The present invention relates generally to mattresses for improving the comfort of women during pregnancy.
Conventional mattresses are soft, rectangular cushions that may stabilize and support a user's body. Mattresses typically have flat top surfaces on which the user may lie. Users typically sleep in any of a number of positions that they find comfortable. However, pregnant women often have difficulty using these conventional mattresses in the same positions that they previously found comfortable because conventional mattresses are not designed to stabilize and support their changing bodies.
There is a need for a mattress that comfortably supports a pregnant user from conception through the third trimester of her pregnancy to ensure that she can continue to sleep normally. In particular, it is often most difficult for a user to sleep on her stomach during pregnancy. There is also a need for these mattresses to be cost effective and versatile, to allow their seamless use before, during, and after pregnancy.
Mattresses, and corresponding methods of manufacture, are therefore provided for use during pregnancy that include a cutout to allow a user to sleep on her stomach. In some embodiments, a mattress for use during pregnancy may be provided. The mattress may include a main body portion, which comprises a top surface, a bottom surface, a first side surface, a second side surface, a foot surface, a head surface, and a cutout formed in the top surface. The mattress may further comprise at least one insert configured to be disposed in the cutout of the main body portion. The at least one insert may define a substantially concave surface configured to receive a user's stomach.
In some embodiments, the mattress may include a cover surrounding the main body portion. The cover may be configured to maintain the at least one insert in the cutout. The cover may comprise an access opening configured to allow the user to access the at least one insert. The cover may additionally or alternatively be configured to deform along a portion of the cover aligned with the cutout.
In some embodiments, the at least one insert may comprise a first insert and a second insert. The first insert may define a first upper surface and a first lower surface and the second insert may define a second upper surface and a second lower surface. The second insert may be configured to receive the first insert therein and the first lower surface may be configured to be disposed adjacent the second upper surface. The second insert may be configured to be received by the cutout of the main body portion and the second lower surface may be configured to engage the cutout. The first upper surface and a plane of the top surface of the main body portion may be configured to define a first volume and the second upper surface and the plane of the top surface of the main body portion may be configured to define a second volume, such that the second volume may be greater than the first volume.
In some embodiments, the mattress may include a plug insert having an upper surface and a lower surface. The lower surface of the plug insert may be configured to engage the first upper surface; and wherein the upper surface of the plug insert is substantially planar, such that the upper surface of the plug is substantially flush with the top surface of the main body.
In some embodiments, the main body portion of the mattress comprises at least a first layer and a second layer. The first layer of the main body portion may be configured to define the top surface of the main body portion. A first portion of the cutout may be defined in the first layer and a second portion of the cutout may be defined in the second layer. The at least one insert may comprise a first insert and a second insert. In some embodiments, when the first and second inserts are engaged with the cutout, the second insert may engage the first and second layers and the first insert may engage the first later and the second insert.
In some embodiments, the at least one insert may be configured to be replaced with at least one replacement insert. The at least one replacement insert may define a replacement concave surface. The replacement concave surface may have a curvature that is different than the concave surface of the at least one insert.
In some embodiments, the cutout may be defined in the top surface between the first side surface and a centerline extending between the foot surface and the head surface.
The at least one insert may comprise a first insert and a second insert. The first insert may define a great-circle distance between 1.96 and 3.93 inches. In some embodiments, the at least one insert may comprise a second insert, and the second insert may define a great-circle distance between 10.24 and 11.81 inches. The at least one insert may be configured to be removable, such that the cutout defines a great-circle distance between 11.81 and 13.39 inches.
In another embodiment of the present invention, a method of manufacturing a mattress for use during pregnancy is provided. The method may comprise forming a main body portion which includes a top surface, a bottom surface, a first side surface, a second side surface, a foot surface, and a head surface. In some embodiments, the method may also include forming a cutout in the top surface of the main body portion. The method may further include forming at least one insert. The at least one insert may be configured to be disposed in the cutout of the main body portion, wherein the at least one insert defines a substantially concave surface configured to receive a user's stomach.
