EP1472958A1

EP1472958A1 - Construction kit and method for manufacturing a mattress for a bed

Info

Publication number: EP1472958A1
Application number: EP04076294A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Hendrik Dol
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2003-04-29
Filing date: 2004-04-28
Publication date: 2004-11-03
Also published as: NL1023310C2

Abstract

A mattress (1) designed to be placed on a bed (2), comprising: a mattress body (10) with at least one chamber (11) to be filled with gas and at least one partly elastically deformable chamber wall (12) bounding the chamber (11) in a gas tight manner; which chamber (11) is provided with a gas inlet means (14) and is filled with an expandable filling element (13) which, in compressed condition, can apply a deforming force to the chamber wall (12) so that the chamber wall (12) deforms elastically, at least partly, and the content of the chamber (11) increases. The filling element has, at least locally, a profiled surface (15) with a number of contact surfaces (16) abutting against the chamber wall (12) of which profiled surface (15) at least one part (17) located outside the contact surfaces is at a distance from the chamber wall (12).

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION.

The invention relates to a mattress according to the preamble of claim 1. The invention also relates to a method for manufacturing such a mattress and a construction kit for such a mattress.
Mattresses designed to be placed on a bed are generally known, as are mattress bodies intended to rest directly on the ground, also called camping mats. Mattresses to be placed on a bed differ from the latter type in various ways. Camping mats typically have a simple construction, for instance one single layer of foamed plastic. Mattresses to be used on beds have a complex construction, often comprising an outer layer, also called outer ticking, and one or more inner layers (inner ticking) as well as a stuffing of various materials such as, for instance, several layers of latex and foam rubber. In addition, camping mats are typically compactly foldable while mattresses to be used on a bed are generally not foldable. Also, mattresses to be used on beds have a thickness which is a plurality of that of camping mats. Typical thicknesses for a mattress on a bed are between 6 and 15 cm, while camping mats have a thickness of, at most, some centimetres.
One of the requirements a mattress designed to be used on a bed has to meet is that the mattress can adjust itself to the shape of the body of a person lying on the mattress and that, then, the mattress also offers the body a good support. Mattresses are known wherein a cover of a woven material, also called ticking, has been stuffed with deformable filling elements with a resilient action, for instance coil springs. Due to the deformable filling elements, the mattress can model itself upon the body on the mattress and the mattress can also a support the body by means of a spring force.
However, a drawback of such a mattress is that the extent of support and deformability cannot be easily adjusted to an individual user.
Also, mattresses are known wherein a mattress body of a deformable material, such as for instance rubber, is provided with a sealed-off chamber filled with a fluid such as, for instance, water or gas. The mattress body is deformable and, as a result, the mattress can adjust itself to the shape of the body resting on the mattress. The pressure caused by the body resting on the mattress is then absorbed by the fluid and distributed over the chamber so that the body is also supported. By changing the amount of fluid in the chamber, the mattress can be adjusted to the desires of an individual user.
A drawback of the known mattresses with a fluid-filled chamber is that the chamber is to be filled by the user with the desired amount of fluid. To this end, either the user has to exert himself physically, for instance by using a manual pump, or technical material is to be used, such as an electric pump or, for instance, means for connecting the chamber to a water supply.
A further drawback of both water-filled and air-filled mattresses is that the fluid can easily move and can give the user a sloshing sensation.
Another drawback of mattresses with a water-filled chamber is that they are very heavy. With customary dimensions of the mattress of approximately 2 meters long, a width of approximately 1.8 m and a thickness of approximately 10 cm, the mass of the water-filled mattress is roughly some hundreds of kilograms. Due to the great weight, not only is displacement difficult, but also a special bed construction is required which can resist this great weight.
