US20120159714A1

US20120159714A1 - Mattress

Info

Publication number: US20120159714A1
Application number: US13/065,060
Authority: US
Inventors: David Michael Cortright
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2010-12-22
Filing date: 2011-03-14
Publication date: 2012-06-28

Abstract

An improved mattress, mattress layer or mattress topper comprising two different materials inversely cut in a gradient manner and laminated or otherwise affixed together to produce a flat surfaced mattress, mattress layer or mattress topper. The affect of this design emulates the profile of the human skeleton. The improved mattress, mattress layer or mattress topper provides a deeper amount of top material in the hip area than in the leg/knee area and an even deeper amount of top material in the shoulder area than the hip area. In several embodiments, the top material is a softer material in comparison to the bottom material. Materials include, but are not limited to, foam and latex. The improved mattress, mattress layer or mattress topper may have multiple layers of material laminated or otherwise affixed to the present invention.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an improved mattress design, more particularly, a mattress, mattress layer or mattress topper with internal gradient dimension sloping from a foot of the mattress to a head of the mattress. The position of a reclining body on the present invention places the hip area lower than the leg area and the shoulder area lower than the hip area. This is achieved by constructing the mattress, mattress layer or mattress topper with two pieces of differing material inversely cut and laminated or otherwise affixed together to form a flat surfaced mattress, mattress layer or mattress topper. The affect of this design emulates a profile of the human skeleton.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Chronic pain can sometimes be linked to the type of mattress a person uses. Sleeping on the wrong type of mattress can result in physical ailments, such as shoulder pain, hip pain, or leg pain. Many people are unhappy with their mattress. They feel pressure on their body, especially in the hip and shoulder area. Most mattresses are made with flat layers of material giving the public very few alternatives. The present invention provides a new way of manufacturing a mattress, mattress layer or mattress topper.
In research, it has been found that many people wake up with pain in their hip and shoulder area. One of the reasons this pain occurs is due to the profile of the human skeleton. The top of the shoulder and the top of the femur protrude furthest from the center of the body. With a flat conventional mattress, much of the body's weight is absorbed in these two areas. The present invention is designed to properly disperse this pressure.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with embodiments of the present invention, an improved mattress, mattress layer or mattress topper are provided. The present invention relates to a mattress, mattress layer or mattress topper manufactured to form a gradient profile creating displacement. The present invention is a mattress, mattress layer or mattress topper consisting of two pieces of differing material inversely cut and laminated or otherwise affixed together to form a flat surfaced mattress, mattress layer or mattress topper. The internal slope will extend from the foot of the mattress to the head of the mattress and is cut in a gradient manner to emulate the profile of the human skeleton. The top material is softer than the bottom material thus creating a nesting effect for a reclined body. Current mattresses built with displacement technology, also referred to as zone mattresses, require a firmer mid section causing discomfort to a reclining body. The present invention eliminates a firmer material or increased pressure in the mid section of the body. The design of the present invention distributes a higher percentage of body pressure to be absorbed by the lower body than a traditional mattress. The present invention will be a mattress, mattress layer or mattress topper in which a reclining body will feel more support in the lower body and more relief in the upper body. The combination of different thicknesses of the top and bottom material will create different depths throughout the mattress, mattress layer or mattress topper for a reclined body. The depth of the leg area will be higher than the hip area. The depth of the hip area will be higher than the shoulder area. These depth variations create a softer feel due to an increased amount of soft material which increases from the foot of the mattress to the head of the mattress. The present invention provides an improved mattress, mattress layer or mattress topper providing hip and shoulder relief benefits. A reclining body will feel the displacement directionally from the foot of the mattress to the head of the mattress.
Embodiments of the present invention provide a mattress, mattress layer or mattress topper with two pieces of differing material inversely cut and laminated or otherwise affixed together anywhere from 1″ to 18″ deep. This mattress, mattress layer or mattress topper creates displacement through height differentiation and/or slope with a firm layer of material placed at the bottom section of the mattress, mattress layer or mattress topper. This bottom layer is complimented by a softer layer lying inversely on top of it to fill negative space created by the absence of material from the bottom layer. These two inversely cut layers combine to create a flat surfaced mattress, mattress layer or mattress topper. Exemplary embodiments of the present invention can be produced between 1″ to 18″ deep with varying lengths and widths, preferably standard American and European mattress dimensions.
According to other embodiments of the present invention, a base unit may be placed beneath present invention. The base unit may include, but not limited to, synthetic springs, foam, latex, mattress foundations, and mattress inner spring units. Other embodiments of the present invention include any combination of material placed on top of present invention.
Still other embodiments of the present invention provide a mattress, mattress layer or mattress topper design where the measurement from the surface of the mattress to a firmer material layered beneath a softer material is deeper in the shoulder area than the hip area. The higher the ratio of softer material in comparison to firmer material will create a softer overall feel and more space due to the fact the firmer material is molecularly denser than the softer material.
In any configuration or construction method, the top layer(s) is comprised of a softer material compared to the bottom layer. Softer is defined as either density or firmness nomenclature for any particular material. A depth of the firmer bottom layer may have a vertical height that may be decreased in a hip area compared to a leg/knee area and/or a vertical height that is decreased in a shoulder area compared to the hip area. Embodiments of the present invention include a mattress, mattress layer and mattress topper.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1. is a side perspective view of a mattress according to an embodiment of the present invention; and

