Sleeping means

The invention of this application relates to sleeping means for use in providing a comfortable, portable, sleeping location for a person. In particular, although not necessarily exclusively, the apparatus can be used in camping, or in other locations where a person may temporarily wish to sleep, perhaps if they are visiting other persons who do not have sufficient beds for use by them or for use by a child who is sleeping over at a friend's house. It should therefore be appreciated that the sleeping means can be used in many different environments and can be adopted to different designs to suit the particular environment.

For temporary sleeping accommodation, the use of sleeping bags, which typically comprise an envelope of material which has free ends along one side which can be zipped or otherwise joined together to allow the person to move into and get out of the envelope, is well known. When the envelope is zipped the person is kept warm. A problem with the sleeping bag however is that while the same may provide the warmth required by the user, if the user is lying on a floor, or an uneven surface, they can be relatively uncomfortable due to the relative hardness and/or unevenness of the surface.

It is also known for people to sleep on an inflatable mattress, with bedding placed on top of the mattress such as sheets, duvets and the like. This can provide added comfort but what typically happens during use is that the bedding moves with respect to the inflatable mattress and this can allow the person to come into direct contact with the plastic mattress material which can be uncomfortable and/or unpleasant for the person, often causing them to wake up. Alternatively, the person can slip off the mattress during sleep. This is a particular problem with children and can make the same unattractive to the child.

The aim of the present invention is to provide a sleeping means which allows comfort and warmth to be obtained for the person using the same and for the same to be maintained throughout the night as the person sleeps. It is a further aim to allow the sleeping means to be portable and easily stored when not in use. It is a yet further aim to provide added utility to the sleeping means such that other facilities can be provided to the user hence adapting the sleeping means to suit particular requirements and uses such as for example, children's sleepover parties, outdoor camping and the like.

In a first aspect of the invention there is provided a sleeping means comprising an inflatable mattress, a sheet material envelope having an opening into a cavity defined therein for the reception of, and substantial enclosure therein, of the mattress the sleeping means further includes a cover section which, in conjunction with the top surface of the envelope, defines a sleeping area in which a person can lie and be supported by the mattress and the cover portion is movable between a first position to substantially enclose the person within the sleeping area and a second position to allow the person to get into or out of the sleeping area of the sleeping means, said sleeping means including a pillow receiving section for the reception of part of the inflatable mattress and characterised in that the cover portion of the sleeping means include filling material and/or insulating material to provide warmth to the sleeping area.

The mattress is typically inserted into the cavity in a deflated condition whereupon, the same can then be inflated as required for use.

In a preferred embodiment, at least one edge of the cover portion is integrally attached to the sheet material which defines the cavity for the mattress. Typically a further portion of the cover is selectively engageable with the sheet material envelope by any of stud fastenings, loop and hook fastenings, zips or other suitable releasable fastening means so as to allow the cover to be retained in the first position.

In a preferred embodiment the deformable mattress is an inflatable mattress.

Typically when the cover portion is placed over the person in the sleeping area and the potion of the same is selectively engaged in the fist position, only one edge remains free from the sheet material envelope said edge being that most closely located to the head end of the sleeping means.

In one embodiment, when the sleeping means is not in use, the separate pillow can be removed from the pillow receiving section or the mattress can be deflated so as not to fill the pillow receiving section, and said pillow receiving section vacate the is used as a storage means such that the mattress and the remaining sheet material are moved, typically by rolling up the same, and placed into the pillow receiving section where it is material for storage. In one embodiment the pillow receiving section can be shaped so as to depict a well known character, or animal or other shape. Preferably said character, animal or shape, or material linked to the same, is also depicted at another location on the sleeping means, typically on the cover portion. This embodiment is particularly attractive to the sleeping means for use by children when cartoon or other well known children's characters can be depicted.

The cover portion with the filling and/or insulating material provides warmth to the person in the sleeping area. For example the cover can be provided in the form of a duvet or other warmth giving configuration so as to improve the warmth and comfort to the person in the sleeping area.