In some embodiments, forming the at least one insert may comprise cutting material from the cutout of the main body portion substantially simultaneously with forming the cutout. Forming the at least one insert may comprise forming a first insert and a second insert. The first insert may define a first upper surface and a first lower surface and the second insert may define a second upper surface and a second lower surface. The second insert may be configured to receive the first insert therein and the first lower surface may be configured to engage the second upper surface. The second insert may be configured to be received by the cutout of the main body portion and the second lower surface is configured to engage the cutout. The first upper surface and a plane of the top surface of the main body portion may be configured to define a first volume and the second upper surface and the plane of the top surface of the main body portion may be configured to define a second volume, such that the second volume may be greater than the first volume.
Forming the main body portion may comprise disposing at least a first layer on top of a second layer, such that an upper surface of the first layer may define the top surface of the main body portion. Forming a cutout may comprise forming a first portion of the cutout in the first layer and forming a second portion of the cutout in the second layer. Forming the at least one insert may comprise forming a first insert from the first layer and forming a second insert by cutting through the first and second layers.
The method may further comprise forming a plug insert having an upper surface and a lower surface. The lower surface of the plug insert may be configured to engage the first upper surface, and the upper surface of the plug insert may be substantially planar, such that the upper surface of the plug may be substantially flush with the top surface of the main body portion.
Having thus described the invention in general terms, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings, which are not necessarily drawn to scale, and wherein:
Some embodiments of the present invention will now be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, which are not necessarily drawn to scale and in which some, but not all, embodiments of the invention are shown. Indeed, various embodiments of the invention may be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will satisfy applicable legal requirements. Like reference numerals refer to like elements throughout. Some components of the mattress and associated features are not shown in one or more of the figures for clarity and to facilitate explanation of embodiments of the present invention.
As used herein, the terms “bottom,” “top,” “upper,” “lower,” “head,” “foot,” and similar terms are used for ease of explanation and refer generally to the position of certain components of embodiments of the described invention relative to the other components (e.g., in an operational configuration). It is understood that such terms are not used in any absolute sense, and, as such, a component described as an “upper surface” may be on the same level as (e.g., at the same distance from the ground) or below another component described as a “lower surface” or a “top surface” in certain configurations of embodiments of the described invention. For example, the “lower surface” of one insert may be disposed above the “upper surface” of another.
In some embodiments of the present invention, a mattress may include a cutout section that is configured to receive a user's stomach. The cutout may be positioned on the mattress to enable a pregnant user to lie on the mattress face-down or on her side with her stomach resting in the cutout. The mattress may further include one or more inserts disposed within the cutout to customize and control the size of a void of the cutout. In some embodiments, the inserts may define a substantially concave surface configured to receive a user's stomach. The shape of one or more of the inserts may correspond to a shape of a cutout. The inserts may be used to ensure comfort and support of the user throughout the term of her pregnancy.
Referring to
The first and second inserts 50, 55 may be nested on top of one another within the cutout 35 such that the volume of the void in the cutout is reduced. The first insert 50 may define an upper surface 52 and a lower surface 54, and the second insert 55 may define an upper surface 57 and a lower surface 59. In some embodiments, the upper surfaces 52, 57 of one or more of the inserts 50, 55 may define a substantially (e.g., with manufacturing tolerances) concave surface configured to receive the user's stomach. The lower surface 59 of the second insert 55 may engage the cutout 35, while the upper surface 57 of the second insert 55 may engage the lower surface 54 of the first insert 50. While reference may be made herein to two inserts, embodiments of the present invention may include any number of inserts. For example, four or five inserts may be used where more adjustment is desired in the cutout 35.
