U.S. patent application number 12/975706 was filed with the patent office on 2012-06-28 for mattresses with extended length handles.
Invention is credited to Jeewon Jung, Gen Suzuki.
Application Number | 20120159715 12/975706 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 46314439 |
Filed Date | 2012-06-28 |
United States Patent
Application |
20120159715 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Jung; Jeewon ; et
al. |
June 28, 2012 |
MATTRESSES WITH EXTENDED LENGTH HANDLES
Abstract
A mattress having a top surface, a bottom surface which is
opposite of and parallel to the top surface, and a right side wall,
a left side wall, a first end wall and a second end wall, the
right, left, bottom and top side walls being perpendicular to and
extending between the top and bottom surface of the mattress. A
single extended length mattress handle is attached horizontally
along a substantial length of each opposing side wall of the
mattress. The extended length mattress handles are sewn onto the
mattress at two or more connection points and preferably at three
or more points or areas on each mattress side wall. In one
embodiment, the length of the mattress handles is less than the
length of the side wall to which it is attached. In a second
embodiment, the length of the mattress handles is greater than the
length of the mattress and the handle wraps around each corner and
extends onto the adjacent end wall or walls. The extended length
and horizontal arrangement of the handles facilitates easier
gripping and handling of the mattress.
Inventors: |
Jung; Jeewon; (Cambridge,
MA) ; Suzuki; Gen; (Cambridge, MA) |
Family ID: |
46314439 |
Appl. No.: |
12/975706 |
Filed: |
December 22, 2010 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
5/703 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47C 31/08 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
5/703 |
International
Class: |
A47C 31/08 20060101
A47C031/08 |
Claims
1. A mattress comprising: a mattress core; one or more upholstery
layers; one or more quilting layers that envelop the mattress core
and the one or more upholstery layers; the mattress having a top
surface, a bottom surface which is opposite and parallel to the top
surface, a left side wall, a right side wall, a first end wall and
a second end wall, the left, right, top and bottom Side walls being
perpendicular to and extending between the top and bottom surfaces;
an extended length mattress handle attached to each of the opposing
side walls of the mattress, the extended length mattress handles
having a length that is less than a length of the side wall to
which it is attached, wherein the at least two mattress handles are
each attached to the respective mattress side wall at three or more
attachment points.
2. The mattress of claim 1 wherein each extended length mattress
handle extends a substantial length of the respective mattress side
wall.
3. The mattress of claim 1, wherein the length of each of the
extended length mattress handles is greater than 10 inches.
4. The mattress of claim 1, wherein the each of the extended length
mattress handles are attached to the mattress at three or more
attachment points.
5. The mattress of claim 1, wherein one extended length mattress
handle is attached to the right side wall and one extended length
mattress handle is attached to the left side wall.
6. The mattress of claim 1, wherein the mattress comprises four
extended length mattress handles, a first Mattress handle being
attached to the right side wall, a second mattress handle being
attached to the left side wall, a third mattress handle being
attached to the bottom side wall, and a fourth mattress handle
being attached to the top side wall.
7. The mattress of claim 1, wherein the at least two mattress
handles are attached to the mattress at five or more attachment
points.
8. The mattress of claim 6, wherein the five or more attachment
points create at least four handles.
9. The mattress of claim 1, wherein the at least two mattress
handles are sewn onto the mattress.
10. The mattress of claim 1, wherein the at least two mattress
handles are attached to the mattress by stitching which extends
through the extended mattress handles into the mattress side
wall.
11. A mattress comprising: a top surface, a bottom surface which is
opposite and parallel to the top surface, and a border which is
perpendicular to and extends between the top and bottom surface
creating a substantially rectangular structure; the border
comprising a left side wall, a right side wall, a top side wall and
a bottom side wall, a first extended length handle being attached
at a first end to the top side wall of the mattress border,
extending along the right side wall of the mattress border and
attached at a second end to the bottom side wall of the mattress
border; a second extended length handle being attached at a first
end to the top side wall of the mattress border, extending along
the left side wall of the mattress border and attached at a second
end to the bottom-side wall of the mattress border.
12. The mattress of claim 11, wherein the first extended length
handle is attached to the right side wall of the mattress border at
three or more attachment points.
13. The mattress of claim 11, wherein the second extended length
handle is attached to the left wall of the mattress border at three
or more attachment points.
14. The mattress of claim 11, wherein the first and second extended
length handles are attached to the right and left side walls of the
mattress at approximately 10 attachment points.
15. The mattress of claim 11, wherein the first and second extended
length handles are attached to the right and left side walls of the
mattress at approximately 11 attachment points.