A further mattress is known from US patent publication 2002/148045 A1. This known mattress comprises a chamber bounded by a flexible, airtight cover. This chamber is filled with a core of resilient self-inflating foam such as polyurethane foam or a different foam. In the cover, an air passage is present in which a valve is included. Starting with the mattress in operative condition, with the foam core compressed and the valve closed, by opening the valve air is drawn into the chamber, which air is absorbed by the foam core. As a result, the mattress inflates itself. Thereupon, the valve can be closed as soon as a desired air pressure level is obtained in the device. For reducing the mattress, a vacuum pump is used for exhausting the air from the chamber. Hence, the air pressure in the foam core is adjustable.
A drawback of this mattress known from US 2002/148045 A1 is that the material of the foam core occupies much space in the chamber bounded by the cover, so that in the chamber, less space is available for air. This is undesired when using mattresses with which the body supporting properties of the mattress are to be mainly based on the air present in the chamber and are to be disturbed as little as possible by material present chamber.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is a general object of the invention to provide an improved mattress designed to be placed on a bed. A particular object of the invention is to provide a mattress designed to be placed on a bed which mattress, with the aid of an expandable filling element in a chamber of the mattress, can self-inflate with a gas or a mixture of gases, and wherein the body supporting properties of the mattress are substantially based on the gas or the mixture of gases and are disturbed as little as possible by the filling element.
To this end, according to the invention, a mattress according to the preamble of claim 1 is characterized in that, at least locally, the filling element has a profiled surface with a number of contact surfaces abutting against the chamber wall, of which profiled surface at least a part located outside the contact surfaces is at a distance from the chamber wall.
The mattress can self-inflate with a gas or mixture of gases without additional means, such as an electric air pump being required, in that the chamber is at least partially filled with a filling element which can apply a deforming force to the chamber wall. As a result, the content of the chamber can be increased and a gas can be drawn into the chamber via the gas inlet means, so that the chamber self-inflates with the gas or mixture of gases. As gas chambers are formed between the chamber wall on the one side and parts of the profiled surface located outside the contact surfaces on the other side, much gas can be introduced into the chamber while little material of the filling element needs to be present in the chamber. As a result, the body supporting properties of the mattress based on the gas are little influenced by the filling element.
In one embodiment, the filling element of a mattress according to the invention can comprise a filling body from an elastically deformable material. In that case, the filling element can be provided in the chamber in a simple manner by placing the filling body in the chamber and sealing off the chamber. Consequently, the chamber wall can have a simple form without, for instance, separate partitions projecting into the chamber for producing the deforming force.
The invention further provides a method for manufacturing a mattress, comprising: providing a mattress body with at least one chamber to be filled with a gas and an at least partly elastically deformable chamber wall bounding the chamber and an insertion opening between the chamber and an outer side of the mattress; introducing a filling material into the chamber via the insertion opening; sealing the insertion opening off in a gas tight manner while after introduction, the filling material can apply a force to an elastic part of the chamber wall.
The invention also provides a construction kit according to claim 17. The invention further provides a bed according to claim 18.
Specific advantages of embodiments of the invention have been laid down in the claims. By way of example, further details, effects and examples of the invention are discussed hereinbelow with reference to the Figures represented in the drawing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

