Patent Application
20050210587
The present invention pertains generally to bedding systems, and more particularly to a retainer for maintaining the position of a mattress on an adjustable bed.
Adjustable beds are known in the art and provide improved comfort to persons resting thereon by permitting various portions of the sleeping surface to be selectively adjusted to different positions. Generally, these adjustable beds comprise a mattress supported on a bedframe having an adjustable mattress support. The mattress support includes one or more adjustable panels, and typically between about three and five adjustable panels. The adjustable panels are moveable from a horizontal position to permit various portions of the mattress to be raised and/or lowered to thereby provide a comfortable position for persons reclining thereon. The adjustable panels may be moved by manual manipulation of individual panels, by hand cranks, or more typically by linkages actuated by motors provided in a base of the bedframe.
When adjustable beds are operated to raise and/or lower various portions of the mattress, the mattress has a tendency to shift longitudinally on the support unless it is constrained. In the past, mattresses used on adjustable beds have been constrained by a mattress retainer in the form of a plate or rail disposed at the foot of the bedframe and extending upwardly alongside the foot of the mattress. Besides detracting from the aesthetic appearance of the bed, this type of mattress retainer also creates a barrier at the foot of the bed which may be uncomfortable to persons who are sitting on the edge of the mattress. A need therefore exists for an improved mattress retainer for use with adjustable beds which overcomes these and other drawbacks of the prior art.
The present invention provides a mattress retainer suited for use with adjustable beds to constrain movement of a mattress relative to an adjustable mattress support when the mattress support is articulated to reposition various portions of the mattress. In one embodiment, the mattress retainer is a bracket that can be secured to the upper surface of the mattress support, along opposite side edges thereof, such that the bracket is positioned between the mattress and the mattress support. A lower taped edge border of the mattress can be clamped to the bracket so that the mattress will not shift on the mattress support when the mattress support is articulated to raise and/or lower various portions of the mattress. Because the bracket is positioned beneath the mattress along the side edges thereof, the bracket does not interfere with the comfort of persons sitting or lying near the edge of the mattress.
In another embodiment, the mattress retainer comprises a bracket having a generally flat first bracket portion with apertures for securing the bracket to the mattress support with fasteners. A second bracket portion extends from the first bracket portion and has a channel formed on an outboard end thereof for receiving the taped edge border of the mattress. The taped edge border is releasably clamped within the channel by an adjustable setscrew extending through a sidewall of the channel.
In another embodiment, the mattress retainer further includes a resilient clip disposed in the channel for releasably clamping the taped edge border of the mattress. The clip includes opposed sidewalls that are spaced apart to receive the taped edge border therebetween. The spacing between the sidewalls of the clip can be adjusted by turning the setscrew so that the taped edge border can be securely clamped within the channel.
In yet another embodiment, an adjustable bed includes a plurality of adjustable support panels defining a mattress support surface, and one or more mattress retainers secured to at least one of the support panels. The mattress retainer is configured to engage a taped edge border of the mattress to thereby constrain relative movement between the mattress and the mattress support as the mattress support is articulated to adjust various portions of the mattress.
The features and objectives of the present invention will become more readily apparent from the following Detailed Description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and, together with a general description of the invention given above, and the detailed description given below, serve to explain the invention.
Referring to
With continued reference to
Referring now to
A generally c-shaped channel 48 is formed on an outboard side edge 50 of the second bracket portion 46 and extends parallel to outboard side edge 50 such that the lower taped edge border 24a of the mattress 22 may be received in the channel 48 when the mattress 22 is positioned on the mattress support 18. The taped edge border 24a of the mattress 22 is releasably clamped within the channel 48 by a setscrew 52 installed through a threaded aperture 54 formed through one of the channel walls.
As shown more clearly in
In the exemplary embodiment shown, mattress support 18 comprises an adjustable panel 30b having a foam pad 60 disposed on an upper surface thereof. The mattress support 18 further includes a foam or fabric skirt 62 provided around the outer peripheral edge of the mattress support 18 to provide an aesthetically pleasing appearance and to simulate a box spring of a conventional bed. Internally threaded spacer tubes 64 are secured to the upper surface of the support panel 30b by bolts 66 and washers 68. The threaded spacer tubes 64 extend upwardly through the foam pad 60, and the bracket 12 is secured to the spacer tubes 64 by fasteners 70, such as round-head or pan-head bolts, installed through the apertures 42 provided in the first bracket portion 40 of bracket 12. In this manner, the bracket 12 is secured to the support panel 30b, and the mattress 22 is secured to the retainer bracket 12 such that the position of the mattress 22 on the mattress support 18 is constrained against movement when the mattress support 18 is articulated to adjust the position of the mattress 22.
Referring now to
While the present invention has been illustrated by the description of one or more embodiments thereof, and while the embodiments have been described in considerable detail, they are not intended to restrict or in any way limit the scope of the appended claims to such detail. Additional advantages and modifications will readily appear to those skilled in the art. The invention in its broader aspects is therefore not limited to the specific details, representative apparatus and methods and illustrative examples shown and described. Accordingly, departures may be made from such details without departing from the scope or spirit of Applicant's general inventive concept.
