A Mattress

Abstract

A mattress ( 2 ) which in plan view comprises an inner portion ( 4 ) and an outer portion ( 6 ), the mattress ( 2 ) being such that the inner portion ( 4 ) is of a size for being slept on by at least one person, the outer portion ( 6 ) extends at least partially around the inner portion ( 4 ), and the inner portion ( 4 ) has a lower compression rate than the outer portion ( 6 ) whereby the weight of the person on the inner portion ( 4 ) is distributed over a greater area than would be the case if the inner portion ( 4 ) had the same compression rate as the outer portion ( 6 ), and whereby the outer portion ( 6 ) constrains the inner portion ( 4 ) and controls lateral deformation of the inner portion ( 4 ) caused by the weight of the person on the inner portion ( 4 ), and the mattress ( 2 ) being characterised in that: (i) the inner portion ( 4 ) is in a shape which has a first part ( 10 ) for receiving the head ( 12 ) of a sleeping person ( 8 ), a second part ( 14 ) for receiving the feet ( 16 ) of the sleeping person ( 8 ), and a third part ( 18 ) for receiving the buttocks ( 20 ) of the sleeping person ( 8 ); (ii) the first part and the second part ( 10, 14 ) are narrower than the third part ( 18 ); the first part and the second part ( 10, 14 ) are sufficiently wide that the first part ( 10 ) is able to be for receiving the feet ( 16 ) of the sleeping person ( 8 ) and the second part ( 14 ) is able to be for receiving the head ( 12 ) of the sleeping person ( 8 ), whereby the mattress ( 2 ) is able to turned through 180° with its same side uppermost for facilitating uniform wear of the mattress ( 2 ) and prolonged life of the mattress ( 2 ); the inner portion ( 4 ) comprises a plurality of apertures which define the shape of the inner portion ( 4 ); and the apertures extend completely through the mattress ( 2 ) whereby the underside of mattress also has the inner portion ( 4 ), whereby the mattress ( 2 ) is able to be turned over so that its underside becomes its topside and thereby becomes able to receive the sleeping person and thereby further facilitates the uniform wear of the mattress ( 2 ) and the prolonged life of the mattress ( 2 ).

1 . A mattress which in plan view comprises an inner portion and an outer portion, the mattress being such that the inner portion is of a size for being slept on by at least one person, the outer portion extends at least partially around the inner portion, and the inner portion has a lower compression rate than the outer portion whereby the weight of the person on the inner portion is distributed over a greater area than would be the case if the inner portion had the same compression rate as the outer portion, and whereby the outer portion constrains the inner portion and controls lateral deformation of the inner portion caused by the weight of the person on the inner portion, and the mattress being characterised in that:
 (i) the inner portion is in a shape which has a first part for receiving the head of a sleeping person, a second part for receiving the feet of the sleeping person, and a third part for receiving the buttocks of the sleeping person;   (ii) the first part and the second part are narrower than the third part;   (iii) the first part and the second part are sufficiently wide that the first part is able to be for receiving the feet of the sleeping person and the second part is able to be for receiving the head of the sleeping person, whereby the mattress is able to turned through 180° with its same side uppermost for facilitating uniform wear of the mattress and prolonged life of the mattress;   (iv) the inner portion comprises a plurality of apertures which define the shape of the inner portion; and   (v) the apertures extend completely through the mattress whereby the underside of mattress also has the inner portion, whereby the mattress is able to be turned over so that its underside becomes its topside and thereby becomes able to receive the sleeping person and thereby further facilitates the uniform wear of the mattress and the prolonged life of the mattress.   
     
     
         2 . A mattress according to  claim 1  in which the first part and the second part are of the same shape. 
     
     
         3 . A mattress according to  claim 1  in which the inner portion  4  includes a fourth part for receiving the shoulders of the sleeping person, the fourth part being positioned between the first part and the third part, and the fourth part being wider than the first part but narrower than the third part. 
     
     
         4 . A mattress according to  claim 1  in which the inner portion is symmetrical about a longitudinal centre of the mattress, and also about a transverse centre of the mattress. 
     
     
         5 . A mattress according to  claim 1  and which is made of the same material. 
     
     
         6 . A mattress according to  claim 1  in which the mattress is made of one single piece of material. 
     
     
         7 . A mattress according to  claim 1  in which the mattress is made of two sheets of material, and in which the two sheets are placed one on top of the other. 
     
     
         8 . A mattress according to  claim 7  in which the two sheets are fastened together. 
     
     
         9 . A mattress according to  claim 8  in which the two sheets are fastened together by welding. 
     
     
         10 . A mattress according to  claim 5  in which the material is a plastics material or a fibrous material. 
     
     
         11 . A mattress according to  claim 10  in which the plastics material is a foam plastics material. 
     
     
         12 . A mattress according to  claim 11  in which the foam plastics material is polyurethane foam. 
     
     
         13 . A mattress according to  claim 1  and including a top covering layer, the top covering layer being such that it extends over the inner and outer portions. 
     
     
         14 . A mattress according to  claim 13  in which the top covering layer is made of a foam material. 
     
     
         15 . A mattress according to  claim 1  and which is a single mattress for one sleeping person, or a double mattress for two sleeping persons.