U.S. patent number RE32,734 [Application Number 06/920,227] was granted by the patent office on 1988-08-23 for reversible mattress.
Invention is credited to Arlis D. McLeod.
United States Patent |
RE32,734 |
McLeod |
August 23, 1988 |
Reversible mattress
Abstract
A cushion or mattress assembly having first and second resilient
support surfaces of varying firmness each secured to a center piece
stiffener board. The stiffener board is formed from a plurality of
hinged sections allowing flexure of the stiffener board in one
direction only, as well as allowing the entire assembly to be
folded or rolled up for storage.
Inventors: |
McLeod; Arlis D. (Leakesville,
MS) |
Family
ID: |
23775451 |
Appl.
No.: |
06/920,227 |
Filed: |
October 16, 1986 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
Issue Date |
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Reissue of: |
447216 |
Dec 6, 1982 |
04476594 |
Oct 16, 1984 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
5/722; 5/727;
5/728 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47C
27/001 (20130101); A47C 27/16 (20130101); A47C
27/144 (20130101); A47C 27/15 (20130101); A47C
21/06 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
A47C
27/00 (20060101); A47C 27/15 (20060101); A47C
27/14 (20060101); A47C 27/16 (20060101); A47C
027/15 (); A47C 027/16 () |
Field of
Search: |
;5/462,464,465,481,420,460,417 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Smith; Gary L.
Assistant Examiner: Luong; Vinh
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Watson, Cole, Grindle &
Watson
Claims
What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent
of the United States is:
1. A cushion assembly which can be reversed in orientation to
expose support cushions having different stiffnesses, said cushion
assembly comprising
a stiffener member which includes (1) a plurality of section
elements which are positioned in generally abutting side by side
relationship to one another, each section element defining a first
face, an oppositely directed second face, and side edges, each
section member also including an abutment ridge which extends away
from its second face adjacent each side edge thereof which is
abuttable with the side edge of an adjacent section element, and
(2) a hinge means connected between the first faces of adjacent
section elements so as to flexibly connect said plurality of
section elements together; said abutment ridges on said section
elements being abuttable to prevent the movement of adjacent
section elements such that their second faces pivot towards one
another, and said hinge means connected between said section
elements allowing adjacent section elements to move such that their
first faces pivot toward one another,
a first support cushion connected to said hinge means, said first
support cushion having a unitary structure and a predetermined
stiffness, and
a second support cushion connected to the second faces of said
plurality of section elements, said second support cushion having a
unitary structure and a predetermined stiffness, the predetermined
stiffness of said second support cushion being greater than the
predetermined stiffness of said first support cushion.
2. The cushion assembly as defined in claim .[.1.]. .Iadd.13
.Iaddend.wherein said hinge means comprises a single piece of
material which is connected to the first faces of said plurality of
section elements.
3. The cushion assembly as defined in claim 2 wherein said material
comprises cloth.
4. The cushion assembly as defined in claim 3 wherein said cloth
includes fiberglass.
5. The cushion assembly as defined in claim .[.1.]. .Iadd.13
.Iaddend.wherein each of said plurality of section elements
includes a plurality of perforations.
6. The cushion assembly as defined in claim .[.1.]. .Iadd.13
.Iaddend.wherein said first and second support cushions are
generally rectangular in shape and have equivalent longitudinal and
transverse dimensions, and wherein said stiffener member is
generally rectangular in shape but has smaller longitudinal and
transverse dimensions than said first and second support cushions
so as to provide a recess between said first and second support
cushions of uniform dimensions and in which the edges of covering
sheets for the support cushions can be retained.
7. The cushion assembly as defined in claim 6 wherein at least one
of said section elements is composed of at least two portions, and
wherein each portion of each section elements is connected to
adjacent portions by said hinge means.
8. The cushion assembly as defined in claim 7 wherein at least one
of the section elements which are respectively located at the
opposite ends of said plurality of section elements comprises at
least three portions which are shaped so as to provide two
separations that respectively extend diagonally inwardly from the
corners thereof.
9. The cushion assembly as defined in claim .[.1.]. .Iadd.13
.Iaddend.wherein each of said first and second support cushions is
made of foam rubber, the foam rubber of said second support cushion
being denser than the foam rubber of said first support
cushion.
10. The cushion assembly as defined in claim .[.1.]. .Iadd.13
.Iaddend.which further includes a separate rigid baseboard.
11. The cushion assembly as defined in claim 10 wherein said rigid
baseboard includes perforations.
12. The cushion assembly as defined in claim 11 which consists of
said stiffener member, said first and second support cushions and
said rigid baseboard. .Iadd.
