TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention comprises a baby's cradle a mattress.

Cot death occurs when an infant for no apparent reas ceases breathing during sleep. Babies are most prone to cot dea during the first few months of life. It is known that babies fr certain groups in society, or from certain geographical areas, a more prone to cot death but no single factor has been identifi as causing cot death. New Zealand has a high rate of cot death world standards. It is known to be undesirable to place babies sleep on their stomach but this is still done in many cases a older babies are capable of turning during sleep.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

The present invention provides a form of baby's crad and mattress which it is believed will be effective in reducing t incidence of cot death.

In broad terms the invention comprises a baby's crad comprising a cradle base and side and head and foot end walls, ventilation opening in either side wall of the cradle adjacent t head end of the cradle or in the base of the cradle at the head e of the cradle, or ventilation openings both in either side wall a

the base of the cradle at the head end of the cradle, and a ventilation opening at the foot end of the cradle or in either side wall of the cradle adjacent the foot end.

Preferably the base, side walls, and head and foot end walls of the cradle are formed as a one piece moulding from a plastics material.

Preferably the head end ventilation openings are generally circular apertures although they may be any other shape such as oval, square, rectangular or the like. Also, instead of a single opening forming the ventilation opening a number of small apertures including slots could be formed adjacent each other in a grille or pattern. Preferably circular openings are of a diameter in the range 1 to 5 inches and non-circular openings have a cross-sectional area equivalent to a circular opening of diameter l to 5 inches.

The ventilation opening in the foot end of the cradle preferably comprises a single generally rectangular opening of length in the range 4 to 8 inches and depth in the range 1 to 5 inches, and most preferably of length 6 inches and depth 3 inches, or one or more openings of a non-rectangular shape similar to such a rectangular opening, such as two adjacent circular openings for example.

Preferably the cradle also comprises a mattress formed of a compressible material of a structure allowing sufficient air flow through the mattress to enable a baby to breathe through the mattress during sleep, such as a synthetic foam material of a sufficient open cell or porous structure. Preferably the mattress is in the form of a pad shaped to fit snugly within the base of the cradle.

Preferably the mattress is covered with a loose knit overcover which does not restrict a baby's breathing through the mattress.

Preferably the mattress is also accompanied by a pillow formed of a similar material with a similar cover.

DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

The invention will be further described with reference to the accompanying drawings which show a preferred form of the invention by way of example and without intending to be limiting. In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is an expanded view of the preferred form cradle and preferred form mattress and pillow;

Fig. 2 is a view of the preferred form cradle from the other end without the mattress and pillow; and

Fig. 3 shows a section of the preferred form open cell foam material for forming the mattress enlarged 1.55 times.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED FORMS

Referring to the drawings and particularly to Figs 1 and 2, the preferred form cradle 1 has a base 2, side walls 3 and 4, head end wall 5, and foot end wall 6. The cradle is preferably a one piece component, as shown. For example the cradle may be formed from a single sheet of plastics material by vacuum forming. It is preferred that the material from which the cradle is formed is transparent so that the baby can be seen from outside the cradle by a mother in a bed adjacent the cradle for example.

Typically the cradle would be of dimensions about 30 inches long, 15 inches wide, and 11 inches deep, although such dimensions are not intended to be in any way limiting. The cradle has a lip 7 angled downwardly slightly about the top edge of the side walls of the cradle to assist in lifting and carrying the cradle, but this lip is not essential.

In the side walls 3 and 4 of the cradle adjacent the head end are formed ventilation openings 8. In the base of the cradle at the head end is formed a ventilation opening 8a. In the preferred form shown the ventilation openings 8 and 8a are circular and a collar 9 covers the internal edge of each opening as shown in Fig. 1. The ventilation openings 8 are positioned low down in

the side wall of the cradle but above the base 2 so that in use when a mattress is fitted into the cradle the ventilation openings 8 will be at a similar height in the side walls of the cradle to that of a baby's head when placed in the cradle on a mattress. In the preferred form the ventilation openings 8 and 8a are circular of approximately 3 inches diameter, but as indicated previously they could be of any other desired shape and dimension as will allow for air circulation during sleep by the baby.

