Wallbed Mattress System

Abstract

Mattress systems for a wall bed are disclosed. In one embodiment, the mattress system includes a mattress having a top face, an inner layer and a bottom face, and a panel placed on the bottom surface. The panel is coupled with wires, which passes through the inner layer of the mattress so that the other end is coupled with the top surface of the mattress. Another embodiment of the mattress system includes a pillow stabilization mechanism that includes a panel placed on the bottom surface and an adjustable strap. Still another embodiment of the mattress system includes a dip prevention mechanism that includes a panel placed on the bottom surface which is sized and dimensioned to prevent the bottom face from having a dip when the mattress is placed on a slat.

Description

This application claims the benefit of priority of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 62/207,289, filed on Aug. 19, 2015, which is incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The field of the invention is furniture, more particularly a wall bed mattress system.

BACKGROUND

The following description includes information that may be useful in understanding the present invention. It is not an admission that any of the information provided herein is prior art or relevant to the presently claimed invention, or that any publication specifically or implicitly referenced is prior art.

In the early 1900's, a California inventor named William K. Murphy invented a space-saving bed that can be folded when not in use. Foldout beds, or “Murphy” beds, have been popular since then. Foldout beds can be mounted to the floor, secured to the wall behind the bed, or housed in free-standing cabinets. Most of the foldout wall beds are coupled with mattresses such that a mattress is vertically placed when the foldout wall bed is not in use. When a user unfolds the foldout wall bed, the mattress is placed horizontally as a support frame coupled with the mattress is placed planar to the floor. Because the mattress of the foldout wall bed is placed vertically for most of the time, and because the mattress changes its position from a vertical to a horizontal position frequently, the position and the shape of the mattress can be often undesirably distorted.

Some efforts have been made to solve the problem. For example, some tried to tie one end of the mattress to the support frame using a strap that is attached to the support frame. However, the mattress tends to sag due to the weight of the inner mass of the mattress and gravity while the mattress is vertically positioned. In addition, pillows or beddings that are placed loosely on the mattress cannot be stabilized when the mattress is vertically positioned. Furthermore, if the support frame is a slat-style, tying the mattress tightly with the support frame may exert excessive pressure to the mattress such that some portion of the bottom of the mattress would be dipped between the slats.

Thus, there is still a need for an improved wall bed mattress system.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The inventive subject matter provides systems, devices and methods for securing mattresses in wall bed system.

One aspect of the inventive subject matter includes a mattress system for a wall bed. The mattress system includes a mattress having a top face, an inner layer and a bottom face. The mattress system further includes a panel placed on the bottom face of the mattress. The panel is coupled with a wire (or a plurality of wires). While one end of the wire is coupled with the panel, at least a portion of the wire passes through the inner layer of the mattress such that the other end of the wire is coupled to the top face of the mattress. The wire, together with the panel, is configured to stabilize the mattress on the support frame of the wall bed.

Another aspect of the inventive subject matter includes a mattress system for a wall bed. The mattress system includes a mattress having a top face and a bottom face. The mattress system further includes a panel placed on the bottom face of the mattress. The panel is coupled with a strap that is configured to stabilize a pillow (or bedding) on the front surface.

Still another aspect of the inventive subject matter includes a mattress system for a wall bed. The mattress system includes a mattress having a top face and a bottom face. The mattress system further includes a panel placed on the bottom face of the mattress. The panel is sized and dimensioned to prevent the bottom face from having a dip when the mattress is placed on slats.

Various objects, features, aspects and advantages of the inventive subject matter will become more apparent from the following detailed description of preferred embodiments, along with the accompanying drawing figures in which like numerals represent like components.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1A shows a perspective view of one embodiment of a top portion of a support frame of a wall bed.

FIG. 1B shows a top view of another embodiment of a top portion of a support frame of a wall bed.

FIG. 1C shows a perspective view of one embodiment of the mattress system.

FIG. 2A is a top view of another embodiment of the mattress system.

