U.S. patent application number 15/912178 was filed with the patent office on 2019-09-05 for collapsible mattress.
The applicant listed for this patent is Pineapple Contracts Unlimited. Invention is credited to Charles Hathorn.
Application Number | 20190269253 15/912178 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 62017997 |
Filed Date | 2019-09-05 |
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United States Patent
Application |
20190269253 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Hathorn; Charles |
September 5, 2019 |
COLLAPSIBLE MATTRESS
Abstract
A generally rectangular mattress formed in three foldable
sections. The mattress has pairs of cut-out sections on either side
of the lateral centre line of the mattress to provide means for the
mattress to fold at those sections in opposing directions.
Inventors: |
Hathorn; Charles;
(Aylesford, GB) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Pineapple Contracts Unlimited |
Aylesford |
|
GB |
|
|
Family ID: |
62017997 |
Appl. No.: |
15/912178 |
Filed: |
March 5, 2018 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47C 27/14 20130101;
A47C 31/001 20130101; A47C 31/00 20130101; A47C 27/008 20130101;
A47C 27/146 20130101; A47C 7/26 20130101; A47C 17/045 20130101 |
International
Class: |
A47C 27/14 20060101
A47C027/14; A47C 31/00 20060101 A47C031/00 |
Claims
1. A generally rectangular mattress formed in three foldable
sections, having a cut-out section on either side of the lateral
centre line of the mattress to provide means for the mattress to
fold at those sections in opposing directions.
2. The mattress of claim 1, comprising at least one set of opposing
cut-out sections on either side of the lateral centre line.
3. The mattress of claim 2, wherein the cut out sections in one
surface of the mattress are greater in depth that the opposing
cut-out sections in the other surface of the mattress.
4. The mattress according to claim 1, wherein the cut-out sections
are generally trapezoidal in shape.
5. The mattress of claim 1, wherein the fold lines are spaced
equidistant from the lateral centre line of the mattress.
6. The mattress of claim 1, wherein the first fold line is formed
by a section of reduced thickness offset one side of the
longitudinal centre line of the mattress and the second fold line
formed by a section of reduced thickness offset from the opposing
side of the longitudinal centre line of the mattress.
7. The mattress of claim 1, wherein the combined weight of two
neighbouring sections is greater than the third section such that
the sections collapse in one each other along the folds in the
event that the mattress is placed upright width wise, on one
end.
8. The mattress of claim 1, wherein the sections are provided in
three equal divisions.
9. The mattress of claim 1, wherein the mattress comprises a foam
material layer having a heavy duty anti-vandal cover.
10. The mattress of claim 1, wherein the cover is fire
retardant.
11. The mattress of claim 1, wherein the mattress includes water
resistance heat welded seams.
12. The mattress of claim 1, wherein the cover comprises two
layers.
13. The mattress of claim 12, wherein the cover comprises and inner
layer of a first light colour and an outer layer of a second darker
cover.
Description
FIELD OF INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to a collapsible mattress. The
invention especially relates to a mattress that has a tri-fold
design to make it collapsible when stood on its end, to make it
impossible for prisoners or patients to use the mattress to obscure
a viewing panel.
BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION
[0002] A common problem faced in prisons and psychiatric hospitals
in particular concerns distressed or aggressive inmates or patients
using the mattress to obscure the viewing panel or window of a door
so that guards or carers are unable to see what is happening in
their room.
[0003] Obstruction of a window is fairly easy with current
mattresses as their thickness allows them to be simply turned on to
their end and placed against the inside surface of the door.
Mattresses are typically around 6 foot 3 inches, 2 foot 6 inches
wide and generally have a thickness in the range of 3 inches to 20
inches. When placed on their end, mattresses are more than tall
enough to entirely block the view through the window. The
mattresses are able to remain upright in such a position due to
their thickness and sturdiness that are required to provide some
element of comfort to the user during sleep.
[0004] The present invention seeks to provide a mattress that is
unable to be used as an obstacle as described above.
STATEMENT OF INVENTION
[0005] A generally rectangular mattress formed in three foldable
sections, having a cut-out section on either side of the lateral
centre line of the mattress to provide means for the mattress to
fold at those sections in opposing directions.
[0006] Preferably the mattress has at least one set of opposing
cut-out sections on either side of the lateral centre line.
[0007] Preferably the cut out sections in one surface of the
mattress are greater in depth that the opposing cut-out sections in
the other surface of the mattress.
[0008] Preferably the cut-out sections are generally trapezoidal in
shape.
[0009] Preferably the fold lines are spaced equidistant from the
lateral centre line of the mattress.
[0010] Preferably, the first fold line is formed by a section of
reduced thickness offset one side of the longitudinal centre line
of the mattress and the second fold line formed by a section of
reduced thickness offset from the opposing side of the longitudinal
centre line of the mattress.
[0011] Preferably, the combined weight of two neighbouring sections
is greater than the third section such that the sections collapse
in one each other along the folds in the event that the mattress is
placed upright width wise, on one end.
[0012] Preferably the sections are provided in three equal
divisions.
[0013] Preferably the mattress comprises a foam material layer
having a heavy duty anti-vandal cover.
[0014] Preferably the cover is fire retardant.
[0015] Preferably the mattress includes water resistance heat
welded seams.
[0016] Preferably the cover comprises two layers.
