AN ANIMAL MATTRESS

Abstract: An animal mattress particularly suitable for horses and dogs. The mattress is formed from an upper layer (12) and a lower layer (13) which are non-absorbent and porous. Located between the two layers (12, 13) is a fill material (14) which is also non-absorbent. Thus urine is able to pass through the mattress and drain away. Preferably the fill material (14) is resilient.

Description: "AN ANIMAL MATTRESS" TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to bedding and floor covering materials for use by horses and similar animals confined within a stable or like structure. BACKGROUND ART Traditionally, the floors of stables and similar structures have been covered with guantities of straw or wood shavings to provide a clean floor covering and bedding material. These materials, however, suffer from a number of inherent disadvantages. Firstly, materials such as straw and wood shavings must be regularly removed and replaced with fresh material if clean, dry and hygienic conditions are to be maintained. In addition, these materials readily absorb moisture so that urine from animals does not drain away but is retained in the bedding and floor covering material. Another disadvantage is that materials such as straw and wood shavings can contain residual pesticides or bacteria which can have a toxic or other deleterious effect on the animals in contact with the material. Such materials can also contain dust which can cause or aggravate respiratory or allergic conditions in animals. Materials for overcoming some of these disadvantages are described in Australian patent applications numbers 64398/80, 67433/81 and 84511/82. These materials substantially comprise small pieces of paper sheet which are used in place of straw or wood shavings, however, these materials still suffer from the disadvantage of requiring regular replacement. Australian patent number 493,169 discloses a mat for keeping animals without the use of straw. This mat has the advantage that it can be re-used, however, it is moisture insulating and accordingly urine from the animals cannot effectively drain through the material. OBJECT OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a bedding and floor covering material for use by horses and similar animals which will overcome, or substantially OM ameliorate, the above-mentioned disadvantages. DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION According to one aspect of the present invention, there is disclosed a mattress for use by horses and similar 5 animals confined within a stable or like structure, said mattress comprising an upper outer layer and a lower outer layer spaced apart by a non-porous fragmented fill material, said fill material and the material of the said outer layers being moisture permeable and non-absorbent, 10 ' whereby urine from said animals passes through said upper layer and is able to drain away via said lower layer thereby keeping said upper layer substantially dry and permitting said mattress to be cleansed by flushing or hosing with clean water. 15 BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS One embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to the drawings in which: Fig. 1 is a schematic plan view of a mattress of the preferred embodiment; 20 Fig. 2 is a schematic side elevation in the direction . A of the mattress shown in Fig. 1; and Fig. 3 is a schematic sectional view along the line III-III " of the mattress shown in Fig. 1. BEST MODE OF CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION 25 As seen in Figs. 1 to 3, the mattress 10 of the preferred embodiment comprises an upper layer 12 of moisture permeable material joined along a seam 11 to a lower layer 13 of the same material. The upper layer 12 and lower layer 13 are spaced apart by a fragmented fill 3.0 material 14. Three transversely extending dividing seams 16 which join the upper layer 12 and lower layer 13 divide the mattress 10 into four pillow-like sections 15. The dividing seams 16 serve to prevent the fill material 14 from migrating to one area of the mattress 10. 35 The materials forming the upper layer 12, the lower layer 13 and fill material 14 are moisture permeable and non-porous, and the fill material 14 is preferably elastically deformable. Plastics materials are particularly suitable for use as the material for the upper and lower layers 12 and 13 as well as the fill material 14. In this connection, the material forming the upper and lower layers is preferably a plastics mesh or plastics woven material and the fill material 14 is preferably shredded plastics. A suitable material for the upper and lower layers 12 and 13 is sold under the trade name Polyweave F by Sarlon Industries Pty Ltd of Surry Hills, New South Wales. A suitable fill material 14 is shredded waste plastics, for example, shredded carpet backing tape also available from Sarlon Industries Pty Ltd. Other suitable forms of fill material include tubular lengths. of closed cell elastomeric foam materials. Such lengths are often used as insulation for pipes although in this application such lengths are longitudinally slit. Whilst such slit lengths are acceptable, improved resilience is provided by unslit lengths. The elastomeric material can include rubber or plastics foam. Where the tubular foam fill material is used, the sections 15 are preferably dimensioned to receive only a single tube of foam. A still further form of filling material is light-weight plastic coated beads of polyurethane and other similar materials such as are, for example, used to fill "bean bag" furniture. In use, the mattress 10 is laid flat on the floor of a stable or similar structure to provide a floor covering and/or bedding material. The mattress 10 can be manufactured to have dimensions substantially conforming to that of the floor of the stable or similar structure in which it is to be used. Alternatively, a plurality of mattresses 10 of predetermined dimensions can be used to substantially cover the floor of the stable or similar structure. When a plurality of mattresses 10 are used ties or lacing (not illustrated) are provided on the mattresses 10 to secure adjacent mattresses 10 to each other. ' It will be apparent that when the floor of a stable or like structure is covered with a mattress 10, or a plurality of mattresses 10, urine from the animals inhabiting the structure can drain through the permeable upper layer 12, fill material 14, and lower layer 13 to the floor of the structure. Accordingly, if the floor of the structure is suitably designed, the urine can drain out of the structure. In the event that the urine is unable to drain completely away, it drains to the bottom of the fill material 14 to leave the upper portion of the fill material 14 and the upper layer 12 substantially dry. The faeces or droppings of the horses or other animals can be removed daily from the upper layer 12 by means of a small shovel or like implement unless the horse has the scours in which case the faeces can be washed from, or through, the upper layer 12. When the mattress 10 eventually becomes soiled after several days use, it can be cleaned by hosing in situ with clean water and/or removed from the stable for immersion in clean water and/or disinfectant. In a preferred form of the invention, the upper layer 12 and lower layer 13 are permanently joined along three sides of the mattress 10 and releasably joined, for example by a series of press-studs or other conventional fasteners, along the remaining side. Alternatively, the layers 12, 13 can be joined along three sides with the upper layer 12 folded over the remaining open side in the manner of a conventional pillow slip or case. In this way, the fill material 14 can be removed for additional cleaning, replaced, or supplemented as required. It will be apparent that the above described mattress can also be used as a convalescent bed for dogs and similar animals in veterinary surgeries and animal nurseries. In addition, the mattress can also be used in kennels and. the like for domestic pets. It will also be apparent that the mattress described above is quite portable and is therefore particularly suitable for transportation to rodeos, horse shows, gymkhanas and other venues where the owners of horses and other animals are required to provide their own stable floor covering and bedding materials. The foregoing describes only one embodiment of the present invention and modifications, obvious to those skilled in the art, may be made thereto without departing from the scope of the present invention. For example, the dividing seams 16 in the mattress can be replaced by the joining of the upper and lower layers at a predetermined series or pattern of points to give the mattress a quilted appearance and prevent migration of the filling material 14

