Patent Application
20240156277
The following application is a based on and claims the priority benefit of U.S. provisional application Ser. No.: 63,424,271 filed Nov. 10, 2022 currently co-pending; the entire content of which is incorporated by reference.
An interchangeable modular mattress is provided. The modular mattress has a first unit and a second unit. A securing means may temporarily secure the first unit to the second unit. The first unit rests on a bed frame, such as a hospital bed frame, and the second unit is secured on top of the first unit. The second unit is replaceable with an alternative second unit which may have a different function or feature, but is generally the same size and shape of the replaced second unit. Firm sides of the first unit reduce the chances of a person accidently falling off the mattress.
U.S. Pat. No. 10,531,746 to Vesey discloses a mattress comprising two layers—a first layer and a second layer—each layer comprising a top surface and a bottom surface that are distinct in firmness, feel, and/or other parameters relevant to sleeping. The first layer and the second layer are stacked on top of each other and may easily be flipped and re-stacked by a user in the home.
Further, U.S. Pat. No. 5,960,496 to Boyd discloses a mattress system having a first section of foam material forming the head section of a mattress, a second section of foam material forming the central section of the mattress, and a third section of foam material forming the foot section of the mattress. The second section of foam material has a load responsive characteristic different from the load responsive characteristic of the first and third sections. The central section may be replaced by an inflatable air chamber.
However, these patents fail to provide a modular mattress having the below features described herein.
An interchangeable modular mattress is provided. The modular mattress has a first unit and a second unit. A securing means may temporarily secure the first unit to the second unit. The first unit rests on a bed frame, such as a hospital bed frame, and the second unit is secured on top of the first unit. The second unit is replaceable with an alternative second unit which may have a different function or feature, but is generally the same size and shape of the replaced second unit. Firm sides of the first unit reduce the chances of a person accidently falling off the mattress.
An advantage of the present modular mattress is that the present modular mattress may have a replaceable second unit.
Another advantage of the present modular mattress is that the present modular mattress may allow a user to easily move the second unit of the mattress while leaving the first unit in place on the bed frame.
Yet another advantage of the present modular mattress is that the present modular mattress helps prevent a patient from accidently falling off the mattress.
Another advantage of the present modular mattress is that the present modular mattress may fit a variety of different bed frames.
Still another advantage of the present modular mattress is to help users by reducing the number and cost of mattresses needed to fit their current and future beds.
For a more complete understanding of the above listed features and advantages of the present modular mattress, reference should be made to the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments. Further, additional features and advantages of the invention are described in, and will be apparent from, the detailed description of the preferred embodiments.
An interchangeable modular mattress is provided. The modular mattress has a first unit and a second unit. A securing means may temporarily secure the first unit to the second unit. The first unit rests on a bed frame, such as a hospital bed frame, and the second unit is secured on top of the first unit. The second unit is replaceable with an alternative second unit which may have a different function or feature, but is generally the same size and shape of the replaced second unit. Firm sides of the first unit reduce the chances of a person accidently falling off the mattress.
In an embodiment, an interchangeable modular mattress 1 is provided. The modular mattress 1 may have a first unit 10 and a second unit 50. When the first unit 10 and the second unit 50 are secured together, the mattress is then in its functional form as shown in
In an embodiment, the first unit 10 may have a front 11, a back 12, a first side 13, a second side 14, a top 15 and a bottom 16. In an embodiment, the second unit 50 may have a front 51, a back 52, a first side 53, a second side 54, a top 55 and a bottom 56. In use, the bottom 56 of the second unit 50 may be temporarily secured over the top 15 of the first unit 10 as shown in
The first side 13 and the second side 14 of the first unit 10 may be firm when compared to the main material of the second unit 50. As a result, when the second unit 50 is properly aligned with and placed over the first unit 10, the sides 13, 14 of the first unit may be stiffer than the second unit 50 so that as a person might move or roll to the side of the functional mattress the firm sides 13, 14 of the first unit 10 help reduce the chance of the person (or patient) accidently rolling off the mattress because the second unit 50 will slightly dip downward near the firm sides 13, 14 of the first unit 10. In an embodiment, running along the top of the sides 13, 14 of the first unit 10 may be a plurality of securing elements 20. The securing elements may be, for example, buttons which snap into button receiving mechanisms 21 of the underside of the sides 53, 54 of the second unit 50. As a result, the securing mechanisms 20, 21 may temporarily lock the second unit 50 onto the first unit 10 until such time as a user may elect to separate the second unit 50 from the first unit 10. Alternative securing mechanisms 21 may be used such as, but not limited to, a hook and loop fastener system or zipper. In an embodiment, the securing mechanism may be magnets.
In an embodiment, a central channel 40 may extend along the top 15 of the first unit 10. The central channel 40 my have a first end 41, a second end 42 and a width 43. Preferably, the central channel 40 extends the entire length 45 of the first side 13 and second side 14 of the first unit 10. In an embodiment, the central channel 40 is rectangular.
In an embodiment, the bottom 56 of the second unit 50 may have an extended ridge 60. The extended ridge 60 may have a first side 61, a second side 62 and a width 63. Preferably, the extended ridge 60 extends the entire length 59 of the side 53, 54 of the second unit 50. The extended ridge 60 of the second unit 50 may fit snugly within the central channel 40 of the first unit 10. The extended ridge 60 of the second unit 50 may be placed within the central channel 40 of the first unit 10 to create additional surface area to secure the second unit 50 to the first unit 10 by friction and may further allow the first unit 10 and the second unit 50 to be properly aligned.
In an embodiment, the second unit 50 may be replaced with an alternative second unit 50. In particular, a user or healthcare provider may elect to swap out a standard second unit 50 with an alternative second unit 50 having, for example, a heating or cooling element. Alternatively, the second unit 50 may be swapped out for a more firm or less firm second unit 50 from the existing second unit 50 on the first unit 10.
In an alternative embodiment, as shown in
Referring now to
In an embodiment, the modular mattress 1 may have at least one sensor 201 (preferably multiple sensors 201). The sensors 201 may measure environmental conditions of the mattress 1 such as, for example, temperature, pressure, position, pH, etc. The sensors 201 may send and receive a signal to/from a control unit 202. The control unit 202 may be located on a bed frame 205 or on a component(s) 80, 81, 82 or the first unit 10 of the mattress 1. The control unit(s) 202 may allow a user to set environmental conditions of the mattress components 80, 81, 82 such as, for example, temperature, pressure, position, pH, etc. Further, a user may elect to set, for example, one component (for example 80) at a different temperature or pressure than a second component (for example 82). As a result, a user may select different conditions for each independent component 80, 81, 82 and even for the first unit 10. In an embodiment, the control units 202 may send the signals to the sensors 201 via wireless communication such as, for example, BlueTooth, WiFi, RFID, etc.
Finally, in an embodiment, the components 80, 81, 82 may be in hardwired electrical communication with each other via an electronic cable 210A. The components 80 may also be hardwired with the first unit 10 via an electrical cable 210B. And the first unit 10 may also be hardwired to the bed frame 205 via an electrical cable 210C.
Although embodiments of the invention are shown and described therein, it should be understood that various changes and modifications to the presently preferred embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Such changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention and without diminishing its attendant advantages.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 63424271 | Nov 2022 | US |
