GB2428001A

GB2428001A - A cushioning member

Info

Publication number: GB2428001A
Application number: GB0513719A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Richard Butterworth; Martin Glynn
Original assignee: BRITISH VITA
Current assignee: BRITISH VITA
Priority date: 2005-07-05
Filing date: 2005-07-05
Publication date: 2007-01-17
Also published as: GB0513719D0

Abstract

A cushioning member 10 mountable on a mattress 11. The member 10 having a main body 12 of foam material with a plurality of parallel first ventilation channels 18 extending lengthwise across an upper surface 14, and a plurality of second ventilation channels extending across the lower surface 16 perpendicular to the channels 18, and sufficiently deep to communicate therewith to provide ventilation through the member 10. In one embodiment the cushioning member is a mattress topper. Alternatively, the cushioning member may be an upper region of a mattress.

Description

CUSHIONING MEMBER

This invention relates to cushioning members. More particularly, but not exclusively, the invention relates to cushioning members formed of resilient materials. More particularly but not exclusively, the invention relates to mattress toppers.

In the mattress manufacturing industry, mattresses formed of foam material such as polyurethane and latex create a warmer environment than traditional mattresses. Some manufacturers of foam mattresses attempt to overcome this problem by recommending that a duvet having a lower tog rating is used. However, this is not seen as providing a solution to the problem.

According to one aspect of this invention, there is provided a cushioning member comprising a main body having opposite first and second surfaces, the main body defining a plurality of ventilation apertures to provide communication between the first and second surfaces for the passage of air through the main body.

The main body may define a plurality of elongate ventilation channels extending lengthwise across at least one of the surfaces, and inwardly of the main body from the said surface. Preferably, the apertures extend from the ventilation channels.

The main body may define a plurality of elongate first ventilation channels extending lengthwise across the first surface and inwardly of the main body from said first surface. The main body may define a plurality of elongate second ventilation channels extending lengthwise across the second surface and inwardly of the main body from the second surface.

The first and second ventilation channels may intersect each other to define the aforesaid ventilation apertures.

Preferably, each of the first and second ventilation channels extend into the main body a distance which is a major proportion of the depth of the main body.

The first ventilation channels may extend along the first surface generally parallel to one another. The second ventilation channels may extend along the second surface generally parallel to one another.

Preferably, the first ventilation channels lengthwise extend across the first surface is generally transverse to the lengthwise extent across the second surface of the second channels. Preferably, the first channels 1 5 lengthwise extent across the first surface is generally orthogonal to the lengthwise extent of the second channels across the second surface.

Preferably, the first and second channels are provided at regular spaced intervals across the first and second surfaces.

The cushioning member may be formed of a suitable resilient material.

The cushioning member may be formed of a foam material, such as polyurethane foam or latex foam. A suitable foam material is viscoelastic polyurethane foam material.

The cushioning member may be a mattress, or a part of a mattress. In one embodiment, the cushioning member may comprise a mattress structure such as a mattress topper, which can be arranged on an existing mattress.

Alternatively, the cushioning member may be provided as an upper region in a mattress formed of at least one foam material. In another embodiment, the cushioning member may be derided as an upper interior region of a spring mattress.

According to another aspect of this invention, there is provided a mattress comprising a cushioning member as described above. Preferably, the cushioning member is provided as an upper region of the mattress.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which Fig 1 is a sectional side view of a cushioning member and a mattress; and Fig 2 is a top perspective view from one side of the cushioning member shown in Fig I on the mattress; Fig 3 is a view similar to Fig 2 but with the cushioning member inverted;and Fig 4 is a top plan view of part of the cushioning member shown in Fig 1.

Referring to the drawings, there is shown a cushioning member 10 in the form of a mattress topper, which is mountable upon a mattress 11. The cushioning member io comprises a main body 12 formed of a resilient material such as a foam material. A suitable such foam material is a viscoelastic polyurethane foam or latex foam.

The main body 12 has a first or upper surface 14, and a second or lower surface 16, opposite the first surface 14. The main body has a depth D. A plurality of first ventilation channels 18 extend lengthwise across the first surface 14. The main body 12 of the cushioning member 10 has a depth D, and the first channels 18 extend generally at right angles to the surface 14 into the main body 12, thereby providing the first channels 18 with a height HI. The first channels 18 extend into the main body 14, a distance which is greater than half the depth D of the main body 14.