FIGS. 2-4 are side perspective views of mattresses according to other embodiments of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following detailed description is of the best currently contemplated modes of carrying out exemplary embodiments of the invention. The description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention, since the scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims.
Various inventive features are described below that can each be used independently of one another or in combination with other features.
Broadly, embodiments of the present invention generally provide an improved mattress comprising a top layer having a decreasing thickness going from a first edge to a second edge and a bottom layer having an increasing thickness going from a first edge to a second edge. Aspects of the present invention provide an improved mattress, mattress layer, or mattress topper having gradient sloping wherein the ratio of softer top material increases from the foot of the mattress to the head of the mattress.
Referring now to FIG. 1, a perspective side view of an improved mattress 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown. Mattress 10 may have a head area intended for a reclining user's head or upper body designated as A, and a foot area intended for a reclining user's feet or lower body designated as B. Mattress 10 may have a top layer 16 assembled to a bottom layer 18. Top layer 16 may be a relatively softer material than bottom layer 18. Accordingly, bottom layer 18 may be relatively firmer than top layer 16. In some embodiments of the present invention, top layer 16 may be a different material than bottom layer 18. In other embodiments of the present invention, bottom layer 18 may be denser than top layer 16. According to some embodiments of the present invention, top layer 16 may be laminated to ,lower layer 18. As used herein, “soft” and “firm” may refer to an elasticity of a material, which may be measurable by an amount of deflection in response to an applied force, or a rate of deflection in response to an applied force.
Top layer 16 may have a sloped side 13, which may create varying thickness along a length of mattress 10, wherein a thickness of top layer 16 at or about head area A may be greater than a thickness at or about foot area B. Bottom layer 18 may have a sloped side 14, which may create varying thickness along a length of mattress 10, wherein a thickness of bottom layer 18 at or about head area A may be less than a thickness at or about foot area B. Bottom layer 18 may have a slope 11, which may join with sloped side 14 forming a continuous slope from head area A to foot area B. In another embodiment of the present invention, bottom layer 18 may have a slope 12, which may join with sloped side 14 forming a discontinuous slope from head area A to foot area B. The thickness of top layer 16 and the thickness of bottom layer 18 may be configured so that their corresponding total thickness is uniform along a length of mattress 10.
Mattress 10 may have a support gradient, wherein an amount of support provided by mattress 10 may, for example, increase along a length thereof going from head area A to foot area B. In other embodiments of the present invention, mattress 10 may have a density gradient, wherein a density of mattress 10 may, for example, increase along a length thereof going from head area A to foot area B.
FIGS. 2-4 show perspective side views of other embodiments of the present invention. Referring now to FIG. 2, mattress 20 may have a top layer 22, a middle layer 24, and a base layer 26. Top, middle, and base layers 22, 24 and 26 may be, for example, open or closed cell foam, mesh, fiber, or padding.
Referring now to FIG. 3, mattress 30 may have a top layer 32 and a spring layer 34. Top layer 32 may be, for example, open or closed cell foam, mesh, fiber, or padding. Spring layer 34 may have a plurality of springs evenly distributed in spring layer 34. The plurality of springs may be, for example, constant rate or progressive rate springs.
In another embodiment of the present invention, the plurality of springs may be unevenly distributed in spring layer 34, wherein a higher concentration or grouping of springs may be located at or near at least one of head area A, foot area B, or an area therebetween.
Referring now to FIG. 4, mattress 40 may have a top layer 42, a secondary layer 44, a middle layer 46, and a base layer 48. Top, secondary, middle, and base layers 42, 44, 46, and 48 may be, for example, open or closed cell foam, mesh, fiber, or padding.
According to exemplary embodiments of the present invention, mattress 10 may have a thickness between about one (1) inch to about eighteen (18) inches, and may have varying lengths and widths corresponding to standard American and European mattress dimensions.
In some embodiments of the present invention, mattress 10 may have multiple levels of base material or top material.
It should be understood, of course, that the foregoing relates to exemplary embodiments of the invention and that modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims.

Claims

1. A mattress, comprising:

a top layer having a head area and a foot area, the top layer having a first elasticity, the top layer having a decreasing thickness from the head area to the foot area;

a bottom layer having a head area and a foot area, the bottom layer having a second elasticity, the bottom layer having an increasing thickness from the head area to the foot area, the top layer and the bottom layer combined to form a mattress; and

a support gradient along a length of the mattress.