Packaged Mattress Foundation for Stacking on a Pallet

Abstract

A packaged mattress foundation is sized to fit on the most common sized pallets with a minimum height per packaged mattress foundation to maximize a number of packaged mattress foundations that can be fit in a given allowable height for a pallet stack. Maximizing the number of merchandise on a give pallet is particularly important to “big-box retailers” that display merchandise stacked on pallets as shipped. To minimize the height of the packaged mattress foundation, components such as motors, frames, and boarders are distinct (i.e., not overlapping) when the two panels are folded, like a clamshell, for shipping.

Description

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable

THE NAMES OF PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT

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INCORPORATION-BY-REFERENCE OF MATERIAL SUBMITTED ON A COMPACT DISC

Not Applicable

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention

The invention relates to mattress foundations.

Description of the Related Art

A pallet (also called a skid) is a flat transport structure, which supports goods in a stable fashion while being lifted by a forklift, a pallet jack, a front loader, a jacking device, or an erect crane. A pallet is the structural foundation of a unit load, which allows handling and storage efficiencies. Goods in shipping containers are often placed on a pallet secured with strapping, stretch wrap or shrink wrap and shipped. Since its invention in the twentieth century, its use has dramatically supplanted older forms of crating like the wooden box and the wooden barrel, as it works well with modern packaging like corrugated boxes and intermodal containers commonly used for bulk shipping.

Wooden pallets typically include three or four stringers that support several deckboards, on top of which goods are placed. In a pallet measurement, the first number is the stringer length and the second is the deckboard length. Square or nearly square pallets help a load resist tipping.

Several standards have been published for the size of pallets.

The standard 48×40 North American pallet, or GMA pallet, has stringers of 48 inches and deckboards of 40 inches, and was standardized by the Grocery Manufacturers Association (GMA). A standard wooden pallet (48 in×40 in×6 in or 1,219 mm×1,016 mm×152 mm) with a static load bearing capacity of 3 short tons (2.7 long tons; 2.7 t) and a 1-short-ton (0.89-long-ton; 0.91 t) dynamic capacity, will weigh approximately 33 to 48 lb (15 to 22 kg). GMA pallets typically weigh 37 pounds (17 kg), and are 6+½ inches (170 mm) tall. Their deck boards measure 3+¼ inches (83 mm) wide and are 5/16 inch (7.9 mm) thick each. Other dimensions of pallets have different weight capacities.

The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) sanctions six pallet dimensions, detailed in ISO Standard 6780:2003 Flat pallets for intercontinental materials handling—Principal dimensions and tolerances, which was reviewed and confirmed in 2014. Dimensions of ISO pallets are shown in FIG. 7.

Of the top pallets used in North America, the most commonly used by far is the Grocery Manufacturers Association (GMA) pallet, which accounts for 30% of all new wood pallets produced in the United States. The ISO also recognizes the GMA pallet footprint as one of its six standard sizes, which are shown in FIG. 8.

European pallet sizes are shown in FIG. 9.

Mattresses are sold in standard sizes. The following is a list of the standard sizes and the dimensions of each of the standard sizes:

Twin, 96 cm wide×189 cm long;

Twin XL, 96 cm wide×202 cm long;

Full, 135 cm wide×189 cm long;

Queen, 152 cm wide×202 cm long;

King, 193 cm wide×202 cm long; and

California King, 183 cm wide×212 cm long.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An object of the invention is to provide a packaged mattress foundation for stacking on a pallet that overcomes the disadvantages of the devices of this general type and of the prior art.

With the foregoing and other objects in view there is provided, in accordance with the invention, a packaged mattress foundation for stacking on a pallet. The packaged mattress foundation includes a packaging box and a disassembled mattress foundation. The packaging box has a box length and a box width. The box length is no greater than the pallet length. The box width is no greater than the pallet width. The disassembled mattress foundation is contained within the packaging box.

A further object of the invention is to provide a packaged mattress foundation that fits on the most common sized pallet without overhang. In accordance with the object, the box length is no greater than 122 cm and the box width is no greater than 102 cm.

