WO1998032355A1

WO1998032355A1 - Safety mattress

Info

Publication number: WO1998032355A1
Application number: PCT/NO1998/000022
Authority: WO
Inventors: Willy Vistung
Original assignee: Vistung, Mette
Priority date: 1997-01-24
Filing date: 1998-01-23
Publication date: 1998-07-30
Also published as: NO970324L; AU5886398A; NO970324D0

Abstract

There is described a safety mattress characterized in that it comprises a frame formed of light tubing which supports a material that offers little resistance to respiration, and where in connection with the mattress there is optionally provided a carbon dioxide-absorbent material, where the mattress is further provided with legs so that air may circulate around/through the mattress. The material that offers little resistance to respiration may be, for example, a cover of air permeable material that is drawn over the framework and closed around one end thereof, or it may be a plate of perforated material.

Description

SAFETY MATTRESS

The present invention relates to a safety mattress which does not block respiration through the mattress.

Even though the cause of so-called crib death (SIDS — sudden infant death syndrome) has not been fully explained, we are leaning toward the view that a possible cause may be a lack of oxygen or an excessively high concentration of carbon dioxide in the air that the baby inhales. In Norway, for example, a clear decrease in the number of instances of crib death per year has been registered after it became routine procedure in maternity units to recommend that newborn infants lie on their backs instead of on their stomachs, as previously.

When children are a few months old, however, they will be capable of rolling over while lying down, and if they are placed on their backs, it is not certain how long they will remain in this position. There are support devices available on the market today which are intended to prevent the child from turning over in the bed. Such a restriction of the freedom of movement will probably be experienced as uncomfortable for the child, and in the worst case can disturb the child's sleep.

With the aid of the safety mattress according to the present invention, there is obtained an assurance that the child will receive sufficient oxygen and not excessively high concentrations of carbon dioxide. If the child should turn over onto its stomach, it is able to breathe freely, and without resistance, through the mattress. Because the mattress is provided with legs, air will circulate around/through the mattress.

With the present invention there is provided a safety mattress which is characterized in that it comprises a frame formed of light tubing that supports a material which offers little resistance to respiration, and where there is optionally provided in connection with the matress a CO2 scrubber, where the mattress frame is further provided with legs so that air circulates around/through the mattress.

The material which offers little resistance to breathing may be a cover of air permeable material which is drawn over the framework and closed around one end thereof by means of known per se closure means. Alternatively it may be made up of a preferably flexible, perforated plate which can be placed in an air permeable cover. The mattress according to the invention would also be useful for patients sufffering from bedsores. In this case, the fact that the sore is in contact with air all the time could contribute toward accelerated healing of the sore.

The mattress according to the invention is very easy to assemble. When it is not in use, or is to be transported, e.g., for traveling, it can be easily dismounted and carried. It is also very light, and can therefore be transferred without difficulty from, e.g., a crib to a baby carriage.

The framework of the mattress may conveniently be made of plastic tubing, which is cut to the desired lengths and joined at the corners with the aid of conventional, known per se corner pieces. It should be emphasized, however, that other materials are not ruled out.

The cover that is drawn over the framework, or optionally over the perforated plate, may be made of cotton or other materials providing limited resistance to breathing, e.g., various synthetic fibers. It is an important feature of the invention that the cover is easy to launder.

In connection with the mattress there may optionally be provi ded, as mentioned above, a material which absorbs CO2- There are a number of inexpensive and readily accessible materials which fulfill this function. Here, as examples of suitable materials, there can be mentioned sodium or potassium hydroxide, e.g., arranged on a fiber material in such a way as to attain a large surface. Another example is calcium (CaO), provided in a fiber material analogous to the "chalk bags" through which marine divers breathe. It is very important, of course, that these materials are enclosed in a sufficiently fine-meshed material so that there is no possibility for particles to be sucked in with inhalation.

It is also possible to place the CO2-removing material in a holder that is attached to the framework so that the correct positioning is secured.

The mattress is furthermore equipped with legs, as mentioned above, so that air will be available on the underside of the mattress, as well. Preferably the legs are designed so that they are attachable to the mattress frame in one rapid maneuver without the use of tools. The leg length may of course be varied: for infants, i.e., when the mattress is used in a crib or baby carriage, a length of about 5 cm is well suited. When using the mattress for patients suffereing from bedsores, i.e., mainly adult persons, the framework may easily be reinforced to a sufficient degree.

The mattress according to the invention will be both simple and inexpensive to produce.

The attached figure shows an example of a possible embodiment of the safety mattress according to the invention. The framework here is shown consisting of side pieces (1) and end pieces (2) joined with the aid of corner pieces (3). These parts may be produced from conventional PVC industrial tubing. The framework is further provided with legs (4) which, e.g., may be attached to the framework in one rapid maneuver without the use of tools. Over the framework is drawn a fabric (5) of a relatively open weave, which has the form of a tight-fitting bag. This cover, in the example shown, is fastened around the short side of the framework with the aid of a simple closure mechanism (7), such as, e.g., a Nelcro closure. On the underside of the cover in the present example there is formed a pocket (6) for placement of a carbon dioxide absorbent material.

Claims

P a t e n t C l a i m s

1.

A safety mattress, characterized in that it comprises a frame made of light tubing which supports a material which offers little resistance to respiration, and where the mattress is further provided with legs so that air circulates around/through the mattress.

2. The safety mattress according to claim 1, characterized in that the material which offers little resistance to respiration is a cover of air permeable material which is drawn over the framework and closed around one end thereof with the aid of known per se closure means.

3.

The safety mattress according to claim 1, characterized in that the material which offers little resistance to respiration is a perforated plate which is optionally placed in an air permeable cover.

4.

The safety mattress according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that the air permeable cover is made of cotton or other fibers which offer low resistance to breathing.