Elastic layer for a mattress structure designed for the comfort of animals in a breeding enclosure

12219,920

17/431601

February 19, 2020

Disclosed is an elastic layer for a mattress structure designed for the comfort of animals in a breeding enclosure, the mattress structure being intended to cover the ground of a receiving area. This elastic layer includes a top face capable of undergoing elastic deformation and that includes a location on which an animal is intended to be supported. The elastic layer is delimited by borders, at least one border being a fastening band intended to receive a structure securing the receiving area with the ground. The fastening band is formed by a lip, the thickness of which is less than the thickness of the elastic layer. Such a structure of the fastening band allows the securing component to be installed at the lip. The securing component can then be protected and covered by the lip, so as to prevent direct contact with the animals.

GROUP ELASTOTECK (Nort sur Erdre, FR)

GROUP ELASTOTECK (Nort sur Erdre, FR)

1. An elastic layer for a mattress structure configured for comfort of animals in a livestock enclosure, said mattress structure being configured to cover the ground of an accommodation area bordered by a circulation corridor, said elastic layer comprising: two opposite faces including an upper face that is configured to undergo an elastic deformation and that includes at least one location configured for an animal to rest on, and a lower face, said upper and lower faces defining the thickness of said elastic layer, wherein said elastic layer is delimited by a plurality of borders including a rear longitudinal border configured to be located along the circulation corridor, a front longitudinal border configured to be located remote from the circulation corridor, and two lateral borders, at least the rear longitudinal border being formed by at least one one-piece fastening strip configured to receive a securing system configured to secure to the ground of said accommodation area, said at least one fastening strip being formed by at least one lip including a lower face, an upper face a free peripheral edge, and at least one reinforcement sub-layer, said upper and lower faces defining the thickness of said at least one lip, the thickness of said at least one lip being less than the thickness of said elastic layer, the at least one lip comprising one of: (i) a single lip, the upper face of the single lip extending in a continuation of the upper face of the elastic layer, and (ii) two superposed lips including an upper lip and a lower lip, the lower face of the upper lip and the upper face of the lower lip being opposite one another and independent from each other, the upper and lower lips delimiting a slot, extending in a part of the thickness of elastic layer, between the two opposite faces of the elastic layer.

2. The elastic layer according to claim 1 , wherein, when the at least one fastening strip is formed by the two superposed lips, the two superposed lips have identical widths.

3. The elastic layer according to claim 1 , wherein, when the at least one fastening strip is formed by the two superposed lips, the width of the upper lip is greater than the width of the lower lip.

4. The elastic layer according to claim 1 , wherein said at least one lip has a width from 30 to 100 mm.

5. The elastic layer according to claim 1 , wherein the layer comprises at least one elastic material chosen among (i) elastomeric materials and (ii) plastic or thermoplastic elastomeric (TPE) materials, and obtained by superposition and securing of sub-layers of elastomeric material.

6. A method for manufacturing the elastic layer according to claim 1 , said manufacturing method comprising: superposing elastomeric material sublayers including two opposite surfaces, between which are placed an interlayer configured to locally prevent securing of said opposite surfaces of said sub-layers to each other, in order to form the at least two superposed lips, when the at least one fastening strip is formed by the two superposed lips, and, as at least one sealed chamber; and then securing the surfaces in contact of said superposed sub-layers, out of the space occupied by the interlayer, such that the interlayer forms said lips, and said at least one sealed chamber, then cutting one at least of said lips, to reduce at least a part of the width of said at least one lip.

7. A mattress structure adapted for the comfort of animals in a livestock enclosure, the mattress structure being configured to cover the ground of an accommodation area, said mattress structure including, or consisting of, at least one elastic layer according to claim 1 .

8. A method for installing the mattress structure according to claim 7 , the method comprising: securing the at least one fastening strip to the ground of the accommodation area by positioning of a securing system at said at least one lip.

9. The method for installing the mattress structure according to claim 8 , wherein, in the case of lips having identical widths, the securing system is placed on the lower lip and are covered by the upper lip.

10. The method for installing the mattress structure according to claim 8 , wherein, when a width of the upper lip is greater than the width of the lower lip when the at least one lip comprises the two superposed lips or when the at least one lip comprises the single lip that is an upper lip, the securing system is placed within the upper lip or the single upper lip, directed towards the ground, then the upper lip of the elastic layer is bent or folded to form a hem.

11. A livestock enclosure within which is arranged at least one accommodation area for the animals, the ground being covered with the mattress structure according to claim 7 , wherein said at least one lip of the elastic layer is secured to the ground using an added securing system.

12. The elastic layer of claim 1 , wherein said at least one lip has a width from 50 to 60 mm.

13. The elastic layer of claim 1 , wherein the layer comprises at least one elastic material comprising at least one of elastomeric materials, plastic materials, and thermoplastic elastomeric materials.

14. The elastic layer of claim 13 , wherein the at least one elastic material is obtained by superposition and securing of sub-layers of elastomeric material.

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2022/0071168 March 2022 Bioret
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International Search Report for PCT/FR2020/050315, mailed Jun. 9, 2020, 6 pages. cited by applicant
Written Opinion of the ISA for PCT/FR2020/050315, mailed Jun. 9, 2020, 7 pages. cited by applicant

edspgr.12219920