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Patent Searching and Data


Title:
OVERLAY MATTRESS AND METHOD OF VENTILATING A BED USING SUCH A MATTRESS
Document Type and Number:
WIPO Patent Application WO/2011/093762
Kind Code:
A1
Abstract:
A mattress pad has a core (11,12) in a quilted mattress cover (16, 17, 19). The core comprises at least one unit consisting of two outer layers (13,14) and vertical monofilaments (10) extending between the outer layers and fixed thereto. The core allows air to move laterally, meaning that the mattress transports moisture away from the body laterally. The movements of the sleeper act as a pump. Also included is a method of ventilating a bed with a person lying thereon using such a mattress pad and blowing air into the same.

Inventors:
SCHOERLING STEFAN (SE)
Application Number:
PCT/SE2011/000001
Publication Date:
August 04, 2011
Filing Date:
January 02, 2011
Export Citation:
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Assignee:
HASTA GROUP AB (SE)
SCHOERLING STEFAN (SE)
International Classes:
A47C27/00; A47C21/04
Domestic Patent References:
WO2007034311A22007-03-29
Foreign References:
DE20314109U12003-12-04
EP1775362A12007-04-18
US5589245A1996-12-31
AT349681B1979-04-25
FR2926014A12009-07-10
US20070261548A12007-11-15
EP1775362A12007-04-18
Other References:
See also references of EP 2531076A4
Attorney, Agent or Firm:
ÅSLUND, Roland (Box 99, Krylbo, SE)
Download PDF:
Claims:
Claims

1. Mattress pad with a quilted mattress cover (16,17,19) and a removable core (11 , 12),

characterised in that

the core comprises a unit (11 , 12) with two outer layers (13, 14) and monofilaments (10) extending between the outer layers.

2. Mattress pad according to claim 1 , characterised in that the core comprises two or more units (11 , 12) arranged one on top of the other.

3. Mattress pad according to claim 1 or claim 2, characterised in that the core (11 , 12) is reinforced at the edge so that it is dimensionally stable.

4. Mattress pad according to claim 1 or claim 2, characterised in that the edges (24) of the outer layers of each unit (11 , 12) of the core are reinforced so that the edge of the unit is dimensionally stable.

5. Mattress pad according to claim 3, characterised in that the edges (24) of the unit are compressed together or fused together.

6. Mattress pad according to claim 4, characterised in that the welded edges (24) of the outer layers have Velcro strips (25) by means of which two units (11 , 12) arranged one on top of the other are fixed together.

7. Mattress pad according to claim 2, characterised in that one of the units (11 , 12) of the core has monofilaments having a larger diameter than another unit.

8. Mattress pad according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the mattress cover (16,17,19) has ventilating sides (19).

9. Mattress pad according to any one of claims 1-7, characterised in that the

mattress cover (16,17,19) has airtight sides (19) and a connection for an air supply.

10. Method of ventilating a bed with a person lying thereon, characterised in that a mattress pad according to claim 9 is used and air is blown into the mattress.

1 . Method according to claim 10, characterised in that treated air is blown in.

12. Method according to claim 11 , characterised in that oxygen-enriched air is blown in.

Description:
Overlay mattress and method of ventilating a bed using such a mattress

Field of the invention

The invention relates to a mattress pad with a quilted mattress cover and a removable core. The invention also relates to a method of ventilating a bed with a person lying thereon.

Background of the invention and brief description of the invention

The human body produces a lot of moisture in the course of a night's sleep. This can be up to 1 litre of water. In most mattress pads, the moisture cannot be transported away laterally to any great extent and so the moisture remains and accumulates under the sleeper. The pad then takes a long time to dry out in the morning. Known mattress pads do not usually have a removable core and, if they do, the core is not washable.

EP 1 775 362 describes a thick foam mattress comprising a bonded unit consisting of two outer layers and monofilaments extending between the outer layers.

The aim of the invention is to provide a mattress pad which is easily washable and hygienic and leads to fewer mites while also providing improved comfort. This is achieved in that the core comprises a unit with two outer layers and monofilaments extending between the outer layers. Several thin units of this kind are advantageously arranged one on top of the other.

