Abstract:
A method and apparatus for a sleep system is provided. More specifically, the invention provides a method and apparatus for an adjustable mattress that allows the user to increase or decrease the firmness of the mattress. Furthermore, the adjustable mattress has zones of adjustability thereby allowing two users to adjust the firmness of the mattress of each user&#39;s zone. The adjustable mattress is also multimodal. The motorized foundation contains adjustable massaging units that may be used for physical therapy and relaxation. Likewise, the motorized foundation may be used in relax mode to assist in obtaining sleep and awaken mode to gently awake the user by the stimulation of the adjustable mattress.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    This invention relates to a bed for resting and sleeping. More specifically, the invention provides a method and apparatus for an adjustable mattress that allows the user to increase or decrease the firmness of the mattress. Alternatively, the adjustable mattress has zones of adjustability thereby allowing two users to adjust the firmness of the mattress of each user&#39;s zone. The adjustable mattress is also multimodal. The motorized foundation may contain adjustable massaging units that may be used for physical therapy and relaxation. Alternatively, the motorized foundation may be used in relax mode to assist in obtaining sleep and awaken mode to gently awake the user by the stimulation of the massaging mechanism. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    Sleeping mattress and design are typically of three forms: foam and batting, water bladders, or air bladders. A traditional mattress and foundation combination utilizes a box spring having a series of vertical springs arranged along the entire width and length of the box spring. These provide support for the mattress that is placed on top. The mattress may have various internal components such as vertical springs, wiring, cording, and soft batting materials such as cotton and foam. The firmness of the mattress is a function of the combination of compressive properties of each material. A firm mattress may utilize stiff vertical springs and a dense foam and cotton batting on top to form a “pillow-top”. One limitation of these traditional mattress and box-spring combinations is that the firmness of the mattress system can only be achieved by replacing the components. Likewise, the firmness of the mattress changes with age of the materials and worn areas or depressed areas may develop. 
         [0003]    Water bladders, or more commonly known as waterbeds utilize a bladder, which is filled with water. The firmness of the bed is controlled by the amount of water in the bladder and resulting fluid pressure. Various bladder designs are also available which provide wave support to prevent the water in the bladder from creating a wave. Also multiple bladders may be used to provide various zones of firmness. Like the traditional mattress and box-spring design, adding or removing water may only change the firmness of the water bladder bed. Water has a disadvantage over conventional mattress in that when weight is applied to one location, the displaced water raises the bladder in another area. Another disadvantage of these mattresses is the fact that the bladder can be compromised resulting in the water leaking from the mattress. 
         [0004]    The third most common bed configuration is the air mattress. Like a waterbed, the air mattress utilizes a bladder or multiple bladders filled with air. One type of airbed configuration allows two users to adjust each side of the bed independently. The user may adjust the firmness of the bed by pumping air into or removing air from the bladder. The most common types of airbeds typically do not allow the user to adjust the firmness along the length of the bladder such as firmer along the area of the user&#39;s lower back is positioned and softer at the head of the bed. A multiple bladder system, using more that one bladder per sleeping area could be used to provide adjustable comfort. However, bladder systems, both air and water, have a disadvantage over conventional mattress in that when weight is applied to one location, the displaced air or water raises the bladder in another area. Thus, if the bladder system is set as soft, a heavy person&#39;s mass displaces more air or water at the heaviest areas such as the hips, which raises the head or foot area. 
         [0005]    Another alternative of conventional and air or water bladders, is the foam bed. These foam systems may be composed of polyurethane or urethane foams. These mattresses may be used with a conventional box spring and the mattress itself may utilize foam of different densities along the length of the mattress or even spring systems. A disadvantage of the foam bed is that firm of the mattress cannot be adjusted and the foam subject to fatigue and loss of its rigidity. 
         [0006]    Recent developments in foam systems include those mattress pads of visco-elastic foams such as Contour-Foam™, Tempurpedic®, Isotonic™ and similar foams. These may be used on top of traditional, air or waterbed to increase the comfort of the bed. Also, new mattress systems use the visco-elastic as a top portion with various foam bases or conventional spring systems. These types of foams conform to the body and provide reduced pressure support. A disadvantage of these systems is that they are not adjustable. Like a traditional mattress, both the visco-elastic foam and urethane foam mattresses need to be flipped and rotated to prevent localized fatigued areas. 
         [0007]    Hospital style beds often use the visco-elastic foam to help prevent pressure sores (subcutaneous ulcers) on bed-confined patents. Most hospital beds have adjustable positions, however, they do not provide adjustable firmness along the length of the bed. Hospitals also utilize air mattress systems that may utilize an active air pump to maintain the pressure in the mattress. These air pumps are typically noisy and often disturbing to the patient. 
