The present invention relates generally to beds and, more specifically, to a mattress enhancement that allows the user to compensate for the sags or indentations in the mattress that occur over a period of use. Even more specifically, it relates to a mattress enhancement that is modular and that additionally allows its use on various sized mattresses and on the portions thereof that require additional support for the comfort of the user. Even more specifically it relates to a modular mattress support that has varying degrees of compressibility in each of the support modules and that has fully modifiable connectors between the support modules for the varying ranges of support that are required in each specific case.
There are other support device designed for cushioning. Typical of these is U.S. Pat. No. 4,070,719 issued to Morgan on Jan. 31, 1978.
Another patent was issued to Fogel on Feb. 27, 2001 as U.S. Pat. No. 6,192,538. Yet another U.S. Pat. No. 6,401,282 was issued to Shum on Jun. 11, 2002 and still yet another was issued on Apr. 1, 2003 to Landvik et al. as U.S. Pat. No. 6,541,094.
Another patent was issued to Visser et al. on Oct. 11, 2005 as U.S. Pat. No. 6,952,850. Yet another U.S. Pat. No. 7,805,791 was issued to Malzl on Oct. 5, 2010. Another was issued to Gladney on Aug. 28, 2012 as U.S. Pat. No. 8,250,689 and still yet another was issued on Jan. 22, 2013 to Howard as U.S. Pat. No. 8,356,371.
Another patent was issued to Fukano on Feb. 12, 2013 as U.S. Pat. No. 8,370,979. Yet another U.S. Pat. No. 8,418,297 was issued to Mikkelsen et al. on Apr. 16, 2013. Another was issued to Witherell et al. on Oct. 22, 2013 as U.S. Pat. No. 8,613,120 and still yet another was issued on Dec. 24, 2013 to Hawkins as U.S. Pat. No. 8,613,120.
An improved cushioning element is provided which is prepared from a synthetic resinous cellular resilient body. A plurality of intersecting grooves are formed in the surface of the cushioning element thereby providing a bodysupporting surface of a plurality of spaced-apart bosses generally independently deflectable and recoverable.
A mattress system offering combinations of comfort and support comprising at least two modules, positioned side-by-side along their longest dimension to define at least two recumbent user areas, and a comfort cushion receivable atop each of the at least two modules. At least one of the modules includes a depression in its upper surface, adapted to removably retain a support insert comprised of an envelope containing a plurality of liquid filled bladders. The mattress system provides an immense array of combinations of firmness and support, allowing each user to adjust, to a very wide degree, the comfort, firmness and support beneath their upper body, lumbar area, and lower body. The adaptable structure of the mattress system also allows the individual user to customize his/her side of the bed and easily change his/her side of the bed as his/her preferences change. Additionally, the construction increases the longevity of the bed, because components may be replaced one at a time as deemed necessary. Further, the various components of the modular mattress system enable the manufacturer to ship the bed at reduced cost to the customer, because the mattress system may be shipped in smaller freight components.
A mattress system, sofa, cushioned seat, and the like, having top surface made from rigid material which is divided into plurality of polygonal columns or spherical shapes and configured into a geometrical pattern in various size and shape which has the transversal width and the longitudinal length adding or reducing according to the user's preference. The top surface elements are correspondingly supported by plurality of resilient elements, which are pneumatic in general, adjustable to provide the preferable comfort, desirous top surface contour and prescriptive pressure at particular spots. The top surface elements and resilient elements are individually replaceable and exchangeable. The mattress, sofa, cushioned seat and the like can be retrofit or modified three dimensionally.
A laminated support for pressure-relief comprising an upper layer of visco-elastic foam, a middle layer of visco-elastic foam having a greater hardness, and a bottom layer of highly resilient polyurethane foam. These layers are sandwiched between two layers of reticulated filter polyurethane foam.
