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(11) | EP 0 852 472 B1 |
| (12) | EUROPEAN PATENT SPECIFICATION |
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| (54) |
CHILD SAFETY MATTRESS SICHERHEITSMATRATZE FÜR KLEINKINDER MATELAS DE SECURITE POUR ENFANT |
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| Note: Within nine months from the publication of the mention of the grant of the European patent, any person may give notice to the European Patent Office of opposition to the European patent granted. Notice of opposition shall be filed in a written reasoned statement. It shall not be deemed to have been filed until the opposition fee has been paid. (Art. 99(1) European Patent Convention). |
[0002] Children's safety mattresses are well known in children's cots, carry cots and prams, being made from foam rubber or natural fibres and spring arrangements or a combination of these. These mattresses are manufactured to fit into a cot, carry cot or pram. During their manufacture the majority are treated with chemicals to make them fire retardant. Many of them have breathing holes right through the mattress in the area where the child's head is entended to normally lie. This is intended to ensure safe breathing if the child were to lie face down in the area where the holes are.
[0003] The above-mentioned types of child safety mattress need a relatively large amount of chemical fire retardant to comply with the present laws. These chemicals can be harmful to humans and could be found to be a risk factor of cot death in infants, along with over-heating and suffocation These types of child safety mattress also harbour dust, sweat, bed bugs, vomit, and urine, and also bacteria that are present in the environment.
[0004] GB 2198940A discloses a particular type of sheet for use with a safety mattress. The sheet comprises a first portion of sufficiently open texture to allow air to be freely inhaled therethrough, defining one end of the sheet, and a second portion having a less open texture than the first portion, defining the other end of the sheet. The safety mattress with which the sheet is intended to be used comprises a plastic foam pad having a number of relatively small apertures formed therethrough at one end of the mattress corresponding to the head end. This arrangement still suffers from the some disadvantages mentioned above.
[0005] According to the present invention there is provided a child's safety mattress comprising a box frame defining an open space, the frame being covered by an elasticated cover extending over the frame, surrounding said open space, the cover being closed at one end and having a releasable closure at the other end.
[0006] Preferably the closed end is releasably closable and press studs or the like may be used for this purpose.
[0007] The box frame can be made from straight lengths of plastic tube with three way corner connectors or plastic tube bent at appropriate correct angles; plastic tube cut to size, ultrasonically welded or glued. It is also possible to injection mould plastic to create the frame. It can be made of wood, sectional steel, aluminium or other metal.
[0008] The cover is made of fabric, woven or knitted in construction and elasticated, by means of LYCRA (Registered trade mark), rubber or like material with elastic properties. The fabric will be non-toxic, allow air to pass through with ease as well as fluid, yet be strong.
[0009] The means of securing the cover can be; press studs, VELCRC (Resgistered trade mark), buttons, zips, draw string or webbing straps with locking buckle, tie straps and the like.
[0010] In order that the invention may be well understood it will now be described with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings, in which:
Figure 1 is a perspective view of the assembled box frame and cover; and
Figure 2 illustrates the method of putting the cover onto the frame.
[0011] Referring to the drawing the mattress comprises a box frame 10 and a fabric cover 11. The cover has a releasable securing device 12 at one end in this case in the form of a webbing strap buckle, having areas of VELCRO (Registered trade mark) type fabric hook od loop fasteners, and being sealed at the other.
[0012] In order to fit the cover 11 to the frame 10 the open end of the cover 11 is spread wider than the frame 10 and then pulled over the frame 10 from either end, as illustrated in Figure 2. The cover is held taut. Once the cover 11 is pulled over the full length of the frame 10 the securing device 12 is fastened securing the cover on the frame, and to the open condition illustrated in Figure 1. To remove the cover from the frame the steps are carried out in reverse sequence.
[0013] Because of the material of the cover and the fact that it is removable from the frame the cover can be washed and the frame can be cleaned, allowing dirt, dust, and any bacteria to be removed. Air can very easily pass through the cover into the open space enabling the child to breath in any face down position. Over heating of the child is greatly reduced due to the design. Fluids pass straight through, for example; vomit, dribble and urine.
