Infant mattress system with sleeping recess

• US 5,822,817 A
• Filed: 05/30/1996
• Issued: 10/20/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 11/08/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Michael R. Kidder
• Original Assignee: Racing Strollers Inc.
• Inventors: Carew, JoAnn, Carew, James M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lindsey, Rodney M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): CONLEY, FREDRICK C
• Application Number:
  US08/655,636
• Time in Patent Office: 873 Days
• Field of Search: 5/655, 5/900, 5/424, 5/425, 5/732
• US Class Current: 5/732
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 27/144 inside the mattress or cushion
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 27/146 on the outside surface of the mattress or cushion
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 27/20 with springs moulded in, or situated in cavities or openings in foamed material
• CPC Class Codes: A47D 15/001 Mattresses
• CPC Class Codes: A47D 15/008 in beds, play-pens or cradles
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 5/901 Mattress or pad with a convoluted, e.g. egg crate surface

Abstract

A mattress system for use in cribs or beds for small infants or adolescent children is constructed of a base and a sleeping recess defined by side walls, a head wall, a foot wall, and a floor. The mattress is constructed of a foam material which is air permeable. The mattress including the side, head, foot walls and floor of the recess, are enclosed in a removable cover. The floor of the recess is covered by a detachable vinyl panel formed as part of the cover and having hook or loop type strips. A second floor cover in the form of a detachable sheet, having mating hook or loop style patches which engage their opposite counterpart on the vinyl panel. An accessory panel is constructed having the dimensions of the recess to fill the recess and convert the specialty mattress into a conventional mattress.

Claims

1. A dual sleeping surface mattress, constructed to provide one sleeping surface which restricts the movement of an individual sleeping thereon, comprising:

a) a mattress body reversible between upward and downward facing orientations, with a pair of opposing, laterally spaced apart, outward side walls, and a pair of opposing, laterally spaced apart, outward end walls, said outward side walls and end walls defining a periphery of said mattress, said mattress body having;

a) first horizontal body surface facing upward when said mattress body is in said upward facing orientation and extending about said periphery of said mattress body along said outward side walls and end walls of said mattress body;

a second horizontal body surface opposite said first horizontal body surface and facing downward when said mattress body is in said upward facing orientation and upward when said mattress body is in said downward facing orientation, said second horizontal body surface extending substantially fully between said outward side walls and end walls of said mattress body;

a pair of opposing, laterally spaced apart, inward side walls extending downward into said mattress body from said first horizontal body surface when said mattress body is in said upward facing orientation, said inward side walls positioned inward from and substantially parallel to said outward side walls to form a pair of spaced apart peripheral barriers extending substantially the full length of said mattress body, said inward side walls being a pliant and soft air permeable plastic foam material to cushion the sleeping individual;

a pair of opposing, laterally spaced apart, inward end walls, extending downward into said mattress body from said first horizontal body surface when said mattress body is in said upward facing orientation, and transverse to said inward side walls, said inward end walls positioned inward from and substantially parallel to said outward end walls to form a pair of spaced apart peripheral barriers extending substantially the full width of said mattress body, said inward end walls being a pliant and soft air permeable plastic foam material to cushion the sleeping individual; and

an exposed flat first sleeping surface for receiving the sleeping individual thereon, recessed from said first horizontal body surface when said mattress body is in said upward facing orientation and defined by said inward side walls and said inward end walls, with said inward side walls, said inward end walls, and said recessed first sleeping surface defining an upwardly open recess in said mattress body when said mattress body is in said upward facing orientation, said recessed first sleeping surface being of sufficient surface area to accommodate the full body of the sleeping individual thereon and said inward side walls and said inward end walls being of sufficient height to restrict movement of the sleeping individual on said recessed first sleeping surface beyond said periphery of said mattress body, said pairs of peripheral barriers and said recessed first sleeping surface having a unitary construction without sufficiently sized opening therebetween to prevent the sleeping individual on said recessed first sleeping surface from extending an arm, leg or head between said barriers and said recessed first sleeping surface, and said recessed first sleeping surface further comprising;

attachment means secured to said recessed first sleeping surface for receiving mating attachment means;

a cover contoured to enclose said entire mattress body and removably secured thereto;

a water impervious panel constructed in said cover in alignment with said recessed first sleeping surface, having mating attachment means on a lower surface thereof for detachable engagement with said recessed first sleeping surface attachment means, said mating attachment means securing said water impervious panel and cover to said recessed first sleeping surface during use and allowing removal thereof for cleaning;

