GB2503511A

GB2503511A - Bedding

Info

Publication number: GB2503511A
Application number: GB201211621A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Adele Mcginley
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2012-06-29
Filing date: 2012-06-29
Publication date: 2014-01-01
Also published as: GB201211621D0; WO2014001578A1

Abstract

The present invention relates to a combination mattress and blanket 1 comprising an upper fabric layer 2 and a lower fabric layer 3 which are attached to each other at outer edge regions 4 thereof by a fastening arrangement 7 to define an interior space and at least two openings 1, 9 to the interior space. The openings are at or adjacent opposite ends of the interior space. The provision of a combination mattress and blanket removes the need for separate sheet type blankets. The fastening arrangement between the top and lower layers ensures that a person that is positioned in the space defined between the layers is not able to move or wriggle free of the top layer. The provision of a lower layer that is heavier facilitates its use as a comfortable mattress on an otherwise hard uncomfortable cot or bed base.

Description

BEDDING

The present invention relates to bedding.

Travel cots and cot beds used by children typically have blankets for bedding. However, children are often able to get free of the blankets and this leaves them uncovered and susceptible to the cold whilst sleeping.

Furthermore, as the base of a cot normally operates as a cot mattress it is usually quite hard since it also functions to provide structural rigidity to the cot, and is therefore uncomfortable for a sleeping child. The use of a separate mattress with a cot is quite awkward since it is cumbersome to stow and transport when not in use.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide improved bedding, and more particularly, a combined mattress and blanket for a travel cot or a cot bed, which goes at least someway towards overcoming the above disadvantage.

Further aspects of the present invention will become apparent from the ensuing

description which is given by way of example only.

According to the invention, there is provided a combination mattress and blanket comprising: an upper fabric layer and a lower fabric layer, the layers are releasably attached to each other at outer edge regions thereof by a fastening arrangement to define an interior space between the layers and at least two openings to the interior space, whereby, the openings are at or adjacent opposite ends of the interior space.

Preferably, the upper and the lower fabric layers when fastened together by the fastening arrangement form a bag, whereby a first opening is provided at or adjacent a head end of the bag and the second and any additional openings is at or adjacent a foot end of the bag.

Preferably, the lower fabric layer is heavier than the top fabric layer.

Preferably, the combination mattress and blanket further comprises securing means for releasably securing the combination mattress and blanket to a surface, such as a surface of a bed, travel cot or a cot bed.

Preferably, the lower layer has a size in plane at least corresponding to the size in plane of the upper layer or greater.

Preferably, the lower layer has a size in plane greater than the size in plane of the upper sheet.

In a further modification, the top layer is permanently hingedly fastened to the lower layer along a side of the top layer. For example, the top layer can be permanently hingedly fastened along a foot side of the two layers.

Preferably, the opening at the foot end of the combination mattress and blanket is covered with a netting material.

Preferably, the upper and lower layers comprise a duvet and a duvet cover. Preferably, the duvet cover is made of a fleece material.

Preferably, the duvet of the upper layer has a lower tog than the duvet of the lower layer.

It will be appreciated that, although a conventional rectangular shape is preferred for the combination mattress and blanket, other geometrical shapes are envisaged within the scope of the present invention. Furthermore, it is not necessary for the openings to be of the same geometrical shape. Furthermore, it is not essential that the upper layer has the same geometrical shape as the lower layer.

The present invention provides numerous advantages.

The provision of a combination mattress and blanket removes the need for separate sheet type blankets. The fastening arrangement between the top and lower layers ensures that a person that is positioned in the space defined between the layers is not able to move or wriggle free of the top layer. The provision of a lower layer that is heavier or has a high tog facilitates its use as a comfortable mattress on an otherwise hard uncomfortable cot or bed base. The use of securing means secures the combination mattress and blanket to the cot and bed. The provision of one or more openings at the foot end of the combination mattress and blanket provides a venting means to enable air to circulate through the interior space between the upper and lower fabric layers. The combination mattress and blanket is also portable and able to be folded up and optionally placed in a carrier bag for ease of transport.

The invention will now be described more particularly with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing the combination mattress and blanket of the present invention in an open configuration; Fig. 2 is a perspective view similar to Fig. 1 in which the combination mattress and blanket is in a fastened configuration; Fig. 3 is a plan view of Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is a side view of Fig. 2; Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the combination mattress and blanket of Fig. 2 in a cot bed; Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the combination mattress and blanket of Fig. 1 in a cot bed; Figs. 7 and 8 are views similar to Figs. 1 and 2, showing an alternatively shaped combination mattress and blanket of the present invention in an open configuration and in a fastened configuration.

