Infant mattress

Abstract

An infant mattress for underlying an infant. The infant mattress is made of three layers of a foam material; an inner layer comprised of an open or closed cell foam material, preferably urethane, and two outer layers that sandwich the inner layer therebetween, comprised of a visco-elastic foam material, preferably urethane. An outer cover surrounds all three layers and is cleanable and anti-microbial. The inner layer is of a less resilient, or stiffer material than the outer layers that are comprised of a visco-elastic material and are slow to spring back upon being indented by the weight of the infant to evenly distribute the weight of the infant. The outer and inner foam layers are preferably secured together by a mechanical retaining means, one of which is a stripe of adhesive located only around the perimeter of the foam layers.

1 . An infant mattress for underlying an infant, said infant mattress comprising an inner foam layer, a pair of outer foam layers that are located on each side of the inner foam layer sandwiching the inner foam layer therebetween, said outer foam layers comprised of a visco-elastic foam material and an outer cover loosely enclosing the three layers within the outer cover.  
   
   
       2 . The infant mattress as defined in  claim 1  wherein the inner foam layer is less resilient than the outer foam layers.  
   
   
       3 . The infant mattress as defined in  claim 1  wherein the density of the outer, visco-elastic foam layers is between about 1.0 and 5.0 pounds per cubic foot.  
   
   
       4 . The infant mattress as defined in  claim 3  wherein the density of the outer, visco-elastic foam layers is about 3.0 pounds per cubic foot.  
   
   
       5 . The infant mattress as defined in  claim 1  wherein the density of the inner foam layer is between about 1.0 and 3.0 pounds per cubic foot.  
   
   
       6 . The infant mattress as defined in  claim 5  wherein the density of the inner foam layer is about 1.7 pounds per cubic foot.  
   
   
       7 . The infant mattress as defined in  claim 1  wherein the outer cover is comprised of a material that is antimicrobial.  
   
   
       8 . The infant mattress as defined in  claim 1  wherein the outer foam layers are affixed to the inner layer by means of a mechanical retainer.  
   
   
       9 . The infant mattress as defined in  claim 8  wherein the mechanical retainer is a pattern of an adhesive.  
   
   
       10 . The infant mattress as defined in  claim 9  wherein the pattern of an adhesive is a stripe of adhesive at least substantially along the perimeter of the outer and inner foam layers.  
   
   
       11 . The infant mattress as defined in  claim 1  wherein the outer foam layers have interior surfaces facing the inner foam layer comprised of micro-convolutes.  
   
   
       12 . A method of constructing an infant mattress comprising the steps of: 
 providing an inner foam layer comprised of a open or closed cell foam material;    providing a pair of outer foam layers comprised of a visco-elastic foam material;    mechanically affixing the outer foam layers to the inner foam layer to sandwich the inner foam layer between the pair of outer foam layers;    providing an outer cover, and    enclosing the inner foam layer and the outer form layers affixed thereto within the outer cover.    
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 12  wherein the step of mechanically affixing the outer foam layer to the inner foam layer comprises applying a predetermined pattern of adhesive to a surface of the outer foam layers or the inner foam layer;  
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 13  wherein the step of applying a predetermined pattern of adhesive comprises applying a stripe of adhesive around the outer perimeter of the outer foam layers or the inner foam layer.  
   
   
       15 . A composite foam structure comprising an inner foam layer of an open or closed cell foam material having a predetermined resilience, a pair of outer foam layers that are located on each side of the inner layer sandwiching the inner foam layer therebetween, said outer foam layers comprised of a visco-elastic foam material.  
   
   
       16 . The composite foam structure as defined in  claim 15  wherein the density of the outer, visco-elastic foam layers is between about 1.0 and 5.0 pounds per cubic foot.  
   
   
       17 . The composite foam structure as defined in  claim 15  wherein the density of the inner foam layer is between about 1.0 and 3.0 pounds per cubic foot.  
   
   
       18 . The composite foam structure as defined in  claim 15  wherein the outer foam layers are affixed to the inner layer by means of a mechanical retaining means.  
   
   
       19 . The composite foam structure as defined in  claim 18  wherein the mechanical retaining means is an adhesive pattern provided on the outer foam layers or inner foam layer.  
   
   
       20 . The composite foam structure as defined in  claim 19  wherein the pattern of adhesive is a stripe of adhesive along the perimeter of the outer and inner foam layers.