Patent Application
20140096325
This invention relates to generally to a bedding system, and in particular, to a mattress having a variety of set-up comfort configurations to suit a variety of user comfort requirements.
Bedding systems take a variety of forms depending upon the tastes and comfort requirements of the individual users. Typically, most bedding systems employ a mattress upon which a user is supported for sleeping and the like. The mattress is typically supported upon a base unit that can take a variety of forms. In some forms, the base unit may be a metal or wooden frame having slats or a similar surface upon which the mattress is positioned for use. In other forms, the base may be in the form of a box mattress having sufficient rigidity to support the mattress when the user is located thereon.
In most bedding arrangements, the mattress upon which the user is supported is configured to provide maximum comfort and support to the user. Such mattresses may include springs, foam, memory foam, and even air and water to provide support and comfort to the user as the user sleeps or rests thereon. Thus, the selection of the type of mattress is often made on the basis of personal choice and comfort for the user and most mattresses are configured to provide varying degrees of firmness to suit a variety of different customer comfort requirements. In this regard, some individuals may prefer a “soft” mattress whilst others may prefer a “firm” mattress (and various degrees in-between). Further, what may be considered “soft” by some individuals may not be considered “soft” by others, making the selection of a mattress a very personal choice.
Therefore, the selection and purchase of a mattress is typically determined by individual preference based upon visiting a display room and testing or trying out a variety of mattresses until the consumer determines an ideal mattress “firmness” or “softness” in accordance with their personal preferences. A variety of devices have been proposed to assist in this selection process that employ a more “scientific approach” to mattress selection, such as instruments that measure the posture and weight distribution of individuals as they are positioned on a mattress to ensure that maximum support is provided by the mattress in the area where it is needed. However, despite such devices and advances in biomechanical assessment of mattresses, it is still a fact that the most common means for selecting a mattress is by a customer visiting a store and lying on a variety of different mattresses until they select a mattress with the desired level of “firmness” or “softness” in accordance with their individual preferences.
In order to cater for this personal “testing” of mattresses, most bedding retailers have traditionally required a showroom to display a variety of different beds for testing by customers prior to purchase. Due to the large range of beds often available for purchase, to provide such a service there is a need for retailers to acquire a large amount of floor space to accommodate the various bedding options. Thus, there is a significant amount of “overhead” costs associated with retail outlets dedicated to trading in bedding, such as floor space rental costs, employee costs and excess sample stock on the shop floor, the costs of which are generally passed on to the consumer in the purchase price of the bedding.
With the increasing popularity of on-line shopping, there is potentially a means for reducing the amount of overhead costs for retailers such that products can be sold at a generally lower cost without having to factor in rent, staffing costs and the like. However, in the bedding industry, on-line shopping has not been typically effective as most shoppers wish to try-out the bedding and the mattresses prior to purchase to ensure that they meet their own personal comfort requirements.
Thus, there is a need to provide a bedding system that is able to be purchased in a standard form and which is capable of being set-up for use in a variety of configurations to cater for a wide range of comfort requirements. Such a bedding system can be bought on-line without the need for the buyer to firstly sample the mattress prior to purchase, and can be delivered to the customer where they can set up the mattress to their own comfort level. Similarly, such a bedding option provides an ability to alter the softness/firmness setting of the mattress over time, should an individual's preferences change, without having to purchase a new mattress.
The above references to and descriptions of prior proposals or products are not intended to be, and are not to be construed as, statements or admissions of common general knowledge in the art. In particular, the above prior art discussion does not relate to what is commonly or well known by the person skilled in the art, but assists in the understanding of the inventive step of the present invention of which the identification of pertinent prior art proposals is but one part.
The invention according to one or more aspects is as defined in the independent claims Some optional and/or preferred features of the invention are defined in the dependent claims.
Accordingly, in a first aspect of the invention there is provided a mattress for a bedding unit comprising:
In one embodiment of this aspect of the invention, the first support surface and the second support surface are provided on opposing sides of the body, with the first support surface and the second support surface being separated by a wall that extends around the periphery of the body.
The at least one top portion may be attachable to the wall of the body substantially along the periphery thereof. In one form, the at least one top portion may be attachable to the wall of the body by way of a hook and loop fastener. In another form, the at least one top portion may be attachable to the wall of the body by way of a zipper means.
The overall level of firmness of the mattress that is acceptable to the user may be determined by the user's own comfort requirements.
In another embodiment, a plurality of top portions may be provided; each top portion may have a different level of firmness from each other of the top portions.
Accordingly, in a second aspect of the invention there is provided a bedding system for providing multiple comfort settings to a user comprising:
Accordingly, in a third aspect of the invention there is provided a mattress comprising a body having a first support surface and a second support surface each configured to support an individual thereon, whereby each of the first and second support surfaces have a different degree of firmness.