The fabric used for the sheet material can be any suitable fabric of a type for a person sleeping.

In a further embodiment of the invention an additional portion of sheet material is provided, said portion typically having at least one edge permanently fixed to the sleeping means and some of the remaining parts selectively engageable with the sheet material. Said additional portion when selectively engaged, forms a storage pocket into which the remainder of the sleeping means comprising the sheet material and mattress can be inserted and stored. In one preferred embodiment the additional potion is attached to the underside of the sleeping means such that when the sleeping means is in use it is not normally viewable. Preferably the surface of the additional portion which faces the sheet material of the sleeping means when the sleeping means is in use becomes an outer surface of the sleeping means when moved to a storage condition. Preferably said surface includes an image applied thereto.

Preferably handles are provided such that when the sleeping means is stored, the same can be transported.

Typically the said additional portion is selectively engaged to the sheet material via a zip fastener. Typically the additional portion is selectively engaged once the sheet material and mattress has been moved to the storage position.

In a further embodiment of the invention an inflatable surround is provided around part or all of the sheet material so as to prevent the person sleeping in the same moving or falling off the inflatable mattress and/or to allow further facilities to be provided such as cup holders, book holders, and the like.

In a yet further embodiment of the invention the sleeping means includes an enclosure structure which covers a portion of the sleeping means.

The enclosure typically incorporates a frame over which sheet material can be placed and acts to support and form the enclosure. In one embodiment the enclosure is used as an insect shield to minimise interference from those insects in the environment where the sleeping means is being used.

In one embodiment the frame is formed of a series of inflatable members which can be integral with or separate to the inflatable mattress.

In a further embodiment the frame is formed of a resilient member or members which are biased to an erected condition so as to allow the same to move between a coiled, storage condition and an extended erected condition.

Preferably the resilient member(s) moves to the extended position automatically upon release and remains in that position until physically coiled.

In a preferred embodiment the inflatable mattress is wholly inflated and deflated via a single valve inlet/outlet. Typically the valve has a diameter of more than 15mm to ensure rapid inflation or deflation of the inflatable mattress.

A specific embodiment of the invention is now described with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:- <ul id="ul0001" list-style="none"><li>Figure 1 illustrates a perspective view of the sleeping means in use in accordance with the invention;</li><li>Figures 2A and 2B illustrate sectional end views of the sleeping apparatus in second and first conditions respectively, in one embodiment;</li><li>Figure 3 illustrates a sleeping means according to one embodiment of the invention in plan;</li><li>Figures 4A and B illustrates sectional views of the sleeping means of Figure 3 along lines A-A and B-B respectively;</li><li>Figure 5 illustrates a further embodiment of the sleeping means;</li><li>Figure 6 illustrates an embodiment of the sleeping means in one embodiment of a storage condition;</li><li>Figure 7 illustrates the sleeping means of Figure 6 in an in-use condition;</li><li>Figures 8A-E illustrate the movement of a sleeping means in accordance with the invention between in use and storage conditions in a further embodiment;</li><li>Figure 9 illustrates a sleeping means with enclosure in accordance with a further embodiment of the invention.</li></ul>

Referring firstly to Figures 1, 2A and B there is illustrated a sleeping means in accordance with a first embodiment of the invention, said apparatus comprising sheet material 2 which forms an envelope with a cavity 4 and a cover portion 6. The cavity 4 is used to receive an inflatable mattress 8 therein as indicated by broken lines, which extends the length of the cavity and hence the sleeping means.

The cover portion 6 is attached at one edge 10 to the sheet material envelope and together with the top sheet 11 of the envelope 4 defines a sleeping area 5. The free end 16 of the cover portion can be moved as indicated by arrow 12 once a person 14 is in the sleeping area so as to cover themselves as shown. The free edge 16 of the cover can be selectively attached to the edge 18 of the cavity sheet material as shown, in Figure 2B by zip, hook and loop fastening or other fastening means. The foot end edge 20 of the cover portion may also be attached to the bottom edge 21 of the cavity sheet material 4 thus enclosing the person 14 in the sleeping means with the exception of the aperture 25 at the head end of the sleeping means.