At the foot end of the cradle in the foot end wall is provided a rectangular ventilation opening 10 which also has a collar 11. The ventilation opening 10 is in the preferred form of dimensions about 6 inches by 3 inches but as indicated previously could be of any other shape and dimensions. Also, instead of the aperture 10 being provided in the foot end wall 6, ventilation openings similar to the ventilation openings 8 in the side walls 3 and 4 adjacent the head end could be provided at the foot end.

The ventilation openings provided in accordance with the invention allow free air circulation on either side of the baby's head, to whichever side the head is turned, and to the baby's head and face from below, and thus unrestricted breathing for the baby. The baby does not breathe in heavy ammonia gases from wet nappies which are believed to be a relevant factor affecting cot death. At the foot end the ventilation opening 10 allows escape of such

gases from within the cradle, without creating a draft over the baby.

In the preferred form cradle the ventilation openings 8 at the side walls of the cradle at the head end, which in use will be positioned adjacent the baby's head, and also the ventilation opening 8a in the base of the cradle at the head end which in use will be positioned beneath the baby's head, are provided, but in other cradles still in accordance with the invention it is possible that the ventilation opening 8a may not be provided with only the ventilation openings 8 on either side, or alternatively that only the ventilation opening 8a may be provided with the ventilation openings 8 on either side not being provided.

To assist air circulation from the ventilation opening 8a through the open cell or porous mattress, a small low volume fan may be provided. As shown in Figs 1 and 2, a small fan may be suitable attached to the underside of the base of the cradle, permanently, or in a removable fashion eg clip-on. The fan could be battery powered or mains powered although battery power is quite suitable. The fan may operate at a low speed for example a 100-400 and most preferably about 200 rp to blow a very gentle flow of air through the aperture 8a into the cradle. It is also possible that the fan could suck air from the cradle out of the ventilation opening.

The fan may have associated with it a timer control arranged to operate the fan periodically for example 20 to 40 seconds every few minutes or at other time spans and intervals. Alternatively the timer control could be arranged to operate the fan for periods of blow followed by periods of suction etc.

The preferred form mattress 12 and pillow 13 are shown in Fig. 1. Typically the mattress 1 would be 3/4 to 2 inches in thickness. The mattress may be formed of any material which is of a sufficient porous construction to allow air flow through the mattress so that a baby may effectively "breathe" through the mattress. The ventilation opening 8a in the base of the cradle assists this. When a baby lies face down on a mattress its breathing can be restricted which is believed to be a relevant factor in cot death. Often mattresses are formed with a plastic covering so that they can be easily cleaned if the baby is sick for example. Suitably the mattress of the invention may be formed of an open cell or exploded foam synthetic material, a section of which is shown in Fig. 3. Preferably the mattress is covered with a soft covering which should not restrict air flow through the mattress, such as an air cell cotton material through which the baby can breath and which can also be easily laundered. The material should be soft as in use sheets are not placed over the mattress but the baby lies directly on the mattress. Sheets placed over the mattress would again restrict air flow through the mattress and defeat the purpose.

A pillow 13 formed of a similar material and perhaps of slightly reduced thickness and with a similar covering may also be provided.

The cradle and mattress of the invention will it is believed reduce the incidence of cot death. It is believed that a baby lying face down on the mattress can still breathe through the porous mattress without restriction, and the side and foot end ventilation openings in the side walls of the cradle allow fresh air flow to the baby and the escape of ammonia or other contaminating gases as explained previously.

The foregoing describes the invention including a preferred form thereof by way of example. Alterations and modifications as will be obvious to those skilled in the art are intended to be incorporated in the scope hereof as defined in the claims.