Abstract:
A mattress for a baby or infant is provided that includes a base section and at least a first insert, wherein the first insert has an anatomically shaped surface for receiving the head of the baby or infant. The first insert is positionable at multiple positions and/or orientations with respect to the base section, whereby at each position the anatomically shaped surface is disposed at a different distance from a foot end of the base section.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention relates to bedding apparatus, and more particularly relates to mattresses with enhanced body positioning. 
         [0002]    WO01/00064 discloses a unit for supporting a baby. The unit includes a supporting surface. The surface is shaped so that when a baby is supported on the surface, the baby&#39;s normal anatomical cervical spine curvature is maintained. The supporting surface may have first and second parts, the first part being adapted to accommodate the head, and the second part being adapted to accommodate the remainder of the body of the baby. The first and second parts may be disposed relative to one another so as to support the back of the baby&#39;s head in a position posterior to the upper part of the remainder of the baby&#39;s body. The first part may define a cavity. The supporting surface may be surrounded by a peripheral wall. The unit may be a mattress but could also be a chair. 
         [0003]    It is well established that it is undesirable for persons to experience overheating while sleeping, and the especially so in the case of babies and small children, whether in a bed, cot, Moses basket, etc. The human body is a heat source and, when surrounded by bedding materials, will experience overheating if the heat is not allowed to dissipate. In this respect, GB-A-2412062 discloses a mattress with surface channels to improve heat dissipation. 
         [0004]    In U.S. Pat. No. 4,536,906 there is disclosed a mattress for children with a removable insert at the head end. The insert has a plurality of perforations extending from its top face to its bottom face that reduce the risk of suffocation. The perforations are provided in the insert, enabling replacement of the insert when it is soiled and requires washing. 
         [0005]    However, a problem with known mattresses is that they are designed for an infant at a certain age or size, or a particular small range of ages/sizes. They do not provide a means of varying the size (length) of the supporting surface, thus facilitating use with an infant of ever growing size. In particular, previous proposals do not provide such variable size support surface, while permitting the infant&#39;s feet always to be positioned at or close to the end of the mattress or foot of the bed, which can benefit the infant&#39;s sleep. 
         [0006]    There is a need for a mattress that overcomes the aforementioned problems and provides improved body positioning on an infant mattress. 
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    The present invention provides a mattress for a baby or infant, comprising: a base section, and at least a first insert, the first insert having an anatomically shaped surface for receiving the head of the baby or infant; wherein said first insert is positionable at multiple positions and/or orientations with respect to the base section, whereby at each position said anatomically shaped surface is disposed at a different distance from a foot end of the base section. 
         [0008]    Preferably, the base section has a first upper surface portion for supporting the body of the baby or infant, the base section having an axis of elongation. 
         [0009]    Preferably, said first upper surface portion is disposed at or near the foot end of the base section. 
         [0010]    Preferably, an elongate axial recess is defined between said first upper surface portion and a head end of said base section, opposite said foot end. 
         [0011]    In one embodiment, said recess is shaped and dimensioned for receiving two or more inserts. However, three or more inserts could be used. 
         [0012]    Preferably, there are provided at least a first and second inserts, the or each insert having a further upper surface portion. Preferably, the further upper surface portions are substantially coplanar, when positioned in said recess, with a first upper surface portion on said base section. 
         [0013]    Preferably, said first insert is positionable adjacent the first upper surface portion. 
         [0014]    Preferably, said first insert is positionable axially separated from the first upper surface portion by said second insert. 
         [0015]    Preferably, the first insert has symmetrically disposed lower projections, whereby said first insert is positionable in a first orientation and a second orientation, the second orientation being rotated 180 degrees about a vertical axis with respect to the first orientation. 
         [0016]    Preferably, said first and further upper surface portions are provided with surface channels. 
         [0017]    Preferably, said anatomically shaped surface comprises a channel of concave cross-section. Preferably, said channel of concave cross-section has a direction of elongation extending transverse to the head-to-foot direction. 
