Abstract:
A bed mattress system including a bed mattress apparatus, a security container having an interior portion, means for accessing the interior portion of the security container, and a moveable flap operable for covering the means for accessing the interior portion of the security container. The security container is operable for holding items disposed within the interior portion of the security container.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to a bed mattress having a security container disposed within it. More specifically, the present invention relates to a bed mattress, such as an inner-spring mattress, a box spring, a foundation system, a soft-sided waterbed mattress, an air mattress, and a foam mattress, having a security container disposed within it operable for storing weapons, personal property, and valuables. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Traditionally, individuals have stored weapons, personal property, and valuables, such as handguns, rifles, shotguns, contraceptives, books, magazines, photographs, videotapes, money, jewelry, wills, other legal documents, and the like in their bedroom. Specifically, individuals typically store such items in their nightstand, dresser, closet, or between the mattress and box spring of their bed, such that the items are secured from intruders, children, and others, and yet remain accessible. Intruders and children, however, are typically aware of such hiding places and such hiding places are typically not readily accessible. 
     Several U.S. Patents have attempted to deal with such limitations. U.S. Pat. No. 6,082,272 discloses a safe the size and shape of a box spring operable for supporting a bed mattress. U.S. Pat. No. 5,896,605 discloses a bed mattress having a zippered border attachment providing access to a hidden compartment on the interior of the mattress. U.S. Pat. No. 4,788,838 discloses a means to lock a handgun within a compartment while the compartment is readily lockable to a standard bed-frame without interfering with the position of the bed mattress or box spring. U.S. Pat. No. 5,732,914 discloses a gun holder for holding a rifle or shotgun on the side of a bed to allow a person lying or sitting on the bed quick and reliable access to the gun in the case of an emergency. U.S. Pat. No. 5,713,650 discloses wooden or steel modular furniture units with a secure container or safe. U.S. Pat. No. D358,284 discloses an ornamental design for a zippered bed storage compartment. U.S. Pat. No. 4,129,909 discloses an appliance adapted to engage the underside of a bed mattress and extend over the box spring, each extended end having pockets for the storage of bedroom articles. 
     What is needed is a bed mattress having a security container disposed within it. What is also needed is a bed mattress having a security container disposed within it which is comfortable to sleep on and sit on. What is further needed is a bed mattress having a security container which is relatively simple and inexpensive to manufacture. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention provides a bed mattress having a security container disposed within it which is comfortable to sleep on and sit on and which is relatively simple and inexpensive to manufacture. 
     In one embodiment, a bed mattress system includes a bed mattress apparatus, a security container having an interior portion, means for accessing the interior portion of the security container, and a moveable flap operable for covering the means for accessing the interior portion of the security container. The security container is disposed within the bed mattress apparatus and is operable for holding items disposed within the interior portion of the security container. 
     In another embodiment, a method for manufacturing a bed mattress system includes providing a bed mattress apparatus, disposing a security container within the bed mattress apparatus, providing means for accessing an interior portion of the security container, and covering the means for accessing the interior portion of the security container with a moveable flap. The security container is operable for holding items disposed within the interior portion of the security container. 