A further object of the invention is to provide a packaged mattress foundation with the lowest height while not exceeding the dimensions of the pallet. In accordance with the object, the disassembled mattress foundation can include a mattress support for supporting a mattress. The mattress support can have a head panel and a foot panel. The head panel has a head-panel length and a head-panel width. The head panel is configured to support a head portion of the mattress. The foot panel has a foot-panel length and foot panel width. The foot panel is configured to support a foot portion of the mattress. The head-panel length is no greater than the pallet length. The head-panel width is no greater than the pallet width. The foot-panel length is no greater than the pallet length. The foot-panel width is no greater than the pallet width.

To minimize the height of the packaged mattress foundation, parts located on either panel are located to be discrete when the mattress foundation is folded for shipping. For purposes of this application, “discreet” means not overlapping. The packaged mattress foundation can include an outer rail and an inner rail The outer rail is connected the head-panel bottom or the foot-panel bottom. The inner rail is connected to the other of the head panel bottom and the foot panel bottom. The outer rail is distinct from the inner rail (i.e., not overlapping) when the head panel and the foot panel are folded about the hinge.

In accordance with the objects of the invention, the mattress foundation includes a back massaging unit and a foot massaging unit. The back massaging unit is disposed on the bottom of the head panel at a first position between the head panel and the foot panel The foot massaging unit is disposed on said foot panel at a second position between the head panel and the foot panel. The back massaging unit and the foot massing unit are in distinct locations when the mattress foundation is in a folded position.

In accordance with the objects of the invention, the mattress support can include a border. A fixed left border is disposed on the foot-panel left edge or the head-panel left edge. A removable left border can be connected on the one of the foot panel or head panel to which the fixed boarder is not fixed. A fixed right border is disposed on the foot-panel right edge or the head-panel right edge. A removable right border is removably attachable to the other of the foot panel or the head panel to which the fixed right border is not attached. A fixed outer border is disposed on the foot-panel outer edge or the head-panel outer edge. A removable outer border is attachable to the other of the foot panel and the head panel to which the fixed outer border is not attached. The removable border is detached when the mattress foundation is folded to prevent the removable border and fixed border from overlapping when the mattress foundation is folded. The border sections can be made of flexible resilient foam. A hook-and-loop fastener can be used to removably attach the removable border sections from the head panel bottom or foot panel bottom.

In accordance with the objects of the invention, the legs are shipped unscrewed from the mattress foundation. After the mattress foundation is unfolded, the legs are screwed into threaded holes in the mattress foundation.

In the case of queen, king, and California king size mattresses, a further (i.e., second) mattress foundation can be shipped within said packaging box.

In accordance with the objects of the invention, a palletized container of mattress foundations is described. The palletized container includes a pallet. A packaged mattress foundation is stacked on the pallet. Multiple packages of mattress foundations can be stacked

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING

FIG. 1A is a bottom, left perspective view of a mattress foundation according to the invention.

FIG. 1B is the bottom, left perspective view of the mattress foundation shown in FIG. 1A with additional reference numbers.

FIG. 2 is a top left perspective view of the mattress foundation shown in FIG. 1A.

FIG. 3 is a photograph showing a top, rear perspective view of the mattress foundation shown in FIG. 1 in a folded position and placed in an open box.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a pallet of boxed mattress foundations according to the invention.

FIG. 5 is a bottom, front, right perspective view of the mattress foundation shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 is a table showing the weight and dimensions of boxes and pallets of mattress foundations.

FIG. 7 is a table of ISO pallet sizes according to the prior art.

FIG. 8 is a table of common pallet sizes in North America according to the prior art.

FIG. 9 is a table of common European pallet sizes in Europe according to the prior art.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIGS. 1A, 1B, 2 and 5 show a preferred embodiment of a mattress foundation 50. In FIG. 1A, the following parts are shown: back frame 2, foot support part 4, connecting rod 5, retainer bar 6, roller board 7, foot plywood 8, leg plywood 9, buttock plywood 10, waist plywood 11, back plywood 12, hinge unit 13, massager cap 14, plastic tube cap 15, roller 16, shift lever bushing 17, spacer sleeve 18, hinge bolt 19, spacer 20, pulley bin 21, block 22, four jaw nut 23, plastic tube cap 24, motor head 25, motor 26, connecting rod piece 27, external hexagon sew with edge 28, and rubber hinge gasket 29.