16. The mattress of claim 11, wherein the first extended length
handle is additionally connected to the mattress proximate to an
intersection of a first end wall and a right side wall of the
mattress border and proximate to an intersection of the second end
wall and the right side wall of the mattress border and at three or
more connection points along the right side wall of the mattress
border.
17. The mattress of claim 11, wherein the second extended length
handle is additionally connected to the mattress proximate to an
intersection of a first end wall and a left side wall of the
mattress border and proximate to an intersection of a second end
wall and the left side wall of the mattress border and at three or
more connection points along the right side wall of the mattress
border.
18. The mattress of claim 11, wherein the first extended length
handle and the second extended length handle are attached
respectively to the right side wall and the left side wall at one
or more connection points or areas and wherein the first extended
length handle and the second extended length handle are equally
spaced along the respective length of the right and left side walls
of the mattress border.
19. The mattress of claim 11, wherein the first and second extended
length handles are made of the same fabric as the mattress
border.
20. The mattress of claim 11, wherein the first and second extended
length handles are horizontally disposed.
21. The mattress of claim 11, wherein the first and second handles
are sewn onto the mattress border.
22. A mattress comprising: a mattress core; one or more upholstery
layers; a quilt layer over the one or more upholstery layers; a
border which surrounds a perimeter of the mattress core and the one
or more upholstery layers, the border being perpendicular to and
attached along an edge to the quilt layer, and having a first and
second longitudinal sections, a head section which extends between
the first and second longitudinal sections at a first end of the
mattress core, and a foot section which extends between the first
and second longitudinal sections at a second end of the mattress
core; an extended length mattress handle attached to each of the
first and second longitudinal sections of the border, each extended
length mattress handle being attached to the border at three
separate locations along a length of the extended length mattress
handle.
23. The mattress of claim 22 wherein the extended length mattress
handles have a length greater than 10 inches.
24. The mattress of claim 22 wherein the extended length mattress
handles have a length greater than 12 inches.
25. The mattress of claim 22 wherein the extended length mattress
handles have a length greater than 14 inches.
26. The mattress of claim 22 wherein the extended length mattress
handles have a length greater than 20 inches.
27. The mattress of claim 22 wherein the extended length mattress
handles have a length greater than 30 inches.
28. The mattress of claim 22 wherein the extended length mattress
handles have a length greater than 40 inches.
29. The mattress of claim 22 wherein the extended length mattress
handles have a length greater than 50 inches.
30. The mattress of claim 22 wherein the extended length mattress
handles have a length greater than 60 inches.
31. The mattress of claim 22 wherein the extended length mattress
handles have a length greater than 70 inches.
32. The mattress of claim 22 wherein the extended length mattress
handles have a length greater than 80 inches.
Description
RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] There are no applications related to this application.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention is directed to mattresses and sleep
systems and sleep sets.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] Mattresses have been manufactured with handles attached to
the vertical side panel or "border" upholstery material which
covers the side of the mattress; between the top and bottom
surfaces. Such border mounted handles are most commonly in the form
of rope or elastic cord or strip of material, with the ends
extending through grommets in the border material and knotted or
stapled inside the mattress or sewn directly to the border
material. Conventionally there has been provided two handles,
approximately six to eight inches in length, on each long side of
the mattress, spaced at approximately one third and two thirds of
the length of the mattress. The handles are most commonly oriented
horizontally or parallel with the resting surface of the mattress,
but can also be oriented vertically; transverse to the top and
bottom surfaces of the mattress. Mattresses have also been made
with handles on the head and foot ends of the border.
[0004] With the increased size and weight of mattresses over the
years, handles are a necessity to enable efficient handling and
adjustment of position on a foundation. Providing only two
relatively short length handles per side limits this ability.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] The mattresses of the present: invention provide an
upholstery assemblage which includes handles of extended lengths
for improved handle construction and increased ease of handling and
adjustment. In one representative embodiment, a mattress core, in
combination with one or more padding layers, is covered with an
upholstery layer that envelops the mattress core and one or more
padding layers. The mattress has a top surface, a bottom surface
which is opposite and parallel to the top surface, a left side
wall, a right side wall, a top side wall and a bottom side wall,
the left, right, top and bottom side walls being perpendicular to
and extending between the top and bottom surfaces. The mattress
further includes at least two mattress handles horizontally
disposed and attached along at least two apposing side walls of the
mattress, the at least two mattress handles having a length that
extends along a substantial length of the side wall or border of
the mattress to which it is attached. The at least two mattress
handles are each attached to the mattress at two or more attach
merit points or areas, and each preferably attached to the border
at at least three attachment point or areas.