         [0018]    Preferably, said first and second inserts have one or more lower projections. Preferably, said recess has receiving recesses, each for receiving a lower projection of an insert. Preferably, the lower projections and receiving recesses extend transverse to the head-to-foot direction. Preferably, said lower projections and receiving recesses are of (i) rectangular or (ii) hemispherical cross-section. 
         [0019]    An advantage of the present invention is that a supporting surface of variable length extending from foot end of the base section may be provided. This enables a suitable sleeping surface to be provided while the baby or infant grows in size, while enabling the beneficial effect of the baby touching, or having feet near to, the foot of the mattress and thus the cot endwall or other reassuring surface. 
         [0020]    A further advantage of the invention is that an infant&#39;s sleep may be enhanced not only by the supine position provided by the anatomically shaped surface, but also by the positioning of the feet. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0021]    Embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: 
           [0022]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a mattress in accordance with one embodiment of the invention, in a first configuration; 
           [0023]      FIG. 2  shows the mattress of  FIG. 1 , in the transition from the first to a second configuration; and 
           [0024]      FIG. 3  illustrates the mattress of  FIG. 1  in the second configuration; 
           [0025]      FIG. 4  shows the mattress of  FIG. 1 , in the transition from the second to a third configuration; 
           [0026]      FIG. 5  shows in cross section the lower projections and receiving recesses, in a second embodiment of the mattress according to the invention; and 
           [0027]      FIG. 6  is a side view of the mattress when in the First configuration of  FIG. 1 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0028]    As used herein, “mattress” is taken to mean any type of resilient object for supporting a young child or baby, and which includes, among other things, mattresses for traditional beds, cots, cribs, bassinets, prams, pushchairs, or for Moses baskets, seats of various kinds, and so on. In this respect, although the invention is advantageously employed for children of various ages, it is particular beneficial for babies and children up to the age of about 3 years. At the same time, the invention would provide similar benefits to adult users when embodied in an adult-size mattress. 
         [0029]    Construction of the mattress may be as set out in GB-A-2412062, except as described hereinafter. 
         [0030]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a mattress in accordance with one embodiment of the invention, in a first configuration. In this example, the mattress is designed for a very young child or baby. In this embodiment, the mattress (generally designated  2 ) has a rectangular base section  4  and has generally planar sidewalls  6 , and head and foot walls  8 ,  10  respectively. As can be seen, the mattress  2  has an axis of elongation, partially indicated at  12 . Suitably, the mattress  2  may be made of polymer foam, or other suitable material, as is well known in the art in the manufacture of mattress/cushion products, and shaped using conventional injection moulding techniques. Also, the mattress in accordance with the invention is suitable enclosed within a fabric cover (not shown). Preferably, this cover is made of an air-permeable, heat-porous, antibacterial non-woven fabric. 
         [0031]    In this embodiment, the mattress  2  comprises three sections arranged along the axis of elongation  12 : a base section  4 , a first insert  16  and a second insert  18 . In the first insert  16 , part is “scooped out” to provide a transversely extending channel or anatomically shaped surface  26  of generally concave cross-section: this helps to maintain the person lying on the mattress in a supine position, with the head supported but movable from side to side. In use, a first upper surface portion  24  on the base section  14  supports the body of the person (e.g. baby or young child), and anatomically shaped surface  26  on the first insert  16  supports the head of the person. 
         [0032]    Also provided on the first insert  16  is a secondary upper surface portion  28 , which is, for example, half the size of first upper surface portion  24 . Finally, in this embodiment, a second insert  18  has a further upper surface portion  29 . 
         [0033]    There is provided on the surface portions  24 ,  26 ,  28  of the base section  14 , and of the inserts  16 ,  18 , respectively, a pattern of surface channels  30 . The surface channels  30  are elongate channels that may extend in a straight or curved manner, and may have a U-shaped, or (part-) circular, elliptical, square, rectangular (or any other suitable) cross-sectional profile. Suitably, the cross-sectional dimensions of the surface channels  30  are about 4 to 15 mm in width and about 4 to 15 mm in depth. Suitably, each surface channel  30  is separated from an adjacent surface channel on the surface by about 5 to 20 mm. However, it will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that other shapes and dimensions, as alternatives to the above, may be employed, while producing the same of similar effects. 