FIG. 2B is a side view of the mattress system of FIG. 2A.

FIG. 3A is side view of still another embodiment of the mattress system.

FIG. 3B is top view of the mattress system of FIG. 3A.

FIG. 3C is bottom view of the mattress system of FIG. 3A.

FIG. 4A illustrate dips present in the bottom surface of the mattress between slats.

FIG. 4B shows a side view of still another embodiment of the mattress system.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

One should appreciate that the disclosed techniques provide many advantageous technical effects including providing mattress system for foldout beds that provides easy maintenance of the mattress and beddings for users of the foldout beds.

The following discussion provides many example embodiments of the inventive subject matter. Although each embodiment represents a single combination of inventive elements, the inventive subject matter is considered to include all possible combinations of the disclosed elements. Thus if one embodiment comprises elements A, B, and C, and a second embodiment comprises elements B and D, then the inventive subject matter is also considered to include other remaining combinations of A, B, C, or D, even if not explicitly disclosed.

One inventive subject matter includes a mattress system that stabilize the relative location of the mattress on the support frame so that the mattress does not move, slide, or turn when the foldout wall bed changes its position from an open configuration to a closed configuration and vice versa. Details of the foldout beds or wall beds are described in Applicant's own U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/788,459 and Ser. No. 15/206,193, which are incorporated herein in its entirety. FIGS. 1A-1C illustrate one example of how mattress system 100 can be coupled with a foldout wall bed. FIG. 1A is a perspective view of one embodiment of a support frame 105 of a foldout wall bed. In this embodiment, the support frame 105 is a flat deck. As used herein, the flat deck includes a continuous, single piece of support element such as a panel of wood, which contacts at least 70%, preferably at least 80%, more preferably at least 90% of a bottom surface of a mattress when the foldout wall bed is an open configuration. As used herein, open configuration of the foldout wall bed means the configuration of the bed when the support frame and the mattress coupled with the support frame is substantially planar to the floor. In a preferred embodiment, the flat deck style support frame 105 is coupled with a fastener 110. In some embodiments, a single fastener 110 is located in the center of the flat deck style support frame 105. In other embodiments, it is contemplated that a plurality of fastener 110 are located at least two distinct locations on the flat deck style support frame 105.

FIG. 1B is a top view of another embodiment of a support frame 106 of a foldout wall bed. In this embodiment, the support frame 108 is a slat deck, which includes a plurality of slats 107. In a preferred embodiment, the slat deck style support frame 106 is coupled with a fastener 110. In some embodiments, a single fastener 110 is located in the center of the slat deck style support frame 108. In other embodiments, it is contemplated that a plurality of fasteners 110 are located at least two distinct locations on the slat deck style support frame 106.

FIG. 1C is a perspective view of the bottom side of the mattress system 100. The mattress system 100 includes a mattress 120, which has a top surface 130 and a bottom surface 125. The bottom surface 125 of the mattress 120 is coupled with a fastener 140. In some embodiments, a single fastener 140 is located in the center of bottom surface 125. In other embodiments, it is contemplated that a plurality of fasteners 140 are located at least two distinct locations on the bottom surface 125.

The fastener 110 on the support frame 105 (or 106) is configured to couple with the fastener 140 on the bottom surface 125 of the mattress 120 such that coupling of two fasteners are configured to stabilize the mattress 120 on the support frame 105 (or 106). In an especially preferred embodiment, the fasteners 110, 140 are hook and loop fasteners (e.g., Velcro®, etc.). However, any suitable type of fasteners, which are configured to reversibly attach the mattress to the support frame, can be used.

While the mattress can be tied and stabilized, at least in part, to the support frame by fasteners that are located on the bottom surface of the mattress as shown in FIGS. 1A-C, at least a portion of the mattress (e.g., the middle portion of the mattress) can be sagged because of its internal mass and the gravity exerted to it, especially when the mattress is placed vertically (e.g., in a closed configuration of the wall bed, etc.). FIGS. 2A-B show one embodiment of a mattress system 200 having an anti-sag mechanism to prevent the mattress from sagging when it is stored vertically in a closed configuration of a wall bed.

