Patent Application
20240081550
Every year, thousands of infants suffer sudden unexpected infant death (SUID) in the United States and throughout the world. Sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) accounts for many of these SUIDs. While the causes of many of these SIDS and SUIDs are unknown, it is possible that some of these deaths may be attributable to drowning and/or suffocation due to oxygen deprivation. Both drowning and suffocation are characterized by oxygen deprivation.
Conventional pads or mattresses having flat surfaces and/or generally quadrangular dimensions may pose a risk of SIDS and SUIDs. Therefore, a need exists for improved designs.
Disclosed herein is an example mattress pad. The mattress pad may comprise a mattress body and channels disposed within the mattress body, wherein the channels are configured to redirect fluid away from one or more breathing regions at or above the mattress pad. Each channel may have a generally streamlined curvature profile. The generally streamlined curvature profile may be characterized by at least one curvilinear function selected from the group consisting of: a parabolic function, a hemispheric function, a polynomial function, a hyperbolic function, an elliptical function, a sinusoidal function, and any combinations thereof. The streamlined curvature profile may be biased towards a top or a bottom surface of the mattress body. The mattress pad may comprise one or more permeable or semi-permeable fabrics disposed within the channels to separate an infant from the redirected fluid. The mattress pad may comprise at least nine channels, for example, at least 12 channels. The channels may be arranged in a grid, each channel spaced apart by a distance of at least 2″ (5.08 cm). The mattress body may comprise a compressible foam.
Further disclosed herein is an example system. A system may comprise a tub and a mattress pad comprising a mattress body and channels disposed within the mattress body, wherein the channels are configured to redirect fluid away from one or more breathing regions of the mattress pad. The system may comprise a plurality of spires. The plurality of spires may be configured to support the weight of at least the mattress pad and an infant disposed on the mattress pad. The system may be further configured to redirect the fluid to one or more regions disposed between the plurality of spires. The system may be arranged in a grid, each spire spaced apart by at least 0.1″ (0.25 cm). The one or more of the spires may have a frustoconical profile. The one or more of the spires may have a cylindrical or a cuboid profile. An opening of each channel may be narrower at a top surface of the mattress pad than at a lower surface of the mattress pad, or an opening of each channel may be narrower at a bottom surface of the mattress pad than at a top surface of the mattress pad. The tub may comprise one or more trenches configured to receive the redirected fluid. The system may be configured to redirect the fluid away from the breathing regions at a rate of at least 0.1 gallons (379 milliliters) per minute.
It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory in nature and are intended to provide an understanding of the present disclosure without limiting the scope of the present disclosure. In that regard, additional aspects, features, and advantages of the present disclosure will be apparent to one skilled in the art from the following detailed description.
These drawings illustrate certain aspects of some examples of the present disclosure and should not be used to limit or define the disclosure.
The present application is directed to an apparatus comprising a mattress body and channels disposed therein. Specifically, channels disposed within pads or mattresses have an improved ability to prevent drowning and/or suffocation due to oxygen deprivation. More specifically, channels disposed within the body of a mattress pad according to certain embodiments of the present disclosure may prevent accumulation of fluids such as vomit, water, or other drowning- or suffocating-inducing fluids on an upper surface of the mattress pad, may provide passageways for such fluids to migrate away from the upper surfaces and towards lower surfaces of the mattress pad, and may serve to provide an infant or toddler disposed on the mattress pad with access to breathable air occupying regions either above, below, or within the mattress pad.
Referring now to certain embodiments of mattress pad 102, inner region 110 of mattress pad 102 may comprise any material suitable for suspension of an infant toddler thereon. Suitable materials include, but are not limited to, a compressible foam, a rigid foam, a flexible foam, a semirigid foam, an elastomeric foam, a plastic foam, a polymeric foam, a viscoelastic foam, latex foam, felt, polyester fiber, cotton fiber, wool fiber, non-woven fiber pads, molded foam, memory foam, down, etc., or any combination thereof. Polymeric foams may be produced from a wide range of polymers including but not limited to polyurethane, polystyrene, polyisocyanurate, polyethylene, polypropylene, poly(ethylene-vinyl acetate), nitrile rubber, or combinations thereof. Mattress pad 102 may comprise a single material or may comprise multiple materials. For example, inner region 110 may be coated or enveloped by an outer material 114. Inner region 110 may comprise an absorbent material. Absorbent materials may comprise cotton wool, silicone foam, phenolic foam, polyacrylate, polyurethane, wood fiber, polyester, polyester fiber, feathers, down, and combinations thereof. Coating 114 may comprise a material that is hydrophobic or hydrophilic. Coating 114 may comprise an absorbent material. Alternatively, two or more materials may be homogenously combined to form a single continuous solid material or foam. Alternatively, two or more materials may be combined or blended to form a nonhomogeneous material comprising multiple materials, such as a continuous region 604 comprising a first material and inner regions 602 comprising a second material. In some embodiments, air or gas may be entrained within a material or combination of materials.
