In particular the present invention relates to a self- ventilating and cushioning element such as a plate-like body for mattresses or pillows for example, that is made of latex and can be used in beds, sofas, etc.

It is known that filling bodies, such as the plate-like elements defining the core of a mattress made of latex, consist of a single body of a parallelepiped conformation in which an upper surface set to support the body of a user and a lower surface designed to rest on the bed frame are provided.

These mattresses are obtained by pouring or injecting a suitable foamy material in the liquid state into a mould matching the shape of the filling body to be formed in such a manner that the latex material passes from a liquid/foamy state to a solid state through a final vulcanization step.

By virtue of the particular elastic properties of the material of which the mattress is made, the latter is able to model itself on the user's shape and weight.

In this manner, the prominent and heavy parts of the user's body sink into the upper surface of the mattress in an attempt to keep the user's backbone in a correct horizontal posture.

Likewise, pillows too are made using the same techniques as for mattresses and try to perform the same tasks.

In fact, pillows model themselves based on the weight and conformation of the user's head trying to keep the cervical vertebrae in a correct posture during sleep.

Particularly known and spread in this field are pillows and mattresses having a series of blind holes at the respective lower and/or upper surfaces.

These holes have a regular cylindrical or frustoconical conformation tapering inwardly of the mattress or pillow, to obtain a constantly increasing stiffness on increasing of the user's weight.

In addition, to differentiate the regions of greater density, i. e. the mattress or pillow regions that are usually set to bear the user's greater weight (regions corresponding to the user's shoulders and pelvis), the hole number or diameter is provided to be varied, as well as distribution of said holes.

In this way the cushioning and deforming capability of the upper surface in contact with the user is further improved.

The above described filling bodies made of latex material however have some drawbacks and/or operating limits.

It is to be noted first of all that one of the most frequent problems present in latex-based materials is connected with the fact that these elements tend to internally retain a certain amount of humidity coming from the surrounding environment, due to washing of the pillow or mattress for example, or also coming from the user himself/herself, such as the human body moisture.

While the above described holes enable a better

ventilation of the mattress, pillow, cushion or the like, if the filling body is not constantly and correctly aired, a moisture accumulation is often created that could be unhealthy and also give rise to formation of mould or other similar drawbacks.

On the other hand, the region that is the most subjected to the above drawbacks is the lower surface of the mattress or pillow that usually remains in contact with the bed frame or is in any case less exposed to the air and therefore has a tendency to retain the residual humidity to a higher degree.

Secondly, the products of the known art are not able to differentiate the elastic response of the cushioning element along the thickness of same in a separate a distinct manner depending on the user's weight. In fact, it is to be noted that due to the conformation of said holes, the thickness of the cushioning element cannot be varied in a discrete manner.

In particular, the hole conformation tapering away from the user's support surface, only enables the density of the cushioning element to be increased in an incremental manner as the weight increases.

Consequently, owing to the user's weight the filling body has a tendency to become hollow sometimes causing an excessive sinking of the user's body thereinto.

Under this situation, the user could find himself/herself in a non optimal rest condition.

Accordingly, the present invention aims at making a filling body for mattresses, pillows, cushions, seats or the like that is able to obviate the above mentioned

drawbacks.

In particular, it is a first aim of the invention to make a filling body that can be easily ventilated thereby enabling an easier removal of the residual humidity and, as a result, avoiding problems of unhealthy water stagnation and also generation of moulds and the like.

Actually, the invention aims at enabling a constant, repeated and automatic ventilation in time, without activation of particular procedures or expedients being required.

If is a further aim of the invention to make a filling body to be used in mattresses, pillows, cushions and the like which is capable of varying its elastic response along its thickness in a discrete manner following deformations by compression.

More particularly, it is an aim of the invention to make available a filling body the cushioning feature of which has differentiated density values to adapt itself to any weight force applied by the user irrespective of the support region and the weight value.

The foregoing and still further aims that will become more apparent in the course of the following description are achieved by a filling body for mattresses, pillows, cushions, seats and the like comprising the features set out in claim 1 and in the claims depending thereon.

Further features and advantages will be best understood from the detailed description of a preferred but not exclusive embodiment of a filling element for mattresses, pillows, cushions, seats and the like in accordance with the present invention. This description will be set forth hereinafter with reference to the

accompanying drawings, given by way of non-limiting example, in which: - Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a filling body in accordance with a first embodiment of the invention: - Fig. 2 is an elevation side view in section of the filling body for mattresses in accordance with a first embodiment in a use condition; - Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a filling body in accordance with a second-embodiment of the present invention; - Fig. 4 is an elevation side view in section of the filling body shown in Fig. 3 in a use condition; - Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic view of a construction detail of an alveolus; - Figs. 6a and 6b are diagrammatic views of a filling body in accordance with a second embodiment of the invention; - Figs. 7a, 7b, 7c show three different configurations in succession of a blind alveolus present in the filling body in accordance with the invention; and - Figs. 8a, 8b and 8c show three successive configurations of a through alveolus present in a filling body in accordance with the invention.

