MATTRESS ASSEMBLY
A mattress assembly includes a foundation that defines first and second axes oriented along the length and the width of the foundation, respectively. The mattress assembly further includes a mattress supported atop the foundation and means for securing the mattress to the foundation to inhibit sliding movement of the mattress relative to the foundation along at least one of the first and second axes.
The present invention relates to mattresses, and more particularly to mattress and foundation assemblies.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONConventional mattresses can be found in a wide variety of shapes and sizes. Many mattresses are constructed entirely or partially out of foam material. For example, polyurethane foam is commonly used in many mattresses, pillows, and cushions, and can be used alone or in combination with other types of cushion materials. In some mattresses, viscoelastic material is used, providing the mattress with an increased ability to conform to a user and to distribute the weight of the user.
Mattresses are typically supported by foundations (e.g., frames, box-springs, etc.), relying on the weight of the mattress and the resultant friction between the mattress and the foundation to prevent the mattress from moving relative to the foundation. However, after a period of normal use, mattresses may slip relative to their foundations and require repositioning. This problem may be exacerbated in the case of an adjustable foundation.
Based at least in part upon the limitations of existing mattresses and the high consumer demand for improved mattresses in a wide variety of applications, new mattresses are welcome additions to the art.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe invention provides, in one aspect, a mattress assembly including a foundation that defines first and second axes oriented along the length and the width of the foundation, respectively. The mattress assembly further includes a mattress supported atop the foundation and means for securing the mattress to the foundation to inhibit sliding movement of the mattress relative to the foundation along at least one of the first and second axes.
Other features and aspects of the invention will become apparent by consideration of the following detailed description and accompanying drawings.
Before any embodiments of the invention are explained in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangement of components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the accompanying drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or of being carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.
DETAILED DESCRIPTIONWith continued reference to
The viscoelastic foam in the mattress 110 provides a relatively comfortable substrate for a user's body, can at least partially conform to the user's body to distribute force applied thereby, and can be selected for responsiveness to a range of temperatures generated by the body heat of a user. The viscoelastic foam layer of the mattress 110 provides a relatively soft and comfortable surface for a user's body or body portion (hereinafter referred to as “body”). In some embodiments, the viscoelastic foam in the mattress 110 has a hardness of at least about 20 N and no greater than about 80 N for desirable softness and body-conforming qualities. In other embodiments, the viscoelastic foam may have a hardness of at least about 30 N and no greater than about 70 N. In still other embodiments, the viscoelastic foam may have a hardness of at least about 40 N and no greater than about 60 N. Unless otherwise specified, the hardness of any foam material referred to herein is measured by exerting pressure from a plate against a sample of the material to a compression of 40% of an original thickness of the material at approximately room temperature (e.g., 21-23 Degrees Celsius), wherein the 40% compression is held for a set period of time following the International Organization of Standardization (ISO) 2439 hardness measuring standard.
The viscoelastic foam in the mattress 110 also includes a density providing a relatively high degree of material durability. The density of the viscoelastic foam in the mattress 110 can also impact other characteristics of the foam, such as the manner in which mattress 110 responds to pressure, and the feel of the foam. In some embodiments, the viscoelastic foam in the mattress 110 has a density of no less than about 30 kg/m3 and no greater than about 150 kg/m3. In other embodiments, the viscoelastic foam may have a density of at least about 40 kg/m3 and no greater than about 135 kg/m3. In still other embodiments, the viscoelastic foam may have a density of at least about 50 kg/m3 and no greater than about 120 kg/m3.
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The latch 124 may be formed from a flexible material, such as a polymeric material. The elastic properties of the flexible material facilitates engaging and disengaging the latch 124, and the latch 124 can be configured such that an elastic recovery force biases latch 124 toward an engaged position and inhibits inadvertent disengagement of the latch 124. In other embodiments, one or more components of the latch 124 may be a rigid material. In such embodiments, elastic properties of the mattress 110 or the foundation 111 may produce an elastic recovery force as described above, when the latch 124 is in the engaged position.
