The present invention relates to the field of mattress design, construction, assembly, and operation.
Traditional spring mattresses have been the mattress standard for sleeping in developed countries for over a century. Foam mattresses made of a slab of foam, often shipped compressed, rolled up, and delivered to the customer have been in existence for at least a decade.
Currently, mattresses have been constructed to primarily create a single density, or feel, on the mattress surface. Although some mattresses are constructed with multiple densities, these are not custom designed to a specific user, but rather attempt to accommodate various parts of the user's body with a “one size fits all” approach. Users of these mattresses move various pieces of foam of different density, either physically or mechanically (e.g. by adding air into a bladder), to accommodate the user's desired surface feel.
It is known in the industry that optimal sleep is enabled when a sleeper's spine is in alignment, because no undue pressure is created in the sleeper's spine when it is in its natural curvature. Optimal sleep provides restful, rejuvenating, and healthy sleep, which all people require, and is best achieved when the sleeper's spine is in proper alignment. The currently available multiple density mattresses do not achieve optimal spinal alignment because the “one size fits all” approach fails to account for each user's unique body characteristics.
What is needed, therefore, is a custom mattress and systems and methods of designing a custom mattress that uses a sleeper's unique body characteristics and preferred sleep position to create a complex sleep surface that provides optimal support for the sleeper at all points where the sleeper's body touches the mattress.
Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a sleeping surface having multiple layers and segments of foam of different densities to collectively achieve the appropriate amount of support under a sleeper at the various key pressure points to achieve optimal spinal alignment and appropriate surface pressure for the sleeper's weight while in the sleeper's preferred sleep position.
This and other objects of the present invention are achieved by providing a custom mattress having an upper layer and a lower layer. The upper layer has two or more segments arranged such that a first segment is positioned at a head of the mattress and a second segment is positioned adjacent the first segment at a first transition point. The lower layer has two or more segments arranged such that a third segment is positioned at the head of the mattress and a fourth segment is positioned adjacent the third segment at a second transition point that is offset a distance from the first transition point, the distance being measured along a longitudinal axis of the mattress. Each of the segments have different densities.
In some embodiments, each of the two or more segments of the upper layer are separate from each other and are removable from the mattress.
In some embodiments, each of the two or more segments of the lower layer are separate from each other and are removable from the mattress.
In some embodiments, the distance that the second transition point is offset from the first transition point is in the range of about 20% to about 40% of a length of the first segment.
In some embodiments, the distance that the second transition point is offset from the first transition point is in the range of about 60% to about 90% of a length of an intended user's hip bone.
In some embodiments, each of the segments is formed of a foam material enclosed in a physically-coded cover.
In some embodiments, the custom mattress further includes a sealable case for retaining the mattress.
In some embodiments, the custom mattress further includes a base layer having at least one removable segment. In other embodiments, the base layer includes at least two sub-layers each having at least one removable segment.
In some embodiments, the mattress is configured to be arranged adjacent to a matching mattress having third and fourth transition points. The mattress and the matching mattress being retainable within a sealable case. In other embodiments, the positioning of the first and second transition points is determined by a first intended user's body characteristics, and the positioning of the third and fourth transition points is determined by a second intended user's body characteristics.
In an alternative embodiment of the present invention, a custom sleep system having a mattress and a sealable case for retaining the mattress is provided. The mattress has first and second lateral sections. The first lateral section includes a first upper layer, a first lower layer, and a first base layer. The first upper layer has a plurality of removable segments arranged such that a first removable segment is positioned at a head of the mattress and a second removable segment is positioned adjacent the first removable mattress at a first transition point determined by a first intended user's body characteristics. The first lower layer has a plurality of removable segments arranged such that a third removable segment is positioned at the head of the mattress and a fourth removable segment is positioned adjacent the third removable segment at a second transition point that is offset a first distance from the first transition point. The first base layer has at least one removable segment. The second lateral section includes a second upper layer, a second lower layer, and a second base layer. The second upper layer has a plurality of removable segments arranged such that a fifth removable segment is positioned at the head of the mattress and a sixth removable segment is positioned adjacent the fifth removable segment at a third transition point determined by a second intended user's body characteristics. The second lower layer has a plurality of removable segments arranged such that a seventh removable segment is positioned at the head of the mattress and an eighth removable segment is positioned adjacent the seventh removable segment at a fourth transition point that is offset a second distance from the third transition point. The second base layer has at least one removable segment. The first and second distances are each measured along a longitudinal axis of the mattress. Each of the removable segments of the first lateral section of the mattress have different densities that are determined by the first intended user's body characteristics and preferred sleep position. Each of the removable segments of the second lateral section of the mattress have different densities that are determined by the second intended user's body characteristics and preferred sleep position.
In some embodiments, the first and second base layers each include at least two sub-layers each having at least one removable segment.
In some embodiments, the custom sleep system further includes a plurality of custom pillows. At least one of the plurality of custom pillows is designed according to the first intended user's body characteristics and preferred sleep position, and at least another one of the plurality of custom pillows is designed according to the second intended user's body characteristics and preferred sleep position.