Brief description of the drawings

Figure 1 is a section through a mattress pad according to the invention.

Figure 2 is an enlarged detail from Figure 1.

Description of illustrated and preferred embodiment of the invention

Figure 1 shows a core consisting of two units 11 , 12. The unit 11 is shown separately in Figure 2. It has two outer layers 13, 14 and vertical monofilaments 10 are fixed between the outer layers. The monofilaments may consist of polyester or polyamide and may in principle be fishing gut woven into the outer layers and extending to and fro between them, i.e. the monofilaments extend vertically between the outer layers. The monofilaments are arranged sparsely and occupy only a small percentage of the surface. The outer layers 13, 14 allow for both the transportation of moisture and the passage of air. The unit 11 is in principle known per se from EP 1 775 362. Each unit is reinforced at the edge, as will be seen most clearly from Figure 2, in that the edge 24 of the unit is compressed and fused so that it is dimensionally stable. The edge moreover has a sewn-on trim 25 and an adhesive fastening strip 23 of the Velcro type. The two units 11 , 12 are fixed together by means of this Velcro strip 23. The core made up of the two units 11 , 12 therefore has a dimensionally stable edge. Instead of reinforcing the edges of each individual unit 11 , 12, they can be compressed and fused together so that the two units 11 , 12 will not come apart.

The units 11 , 12 are inserted into a casing, i.e. a mattress cover, consisting of two quilted layers 16, 17 joined together by one circumferential side 19. The quilted layers 16, 17 consist of two top layers of material 20, 21 with a filling 22 in between. The filling consists of fibres, e.g. polyester fibres or silk fibres. The casing has a zip fastener along its side 19. The side 19 is woven as a net and thus has good ventilating properties.

The quilted layers 16,17 may be different so as to give one warm and one cool side. They may both be of different thicknesses and have a different filling and material. The two units 11 , 12 of the core may have monofilaments of different diameters so that one unit is firmer than the other. The units may also have different thicknesses. When constructing a mattress pad, it is possible to have, e.g. three different units with different degrees of firmness to choose from and then to make up a mattress pad with the desired firmness and thickness. By selecting units with different degrees of firmness, it is possible to obtain a mattress pad with different properties depending on the side selected to go on the top. With a few units for the core and a few mattress covers, it is thus possible to provide mattress pads with a wide variation of properties. A suitable thickness for each unit of the core is 10-25 mm and the thickness of the quilt may advantageously also be 10-25 mm. By providing several thin units in the core, it is possible to achieve better comfort than in the case of one single thicker unit.

The upper quilt 16 takes a lot of moisture from the body and when the sleeper moves so that the core 11 , 12 moves, the thin quilt can dry out relative to the core, which does not offer any resistance to the lateral movement of air. Each movement by the sleeper results in moist air in the core being moved laterally. The mattress pad does not transport moisture down to the underlying mattress to the same extent as conventional mattresses and the bed dries out quickly in the morning. It is also conceivable for there to be an airtight layer on the lower quilt. The layer below the core, i.e. the quilt 17, then acts as a moisture absorbent allowing for drying out, but not allowing moisture to penetrate down to the underlying mattress.

The construction of the core 11 , 12 also allows for the connection of a fan for blowing or sucking air laterally through the core. There is then an airtight side 19 on the mattress cover and a connection (not shown) is provided on the side 19 for the fan air. The surfaces of the elements do not have to be airtight as it is an advantage for the quilt also be ventilated. The ventilating air can be pre-heated or pre-cooled and the ventilating unit can be mounted on the underside of the bed. The ventilating air may be treated, e.g. cooled or heated, to provide comfort. In a hospital environment, the air can be enriched with oxygen, e.g. for burns patients in order to improve healing.

As a result of the fact that the mattress ventilates away moisture, there is no suitable environment for mites and as it does not in itself contain any allergens and is easily washable, it is hygienic and suitable for persons with allergies. The core of the mattress pad can be removed from the mattress cover in a simple manner and the cover washed in the washing machine. The core can be washed in a simple manner in the shower. There is therefore no harm done if a young child has an accident. The entire mattress is simply washed and it then dries quickly.