second attachment means secured to an upper surface of said water impervious panel for receiving second mating attachment means; and

a second panel constructed of sheeting material having mating second attachment means on a lower surface thereof for detachable engagement with said second attachment means, said mating second attachment means securing said second panel to said water impervious panel during use and allowing removal thereof for cleaning;

b) a mattress inset removably positionable within said recess and sized to substantially fill said recess when positioned within said recess, said inset having;

a first horizontal inset surface sized to extend substantially fully between said inward side walls and end walls when said inset is positioned within said recess; and

a second horizontal inset surface sized to be positionable adjacent to said recessed first sleeping surface when in position within said recess, said first and second horizontal inset surfaces being spaced apart by a distance such that when said inset is positioned within said recess said first horizontal inset surface is substantially coplanar and contiguous with said first horizontal body surface to define together a flat surface extending substantially to said periphery of said mattress body, with said combined flat surface when said mattress body is in said upward facing orientation and said second horizontal body surface when said mattress body is in said downward facing orientation defining an exposed flat second sleeping surface larger than said recessed first sleeping surface for receiving the sleeping individual thereon when said inset is positioned within said recess.

2. The mattress of claim 1, wherein said mattress body is constructed of two elements comprising:

a. a base element formed of air permeable plastic foam; and

b. a frame element formed of air permeable plastic foam, having a central opening in the shape of said recess to define said inward side walls and end walls, said frame element fixed to said base element to form a floor of said recess.

3. The mattress of claim 1, wherein said water impervious panel is constructed of vinyl.

4. The mattress of claim 1, wherein said inward side and end walls are integrally constructed in said mattress body.

5. The mattress of claim 1, wherein said inward side and end walls and said recessed first sleeping surface are constructed of the same material.

6. A dual sleeping surface mattress, constructed to provide one sleeping surface which restricts the movement of an individual sleeping thereon, comprising:

a) a mattress body reversible between upward and downward facing orientations, with a pair of opposing, laterally spaced apart, outward side walls, and a pair of opposing, laterally spaced apart, outward end walls, said outward side walls and end walls defining a periphery of said mattress, said mattress body having;

a first horizontal body surface facing upward when said mattress body is in said upward facing orientation and extending about said periphery of said mattress body along said outward side walls and end walls of said mattress body;

a second horizontal body surface opposite said first horizontal body surface and facing downward when said mattress body is in said upward facing orientation and upward when said mattress body is in said downward facing orientation, said second horizontal body surface extending substantially fully between said outward side walls and end walls of said mattress body;

a pair of opposing, laterally spaced apart, inward side walls extending downward into said mattress body from said first horizontal body surface when said mattress body is in said upward facing orientation, said inward side walls positioned inward from and substantially parallel to said outward side walls to form a peripheral barrier extending substantially the full length of said mattress body, said inward end walls being constructed of air permeable plastic foam;

a pair of opposing, laterally spaced apart, inward end walls, extending downward into said mattress body from said first horizontal body surface when said mattress body is in said upward facing orientation, and transverse to said inward side walls, said inward end walls positioned inward from and substantially parallel to said outward end walls to form a peripheral barrier extending substantially the full width of said mattress body, said inward end walls being constructed of air permeable plastic foam; and

an exposed first sleeping surface for receiving the sleeping individual thereon, recessed from said first horizontal body surface when said mattress body is in said upward facing orientation and defined by said inward side walls and said inward end walls, with said inward side walls, said inward end walls, and said recessed first sleeping surface defining an upwardly open recess in said mattress body when said mattress body is in said upward facing orientation, said recessed first sleeping surface being of sufficient surface area to accommodate the full body of the sleeping individual thereon and said inward side walls and said inward end walls being of sufficient height to restrict movement of the sleeping individual on said recessed first sleeping surface beyond said periphery of said mattress body, and said recessed first sleeping surface further comprising;

attachment means secured to said recessed first sleeping surface for receiving mating attachment means;

a cover contoured to enclose said entire mattress body and removably secured thereto;

a water impervious panel constructed in said cover in alignment with said recessed first sleeping surface, having mating attachment means on a lower surface thereof for detachable engagement with said recessed first sleeping surface attachment means, said mating attachment means securing said water impervious panel and cover to said recessed first sleeping surface during use and allowing removal thereof for cleaning;

second attachment means secured to an upper surface of said water impervious panel for receiving second mating attachment means, and

