AU2003252640A1

AU2003252640A1 - Infant bedding accessory

Info

Publication number: AU2003252640A1
Application number: AU2003252640A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Joseph Saggio
Original assignee: HEAVENLY DREAMS Pty Ltd
Current assignee: HEAVENLY DREAMS Pty Ltd
Priority date: 2002-10-03
Filing date: 2003-10-02
Publication date: 2004-04-22
Also published as: AU2009202044A1; AU2002951814A0; AU2003252640A8

Description

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION STANDARD PATENT Applicant(s): HEAVENLY DREAMS PTY LTD Invention Title: INFANT BEDDING ACCESSORY The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me/us: 2 INFANT BEDDING ACCESSORY Field of the Invention This invention relates to an infant bedding accessory against which an infant can lie when resting in a bed, such as a cot, bassinette or the like. The accessory is typically in the form of a cot bumper, whether flat or high-back, a cot mattress, bassinette mattress, cradle mattress, Malmo mattress, Jenny Lyn mattress or the like.

Background Art The use of bumpers and some forms of mattresses in bedding for infants has thought to have been a contributor to sudden infant death syndrome. Therefore, considerable care is needed to be taken in the design and use of such articles for infants.

Summary of the Invention The object of the present invention is to provide an accessory which reduces the likelihood of sudden infant death syndrome.

The invention provides an infant bedding accessory, including: a body portion against which a head of an infant is able to rest; and a plurality of holes extending through the body portion so that air is able to flow through the accessory to reduce the likelihood of suffocation of the infant.

The provision of the holes through the accessory, such as a mattress or the like, enables air to flow to the vicinity of the infants face when the infant is resting on the accessory, and this therefore reduces the likelihood of suffocation due to the infant's face becoming embedded or pushed hard against the mattress, which would otherwise reduce or eliminate air flow to the infant.

\\melb_files\home$\Luisa\Keep\Speci\Heavenly Dreams Prov Infant Bedding Accessory.doc 1/10/03 3 Preferably the holes are substantially circular in crosssection and have a diameter of 2 to 3 centimetres.

Preferably the holes are separated by a distance of about 2 to 4 centimetres.

Preferably the accessory is covered by an outer air pervious cover.

Preferably the accessory is formed from polyester or foam.

In one embodiment the accessory is a mattress for a cot, bassinette or cradle.

In another embodiment the accessory is a cot bumper.

Brief Description of the Drawings A preferred embodiment of the invention will be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a mattress embodying the invention; Figure 2 is a partial cross-section of the mattress of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a side view of a mattress in an outer cover; Figure 4 is a schematic view of a bumper according to one embodiment of the invention; Figure 5 is a view of a pressing plate used to form the mattress of Figure 1; and Figure 6 is a schematic side view showing operation of the pressing plate of Figure Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments With reference to Figure 1, a mattress 10 is shown which may be for a cot, cradle or bassinette. The mattress is \\melb_files\home$\Luisa\Keep\Speci\Heavenly Dreams Prov Infant Bedding Accessory.doc 1/10/03 4 therefore preferably in the form of a cot mattress, bassinette mattress, cradle mattress, Malmo mattress, or a Jenny Lyn mattress. The exact outer periphery shape of the mattress shown in Figure 1 is rectangular, but obviously the outer peripheral shape can change depending on the article with which the mattress is intended to be used.

The mattress 10 has a body portion 12 which is formed from polyester or foam. The mattress has an upper side 14 against which an infant will rest when lying on the mattress, a bottom side 16, and peripheral sides 18.

The mattress 10 has a plurality of holes 20 which extend all the way through the mattress from the side 14 to the side 16. The holes are preferably circular in crosssection and have a diameter of 2 to 3 centimetres and are spaced apart by a distance of about 2 to 4 centimetres.

The holes 20 enable air to flow from beneath the mattress adjacent side 16 to the upper surface 14 of the mattress sothat if an infant's face becomes embedded against the mattress, air is able to flow to the infant through the holes 20, thereby greatly reducing the likelihood of suffocation due to the infant's face being pushed hard against the mattress As is shown in Figure 3, the mattress 10 is provided with a conventional outer cover 30 which is formed from cotton or other air pervious material so that air is easily able to flow through the cover 30 and the holes 20 to an infant resting on the mattress.