Referring initially to Figs. 1 to 5, there is shown a combination mattress and blanket 1 comprising an upper fabric layer 2 and a lower fabric layer 3. In the instance shown, the lower layer 3 has a size in plane greater than the size in plane of the upper layer, although it will be understood that the lower layer 3 may be of the same planar dimensions as the upper layer 2. It will be understood that the layers 2, 3 may be any planar size or dimension as required and optionally depending on the size of a bed or cot or person using it.

The lower fabric layer 3 is optionally heavier than the top fabric layer 2 so that the lower layer may act as a mattress on the base 6 of a cot 5 (see Fig. 5). The fabric layers 2, 3 comprise a duvet covered with a duvet cover, in which the duvet cover may be made of a fleece material, although it will be understood that the covering may be of any suitable material as required or as desired. The duvet of the upper layer 2 has a lower tog than the duvet of the lower layer 3. The lower fabric layer 3 is thus optionally heavier than the top fabric layer 2.

The layers 2, 3 are releasably attached to each other at outer regions 4 thereof by a fastening arrangement 7. It will be understood that outer regions 4 are edges along one or more side of the layers 2, 3, and when attached define an interior space between the upper and lower layers 2, 3 and at least two openings 8 and 9 to the interior space. The fastening arrangement may be used to enable the top layer 2 to be folded back, as shown in Fig. 1, to enable a person to gain access to the interior space of the combination mattress and blanket 1. The openings 8, 9 are at or adjacent opposite ends of the interior space. In the instance shown opening 8 is at or adjacent a top end of the combination mattress and blanket 1 and the opening 9 is at or adjacent a bottom or toot end of the combination mattress and blanket 1.

The releasable fastening arrangements 7 suitable for use with the combination mattress and blanket of the present invention will be apparent to persons skilled in the art, such as, for example, poppers, zips, buttons, laces, VeIcroTM fasteners, etc. The top layer 2 may also be permanently fastened to the lower layer along a side of the layers 2, 3. In the instance shown, the top layer 2 is permanently hingedly fastened along a foot side 10 of the two layers 2, 3 by being integrally connected with the lower layer 2.

The upper layer 2 and lower layer 3 are thus fastened together by the fastening arrangement 7 to form a bag, whereby a first opening 8 to the interior space of the bag is provided at or adjacent a head end 11 and the second opening 9 to the interior space of the bag, and any additional opening, is at or adjacent a foot end 12 of the bag. The opening(s) 9 at the foot end 12 of the combination mattress and blanket 1 is covered with a netting material.

The combination mattress and blanket fuither comprises seculing means, such as elastic bands! ties and the like, for releasably securing the combination mattress and blanket 1 to a surface of a bed, travel cot or a cot bed.

It will be appreciated that, although a conventional rectangular shape is shown foi the combination mattress and blanket 1, other geometrical shapes are envisaged within the scope of the present invention, such as the oval shape arrangement shown in Figs. 7 and 8. Furthermore, it is not necessary for the openings to be of the same geometrical shape.

Furthermore, it is not essential that the upper layer has the same geometrical shape as the lower layer.

It will of course be undeistood that the invention is not limited to the specific details described herein, which are given by way of example only, and that various modifications and alterations are possible within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Claims

CLAIMS: 1. A combination mattress and blanket comprising: an upper fabric layer and a lower fabric layer, the layers are releasably attached to each other at outer edge regions thereof by a fastening arrangement to define an interior space between the layers and at least two openings to the interior space, whereby, the openings are at or adjacent opposite ends of the interior space.
2. A combination mattress and blanket as claimed in Claim 1, in which the upper and the lower fabric layers when fastened together by the fastening arrangement form a bag, whereby a first opening is provided at or adjacent a head end of the bag and the second and any additional openings is at or adjacent a foot end of the bag.
3. A combination mattress and blanket as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2. in which the lower fabric layer is heavier than the top fabric layer.
4. A combination mattress and blanket as claimed in any preceding claim, further comprising securing means for releasably securing the combination mattress and blanket to a surface, such as a surface of a bed, travel cot or a cot bed.
5. A combination mattress and blanket as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the lower layer has a size in plane at least corresponding to the size in plane of the upper layer or greater.
6. A combination mattress and blanket as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the top layer is permanently hingedly fastened to the lower layer along a side of the top layer.
7. A combination mattress and blanket as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the opening at the toot end of the combination mattress and blanket is covered with a netting material.
8. A combination mattress and blanket as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the upper and lower layers comprise a duvet and a duvet cover.
9. A combination mattress and blanket as claimed in Claim 8, in which the duvet of the upper layer has a different tog to the tog of the duvet of the lower layer.
10. A combination mattress and blanket as claimed in any preceding claim, substantially in accordance with any of the embodiments as herein described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.