13. A cushion assembly which can be reversed in orientation to
expose support cushions having different stiffnesses, said cushion
assembly comprising
a stiffener member which includes (1) a plurality of generally flat
section elements which are positioned in generally abutting
side-by-side relationship to one another, each section element
defining a first face, an oppositely directed second face, and side
edges, at least one of said side edges of each section element
being adjacent a side edge of an adjacent section element, each
section element also including an abutment ridge at each of said
side edges thereof that are adjacent to a side edge of an adjacent
section element, and (2) a hinge means connecting adjacent section
elements such that, when the connected adjacent section elements
are aligned in common plane, they can be pivoted towards one
another in one direction but not in the opposite direction,
a first support cushion having a unitary structure and a
predetermined thickness, said first support cushion being connected
to said section elements over the faces thereof which will move
together when said connected adjacent section elements are aligned
in a common plane and then pivoted towards one another, and
a second support cushion having a unitary structure and a
predetermined thickness connected to said section elements over the
opposite faces thereof to which the first support cushion is
connected, the predetermined stiffness of said second support
cushion being greater than the predetermined stiffness of said
first support cushion. .Iaddend.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to a resilient cushion assembly
for the support of the body and, more particularly, to a mattress
cushion assembly which provides first and second support surfaces
having varying degrees of firmness and further including a hinged
stiffener member disposed between the first and second support
members to allow for folding or rolling-up of the cushion
assembly.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The conventional mattress typically provides a single degree of
support to the body due to the substantially homogeneous nature of
the cushioning material disposed therein. Such a single degree of
support, while adequate for most purposes, may prove inadequate
depending upon the support preferences of the user. A need has thus
arisen to provide variable cushion support within a single cushion
or mattress. An attempt to realize such objectives has been tried
using a plurality of selectable surfaces having varying
hardnesses.
A mattress directed generally to the provision of a plurality of
selectable surfaces of varying hardnesses is shown by Johnson in
U.S. Pat. No. 2,721,339, which discloses a mattress having two
superposed halves joined together in a manner enabling one half to
be swung over and upon the other half. A first half of the mattress
is provided with a plurality of hardboard panels, while the second
half consists of a uniform construction of cotton batting. The
second half does not have any panels disposed therein. The panels
are placed in the first mattress half relatively close to the
sleeping surface. Such assembly allows for bidirectional flexing of
the panels both toward and away from the sleeping surface. However,
should the two mattress halves be encased within a mattress cover,
removal of the cover would be required in order for the full range
of hardnesses to be available to the user.
Thus, there exists a need for a simple mattress or cushion assembly
which provides for uni-directional flexing of support panels
disposed therein as well as for a mattress or cushion assembly
which obviates the removal of a mattress cover in order to allow
for a full choice of mattress hardnesses.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, this invention has been made to meet the needs
discussed above and, therefore, has an object to provide a cushion
support assembly which offers a user a choice of support
stiffnesses and which facilitates the conversion of the assembly
from a first mode of stiffness to a second mode of stiffness.
A further object is to provide a compact support unit having a
standard thickness so as to eliminate the necessity of a box spring
unit.
A still further object of the invention is to facilitate the
application and retention of covers or sheets about the mattress
assembly.
Another object is to provide a mattress allowing substantially
uni-directional flexing such that flexing is permitted in only a
single operative mode of the assembly.
Another object is to provide a mattress assembly having a support
baseboard so as to eliminate the necessity of a box spring
unit.
Yet another object is to provide a mattress capable of being folded
or rolled into a compact unit for storage.
Another object is to provide a cushion in accordance with the
invention and adaptable for use with furniture such as couches,
chairs, or with pillows or seat cushions.
The foregoing and other objects are achieved according to the
present invention by the provision of an assembly for the support
of the body, which includes a base support board overlying a bed
frame for providing a substrate or support base for the mattress.
Firm and soft mattress sections are joined to a center piece
stiffening board composed of a plurality of transverse abutting
hinged sections. The stiffener board is dimensioned so as to
provide a peripheral recess at the junction of the top and bottom
mattress sections. Such hinged pivotable sections allow for the
rolling up of the mattress assembly to form a compact unit thereby
facilitating storage.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Various other objects, features, and attendant advantages of the
present invention will be more fully appreciated as the same
becomes better understood from the following detailed description
when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, in
which like reference characters designate like or corresponding
parts throughout the several views and wherein:
FIG. 1 is an isometric view of the center piece stiffener
board;
FIG. 2 is an isometric view of the mattress assembly;
FIG. 3 is a sectional side elevation view of a preferred embodiment
of the mattress assembly presenting the firm support surface in an
operative mode;
FIG. 4 is a partial sectional view of FIG. 3 taken along lines
4--4;
FIG. 5 is a sectional side elevation of a preferred embodiment of
the mattress assembly showing the soft side disposed in an
operative mode in a loaded condition;
FIG. 6 is a sectional side elevation view of the mattress assembly
in a rolled-up or storage condition;
FIG. 7 is a plan view of a support baseboard for the mattress
assembly; and
FIG. 8 is an elevation view of the support baseboard.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
The assembly developed in accordance with the present invention
will now be described in conjunction with the accompanying FIG. 1,
FIG. 2, and FIG. 3, within which, for example, a mattress assembly
1 is disclosed. A firm mattress section 2 is formed of a resilient
material, such as foam rubber, having a predetermined stiffness. A
soft mattress section 3, also formed of a resilient material, is
also provided. The stiffness of the soft bottom mattress section 3
is chosen so as to have a stiffness different from that of the firm
top mattress section 2. As shown in FIG. 3, the top mattress
section 2 is composed of a firm material, while the bottom mattress
section 3 is composed of a soft material, thereby affording the
user a choice of mattress stiffnesses, offering varying degrees of
support. The firm material may have a density greater than that of
the soft material.
