Compact Portable Bedding System

Abstract

A multipurpose bed for young children, toddlers and infants includes a two piece foldable mattress surrounded by a soft enclosure wall. Portions of the enclosure wall can be removed or laterally pivoted on zippers which serve as hinges to configure the mattress for placement in a crib, for use as a play mat or for sharing with an adult, such as during nursing. The bed can be folded from a flat horizontal sleeping position to a folded clam-shell position which defines a storage space for storing bedding accessories.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A bed for infants, toddlers, and children, comprising:
 a mattress comprising a first mattress portion and a second mattress portion;   a central fastener releasably coupling said first and second mattress portions;   a first pair of side walls;   a first pair of zippers respectively releasably coupling said first pair of side walls to said first mattress portion;   a second pair of side walls;   a second pair of zippers respectively releasably coupling said second pair of side walls to said second mattress portion;   a first end wall;   a first end wall zipper releasably coupling said first end wall to said first mattress portion;   a second end wall;   a second end wall zipper releasably coupling said second end wall to said second mattress portion; and   said first and second mattress portions each adjustable from a flat horizontal sleeping position to a folded clam-shell storage position defining a storage space.   
     
     
         2 . The bed of  claim 1 , further comprising a sheet of flexible material coupling said first and second mattress portions and allowing spacing between said first and second mattress portions. 
     
     
         3 . The bed of  claim 2 , wherein said storage space is defined between said first and second pairs of side walls, said first and second end walls and said sheet of flexible material. 
     
     
         4 . The bed of  claim 2 , wherein said sheet of flexible material comprises a wear-resistant fabric material permanently coupled between said first and second mattress portions. 
     
     
         5 . The bed of  claim 2 , wherein said first and second mattress portions respectively comprise first and second adjoining central surface portions and wherein said sheet of flexible material forms a protective exterior cover over said first and second adjoining central surface portions while in said folded clam-shell storage position. 
     
     
         6 . The bed of  claim 1 , wherein said central fastener, said first pair of zippers, said second pair of zippers, said first end wall zipper and said second and wall zipper each comprises an open-end zipper comprising two rows of fully releasable and separable zipper teeth. 
     
     
         7 . The bed of  claim 1 , further comprising a first pair of releasable fasteners respectively provided between said first pair of side walls and said first end wall, and a second pair of releasable fasteners respectively provided between said second pair of side walls and said second end wall. 
     
     
         8 . The bed of  claim 1 , further comprising a first pair of flexible releasable flap fasteners respectively extending between said first pair of side walls and said first end wall and a second pair of flexible releasable flap fasteners respectively extending between said second pair of side walls and said second end wall. 
     
     
         9 . The bed of  claim 8 , wherein said first pair of flexible releasable flap fasteners comprises a first pair of fabric flaps and said second pair of flexible releasable flap fasteners comprises a second pair of fabric flaps. 
     
     
         10 . The bed of  claim 8 , wherein said first pair of flexible releasable flap fasteners further comprises a first pair of fabric flaps respectively comprising a first pair of hook and loop fasteners and said second pair of flexible releasable flap fasteners further comprises a second pair of fabric flaps respectively comprising a second pair of hook and loop fasteners. 
     
     
         11 . The bed of  claim 1 , further comprising a first pair of beveled joints formed between opposite end portions of said first end wall and said first pair of side walls, and a second pair of beveled joints formed between opposite end portions of said second end wall and said second pair of sidewalls. 
     
     
         12 . The bed of  claim 1 , further comprising a releasable closure zipper provided between said first and second end walls releasably holding said first and second mattress portions in said folded clam-shell storage position. 
     
     
         13 . The bed of  claim 1 , wherein said first and second mattress portions, said first and second pairs of side walls and said first and second end walls comprise compacted polyester fill material. 
     
     
         14 . The bed of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one bedding accessory selected from the group consisting of a sleeping pad, a blanket, a comforter, a head support wedge and a pillow, and wherein said at least one bedding accessory is stored in said storage space. 
     
     
         15 . The bed of  claim 1 , wherein said central fastener is fastened in said flat horizontal sleeping position and unfastened in said folded clam-shell storage position. 
     
     
         16 . A bed for infants, toddlers and children, comprising:
 a mattress comprising a first mattress portion and a second mattress portion, said first and second mattress portions respectively comprising first and second adjoining central portions;   a sheet of flexible material permanently coupling said first and second mattress portions between said first and second adjoining central portions, said sheet of flexible material allowing said first and second mattress portions to move apart and fold together from a flat, horizontal sleeping position to a folded clam shell storage position; and   wherein said sheet of flexible material forms a protective exterior cover over said first and second adjoining central mattress portions in said folded clam-shell storage position.   
     
     
         17 . The bed of  claim 16 , wherein said sheet of flexible material is disposed under said first and second mattress portions with said mattress in said flat, horizontal sleeping position. 
     
     
         18 . A bed for infants, toddlers and children, comprising:
 a mattress comprising a first mattress portion coupled to a second mattress portion;   a first pair of side walls coupled to said first mattress portion;   a second pair of side walls coupled to said second mattress portion;   a first end wall coupled to said first mattress portion;   a second end wall coupled to said second mattress portion;   a first pair of joints formed between opposite end portions of said first end wall and said first pair of side walls;   a second pair of joints formed between opposite end portions of said second end wall and said second pair of side walls;   a first pair of releasable fasteners respectively provided in said first pair of joints;   a second pair of releasable fasteners respectively provided in said second pair of joints;   a first pair of flaps comprising a first pair of releasable flap fasteners coupling said opposite end portions of said first end wall with said first pair of side walls; and   a second pair of flaps comprising a second pair of releasable flap fasteners coupling said opposite end portions of said second end wall with said second pair of side walls.   
     
     
         19 . The bed of  claim 18 , wherein said first and second pairs of joints comprise beveled joints. 
     
     
         20 . The bed of  claim 18 , wherein said first and second pairs of releasable fasteners and said first and second pairs of releasable flap fasteners comprise hook and loop fasteners.