AU2017100128A4 - A mattress with a hollow - Google Patents

Abstract

A mattress 10 includes a base 12, an upper overlay 14, a lower overlay 16, a mid overlay 18, side bolsters 20.1, 20.2, and a cover layer 22. The base 12 includes an upper body support zone 28, a lower body support zone 30 and a recessed belly support zone 32 which defines a lateral recess 41. The thickness of the base 12 tapers from a thickened region 34 of zone 28 to an opposite narrow head end 40 and tapers from a thickened region 38 of zone 30 to an opposite narrow foot end 36. The overlays 14, 16 overlie the zones 28, 30, respectively and have a tapered thickness. The mid-overlay 18 overlies the recess 41 and defines a laterally extending channel 50. The bolsters 20.1, 20.2 are received in opposite sides of the channel 50 to define a void 51. The layer 22 overlies and conforms to the shape of the overlays 14, 16, 18 and the side bolsters 20.1, 20.2 and is received in the void 51 to form a hollow of a size and shape suitable for receiving the belly of the person. 3057513v1 20 51 '-2020.2 16 452a.1 22 - 18 A4 36 303 1 50 48 FIG. 1B 31 1

Description

A MATTRESS WITH A HOLLOW FIELD OF INVENTION 2017100128 02 Feb 2017 5 This invention relates to a mattress with a hollow for accommodating a belly of a person. In this specification any reference to a "belly of a person" shall be interpreted to include a belly of a pregnant woman or an overweight person and shall furthermore be interpreted sufficiently broadly to include any other protruding body part such as, for example the buttocks of a person. .0

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

According to the invention there is provided a mattress including: .5 a support base having a lower major face upon which the support base is supported, in use, on a substrate surface, a head end, an opposite foot end, and a longitudinal axis extending between the head end and the foot end, the support base including a first support zone for supporting an upper region of a person, a second support zone !0 for supporting a lower region of the person, and a recessed belly support zone, located between the first and second support zones, for support a belly of the person, wherein the support base has a thickness which varies along the longitudinal axis thereof, in an arrangement wherein the support base tapers longitudinally from a thickened region of the first support zone which is disposed adjacent the belly 25 support zone, to an opposite narrow head end region of the support base; and wherein the support base tapers longitudinally from a thickened region of the second support zone which is disposed adjacent the belly support zone, to an opposite narrow foot end region of the support base; 30 a first overlying element which overlies the first support zone, the first overlying element having a tapering thickness which tapers longitudinally from a thick head 1 end region of the first overlying element to an opposite narrow end region thereof which is disposed adjacent the belly support zone of the support base; and 2017100128 02 Feb 2017 a second overlying element which overlies the second support zone, the second 5 overlying element having a tapering thickness which tapers longitudinally from a thick foot end region of the second overlying element to an opposite narrow end thereof which is disposed adjacent the belly support zone of the support base.

The thickened region of the first support zone has a thickness which is greater than a .0 thickness of the thickened region of the second support zone. The thickened regions of the first and second support zones provide additional support to the person at spaced locations of the person, disposed respectively, above and below the belly of the person, when the person is lying on the mattress with the belly of the person supported by the recessed belly support zone. .5

The support base and the first and second overlying elements may be of a supportive resilient material. The support base may provide firmer support that the support provided by the first and second overlying elements. The support base and the first and second overlying elements may be of foam.

SO

The recessed belly support zone may define a laterally extending recess which extends normal to the longitudinal axis of the support base. The laterally extending recess may extend between opposite lateral sides of the support base. The mattress may include a third overlying element which overlies the laterally extending recess and which conforms to the 25 shape of the recess, an upper surface of the third overlying element defining a laterally extending channel. The third overlying element may provide less support compared to the support provided by the support base.

The mattress may include a pair of shaped side bolsters which have lower ends which are 30 shaped to conform to the shape of the channel and which are received in opposite sides of the channel adjacent opposite sides of the support base. The side bolsters may have substantially planar upper ends for supporting the body of the person, said upper ends 2 being disposed opposite the lower ends thereof. As such, the bolsters and the channel together define a void to accommodate the belly of the person. 2017100128 02 Feb 2017

The mattress may further include a top element of supportive resilient material which 5 overlies and conforms to the shape of the first overlying element, the second overlying element, the third overlying element and the pair of side bolsters. The top element may include one or more surfaces for supporting the body of the person. A part of the top element may be received within the void so as to form a hollow of a size and shape suitable for receiving the belly of the person. .0