A no-flip mattress is constructed of a mattress core, a first padding layer positioned on top of the core, wherein the first padding layer has a density in the range from about 0.5 pounds per cubic foot to about 3 pounds per cubic foot and a firmness in the range from about 8 IFD to about 45 IFD. A second padding layer is adjacent to the first padding layer, wherein the second padding layer has a density in the range from about 0.5 pounds to about 1.9 pounds, and an IFD in the range from about 5 to about 23. A bottom support layer is beneath the core, and comprises a relatively dense and firm material.
The invention relates to a sectional element mat (2), the support properties of which may be individually tailored, whereby exchangeable sectional elements (E) are arranged tightly together or above each other. The above is characterized in that the individual sectional elements (E) may be easily removed and exchanged with other sectional elements. The individual sectional elements are either connected to each other by means of a separable material bridge or perforation (5, 6), connected to each other by means of a plug connector (27, 31), plugged onto or into a common base mat (40) or lying loose on the same. Individual sectional elements can be removed or separated from the combination where necessary and replaced by softer or stiffer sectional elements. In certain situations the resulting free space is left empty. The sectional element mat (2) is either part of a combination with other sectional element mats or contiguous or separate layers (1, 3), or itself forms the mattress core.
The support characteristics within a foam mattress body may be varied by inserting reinforcements into channels cut or otherwise formed within the foam.
A mattress system and method according to which a custom mattress is built according to customer-specific parameters. In several exemplary embodiments, the custom mattress includes one or more removable core cartridges and/or one or more removable topper cartridges . . . .
Provided is a mattress wherein the elastic characteristics of each portion can be changed simply and inexpensively depending on the user's preference. A mattress (10) has a plurality of spring units (60, 70, 80, 90) respectively constituted by holding a plurality of vertically stretchable pocket coils integrally, a lower elastic body (40) in which a housing space (44) capable of housing and holding the spring units (60, 70, 80, 90) is formed, and an upper enclosure (21) and a lower enclosure (30) for covering the outer periphery of the lower elastic body (40), wherein the lower elastic body (40) is provided with a partitioning elastic body (50) for dividing the housing space (44) into a plurality of spaces, and the spring units (60, 70, 80, 90) are formed in such a shape that each of the spring units can be housed in the divided housing spaces (44), and are housed and held in the respective divided housing spaces (44).
A support cushion including a top surface, a bottom surface opposite top surface, a layer of flexible foam having plurality of cells defining a reticulated cellular structure, the reticulated cellular structure cells comprising a skeletal plurality of supports through which substantially open cell walls establish fluid communication between interior of the cell and interiors of adjacent cells, the layer of flexible foam having density no less than about 30 kg/m.sup.3 and no greater than about 175 kg/m.sup.3, and hardness of no less than about 20 N and no greater than about 150 N at 40% indentation force deflection measured at about 22 degrees Celsius, the layer of flexible foam comprising visco-elastic foam having at least one material property responsive to temperature change in range of 10-30.degree. C., and layer of polyurethane foam located beneath layer of flexible foam, the layer of polyurethane foam having hardness of at least about 50 N.
Stepped-edge and side-support members, systems, assemblies, and related methods for an innerspring assembly or other core are disclosed. In one embodiment, an innerspring assembly or core is provided having an interior area of a first height surrounded by one or more exterior, perimeter area(s) of shorter height(s) to provide a stepped-edge innerspring assembly or core. At least a portion of side-support members are placed onto at least a portion of the top surface of the perimeter area to provide edge-support for the innerspring assembly or core. In this manner, a greater portion of the side-support members can be disposed in the sleeping area of the innerspring assembly or core since the underlying perimeter area provides spring support to the side-support members. Further, this support can assist in retention and/or recovery of the shape of the side-support members to further prevent or reduce compression set of the side-support members.
A cushioning device with an upper foam layer and a lower positioned foam layer, with the upper foam layer having multiple thickness zones defined by different height projections from one zone to another as to provide a thickness variation pattern, one side of the upper foam layer is less contoured when not yet assembled in the cushioning device and a second side is comprised of the multiple thickness zones such that, upon connection of the multiple thickness zones to the lower positioned foam layer, the height differential along a length of the upper foam layer is transmitted as to form a non-planar, crown configuration in the upper surface of the upper foam layer. A method includes roller contouring different height and shaped projection zones including zones with different ratios of peak height to overall zone height.