Fig. 1 schematically shows a perspective view of an example of an embodiment of a mattress according to the invention;
Figs. 2―3 schematically show cross sectional views of an example of an embodiment of a mattress according to the invention, placed on a bed;
Fig. 4 and Fig. 5 schematically show different forms of filling elements suitable for in a mattress according to the invention;
Fig. 6 schematically shows a cross sectional view of a valve construction suitable for in a mattress according to the invention;
Fig. 7 schematically shows a filling material suitable for in a mattress according to the invention,
Figs. 8 and 9 illustrate an example of a method for manufacturing an example of a mattress according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The example of a mattress 1 shown in Fig. 1 comprises a mattress body 10 with a chamber 11 in which a filling element 13 is present. The chamber 11 is bounded by a gas tight chamber wall 12 of the mattress body 1. The chamber 11 can be filled with a gas or a mixture of gases, such as for instance air, by means of a gas passage means 14 extending between the outer side of the mattress body 10 and the chamber 11 and interconnecting these.
The mattress body 10 can be completely manufactured from a gas-tight material. It is also possible that the mattress body 1 is partly of a non-gas tight material and the chamber wall is covered with a gas sealing material. The outer side of the mattress body 10 can, for instance, be covered with a woven material, for instance wool, cotton, silk or the like, and the chamber wall 12 can comprise an airtight rubber coating. Mattress bodies with a chamber and a gas-tight chamber wall are known as such and, for the sake of brevity, are not further described in detail.
In the example shown, the mattress 1 and the chamber 11 are rectangular, as is customary with mattresses for beds. However, the mattress and/or the chamber can also have a different shape and be, for instance, oval or the like.
The filling element 13 can apply a deforming force to the chamber wall 12 which is at least partly elastically deformable. Due to the deforming force, the chamber wall 12 deforms elastically in at least the area the deforming force is applied to. As a result, the content of the chamber 11 changes, so that gas is introduced into the chamber or is drawn from the chamber 11 via the gas passage means 14.
In the examples shown, the filling element 13 comprises a filling body of an elastically deformable material. In an elastically deformed condition, the filling body can apply an elastic force to the chamber wall. In Figures 2 and 3, the effect thereof is schematically illustrated further. The filling body 13 is then present in a chamber in the mattress body which is provided with a separate, gas-tight chamber wall 12 which is, for instance, of a vinyl material. In fact, in the example of Figures 2 and 3, the chamber wall 12 forms a gas-tight cover filled, at least partly, by the filling body, and to which the gas passage 14 has been connected.
Figure 2 shows an example of a mattress 1 lying on a frame 21 of a bed 2. The frame 21 is held at a distance from the floor by legs 22. In Figure 2, the filling body is shown in a compressed condition, in which it is compressed in height or thickness, i.e. in a direction contrary to arrows A and B in Figure 2. In the compressed condition, the filling body therefore applies a force to the chamber wall 12 in the direction of the arrows A and B. Consequently, as illustrated in Figure 3, the chamber wall 12 deforms; it starts to bulge.
The force in the direction of arrow B, i.e. downwards, is then absorbed by the frame 21 and the proper weight of the mattress 1. Consequently, the mattress only bulges at the top side 100, in the direction of the arrow A as shown in Fig. 3. Due to the bulge, the content of the chamber 11 is increased and air is independently drawn into the chamber 11 via the gas passage means 14 and the chamber 11 is filled with gas.
After filling, the gas passage means 14 can be sealed off. The gas passage means 14 can be sealed off, for instance, when the chamber 11, enlarged through the deforming force, is filled with gas such that the chamber wall 12 has deformed maximally. The chamber 11 is then maximally filled with gas and the deformability of mattress 1 is smallest. However, the gas passage means 14 can also be sealed off when the chamber wall 12 has not yet been maximally deformed. Then, the deformability of the mattress is greater. By sealing off the gas passage means 14 at a particular deformation of the chamber wall 12, and thus, increase of the content of the chamber 11, the hardness or deformability of the mattress 1 can be adjusted and therefore be adapted to the desires of an individual user.
Experiments carried out by applicant have shown that with a filling element of foamed plastic or foam rubber which is larger than the chamber, a highly comfortable mattress construction can be obtained. In particular, it has been found that with a filling element having a thickness of between 3 and 10 cm good results can be obtained, such as, for instance a thickness greater than the height h of the chamber 11 by approximately five cm. The best result is obtained with a filling element of foam rubber with a hardness of 18, but other hardnesses can be used too. However, the filling element can also have a different shape or dimension and, for instance, have a smaller thickness than the height of the chamber 11. In that case, the filling element does not cause the chamber wall to bulge but this remains more or less hollow.
A filling element 13 with a filling body of an elastic deformable material can be provided in a simple manner by inserting the filling body into the chamber 11 as is described in more detail in the following, with reference to Figures 8 and 9. Consequently, no complex means need to be provided for producing the deforming force such as, for instance, spiral springs or elastically bendable partitions in the chamber. A suitable elastically deformable material can also be an air permeable material such as, for instance, a foamed plastic such as polyurethane foam or a foam rubber of (a mixture of) (synthetic) latex and/or rubber in a suitable ratio. Due to the combination of elastically deformable and air permeable properties, the mattress can then self inflate and the gas pressure can be uniformly distributed over the entire chamber.