The mattress may include one or more removable shaped inserts of a shape and size to fit into the hollow of the mattress. More particularly, each insert may have a lower major side having a shape which corresponds to the shape of the hollow and an opposite upper side which defines a substantially planer face. Each removable insert may be of a different size .5 so as to occupy a different volume of the hollow to permit the person to select an appropriate sized insert such that the belly of the person can be comfortably supported by the insert when the belly is inserted into the hollow. A particular one of the inserts may be of a size sufficient to occupy the entire hollow. As such, said particular one of the inserts may fully occupy the entire hollow so as to fill the hollow completely, to A combined thickness of the support base, the overlying elements and the top element may create a visual appearance that the mattress has a substantially uniform thickness.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 25

Further features of the invention are described hereinafter by way of a non-limiting example of the invention, with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying diagrammatic drawings. In the drawings: 30 Figure 1A shows a perspective view of a mattress with a hollow, in accordance with the invention, shown from a side and a head end of the mattress and shown with a removable shaped insert received in the hollow of the mattress; 3

Figure IB shows an exploded perspective view of the mattress of Figure 1A; 2017100128 02 Feb 2017

Figure 2 shows an opposite side view of the mattress of Figure 1, shown with the removable 5 insert removed to reveal the hollow;

Figure 3 shows a sectional view of the mattress of Figure 2, sectioned along section lines Ill-Ill of Figure 2; .0 Figure 4 shows a perspective view of the mattress of Figure 3; and

Figure 5 shows a perspective view of another embodiment of a mattress with a recess, in accordance with the invention .5

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

With reference to Figures 1 to 4 of the drawings, a mattress with a hollow, in accordance with the invention, is indicated generally by the reference numeral 10. Ϊ0 The mattress 10 includes a support base 12, a first overlying element in the form of an upper overlay 14, a second overlying element in the form of a lower overlay 16 and a third overlaying element in the form of a mid-overlay 18. The mattress 10 further includes a pair of shaped side bolsters 20, a top element in the form of a cover layer 22 and a removable shaped insert 24, the purposes of which will be explained hereinbelow. 25 The support base 12 is of a supportive resilient material. More particularly, the support base 12 is of an expanded polyurethane foam having a density of 40 kg/m3. More specifically, the support base 12 is of so-called "40 density Super Soft" foam obtained from Royal palace foam factory LLC, Al Jurf, Ajman, United Arab Emirates. Referring to Figure IB of the drawings, the support base 12 has a longitudinal axis 26 defined along a length of the 30 support base 12 from a foot end 36 of the support base 12 to an opposite head end 40 of 4 the support base 12. The support base 12 has a substantially planar lower major face (not shown) upon which the support base 12 is supported, in use, on a substrate surface. The support base 12 includes a first support zone in the form of an upper body support zone 28 for supporting an upper region of a person; a second support zone in the form of lower 5 body support zone 30 for supporting a lower region of the person; and a third support zone in the form of a recessed belly support zone 32 located between the upper body support zone 28 and the lower body support zone 30, for support a belly of the person. 2017100128 02 Feb 2017

The recessed belly support zone 32 defines a laterally extending recess 41 which extends normal to the longitudinal axis 26 of the support base 12. The laterally extending recess 41 .0 extends between opposite lateral sides 39.1,39.2 of the support base 12.

The support base 12 has a thickness which varies along the longitudinal axis 26 thereof in an arrangement wherein the support base tapers longitudinally from a thickened region 34 of the upper body support zone 28, which is disposed adjacent the belly support zone 32, to .5 the opposite narrow head end 40 of the support base; and longitudinally from a thickened region 38 of the lower body support zone 30, which is disposed adjacent the belly support zone 32, to the opposite narrow foot end 36 of the support base 12.

The thickened region 34 of the upper body support zone 28 has a thickness which is greater i0 than a thickness of the thickened region 38 of the lower body support zone 30.

The upper overlay 14 overlies the upper body support zone 28 and has a tapering thickness which tapers along a longitudinal axis thereof, from a thick head end 42 of the upper overlay 14 to an opposite narrow end 48 thereof which is disposed adjacent the belly support zone 25 32 of the support base 12. The upper overlay 14 is of a supportive resilient material. More particularly, the upper overlay 14 is of a visco-elastic foam available from Royal palace foam factory LLC, Al Jurf, Ajman, United Arab Emirates. The visco-elastic foam of the upper overlay 14 is a so-called "memory" foam which adapts to the shape of the users body when compressed under the weight of the users body and returns to its original shape when not 30 compressed. More specifically, the visco-elastic foam of the upper overlay 14 has a density 5 of 55 kg/m3 and is obtained from Royal palace foam factory LLC, Al Jurf, Ajman, United Arab Emirates. 2017100128 02 Feb 2017

The lower overlay 16 overlies the lower body support zone 30, the lower overlay 16 has a 5 tapering thickness which tapers along a longitudinal axis thereof, from a thick foot end 43 of the lower overlay 16 to an opposite narrow end 44 thereof, which is disposed adjacent the belly support zone 32 of the support base 12. The lower overlay 16 is of a supportive resilient material. More particularly, the lower overlay 16 is of a visco-elastic foam. More specifically, the foam of the lower overlay 16 is of the same memory foam as used for the .0 upper overlay 14.