[0006] In a second representative embodiment, a mattress comprises
a top surface, a bottom surface which is opposite and parallel to
the top surface, and a border which is perpendicular to and extends
between the top and bottom surface creating a substantially
rectangular structure. The border includes a left side wall, a
right side wall, a top side wall and a bottom side wall. A first
handle is attached at afirst end to a first end of the mattress
border, extending along the right wall of the mattress border and
attached at a second end to an opposite end of the mattress border.
A second handle is attached at a first end to the first end of the
mattress border, extending along the left side wall of the mattress
border and attached at the opposite end of the mattress border.
[0007] These and other embodiments of the disclosure and inventions
are further described herein with reference to the accompanying
drawings.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0008] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of the
Mattress with Horizontal Handles of the present invention.
[0009] FIG. 2 is a side view of the Mattress with Horizontal
Handles of FIG. 1, which is identical to the opposite side view
thereof.
[0010] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of the
Mattress with Horizontal Handles of the present invention.
[0011] FIG. 4 is a side view of the Mattress with Horizontal
Handles of FIG. 3, which is identical to the opposite side view
thereof.
[0012] FIG. 5 is an end view of the Mattress with Horizontal
Handles of FIG. 3, which is identical to the opposite end view
thereof.
[0013] FIG. 6 is an end view of a third embodiment of the Mattress
with Horizontal Handles of the present invention, which is
identical to the opposite side view thereof.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED AND ALTERNATE EMBODIMENTS
[0014] The mattress 100 according to the present invention is
generally square or rectangular shaped having a substantially
planar top surface and a substantially planar bottom surface which
is opposite and parallel to the top surface, and four substantially
planar side walls that are parallel to and extend between the top
and bottom surfaces of the mattress. The top and bottom side walls
12, also referred to herein as "end walls", are the head and foot
ends of the mattress, are parallel. The right and left side walls
10 (or "longitudinal sides") are parallel to each other and
perpendicular to the top and bottom side walls 12. The side walls
10 and 12 are formed by a separate piece of material referred to as
a "border", which is an upholstery or quilt material which is
wrapped around the perimeter of the mattress core, or padding or
other materials which surround the mattress core. The extended
length mattress handles described herein are attached to the border
which forms side walls 10 and 12, either by stitching or other
fastening means.
[0015] The outer surfaces of the mattress are formed by one or more
layers of quilt material or quilt package, also referred to as
"ticking", "upholstery" or "upholstery tick" which is sewn together
to enclose the inner components of the mattress such as an
innerspring and internal layers of padding, foam or other
components. The mattress core may be in the form of an innerspring
comprising a plurality of coil springs arranged in a matrix and
attached to one another with helical lacing wire. Alternatively,
the mattress core may be comprised of one monolithic piece of foam
or have several foam layers. The present disclosure and related
inventions is applicable to all different types and sizes of
mattresses, including upholstered mattresses with different types
of cores, i.e., spring, foam or wire and foam combinations.
[0016] In one embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 1-3, at least two
single extended length mattress handles or straps 14 are generally
horizontally disposed and attached to at least two opposing side
walls of the mattress, preferably the left and right sides 10, and
may extend to the adjacent end walls 12 as further described. The
length of each of the extended length handles, as measured
horizontally from one end to an opposite end as the handle is
attached to the border, is longer than any mattress handles of this
type of which the Applicants are aware, and is generally greater
than about 10 inches, and can be greater than 20 inches, greater
than 30 inches, greater than 40 inches, greater than 50 inches,
greater than 60 inches, greater than 70 inches, greater than 80
inches. and greater than a total length of the sides 10 of a
mattress, as further described herein. In a particular embodiment
an extended length handle length is less than the length of the
side mattress wall 10 to which the handle 14 is attached, and is of
a length of approximately 50-55 inches. As used herein, the term
"extended length handle" refers to and means a mattress handle of
the type described which has a length or linear extent along a side
wall or border of a mattress wherein the total length of the handle
is within a range that includes lengths greater than approximately
eight or ten inches and equal to or greater than an entire length
of one longitudinal side of the mattress to which it is attached.
In a representative embodiment of the disclosure, an extended
length mattress handle has a total length of preferably greater
than about six inches, and more preferably greater than about eight
inches, and even more preferably greater than ten inches, and up to
and including the lengths described herein.
