MATTRESS

FIELD OF INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to a mattress for providing comfort and support for an individual, and in particular, to a mattress structured to have independent sections that are configured to support an individual in a manner that supports the individual's body to improve comfort and avoid spinal misalignment issues from developing.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

As individuals are known to spend a significant proportion of their lives in bed, the selection of a mattress to provide comfort and support to the individual whilst in bed is an important decision.

The mattress market generally provides a variety of different types of mattresses depending upon the preferences of the individual. These are generally marketed as being of a particular firmness level, generally soft, medium or firm. Individuals can then use this as a guide to identify the type of mattress that they find the most comfortable.

More recently, mattresses have become more scientifically designed to suite the specific body type of the individual. As such the structure of the mattress is configured to provide variable support across the length of the mattress, to ensure those regions of the body that may be heavier are more firmly supported than other lighter regions of the body. Whilst such a variable mattress structure may make sense from a theoretical or scientific point of view, due to the manner in which most mattresses are manufactured, when the mattress is assembled it may have a more uniform firmness than expected and designed. This is mainly due to the mattress being made in a single piece having a common upper surface that retains the integral structure of the mattress, despite the internal coils or springs having a variable arrangement.

Most mattresses generally fall into two types of structures based upon the top panel configuration. A first type is a mattress having a quilted top panel wherein the top layer of the mattress comprises smaller films of foam that are stitched together and then stitched on the upper surface of the mattress as a quilted layer/pattern. The other type of mattress is a mattress having a fabric only top panel. This type of mattress generally comprises a one-piece smooth fabric panel that envelopes the mattress and the support mechanisms within.

Irrespective of the type of mattress, the end result is that the mattress has a single panel surface that is sealed and secured onto the top of the mattress. Thus, as an individual lies on the mattress, the weight and pressure applied by the individual through the top of the mattress progresses through the various layers until it reaches a maximum stretch point. This then creates a resistance across the surface of the mattress which is generally referred to as a “hammock effect” which can potentially result in spinal misalignment issues and cause an unnecessary build-up of pressure on various parts of the body, significantly impacting the individual's quality of sleep, rest and general wellbeing.

Thus, there is a need to create a mattress that has a structure that presents a support surface to the individual that comprises distinct separate areas that avoids a “hammock effect” from occurring.

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.

STATEMENT OF INVENTION

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 one aspect of the invention there is provided a mattress for supporting an individual thereon, the mattress comprising: at least two sections configured to support different regions of a body of the individual, at least one of the at least two sections having a different firmness to the other sections; wherein the at least two sections are independently configured such that they are isolated from each other both internally and externally.

In one embodiment, each of the at least two sections comprise springs and/or layers of support material configured to form a body having a predetermined firmness and the springs and/or layers of support material of each section are separated from each other such that the sections operate independently.

Each of the at least two sections may comprise a top cover that forms a top surface of the mattress. The top cover for each of the at least two sections may be separated from each other by way of a gap that extends therebetween.

The mattress may comprise three sections: a top section for supporting a head and neck region of the individual; a middle section for supporting a shoulder and torso region of the individual; and a lower section for supporting a hip and leg region of the individual. At least one of the top section, middle section or bottom section of the mattress may have a quilted panel top surface, and at least one of the top section, middle section or bottom section of the mattress may have a fabric panel top surface.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention may be better understood from the following non-limiting description of preferred embodiments, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a prior art mattress of a first type;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a prior art mattress of a second type;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a mattress in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a mattress in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a top view of a mattress in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention with a top cover or surface removed; and

FIG. 6 is a top view of the mattress of FIG. 5 with the top surface applied.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

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 conventional mattress for supporting a sleeping or resting individual in a substantially horizontal position. The mattress of the described embodiment may be used in a conventional slat base frame or as part of an ensemble arrangement. However, it will be appreciated that the mattress of the present invention could be used in a variety of different applications as would be appreciated by those skilled in the art.