The mid-overlay 18 overlies the laterally extending recess 41 and conforms to the shape of the recess 41 such that an upper surface of the mid-overlay 18 defines a laterally extending channel 50. The mid-overlay 18 is of a material which provides less support compared to the .5 support provided by the material of the support base 12. The mid-overlay 18 is of a supportive resilient material. More particularly, the mid-overlay 18 is of a visco-elastic foam. More specifically, the mid-overlay 18 is formed of the same memory foam as used for the upper overlay 14. The mid-overlay 18 is of a substantially uniform thickness and has a corner portion thereof removed therefrom, so as to define a planar edge region 45. More 10 particularly, the Applicant has found that, for ease of manufacture of the mid-overlay 18, it is possible to utilize a visco-elastic foam of standard uniform thickness and to construct the mid-overlay 18 by simply cutting the foam to the desired length and width and thereafter to simply remove the corner portion so as to define the planar edge region 43. 25 The pair of shaped side bolsters 20 includes side bolsters 20.1 and 20.2. The side bolsters 20.1 and 20.2 each have lower ends which are shaped to conform to the shape of the channel 50 and which are each received in opposite sides of the channel adjacent opposite sides 39.1, 39.2 of the support base 12. The side bolsters 20 have substantially planar upper ends which are disposed opposite the lower ends thereof, for supporting the body of the 30 person. As such, the bolsters 20.1, 20.2 and the channel 50 together define a void 51 to accommodate the belly of the person. The pair of shaped side bolsters 20 are of a supportive resilient material. More particularly, the pair of shaped side bolsters 20 are of a 6 visco-elastic foam. More specifically, the pair of shaped side bolsters 20 are of the same memory foam as used for the upper overlay 14 and the lower overlay 16. 2017100128 02 Feb 2017

The cover layer 22 is of a supportive resilient cushioning material. More particularly, the 5 cover layer 22 is of a corrugated sheet of polyurethane foam having a density 30 kg/m3 and obtained from Royal palace foam factory LLC, Al Jurf, Ajman, United Arab Emirates. The cover layer 22 overlies and conforms to the underlying shape of the upper overlay 14, the lower overlay 16, the mid-overlay 18 and the shaped side bolsters 20. An upper surface of the cover layer 22 defines a plurality of support surfaces in the form of pinnacles 23 for .0 supporting the body. More particularly, the pinnacles 23 permit air to circulate between the pinnacles 23 and along the side of the body upon which the person is lying, so as to allow the body to be aerated and thereby cooled by the circulating air. As shown in Figure 2 of the drawings, the cover layer 22 is received in the void 51 so as to form a hollow 52 of a size and shape suitable for receiving the belly of the person. .5

In use, the support base 12, the upper overlay 14, the lower overlay 16, the mid-overlay 18, the pair of shaped side bolsters 20, and the cover layer 22 are securely bonded to one another by contact glue or other suitable cement or bonding means. 10 In use, the thickened regions 34, 38 of the upper body support zone 28 and the lower body support zone 30, respectively, thus provide maximum support to the person at spaced locations of the person, disposed respectively, above and below the belly of the person, when the person is lying on the mattress 10 with the belly of the person supported by the recessed belly support zone 32. 25

The removable shaped insert 24 is of a shape and size which permits the insert 24 to fit into the hollow 52. The removable shaped insert 24 has a lower major side having a shape which corresponds to the shape of the hollow 52 and an opposite upper side which defines a substantially planer face 56. More particularly, the removable shaped insert 24 is of a size 30 sufficient to occupy the entire hollow 52 so as to fully occupy the entire hollow 52 so as to fill the hollow 52 completely. As such, a pregnant woman may remove the removable shaped insert 24 so that her belly can be received and supported within the hollow 52 so as 7 to permit the woman to sleep comfortably on her side or on her stomach when her belly is received in the hollow 52. The Applicant has found that the pinnacles 23 of the cover layer 22 enhance the comfort and support of the person's belly when the belly is received in the hollow 52. Furthermore, the pinnacles 23 allow for air flow and cooling of the person's belly 5 when the belly is received in the hollow 52. 2017100128 02 Feb 2017

Before and after pregnancy, the woman can locate the removable shaped insert 24 within the hollow 52 so as to fill the hollow 52. As such, the mattress 10 then resembles and can be used, both before and after pregnancy, as a conventional mattress which lacks a hollow .0 52, as the removable shaped insert 24 fills the hollow.

