US20030135930A1

US20030135930A1 - Mattress with diversified density

Info

Publication number: US20030135930A1
Application number: US10/345,482
Authority: US
Inventors: Emanuele Varese; Giorgio Baggio
Original assignee: HOMOMENSURA Srl
Current assignee: HOMOMENSURA Srl
Priority date: 2002-01-21
Filing date: 2003-01-17
Publication date: 2003-07-24
Also published as: EP1329177A8; EP1329177A2; EP1329177A9; ITUD20020008A1; EP1329177A3

Abstract

A mattress for human resting which is modular and is composed of parts made of different materials, determining a mattress density that is diversifiable according to individual requirements. The mattress is composed of a first structural part, constituting a containment element in which one or more longitudinal receptacles are formed. A second additional part is removably accommodatable in the one or more receptacles and is constituted by a mat made of synthetic or natural material determining overall variation in density or in selected points of the resting surface.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Various kinds of mattress for human resting are known in the current background art.

Such mattresses are made by using various known techniques; in some exclusively natural materials, for example wools, horsehair, et cetera, are used, while in some synthetic substances known to the person skilled in the art (for example foamed polyurethane or latex) are used, in others water is used.

Finally, a mixed solution with outer layers made of natural or synthetic materials between which multiple elastic metallic springs are interposed, also known as a “sandwich” configuration, is known.

Mattresses with a winter side constituted by wools and a summer side constituted by horsehair or other natural or synthetic materials that are more ventilated are also known.

All these known kinds of mattress are conceived so as to have permanent characteristics: the same density of material and therefore the same technical characteristics are in fact provided on the entire resting surface.

This leads to various drawbacks from the standpoint of practical use, since every person has different morphologic characteristics.

These drawbacks are particularly conspicuous in double mattresses, in which the same density is provided on the entire surface of one side or the other and this technical characteristic makes them usually uncomfortable for one or the other of the persons who rest on them.

The winter side is in fact often tolerated by some individuals but not by others, and the same applies to the summer side.

Moreover, a mattress can be too rigid for one person or too soft for another person.

Such double mattress, moreover, cannot be divided in two in order to expose the side that is most suited to both persons, and therefore a compromise is reached, requiring a variation in the number of blankets used.

However, these solutions are partial and in any case do not allow good resting and physical comfort.

Moreover, another drawback is noted which is linked to the size of single and double mattresses: they are in fact rather bulky and difficult to handle, and this for example prevents daily airing of said mattresses.

Accordingly, the qualitative technical performance options of known mattresses are limited only to two, i.e., to the number of resting surfaces.

Therefore, if one person has particular requirements he or she is forced to use and store various kinds of mattress through the year, depending for example on the seasons or on particular physical conditions.

This entails not only a waste of storage volume (which is very limited in modern homes, which are not very spacious) and also a waste of money, since said mattresses are left unused for most of the year.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The aim of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problems, eliminating the drawbacks of the cited known art, by providing a mattress whose technical characteristics can be modified according to the specific requirements of each individual user.

Within this aim, an object of the invention is to provide a mattress whose characteristics can be modified rapidly and easily.

Another object is to provide a mattress that is constituted by small parts that are easy to store, replace and sanitize.

Another object is to provide a mattress that can be aired easily.

Another object is to provide a mattress that allows the consumer to change its characteristics at low costs.

Another object is to provide a mattress that allows to reduce the disposal amounts of the product at the end of its life cycle.

Another object is to provide a mattress that is structurally simple and has low manufacturing costs.

This aim and these and other objects that will become better apparent hereinafter are achieved by a mattress with diversified density, characterized in that it is modular and is constituted by at least two or more mutually detachably associable parts, at least one first part forming a containment element that has one or more longitudinal receptacles for at least one second part constituted by at least one complementarily shaped mat.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Further characteristics and advantages of the invention will become better apparent from the following detailed description of a particular embodiment thereof, illustrated only by way of non-limitative example in the accompanying drawings, wherein: [0024]
FIG. 1 is a plan view of a single mattress with a resting surface having two technical characteristics, with the cover off; [0025]
FIG. 2 is a plan view of a double mattress with the cover off and with a single element for containing two mats having different characteristics with respect to the first part; [0026]
FIG. 3 is a transverse sectional view of the single mattress of FIG. 1; [0027]
FIG. 4 is a transverse sectional view of the double mattress of FIG. 2; [0028]
FIG. 5 is a transverse sectional view of a single mattress, in which a through receptacle for a mat is provided in the containment element; [0029]
FIG. 6 is a transverse sectional view of a double mattress with two mats whose thickness is equal to that of the containment element; [0030]
FIG. 7 is a transverse sectional view of a single mattress (the reverse of the mattress of FIG. 3), which has a uniform resting surface on one side and a receptacle for a mat having diversified density and physical performance on the other side; [0031]
FIG. 8 is a transverse sectional view of a double mattress with a resting surface made of uniform material and, in the lower side, two receptacles for mats having different characteristics; [0032]
FIG. 9 is a perspective view, with the cover off, of a single mattress constituted by a containment element in which the central part is recessed and suitable to form a containment receptacle for a mat that has different characteristics with respect to the containment element.[0033]
In the examples of embodiment that follow, individual characteristics, given in relation to specific examples, may actually be interchanged with other different characteristics that exist in other examples of embodiment. [0034]
It should also be noted that anything found to be already known during the patenting process is understood not to be claimed and to be the subject of a disclaimer. [0035]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