Claims: CLAIMS 1. A mattress for use by horses and similar animals confined within a stable or like structure, said mattress comprising an upper outer layer and a lower outer layer spaced apart by non-porous fragmented fill material, said fill material and the material of said outer layers being moisture permeable and non-absorbent whereby urine from said animals passes through said upper layer and is able to drain away via said lower layer thereby keeping said upper layer substantiall dry and permitting said mattress to be cleansed by flushing or hosing with clean water. 2. A mattress as claimed in claim 1 wherein said upper outer layer is permanently joined to said lower outer layer along all edges thereof. 3. A mattress as claimed in claim 1 wherein said upper outer layer is permanently joined to said lower outer layer along at least a substantial portion of their respective edges and the remaining portions of said edges are not permanently joined to permit removal, addition or replacement of said fill material. 4. A mattress as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3 wherein said upper outer layer and said lower layer are joined along dividing seams to substantially sub-divide said mattress into a plurality of compartments. 5. A mattress as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3 wherein said upper outer layer and said lower outer layer are joined at a plurality of pre-deter ined locations to substantially fix said fill material within said mattress. 6. A mattress as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5 wherein the material of said upper outer layer and said lower outer layer is selected from the group of materials consisting of mesh plastics material, plastics woven fabric 7. A mattress as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein said fill material comprises shredded plastics strips or pieces. 8. A mattress as claimed in any one of the _ preceding claims wherein said fill material comprises plastics coated particles. O H

Inventors: DAVIES SALLY CARDEN, DAVIES, SALLY, CARDEN
Applicants: DAVIES SALLY CARDEN, DAVIES, SALLY, CARDEN
Application year: 1984
Main classification: A01K1
IPC codes: A01K1