With reference to Figures 1 to 4 of the drawings, the Applicant has found that the mattress 10 is extremely beneficial for use by a pregnant woman before, during and after her pregnancy. .5

Furthermore, the Applicant has found that the mattress 10, is particularly beneficial because the support base 12 has a thickness which varies along the longitudinal axis 26 thereof in an arrangement wherein the support base tapers longitudinally from the thickened region 34 of the upper body support zone 28 to the opposite narrow head end 40 of the support base Ϊ0 12; and longitudinally from the thickened region 38 of the lower body support zone 30 to the opposite narrow foot end 36 of the support base 12. More specifically, this arrangement ensures graduated support whereby body regions above and below the belly receive the most support while the upper and lower regions of the person receives graduated or reducing support, as the support base 12 tapers in thickness towards the head 25 and foot end of the support base 12.

The Applicant has also found that the provision of the graduated support described hereinabove is extremely beneficial, particularly, in conjunction with the tapering arrangement of the upper overlay 14 and the lower overlay 16 described hereinabove. 30 More particularly, the tapered configuration of the upper overlay 14 and the lower overlay 16 particularly ensure that the upper and lower portions of the person are elevated so as to compensate for the tapering thickness of the support base 12. This is extremely 8 advantageous as it is desirable to provide graduated support to the body and it is also desirable to ensure that the body is supported in a substantially horizontal position, wherein the legs, middle portion and head of the body are substantially at the same horizontal level. More specifically, the Applicant has found that the tapering configuration of the upper 5 overlay 14 and the lower overlay 16 described hereinabove and in particular the thick head end 42 of the upper overlay 14 and the thick foot end 43 of lower overlay 16 together ensures that the persons head and feet, respectively, are sufficiently elevated. 2017100128 02 Feb 2017

The Applicant has, more specifically, found that the tapering arrangement of the upper .0 overlay 14 and the lower overlay 16 described hereinabove, compensates for the variable thickness of the support base 12 so that a combined thickness of the support base 12, the upper overlay 14 and the lower overlay 16 ensures that the mattress 10 has a thickness at a foot end of the mattress 10 which is substantially the same as a thickness at the head end of the mattress 10. More specifically a thickness of the mattress 10 at the foot end is 280 mm .5 whereas the thickness of the mattress at the head end is 240 mm. The Applicant has found that this slight difference in thickness of the mattress cannot be detected with the naked eye, yet allows the feet to be slightly elevated relative to the head so as to enhance blood and lymph drainage. Ϊ0 It will be understood that the term "substantially the same thickness" and "slight difference in thickness" refers to the fact that the variation in thickness between the head end and the foot end of the mattress is such that it cannot be easily noticed or detected visually, i.e. the variation is such that the mattress 10 creates the visual impression that the thickness of the mattress is uniform and that the thickness of the mattress at the head end and the foot end 25 are the same.

The Applicant has found that the fact that the head end and the foot end of the mattress have substantially the same thickness is beneficial for the purpose of correct fitment of standard commercially available sizes of bedding for fitment on a mattress. Furthermore, 30 the Applicant has found that the fact that the head end and the foot end of the mattress have substantially the same thickness is beneficial as it is more aesthetically pleasing when the mattress has a substantially uniform thickness. 9

The Applicant has also found the person may lie with their buttocks received within the hollow 52. In this position, the person's knees and lower legs will be elevated relative to the person's hip and as such blood and lymph drainage is enhanced. 2017100128 02 Feb 2017 5

With reference to Figure 5 of the drawings, another embodiment of a mattress with a recess, in accordance with the invention, is indicated generally by the reference numeral 100. .0 There are many similarities between the mattress of Figures 1 to 4 of the drawings and the mattress 100 of Figure 5. In Figure 5, the features of the mattress 100 which are the same and/or similar to features of the mattress 10 shown in Figures 1 to 4 of the drawings, are designated by the same and/or similar reference numerals in Figure 5. Unless otherwise specified, what is stated above with respect to the mattress 10 of Figures 1 to 4 applies .5 generally to the mattress 100 of Figure 5.