Referring now to one or more channels 200 that may be disposed, situated, and/or formed within a mattress pad 102,
Referring now to dimensions and curvatures of channels 200,
where y is a first axis, x is a second axis, and x0 and y0 are points through which a curvature profile 306 passes through. Alternatively, curvature profile 306 may have a general curvature of the form:
Y=f(x) (2)
where y is a first axis, x is a second axis, and f denotes a function. A polynomial function, such as a parabolic function shown below, for example, has the form:
f(x)=ax2+bx+c (3)
where y is a first axis, x is a second axis, and a, b, and c are constants determining one or more dimensions of curvature profile 306. A, b, and c constants may have any values within a suitable range including, without limitation, between 0.005 inches−1 and 5 inches−1, between −1 and 1, and between −3 inches and 3 inches respectively, or ranges therebetween. A fluid flow rate may be a function of any one of spacing between channels 200, curvature profiles of channels 200, grid-type or arrangement of channels 200, size of channels 200, inner 310 and/or outer 308 diameters of channels, ratio of inner 310 to outer 308 diameters of channels, and combinations thereof. For example, a mattress pad 106 having a grid-like channel arrangement, spacing between channels 200 between about 3 and about 6 inches, a streamlined curvature profile, and a ratio of inner 310 to outer 308 diameter of approximately 0.5 may allow for a fluid flow rate up to about 50 gallons per minute. Fluid flow rate may refer to the rate of fluid flow through a single channel or through multiple. Alternatively, a fluid flow rate may be a function of a type of permeable material used in a fluid permeable region.
With continued reference to dimension and curvature of one or more of the channels 200 and with reference to fluid permeability,
In one or more examples, the channels 200 may be arranged in a grid, each channel of a plurality spaced apart by at least 0.5″ (0.25 cm), for example, between 0.5″ and 2″, between 2″ and 4″, between 4″ and 6″, or any ranges therebetween. Alternatively, the channels 200 may be arranged in a staggered or an offset grid. Spacing between the channels 200 as well as the nature of the arrangement, e.g., uniform or staggered, may influence the channels 200 ability to (i) quickly and effectively redirect fluid away from breathing regions, (ii) provide adequate support to an infant disposed on the mattress pad 102, (iii) maintain separation between the breathing regions and other regions, e.g., non-breathing regions, a tub (e.g., tub 104 of
Now referencing tub 104,
With continued reference to tub 104,
In one or more examples, the spires 502 may be arranged in a grid, each spire spaced apart by at least 0.1″ (0.25 cm), for example, between 0.1″ and 3″, or any ranges therebetween. Alternatively, the spires 502 may be arranged in a staggered or an offset grid. Spacing of the spires 502 as well as the nature of the arrangement, e.g., uniform or staggered, may influence the tub's 104 ability to (i) be sufficiently weight-bearing, (ii) allow fluid to be redirected away from breathing regions, e.g., trench or region(s) between spires, etc., (iii) facilitate cleaning of the tub, and (iv) may allow for ergonomic manufacture of the tub 104.
Certain embodiments of the present disclosure have an improved ability to redirect fluids away from an upper surface of a mattress, pad, or mattress pad.
Certain embodiments of the present disclosure have an improved ability to redirect fluids away from breathable regions containing oxygen.
Certain embodiments of the present disclosure have an improved ability to prevent accumulation of fluid in breathing regions.
Certain embodiments of the present disclosure have an improved ability to prevent an infant, toddler, or child's nose or mouth from accessing fluid filled regions and/or oxygen deprived regions.
Certain embodiments of the present disclosure have an improved ability to provide an infant, toddler, or child with better access to breathable regions containing oxygen, such as breathing regions above, below, or within a mattress pad.
Certain embodiments of the present disclosure have an improved ability to prevent drowning, suffocation and/or oxygen deprivation.
The preceding description provides various examples of the systems and apparatuses of use disclosed herein which may contain different features and alternative combinations of components. It should be understood that, although individual examples may be discussed herein, the present disclosure covers all combinations of the disclosed examples, including, without limitation, the different component combinations, feature combinations, and properties of the system. It should be understood that the systems and apparatuses are described in terms of “comprising,” “containing,” or “including” various components or steps, the compositions and methods can also “consist essentially of” or “consist of” the various components and steps. Moreover, the indefinite articles “a” or “an,” as used in the claims, are defined herein to mean one or more than one of the elements that it introduces.
For the sake of brevity, only certain ranges are explicitly disclosed herein. However, ranges from any lower limit may be combined with any upper limit to recite a range not explicitly recited, as well as ranges from any lower limit may be combined with any other lower limit to recite a range not explicitly recited, in the same way, ranges from any upper limit may be combined with any other upper limit to recite a range not explicitly recited. Additionally, whenever a numerical range with a lower limit and an upper limit is disclosed, any number and any comprised range falling within the range are specifically disclosed. In particular, every range of values (of the form, “from about a to about b,” or, equivalently, “from approximately a to b,” or, equivalently, “from approximately a-b”) disclosed herein is to be understood to set forth every number and range encompassed within the broader range of values even if not explicitly recited. Thus, every point or individual value may serve as its own lower or upper limit combined with any other point or individual value or any other lower or upper limit, to recite a range not explicitly recited.
Therefore, the present examples are well adapted to attain the ends and advantages mentioned as well as those that are inherent therein. The particular examples disclosed above are illustrative only and may be modified and practiced in different but equivalent manners apparent to those skilled in the art having the benefit of the teachings herein. Although individual examples are discussed, the disclosure covers all combinations of all of the examples. Furthermore, no limitations are intended to the details of construction or design herein shown, other than as described in the claims below. Also, the terms in the claims have their plain, ordinary meaning unless otherwise explicitly and clearly defined by the patentee. It is therefore evident that the particular illustrative examples disclosed above may be altered or modified and all such variations are considered within the scope and spirit of those examples. If there is any conflict in the usages of a word or term in this specification and one or more patent(s) or other documents that may be incorporated herein by reference, the definitions that are consistent with this specification should be adopted.
The present application is a nonprovisional application claiming priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63/406,025 filed Sep. 13, 2022, the entirety of which is incorporated herein by reference.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 63406025 | Sep 2022 | US |