     In a further embodiment, a security container suitable for disposal within a bed mattress apparatus includes a hollow structure having an opening and an interior portion, the hollow structure operable for holding items disposed within the interior portion of the hollow structure. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of a standard security container suitable for disposal within an inner-spring mattress and a box spring; 
     FIG. 2 is a perspective view of one embodiment of an elongated security container suitable for disposal within an inner-spring mattress and a box spring; 
     FIG. 3 is a perspective view of one embodiment of a security container suitable for disposal within a soft-sided waterbed mattress, an air mattress, and a foam mattress; 
     FIG. 4 is a perspective view of one embodiment of an inner-spring mattress or box spring having a security container disposed within it; 
     FIG. 5 is a perspective view of one embodiment of a bed mattress having a security container disposed within it, highlighting a door, a moveable flap, or a combination thereof; 
     FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of one embodiment of a soft-sided waterbed mattress or an air mattress having a security container disposed within it; and 
     FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view of one embodiment of a foam mattress having a security container disposed within it. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Referring to FIG. 1, in one embodiment, a standard security container  10  suitable for disposal within an inner-spring mattress and a box spring comprises a rigid or semi-rigid box structure  12 . In the embodiment shown, this box  12  has a width  14  of between about 5 inches and about 15 inches, a height  16  of between about 2.5 inches and about 5 inches, and a depth  18  of between about 5 inches and about 15 inches. The box  12  may also comprise a hollow structure having a circular shape, an elliptical shape, a triangular shape, a wedge shape, etc. The standard security container  10  may be made of, for example, wood, metal, plastic, fiberglass, and any other suitable rigid or semi-rigid material. Optionally, the rigid or semi-rigid material may be waterproof and/or fireproof to protect items disposed within the standard security container  10 . The box  12  may also include a door  20  having a locking mechanism  22 , such as a safety latch, a key lock, and a combination lock. The door  20  may be attached to the box  12  with hinges  24  or any other suitable attachment mechanism and may open upwards, downwards, or to either side. The door  20  may be operable for sealingly engaging and closing the box  12  and may be waterproof and/or fireproof. The standard security container  10  is operable for storing weapons, personal property, and valuables, such as handguns, contraceptives, books, magazines, photographs, videotapes, money, jewelry, a will, other legal documents, and the like. 
     Referring to FIG. 2, in another embodiment, an elongated security container  30  suitable for disposal within an inner-spring mattress and a box spring comprises a rigid or semi-rigid box structure  32 . In the embodiment shown, this box  32  has a width  34  of between about 25 inches and about 50 inches, a height  36  of between about 2.5 inches and about 5 inches, and a depth  38  of between about 5 inches and about 15 inches. The box  32  may also comprise a hollow structure having a circular shape, an elliptical shape, a triangular shape, a wedge shape, etc. The elongated security container  30  may be made of, for example, wood, metal, plastic, fiberglass, and any other suitable rigid or semi-rigid material. Optionally, the rigid or semi-rigid material may be waterproof and/or fireproof to protect items disposed within the elongated security container  30 . The box  32  may include one or more supports  40  operable for stiffening the box  32 . These supports  40  may be disposed within any suitable portion of the box  32 . In the embodiment shown, one support  40  is disposed within the center portion of the opening  42  of the box  32 . The box  32  may also include a door  44  having a locking mechanism  46 , such as a safety latch, a key lock, and a combination lock. The door  44  may be attached to the box  32  with hinges  48  or any other suitable attachment mechanism and may open upwards, downwards, or to either side. The door  44  may be operable for sealingly engaging and closing the box  32  and may be waterproof and/or fireproof. The elongated security container  30  is operable for storing weapons, personal property, and valuables, such as handguns, rifles, shotguns, contraceptives, books, magazines, photographs, videotapes, money, jewelry, a will, other legal documents, and the like. 
     Referring to FIG. 3, in a further embodiment, a security container  50  suitable for disposal within a soft-sided waterbed mattress, an air mattress, and a foam mattress comprises a rigid or semi-rigid box structure  52 . In the embodiment shown, this box  52  has an upper width  54  of between about 5 inches and about 15 inches, a lower width  56  of between about 15 inches and about 35 inches, a height  58  of between about 5 inches and about 10 inches, and a depth  60  of between about 2.5 inches and about 10 inches. The security container  50  includes a center box portion  62  and two downward-sloping side portions  64 . The box  52  may also comprise a hollow structure having a square shape, a rectangular shape, a circular shape, an elliptical shape, a triangular shape, a wedge shape, etc. The security container  50  may be made of, for example, wood, metal, plastic, fiberglass, and any other suitable rigid or semi-rigid material. Optionally, the rigid or semi-rigid material may be waterproof and/or fireproof to protect items disposed within the security container  50 . The box  52  may also include a door  66  having a locking mechanism  68 , such as a safety latch, a key lock, and a combination lock. The door  66  may be attached to the box  52  with hinges  70  or any other suitable attachment mechanism and may open upwards, downwards, or to either side. The door  66  may be operable for sealingly engaging and closing the box  52  and may be waterproof and/or fireproof. The security container  50  is operable for storing weapons, personal property, and valuables, such as handguns, rifles, shotguns, contraceptives, books, magazines, photographs, videotapes, money, jewelry, a will, other legal documents, and the like. 