Alternatively, a single insert may be used, which may be independently adjustable (e.g., an inflatable insert). In some embodiments, for example as shown in
In some embodiments, the plug insert 45 may define a lower surface 49 configured to engage the upper surface 52 of the first insert 50. The plug insert 45 may define a substantially planar upper surface 47 such that the combination of the inserts 50, 55 and the plug insert 45 substantially fill the cutout 35. In some embodiments, the plug insert 45 may, itself, cover the entire opening of the cutout 35, while in some embodiments, as shown in
Turning to
In some embodiments, the inserts may be customized to fit each user. The user may mold or shape each insert to a desired shape, such that each of the one or more inserts is configured to match a shape of the user's stomach at different stages of her pregnancy. The overall arc length, or great-circle distance, of the void defined by each insert 50, 55 may be customized by the inserts and/or cutout to suit the user's particular needs. The great-circle distance may correspond to the length of an arc across the uppermost, exposed surface within the cutout 35 (e.g., the great-circle distance may traverse portions of the inserts 50, 55 and/or cutout 35) along a direction spanning the foot surface 25 and head surface 10 of the main body portion 1. Additionally or alternatively, a shape and contour of the upper surfaces of each insert may be customized for a particular user. For example, some users may use a narrower but deeper insert, while others use a longer but shallower insert at the same stage of pregnancy. Further, in this embodiment, a shape of the lower surface of the plug insert may be an inverse shape of the upper surface of the first insert. In some other embodiments, the inserts may be a standard shape designed to fit any user.
Each insert 50, 55 and/or the cutout 35 may be sized to match the size of the user's stomach at various stages of pregnancy. For example, in some embodiments, the first insert 50 may be sized to match a user's stomach during the first trimester, the second insert 55 may be sized to match a user's stomach during the second trimester, and the cutout 35 may be sized to match a user's stomach during the third trimester. In particular, some embodiments of the present invention may scale the size of the inserts relative to the fundal height of the user. Fundal height is a measurement of the size of the user's uterus from the pubic bone to the top of the uterus. The inserts may control the volume of the void to define a great-circle distance that is approximately equal to the user's fundal height at predetermined intervals of the pregnancy. As detailed herein, the great-circle distance of a given insert 50, 55 may correspond to a distance along the arc of uppermost surface inside the cutout 35, which defines the void. For example, in
The great-circle distances of each insert 50, 55 and the cutout 35 may correspond to progressively increasing fundal heights during the course of the pregnancy. For example, a first insert 50 corresponding to a first trimester of pregnancy may define a great-distance of 5-10 centimeters (1.96-3.93 inches). Similarly, a second insert corresponding to a second trimester of pregnancy may define a great-circle distance of 26-30 centimeters (10.24-11.81 inches). And a cutout 35 or, alternatively, third insert corresponding to a third trimester of pregnancy may define a great-circle distance of 30-34 centimeters (11.81-13.39 inches). As detailed herein, the great-circle distances and shape of the curvature may be customized based on a user's specific pregnancy. For example, based on the user's fundal height during the first trimester, second and third trimester inserts may be manufactured matching the user's predicted size. In this manner, the mattress may provide support to the user during all stages of pregnancy. Also as noted above, more or less than two inserts may be used, in each case with each insert defining successively sized great-circle distances.
In some embodiments, for example, as shown in
Some embodiments of the cutout 35 and inserts 45, 50, 55 (e.g., as shown in
Turning to
In some alternative embodiments, additional layers may be included between the first and second layers. In yet another embodiment, the main body portion may be a single, uniform layer.
Referring to
With reference to
Referring to
As inserts 50, 55 and/or the plug insert 45 may be added or removed, the deformable portion 75 may retain the remaining inserts 50, 55 and/or plug insert 45 within the cutout 35 while not substantially altering the volume of the void (e.g., beyond the added thickness of the cover) in the cutout when the mattress is in use. Comparing
Referring to
Comparing
Turning to
Alternatively, the main body portion 1 may be configured to accommodate more than one user. With reference to
Further, referring to
In addition, many other modifications and other embodiments of the invention will come to mind to one skilled in the art to which this invention pertains having the benefit of the teachings presented in the foregoing descriptions and the associated drawings. Therefore, it is to be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the specific embodiments disclosed and that modifications and other embodiments are intended to be included within the scope of the appended claims. By way of example, any features of any embodiment described herein may be wholly or partially incorporated or combined into various other embodiments. Although specific terms are employed herein, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation. Moreover, steps in the methods described above may occur in any order and are not limited to the order described above.
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Number | Date | Country | |
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20160174726 A1 | Jun 2016 | US |