초록 ▼

The present invention discloses a permeable mattress, or permeable pillow, which includes a base (1). Cushioning support (3) are attached to the top of the base in a distributed manner, to support a mesh (4) which supports a person, or person's head. Adjacent to the mesh there may be one or more lay

The present invention discloses a permeable mattress, or permeable pillow, which includes a base (1). Cushioning support (3) are attached to the top of the base in a distributed manner, to support a mesh (4) which supports a person, or person's head. Adjacent to the mesh there may be one or more layers of each, or any, of the following; permeable fabric, permeable foam, permeable fibres or perforated rubber. The mattress may be covered in a layer of permeable fabric (6). Any of the layers may be removably attached to the mattress assembly. In a further embodiment of the invention, beneath the base of the mattress, or integral with the base, there may be provided a spill tray that has a contoured structure, to guide fluids such that they flow under gravity into a collecting bowl.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A permeable mattress that is permeable to air and liquids, the permeable mattress including:a substantially rigid base, the base incorporating substantially rigid cross members, the base including holes in the areas between the cross members to permit the flow of air and liquids through the base;

1. A permeable mattress that is permeable to air and liquids, the permeable mattress including:a substantially rigid base, the base incorporating substantially rigid cross members, the base including holes in the areas between the cross members to permit the flow of air and liquids through the base; cushioning supports attached to various cross members of the base, the cushioning supports being attached to and supported by the base in a distributed manner; a flexible mesh which overlays all of the cushioning supports, the mesh being permeable to air and liquids, the mesh being held in association with each of the cushioning supports by being attached to numerous cushioning supports, the top surface of the mesh also being held away from and above the base such that any point on the top surface of the mesh can move vertically independently of the base, and the mesh being composed of a material that does not absorb water; and whereby, the permeable mattress provides adequate support to at least one person and the load of a person lying on the mattress is distributed over numerous cushioning supports, and, the mesh and cushioning support interfaces are structured such that air or liquids are riot trapped at the interfaces. 2. The permeable mattress as claimed in claim 1, wherein there is additionally provided a cover adjacent to the mesh, the cover including at least one layer selected from the following: permeable fabric, permeable foam, permeable fibres or perforated rubber, which can be used in combination if more than one layer is utilised.3. The permeable mattress as claimed in claim 2, wherein some or any of the layers may be removably attached to the permeable mattress.4. The permeable mattress as claimed in claim 2, wherein the cover over the mesh is made of an open weave or knit of nylon.5. The permeable mattress as claimed in claim 2, wherein the cover over the mesh is held in place and tensioned by passing it over the mesh and fixing it to the edges of the base.6. The permeable mattress as claimed in claim 2, wherein the cover is attached to the mesh.7. The permeable mattress as claimed in claim 2, wherein the at least one layer of the cover is perforated.8. The permeable mattress as claimed in claim 2, wherein a top layer of the cover is provided and is made of foam.9. The permeable mattress as claimed in claim 8, wherein the top layer of the cover is made of foam rubber layers of different flexibilities adhered together, creating progressive stiffness or flexibility.10. The permeable mattress as claimed in claim 8, wherein the top layer of the cover is held in place and tensioned by passing the top layer of the cover over the mesh and fixing it to the edges of the base.11. The permeable mattress as claimed in claim 8, wherein the top layer of the cover is attached to the mesh.12. The permeable mattress as claimed in claim 2, having a permeable fabric cover.13. The permeable mattress as claimed in claim 12, wherein the permeable fabric cover consists of a top layer of the cover of soft permeable fabric stitched to a bottom layer of the cover of tough permeable fabric.14. The permeable mattress as claimed in claim 12, wherein the permeable fabric cover is moisture absorbing and can absorb sweat.15. The permeable mattress as claimed in claim 12, wherein the top layer of the cover is made of an open weave or knit of cotton, and the bottom layer of the cover is made of an open weave or knit of nylon.16. The permeable mattress as claimed in claim 12, wherein the permeable fabric cover is removably attached to the base.17. The permeable mattress as claimed in claim 12, wherein the permeable fabric cover has buttonholes at the corners, and optionally along the sides, which attach to corresponding rounded hooks on the edges of the base or the mesh.18. The permeable mattress as claimed in claim 1, wherein the permeable mattress is covered in a layer of permeable fabric.19. The permeable mattress as claimed in claim 1, wherein beneath the base of the permeable mattress, or integral with the base, there is a spill tray which has a contoured structure to guide fluids such that they flow under gravity into a