Referring to FIG. 1 a conventional mattress 10 in accordance with a first type is depicted. This mattress 10 has continuous side walls 12 that extend about the perimeter of the mattress to define the overall shape of the mattress 10, namely a rectangular shape as depicted. The side walls also function to enclose the internal springs and other structural components of the mattress 10 so as to form a continuous perimeter of the mattress. The internal springs (not shown) may be configured to provide regions of variable levels of firmness along the length and across the breadth of the mattress 10. Layers of foam may also be employed in the body of the mattress to provide additional firmness support, depending the requirements of the user.

The top 14 of the mattress 10 is in the form of a continuous stitched piece typically referred to as a “quilted top”. The “quilted top” 14 generally comprises a complete fabric top layer having multiple comfort layer combinations stitched to an underside thereof, typically in the form of smaller films of foam. The top 14 is then stitched onto the upper surface of the mattress such that it attaches at its periphery to the side walls 12 to form a primary comfort layer on the top or external top surface of the mattress 10, which is on contact with the individual's body.

FIG. 2 depicts another common type of mattress 20 in accordance with the prior art. This mattress 20 is constructed similarly to the mattress 10 of FIG. 1 and comprises a main body defined by continuous side walls 22 that house the springs and foam layers of the mattress therein. The top 24 of the mattress is a single fabric layer that generally comprises a loose fabric that is cut to size and stitched to the top of the side walls 22. The top 24 functions to envelop the support mechanism within the mattress 20.

A problem with the configuration of the mattresses 10, 20 of FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 is that the top panel 14, 24 is in the form of a single piece or member that is sealed and secured onto the surface of the mattress 10, 20, about a periphery thereof The top panel 14, 24 attaches at its periphery to the top of the side walls 12, 22 to provide a constant, uninterrupted surface over the top of the mattress that encloses the upper surface of the mattress. However, in such an arrangement, when an individual lies on the mattress 10, 20 and is supported by the mattress 10, 20, the weight of the individual applies a pressure that progresses through the internal structure of the mattress 10, 20, namely the springs and foam layers contained therein. The internal structure of the mattress will react to the pressure applied thereto by the weight of the individual and provide various degrees of firmness as required. However, the flexibility of the top panel 14, 24 will, at some time, reach a maximum stretch point due to its continuous nature, thereby creating a degree of resistance that is referred to as the “hammock effect”. This taught stretching of the top panel 14, 24 can prevent the individual from obtaining the benefit of the true support of the internal structure of the mattress due to the top panel 14, 24 forming a hammock-type structure. As a result, despite the mattress structure being configured to promote correct spinal alignment and maximum comfort for the individual, the effect of the top panel 14, 24 creating resistance to the weight forces of the individual can result in the mattress failing to provide the benefits it is intended to provide. This can result in the individual experiencing spinal misalignment issues and excess pressure on various parts of the body, having a significant impact on the quality of sleep or rest and exacerbating other potential health problems.

To address this, a mattress 30 in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention is proposed. Two embodiments of the mattress 30 are depicted in FIGS. 3 and 4, respectively.

In FIG. 3, the mattress 30 has a substantially rectangular body defined by side walls 32. In the embodiment as shown, the in FIG. 3, the side walls 32 are shown as 15 being continuous, however in a preferred form the side walls 32 may be separate between sections of the mattress, as is shown in FIG. 4. The mattress 30 is divided into two sections, a top section 31 and a lower section 33. The sections 31, 33 may be determined based on the region of the individual's body that they are configured to support. In this regard, the top section 31 may be located to support the head and shoulders of the individual when they are lying on the mattress, with the lower section 33 being configured to support the hips and legs of the individual.

Each of the sections 31, 33 may be structured to provide different firmness settings or varying degrees of firmness and support through the use of conventional springs and foams as is well known in the art. The firmness settings may vary between soft medium and hard, and any setting inbetween. Depending upon the specific somatotype of the individual, the sections 31, 33 can be structured to provide the appropriate degree of firmness to suite an individual with a predetermined somatotype.

In the embodiment of the mattress depicted in FIG. 3, three sections 34, 35 and 36 are provided in the mattress to support three specific regions of the individual's body. It will be appreciated that the number of sections of the mattress 30 may vary from two to as many as ten, depending on the requirements of the individual.