Similarly, the second surface 16 defines a plurality of second channels 20 (see Fig 3) which extend lengthwise across the second surface 16 generally orthogonally to the lengthwise extent of the first channels 18. The second channels 20 extend generally at right angles to the surface 16 into the main body 20 and have a height H2 which is greater than half of the depth D of the main body 12.

By virtue of the fact that each of the heights, H2 of the first and second channels 18, 20 is greater than half of the depth of the main body 14, the first channels 18 intersect the second channels 20 and define apertures through the main body at the intersections. In this connection, reference is made to Fig 4 which shows a top plan view of the cushioning member 10, showing the first surface 14 and the channels 18. The channels 20 in the second surface 16 are shown in broken lines in Fig 4.

As can be seen from Fig 2, a plurality of apertures 22 are defined where the first channels 18 intersect the second channels 20.

The provision of the first ventilation channels 18, which intersect the second ventilation channels 20 means that airflow conduits are provided which allow ventilation to a person sleeping on the cushioning member 10.

The cushioning member 10 could be provided as a mattress topper, i.e. a supplementary mattress which is provided on the upper surface of a main mattress. AlternativelY, the cushioning member could be an upper region of an existing foam mattress or an upper region of an existing spring mattress.

The preferred embodiment of the cushioning member, as shown, significantly alleviates the problem of warm environments provided by foam mattresses by creating air channels in the foam of the main body of the cushioning member io to allow air circulation This circulation of air cools the surface upon which a person is sleeping and allows moisture to dissipate In the preferred embodiment as described above, the provision of first and second channels at substantially go to each other has the advantage that the channels intersect each other to produce an open network. This dramatically increases the effectiveness of the channels in removing moisture and allowing air to circulate throughout the cushioning member.

Various modifications can be made Without departing from the scope of the invention, for example, foam materials other than those described can be used.

Whilst endeavouring in the foregoing specification to draw attention to those features of the invention believed to be of particular importance it should be understood that the Applicant claims protection in respect of any patentable feature or combination of features hereinbefore referred to and/or shown in the drawings whether or not particular emphasis has been placed thereon.

Claims

Claims 1. A cushioning member comprising a main body having opposite first

and second surfaces, the main body defining a plurality of ventilation apertures to provide communication between the first and second surfaces for the passage of air through the main body.
2. A cushioning member according to claim 1 wherein the main body defines a plurality of elongate ventilation channels extending lengthwise across at least one of the surfaces and inwardly of the main body from the surface, the apertures extending from the ventilation channels.
3. A cushioning member according to claims 1 or 2 wherein the main body defines a plurality of elongate first ventilation channels extending lengthwise across the first surface and inwardly of the main body from said first surface, and a plurality of elongate second ventilation channels extending lengthwise across the second surface inwardly of the main body from the second surface.
4. A cushioning member according to claim 3 wherein the first and second ventilation channels intersect each other to define the aforesaid ventilation apertures.
5. A cushioning member according to claims 3 or 4 wherein each of the first and second ventilation channels extend into the main body a distance which is a major proportion of the depth of the main body.
6. A cushioning member according to claims 3, 4 or 5 wherein the first ventilation channels extend along the first surface generally parallel to one another, and the second ventilation channels extend along the second surface generally parallel to one another.
7. A cushioning member according to any of claims 3 to 6 wherein the first ventilation channels lengthwise extend across the first surface is generally transverse to the lengthwise extent across the second surface of the second channels.
8. A cushioning member according to any of claims 3 to 7 wherein the first ventilation channels lengthwise extend across the first surface is generally orthogonal to the lengthwise extent of the second ventilation channels across the second surface.
9. A cushioning member according to any of claims 3 to 8 wherein the first and second channels are provided at regular spaced intervals across the first and second surfaces respectively.
10. A cushioning member according to any preceding claim formed of a foam material.
11. A cushioning member according to claim 10 wherein the foam material is a viscoelastic polyurethane foam material.
12. A cushioning member according to any preceding claim comprising a mattress or a part of a mattress.
13. A mattress comprising a cushioning member as claimed in any preceding claim.
14. A mattress according to claim 13 wherein the cushioning member is provided as an upper region of the mattress.
15. A cushioning member substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
16. A mattress substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
17. Any novel subject matter or combination including novel subject matter disclosed herein, whether or not within the scope of or relating to the same invention as any of the preceding claims.