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In the illustrated embodiment, the magnets 244a, 244b are permanent magnets, generating their own persistent magnetic fields. The magnets 244a, 244b may be any suitable type of permanent magnet (e.g., ferrite, alnico, samarium-cobalt, neodymium, etc.). Alternatively, the magnets 244a, 244b may be electromagnets and may selectively generate magnetic fields is response to an applied electrical current.
With reference to
In the illustrated embodiment, the upper and lower magnets 244b, 244a are respectively arranged along opposing sides of the mattress 210 and the foundation 211 corresponding to the length dimension of the mattress 210 and the foundation 211. Alternatively, the plurality of magnets 244 may be arranged in any way, including but not limited to around the perimeter of the mattress 210 and the foundation 211, in an S, Z, or X shaped pattern, in a plurality of parallel rows and columns, or in a series of concentric rectangles. In addition, any number of magnets 244a, 244b may be used.
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The mattress 410 can include an internal chamber 464 that can be partially or fully occupied by reticulated foam (whether viscoelastic or otherwise), or that can instead be substantially empty. Airflow may be generated through the internal chamber 464 at times when cooling of the mattress 410 is needed. The internal chamber 464 may have any shape and size desired, and may be defined by a number of cavities and voids extending to various locations within the mattress 410. In some embodiments, the mattress 410 may have a series or cluster of internal chambers 464 each having any shape desired (e.g., round, oval, elliptical, or otherwise rotund internal chambers, internal chambers each having a square, triangular, or other polygonal shape, elongated internal chambers each having an S-shape. shape, or other shape, internal chambers having an irregular shape, internal chambers having any combination of such shapes, and the like). Also, any number of the internal chambers 464 may be coupled together and can thereby be in fluid communication with one another,
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The second cavity 472 can function as an outlet for the airflow created by the fan 484. In some embodiments, the fan 484 may be retained in this position within the foundation 411 by compressive force of the foundation 411 surrounding the fan 484 or by the fitting 476. The fitting 476 and internal chamber 464 form a duct to provide fluid flow throughout the mattress assembly 408.
In the illustrated embodiment, the fan 484 is positioned in the foundation 411, below the bottom surface 414 of the mattress 410. Positioning the fan 484 in the foundation 411 can present the advantage of at least partially isolating the user from noise and vibration caused by fan operation. Embodiments in which the fan 484 is positioned in the foundation 411 also permit a user to select a mattress 410 and a foundation 411 separately, such that any suitable mattress 410 can be supported upon the foundation 411, and any foundation 411 can be used to support the mattress 410. In other embodiments, the fan 484 may be located in other positions, such as immediately adjacent the internal chamber 464, immediately adjacent the bottom surface 414 of the mattress 410, and the like. In still other embodiments, the fan 484 may be positioned at least partially in the internal chamber 464 of the mattress 410.
With reference to
Various features of the invention are set forth in the following claims.
Claims
1. A mattress assembly comprising:
- a foundation defining first and second axes oriented along the length and the width of the foundation, respectively;
- a mattress supported atop the foundation; and
- means for securing the mattress to the foundation to inhibit sliding movement of the mattress relative to the foundation along at least one of the first and second axes.
2. The mattress assembly of claim 1, wherein the mattress includes a viscoelastic foam.
3. The mattress assembly of claim 2, wherein a substantial portion of the mattress is made of the viscoelastic foam.
4. The mattress assembly of claim 2, wherein the viscoelastic foam includes a hardness of at least about 20 N and no greater than about 80 N.
5. The mattress assembly of claim 2, wherein the viscoelastic foam includes a density of no less than about 30 kg/m3 and no greater than about 150 kg/m3.
6. The mattress assembly of claim 1, wherein the means for securing includes a latch coupling the mattress to the foundation.
7. The mattress assembly of claim 6, wherein the latch includes a buckle attached to one of the foundation and the mattress, and a catch attached to the other of the foundation and the mattress, and wherein the catch is engageable with the buckle to secure the mattress to the foundation.
