Display device for a plunger matrix mattress

• US 9,635,950 B2
• Filed: 06/18/2014
• Issued: 05/02/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 06/18/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dreamwell Limited (Serta Simmons Bedding LLC)
• Original Assignee: Dreamwell Limited (Serta Simmons Bedding LLC)
• Inventors: Saunders, Craig, Spirk, John E., Tufts-Junior, Lindsey, Rabbitt, William E., Stephan, Gary R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Patel, Jay
• Assistant Examiner(s): Suh, Joseph
• Application Number:
  US14/307,635
• Publication Number:
  US 20140368660A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,049 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 21/003 Lighting, radio, telephone or the like connected to the bedstead
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 31/123 for beds or mattresses
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 7/30 for furniture, e.g. beds, mattresses
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/18 Closed-circuit television [CCTV] systems, i.e. systems in which the video signal is not broadcast

Abstract

A point-of-sale demonstration system includes a display system for viewing the underside of the plunger matrix mattress allowing a person sitting or lying on the mattress to readily view the impression created by their body weight on the plungers. The display system includes a camera positioned to image the underside of the mattress and a monitor (display screen) positioned for viewing by a person lying on the mattress so that they can see the deflection in the bottom of the plungers caused by their own weight on the mattress. Seeing the image of the downwardly displaced plungers immediately conveys the operation of the plunger matrix mattress to the viewer. The system may also be configured to capture individual frames and video images, store the images, transmit the images, and edit as desired, for example by zooming, cropping, changing the speed of the video, and so forth.

Claims

1. A display system for displaying at least a portion of an underside of a mattress, the display device comprising:

a camera capturing images of an underside of a mattress;

a monitor in communication with the camera displaying the images captured by the camera;

wherein mattress comprises a matrix of plungers forming an impression of a weight bearing object positioned on the mattress through depression the bottom sides of a portion of the plungers underlying object, wherein the impression is created by a person sitting or lying on the mattress having a vantage point and the monitor is position for viewing from the vantage point of a person sitting or lying on the mattress; and

the monitor is positioned for viewing the images captured by the camera from a top side of the mattress.

2. The display system of claim 1, further comprising a wired communication link between the camera and the monitor.

3. The display system of claim 1, further comprising a wireless communication link between the camera and the monitor.

4. The display system of claim 1, further comprising a computer configured for transmitting, storing and/or editing single images or video obtained from the camera.

5. The display system of claim 1, further comprising a communication port for exporting the images captured by the camera.

6. The display system of claim 1, wherein the camera is located in a housing separate from the mattress and configured for placement on a floor near the mattress.

7. A point-of-sale demonstration system for a mattress, comprising:

a demonstration sample plunger matrix mattress;

a camera positioned capturing images of an underside of the mattress;

a monitor in communication with the camera configured to display the images captured by the camera;

wherein mattress comprises a matrix of plungers forming an impression of a weight bearing object positioned on the mattress through depression the bottom sides of a portion of the plungers underlying object, wherein the impression is created by a person sitting or lying on the mattress having a vantage point and the monitor is position for viewing from the vantage point of a person sitting or lying on the mattress; and

the monitor is positioned for viewing the images captured by the camera from a top side of the mattress.

8. The point-of-sale demonstration system of claim 7, further comprising a wired communication link between the camera and the monitor.

9. The point-of-sale demonstration system of claim 7, further comprising a wireless communication link between the camera and the monitor.

10. The point-of-sale demonstration system of claim 7, further comprising a computer configured for transmitting, storing and/or editing single images or video obtained from the camera.

11. The point-of-sale demonstration system of claim 7, further comprising a communication port for exporting images captured by the camera.

12. The point-of-sale demonstration system of claim 7, wherein the camera is located in a housing separate from the mattress and configured for placement on a floor near the mattress.

13. A method for demonstrating operation of a plunger matrix mattress, comprising:

providing a demonstration sample plunger matrix mattress in a location available to retail shoppers;

positioning a camera to capturing images of an underside of the mattress;

connecting a monitor in communication with the camera configured to display the images captured by the camera;

positioning the monitor is for viewing the images captured by the camera from a vantage point of a person sitting or lying on the mattress; and

causing a potential customer to sit or lie on the mattress while viewing the monitor displaying an impression created by the person'"'"'s body weight through deflection of bottom ends of plungers of the mattress under the body weight of the person.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising connecting the monitor to the camera via a wired communication link between the camera and the monitor.

15. The method of claim 13, further comprising connecting the monitor to the camera via a wireless communication link between the camera and the monitor.

16. The method of claim 13, further comprising transmitting, storing and/or editing single images or video obtained from the camera.

17. The method of claim 13, further comprising exporting images captured by the camera via a communication port.

18. The method of claim 13, further comprising zooming, cropping, or changing a speed of video captured by the camera.