collecting bowl.20. The permeable mattress as claimed in claim 1, wherein the mesh and cushioning support interfaces incorporate a gap between the mesh and a cushioning support, the gap provided by protrusions integrally formed as part of the mesh.21. The permeable mattress as claimed in claim 20, wherein the base is a rigid frame which includes bordering members, the bordering members able to associate with the periphery of components on the permeable mattress thereupon.22. The permeable mattress as claimed in claim 1, wherein the mesh and the base have the same structure, so that the permeable mattress can be used either way up.23. The permeable mattress as claimed in claim 1, wherein the cushioning supports are made of soft rubber.24. The permeable mattress as claimed in claim 1, wherein the cushioning supports are made of foam rubber.25. The permeable mattress as claimed in claim 1, wherein the cushioning supports consist of springs.26. The permeable mattress as claimed in claim 1, wherein the cushioning supports are made of a single piece of soft rubber or of portions of soft rubber adhered together, different regions of the cushioning supports having varying cross-section, or different flexibility.27. The permeable mattress as claimed in claim 1, wherein the cushioning supports are made of a single piece of foam rubber or of portions of foam rubber adhered together, different regions of the cushioning supports having varying cross-section, or different flexibility.28. The permeable mattress as claimed in claim 1, wherein the mesh is a single piece of material that deforms appropriately under the load of a person whilst sleeping.29. The permeable mattress as claimed in claim 1, wherein the mesh consists of many small relatively rigid plates that can move vertically, independently of each other.30. The permeable mattress as claimed in claim 1, wherein the mesh is affixed to the cushioning supports by gluing.31. The permeable mattress as claimed in claim 1, wherein the mesh is attached to the base by ties, allowing the mesh to move downwards towards the base, but not permitting the mesh to move free of the cushioning supports.32. The permeable mattress as claimed in claim 1, wherein the mesh is manufactured such that where the mesh overlays the cushioning supports the mesh structure remains permeable to air and liquids.33. The permeable mattress as claimed in claim 1, wherein the mesh is manufactured such that where the mesh overlays the cushioning supports the mesh structure provides a sloping cap over the cushioning support to allow liquid to flow down and away from the cushioning support.34. The permeable mattress as claimed in claim 1, wherein the mesh is rounded at the edges.35. The permeable mattress as claimed in claim 1, wherein the mesh is made of thermoplastic elastomer.36. The permeable mattress as claimed in claim 1, wherein the mesh is made of an upper part and a lower part joined together.37. The permeable mattress as claimed in claim 36, wherein the upper part is made of a soft thermoplastic elastomer, and the lower part is a stronger and stiffer thermoplastic elastomer or polyethylene.38. The permeable mattress as claimed in claim 1, wherein there is provided a spill tray and collecting bowl beneath the base.39. The permeable mattress as claimed in claim 38, wherein the spill tray and the collecting bowl are made of rigid polyvinyl chloride.40. The permeable mattress as claimed in claim 38, wherein the spill tray has a raised lip around the edges and slopes down to the collecting bowl.41. The permeable mattress as claimed in claim 1, wherein the permeable mattress is washable with water.42. The permeable mattress as claimed in claim 1, wherein the permeable mattress is a permeable pillow.43. The permeable pillow as claimed in claim 42, wherein the layers may be removably attached to the pillow, assembly, or wrapped around the pillow assembly as a cover.44. A permeable mattress that is permeable to air and liquids, the permeable mattress including:a flexible base, the flexible base being a substantially flexible frame or sheet and incorporating cross members, the flexible base including holes in the areas between the cross members to permit the flow of air and liquids through the base; rigid supports attached to various cross members of the flexible base, the rigid supports being attached to and supported by the flexible base in a distributed manner; a flexible mesh which overlays all of the rigid supports, the mesh being permeable to air and liquids, and the mesh being held in association with numerous rigid supports, the top surface of the mesh also being held away from and above the flexible base such that any point on the top surface of the mesh can move vertically independently of the general extent of the top surface of the mesh, and the mesh being composed of a material that does not absorb water; and whereby, the permeable mattress provides adequate support to at least one person and the load of a person lying on the mattress is distributed over numerous rigid supports, and, the mesh and rigid support interfaces are structured such that air or liquids are not trapped at the interfaces. 45. The permeable mattress as claimed in claim 44, wherein the permeable mattress is covered in at least one layer selected from the following: permeable fabric, permeable foam, permeable fibres or perforated rubber, which can be used in combination if more than one layer is utilised.46. The permeable mattress as claimed in claim 45, wherein some or any of the layers may be removably attached to the permeable mattress.