The mattress 100 includes a support base 112, a first overlaying element in the form of an upper overlay 114, a second overlying element in the form of a lower overlay 116 and a third overlaying element in the form of a mid-overlay 118. The mattress 10 further includes 10 a pair of shaped side bolsters 120, a top element in the form of a cover layer 122 and removable shaped inserts 124.1,124.2 and 124.3, the purposes of which will be explained hereinbelow.

The support base 112, the upper overlay 114, the lower overlay 116, the mid-overlay 118, the pair of shaped side bolsters 120, and the cover layer 122 of the mattress 100 of Figure 5 25 of the drawings, is substantially the same as the support base 12, the upper overlay 14, the lower overlay 16, the mid-overlay 18, the pair of shaped side bolsters 20, and the cover layer 22, respectively, of the mattress 10 of Figures 1 to 4 of the drawings. A major difference between the mattress 10 of Figures 1 to 4 of the drawings and the 30 mattress 100 of Figure 5 of the drawings is that the mattress 100 includes a number of 10 removable shaped insert 124.1, 124.2 and 124.3, each of different sizes. Each removable insert 124.1, 124.2 and 124.3 is of a different size so as to occupy a different volume of the hollow to permit the person to select an appropriate sized insert 124.1, 124.2, 124.3 such that the belly of the person can be comfortably supported by the insert when the belly is 5 inserted into the hollow. As such a pregnant woman can select the most appropriate sized insert which is then located in the hollow 52 so as to provide the desired level of comfort and support, when the pregnant woman's belly is inserted into the hollow. In this manner, the woman can periodically select removable shaped insert 124 of a smaller size, as her pregnancy progresses so as to enhance the comfort and support of the woman's belly .0 through each trimester of her pregnancy. Also, the Applicant has found that the inserts 124.1, 124.2 and 124.3 can be advantageously produced from a material which conforms to the shape of the person's belly, so as to enhance the support and comfort of the belly. As such, the inserts 124.1, 124.2 and 124.3 are formed from the same or similar visco-elastic foam as the upper overlay 14. 2017100128 02 Feb 2017 .5

It will be appreciated that the exact configuration of the mattress 10, 100, in accordance with the invention, may vary greatly while still incorporating the essential features of the invention as described hereinabove.

SO 11

Claims (5)

1. CLAIMS:

   1. A mattress including: a support base having a lower major face upon which the support base is supported, in use, on a substrate surface, a head end, an opposite foot end, and a longitudinal axis extending between the head end and the foot end, the support base including a first support zone for supporting an upper region of a person, a second support zone for supporting a lower region of the person, and a recessed belly support zone, located between the first and second support zones, for support a belly of the person, wherein the support base has a thickness which varies along the longitudinal axis thereof, in an arrangement wherein the support base tapers longitudinally from a thickened region of the first support zone which is disposed adjacent the belly support zone, to an opposite narrow head end region of the support base; and wherein the support base tapers longitudinally from a thickened region of the second support zone which is disposed adjacent the belly support zone, to an opposite narrow foot end region of the support base; a first overlying element which overlies the first support zone, the first overlying element having a tapering thickness which tapers longitudinally from a thick head end region of the first overlying element to an opposite narrow end region thereof which is disposed adjacent the belly support zone of the support base; and a second overlying element which overlies the second support zone, the second overlying element having a tapering thickness which tapers longitudinally from a thick foot end region of the second overlying element to an opposite narrow end thereof which is disposed adjacent the belly support zone of the support base.
2. 2. The mattress as claimed in claim 1, wherein the support base provides firmer support that the support provided by the first and second overlying elements.
3. 3. The mattress as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the recessed belly support zone defines a laterally extending recess which extends normal to the longitudinal axis of the support base, the laterally extending recess extending between opposite lateral sides of the support base and wherein the mattress includes a third overlying element which overlies the laterally extending recess and which conforms to the shape of the recess, an upper surface of the third overlying element defining a laterally extending channel.
4. 4. The mattress as claimed in claim 3, wherein the third overlying element provides less support compared to the support provided by the support base.
5. 5. The mattress as claimed in claim 3 or claim 4, wherein the mattress includes a pair of shaped side bolsters which have lower ends which are shaped to conform to the shape of the channel and which are received in opposite sides of the channel adjacent opposite sides of the support base, the bolsters and the channel together defining a void to accommodate the belly of the person, the mattress further including a top element of supportive resilient material which overlies and conforms to the shape of the first overlying element, the second overlying element, the third overlying element and the pair of side bolsters.