With reference to the figures, the [0036] reference numeral 1 designates a mattress which is constituted at least by a first structure part, designated by the reference numeral 2, which forms a containment element made of suitable materials of a known type, particularly synthetic materials or other, natural materials.
At least one longitudinal receptacle, designated by the [0037] reference numeral 3, is formed at the containment element, and at least one second additional part, designated by the reference numeral 4, and constituted by at least one complementarily shaped mat, is seated and accommodated detachably therein.
The mat is made of various synthetic or natural materials that are suitable for the purpose, such as wools, horsehair, alpine herbs, mountain pasture hay, et cetera and are adapted to determine overall density variation or density variation at selected points or regions of the resting surface. [0038]
The mat can be removed, replaced, aired and sanitized easily, indeed because of its reduced dimensions, which make it easy to handle. [0039]
Indeed because of this characteristic, it can be stored easily even in wardrobes, so that it is possible to store the various types, each composed of various materials that can be used in each instance according to personal requirements. [0040]
This makes the mattress as a whole more versatile. [0041]
In this manner, with a single containment element it is possible to have as many different solutions for the user's resting as there are types of mattress usable. [0042]
Clearly, the elements are appropriately covered individually with suitable [0043] removable fabrics 6, and in both elements the containment element 2 and the mat 4 are assembled and contained by another outer covering removable fabric 7, which can be accessed by means of known lateral zip fasteners.
The [0044] longitudinal receptacle 3 can be, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, such as to extend only partially into the thickness of the containment element 2; in this case, a perimetric containment border 5 is formed for the mat 4, which is as high as the longitudinal receptacle 3 is deep.
The [0045] mattress 1 can also be of the double type: in this case, at the containment element, again designated by the reference numeral 2, there are, at a same side, two longitudinal receptacles, designated by the reference numerals 3 a and 3 b, in which it is possible to arrange detachably mats which are shaped complementarily and are designated by the reference numerals 4 a and 4 b.
The longitudinal receptacles can also be of a type different than that shown in FIGS. 1, 3, [0046] 4, 7 and 8, such as the through type, shown in FIGS. 5 and 6.
In this case, the receptacle extends through the entire thickness of the [0047] containment element 2 and, accordingly, the mat 4 or the mats 4 a and 4 b have the same height.
Clearly, it is possible to provide embodiments in which, as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the first part and therefore the containment element, designated by the [0048] reference numeral 102, is made of natural material, while the mats, designated by the reference numerals 104 and 104 a, 104 b, are made of synthetic material arranged at the lower side 106 of the containment element and therefore at the side on which the body of the user does not rest.
It has thus been found that the invention has achieved the intended aim and objects, a mattress having been obtained in which the containment element has a longitudinal receptacle formed preferably in a recessed central region that is adapted to receive various kinds of interchangeable mats, such containment element forming a supporting structure, while the mat is of an easily replaceable, interchangeable type, which is compact and in any case suitable to ensure resting quality. [0049]
Such mattress can be handled easily and therefore easily placed to air, and can be washed periodically, if allowed by the internal material, in order to improve its hygiene. [0050]
The mattress thus provided can in turn be inspected with great ease in order to assess the efficiency of its various components, allowing their airing, or the replacement of the damaged parts. [0051]
Moreover, the mattress in the double version, together with the individual mats, can be accommodated inside the containment fabrics or inside external covering fabrics, which have optional suitable zip fasteners that allow easy and immediate access thereto. [0052]
The removable and replaceable nature of the individual mats allows to choose to sleep according to two distinct or different technical characteristics, which can be customized on each side of the mattress simply by choosing the mat that has the intended characteristic. [0053]
As an alternative, the double mattress can be constituted by two separate and individual mattresses, mutually coupled by way of known coupling means, or simply arranged side by side, and kept associated to each other by means of an individual outer case. [0054]
Moreover, the dimensions of the mats allow their easy storage even in conventional wardrobes, which have minimum depths of sixty centimeters. [0055]
Therefore, the illustrated solution allows to provide a mattress whose density and technical performance can even be different at the individual surface or resting side, by way of the difference in consistency between the containment element and the mats. [0056]
The invention is of course susceptible of numerous modifications and variations, all of which are within the scope of the same appended claims. [0057]
The materials used, as well as the dimensions that constitute the individual components of the invention, may of course be more pertinent according to specific requirements. [0058]
The various means for performing certain different functions need not certainly coexist only in the illustrated embodiment but can be present per se in many embodiments, including ones that are not illustrated. [0059]
The disclosures in Italian Patent Application No. UD2002A000008 from which this application claims priority are incorporated herein by reference. [0060]

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A mattress with diversified density, which is modular and is constituted by at least two mutually detachably, associable structural parts, with at least one first structural part forming a containment element that has at least one longitudinal receptacle, and by at least one second additional part, constituted by at least one complementarily shaped mat.

2. The mattress of claim 1, wherein said containment element is constituted by a supporting structure that is shaped like a parallelepiped.

3. The mattress of claim 1, comprising two receptacles that are separate from each other.

4. The mattress of claim 1, comprising at least two receptacles that are connected to each other.

5. The mattress of claim 1, wherein said at least one receptacle has a height such as to extend over at least part of a thickness of said containment element.

6. The mattress of claim 5, comprising a plurality of receptacles which detachably accommodate at least one mat.

7. The mattress of claim 6, comprising a plurality of mats which are arranged in configurations being any of one above the other and mutually side by side.

8. The mattress of claim 1, wherein said at least one first structural part is constituted by at least two modular elements, which are mutually composed and coupled.

9. The mattress of claim 8, wherein said at least two modular elements are contained within an external removable fabric.

10. The mattress according to claim 8, wherein said at least two modular elements are coupled by interlocking.