Typically, the mattress has a length of 130 cm, a width of 68 cm and a thickness of 5 cm if to be used as a cot mattress. In the case of a bassinette mattress, the mattress has a length of 76 cm, a width of 36 cm and a \\melbfiles\hom~e$\Luisa\Keep\Speci\Heavenly D~r-5, Prov infant Bledding 1Aecessory.doc 1/10/03 5 thickness of 5 cm. If the mattress is to be used as a cradle mattress, the mattress has a length of 89 cm, a width of 41 cm and a thickness of 5 cm. If a Malmo mattress, the mattress has a length of about 96 cm, a width of 45 cm and a thickness of 5 cm. If a Jenny Lyn mattress, the mattress has a length of 95 cm, a width of 49 cm and a thickness of 5 cm.

Figure 4 shows a second embodiment of the invention in which the accessory is in the form of a cot bumper The cot bumper 40 is of generally square cross-section having rounded edges 42 and is elongate in nature and designed to curve about the periphery of a cot to protect an infants head from impact with solid walls or edges of the cot. The bumper 40 is provided with a plurality of holes 20 which pass through the bumper from side 42 to side 44. The holes are of the same size and are spaced apart by the same distance as in the embodiment of Figure 1. In this embodiment a second set of holes 20' can extend through the bumper from side 43 to side 44 in a direction perpendicular to the holes 20. Thus, regardless of the surface edge of the bumper against which a baby's face may come to rest, the holes 20 or 20' provide for air flow towards the baby's face, thereby reducing the likelihood of suffocation. The bumper of Figure 4 may be in the form of a flat bumper generally shown in Figure 4 and have a length of 225 cm, a width of 25 cm and a thickness of about 5 cm. Typically, the sides 42 and 44 have the thickness of 25 cm and the sides 43 and 44 have the thickness of 5 cm. Because the sides 43 and 44 are very thin and the bumper is arranged such that the infant's face will not come into contact with those sides, the holes 20' are optional and therefore need not be included if desired. However, the holes 20' provide the possibility of air flow in case the bumper becomes twisted in the bed and the small possibility that the baby's face may become pushed hard against the sides 43 or 44.

\\melb_files\home$\Luisa\Keep\Speci\Heavenly Dreams Prov Infant Bedding Accessory.doc 1/10/03 6 In another embodiment the bumper may be in the form of a high-back bumper similar to that in Figure 4, except having an additional high-back section at the middle part of the bumper.

Figure 5 shows a pressing plate 50 used to form the mattress of Figure 1. The plate 50 has a plurality of cylindrical stems 52 which have cutting knife edges 53 at their lower periphery. The plate 50 is used to sandwich a mattress 10 between a bottom platen 60 (see Figure 6) so that the sleeves 52 can register in holes or sleeves, etc.

in the platen 60. As the sleeves 52 push through the mattress, the mattress is cut to form the holes Since modifications within the spirit and scope of the invention may readily be effected by persons skilled within the art, it is to be understood that this invention is not limited to the particular embodiment described by way of example hereinabove.

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Claims

1. An infant bedding accessory, including: a body portion against which a head of an infant is able to rest; and a plurality of holes extending through the body portion so that air is able to flow through the accessory to reduce the likelihood of suffocation of the infant.

2. The accessory of claim 1 wherein the holes are substantially circular in cross-section and have a diameter of 2 to 3 centimetres.

3. The accessory of claim separated by a distance of about

4. The accessory of claim covered by an outer air pervious

5. The accessory of claim formed from polyester or foam.

6. The accessory of claim a mattress for a cot, bassinette

7. The accessory of claim a cot bumper. 1 wherein the holes are 2 to 4 centimetres. 1 wherein the accessory is cover. 1 wherein the accessory is 1 wherein the accessory is or cradle. 1 wherein the accessory is

8. The accessory of claim 6 wherein the mattress has a first side and a second side, and wherein the holes extend through the mattress from the first side to the second side.

9. A mattress substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 1 to 3 of the accompanying drawings. \\melb_files\home$\Luisa\Keep\Speci\Heavenly Dreams Prov Infant Bedding Accessory.doc 1/10/03 8- A cot bumper substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figuare 4 of the accompanying drawings.

11. An infant bedding accessory substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to any one of the embodiments of the accompanying drawings. \\melbfiles\home$\Luisa\Keep\Speci\Heavenly Dreams Prov Infant Bedding ACcessorydoc 1/10/03