With reference to the drawings, a filling body for mattresses, pillows, cushions, seats and the like in accordance with the invention has been generally identified by reference numeral 1.

It. is to be noted first of all that the filling body in accordance with the invention is generally used to make mattresses (see Fig. 1) or pillows (see Fig. 3) or also other elements such as cushions, seats or the like, by merely covering the filling body with suitable cloths or covers.

Generally, the filling body is defined by a support 8 of deformable material preferably comprising latex and/or polyurethane-based materials and/or elastic foams. It is however apparent that any type of material adapted to put the present invention into practice and to support a user could be advantageously used.

Support 8 has at least one upper surface 2 and a lower surface 3 opposite to the preceding one.

As shown in Figs. 1 and 3 these upper and lower surfaces 2,3 can be the user's support surface and the surface bearing on the bed frame, respectively.

It is also to be pointed out that the upper surface 2 and/or lower surface 3 have a plurality of holes 5.

Clearly, distribution of these holes on said surfaces can be of any nature, regular or irregular, depending on the product requirements. In fact it is well apparent that by increasing or decreasing the number of holes 5 in the support 8, the weight and deformability of the support itself are reduced, depending on the functions to be fulfilled by a given region of the mattress, pillow, cushion.

In more detail as regards the shape of holes or alveoli 5, at least one of said holes (and preferably a plurality of same), along an axial extension axis 10 thereof, must have at least two consecutive portions 5a, 5b, 5c provided with different cross-section widths.

Obviously, the section width variation will be apparent at the location where it occurs and will not be defined by continuous section variations in the alveolus (such as alveoli 7 in Fig. 2).

Actually, it is to be noted that the filling body 1 in accordance with the invention can have a series of alveoli 5 having shapes different from each other.

For example, shown in Fig. 2 are blind alveoli of frustoconical shape 7, whereas in Fig. 4 at the upper and lower peripheral regions 3a, 3b of the pillow, through and blind cylindrical alveoli alternated with each other 7 are shown.

Looking at Fig. 2 it is possible to see that alveoli 5 consisting of three consecutive portions (5a, 5b, 5c) of decreasing widths starting from the upper surface 1 of support 8 towards the inside of the filling element, can be used.

As can be seen, all holes 5 reproduced in Fig. 2 are blind holes, i. e. alveoli bringing the upper surface 2 into fluid communication with the inside of the support element 8, but not with the lower surface 3; in the same manner there are alveoli bringing the lower surface 3 into fluid communication with the inside of support 8, but not with the upper surface 2.

In particular, Fig. 5 shows a first type of alveolus in accordance with the present invention, to an enlarged scale.

In addition to the already described elements, there is also the presence of two transition regions denoted at 6 and separating the consecutive portions 5a, 5b, 5c.

These transition regions 6 can be identified by sudden section variations of the alveolus as shown in Figs. 2, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 7c, 8a, 8b and 8c, or can consist of frustoconical cross variations as shown in the example in

Fig. 5.

In the embodiments shown, portions 5a, 5b and 5c first of all show an axial symmetry around the longitudinal- extension axis 10 and generally have a cylindrical conformation with a circular cross section.

In this connection it is to be pointed out that said alveoli are obtained by use of bulging bodies associated with either mould half and conforming in shape to that of the alveolus during the latex-injection step. Sometimes these bulging bodies define a lead-in portion at the upper and/or lower surfaces 2,3 of the filling body.

Said lead-in portions constitute transition regions usually tapered towards the true first portion 5a. (The same lead-in portions can be also present in alveoli as those in Fig. 5, although they have not been shown).

As visible from Fig. 4 and in Figs. 6a and 6b, the support 8 can have at least one, and preferably a plurality of said holes 5 in a through form, i. e. such formed as to bring the upper surface 2 into fluid communication with the lower surface 3.

Generally, the through alveoli 5 will consist of the union of two alveoli of the previously mentioned type, one starting from the upper surface 2, the other from the lower surface 3 and having the third portion 5c in common.

In other words, the through hole 5 comprises at least three consecutive portions which are provided with different widths along their axial-extension axis 10e following a course contemplating the presence of a first portion (5a or 5b) of larger width than the second

portion 5c ; the further portion 5a, 5b, still moving along the extension axis in the same way, will also have a larger width with respect to the second portion 5c.

The embodiments of the through holes 5 in any case always show the presence of five consecutive portions provided with different widths that are symmetrically disposed with respect to a central median plane 11 of the filling body (see Fig. 8a).

