US2595946A - Sleeping mattress - Google Patents

Description

May 6, 1952 J. P. HOLT 2,595,946

SLEEPING MATTRESS Filed Aug. 50, 1949 2 SHEETS-SHEET l INVENTOR.- ugazifol,

BY- @wl/9am? ATTORNEYS.

May 6, 1952 J, p, HQLT 2,595,946

SLEEPING MATTRESS Filed Aug. 50, 1949 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 Z7 INVENTOR.-

Jose. Half,

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A TTORNE YS.

Patented May 6, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT GFFICE Claims.

This invention relates to a sleeping mattress and more particularly relates to a mattress having insulated partitions for attaining improved sleeping comfort.

I have found that the conduction of heat from a mattress to the surrounding spaces represents a significant avenue of heat loss therefrom, and that the comfort of a person resting on a mattress is materially improved by reducing the heat conductivity of the mattress itself. The temperature within a bedroom often luctuates considerably during the night, reaching a relatively low value during the early hours of the morning, and it is a matter of common experience that the drop in outdoor temperature is manifested in the bedroom to such an extent that the occupant of the bed may become uncomfortably cool with attendant interruption of sleeping continuity. Recently, electronically controlled electric blankets and other warming devices have been provided for automatic maintenance of uniform sleeping temperatures, but these are relatively expensive and consume substantial quantities of electrical energy.

1t is an object of my invention to provide means for improving uniformity of temperature conditions for resting or sleeping persons. It is a further object of vmy invention to `provide an insulated mattress for reducing the iiow of heat from the vicinity of the sleepers person to the surrounding atmosphere, thereby reducing energy losses and eliminating the necessity of employing artificially energized heating means to warm the spaces beneath the bed covering. A still further object of my invention is to provide an insulated mattress for slowing down the effect of outside temperature fluctuations on the temperature of the spaces beneath the bed coverings.

IOther objects and advantages of the invention, including those derived from simplicity and economy of manufacture, will become apparent from the following description and from the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a plan View of an insulated sleeping mattress, suitable for a single bed, illustrating an example of the invention in which insulated partition members form a fence surrounding the sleeping area in the upper section only of the v mattress;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view o f the same taken along the lines indicated by the arrows .II-II of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged schematic ,diagram'of the same showing the manner in which the insulated partition members are joined to each `the usual vents other and to the top and sides of the mattress;

Fig. 4 is a view in perspective showing only the insulated partition members of the mattress of Figs. 1 to 3 and how they are related to each other;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view similar to Fig. 2, representing a modified form of the invention in which additional insulated members are employed near the sides of the mattress, as well as in surrounding relation to the sleeping area, thus providing an inner and outer fence;

Fig. 5 is a sectional View similar to Fig. 2

i representing a further modification of the invention in which insulated fences are employed in both the upper and l-ower sections of the mattress;

Fig. 'i is a View similar to Fig. 4 but showing a modified form of insulated fence which is rounded at each end instead of being of a reotangular conguration;

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary plan View of a mattress having an insulated fence of the character shown in Fig. 7

Fig. 9 is a plan view oi a sleeping mattress, suitable for a double bed, in which the insulated partitions fence in two separate contiguous sleeping areas; and

Fig. 10 is an enlarged end elevation of the mattress shown in Fig. 9.

In all of the examples of the invention selected for illustration in the accompanying drawings the invention is embodied in a box-shaped mattress casing which is provided with the usual inner springs and padding, the space within the the casing being divided into sections and compartments by a plurality of partition members of insulating material. It will be understood, however, that the invention is applicable to a wide variety of mattresses and not limited to mattresses of the particular constructions shown herein.

With reference particularly to Figs. 1 and 2, the conventional mattress is provided with inner springs 2 and filling material 3, the whole being encased within a layer of hair provided with A horizontal partition member 6 of insulating material is disposed horizontally within the mattress dividing the same into upper and lower sections. Each spring 2 is threaded through a small aperture in the horizontal partition member G. Additional partition members 'l of insulating material extend upwardly from partition member 6 to form a fence dividing the upper section 8 of the mattress into a central sleeping area with wings at each side and end compartments at each end, the wings and end compartments being insulated from the sleeping area by the fence. In the specic embodiment of the invention shown in Figs. 1 to 4 the sleeping area thus defined by the continuous, vertically extending, fence 1 is rectangular in configuration and may be assumed to be of such dimensions as to accommodate therein a person of average siz made of a pliable material, such as woven asbestos, and are secured and maintained in a definite position within the mattress casing by means of stitches, indicated at I6 in Fig. 3 which join the upper edges of partition members 1 to the top covering member I of the mattress and similarly join the side edges of partition member 6 to the sides Il of the mattress, and also join the lower edges of partition member 1 to partition member 6.

It will .be observed that in the above described example of the invention the vertically disposed partition members 1 are employed only in the upper section B of the mattress. When turned, top for bottom, so that the upper section becomes the lower section, this type of mattress provides enhanced comfort to the sleeper in relatively hot weather since the non-insulated section 9 dissipates heat more rapidly than the insulated section 8. For maximum comfort this type of mattress is reversed, top for bottom, according to the temperature of the surrounding atmosphere. The insulated section may be readily identified and distinguished from the non-insulated section by external markings as, for example, by means of the tape indicated at l2 in Fig. 1 which not only tells the user which section is insulated, but indicates in outline the exact location of the insulated fence.