Accordingly, in a fourth aspect of the invention there is provided a method of configuring a mattress according to the first aspect to provide multiple user comfort settings, comprising:
selecting either of the first, second, third or fourth comfort settings which best satisfies the user's comfort level requirements
In a fifth aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of configuring a bedding system to provide a variety of user comfort settings, comprising:
The invention may be better understood from the following non-limiting description of preferred embodiments, in which:
Preferred features of the present invention will now be described with particular reference to the accompanying drawings. However, it is to be understood that the features illustrated in and described with reference to the drawings are not to be construed as limiting on the scope of the invention.
The present invention will be described below in relation to a bedding system comprising an ensemble mattress and box spring base. However, it will be appreciated that the present invention could be equally employed in relation to a bedding system in which the mattress is supported on a bed frame having slats and the like, or any other bedding system.
Referring Firstly to
The mattress 12 has a removable top portion 15 which is configured to be fitted to either the first support surface 16 or the second support surface 18 or alternatively to be removed from the mattress 12 altogether, for use. The side walls 17 of the mattress 12 have an attachment means 19 located thereon that extends substantially around the perimeter of the side walls 17 to connect with a corresponding attachment means provide on the removable top portion 15. The attachment means 19 may be in the form of a strip of hook and loop fastener material, such as that sold under the trade mark Velcro®, which has one of the hook or loop material fastened to the side wall 17 of the mattress 12, and the corresponding other of the hook or loop material fastened to the removable top portion 15, such that when the top portion 15 is attached to the mattress 12, it is securely retained in position and becomes substantially integral with the mattress 12.
Referring to
The top portion 15 has an upper surface 20 made from layers of material configured to provide a degree of “softness” or “plushness” when a user is supported thereon. The top portion 15 has a skirt 22 that extends downwardly from the upper surface 20 so as to extend along the each of the side walls 17 of the mattress 12 when the top portion 15 is positioned on the mattress 12 for use. The inner surface of the skirt 22 has an attachment means 23 provided to extend substantially the length of the skirt 22 to engage with the corresponding attachment means 19 provided on the side wall 17 of the mattress 12. Engagement between the attachment means 23 and the attachment means 19 facilitates securement of the top portion 15 in position on the mattress 12.
In the embodiment as shown in
In the embodiment shown in
As discussed above, the mattress 12 together with the removable top portion 15 can be used to provide a mattress having multiple comfort settings, in accordance with the user's preferences.
In a preferred form, the first support surface 16 and the second support surface 18 are formed to have different firmness settings. The firmness setting of the first support surface 16 may be firmer than that of the second support surface 18. Hence, by arranging the bedding unit 10 such that the first support surface 16 of the mattress 12 is uppermost, the mattress 12 will be in its firmest configuration, as is shown in
If the customer prefers a less firm setting to that shown in
If the customer prefers a “softer” comfort setting to the MEDIUM/FIRM setting shown in
If a customer prefers still a “softer” comfort setting to the MEDIUM/PLUSH setting shown in
It will be appreciated that other settings for the bedding unit are also possible, namely with the top portion 15 attached to a support surface located on an underside of the mattress 12, to provide comfort level settings between those described above. Further, more than one top portion 15 having different softness or “plushness” settings may be provided for use with the mattress 12. In this way, a customer has complete control in setting up the mattress 12 in accordance with their personal comfort requirements. In the embodiment as described above, should the user's desired comfort settings change over time, the user is able to reconfigure the bedding unit 10 to any configuration desirable to satisfy such changing preferences.
It will be appreciated that the mattress 12 of the present invention will be delivered as a single item with the top portion 15 positioned for use and with instructions detailing the various ways in which the mattress can be set-up to achieve different firmness settings. Thus, the mattress of the present invention enables a customer to purchase the mattress without the need to try the mattress before purchase, safe in the knowledge that the customer can vary the firmness levels of the mattress to achieve a variety of desired comfort settings.
Throughout the specification and claims the word “comprise” and its derivatives are intended to have an inclusive rather than exclusive meaning unless the contrary is expressly stated or the context requires otherwise. That is, the word “comprise” and its derivatives will be taken to indicate the inclusion of not only the listed components, steps or features that it directly references, but also other components, steps or features not specifically listed, unless the contrary is expressly stated or the context requires otherwise.
Orientational terms used in the specification and claims such as vertical, horizontal, top, bottom, upper and lower are to be interpreted as relational and are based on the premise that the component, item, article, apparatus, device or instrument will usually be considered in a particular orientation, typically with the mattress uppermost.
It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that many modifications and variations may be made to the methods of the invention described herein.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2012904322 | Oct 2012 | AU | national |