a second panel constructed of sheeting material having mating second attachment means on a lower surface thereof for detachable engagement with said second attachment means, said mating second attachment means securing said second panel to said water impervious panel during use and allowing removal thereof for cleaning;

b) a mattress inset removably positionable within said recess and sized to substantially fill said recess when positioned within said recess, said inset having;

a first horizontal inset surface; and

a second horizontal inset surface sized to be positionable adjacent to said recessed first sleeping surface when in position within said recess, said first and second horizontal inset surfaces being spaced apart by a distance such that when said inset is positioned within said recess said first horizontal inset surface is substantially coplanar with said first horizontal body surface to define together a flat surface extending substantially to said periphery of said mattress body, with said second horizontal body surface when said mattress body is in said downward facing orientation defining an exposed second sleeping surface larger than said recessed first sleeping surface for receiving the sleeping individual thereon when said inset is positioned within said recess.

7. A dual sleeping surface mattress, constructed to provide one sleeping surface which restricts the movement of an individual sleeping thereon, comprising:

a) a mattress body positionable in upward and downward facing orientations, with a pair of opposing, laterally spaced apart, outward side walls, and a pair of opposing, laterally spaced apart, outward end walls, said outward side walls and end walls defining a periphery of said mattress, said mattress body having;

a first horizontal body surface facing upward when said mattress body is in said upward facing orientation and extending about said periphery of said mattress body along said outward side walls and end walls of said mattress body;

a second horizontal body surface opposite said first horizontal body surface and facing downward when said mattress body is in said upward facing orientation and upward when said mattress body is in said downward facing orientation, said second horizontal body surface extending substantially fully between said outward side walls and end walls of said mattress body;

a pair of opposing, laterally spaced apart, inward side walls extending downward into said mattress body from said first horizontal body surface when said mattress body is in said upward facing orientation, said inward side walls positioned inward from said outward side walls to form a peripheral barrier extending substantially the full length of said mattress body, said inward end walls being constructed of air permeable plastic foam;

a pair of opposing, laterally spaced apart, inward end walls, extending downward into said mattress body from said first horizontal body surface when said mattress body is in said upward facing orientation, and transverse to said inward side walls, said inward end walls positioned inward from said outward end walls to form a peripheral barrier extending substantially the full width of said mattress body, said inward end walls being constructed of air permeable plastic foam; and

an exposed first sleeping surface for receiving the sleeping individual thereon, recessed from said first horizontal body surface when said mattress body is in said upward facing orientation and defined by said inward side walls and said inward end walls, with said inward side walls, said inward end walls, and said recessed first sleeping surface defining an upwardly open recess in said mattress body when said mattress body is in said upward facing orientation, said recessed first sleeping surface being of sufficient surface area to accommodate the full body of the sleeping individual thereon and said inward side walls and said inward end walls being of sufficient height to restrict movement of the sleeping individual on said recessed first sleeping surface beyond said periphery of said mattress body, and said recessed first sleeping surface further comprising;

attachment means secured to said recessed first sleeping surface for receiving mating attachment means;

a cover contoured to enclose said entire mattress body and removably secured thereto;

a water impervious panel constructed in said cover in alignment with said recessed first sleeping surface, having mating attachment means on a lower surface thereof for detachable engagement with said recessed first sleeping surface attachment means, said mating attachment means securing said water impervious panel and cover to said recessed first sleeping surface during use and allowing removal thereof for cleaning;

second attachment means secured to an upper surface of said water impervious panel for receiving second mating attachment means; and

a second panel constructed of sheeting material having mating second attachment means on a lower surface thereof for detachable engagement with said second attachment means, said mating second attachment means securing said second panel to said water impervious panel during use and allowing removal thereof for cleaning;

b) a mattress inset removably positionable within said recess and sized to substantially fill said recess when positioned within said recess, said inset having;

a first horizontal inset surface; and

a second horizontal inset surface sized to be positionable adjacent to said recessed first sleeping surface when in position within said recess, said first and second horizontal inset surfaces being spaced apart by a distance such that when said inset is positioned within said recess said first horizontal inset surface is substantially coplanar with said first horizontal body surface to define together a flat surface extending substantially to said periphery of said mattress body, with at least one of said combined flat surface when said mattress body is in said upward facing orientation or said second horizontal body surface when said mattress body is in said downward facing orientation defining an exposed second sleeping surface larger than said recessed first sleeping surface for receiving the sleeping individual thereon when said inset is positioned within said recess.