In another embodiment of the present invention, a method of assembling a custom mattress is provided. The method includes the steps of inserting a lower foam layer into a case, placing an upper foam layer onto the lower foam layer, and sealing the case. The lower foam layer has at least a first removable segment positioned at a head of the case and a second removable segment adjacent the first removable segment at a first lower transition point. The upper foam layer has at least a third removable segment positioned at the head of the case and a fourth removable segment adjacent the third removable segment at a first upper transition point that is offset a distance from the first lower transition point. The distance being measured along a longitudinal axis of the case. Each of the removable segments have different densities that are determined by a first intended user's body characteristics and preferred sleep position, and each of the removable segments are enclosed in respective physically-coded covers.
In some embodiments, the positioning of the first upper and first lower transition points is determined by the first intended user's body characteristics.
In some embodiments, the method further includes the step of inserting a base foam layer beneath the lower foam layer. The base foam layer has at least one removable segment. In other embodiments, the base foam layer includes at least two sub-layers each having at least one removable segment.
In some embodiments, before the sealing step, the method further includes the step of placing a matching mattress into the case adjacent the mattress. The matching mattress having second upper and second lower transition points. In other embodiments, the positioning of the first upper and first lower transition points is determined by the first intended user's body characteristics, and the positioning of the second upper and second lower transition points is determined by a second intended user's body characteristics.
Like a custom-made suit of clothes created by a master tailor to perfectly fit its wearer's unique body characteristics, the present invention provides users with a custom-made mattress constructed to match their unique body specifications and preferred sleep position to provide the users with optimal sleep.
Referring now to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals designate corresponding structure throughout the views. The following examples are presented to further illustrate and explain the present invention and should not be taken as limiting in any regard.
The custom mattress 30 has multiple, separate layers. In preferred embodiments, the mattress 30 has an upper layer 40, a lower layer 50, and a base layer 60. In some embodiments, base layer 60 further includes at least two sub-layers formed of segments 62 and 64. In other embodiments, base layer 60 includes at least one sub-layer formed of segment 62, as shown in
Preferably, segments 42, 44, 52, 54, 62, and 64 are formed of foam materials and each have different densities and are separately enclosed within respective covers, thus permitting a user to remove and replace any individual segment. For example, if the user's body characteristics change due to injury or weight loss/gain, or if a segment wears out over time, the user can replace any segments to maintain spinal alignment while sleeping. The segments can be formed of a high quality foam material, such as Talalay latex, polyurethane foam, a combination thereof, or any other foam material known in the art. In some embodiments, the segments are of uniform thickness, for example approximately three inches. In preferred embodiments, the segment covers are color-coded to designate segment's respective positioning within the custom mattress 30. For example, the color-coding pattern may follow the visible-light spectrum, with the softest density segment being red, the hardest density segment being violet, and the intermediate density segments having appropriate colors (orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, etc.), or vice versa. In other embodiments, other physical features are used on the segment covers to distinguish and code the segments. For example, the segment covers could contain different patterns printed on, or embossed in, the material, such as dots on one segment and stripes on another segment. The custom sleep system 10 preferably includes assembly instructions (such as diagrams, text, or a combination thereof) to help a user assemble segments in the appropriate density configuration. The custom sleep system 10 is preferably assembled by stacking the segments in their appropriate configuration within the mattress case 20, which is preferably designed to fully enclose and fit snuggly around the segments such that they cannot shift or become dislodged during use.
The density of each segment is calculated based on an intended user's body characteristics such that the custom mattress 30 is designed specifically for, and is unique to, that intended user. The custom mattress 30 is designed to enable the user's spine to be in alignment when sleeping in the user's preferred sleep position.
Preferably, segment 42 is positioned at the head of the mattress 32 and segment 44 is positioned adjacent segment 42 along a longitudinal axis of the mattress 34. The location where segment 42 abuts segment 44 creates an upper density transition point 46. The location of the density transition point 46 along the longitudinal axis 34 is determined by the intended user's body characteristics. Preferably, the location of the density transition point 46 is determined by the intended user's height 96, thus the transition point 46 can be referred to as the height dependent density transition point. In preferred embodiments, when the intended user is lying on the mattress in the intended user's preferred sleep position, the density transition point 46 is positioned under an area near the base of the intended user's spine, such as an area between the intended user's bellybutton and pelvis. Thus, the density transition point 46 is preferably located such that segment 42 supports the intended user's upper body (i.e. head and torso) and segment 44 supports the intended user's lower body (i.e. hips and legs).
Similarly, segment 52 is preferably positioned at the head of the mattress 32 and segment 54 is positioned adjacent segment 52 along the longitudinal axis of the mattress 34 to create a lower density transition point 56. As shown in
As shown in
In some embodiments, the custom sleep system 10 includes a mattress 30 designed to support two intended users, each with their own respective lateral section 37/38 of the mattress. Each intended user's lateral section is designed as described above, and the lateral sections are positioned adjacent to each other within the mattress case 20, as shown in
Although the invention has been described with reference to a particular arrangement of parts, features, and the like, and a particular method of assembling these arrangements and features, these are not intended to exhaust all possible arrangements, features, or methods of assembly. Indeed, many other modifications and variations will be ascertainable to those of skill in the art.
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Child | 17314884 | US |