A pillow portion 22 is provided over which the cover 6 does not pass and this portion 22 is formed so as to be higher than the remainder of the mattress to allow the insertion of a pillow or alternatively and preferably, to allow the expansion of the inflatable mattress to form a higher pillow portion 27.

Figures 2A and 2B illustrate a cross section along line A-A of Figure 1 and show the sleeping means with the cover portion in a first, closed, condition in Figure 2B and a second, open, condition in Figure 2A. In Figure 2A there is shown the cavity 4 with the inflatable mattress 8 in an inflated condition. In this case, the cover 6 is shown in an open position as the person has not yet entered the sleeping area and the cover portion is attached to the sheet material envelope along the edge 10.

Figure 2B illustrates the same sleeping means but in this case, the cover portion 6 is in the closed position to enclose a person who wishes to go to sleep in the sleeping area with the cover portion placed over the person to keep the person warm. It is envisaged that it will be particularly preferable for the cover portion 6 to be formed to include or receive some form of warmth giving material so that the cover 6 is effectively a duvet, quilt or the like. In many instances, it may be preferred for all of the sheet material to be provided with pockets to receive warmth giving materials such as feathers etc to be selectively placed therein and thereby allow the sleeping means to be adapted for use in different environmental conditions and/or to suit personal preferences. Furthermore the layer of material 11 between the mattress and the person in the sleeping area can be padded to make the sleeping in the same more comfortable.

A further embodiment of the sleeping means is illustrated with respect to Figures 3, 4A and B, using the same reference numbers. In this embodiment the mattress 8 is shown in an inflated condition and includes the pillow portion 27 which fills the pillow receiving pocket 22 of the sheet material to form a pillow for the use of the sleeping means.

Thus, in use, the mattress is provided in a deflated condition whereupon the same is inserted into the cavity through an opening 29 and moved along the length of the cavity. Although the mattress can then be removed in a deflated state for washing and the like, it is envisaged that the mattress will normally remain in the cavity, moving between deflated and inflated conditions as required. In an alternative embodiment, not shown, the inflatable mattress may in fact be provided integrally within the envelope so that the same does not need to be inserted into the envelope.

In whichever embodiment, a single valve inlet/outlet 24 provided for the inflation and deflation of the mattress 8. In the embodiments shown the valve is provided at the head end adjacent the pillow. With this invention, the valve and inflation system is designed to allow for full inflation from one inflation valve and by maximising the size of the aperture so quick inflation and deflation of the mattress can be achieved.

Accordingly, in one embodiment, the internal construction of the inflatable bed is such that there is full communication between all internal sections 31 as shown in Figure 4B, and also with the integral pillow section 27 and the rest of the mattress. The valve preferably has a large entrance diameter, in excess of 15mm and most probably around 25mm. Whilst allowing for swift inflation, either with a manual pump or an electric pump, it also allows for swift deflation, as all the chambers deflate through this large exit orifice. Typically when deflating, the sheet material and mattress are rolled as one towards the opened valve 24 thus allowing the collapsing of the entire bed in seconds.

With the inflatable mattress retained in the cavity defined by the sheet material when stored the subsequent reuse of the sleeping means becomes much simpler thereafter.

Alternatively, the mattress can of course be simply inserted into the cavity in a deflated or inflated state every time it is required to be used.

The sleeping means as described therefore allows the person to be fully enclosed within the sleeping area of the sleeping means and, importantly, ensures that even when sleeping and moving around in their sleep, the person will not be able to come into direct contact with the inflatable mattress and equally, the inflatable mattress will always stay with the bedding material.

