U.S. patent application number 13/874678 was filed with the patent office on 2013-11-07 for foam mattress or cushion with supporting edges.
The applicant listed for this patent is Marion Wetherbee Jack Bell, Jr.. Invention is credited to Marion Wetherbee Jack Bell, Jr..
Application Number | 20130291312 13/874678 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 49511411 |
Filed Date | 2013-11-07 |
United States Patent
Application |
20130291312 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Bell, Jr.; Marion Wetherbee
Jack |
November 7, 2013 |
FOAM MATTRESS OR CUSHION WITH SUPPORTING EDGES
Abstract
A foam support, such as a mattress or cushion, with additional
edge supports. The edge supports may be in the form of a support
member that may include firmer foam than the body of the mattress.
The support member may include a top portion and a bottom portion.
The top portion of the support member may have a larger surface
area than the bottom portion of the support member.
Inventors: |
Bell, Jr.; Marion Wetherbee
Jack; (Moreno Valley, CA) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Bell, Jr.; Marion Wetherbee Jack |
Moreno Valley |
CA |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
49511411 |
Appl. No.: |
13/874678 |
Filed: |
May 1, 2013 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
61642369 |
May 3, 2012 |
|
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Current U.S.
Class: |
5/739 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47C 27/003 20130101;
A47C 27/148 20130101; A47C 27/15 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
5/739 |
International
Class: |
A47C 27/00 20060101
A47C027/00 |
Claims
1. A foam support apparatus comprising: a top foam layer having a
first side, a second side, an upper surface and a lower surface;
and at least one support member having a top portion, a bottom
portion, an inner surface, and an outer surface, wherein the at
least one support member comprises a firmer foam than the top foam
layer, wherein the inner surface of the at least one support member
is adjacent to at least one of the first side and the second side
of the top foam layer, wherein the top portion of the at least one
support member has a larger surface area than the bottom portion of
the at least one support member.
2. The foam support of claim 1, wherein the inner surface of the at
least one support member is bonded to at least one of the first
side and the second side of the top foam layer.
3. The foam support of claim 1, wherein the at least one foam
support member comprises a first foam support member and a second
foam support member.
4. The foam support of claim 3, wherein the first foam support
member is bonded to the first side of the top foam layer and the
second foam support member is bonded to the second side of the top
foam layer.
5. The foam support of claim 1, wherein the support member is
triangular in shape.
6. The foam support of claim 1, wherein the support member is
trapezoidal in shape.
7. The foam support of claim 1, wherein the inner surface of the
support member has an angle of about 45 degrees relative to the top
portion of the support member.
8. The foam support of claim 1, further comprising a middle foam
layer bonded to the lower surface of the top foam layer, wherein
the middle foam layer comprises a firmer foam than the top foam
layer.
9. The foam support of claim 8, further comprising a base foam
layer bonded the middle foam layer, wherein the middle foam layer
is sandwiched between the base foam layer and the top foam layer,
and wherein the base foam layer comprises a firmer foam than the
middle foam layer.
10. The foam support of claim 1, wherein the foam support is a foam
mattress.
11. The foam support of claim 1, wherein the foam support is a foam
cushion.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to a foam mattress with firm
edges and, more particularly, to a foam mattress that has edges
that bend inward when pressure is applied.
[0002] Memory foam mattresses use conforming visco-elastic foam,
polyurethane base foam, or the like. Different feels and comfort
levels are achieved by varying the thickness, weight and
formulation of the visco-elastic foams and the base foams. Latex
and memory foam mattresses each provide a unique feel. This type of
mattress is good at relieving pressure on painful joints.
[0003] Generally, the edges of foam mattresses and cushions lack
sufficient edge support. The lack of support creates a feeling of
sliding or rolling off of the edges. The problem with previous
attempts to firm the edges on foam mattresses are that they use
firmer foam to either dam up the edge underneath the softer memory
foam and have only minimal support along the top edges. This allows
for the softer memory foam to collapse outward over the edge.
[0004] As can be seen, there is a need for a foam mattress that has
sufficient support on the edges.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] In one aspect of the present invention, a foam support
apparatus comprises: a top foam layer having a first side, a second
side, an upper surface and a lower surface; and at least one
support member having a top portion, a bottom portion, an inner
surface, and an outer surface, wherein the at least one support
member comprises a firmer foam than the top foam layer, wherein the
inner surface of the at least one support member is adjacent to at
least one of the first side and the second side of the top foam
layer, wherein the top portion of the at least one support member
has a larger surface area than the bottom portion of the at least
one support member.