FIG. 2A shows a top view of the mattress system 200, and FIG. 2B shows a cross-sectional side view of the mattress system 200. The mattress 205 includes a top surface 206, a bottom surface 207, and an inner layer 208 between the top surface 206 and the bottom surface 207. The anti-sagging mechanism includes a panel 220 and one or more wires 215a, 215c, 215d. In a preferred embodiment, the panel 220 is coupled with (e.g., attached, glued, etc.) the bottom surface 207 of the mattress 205, and also coupled with (attached, glued, molded, tied, etc.) the one ends of the one or more wires 215a, 215c, 215d. In this embodiment, the one or more wires 215a, 215c, 215d pass through the inner layer 208 of the mattress such that the other ends of the wires 215a, 215c, 215d advance toward the top surface 206 of the mattress 205. Then, the other ends of the wires 215a, 215c, 215d are coupled with (attached, glued, molded, tied, etc.) top surface 206 of the mattress 205.

The anti-sagging mechanism provides several advantages over other commercially available stabilization mechanisms. Most importantly, because the wires pass through the inner layer of the mattress, the anti-sagging mechanism can hold the bottom surface and the top surface of the mattresses tightly without having wires surrounding the entire width of the mattress, which can deform the surface of the mattress. Further, the wires passing through the inner layer can provide more strength to the inner layer of the mattress so that the inner layer is less likely to be sagged due to the gravity when it is standing vertically.

Any number and size of the panels that are suitable to support a portion of the bottom surface 207 of the mattress 105 can be contemplated. For example, the mattress system 200 may comprise two or more panels with at least two or more wires for each panel. In a preferred embodiment, the size of the panel is sufficient enough to cover at least 5%, more preferably at least 10%, most preferably at least 15% of the bottom surface 207 of the mattress 205. However, it is also preferred that the size of the panel is less than 75% of the area, more preferably 50%, most preferably 35% of the bottom surface 207.

In some embodiments, the top surface 205 of the mattress 205 is coupled with one or more elements 210a, 210b, 210c, 210d, 210e (e.g., a button, a snap button, stitches, etc.) with which each of the wires 215a, 215c, 215d is coupled. Preferably, each of the wires 215a, 215c, 215d is coupled with one element 210a, 210c, 210d. However, it is also contemplated that one of the wires 215a, 215c, 215d can be bifurcated in the inner layer 208 or at the top surface 206 and coupled with at least two of the elements 210a, 210b, 210c, 210d, 210e.

In some embodiments, the elements 210a, 210b, 210c, 210d, 210e are aligned in a pattern (e.g., line, square, grid, diamond, spot, etc.). In other embodiments, the elements 210a, 210b, 210c, 210d, 210e are aligned in a predetermined distances from each other (e.g., every 0.5 inch, every 1 inch, every 2 inch, etc.).

FIGS. 3A-C show another embodiment of the mattress system 300 having another stabilization mechanism for pillows 311 (or beddings) placed on the mattress 305. FIG. 3A shows a side view of the mattress system 300, FIG. 3B shows a top view of the mattress system 300, and FIG. 3C shows a bottom view of the mattress system 300. In this embodiment, the bottom surface 307 of the mattress 305 is coupled with pillow panel 330 which is attached with a strap 315. In a preferred embodiment, the strap 315 is sized and dimensioned to wrap around a portion of the mattress 305 and pillows 311 (or beddings) to stabilize the pillows 311 (or beddings) on the top surface 306 of the mattress 305.

In a preferred embodiment, the pillow panel 330 is a corrugated structure such that it is provides more friction on the bottom surface 307 of the mattress 305, and could be more stably located on the bottom surface 307. In other embodiment, the pillow panel 330 need not be a corrugated structure, but comprises a material (e.g., rubber, etc.) with a high coefficient of friction (e.g., between 0.5 and 1.0, preferably between 1.0 and 1.5, more preferably between 1.0 and 2.0).