         [0034]    As seen in  FIG. 1 , in this first configuration, a relatively short supporting surface for a baby or infant is provided by first upper surface portion  24  between anatomically shaped surface  26  and footwall  10 . The latter can be placed up against the foot of a cot or other wall, to limit the movement in direction  12  from head to foot and provide something for the baby&#39;s feet to contact. 
         [0035]      FIG. 2  shows the mattress of  FIG. 1 , in the transition from the first to a second configuration. Here, the first insert  16  is lifted out. As can bee seen, lower projections  31  are removed from receiving recesses  33  in the base recess  35 . As the lower projections  31  removed from receiving recesses  33  are of the same size and are symmetrically positioned, the first insert can simply be rotated  180  degrees and refitted back into the base recess  35 , to provide a second configuration of the mattress  2 . 
         [0036]      FIG. 3  illustrates the mattress of  FIG. 1  in the second configuration. In this second configuration, a supporting surface  37  of a second length is provided for a baby or infant—by the combination of first upper surface portion  24  and surface portion  28 —between anatomically shaped surface  26  and footwall  10 . Again, the latter can be placed up against the foot of a cot or other wall, to limit the movement in direction  12  from head to foot and provide something for the baby&#39;s feet to contact. 
         [0037]      FIG. 4  shows the mattress of  FIG. 1 , in the transition from the second to a third configuration. Here both first insert  16  and second insert  18  are lifted out. The two inserts have identical lower projections  31 , and the receiving recesses  33 . The first insert  16  is again rotated  180  degrees, so that the anatomically shaped surface  26  thereof is closer to the foot end  10  than secondary upper surface portion  28 , and the positions of the first and second inserts  16 ,  18  is reversed. Thus, the second insert  18  is fitted into the base recess  35  adjacent the first upper surface portion  24 . 
         [0038]    In this third configuration, a supporting surface  39  of a third length is provided for a baby or infant—by the combination of first upper surface portion  24  and surface portion  29 —between anatomically shaped surface  26  and footwall  10 . Again, the latter can be placed up against the foot of a cot or other wall, to limit the movement in direction  12  from head to foot and provide something for the baby&#39;s feet to contact. 
         [0039]    It will be appreciated that a fourth configuration (not shown) may be provided by starting from the third configuration ( FIG. 4 ), lifting out the first insert  16 , rotating it 180 degrees, and reinserting it into the base recess  35 . 
         [0040]      FIG. 5  shows in cross section the lower projections and receiving recesses, in a second embodiment of the mattress according to the invention, in which the lower projections  31 ′ have a rounded (e.g. hemispherical) cross-section, and the receiving recesses  33 ′ have a corresponding shape. 
         [0041]      FIG. 6  is a side view of the mattress when in the first configuration of  FIG. 1 , in which the lower projections  31  have a rectangular (e.g. square) cross-section, and the receiving recesses  33  have a corresponding shape. The size, disposition and exemplary number of surface channels  30  are also illustrated. 
         [0042]    In preferred embodiments, the general configuration of the mattress  2  is a wedge shape. Thus, the body section  14  has an upward incline as you move along the centreline  12  from the foot to the head of the person; and the height of the mattress may be greater at the head (h) than at the foot (f). The mattress itself may be disposed on a horizontal surface, or slight incline, as shown. 
         [0043]    Although a mattress  2  with two inserts  16 ,  18  has been described, it will be appreciated that three,  4  or more may be used. It will further be appreciated that, in order to enable the rate at which anatomically shaped surface  26  moves away from the foot wall  10  to be smaller (i.e. smaller steps used), the insert  16  shown may be used in conjunction with one or more smaller sized inserts (not shown), e.g. having a length in the direction of elongation  12  of 0.1×to 0.5×the size in that direction of first insert  16 , with more receiving recesses  33  provided, and spaced accordingly.