FIG. 1B shows the mattress foundation 50. The mattress foundation 50 includes five subpanels: back subpanel 54A, waist subpanel 54B, buttocks subpanel 55A, leg subpanel 55B, and foot subpanel 55C. Together, the subpanels 54A, 54B, 55A, 55B, and 55C form mattress support 51. Back subpanel 54A and waist subpanel 54B form head panel 52. Buttocks subpanel 55A, leg subpanel 55B, and foot subpanel 55C form foot panel 53. The head panel 52 has a head-panel length l₅₂ and a head-panel width w₅₂. The foot panel 53 has a foot-panel length l₅₃ and a foot panel width w₅₃. A head-panel bottom 54 is formed by back subpart bottom 54A and waist subpart bottom 54B. A foot panel bottom 55 is formed by buttocks subpart bottom 55A, leg subpart 55B, and leg subpart 55C. The legs 67 are screwed into

FIGS. 2 and 5 show a preferred embodiment of the mattress foundation 50. The fixed left border 71, fixed right border, and fixed outer border 73 are shown. The removable left border 74, removable right border 75, and the removable outer border 76 are removed. Hook-and-loop fastener 64 can removable attach the removable borders. In FIG. 2, the legs 67 are not shown but the leg mounting plate 78 and threaded socket 79 are shown.

FIG. 3 shows a packaging box 80 holding a mattress foundation 50 in a folded position.

FIG. 4 shows a pallet 90 with a pallet length l₉₀, pallet width w₉₀. A plurality of packaged mattress foundations 91 are stacked on the pallet 90. The length and width of the packaged mattress foundations 91 does not exceed the pallet length l₉₀ and pallet width w₉₀, respectively.

FIG. 6 list the pallet sizes for a preferred embodiment of a pallet of Twin XL sized mattresses and queen-sized mattresses.

Other features that are considered as characteristic for the invention are set forth in the appended claims.

Although the invention is illustrated and described herein as embodied in the invention should not be limited to the details shown in those embodiments because various modifications and structural changes may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention while remaining within the scope and range of equivalents of the claims.

The construction and method of operation of the invention and additional objects and advantages of the invention is best understood from the following description of specific embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings.

Claims

1. A packaged mattress foundation for stacking on a pallet having a pallet length and a pallet width, the packaged mattress foundation comprising: a packaging box having a box length and a box width, said box length being no greater than the pallet length, and said box width being no greater than the pallet width; anda disassembled mattress foundation being contained within said packaging box.

2. The packaged mattress foundation according to claim 1, wherein: said box length is no greater than 122 cm; andsaid box width is no greater than 102 cm.

3. The packaged mattress foundation according to claim 1, wherein said disassembled mattress foundation includes: a mattress support for supporting a mattress, said mattress support having a head panel and a foot panel, said head panel having a head-panel length and a head-panel width and being configured to support a head portion of the mattress, said foot panel having a foot-panel length and foot panel width and being configured to support a foot portion of the mattress;said head-panel length is no greater than the pallet length;said head-panel width is no greater than the pallet width;said foot-panel length is no greater than the pallet length; andsaid foot-panel width is no greater than the pallet width.

4. The packaged mattress foundation according to claim 3, wherein: said head panel has a head-panel bottom;said foot panel has a foot-panel bottom;an outer rail being connected to one of said head-panel bottom and said foot-panel bottom;an inner rail being connected to one of said head-panel bottom and said foot-panel bottom not being connected to said outer rail; anda hinge interconnecting said outer rail and said inner rail;said outer rail being distinct from said inner rail when said head panel and said foot panel are folded about said hinge.

5. The packaged mattress foundation according to claim 3, wherein: said head panel has a head-panel bottom;said foot panel has a foot-panel bottom;said head-panel bottom facing said foot-panel bottom when said mattress support is folded for shipping;a back massaging unit is disposed on said head panel at a first position between said head panel and said foot panel; anda foot massaging unit is disposed on said foot panel at a second position between said head panel and said foot panel, said second position being distinct from said first position.

6. The packaged mattress foundation according to claim 5, wherein: said head panel includes a back sub-panel and a waist sub-panel;said foot panel includes a leg sub-panel and a foot sub-panel;a back motor is disposed on said head-panel bottom at a third position and is configured to move said head sub-panel relative to said back sub-panel;a leg motor is disposed on said foot-panel bottom at a fourth position and is configured to move said leg sub-panel relative to said foot sub-panel; andsaid first position, said second position, said third position, and said fourth position are distinct when said head-panel bottom faces said foot-panel bottom for shipping.

