Bedding product with age indicator

• US 9,257,057 B2
• Filed: 01/08/2015
• Issued: 02/09/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 02/27/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: L&P Property Management Company (Leggett & Platt Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: L&P Property Management Company (Leggett & Platt Incorporated)
• Inventors: Myers, Terrance L., Garrett, John A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Le, Thien M
• Assistant Examiner(s): TAYLOR, APRIL ALICIA
• Application Number:
  US14/592,406
• Publication Number:
  US 20150121625A1
• Time in Patent Office: 397 Days
• Field of Search: 235/377, 235/487, 235/494, 368/10, 368/109, 563/9, 569/4
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 21/00 Attachments for beds, e.g. sheet holders, bed-cover holders bed tables supported on the bedstead A47B23/02; for children's beds A47D7/00, A47D15/00; Ventilating, cooling or heating means in connection with bedsteads or mattresses
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 27/00 Spring, stuffed or fluid mattresses or cushions specially adapted for chairs, beds or sofas
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 27/002 Mattress or cushion tickings or covers bed linen, blankets or counterpanes A47G9/02
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 31/00 Details or accessories for chairs, beds, or the like, not provided for in other groups of this subclass, e.g. upholstery fasteners, mattress protectors, stretching devices for mattress nets
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 9/10 Pillows pillow holders A47C21/00, A47C21/026; specially adapted for preventing snoring A61F5/56
• CPC Class Codes: G06N 5/04 Inference or reasoning models
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 13/22 electroluminescent electroluminescent light sources per se H05B33/00
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 2013/222 with LEDs
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 3/00 Labels, tag tickets, or similar identification or indication means medals or badges A44C3/00; making labels B31D1/02; sheets temporarily attached together B42F; labelling B65C; labels on record carriers G11B23/38, G11B23/40; Seals; Postage or like stamps
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 3/0297 including a machine-readable marking, e.g. a bar code digitally marked record carriers in general G06K19/00
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 3/201 Enclosures enveloping completely the labels G09F3/203 - G09F3/207 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 3/208 Electronic labels, Labels integrating electronic displays

Abstract

A mattress age indicating device (10) includes an enclosure (20) and an indicating assembly (30) contained within the enclosure (20). The age indicating device (10) may be configured to present an indication related to the mattress'"'"'s age and may be coupled to the mattress (2) or other bedding or seating product.

Claims

1. A method for tracking an age of a bedding product, the bedding product being a first one of a plurality of bedding products, each of the bedding products having a recommended replacement age, the method comprising:

receiving, by at least one processor of a controller included in a circuit, a first input signal associated with the recommended replacement age of the first bedding product wherein when a circuit component is included in the circuit, causing a pin of the controller to be set to a first position, the controller recognizes the first input signal as being associated with the first bedding product and when the controller recognizes that the circuit component is omitted, causing the pin of the controller to be set to a second position, the controller recognizes a second input signal associated with a second bedding product having a different recommended replacement age;

receiving, by the at least one processor, an initiation input;

in response to receiving the initiation input, starting a timer by the at least one processor; and

providing, by the at least one processor and via an indicator, an indication of whether replacement of the first bedding product is recommended based on the time elapsed from the start of the timer and the recommended replacement age of the first bedding product associated with the first input signal.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein providing the indication of whether replacement of the first bedding product is recommended based on the timer and the recommended replacement age of the first bedding product associated with the first input signal comprises:

if the time elapsed from the start of the timer is greater than or equal to the recommended replacement age of the first bedding product associated with the first input signal, providing the indication that replacement of the first bedding product is recommended.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein providing the indication of whether replacement of the first bedding product is recommended based on the time elapsed from the start of the timer and the recommended replacement age of the first bedding product associated with the first input signal further comprises:

if the time elapsed from the start of the timer is less than the recommended replacement age of the first bedding product associated with the first input signal, providing the indication that replacement of the first bedding product is not yet recommended.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the indicator comprises a visual indicator having a first LED and a second LED, and the step of providing an indication that replacement of the first bedding product is recommended comprises illuminating the first LED, and the step of providing the indication that replacement of the first bedding product is not yet recommended comprises illuminating the second LED.

5. The method of claim 2, wherein the timer comprises a counter that counts a total passage of a single time interval.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the counter is incremented every hour.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the initiation input comprises an actuation of an actuator for a first set period of time.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

receiving a status check input after the initiation input, the status check input including an actuation of the actuator for a second set period of time less than the first set period of time,

wherein providing an indication of whether replacement of the first bedding product is recommended is in response to receiving the status check input.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the circuit component comprises a resistor.

10. A system for tracking an age of a bedding product, the bedding product being a first of a plurality of bedding products, each of the bedding products having a recommended replacement age, the system comprising:

a circuit;

a controller including at least one processor wherein the circuit is configured to generate a first input signal associated with the first bedding product when a circuit component is included in the circuit which sets a pin of the controller to a first position, and the circuit is configured to generate a second input signal associated with a second bedding product when the circuit component is excluded from the circuit causing the pin of the controller to be set to a second position;

a memory storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the system to;

receive an initiation input;

in response to receiving the initiation input, start a timer; and

provide, via an indicator, an indication of whether replacement of the first bedding product is recommended based on the time elapsed from the start of the timer and the recommended replacement age of the first bedding product associated with the first input signal.

11. The system of claim 10, further comprising;

a housing defining an interior and coupled to the first bedding product, wherein the at least one processor and the memory are positioned in the interior of the housing, and the indicator is coupled to the housing and to the at least one processor.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the bedding products comprise a mattress topper and a pillow.

13. The system of claim 11, further comprising:

an actuator coupled to the at least one processor and the housing, the actuator being accessible from outside the housing, wherein the initiation input includes an actuation of the actuator for a first set period of time.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the instructions further cause the system to provide the indication of whether replacement of the first bedding product is recommended in response to receiving a status check input after the initiation input, the status check input including an actuation of the actuator for a second set period of time less than the first set period of time.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the indicator comprises a visual indicator viewable from outside the housing and having a first LED and second LED,

wherein the instructions causing the system to provide an indication of whether replacement of the first bedding product is recommended comprise instructions that cause the system to:

in response to receiving the status check input;

if the timer is greater than or equal to the recommended replacement age of the first bedding product associated with the first input signal, illuminate the first LED; and

if the timer is less than the recommended replacement age of the first bedding product associated with the first input signal, illuminate the second LED.

16. The system of claim 11, wherein the circuit component comprises a resistor.

17. A device for tracking an age of a bedding product, the bedding product being a first bedding product of a plurality of bedding products, each of the bedding products having a recommended replacement age, the device comprising:

a housing defining an interior;

a circuit at least one processor positioned in the interior of the housing, wherein the circuit is configured to generate a first input signal associated with the first bedding product when a circuit component is included in the circuit, and the circuit is configured to generate a second input signal associated with a second bedding product when the circuit component is omitted from the circuit;

an indicator coupled to the housing and the at least one processor; and

a memory positioned in the interior, the memory storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the device to;

receive the first input signal associated with the first bedding product;

receive an initiation input;

in response to receiving the initiation input, start a timer; and

provide, via the indicator, an indication of whether replacement of the first bedding product is recommended based on the time elapsed from the start of the timer and the recommended replacement age of the first bedding product associated with the first input signal.

18. The device of claim 17, further comprising:

a power source coupled to the indicator and the at least one processor, the power source being configured to supply power to the indicator and the at least one processor.