Obviously, starting both from the upper surface 2 and from the lower surface 3 it is possible to see, in the following order, a first portion 5a of greater diameter than the second portion 5b, in turn of greater diameter than the third portion 5c; at this point, still moving on, the presence of a further portion 5b of greater diameter than portion 5c is noticed, and then a last portion 5a of greater diameter than the preceding one.

In terms of conformation, the two alveoli joined together and forming a through hole 5 will be positioned at the same transverse region Z of the deformable support 8, as shown in Figs. 6a and 6b.

Obviously, the through holes will be provided with a single joint and through third portion 5c and in the embodiment shown the alveoli 5 in an undeformed condition of the support, will be symmetric with respect to the central median plane 11.

The particular way of working of alveoli 5 in accordance with the invention is now examined. It is to be pointed out first of all that, following a compression on an alveolus, generation of a greater pressure within the same alveolus begins, which pressure in turn involves production of an air flow on increasing of the

compression forces.

It is also apparent that due to the presence of sections becoming increasingly smaller, a further pressure increase and an acceleration of the air flow occurs.

Looking in particular at Figs. 7a, 7b and 7c, the effects of a compression having an increasingly stronger force (identified by the sizes of the respective arrows placed at the upper part) are therein highlighted; the alveolus starts from an undeformed configuration (Fig. 7a) until generating an air flow due to pressure increase, which air flow will first run within the alveolus (Fig. 7b) and, beyond a given pressure level, will begin passing through the porosities of the material of which the filling body 1 is made.

As can be viewed from the diagram in Fig. 7c, the greatest flow will be within the alveolus and at the upper region S of the hole 5 itself. The above is due in particular to the presence of the partition between the upper and lower alveoli that at least partly prevents air circulation in the lower portion I.

Vice versa, by applying the same force to a through alveolus or hole 5, a completely different aerodynamic situation is obtained.

Referring particularly to Fig. 8c, it can be noted that upon an increase in compression, an air flow and a pressure increase internally of the alveolus 5 is generated; the presence of a central through portion 5c enables the air flow to reach the lower region I of the alveolus that is usually in contact with the bed frame and therefore the flow is forced to pass through the deformable material constituting the support 8 exactly at

the lower portion I.

Particularly advantageous is the situation in which there is an alternation of through and blind holes, as shown in Figs. 6a and 6b.

This arrangement, following a compression on the alveoli, enables the upper S and lower I portions to be alternately aired so as to involve a better removal of the possibly present humidity.

The invention achieves important advantages.

First of all and as above mentioned, the particular configuration of the alveoli and arrangement of same internally of the filling body of mattresses, cushions, pillows and the like enables achievement of a better ventilation of the deformable support at each of its regions causing the residual humidity to be more easily removed by the only mere use of the mattress, cushion, pillow, etc.

In this connection it is to be pointed out that said alveoli behave like ventilating elements that are activated each time the filling body is submitted to any deformation.

In addition, still due to the geometrical configuration of said alveoli, the density of the rest surface can be differentiated in a discrete manner (so as to adapt itself to the weight), thereby allowing a correct positioning of the user's body.

It will be recognized that the user's body does not sink into the filling body 1 in an undifferentiated manner, but it is supported by the different spring reactions of

the element 1 itself due to the different regions of different density. In fact, the density of the filling element is the result of the particular conformation of holes 5.

Portions 5a, 5b, 5c have different sections and therefore different resistance to pressure, so that each portion, along its thickness, can be deformed based on a predetermined pressure value.

In this way, when a certain pressure is applied to the upper surface 2, the proximal portion 5a which is the widest and therefore has less resistance, is submitted to a great deformation along the longitudinal extension 10 of the portion itself until region 6 dividing the portion 5a from the consecutive median portion 5b is reached.

Obviously the second portion 5b will be submitted to much smaller deformations.

However, should the pressure exerted on the upper surface be high, the median portion 5b too will be fully deformed until region 6 dividing the median portion 5b from the distal portion 5c.

Assuming that a very high pressure is exerted, the distal portion 5c too will be greatly deformed.

In other words, three density levels are defined that correspond to portions 5a, 5b, 5c each having a value of deformability of itself.

For example, with reference to Fig. 2, the body parts of user A having greater weight appear to be supported at the median 5b or distal 5c portions, whereas the lighter body parts lie on a level close to the upper surface 2.

Likewise, also in the case shown in Fig. 4 the regions of greater weight of the head are supported at a distal level from the rest surface 2, whereas the lighter ones (such as the neck) are supported at a level close to the upper surface 2.

Therefore, advantageously, the user's backbone is always maintained substantially horizontal ;- whereas the heavier parts such as the pelvis or shoulders of user A penetrate until close to the median or distal portions.