Each section of the mattress 30 are configured to be independent of each other. Internally, the sections are configured independently with coil springs and foam layers being positioned within the desired section so as to be independent from, and not directly connected to, the neighbouring section.

Externally, the sections of the mattress are also visibly independent from and not connected to each other section, as shown. The top surface of the mattress clearly shows each section having its own individual top surface, 31a, 33a, 34a, 35a and 36a. The top surface 31a, 33a, 34a, 35a and 36a of each section may be a quilted top panel or a loose fabric top as discussed in relation to the prior art. Irrespective of the configuration of the top surface 31a, 33a, 34a, 35a and 36a, they are separate and independent from each other.

It will be appreciated that each independent section of the mattress 30 provides maximum adaptability or ‘give’ for the dedicated region of the individual's body to provide the optimal pressure relief and optimal spinal alignment for the individual as they are supported on the mattress.

FIG. 5 depicts a mattress 30 in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention in more detail. The mattress 30 is shown as having three distinct sections, a top section 40, a shoulder section 44 and a bottom section 48.

The top section 40 is designed for supporting the head and neck region of the individual. The top section 40 may be constructed to have a high degree of firmness and may employ springs and foam inserts (not shown) to achieve this. The top surface of the top section 40 may comprise a quilted panel top 42 that extends only over the top section, as shown in FIG. 6.

The shoulder section 44 is formed to be totally independent from the top section 40 and bottom section 48 and there is a gap formed between the top section 40 and bottom section 48 to facilitate this. The shoulder section 44 is configured to have a reduced firmness such that the individual's shoulder is able to sink into the mattress naturally without having limitations imposed upon its functionality due to any interaction between the top section 40 or bottom section 48, or the individual's body weight or shape.

As is depicted in FIG. 5, to provide the shoulder section 44 with the desired amount of ‘give’ to support the shoulder region of the individual, a gel matrix 45 may be provided to extend across the shoulder section 44 as shown. The gel matrix 45 comprises a latex layer having a plurality of pockets 46 filled with a gel material. Such a region provides a degree of ‘give’ or softness to support the shoulder and arm regions of the individual whilst sleeping or resting such that the shoulder section 44 can independently accommodate the shoulder and arms of the individual with the top section 40 and bottom section 48 retaining a different firmness.

The top surface of the shoulder section 44 is provided with a fabric cover 47 as shown in FIG. 6. The fabric cover 47 is placed over the structure of the shoulder section 44 and attached about its perimeter to provide complete separation of the shoulder section 44 from the top section 40 and the bottom section 48, as shown.

The bottom section 48 is formed independently from the shoulder section 44 and is configured to have a firmness sufficient to support the individual's hips and legs whilst sleeping or resting. The bottom section 48 may comprise springs and foam layers to provide the desired firmness to support the individual as required. The top surface of the bottom section 48 may comprise a quilted panel top 49 that extends only over the bottom section, as shown in FIG. 6.

As is shown in FIG. 6, the end result of the mattress 30 is a mattress having a top surface that clearly shows the separated sections of the mattress such that the different sections have their own top panel and no top panel surface extends between sections of the mattress. There is a clear gap between sections 40, 44 and 48 that provides separation of the sections, enabling each section to function in the manner as designed, without a consistent top panel connecting the upper surfaces thereof Therefore, by having individually separated top surfaces for each of the sections of the mattress 30 there is no restriction preventing the independent sections from working in the designed manner, ensuring that the sections provide comfort to the user in the required body regions and ensuring spinal alignment and a comfortable sleep and or rest.

The side walls 32 of the mattress may also be formed independently between sections to minimise interaction between sections of the mattress. In this regard, a flexible wrap material may be provided about the periphery of the side walls of the mattress to provide a continuous external wall “look” for the mattress without adversely effecting each section from performing its desired supportive function.

The mattress of the present invention has a top surface that clearly demonstrates the different sections of the mattress and the fact that the sections are independent from each other. Not only are the internal structures of the different mattress sections independent and separated from each other, but the external or upper surface of the mattress sections are also covered in an independent and separated manner The number of independent sections present in the mattress can vary as required and a mattress may comprise multiple independent sections as required to suit the needs of the individual user.

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 without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

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Priority Claims (1)