[0006] These and other features, aspects and advantages of the
present invention will become better understood with reference to
the following drawings, description and claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0007] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the present
invention;
[0008] FIG. 2 is a cross sectional view of line A of FIG. 1;
and
[0009] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a support member of the
embodiment of FIG. 2.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0010] 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.
[0011] Broadly, an embodiment of the present invention provides a
foam support, such as a mattress or cushion, with additional edge
supports. The edge supports may be in the form of a support member
that may include firmer foam than the body of the mattress. The
support member may include a top portion and a bottom portion. The
top portion of the support member may have a larger surface area
than the bottom portion of the support member.
[0012] The present invention may include a foam edge that deflects
the load downward and into a foam mattress or cushion producing a
firm, comfortable cradling edge. The present invention may include
a firm foam support member that may be bonded to the memory foam
below to create a hinged effect. The firm support member may be
bonded to a softer foam. This creates a hinged effect and deflects
the load down and back into the foam mattress or cushion, producing
a more comfortable and supportive edge.
[0013] Referring now to FIGS. 1 through 3, the present invention
may include a top layer 12. The top layer 12 has a first side 18, a
second side 20, an upper surface 22, and a lower surface 24. The
top layer may 12 be a layer of memory foam. In certain embodiments,
the present invention may include at least one support member 10
located adjacent to at least one of the first side 18 and the
second side 20 of the top layer 12. For example, a first support
member 10 may be bonded to the first side 18 of the top layer 12
and a second support member 10 may be bonded to the second side 20
of the top layer 12, creating a single foam mattress or
cushion.
[0014] In certain embodiments, the support member 10 of the present
invention may include firmer foam than the top layer 12. The
support member 10 may be around the same length as the first 18 and
second side 20 of the top layer 12. The support member 10 of the
present invention may include a top portion 26, a bottom portion
28, an inner surface 30 and an outer surface 32. The top portion 26
of the support member 10 may align with the upper surface 22 of the
top layer 12. The inner surface 30 of the support member 10 may be
bonded to at least one of the first 18 and second side 20 of the
top layer 12. The outer surface 32 of the support member 10 may be
the sides of the overall mattress. Therefore, the top portion 26 of
the support member 10 and the outer surface 32 of the support
member 10 may comprise the top edge of the mattress.
[0015] In certain embodiments, the top portion 26 of the support
member 10 may have a greater surface area than the bottom portion
28 of the support member 10. For example, the support member may be
triangular shape, trapezoidal shape, or any shape in which the top
portion 26 has a larger surface area than the bottom portion 26.
Therefore, when a user applies pressure to the top portion 28 of
the support member 10, the top portion 28 may be compressed inward
and towards the bottom portion 28 and thereby support the user. In
certain embodiments, to facilitate the inward compression, the
angle of the inner surface 30 relative to the top layer 12 may be
about 45 degrees. However the present invention is not limited to
this angle, and may be any appropriate angle to facilitate the
inward edge compression.
[0016] In certain embodiments, the present invention may include a
multi-layered foam mattress. For example, the mattress may further
include a middle layer 14 and a base layer 16. The middle layer 14
may be a support layer for the top layer 12 and may include firmer
foam than the top layer 12. The base layer 16 may support both the
middle layer 14 and the top layer 12. The base layer 16 may include
foam that is firmer than both the middle layer 14 and the top layer
12. In certain embodiments, the middle layer 14 may be bonded to
the base layer 16 and the top layer 12 may be bonded to the middle
layer 14, thereby the middle layer 14 may be sandwiched by the top
layer 12 and the base layer 18.
[0017] The top layer 12 foam and the middle layer 14 foam may
create a plush comfortable surface and the bevel edge under the
support member 10 may create a hinged action as the levered top
edge has a soft transition from the memory foam to a comfortable
edge that supports a user's body on top of the mattress. A mattress
cover may be used to provide a comfortable, decorative and
protective surface and gives the option of being removed for
cleaning.
[0018] As mentioned above, the support member of the present
invention may be used with a mattress or cushion. The cushion may
be any cushion that may include memory foam, including but not
limited to, a pillow, a seat cushion, an equestrian cushion, a
medical use cushion, a kneeler cushion, and any support system for
human or innate objects.
[0019] 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.
* * * * *