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.

Description

FIELD OF INVENTION

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

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.

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.

The present invention seeks to provide a mattress that is unable to be used as an obstacle as described above.

STATEMENT OF INVENTION

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.

Preferably the mattress has at least one set of opposing cut-out sections on either side of the lateral centre line.

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.

Preferably the cut-out sections are generally trapezoidal in shape.

Preferably the fold lines are spaced equidistant from the lateral centre line of the mattress.

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.

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.

Preferably the sections are provided in three equal divisions.

Preferably the mattress comprises a foam material layer having a heavy duty anti-vandal cover.

Preferably the cover is fire retardant.

Preferably the mattress includes water resistance heat welded seams.

Preferably the cover comprises two layers.

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

One embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying figures in which:

FIG. 1 is schematic plan view of the underside of a mattress constructed in accordance with one embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a schematic side cross-section view of the mattress taken through the line X-X of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a schematic side cross-section view of the mattress constructed in accordance with a second embodiment;

FIG. 4 is a schematic side cross-section view of the mattress constructed in accordance with a third embodiment;

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

FIG. 7 illustrates an alternative use of the mattress.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

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.

The two fold lines 4A, 4B are spaced generally equidistant from either side of the lateral centre line of the mattress.

The folds 4 are formed by areas of reduced thickness extending laterally across the mattress 1.

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).

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).

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

In a further alternative (also not shown) three or more sections are linked together by frangible connections such as, for example, Velcro™ 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.

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.

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.

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.

Similarly the mattress is assembled with water resistant heat welded seams.

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.

Preferably the inner layer of the cover is yellow and the outer layer of the cover is blue.

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.

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.

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.