8. The mattress assembly of claim 6, wherein the latch is a first latch coupling the mattress and the foundation along a first side of each of the mattress and the foundation, and wherein the means for securing includes a second latch coupling the mattress and the foundation along a second side of each of the mattress and the foundation.
9. The mattress assembly of claim 8, wherein the first and second sides of the mattress are adjacent.
10. The mattress assembly of claim 8, wherein the first and second sides of the mattress are parallel.
11. The mattress assembly of claim 8, wherein the means for securing further includes a third latch coupling the mattress and the foundation along a third side of each of the mattress and the foundation, and a fourth latch coupling the mattress and the foundation along a fourth side of each of the mattress and the foundation.
12. The mattress assembly of claim 1, wherein the means for securing includes a rigid projection extending from one of the foundation and the mattress, and a pocket defined on the other of the foundation and the mattress, and wherein the projection is insertable into the pocket for coupling the mattress to the foundation.
13. The mattress assembly of claim 12, wherein the pocket is defined by a sleeve attached to the one of the foundation and the mattress.
14. The mattress assembly of claim 13, wherein the sleeve is sewn to the one of the foundation and the mattress.
15. The mattress assembly of claim 12, wherein the projection extends from the foundation, and wherein the pocket is defined on the mattress.
16. The mattress assembly of claim 12, wherein the projection and the pocket are located along a side of each of the mattress and the foundation corresponding with the respective widths of the mattress and the foundation.
17. The mattress assembly of claim 12, wherein the projection is configured as a continuous bar having opposite ends attached to the foundation, and wherein a middle portion of the bar is inserted within the pocket.
18. The mattress assembly of claim 1, wherein the means for securing includes a first magnet coupled to the foundation and a second magnet coupled to the mattress, and wherein the first and second magnets are magnetically latched for coupling the mattress to the foundation.
19. The mattress assembly of claim 18, wherein the first and second magnets are magnetically latched, in response to placement of the mattress atop the foundation.
20. The mattress assembly of claim 18, wherein at least one of the first and second magnets is sewn into the respective one of the foundation and the mattress.
21. The mattress assembly of claim 20, wherein the foundation includes a cover, and wherein the first magnet is sewn into the cover.
22. The mattress assembly of claim 18, wherein the first and second magnets are disposed proximate a first side of the foundation and the mattress, respectively.
23. The mattress assembly of claim 22, wherein the first side of each of the foundation and the mattress corresponds with the respective lengths of the foundation and the mattress.
24. The mattress assembly of claim 18, wherein the first and second magnets are inclusive in a plurality of magnets on each of the foundation and the mattress for coupling the mattress to the foundation.
25. The mattress assembly of claim 18, wherein the first and second magnets are permanent magnets.
26. The mattress assembly of claim 1, wherein the means for securing includes an alignment fitting extending from one of the foundation and the mattress, and a cavity defined in the other of the foundation and the mattress in which the fitting is inserted for coupling the mattress to the foundation.
27. The mattress assembly of claim 26, wherein the cavity is a first cavity defined in the mattress, and wherein the foundation includes a second cavity in which the fitting is anchored.
28. The mattress assembly of claim 27, further comprising a fan positioned in one of the first and second cavities for generating an airflow through the mattress and the foundation.
29. The mattress assembly of claim 26, wherein the fitting extends between a top surface of the foundation and a bottom surface of the mattress.
30. The mattress assembly of claim 26, wherein the fitting includes a tapered end to facilitate insertion into the cavity.
Type: Application
Filed: Dec 28, 2012
Publication Date: Jul 3, 2014
Inventors: Tom Mikkelsen (Lexington, KY), Christopher L. Glover (Kingsport, TN), Kelly W. Chandler (Gate City, VA), Norman L. Vaughn (Kingsport, TN), Lauren C. Gatto (Johnson City, TN), J. Mark Wilkinson (Georgetown, KY)
Application Number: 14/113,752
International Classification: A47C 21/02 (20060101); A47C 21/04 (20060101); A47C 31/00 (20060101);