Figure 5 illustrates a further feature of the invention whereby in addition to the sleeping means sheet material and mattress, a surround 50 is provided around the head portion of the sleeping means. This surround has two uses, a first being that it provides support for the persons head should it fall off the raised pillow potion during sleep. Secondly the surround can provide other functions such as a drinks holder cavity 52, book holder 54 and the like. These further functions can be used when the person is lying down or alternatively the person can move to a sitting position using the pillow potion and the surround 50 as a back support and then use the functions as and when required.

In one embodiment the surround is inflatable along with the mattress by the provision of interconnecting ports and via valve 56 or alternatively the surround can be an additional feature which may be selectively attached to the sleeping means by the user.

In one preferred embodiment it is possible to alter the shape of the bed by either changing the shape of the mattress itself (e.g. by having a rounded end, rather than a square end) or by adding 3 dimensional elements 58 to the sheet material that surrounds it.

An example of this is illustrated in Figures 6 and 7 where it is shown how elements 58 are added to the pillow receiving pocket 22 to represent a cat and a printed or otherwise applied image 60 on the cover 6 of the sleeping means interacts with these additional 3D elements to further improve the attractiveness of the sleeping means, especially to children.

The storage of the sleeping means when in a deflated condition is also important in that for the sleeping means to be attractive for purchase it is important that the same can be stored easily and compactly. Figures 6 and 7 illustrate a first method of storage wherein the soft plush 3 dimensional pillow receiving portion 22 is also usable as a storage bag as shown in Figure 6. To move from the in use position of Figure 7 to the storage condition of Figure 6 the deflated mattress and sheet material are rolled from the foot end 21 to the pillow end. The pillow receiving potion 22 has an opening, not shown, through which the rolled up sleeping means is inserted into the pillow receiving portion. Typically the opening has a zip and the provision of a shoulder strap allows the same to be easily transportable. To move the same to an in use position the opening is unzipped and the entire mattress with sheet material then rolled out and inflated in the normal way. The empty pillow receiving portion can then be filled with a standard pillow or by the inflation of a suitably formed portion 27 of the mattress, and the resulting soft shape can then become a 3D pillow at the end of the bed as shown in Figure 7.

In an alternative embodiment as shown in Figures 8A-E it is possible to store the sleeping means by providing an additional portion of sheet material 62 to the underside or base 64 of the sleeping means. The additional portion 62 has a zip or other selective fastening means 66 with a zip on 3 sides that can selectively be used to secure the portion 62 back to the base 64 as is shown. In Figure 8A the sleeping means is shown in an in use condition with the same upside down and the base 64 uppermost and with the mattress deflated. With the selective engagement means 66 released, the mattress and sheet material are folded towards the additional portion 62 in sections as indicated by 68, 70 in Figures 8A and B.

When in this condition the additional portion is folded around the sheet material and mattress portions 68,70 as indicated by arrow 72 to reach the position shown in Figure 8C.

In this position, the zip 66 can be fastened and so the storage bag formed as shown in Figures 8D and E. A handle 74 can be provided. In order to add to the attractiveness of the storage bag the surface 76 of the additional portion can have images 78 formed thereon as when the bag is formed as shown in Figure 8E this surface 76 forms an external surface of the bag.

The advantage of this embodiment is that an effective storage bag with a minimal amount of additional material is achieved as the back of the bed becomes part of the bag.

Figure 9 illustrates a further embodiment of the invention where the sleeping means includes, in addition to the mattress and sheet material, an enclosure 80. The enclosure can be formed from a frame such as an inflatable frame or, as shown, a frame formed from a series of resilient members 82. The enclosure can be provided as a novelty feature for children or, in warm climates, it is advantageous to enclose the sleeping area with some sort of mesh envelope 84 so as to exclude mosquitoes or other insects. With this embodiment of the invention, it is possible to build in a closed hood system that excludes insects from the area around the pillow. This hood system can be simply constructed using fibreglass rods, or by using a combination of fibreglass and spring steel so that the frame is biased to an erected enclosure condition when the sleeping means is moved from the storage condition.