The some embodiments, the length of the strap 315 is adjustable so that it can stabilize various sizes of pillows 311 (or beddings). In other embodiments, the strap 315 comprises a fastening element (e.g., a buckle).

The mattress system 300 may also include other fastening mechanisms and/or anti-sag mechanisms described above. For example, the mattress system 300 may include a fastener 320 (e.g., hook and loop mechanism, etc.) on the bottom surface 307 of the mattress as described in FIGS. 1A-D. For another example, the mattress system 300 may include anti-sag mechanism with a plurality of elements 310a, 310b, 310c, 310d, 310e (e.g., a button, a snap button, stitches, etc.) through which wires (not shown) can be coupled with the top surface 306 of the mattress 305.

When the support frame of the foldout wall bed is a slat-style deck, prolonged storage of a mattress on the support frame may cause deformation of the mattress. Most significantly, as shown in FIG. 4A, the bottom surface 407 of the mattress 405 can have a plurality of dips 409 between the slats 408 due to the weight of the mattress and gravity. FIG. 4B shows another embodiment of the mattress system 400 that is configured to prevent the mattress 405 having dips 409 when the mattress 405 is placed on the slats 408. In this mattress system 400, the mattress 405 is coupled with a bottom panel 410 that covers substantially entire length or entire area of the bottom surface 407 (e.g., at least 50%, more preferably at least 70%, most preferably at least 90%) of the mattress 405.

Any suitable type of material (e.g., wood, steel, plastic, rubber, etc.) can be contemplated for the bottom panel 410. Preferably, the bottom panel 410 comprises one or material that is stiff enough not to bend by the pressure exerted by the slats 408 or the mattress 405 on the bottom panel 410.

The mattress system 400 may also include other fastening mechanisms and/or anti-sag mechanisms described above. For example, the mattress system 400 may include a fastener (e.g., hook and loop mechanism, etc.) on the bottom surface 407 of the mattress as described in FIGS. 1A-D. For another example, the mattress system 400 may include anti-sag mechanism with the panel 420 that is coupled with a plurality of wires 415a, 415b, 415c and a plurality of elements 410a, 410b, 410c (e.g., a button, a snap button, stitches, etc.) through which wires (not shown) can be coupled with the top surface 406 of the mattress 405, as described in FIGS. 2A-B. Furthermore, the mattress system 400 may also include another stabilization mechanism for pillows 440 (or beddings) placed on the mattress 405, which includes the pillow panel 430 and the strap 420.

As used in the description herein and throughout the claims that follow, the meaning of “a,” “an,” and “the” includes plural reference unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Also, as used in the description herein, the meaning of “in” includes “in” and “on” unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.

Unless the context dictates the contrary, all ranges set forth herein should be interpreted as being inclusive of their endpoints and open-ended ranges should be interpreted to include only commercially practical values. The recitation of ranges of values herein is merely intended to serve as a shorthand method of referring individually to each separate value falling within the range. Unless otherwise indicated herein, each individual value within a range is incorporated into the specification as if it were individually recited herein. Similarly, all lists of values should be considered as inclusive of intermediate values unless the context indicates the contrary.

All methods described herein can be performed in any suitable order unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context. The use of any and all examples, or exemplary language (e.g. “such as”) provided with respect to certain embodiments herein is intended merely to better illuminate the invention and does not pose a limitation on the scope of the invention otherwise claimed. No language in the specification should be construed as indicating any non-claimed element essential to the practice of the invention.

Groupings of alternative elements or embodiments of the invention disclosed herein are not to be construed as limitations. Each group member can be referred to and claimed individually or in any combination with other members of the group or other elements found herein. One or more members of a group can be included in, or deleted from, a group for reasons of convenience and/or patentability. When any such inclusion or deletion occurs, the specification is herein deemed to contain the group as modified thus fulfilling the written description of all Markush groups used in the appended claims.

