermediate layer 14 is advantageously made by extruding it into a mould, where a glassy surface is achieved for it, and it therefore keeps it shape well. To establish the form of the intermediate layer, a com- pression-moulding press may be used as a work stage. The forming of the intermediate layer 14 may also take place by cutting.

In Figure 6, the mattress 10 is wound into a roll R and placed into the inner space R of the hood 15 for storage and safekeeping. The mattress may be used on the seat at all times of temporarily, only, whereby when not in use it is stored on the roll R.

Figure 7 shows, in a cabin of an aeroplane, a seat T on top of the seat surface of which the mattress 10 may be placed from the roll R. The headrest M of the seat T goes in the space G of the hood 15.

Figure 8 shows an embodiment where the mattress extends all the way to the feet of a sleeper. The bevel side e of the mattress 10 goes in connection with the bevel edge f of the end part of the seat T, that is, the foot support P. In this embodiment, the end j of the mattress extends to the feet of the sleeper. In other respects, the embodiments of Figures 1 and 8 correspond with each other.

Advantageously, the mattress 10 comprises, at an acute angle a in relation to its longitudinal axis XI, an edge portion e which matches with the shape f of the edge of the foot support P, that is, the end of the aeroplane seat. In this embodiment of Figure 8, the mattress may be used when turned over on the seats on one side of an aisle on the aeroplane. The shorter model, in the above embodi- ment of Figure 1, may be used on all the seats of the aeroplane when turned over.

Claims

Claims:

1. A mattress (10) for an aeroplane, characterized in that at the end of the mattress (10) there is a hood (15) into the inner space (G) of which the mattress (10) may be wound for storage, and the hood (15) being placeable around a headrest of an aeroplane seat to support the mattress (10) to the seat, and in that

the mattress (10) comprises notches (gl, g2) for seat belts to ensure their trouble-free functioning and to keep the mattress in place in relation to the seat.

2. A mattress (10) as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the mattress (10) features a support (hi) for the lumbar region.

3. A mattress (10) as claimed in claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the mattress (10) has a filler part (h2) at the discontinuity area between the seat part and backrest of the aeroplane seat.

4. A mattress (10) as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the mattress (10) comprises a cover (11) and inside it an intermediate layer (14) and in that the intermediate layer (14) is of a plastic fibre (14a).

5. A mattress (10) as claimed in claim 4, characterized in that the fibre (14a) comprises a hollow inner space (0) and is a ribbon-like extruded structure, whereby

the intermediate layer comprises air space between the fibre ribbon and in that the intermediate layer (14) allows air and moisture to pass through, and is an elastic and breathable structure, and in that the thickness (d) of the in- termediate layer (14) is 20 to 40 mm and it is removable from within the cover (11) of the mattress (10) for separately washing the cover (11) and the intermediate layer (14).

6. A mattress as claimed in claim 4 or 5, characterized in that the cover (11) is formed of a top and bottom part (12a, 12b), and the mattress has fastening means (13a, 13b) with which the mattress is openable and closable for replacing or washing the intermediate layer (14).

7. A mattress (10) as claimed in any one of claims 4 to 6, character i z e d in that the cover (11) is of a 3d fabric that has two surface layers (16, 17) interconnected by fibre arrays (18), whereby the fibre arrays (18) are formed of fishline-type, column-like structures, with air channels being left between the fibre arrays (18), whereby the 3d fabric is airing, allows air and moisture to pass through it, and equalizes a sleeper's surface pressures.

8. A mattress (10) as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a hood (15) is attached at a centre area in relation to the thickness (d) of the mattress, and that it may be turned over (arrow LI) in such a way that the inner surfaces, bottom surface, and top surface (15a, 15b) of its space (G) become, in the turned over state, outer surfaces of the hood (15) and in that the bottom surface and top surface of the hood are both formed of two 3d fabrics, whereby it is form-locked to an adequate degree.

9. A mattress (10) as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the mattress (10) comprises an edge portion at an acute angle (a) in relation to its longitudinal axis XI.

10. A mattress (10) as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the weight of the mattress is between (0.7 to 2 kg) and advantageously less than (1 kg).

11. A mattress (10) as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the bottom edge of the mattress, that is, the end (j), extends to the level of a sleeper's hollow of the knee.

12. A mattress (10) as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the mattress (10) comprises a cover (11) and inside it an intermediate layer (14), and in that the intermediate layer (14) becomes thinner at the seat part towards the end (j).

13. A mattress (10) as claimed in claim 12, characterized in that the intermediate layer (14) becomes linearly thinner towards the end (j).

14. A mattress (10) as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that in connection with the mattress there is a protective slip (S) for the head of a sleeper, and in that on both sides of the hood (15) there is a self-adhesive fastener (W) by means of which the protective slip (S) is removably fastened to the hood (15).