     Referring to FIG. 4, in one embodiment, a bed mattress  80 , such as an inner-spring mattress in the embodiment shown, having a security container  82 , such as those described above, disposed within it may be manufactured such that the security container  82  is incorporated directly into the sleeping surface support system. The sleeping surface support system, as is well known to those skilled in the art, may include a plurality of springs, wooden supports, metal supports, fasteners, foam pads, covering materials, and the like. The security container  82  is preferably disposed within a cavity located within the bed mattress  80  at a predetermined location along the length  84  of the bed mattress  80  and the height  86  of the bed mattress  80 . The security container  82  may also be disposed within a cavity located within the bed mattress  80  at a predetermined location along the width  58  of the bed mattress  80 , spanning the length  84  or width  85  of the bed mattress  80 , or at a corner  87  of the bed mattress  80 . The security container  82  is also preferably disposed within the bed mattress  80  such that the opening  88  of the security container  82  is substantially adjacent to an edge  90  of the bed mattress  80 . Optionally, the security container  82  may include a plurality of openings  88  and may be disposed within the bed mattress  80  such that the plurality of openings  88  of the security container  82  are substantially adjacent to a plurality of edges  90  of the bed mattress  80 . The security container  82  is disposed within the bed mattress  80  such that an individual sleeping or sitting on top of the bed mattress  80  may readily access the opening  88  of the security container  82  and the contents thereof. The security container  82  is also disposed within the bed mattress  80  such that the security container  82  provides edge support for an individual sleeping or sitting on top of the bed mattress  80 . Advantageously, the security container  82  of the present invention allows the outer six (6) inches of the sleep or seating surface, which is typically unusable, to be used. A plurality of security containers  82  may be disposed around the perimeter of the bed mattress  80 , providing added storage capability and edge support. 
     Referring to FIG. 5, in one embodiment, a bed mattress  100  utilizing the security container  102  of the present invention includes a moveable flap  104  covering the opening  106  or door of the security container  102 . The flap  104  preferably sits flush with the covering material of the side  108  of the bed mattress  100 . To accomplish this, the opening  106  or door of the security container  102  may be recessed from the side  108  of the bed mattress  100 . The flap  104  is also preferably made of a material which is identical in pattern to or closely matches the pattern of the covering material of the side  108  of the bed mattress  100 , such that the flap  104  is hidden or concealed when closed. The flap  104  may be securely closed using Velcro, snaps, zippers, ties, or any other suitable securing mechanism. In the case of a security container  102  having a door, the flap  104  may be directly adjacent to and in contact with the door, or the flap  104  may be integrally formed with the door, and the locking mechanism may protrude through the flap  104 . The flap  104  and door of the security container  102  are manufactured such that bed linen may be placed over the bed mattress  100 , hiding or concealing the security container  102 . 
     Referring to FIG. 6, in one embodiment, a bed mattress  110 , such as a soft-sided waterbed mattress or an air mattress, having a security container  112  disposed within it includes a vessel  114  suitable for holding water or air, a plurality of foam and fabric layers  116 , and a plurality of supportive side rails  118 . The security container  112  of the present invention is disposed within the side rails  118 . 
     Referring to FIG. 7, in one embodiment, a bed mattress  120 , such as a foam mattress, having a security container  122  disposed within it includes a plurality of foam and fabric layers  124  and, optionally, a plurality of supportive side rails  126 . The security container  122  of the present invention is disposed within the side rails  126 . 
     It is apparent that there has been provided, in accordance with the present invention, a bed mattress having a security container disposed within it. While the present invention has been shown and described in conjunction with examples and preferred embodiments thereof, variations in and modifications to the present invention may be effected by persons of ordinary skill in the art without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. It is therefore to be understood that the principles described herein apply in a similar manner, where applicable, to all examples and preferred embodiments and the following claims are intended to cover all equivalent embodiments.