As used herein, and unless the context dictates otherwise, the term “coupled to” is intended to include both direct coupling (in which two elements that are coupled to each other contact each other) and indirect coupling (in which at least one additional element is located between the two elements). Therefore, the terms “coupled to” and “coupled with” are used synonymously.

It should be apparent to those skilled in the art that many more modifications besides those already described are possible without departing from the inventive concepts herein. The inventive subject matter, therefore, is not to be restricted except in the spirit of the appended claims. Moreover, in interpreting both the specification and the claims, all terms should be interpreted in the broadest possible manner consistent with the context. In particular, the terms “comprises” and “comprising” should be interpreted as referring to elements, components, or steps in a non-exclusive manner, indicating that the referenced elements, components, or steps may be present, or utilized, or combined with other elements, components, or steps that are not expressly referenced. Where the specification claims refers to at least one of something selected from the group consisting of A, B, C . . . and N, the text should be interpreted as requiring only one element from the group, not A plus N, or B plus N, etc.

Claims

1. A mattress system for a wall bed, comprising:

a mattress having a top face, an inner layer and a bottom face;

a first panel placed on the bottom face;

a wire having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end is coupled to the panel, the second end is coupled to the top face of the mattress, and at least a portion of the wire passes through the inner layer.

2. The mattress system of claim 1, wherein the first panel is coupled with a fastener, through which the bottom face of the mattress is stabilized on the wall bed.

3. The mattress system of claim 2, wherein the fastener is a hook and loop.

4. The mattress system of claim 1, wherein the second end is attached to a portion of the top face.

5. The mattress system of claim 1, wherein the front surface comprises a button and the second end is attached with the button.

6. The mattress system of claim 1, wherein the first panel covers less than 50% surface area of the back surface.

7. The mattress system of claim 1, further comprising:

a second panel placed on the bottom face;

a strap coupled with the panel, wherein the strap is configured to stabilize a pillow on the front surface.

8. The mattress system of claim 1, wherein the panel is sized and dimensioned to prevent the bottom face from having a dip when the mattress is placed on a slat.

9. A mattress system for a wall bed, comprising:

a mattress having a top face and a bottom face;

a first panel placed on the bottom face; and

a strap coupled with the panel, wherein the strap is configured to stabilize a pillow on the front surface.

10. The mattress system of claim 9, wherein the panel is corrugated.

11. The mattress system of claim 9, wherein the first panel is made of a material having a coefficient of friction between 1.0 and 2.0

12. The mattress system of claim 9, wherein the back surface is coupled with a fastener, through which the back surface of the mattress is stabilized on the wall bed.

13. The mattress system of claim 9, wherein the strap is configured to stabilize a pillow on the front surface, when the mattress is placed in a vertical position.

14. The mattress system of claim 9, further comprising:

a second panel placed on the bottom face;

a wire having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end is coupled to the second panel, the second end is coupled to the top face of the mattress, and at least a portion of the wire passes through an inner layer of the mattress.

15. A mattress system for a wall bed, comprising:

a mattress having a top face and a bottom face; and

a panel placed on the bottom face, wherein the panel is sized and dimensioned to prevent the bottom face from having a dip when the mattress is placed on a slat.

16. The mattress system of claim 15, wherein the panel covers more than 50% surface area of the bottom surface.

17. The mattress system of claim 15, wherein the panel is coupled with a fastener, through which the back surface of the mattress is stabilized on the wall bed.

18. The mattress system of claim 15, wherein the fastener is a hook and loop.

19. The mattress system of claim 15, further comprising a wire having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end is coupled to the panel, the second end is coupled to the top face of the mattress, and at least a portion of the wire passes through an inner layer of the mattress.

20. The mattress system of claim 15, further comprising a strap coupled with the panel, wherein the strap is configured to stabilize a pillow on the front surface.