The center piece or stiffener board 4 as individually depicted in
FIG. 1 is shown disposed between the firm mattress section 2 and
the soft mattress section 3 in FIGS. 2 and 3. As further depicted
in FIG. 1, the rigid stiffener board 4 may be formed from plastic
and may include a plurality of cutouts or perforations 5 formed
therein so as to reduce the weight thereof. The center piece
stiffener board 4 is permanently bonded or laminated to a hinge
material 6 on a single side of the stiffener board 4. The stiffener
board 4 is formed from a plurality of abutting transverse sections
8, 9 flexibly joined via hinge material 6. A transverse
strengthening ridge 7 is provided along each abutting transverse
section on the side opposing the hinge material 6. Such
construction ensures unidirectional flexing and increases the
structural integrity and stability of the stiffener board 4.
As further depicted in FIGS. 3 and 5, the stiffener board 4 is
disposed between and secured to or laminated to the firm mattress
section 2 and the soft mattress section 3 so that the hinge
material 6 contacts the soft or bottom mattress section 3 while the
transverse strengthening ridges protrude into the top or firm
mattress section 2. Such an assembly enhances the effect of the
user's choice of a firm or soft mattress surface by allowing
flexure towards the soft mattress section 3 when the soft mattress
section is on top of the mattress assembly 1 adjacent the user,
while preventing such flexure towards the firm mattress section 2
when the firm mattress section is on top of the mattress assembly
adjacent the user.
Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, the centerpiece or stiffener board 4 is
dimensioned so as to provide a recess 10 of substantially uniform
depth along the entire periphery of the junction of the firm and
soft mattress sections 2, 3 with the stiffener board 4. The recess
may typically have a depth of 2 inches so as to facilitate the
fitting of a cover or sheet on both the firm and soft mattress
sections 2, 3. Moreover, the mattress assembly 1 may be dimensioned
in standard sizes adaptable for use with standard size bedding
sheets. Furthermore, the thicknesses of the firm and soft mattress
sections 2, 3 as well as the thickness stiffener board 4 are
dimensioned so as to form a mattress assembly having an overall
thickness approximating the thickness of a standard mattress and
box spring assembly, for example, 16 inches.
As depicted in FIG. 4, a plurality of longitudinal separations or
joints 11, 12 may be formed in the stiffener board 4 along with a
plurality of diagonal separations or joints 13, 14, at each corner
portion of the stiffener board so as to increase the flexure of the
soft mattress section 3 when placed in an upper or operative
mode.
FIG. 5 shows the effect of the stiffener board 4 when the soft
section 3 is placed in an upper or operative mode in a loaded
condition. Flexure of the abutting transverse sections 8 and 9
about hinge point 15 when under load effects a separation 16 of the
transverse strengthening ridges 7 so as to cause the mattress
assembly 1 to take a generally arcuate shape as shown. Such arcuate
shape is to be contrasted with that shown in FIG. 3 wherein the
firm mattress section 2 is disposed on top in an operative mode so
as to form a substantially planar support surface wherein the
separation 16 shown in FIG. 5 is closed.
In FIG. 6 is shown the mattress assembly 1 in a rolled up or
storage condition wherein the soft mattress section 3 is disposed
inwardly of the firm mattress section 2 so as to form a roll having
a substantially polygonal cross section. Such a shape facilitates
transportation and storage.
A rigid baseboard 17 shown in FIG. 7 may be provided having a
plurality of hinged sections 18, 19 so as to enable folding thereof
or baseboard 17 may alternatively be formed in one piece. Baseboard
17 is dimensioned so as to overlie a bedframe and provide a support
base for the mattress assembly 1. The baseboard 17 may also include
a plurality of cutouts or perforations 20 to reduce the weight
thereof. FIG. 8 shows the hinged sections 18, 19 of baseboard 17
connected by hinge material 21.
While the principle of the present invention has been directed to a
mattress assembly per se, the design will also apply to any
cushion, couch, pillow, or cushioning support surface applicable
for use with various types of furniture such as chairs, couches, or
auto or boat seat cushions, pillows or outdoor furniture or camping
equipment such as sleeping bags.
Obviously, numerous modifications and variations of the present
invention are possible in light of the above teachings. It is
therefore to be understood that within the scope of the appended
claims, the invention may be practiced otherwise than as
specifically described herein.
* * * * *