Mattress structure

• US 6,115,861 A
• Filed: 04/22/1998
• Issued: 09/12/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 10/09/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Hill-Rom Services Incorporated (Baxter International Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Patmark Company, Inc.
• Inventors: Stolpmann, James R., Reeder, Ryan A., Westerfeld, Steven R., Dalton, Roger D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Melius, Terry Lee
• Assistant Examiner(s): Santos, Robert G.
• Application Number:
  US09/064,297
• Time in Patent Office: 874 Days
• Field of Search: 5/690, 5/722, 5/723, 5/727, 5/737, 5/738, 5/420, 5/925, 5/926
• US Class Current: 5/727
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 2203/12 Remote controls
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/05776 with at least two groups of alternately inflated chambers
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 5/922 with hook and loop type fastener
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 5/926 Low friction, e.g. slippery material

Abstract

A support assembly for a mattress, the support assembly comprising compressible blocks having individual degrees of firmness, and a sleeve defining spaced-apart pockets holding the blocks therein, the sleeve positioning the blocks adjacent one another and the sleeve being composed of a material having a slippery outer surface permitting individual compression of the blocks so that each compressible block moves in a vertical direction independently of adjacent blocks to enable at least two-dimensions of firmness zoning.

Claims

1. A support assembly for a mattress, the support assembly comprising:

compressible blocks each having individual degrees of firmness and an anti-shear coating provided thereon, and

a sleeve defining spaced-apart pockets removably holding the blocks therein, the sleeve positioning the blocks adjacent one another and the sleeve being composed of a material having an anti-shear coating permitting individual compression of the blocks so that each compressible block moves in a vertical direction independently of adjacent blocks to enable at least two-dimensions of firmness zoning.

2. The support assembly of claim 1, wherein the sleeve is formed to include slots that define openings into the pockets and the slots are sized to receive the blocks therethrough.

3. The support assembly of claim 2, further comprising a plurality of sleeves positioned to lie adjacent one another.

4. The support assembly of claim 3, wherein at least two of the sleeves are coupled together.

5. The support assembly of claim 2, wherein the sleeve is constructed of nylon.

6. The support assembly of claim 1, wherein the sleeve includes a top member and an opposite bottom member coupled to the top member and the top and bottom members cooperate to define openings into pockets that are sized to receive the blocks therethrough.

7. The support assembly of claim 6, further comprising fasteners configured to selectively close the openings to hold blocks within the pockets.

8. The support assembly of claim 1, wherein the mattress has a head-end, an opposite foot-end, and side edges and the sleeve is adapted to extend between the head-end and foot-end of mattress.

9. The support assembly of claim 8, wherein there are a plurality of sleeves adapted to be positioned to lie adjacent one another between the side edges of the mattress to provide three-dimensional zoning.

10. The support assembly of claim 9, wherein the sleeve is formed to include slots that define openings into the pockets and the slots are sized to receive the blocks therethrough.

11. The support assembly of claim 8, wherein there are more than two sleeves and wherein at least two of the more than two sleeves are coupled together.