In the examples of Figures 1 - 3, the mattress body 10 has an upper side 100 and a lower side 101 extending lengthwise 1 and width-wise b. The upper and lower side are at a distance from each other and are interconnected by sidewalls 102 extending from the upper side 100 and lower side 102, and along the height h of the mattress 1. The upper side 100, the lower side 101 as well as the sidewalls 102 are elastically deformable. However, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, at the upper and lower side, the mattress body is thinner than at the sidewalls 103. Due to the difference in thickness, the sidewalls 102 are more rigid than the upper and lower side 100, 101, so that the mattress element 10 has some form rigidity of its own, while, due to the relatively thin upper and lower side 100, 101, it can model itself well upon the body of the user and adjust to the gas pressure applied to the chamber wall 12 by the gas in the chamber 11. For obtaining form rigidity, the side walls 102 can also be manufactured (at least partly) from another type and a more rigid material than the upper side 100 and lower side 101, such as, for instance, a non-elastic material, for instance a hard plastic or the like.
In the examples shown, the filling element 13 has a profiled surface 15. With contact surfaces 16, the profiled surface contacts the chamber wall 12. The parts 17 of the profiled surface 15 located outside the profiled surface 16 are at some distance from the chamber wall 12. Therefore, between the contact surfaces 16, air chambers 18 are formed.
In the air chamber 18, the chamber wall 12 is only supported by the force the gas pressure applies to the wall. In the example shown, the air chambers 18 are then interconnected via the gas permeable material of the filling body. In the contact surfaces, the chamber wall 12 is not only supported by the gas pressure but also by the filling element 13. Consequently, in the contact surfaces, local supports are obtained so that the sloshing sensation the user has can be prevented. However, the filling body can also adjust to the body of a user by deforming under the weight of the body, so that the mattress can adjust itself well and offer a solid support.
The supporting action is obtained at the same time the filling element 13 is introduced into the chamber. Consequently, no separate partitions need to be provided, which are difficult to arrange in the chamber 11.
If the filling element is manufactured from a gas permeable material, such as for instance a foamed plastic or a foam rubber, the air chambers 18 are in contact with each other and pressure differences between the air chambers 18 are compensated by gas flowing between the air chambers 18. However, the air chambers can also be brought into contact with each other in a different manner, for instance by providing connecting gas passage channels mutually connecting the air chambers, or in a different manner.
An advantage of the air chambers 18 obtained through the profiled surface 15 is that thereby, much air can be introduced into the chamber 11 of the mattress body 10, while relatively little material of the filling element 13 needs to be present in the chamber 11. This is advantageous, for instance for uses wherein the support of the body of a person lying on the mattress is to be substantially based on the air pressure in the chamber 11, and not, or to a lesser extent, on the spring force of the filling element 13.
By way of example, Figs. 4 and 5 show several forms that can be given to a filling element of foamed plastic or foam rubber. The examples shown in Figs. 4 and 5 each have projecting, trapezoid parts 131, with one flat side 160 and two inclining sides 161 and 162, respectively. The flat side 160 abuts against the chamber wall 12 and hence forms the contact surface 16. Between the projecting parts, recesses 132 are present in the filling element 13. In the example shown the recesses 132 have a trapezoid shape. The air chambers 18 located between the contact surfaces therefore have a trapezoid shape too. However, the profiled surface can also have a differently shaped profile and, for instance, have a wave-shaped, sinus-shaped or differently shaped profile.
In the examples of Figs. 4 and 5, the filling element 13 is provided on two opposite sides with a profiled surface. The profiled surfaces are then at the upper side 100 and lower side 101, respectively, of the mattress 1. What is meant by the upper side 100 of the mattress 1 is a side of the mattress on which, in use, a body rests, such as for instance a sleeping person.
An advantage of a profiled surface of the filling element 13 provided on two opposite sides is that as a result thereof, the proportion of the amount of air in the chamber in the amount of material of the filling element can be further increased. Moreover, it is advantageous that a number of such filling elements can be taken from a larger basic form without loss of material.
In the examples shown, the filling element 13 is fixedly connected to the chamber wall 12 at the contact surfaces. To that end, the filling element 13 can be glued, and provided by applying glue to the contact surfaces 16 prior to positioning the filling element 13 in the chamber. After the filling element 13 has been introduced into the chamber, due to the glue, a fixed connection between the contact surface 16 and the chamber wall 12 will be formed. However, the fixed connection can also be realised in a different manner, for (Instance by means of a mortise and tenon connection wherein a part projecting away from the chamber wall 12 reaches into a recess in the filling element 13, or otherwise.
In the example shown in Figure 5, the recesses 132 and the projecting parts 131 of both sides are located opposite each other. As a result, between the contact surfaces, the filling element functions as a partition which is at right angles to the upper side 100. In the example shown in Figure 4, opposite each recess one the one side, there is a projecting part located at the other side, so that the filling element has the function of partitions placed at an inclination to the sides of the mattress body.
