GB2168250A

GB2168250A - Mattress construction

Info

Publication number: GB2168250A
Application number: GB08505351A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Gerald Gershaw
Original assignee: THER A PEDIC ASS Inc
Current assignee: THER A PEDIC ASS Inc
Priority date: 1984-12-12
Filing date: 1985-03-01
Publication date: 1986-06-18
Also published as: GB2168250B; GB8505351D0

Abstract

A mattress construction comprises an elongated upper border wire, an elongated lower border wire, and an elongated intermediate border wire disposed between the upper and lower border wires. The intermediate border wire is of undulating or wavy construction and has upper sections disposed adjacent to the upper border wire, lower sections disposed adjacent to the lower border wire, and intermediate sections connecting the upper and lower sections. The intermediate border wire further comprises an elongated, laterally extending section that is disposed between the upper and lower border wires. A handle is connected to the laterally extending section of the intermediate border wire. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Mattress construction The present invention relates to a mattress construction and concerns a mattress construction having a new and improved edge support and handle mounting assembly.

The present mattress construction is related to that shown in the specification of U.S. patentto Gershaw No. 3,995,337, entitled "Mattress Construction", the subject matter of which is incorporated herein by reference. In the Gershaw patent, the edge support forthe mattress is provided by elongated top, bottom and intermediate borderwires which extend in generally parallel relation around the periphery of the mattress. While the intermediate border wire provides some lateral supportforthe edge portion of the mattress and also serves as a supportforone or more handles for the mattress, it and the top and bottom wires fail to provide any additional vertical support for the edge portions of the mattress.

Accordingly, a need has arisen for a mattress construction having improved lateral and vertical support at its edge portions. The mattress construction ofthe presentinventionfillsthis need.

The mattress construction of the present invention generally comprises an elongated top border wire, an elongated bottom border wire and a plurality of helical support springs as shown in the Gershaw patent.

A new and improved intermediate border wire is provided which is of generally undulating or wavy construction so as to be provided with generally laterally extending upper sections connected to the top border wire, generally laterally extending lower sections connected to the bottom borderwire and intermediate sections extending obliquely between the upper and lower sections.

In order to support one or more handles forthe mattress, the intermediate border wire is provided with one or more laterally extending sections on each side ofthe mattress that are disposed between the upper and lower border wires. The inwardly extending legs of a handle are connected in any suitable or conventional mannerto each laterally extending section ofthe intermediate border wire in a manner such as that shown in the Gershaw patent.

The invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which:- Figure lisa perspective view of a mattress constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention; Figure 2 is a side elevational view, with parts broken away and parts in section, ofthe mattress shown in Figure 1; and Figure 3 is an enlarged sectional view taken substantially along line 3-3 of Figure 2.

As shown in Figures 2and 3, the mattress lOofthe present invention generally comprises an upper borderwire 12,a lowerborderwire 14, a plurality of helical supportsprings 16 and a wire cover 18, all of which may be of any suitable construction such as that shown in the Gershaw patent.

In order to provide additional lateral and vertical supportforthe edge portions ofthe mattress, a new and improvedintermediateborderwire20extends around the periphery ofthe mattress between the upper borderwire 12 and the lower borderwire 14.

The intermediate border wire 20 is of undulating or wavy construction and comprises u pper sections 22 that are generally parallel and disposed adjacent to the upper borderwire 12, and lower sections 24that are generally parallel and disposed adjacent to the lower border wire 14. The upper and lower sections 22 and 24ofthe intermediate border wire 20 preferably are connected to the adjacent portions of theupperand lowerborderwires 12 and 14, respectively, and to the adjacent portions of the support springs 16 by any suitable means such as helical wires or clips (not shown) ofthe type shown in the Gershaw patent.

The upper and lower sections 22 and 24 of the intermediate border wire 20 are connected by intermediate sections 28 extending generally obliquely therebetween. The intermediate border wire 20 is also provided with one or more elongated generally laterally extending sections 30 that are generally parallel to and disposed between the upper and lower border wires 12 and 14. The intermediate border wire 20 may be formed of any suitable material such as steel.

Handles 32 of any suitable construction are connected to the laterally extending sections 30 in any suitable manner. As an illustrative example, each handle 32 may be provided with a pair of inwardly extending legs 34that are connected to the laterally extending sections 30 in a manner such as that shown in the Gershaw patent.

It will be readily appreciated that, in the new and improved mattress construction ofthe present invention, the undulating intermediate border wire 20 serves to provide both lateral and vertical support at the edge portions of the mattress, serves as a support for the mattress cover 18 on the side and end portions of the mattress, and also serves as a support for one or more handles 32 forthe mattress.

