Mattress System and Related Methods

Abstract

A mattress providing three or more different comfort levels is disclosed. In certain embodiments, a multilayer mattress is provided with two layers on opposite sides, one layer providing less firm support than the layer on the opposite side. A zippered attachable pillowtop may also be provided. The main portion of the mattress may be constructed as a sandwich of a first firm layer and a second layer having less firmness relative to the first firm layer. The main portion of the mattress may be constructed without an opening. Alternatively, a zipper or other resealable opening may be provided to allow access to the interior of the main portion and layers of the mattress. Such access may be useful, for instance, for cleaning or sanitizing, or for replacing interior layers of the mattress. Additionally, the pillowtop may be provided with a zippered opening or other resealable opening.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates generally to mattresses and related methods.

SUMMARY

In its most basic aspects, a mattress providing three or more different comfort levels is disclosed. In certain embodiments, a multilayer mattress is provided with a firm side and a medium side, along with a zippered attachable pillowtop. The main portion of the mattress may be constructed as a sandwich of a firm layer and a medium layer. The main portion of the mattress may be constructed without an opening. Alternatively, a zipper or other resealable opening may be provided to allow a consumer or other person access to the interior of the main portion and layers of the mattress. Such access may be useful, for instance, for cleaning or sanitizing, or for replacing layers of the mattress. Additionally, the pillowtop may be provided with a zippered opening or other resealable opening.

Related methods of manufacture and use are also contemplated.

Additional advantages and novel features of the present invention will be set forth in part in the description which follows and in part will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon examination of the following or may be appreciated further by practice of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following description with reference to the drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the invention; and

FIG. 2 is a side cut-away view of an embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

For simplicity and illustrative purposes, the principles of the present invention are described by referring mainly to various exemplary embodiments thereof. Although the preferred embodiments of the invention are particularly disclosed herein, one of ordinary skill in the art will readily recognize that the same principles are equally applicable to, and can be implemented in other systems, and that any such variation would be within such modifications that do not part from the true spirit and scope of the present invention. Before explaining the disclosed embodiments of the present invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of any particular arrangement shown, since the invention is capable of other embodiments. The terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation.

In one embodiment, the mattress includes one side with a high level of firmness and the opposite side has a medium level of firmness. Thus, one side may have layer providing less firm support than the layer on the opposite side. The firmness of each side may be achieved by selection of innerspring or foam material. Suitable foam materials may be selected from polyurethane, latex or other suitably flexible foam material. Thus, in one embodiment the mattress is formed from two different foam materials that are sandwiched together and provided with a covering so that one side of the mattress provides more firmness than the other. Alternatively, a foam material may be provided on one side of the sandwich and an innerspring on the opposite side to provide a mattress with one side having more firmness than the other.

Alternatively, or additionally, a padded covering may be provided on one or both of the high firmness and medium firmness sides of the mattress. Each padded covering may be removably attached for instance with a zipper, Velcro, or other suitable attachment mechanism.

In one embodiment a second covering is removably attachable to the medium firmness side of the mattress and the second covering provides a low level of firmness with a relatively soft, pillowtop like feel for the mattress. Thus, the second covering lays over the medium firmness side of the mattress and attaches by, for instance, a zipper or Velcro attachment. This embodiment provides a choice of three different comfort levels in a single mattress: a firm side; a medium side; and a removable soft pillowtop that may be attached to the medium side to provide a soft feel to the mattress.

In another embodiment, one or more removable coverings may be provided on one or both of the high firmness and medium firmness sides of the mattress. Each removable covering may be removably attached for instance with a zipper, Velcro, or other suitable attachment mechanism. Each removable covering may be sized and designed to enclose a foam layer, an innerspring or any combination of bedding material, including a combination of a foam layer and an innerspring sandwiched together. The foam, innerspring or bedding material is constructed in a way that one side of the mattress is relatively firm and the other side is a medium firmness, or has less firmness than the “firm” side of the mattress.

In one embodiment, the mattress portion containing the medium and firm sides may be constructed with a tape edge or seam so that a user is provided with no access to the internal foam, innerspring or bedding material within the mattress. In this embodiment, a zipper (or similar attachment) may be provided on the medium side to attach a soft layer for an optional softer comfort level. The soft layer itself can also have a zippered entry to enclose foam, innerspring or bedding material or it may be constructed with a tape edge or seam with no access to the foam, innerspring or bedding material within the soft top.

Related methods of manufacture and use are also provided including assembling a mattress as described above as well as unzipping and removing or replacing one or more components of the mattress as described above.

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of an embodiment of a mattress 10. As depicted in FIG. 1, the mattress 10 is resting atop a box spring 20 or foundational support for the mattress. The mattress 10 includes is shown with a main mattress layer 30 as well as a plush or soft top layer 120. A zipper 130 allows for removal and reattachment of the plush or soft top layer 120 so that the plush layer 120 can be removed or reattached to the main mattress layer 30 as desired.

FIG. 1 also shows a cover 122 surrounding the outside of the main mattress layer 30. The zipper 130 is attached to the cover 122 thereby allowing for the removable attachment of the plush layer 120. The cover 122 may also be provided with another zipper 160 which allows for access to the interior of the cover 122.

FIG. 2 shows a cutaway portion of an embodiment of a mattress 10 provided with three separate layers: a medium layer 100, a firm layer 110, and a plush or soft top layer 120. A cover 122 surrounds the medium layer 100 and the firm layer 110 and together these form the main mattress layer 30. A zipper 130 may be provided on the cover 122 and the zipper 130 allows the plush layer 120 to be removably attached to the cover 122 and the main mattress layer 30.

A layer of padding 140 may be provided on or as part of the cover 122 on the medium side of the mattress 10. A separate layer of padding 150 may be provided on or as part of the cover 122 on the firm side of the mattress 10.

A separate zipper 160 may be provided on the cover 122 to allow access inside the cover 122 to either or both of the medium layer 100 and the firm layer 110. In such an embodiment, one or both of the medium layer 100 or the firm layer 110 may be replaced. Zipper 160 may be positioned as desired on the cover 122, for instance, spaced from the bottom side of the main mattress layer 30 as shown in FIG. 2 or at or adjacent to the bottom side of the main mattress layer 30 as shown in FIG. 1. Zipper 160 is optional and not required in every embodiment.

A separate zipper (not shown) may be provided on the plush layer 120 to allow access inside the plush layer 120.

The plush layer 120 itself may be composed of an outer cover and an inner material that provides the density, firmness and other characteristics of the plush layer 120. The outer cover of the plush layer 120 may or may not match the cover 122 on the main mattress layer 30. Alternatively the plush layer 120 may be formed from one material or it may be formed from layers of multiple materials and/or fabrics. A padded layer may be applied to or form a part of the plush layer 120.

The foregoing disclosure has been set forth merely to illustrate certain embodiments and is not intended to be limiting. Since modifications of the disclosed embodiments incorporating the spirit and substance of the invention may occur to persons skilled in the art, the invention should be construed to include everything within the scope of the disclosure and equivalents and modifications thereof.

Claims

1. A mattress comprising:

a firm support on one side;

a medium support on a side opposite the firm support;

a removably attachable soft pillowtop preferably attached to side of the mattress with the medium support.

2. The mattress of claim 1, further comprising:

a cover encasing the firm support and the medium support, and

a zipper affixed to the cover and the soft pillowtop to allow for removable attachment of the soft pillowtop to the cover.

3. The mattress of claim 2, wherein the cover is provided with an opening to allow access to the firm support and the medium support.

4. The mattress of claim 3, wherein the opening is provided with a zipper to allow access to the firm support and the medium support.