In Fig. 5 there is shown a modification of the invention in which in addition to the partition members 1 which fence the central sleeping area similarly constructed insulated members I3 are provided which extend vertically upwards from the horizontal partition member 6 near the sides and ends of the mattress, forming an outer rectangular fence in the upper section 8. Such a construction adds to the conservation of warmth in the vicinity of the sleeper. Heat losses which llow through the inner fence 1 tend to travel upwardly to the top covering l0 of the mattress instead of owing outwardly through the sides and ends of the mattress, thereby returning to the area beneath the bed coverings. Likewise the outer fence I3 serves to minimize the admission of cold air into the mattress through the sides thereof.

In Fig. 6 there is shown a modification of the invention in which insulated fences are provided in both the upper and lower sections 8 and 9. This construction is similar to that illustrated in Fig. 2 except that beneath the partition members 1, extending downwardly therefrom, similarly formed partition members l1 are provided to dene insulated sleeping areas in the lower section 9 as well as in the upper section 8, such members being secured to the bottom of the mattress and partition member 6 in the manner previously described. Such a mattress is particularly suitable for cold climates.

In Figs. 7 and 8 there is shown a modification of the invention in which the insulated fence 1a instead of being rectangular in outline is rounded at each end of the mattress to deiine a longer sleeping area for accommodating taller persons, and the marking tape 12a at the exterior surface e. Desirably the partition members 6 and 1 are mattress and to each other.

4 of the mattress is correspondingly shaped to identify the insulated section and show the outline of the sleeping area.

It will, of course, be appreciated that still other outlines may be provided for the sleeping area, for example, a diamond shape, and the embodiments selected herein for illustration represent only a few of a wide Variety of configurations that may be advantageously employed.

In Figs. 9 and 10 a further modification of the invention is illustrated as applied to a mattress suitable for use with a double bed. In this example the insulated partition members comprise a horizontally disposed member Bc and vertically disposed members 'lc which form two rectangles, disposed side by side, thus providing two terminally separate sleeping areas which are insulated from each other, as well as insulated from the wings and end compartments. The outlines of such sleeping areas are identified at the exterior surface by marking tapes |20.

Although standardized symmetrical spacing of the various insulating layers of the mattress may be preferred for economy of manufacture or for other purposes, the relative positions of the insulating material is subject to variation as desired. However, it is preferred to place the fence at least one inch from the inner padding or ticking of the mattress.

The horizontal insulating layer may be disposed at any desired depth between the upper mattress surface and the lower mattress surface, and need not be parallel to other surfaces. However, in the embodiment in which the mattress has only a single insulating fence extending toward the upper mattress surface, I have found it desirable to position the horizontal insulating layer nearer to the upper mattress surface than the lower surface, since during the summer months additional space is provided within the mattress for dispensing the body warmth of the sleeper who desires to sleep on the lower (noninsulated) mattress surface.

It will also be apparent that numerous modifications and substitutions may be made in the internal construction of the mattress, as well as in the insulating materials, padding, and fences, and that certain of the features of the invention may be used to advantage independently of the use of other features, all within the spirit of the invention as defined in the claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. A sleeping mattress having a partition member of heat insulating material disposed horizontally therein and dividing the same into upper and lower sections, and having an additional internal partition member of heat insulating material in the form of a fence extending upwardly from said first partition member and dividing the upper section into a central sleeping area and wings at each side thereof, thermally insulated therefrom by said fence.

2. A sleeping mattress as defined in claim 1 in which said partition members are of pliable material and secured to the top and sides of the 3. A thermally insulated sleeping mattress as defined in claim l further characterized by the provision of an additional partition member forming an outer fence extending upwardly from the horizontal partition member and spaced outwardly from said central sleeping area.

4. A thermally insulated sleeping mattress as defined in claim 1 further characterized by the provision of an additional partition member forming an outer fence extending upwardly from the horizontal partition member and spaced outwardly from said central sleeping area and inwardly from the sides and ends of the mattress.

5. A sleeping mattress having a partition member of heat insulating material disposed hori zontally therein and dividing the same into upper and lower sections, and having an additional internal partition member of heat insulating material in the form of a fence extending upwardly from said first partition member and dividing the upper section into a central sleeping area and wings at each side and compartments at each end thereof, thermally insulated therefrom by said fence.

6. A sleeping mattress having a partition member of heat insulating material disposed horiu zontally therein and dividing the same into upper and lower sections and having in its upper section only additional internal partition members of heat insulating material in the form of a fence extending vertically upward from said first partition member and dividing the upper section into a central sleeping area and wings at each side thereof.

7. A sleeping mattress as dened in claim 6, in which said upper section which includes said additional internal partition members is of less depth than said lower section.

8. A sleeping mattress for a double bed having a partition member of heat insulating material disposed horizontally therein and dividing the same into upper and lower sections, and having an additional internal partition member of heat insulating material in the form of a fence extending upwardly froni said first partition member and dividing the upper section into two adjacent sleeping areas and Wings at each side thereof, the sleeping areas being thermally insulated from the wings and from each other by said fence.

9. A sleeping mattress having a partition member of heat insulating material disposed horizontally therein and dividing the same into upper and lower sections, and having an additional internal partition member of heat insulating material in the form of a fence extending upwardly from said first partition member, said fence being generally rectangular in outline and dividing the upper section into a central sleeping area, of dimensions to accommodate therein a person oi average size, and wings at each Side thereof and end compartments at each end thereof, thermally insulated from said sleeping area by said fence.

10. A sleeping mattress comprising a boxshaped body having a partition member of pliable heat insulating material disposed horizontally therein and dividing the same into upper and lower sections, and having an additional internal partition member of pliable heat insulating material in the form of a fence extending upwardly from said first partition member and dividing the upper section into a central sleeping area and wings at each side thereof, thermally insulated therefrom, said upper and lower sections being illed with cushioning materials having a greater capacity for heat conduction than said partition members.

JOSEPH P. I-IOLT.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

318,141 Great Britain Allg. 7, 1930

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