The filling element 13 having this shape, with contact surfaces 16 of the profiled surfaces 15 in staggered relation to each other on both sides, has as further advantage that such a form enables a more uniform distribution of thickness of the filling element 13.
Instead of a foamed plastic or foam rubber, the filling element can also be manufactured from any suitable elastically deformable material and have a different shape than shown in Figs. 4 and 5, such as for instance the example shown in Figure 7. The example shown in Figure 7 comprises layers or mats 130 of resilient fibres 131, 132 which are interconnected. The fibres 131, 132 comprise two types: cross fibers 132 and longitudinal fibres 131. The fibres of one type extend substantially in the same direction. The cross fibres 132 connect the longitudinal fibres 131 which are at an angle to the cross fibres 132. Several mats 130 positioned on top of each other form a resilient bed which can function as filling element 13. Other filling elements are also possible within the framework of the invention.
It is noted the mats of resilient fibres as in Figure 7 are known per se and are used as filtering material in, for instance, cooking hoods in houses. The fibres can be manufactured from any suitable material, for instance polyurethane, with any suitable thickness. A suitable thickness is, for instance, a cross-section of between one mm and five mm, such as three mm.
A gas passage of a mattress according to the invention can be provided with a valve construction as shown in, for instance, Figure 6. The example shown in Figure 6 comprises a valve 141 known per se placed in the gas passage 14, such that gas can only flow in an inflow direction from the outside of the mattress into the chamber 11, and gas flows in an outflow direction contrary to the inflow direction are prevented. The valve 141 can be of any suitable type and, for the sake of brevity, is not further described. The valve 141 is provided with an operating element 142. The operating element 142 is placed in the mattress element 11 and comprises a knob 143 with a rod-shaped extension 144. The knob 143 is located in a space 145 in the mattress body and can be moved by a user in the space 145 in the direction of the arrow C by applying a force at the upper side 100 of the mattress 1. Via the deformable mattress element 10, this force is transmitted to the knob 143, thereby moving the knob 143.
With this movement, the rod-shaped extension 144 is moved along and the valve 141 is operated. Consequently, the valve 141 can be operated and, alternatingly, gas can be admitted in the chamber 11 or the gas passage 14 can be sealed off. As a result, the user lying on the mattress 1 can simply adjust the hardness and support of the mattress to his individual desires without the user having to move from the mattress. Naturally, with the gas passage 14 opened, the body weight of the use can force gas from the chamber 11.
A mattress according to the invention can be manufactured in a simple manner, for instance with the following method. First is provided a mattress body with a chamber which is bounded by an elastically deformable chamber wall. Between the outside of the mattress body and the chamber, an insertion opening is provided which can, for instance, be slot-shaped. Via the insertion opening, the filling element can then be introduced into the chamber such that after introduction, it can apply a deforming force to a part of the chamber wall.
As shown, for instance, in Figure 8, two rectangular mattress parts 10', 10" can be fitted onto each other, one of which or both being provided with a recess 11', 11". In Figure 8, both mattress parts 10', 10" are provided wit ha recess 11', 11". The recess 11', 11" in the one mattress part 10', 10" faces the other mattress part so that the mattress parts placed on top of each other define the recess. Therefore, the recesses 11', 11" in the mattress parts 10', 10" placed onto each other define the chamber 11. Then, the mattress parts are attached to each other while at one side of the rectangle the mattress parts are not yet attached. Thus, a mattress element with the chamber open to one side is obtained. The open side forms an insertion opening 111, as shown in Figure 9.
The mattress element 10 in Figures 8 and 9 can be of a gas permeable material and then also, the chamber is not gas tight either. Outside the mattress, the filling body can then be introduced into a cover or bag of a gas tight material which, later on, forms a gas tight chamber wall. If desired, the filling element can be attached to the inside of the bag, for instance if the filling body is provided with profiled surfaces. The bag can then be sealed off and provided with a valve or a different type of gas passage.
The cover filled with the filling body is then introduced into the chamber via the insertion opening 111. When inserting, the filling body can be elastically deformed so that the insertion opening 111 can remain very small. After the cover with filling body has been inserted into the chamber 11, the filling element then adopts, in as far as the shape and dimension of the chamber 11 allow this, its original shape and the cover then forms the gas tight chamber wall 12. Then, the insertion opening can be sealed off, for instance by welding or in another manner. If desired, prior to, during or after introduction of the filling element, the thus obtained mattress can still be provided with a gas passage 14, a valve construction or otherwise.
The invention is not limited to the examples described hereinabove. After having read the above, variants will be obvious to the skilled person. In particular, it is obvious to provide a mattress with several chambers, for instance by using one or more partitions connecting the upper and lower wall, being or not being elastically deformable, or several filling elements. It is also obvious to provide a mattress having a non-rectangular shape such as, for instance, the shape of an egg box or otherwise. It is also obvious to vary the shape, the number and/or the position of the air chambers and/or the gas passage members 14 and/or the gas passage channels.
The term "comprising" does not preclude that one or more different elements than are mentioned are present. Unless expressly noted otherwise, the use of the term "a" does not preclude that one or more of the specified elements are present.