[0017] Preferably the cover comprises and inner layer of a first
light colour and an outer layer of a second darker cover.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0018] One embodiment of the invention will now be described by way
of example only, with reference to the accompanying figures in
which:
[0019] FIG. 1 is schematic plan view of the underside of a mattress
constructed in accordance with one embodiment of the invention;
[0020] FIG. 2 is a schematic side cross-section view of the
mattress taken through the line X-X of FIG. 1;
[0021] FIG. 3 is a schematic side cross-section view of the
mattress constructed in accordance with a second embodiment;
[0022] FIG. 4 is a schematic side cross-section view of the
mattress constructed in accordance with a third embodiment;
[0023] FIGS. 5A, 5B, and 6 are illustrations showing the
collapsible nature of the mattress of either embodiment when
attempted to be used as a visual obstruction; and
[0024] FIG. 7 illustrates an alternative use of the mattress.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0025] Referring first to FIGS. 1 and 2, a mattress 1 constructed
in accordance with the invention takes the form of a foam bedding
material enclosed within a cover 2 and having three sections 3A,
3B, 3C separated by two folds 4A, 4B.
[0026] The two fold lines 4A, 4B are spaced generally equidistant
from either side of the lateral centre line of the mattress.
[0027] The folds 4 are formed by areas of reduced thickness
extending laterally across the mattress 1.
[0028] As can be seen with reference to FIG. 2, the areas of
reduced thickness are formed by two sets of opposing cut-out
sections 5A, 5B, 6A, 6B either side of the lateral centre line of
the mattress 1 (shown as A in FIG. 1).
[0029] Each cut-out section 5, 6 has the general shape of a
trapezoid. The cuts outs 5A, 6A of one surface 7 of the mattress
extend deeper than the opposing cut-outs 5B, 6B in the other side
of the mattress such that the continue connection between the
opposing cut-outs is offset from the longitudinal centre line of
the mattress (shown as B in FIG. 2).
[0030] Surface 7 of the mattress 1 is intended to be the top
surface of the mattress on which a person would sleep when the
mattress 1 is in its horizontal orientation. The lesser depth of
the cut-outs 5A, 6A are intended to make the mattress 1 to be more
comfortable.
[0031] The fact that cut-outs 5, are located on both surfaces of
the mattress 1 allows the mattress to fold about those areas in
either direction.
[0032] As can be seen best in FIGS. 5A, 5B, and 6, orientating the
mattress 1 in a vertical position causes it to be unstable which in
turn causes the first fold 4A to fold in a direction away from the
door. This causes folding of the second fold 4B in the other
direction (towards the door) to collapse the mattress to a
flattened state to avoid only partially unblocking the view through
the window.
[0033] This ensures that the mattress 1 folds in on itself to
collapse so that, in its collapsed state, the three sections form
three horizontal layers on top of each other and reduce the height
to a minimum.
[0034] In an alternative embodiment shown in FIG. 3, the fold lines
are offset from either side of the longitudinal centre line of the
mattress. In other words, a first fold line is formed by a section
of reduced thickness 9 extending from one side of the centre line
and second fold line formed by a section of reduced thickness 10
extending from the other side of the centre line.
[0035] An alternative construction is shown in FIG. 4, wherein the
folds are formed by mirrored sections of reduced thickness 11A, 11B
either side of the centre line.
[0036] In an alternative embodiment (not shown) one surface of the
mattress is entirely smooth for sleeping on. The opposing surface
(the bottom surface) has two V-shaped cut out sections which, in
use provide the folds which are able to fold in either
direction.
[0037] In a further alternative (also not shown) three or more
sections are linked together by frangible connections such as, for
example, Velcro.TM. or the like. Folding motion initiated by the
mattress being placed on its end, causes the sections to separate,
causing the mattress to collapse to a flattened state. The mattress
sections can simply be connected back together for continued use as
a mattress in its normal horizontal orientation.
[0038] The sections of reduced thickness may simply comprise the
opposing sides of the cover 2 without any foam material in between.
Alternatively the sections may include a foam layer of reduced
thickness or alternative cell structure.
[0039] In the embodiments provided the three sections are of equal
size i.e. the mattress 1 is divided into thirds. It is however
appreciated that other designs may provide sections of variable
sizes. Further, the mattress may have more than three sections and
may, for example, fold into quarters in the ways previously
described.
[0040] The cover may be made from a heavy-duty anti-vandal and/or
fire retardant material, particularly if the intended use of the
mattress is within prisons or hospitals.
[0041] Similarly the mattress is assembled with water resistant
heat welded seams.
[0042] The cover 2 may consist of two layers with an inner layer of
a light colour, for example yellow, and an outer layer of a second
darker cover, for example blue. This allows quick and efficient
inspection of the mattress for damage or contamination.
[0043] Preferably the inner layer of the cover is yellow and the
outer layer of the cover is blue.
[0044] The differing directions of the folds allows the mattress 1
to be orientated in a seat position. An example of this is shown in
FIG. 7. Here, first section 3A is orientated vertically as back
rest whilst the remaining two sections 3B, 3C fold flat on
themselves to provide a raised platform on which to sit.
[0045] It will be appreciated that the foregoing is merely an
example of an embodiment and just some examples of its use. The
skilled reader will readily understand that modifications can be
made thereto without departing from the true scope of the
invention.
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