[0017] The first and second opposing ends 16 and 18 of each handle
are attached to a side wall 10 of the mattress 100. The handle body
14 is further attached to the mattress 100 at several additional
connection or attachment points 20 along the corresponding side
wall 10 of the mattress 100. In a preferred embodiment, the
attachment points 20 may be comprised of thread which is stitched
through the handle and mattress wall in a pattern or defined area,
as shown for example in FIG. 1, having a square box with an X
stitch pattern inside the box. This stitch pattern gives the
attachment sufficient strength to affix and maintain the attachment
of the handle 14 to the side wall 10 of the mattress 100. Other
stitch patterns are considered to be within the scope of the
present invention. As used herein, the term "attachment point"
refers to and includes an area of stitching which extends through
the handle and into the boarder of the mattress. The sewing
equipment used to attach the handles to the mattress are capable of
sewing any number of different stitch patterns or defined areas of
stitching. The stitch patterns may even be customized with for
example, a company logo or other such indicia. Also, the stitch
patterns at each attachment point or area may be varied or
non-repeating. In a preferred embodiment, there are approximately
seven distinct or spaced-apart attachment points or areas along the
length of the handle, creating approximately six equally sized
horizontal handles 22 or segments at which a user may grasp the
handle 14 on at least two opposing side of the mattress. The
handles 14 can be made of the same quilting fabric as the outer
fabric material a the mattress, or of any material which can be
formed as a handle and sewn to the mattress border.
[0018] In a second embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, a single
extended length mattress handle 24 or strap is horizontally
disposed and attached along at least two opposing, parallel side
walls of the mattress 100, preferably the left and right sides 10.
The length of each handle 24 is greater than the length of the side
wall 10 to which the handle 24 is attached. This allows each of the
opposing ends 16, 18 of each handle 24 to wrap around opposing
corners 28 of the mattress 100 and extend along the adjacent side
wall. This excess creates an extra handle 26 or segment at the
outer edge of each adjacent side wall, such as at the edge of the
top and bottom side walls 12 of the mattress 100. Attachment points
20 are located at the opposing ends 16, 18 of the mattress handles
(located on each adjacent side wall), at each mattress corner 28,
and at several additional points 20 along the side wall 10 of the
mattress 100. This configuration creates two handles 26, one each
at the top and bottom side wall 12 and several adjacent handles 22
or gripping points along the left and right side walls 10 of the
mattress 100. For a twin or full Mattress with a length of
approximately 75-76 inches, there will be one attachment point on
each adjacent side wall, one at each corner; and six more equally
spaced attachment points along the length of the mattress, creating
approximately nine equally sized handles along each long side, or
the left and right sides of the mattress. A king or queen sized
mattress, approximately 80 inches in length, would contain one
extra attachment point which would create approximately ten equally
sized handles along each long side of the mattress. In a preferred
embodiment, as described above, the attachment of the handles 24 to
the mattress 100 may be by thread sewn in a box shape with an `X`
stitch pattern inside the box to provide sufficient attachment
strength. Other stitch patterns may also be used. The handles are
made of the same quilting fabric as the outer surface of the
mattress so that they easily blend with the aesthetics of the
mattress.
[0019] In yet another embodiment, shown in FIG. 6, a single
extended length mattress handle 24 or strap is horizontally
disposed and attached along all four sides of the mattress. The
handle is initially attached at one point along one side of the
mattress and wraps around all four sides of the mattress until it
reaches the initial attachment point. The initial attachment point
may be at one corner of the mattress or it may be at a specific
point along one of the mattress sides. Attachment points 20 are
located at each mattress corner 28 and at several additional points
20 along each side wall 10 of the mattress 100. This configuration
creates equally sized and spaced handles along the left and right
side walls 10 and the top and bottom side wall 12. For a twin or
full sized mattress (length 75-76 inches long), six equally spaced
attachment points will be attached along each long side, or left
and right side, of the mattress, creating approximately nine
equally sized handles. A king or queen sized mattress (length 80
inches long) would contain one extra attachment point which would
result in approximately ten equally sized handles along each long
side or the mattress:
[0020] Attachment of the horizontal handles along the sides of the
mattress may be sewn on by hand or by an automated process, as
described for example in U.S. Pat. No. 6,202,579, which is
incorporated herein by reference.
[0021] Extending a single extended length mattress handle along the
entire length of two sides of the mattress provides a gripping
position at practically any point along the length of the mattress.
The horizontal placement of the handles also better facilitate
movements such as lifting or turning of the mattress.
[0022] It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that
numerous variations and/or modifitations may be made to the
invention as shown in the specific embodiments without departing
from the spirit or scope of the invention as broadly described. The
present embodiments are, therefore, to be considered in all
respects as illustrative and not restrictive. Other features and
aspects of this invention will be appreciated by thOse skilled in
the art upon reading and comprehending this disclosure. Such
features, aspects, and expected variations and modifications of the
reported results and examples are clearly within the scope of the
invention where the invention is limited solely by the scope of the
following claims.
* * * * *