7. The packaged mattress foundation according to claim 3, wherein: said head panel has a head-panel bottom and includes a head sub-panel and a back sub-panel;said foot panel has a foot-panel bottom and includes a leg sub-panel and a foot sub-panel;a back motor is disposed on said head-panel bottom at a first position and is configured to move said head sub-panel relative to said back sub-panel;a leg motor is disposed on said foot-panel bottom at a second position and is configured to move said leg sub-panel relative to said foot sub-panel; andsaid first position and said second position are distinct when said head-panel bottom faces said foot-panel bottom for shipping.

8. The packaged mattress foundation according to claim 3, wherein: said mattress support includes a hinge, said hinge interconnecting said head panel and said foot panel;said head panel has a head-panel bottom, said head-panel bottom having a head-panel left edge, a head-panel right edge opposing said head-panel left edge, and a head-panel outer edge, said head-panel outer edge being disposed on said head-panel bottom opposingly from said hinge;said foot panel has a foot-panel bottom, said foot-panel bottom having a foot-panel left edge, a foot-panel right edge opposing said foot-panel left edge, and a foot-panel outer edge, said foot-panel outer edge being disposed on said foot-panel bottom opposingly from said hinge;a fixed left border being disposed on one of said foot-panel left edge and said head-panel left edge;a fixed right border being disposed on one of said foot-panel right edge and said head-panel right edge;a fixed outer border being disposed on one of said foot-panel outer edge and said head-panel outer edge;a removable left border being removably attachable to an other of said foot-panel left edge and said head-panel left edge, said removable left border being removed when said mattress support is folded and attached when said mattress support is unfolded;a removable right border being removably attachable to an other of said foot-panel right edge and said head-panel right edge, said removable right border being removed when said mattress support is folded and attached when said mattress support is unfolded; anda removable outer border being removably attachable to an other of said foot-panel outer edge and said head-panel outer edge, said removable outer border being removed when said mattress support is folded and attached when said mattress support is unfolded.

9. The packaged mattress foundation according to claim 8, wherein at least one of said fixed left border, said fixed right border, said fixed outer border, said removable left border, said removable right border, and said removable outer border includes a flexible resilient foam.

10. The packaged mattress foundation according to claim 8, wherein said mattress support includes a hook-and-loop fastener having a first part releasably connected to a second part; said first part of said hook-and-loop fastener being disposed on at least one of said removable left border, said removable right border, and said removable outer border; andsaid second part of said hook-and-loop fastener being disposed on at least one of said foot-panel left edge, said foot-panel right edge, said foot-panel outer edge, said head-panel left edge, said head-panel right edge, and said head-panel outer edge.

11. The packaged mattress foundation according to claim 4, wherein: at least one of said inner rail and said outer rail has a leg-mount plate connected thereto, said leg-mount plate having a threaded socket formed therein; anda leg for supporting said mattress support above a floor includes a bolt, said bolt being configured to screw into said threaded socket, said leg being removed when said mattress support is folded for shipping and screwed in when said mattress support is unfolded for use.

12. The packaged mattress foundation according to claim 3, wherein said mattress support includes only two panels, said only two panels being said head panel and said foot panel.

13. The packaged mattress foundation according to claim 12, wherein: said head panel includes only two head subpanels, said only two head subpanels being a back subpanel and a waist subpanel; andsaid foot panel includes only three foot subpanels, said only three foot subpanels being a buttock subpanel, a leg subpanel, and a foot subpanel.

14. The packaged mattress foundation according to claim 1, further comprising: a further disassembled mattress foundation being contained within said packaging box.

15. A palletized container of mattress foundations, comprising: a pallet a pallet length and a pallet width; anda packaged mattress foundation being stacked on said pallet, said packaged mattress foundation including: a packaging box having a box length and a box width, said box length being no greater than the pallet length, and said box width being no greater than the pallet width; anda disassembled mattress foundation being contained within said packaging box.

16. The palletized container according to claim 15, further comprising: a further packaged mattress foundation being stacked on said packaged mattress foundation, said packaged mattress foundation including: a packaging box having a box length and a box width, said box length being no greater than the pallet length, and said box width being no greater than the pallet width; anda disassembled mattress foundation being contained within said packaging box.