1. A mattress construction comprising an elongated upper border wire, an elongated lower border wire, and an elongated intermediate border wire disposed between said upper and lower border wires, said intermediate border wire being of undulating construction and having upper sections disposed adjacent to said upper border wire, lower sections disposed adjacent to said lower border wire, and intermediate sections connecting said upper and lower section, and means connecting said intermediate border wire to said upper and lower borderwires.

2. A mattress construction according to claim 1, wherein said intermediate sections extend obliquely between said upperandlowersections.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Mattress construction The present invention relates to a mattress construction and concerns a mattress construction having a new and improved edge support and handle mounting assembly. The present mattress construction is related to that shown in the specification of U.S. patentto Gershaw No. 3,995,337, entitled "Mattress Construction", the subject matter of which is incorporated herein by reference. In the Gershaw patent, the edge support forthe mattress is provided by elongated top, bottom and intermediate borderwires which extend in generally parallel relation around the periphery of the mattress. While the intermediate border wire provides some lateral supportforthe edge portion of the mattress and also serves as a supportforone or more handles for the mattress, it and the top and bottom wires fail to provide any additional vertical support for the edge portions of the mattress. Accordingly, a need has arisen for a mattress construction having improved lateral and vertical support at its edge portions. The mattress construction ofthe presentinventionfillsthis need. The mattress construction of the present invention generally comprises an elongated top border wire, an elongated bottom border wire and a plurality of helical support springs as shown in the Gershaw patent. A new and improved intermediate border wire is provided which is of generally undulating or wavy construction so as to be provided with generally laterally extending upper sections connected to the top border wire, generally laterally extending lower sections connected to the bottom borderwire and intermediate sections extending obliquely between the upper and lower sections. In order to support one or more handles forthe mattress, the intermediate border wire is provided with one or more laterally extending sections on each side ofthe mattress that are disposed between the upper and lower border wires. The inwardly extending legs of a handle are connected in any suitable or conventional mannerto each laterally extending section ofthe intermediate border wire in a manner such as that shown in the Gershaw patent. The invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which:- Figure lisa perspective view of a mattress constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention; Figure 2 is a side elevational view, with parts broken away and parts in section, ofthe mattress shown in Figure 1; and Figure 3 is an enlarged sectional view taken substantially along line 3-3 of Figure 2. As shown in Figures 2and 3, the mattress lOofthe present invention generally comprises an upper borderwire 12,a lowerborderwire 14, a plurality of helical supportsprings 16 and a wire cover 18, all of which may be of any suitable construction such as that shown in the Gershaw patent. In order to provide additional lateral and vertical supportforthe edge portions ofthe mattress, a new and improvedintermediateborderwire20extends around the periphery ofthe mattress between the upper borderwire 12 and the lower borderwire 14. The intermediate border wire 20 is of undulating or wavy construction and comprises u pper sections 22 that are generally parallel and disposed adjacent to the upper borderwire 12, and lower sections 24that are generally parallel and disposed adjacent to the lower border wire 14. The upper and lower sections 22 and 24ofthe intermediate border wire 20 preferably are connected to the adjacent portions of theupperand lowerborderwires 12 and 14, respectively, and to the adjacent portions of the support springs 16 by any suitable means such as helical wires or clips (not shown) ofthe type shown in the Gershaw patent. The upper and lower sections 22 and 24 of the intermediate border wire 20 are connected by intermediate sections 28 extending generally obliquely therebetween. The intermediate border wire 20 is also provided with one or more elongated generally laterally extending sections 30 that are generally parallel to and disposed between the upper and lower border wires 12 and 14. The intermediate border wire 20 may be formed of any suitable material such as steel. Handles 32 of any suitable construction are connected to the laterally extending sections 30 in any suitable manner. As an illustrative example, each handle 32 may be provided with a pair of inwardly extending legs 34that are connected to the laterally extending sections 30 in a manner such as that shown in the Gershaw patent. It will be readily appreciated that, in the new and improved mattress construction ofthe present invention, the undulating intermediate border wire 20 serves to provide both lateral and vertical support at the edge portions of the mattress, serves as a support for the mattress cover 18 on the side and end portions of the mattress, and also serves as a support for one or more handles 32 forthe mattress. CLAIMS

3. A mattress construction according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said upper sections are generally parallel to said upper border wire, and said lower sections are generally parallel to said lowerborderwire.

4. A mattress construction according to claim 1,2 or3, wherein said intermediate borderwire comprises an elongated, generally laterally extending section disposed between said upper and lower border wires, and a handle is connected to said laterally extending section.

5. A mattress construction substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as ill ustrated in the accompanying drawing.