Claims

A mattress (1) designed to be placed on a bed (2), comprising: a mattress body (10) with at least one chamber (11) to be filled with gas and an at least partly elastically deformable chamber wall (12) bounding the chamber (11) in a gas tight manner; which chamber (11) is provided with at least one gas passage means (14) and is filled with an expandable filling element (13) which, in compressed condition, can apply a deforming force to the chamber wall (12) so that the chamber wall (12) deforms elastically, at least partly, and the content of the chamber (11) increases, characterised in that, at least locally, the filling element has a profiled surface (15) with a number of contact surfaces (16) abutting against the chamber wall (12) of which profiled surface (15) at least one part (17) located outside the contact surfaces is at a distance from the chamber wall (12).
A mattress (1) according to claim 1, wherein the filling element (13) comprises a filling body of an elastically deformable material, which filling body, if elastically deformed, can apply an elastic deforming force to at least a part of the chamber wall (12).
A mattress (1) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the filling element (13) has at least one profiled surface (15) on a side of the chamber (11) located on a side (100) of the mattress destined for lying on.
A mattress (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the filling element has a profiled surface (15) on two opposite sides, and contact surfaces (16) of the profiled surfaces (15) lie opposite each other on both sides.
A mattress (1) according to any one of preceding claims 1 - 3,
wherein the filling element has a profiled surface (15) on two opposite sides and the contact surfaces (16) of the profiled surfaces (15) are staggered relative to each other on both sides.
A mattress (1) according to one or more of claims to 2 - 5, wherein the elastically deformable filling element (13) is located in elastically deformable condition in the chamber (11) and the elastically deformable filling body (13) in non-deformed condition, is greater than the chamber (11).
A mattress (1) according to claim 6, wherein the filling body (13) is of a foam rubber material and, in non-deformed condition, has a thickness which is at least five cm greater than the height (h) of the chamber (11).
A mattress (1) according to one or more of claims 2 to 7, wherein the filling body in the contact surfaces (16) is fixedly connected to the chamber wall (12), for instance by gluing.
A mattress (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, where in the chamber (11) is substantially rectangular.
A mattress (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, wherein the filling element is of a gas permeable material, for instance a foam rubber.
A mattress (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, wherein the chamber (11) is provided with at least one, elastically deformable or not elastically deformable partition, interconnecting the upper surface and the lower surface.
A mattress (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, wherein the mattress body (10) has an upper wall (100) and a lower side (101) located opposite the upper wall (100), and sidewalls (102) interconnecting the upper and lower wall (100, 101), wherein the sidewalls (102) are more'rigid than the upper wall (100) and the lower wall (101).
A mattress (1) according to claim 12, wherein the sidewalls (102) are at least six centimetres high.
A mattress (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, further comprising:

a valve construction (141) in the gas passage means (14) for admitting or sealing off the gas passage element; and

an operating member (142 - 143) placed in the mattress element (10) for operating the valve construction.
A method for manufacturing a mattress, comprising:

providing a mattress body (10) with at least one chamber (11) to be filled with gas and an at least partly elastically deformable chamber wall (12) which bounds the chamber (11), and an insertion opening (111) between the chamber (11) and an outside of the mattress (1),

introducing a compressed filling material into chamber (11) via the insertion opening;

closing off the insertion opening in a gas tight manner,

wherein the filling material after insertion is released for applying a force to an elastic part of the chamber wall (12).
A construction kit for a mattress (1) according to one or more of claims 1 - 14, comprising:

a mattress body (10) with at least one chamber (11) to be filled with gas and an at least partly elastically deformable, gas sealing chamber wall (12), which chamber (11) has an insertion opening, and

a filling element (13) suitable to be inserted, in compressed condition, via the insertion opening into the chamber (11) and, after insertion and release, to apply a deforming force to be chamber wall (12).
A bed (2) provided with a mattress (1) according to one or more of claims or 1 - 14.