Truck-bed mattress

Abstract

A mattress is disclosed having an overall size and shape that enable it to fit securely in the back of a pick-up truck, SUV, mini-SUV or some other vehicle. While the specifications and examples listed herein assume a full-size vehicle, a proportionally smaller mattress can be configured to accommodate mid-size or smaller vehicles.

Description

The present application is based on and claims the benefit of U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/507,308, filed Sep. 30, 2003, the content of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

It is known to place a mattress in the bed of a pick-up in order to accommodate comfortable sleeping or lounging. Typically, the mattress is placed between wheel well projections. This placement can cause several inconveniences. For example, when the width of the mattress is larger than the width between the wheel well projections, then the mattress must be somehow bent or contorted to fit between the wheel well projections. This leaves areas proximate to the wheel well projections where the mattress does not cover. In addition, configuring the mattress to fit between the wheel well projections can have a detrimental effect on the quality of comfort.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Embodiments of the present invention generally pertain to a mattress having an overall size and shape that enable it to fit securely in the back of a pick-up truck, SUV, mini-SUV or some other vehicle. While the specifications and examples listed herein assume a full-size vehicle, a proportionally smaller mattress can be configured to accommodate mid-size or smaller vehicles.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a truck-bed mattress.

FIG. 2 is a top view of the truck-bed mattress.

FIG. 3 is a side view of the truck-bed mattress.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of another embodiment of a truck-bed up mattress.

FIG. 5 is yet another embodiment of a truck-bed mattress.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Embodiments of the present invention pertain to a mattress that is configured to efficiently fit in the back of a vehicle so that the vehicle can be used as a comfortable and viable sleeping or resting location. The internal structure of the mattress is not critical to the present invention. In one embodiment, a stuffing or spring configuration is implemented. In a preferred embodiment, however, the mattress is an inflatable air mattress. In one embodiment, the mattress can be inflated utilizing an inflation mechanism that receives power from the vehicle (e.g., the device plugs into the cigarette lighter).

Regardless of whether the mattress is a standard mattress (e.g., a spring mattress) or an air mattress, it is illustratively sized and shaped to fit into the back of specific vehicles having pick-up like characteristics. As has been mentioned, the vehicle might be anything from a full-sized truck with a long or short bed to smaller truck vehicles. In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, a range of mattresses are produced and provided to accommodate any pick-up-like vehicle (i.e., an El Camino). In addition, specialized units can be configured and customized to fit into sport utility vehicles and other vehicles.

The mattress embodiments described herein can be utilized for many different purposes such as to accommodate sleeping in the back of a vehicle or providing a comfortable place to sit during outdoor sporting events. In one embodiment, specialized (e.g., heavy-duty) materials are utilized to construct a mattress that provides a cushion for transporting fragile items or pets in the back of a vehicle.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a truck-bed mattress 102 in accordance with one aspect of the present invention. Mattress 102 has indentations 104 that are configured to accommodate spacing for wheel well projections when the mattress is placed in the back of a pick-up truck or similar vehicle. A plurality of projections 106 are configured to extend on either side of the wheel well projections. Although four projections 106 have been illustrated, fewer could be included without departing from the scope of the present invention. For example, while mattress 102 is illustrated as having a “I” configuration, a “T” configuration is within the scope of the present invention. One or three projection configurations are also within the scope of the present invention.

FIGS. 2 and 3 are top and side views, respectively, of mattress 102. Various dimensions are labeled in these figures and specific values will be provided as an example of one implementation for accommodation of a standard vehicle truck bed configuration. Again, mattress 102 can be sized and shaped to fit any of a variety of vehicle configurations. Length 206 is approximately 77 inches. Length 204 is approximately 57½ inches. Length 202 is approximately 21½ inches. Width 208 is approximately 64 inches. Width 210 is approximately 7½ inches. Thickness 212 is approximately 6 inches. Again, the measurements provided herein are exemplary only and can be modified to accommodate a particular vehicle configuration or preference (e.g., extra thickness). It should also be pointed out that indentations 104 can be provided with a particular shape to accommodate a particular vehicle configuration. For example, a shape more complex than the illustrated approximate rectangles can be implemented to accommodate a particular wheel well protrusion configuration.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of another embodiment of a truck-bed mattress in accordance with one aspect of the present invention. Mattress 402 includes extensions 404 that are designed to provide a layer of padded protection over wheel well protrusions when mattress 402 is placed in a vehicle. In one embodiment, extensions 404 are foldable so that they can be collapsed into an efficient profile configuration. In one embodiment, extensions 404 are incorporate a padding material to provide protection from bumps against a wheel well protrusion. In one embodiment, extensions 404 are attached to mattress 402. In another embodiment, extensions 404 are separate from mattress 402 and are simply slid into place such that a portion of the protrusion is slid between the wheel well protrusion and the mattress to secure extensions 404 over the wheel well protrusion.

FIG. 5 is a top view of another embodiment of a truck-bed mattress 502 in accordance with another aspect of the present invention. Mattress 502 is illustratively similar to mattress 102 (FIG. 1) but includes only one indentation, namely, indentation 504.

Although the present invention has been described with reference to preferred embodiments, workers skilled in the art will recognize that changes may be made in form and detail without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Claims

1. A mattress comprising:

a first protrusion;

a second protrusion; and

an indentation formed in the mattress, positioned between the first and second protrusions, and configured to receive a wheel well protrusion.

2. The mattress of claim 1 wherein the mattress is inflatable.

3. The mattress of claim 1 further comprising a second indentation formed in the mattress and configured to receive a second wheel well protrusion.

4. The mattress of claim 1, wherein the mattress is generally shaped like the letter “I”.

5. The mattress of claim 1, wherein the mattress is generally shaped like the letter “T”.

6. The mattress of claim 1, further comprising at least one extension member configured to extend over the top of the wheel well.

7. An air mattress comprising at least one indentation configured to receive a wheel well protrusion.

8. The air mattress of claim 7 wherein the air mattress is inflatable with an adapter that plugs into a vehicle's electrical system.

9. The air mattress of claim 7 further comprising a second indentation formed in the air mattress and configured to receive a second wheel well protrusion.

10. The air mattress of claim 7, wherein the air mattress is generally shaped like the letter “I”.

11. The air mattress of claim 7, wherein the air mattress is generally shaped like the letter “T”.

12. The air mattress of claim 7, further comprising at least one extension member configured to extend over the top of the wheel well.

13. An inflatable air mattress comprising two indentation, wherein each indentation is configured to receive a wheel well protrusion simultaneously when the air mattress is secured within a portion of a vehicle.

14. The mattress of claim 1, wherein the mattress is generally shaped like the letter “I”.

15. The mattress of claim 1, wherein the mattress is generally shaped like the letter “T”.

16. The mattress of claim 1, further comprising at least one extension member configured to extend over the top of the wheel well.