While these various devices may be suitable for the purposes for which they where designed, they would not be as suitable for the purposes of the present invention as heretofore described. It is thus desirable to provide a modular mattress support that is fully customizable by the user. It is further desirable to provide a modular mattress support where the connectors between the support units are flexible, or semi-flexible to allow for various configurations of the support units to be placed as needed between the mattress and the box spring or other base support.
A primary object of the present invention is to provide a modular renewal system for an existing mattress.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a modular renewal system for an existing mattress where the interlocking support system is variously configurable to allow the system to be used on a variety of mattress sizes.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a modular renewal system for a mattress where the nodal blocks of the system may be made up of a variety of layers with varying compressibility, depending on the degree of support that needs to be added to the mattress.
Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide a modular renewal system for a mattress where the layering of the nodal blocks may be a single layer with an increasing density to provide a support gradient between the box spring and the mattress itself.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a modular renewal system for a mattress where the nodal block connectors extending between the necessary blocks are flexible to allow for user customization.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a modular renewal system where the layers or gradients in the nodal blocks provide a shock absorbing means.
Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide a modular renewal system for a mattress where the system itself is not detectable by the user once it has been put in place.
Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide a modular renewal system for mattresses or the like where the varying degrees of compressibility in the nodal blocks are color coded for ease in customization.
Additional objects of the present invention will appear as the description proceeds.
The present invention overcomes the shortcomings of the prior art by providing a fully customizable modular mattress renewal system that allows the user to compensate for the sleep indentations in the mattress that appear over time.
The foregoing and other objects and advantages will appear from the description to follow. In the description reference is made to the accompanying drawing, which forms a part hereof, and in which is shown by way of illustration specific embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. These embodiments will be described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention, and it is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and that structural changes may be made without departing from the scope of the invention. In the accompanying drawing, like reference characters designate the same or similar parts throughout the several views.
The following detailed description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense, and the scope of the present invention is best defined by the appended claims.
Turning now descriptively to the drawings, in which similar reference characters denote similar elements throughout the several views, the figures illustrate the use of the present invention. With regard to the reference numerals used, the following numbering is used throughout the various drawing figures.
In order that the invention may be more fully understood, it will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawing in which:
The following discussion describes in detail one embodiment of the invention (and several variations of that embodiment). This discussion should not be construed, however, as limiting the invention to those particular embodiments, practitioners skilled in the art will recognize numerous other embodiments as well. For definition of the complete scope of the invention, the reader is directed to appended claims.
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Thus the present invention 10 in use is adapted to restore a mattress, cushion, or like portion of a piece of furniture that has developed a sag or indentation through a combination of time and usage by providing a modular support that may be placed underneath the sagging portion. The varying degrees of compressibility provided by the novel nodal foam blocks indicated at 12 in the Figures and the compressible and flexible connector portions indicated at 14 in the Figures allows the user to custom fit the invention to a bed, chair, sofa, or the like that has a sag or sleep indentation therein. The construction of the nodal foam blocks with the varying degrees of compressibility attendant to them allows for small amounts of movement while the invention is in use without sliding. This feature is further enhanced by the adhesive pads located under the blocks 12. These adhesive pads or base layers indicated at 24 in
It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or two or more together may also find a useful application in other types of methods differing from the type described above.
While certain novel features of this invention have been shown and described and are pointed out in the annexed claims, it is not intended to be limited to the details above, since it will be understood that various omissions, modifications, substitutions and changes in the forms and details of the device illustrated and in its operation can be made by those skilled in the art without departing in any way from the spirit of the present invention.
Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of the present invention that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily adapt it for various applications without omitting features that, from the standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute essential characteristics of the generic or specific aspects of this invention.
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