1. A child's safety mattress comprising a box frame (10) defining an open space, the
frame (10) being covered by an elasticated cover (11) extending over the frame (10),
surroundig said open space, the cover (11) being closed at one end and having a releasable
closure (12) at the other end.
2. A child's safety mattress according to Claim 1, in which the frame (10) is of wood,
metal or plastics material.
3. A child's safety mattress according to Claim 2, in which the frame (10) is made of
lengths of plastics tube welded or glued together.
4. A child's safety mattress according to Claim 2, in which the frame (10) is injection
moulded of plastics material.
5. A child's safety mattress according to any preceding Claim, in which the cover (11)
is an elasticated woven or knitted fabric.
6. A child's safety mattress according to any preceding Claim, in which the cover (11)
is secured to the frame (10) by press studs, hook and loop type fastener, buttons,
zips, draw string, tie straps or webbing straps with locking buckle.
7. A child's safety mattress according to any preceding Claim, in which the cover (11)
is treated with fire retardant chemicals.
1. Sicherheitsmatratze für Kinder, welche einen Kastenrahmen (10) umfaßt, der einen offenen
Raum definiert, wobei der Rahmen (10) mit einem elastisch gemachten Überzug (11) überzogen
ist, der sich über den Rahmen (10) erstreckt, wobei er besagten offenen Raum umgibt,
wobei der Überzug (11) an einem Ende geschlossen ist und am anderen Ende einen lösbaren
Verschluß (12) aufweist.
2. Sicherheitsmatratze für Kinder nach Anspruch 1, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß der Rahmen (10) aus Holz-, Metall- oder Kunststoffmaterial besteht.
3. Sicherheitsmatratze für Kinder nach Anspruch 2, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß der Rahmen (10) aus Abschnitten von Kunststoffrohren hergestellt ist, die miteinander
verschweißt oder verklebt sind.
4. Sicherheitsmatratze für Kinder nach Anspruch 2, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß der Rahmen (10) mit Spritzguß aus Kunststoffmaterial hergestellt ist.
5. Sicherheitsmatratze für Kinder nach irgendeinem vorangehenden Anspruch, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß der Überzug (11) ein elastisch gemachter, gewebter oder gestrickter Stoff ist.
6. Sicherheitsmatratze für Kinder nach irgendeinem vorangehenden Anspruch, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß der Überzug (11) am Rahmen (10) durch Druckknöpfe, Befestigungsmittel aus Haken und
Schlaufe, Knöpfe, Reißverschlüsse, Zugband, Zugriemen oder Gurtbänder mit Verschlußschnalle
befestigt ist.
7. Sicherheitsmatratze für Kinder nach irgendeinem vorangehenden Anspruch, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß der Überzug (11) mit flammhemmenden Chemikalien behandelt ist.
1. Matelas de sécurité pour enfant, comprenant une structure de sommier (10) définissant
un espace ouvert, la structure de sommier (10) étant revêtue d'un revêtement à élastique
(11) s'étendant sur la structure de sommier (10) entourant ledit espace ouvert, le
revêtement (11) étant fermé en une extrémité et comportant une fermeture libérable
(12) en l'autre extrémité.
2. Matelas de sécurité pour enfant selon la revendication 1, dans lequel la structure
de sommier (10) est en bois, en métal ou en plastique.
3. Matelas de sécurité pour enfant selon la revendication 2, dans lequel la structure
de sommier (10) est réalisée à partir de tronçons de tubes plastiques assemblés par
collage ou soudage.
4. Matelas de sécurité pour enfant selon la revendication 2, dans lequel la structure
de sommier (10) est en matériau plastique moulé par injection.
5. Matelas de sécurité pour enfant selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes,
dans lequel le revêtement (11) est en tissu tricoté ou tissé à élastique.
6. Matelas de sécurité pour enfant selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes,
dans lequel le revêtement (11) est assujetti sur la structure de sommier (10) par
des rivets à pression, des fermetures de type à boucles et crochets, des boutons,
des fermetures Eclair, des tendeurs, des sangles ou des boudes d'attache avec boucle
de blocage.
7. Matelas de sécurité pour enfant selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes,
dama lequel le revêtement (11) est traité avec des produits chimiques ignifuges.