         [0008]    Although the above bed systems provide various methods of support, they lack the ability to provide adjustability of firmness along the length of the bed (i.e. from foot to head). Furthermore, the above bed systems provide only one function—a place to sleep. Thus, it is desirable to have a sleep system that provides for adjustable firmness at multiple locations along the mattress. Furthermore, it is desirable to have a system that provides alternate functions such as compressive massaging. Beside the relaxing properties of massage to aid sleep, massage is also beneficial to persons confined to bed for the relief of localized pressure and increase blood flow to the area of pressure. Likewise, it is desirable to have a bed system that provides an alternative means of wakening such as vibration or even a gentle massage. This type of awaking means is also desired by the hearing impaired. 
         [0009]    Previous attempts have been made to provide for automatic massage on a table or bed like foundation. U.S. Pat. No. 3,503,524 by Wilson, utilizes a table platform with foam placed on top. Massaging rollers on a conveyor belt system is located beneath the surface of the table. To make contact with the person lying on the table, a slot having a width greater than the roller is cut into the table and foam and the massaging roller protrudes through the slot. The conveyor belt utilizes multiple rollers, but only provides massage in the area of the slot in the table. As disclosed, the table can take the form of a bed by placing a cushion insert in the slot. This requires the user to get up from the table, retrieve the cushion and place it into the slot. This step is often undesirable such as the case when the user desires the massage to help him or her to relax, reduce tension and assist the person in obtaining sleep. Likewise, if the user falls asleep on the table with the massaging roller intact, the person may roll onto the roller or respond to the roller by moving over. The location of the roller or element is very undesirable in a bed. The cushion for the slot would need a stiff backing to prevent the user&#39;s weight from compressing it to prevent the cushion from molding to the belt and roller below. Thus, a massaging bed that automatically converts into a bed without the user getting out or having to move over on the bed to replace a cushion in the bed is desired. 
         [0010]    Advances have been made in massaging chairs and recliner models are available. 
         [0011]    These reclining chairs can provide a very comfortable massage, but also carry a warning that states that the chair is not for sleeping in. Besides the fact that these chairs do not have significant padding between the massaging rollers or massaging heads. This provides significant contact or force into the muscle of the user. Massage chairs are designed to support the user&#39;s weight at the seat pan or the chair, arm rests and leg rests. These areas will have more padding and substructure and the quality of the massage is typically less than those areas without the extra padding. These areas requiring padding present problems to the designer. The padding used in the chair must be able to withstand the repetitive action of the massagers that create friction, heat and wear of the padding. In fact, U.S. Pat. No. 7,004,916 to Dehli, recognizes that it is desirable to have chair massager “that preferably does not rattle with age, does not wear away the chair fabric at a considerable rate, and is safe to the user.” Likewise, U.S. Pat. No. 6,881,195 to Wu also discusses the need for a fabric for a chair massager that can withstand the wear of the massage rollers, especially in the hollow area of the chair that does not contain significant padding. 
         [0012]    In accordance with these and other objects evident from the following description of the preferred embodiments, the present invention provides a method and apparatus for a multifunctional and multidimensional adjustable firmness sleep system that provides multiple sleep modes, relaxation, sleep and gentle awakening. 
         [0013]    One embodiment utilizes a foam mattress placed on a multimodal and powered foundation with a timing device having a user interface. 
         [0014]    A second embodiment utilizes foam and powered foundation having pistons and rollers to provide adjustable firmness and massaging and vibration. 
         [0015]    A third embodiment utilizes foam and air solenoids to achieve adjustable firmness and provide massaging and vibration. 
         [0016]    A fourth embodiment utilizes foam and a powered foundation with pneumatically controlled actuators. 
         [0017]    A fifth embodiment utilizes foam and alternative mechanical methods of achieving adjustable firmness and massaging and vibration. 
         [0018]    A sixth embodiment utilizes an algorithm to progressively reduce the massaging action to assist in obtaining sleep. This embodiment may alternatively use air noise or other mechanically produced white noise to further assist in obtaining sleep. 
         [0019]    Other aspects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments and the accompanying drawing figures. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0020]      FIG. 1   a - c  is a side plan view of a prior art bed illustrating conventional, air or water bladder mattress system. 
           [0021]      FIG. 2  is a side plan view of the multimodal sleep system. 
           [0022]      FIG. 3  is a plan view of the mattress along line A-A of  FIG. 2 . 
           [0023]      FIG. 4  is a bottom plan view of mattress having slots for receiving massagers. 
           [0024]      FIG. 5  is a portion of a cross-sectional view of the side of the sleep system powered foundation illustrating one set of massagers and its drive system of one embodiment. 
           [0025]      FIG. 6  is a top plan view of the sleep system powered foundation having mechanically and independently adjustable support members. 
           [0026]      FIG. 7  is a cut-way view of a messaging member cut along line A-A and B-B of the side view of the massager actuator. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0027]    The invention may be embodied in various forms; however, the invention is described with respect to the following embodiments. 
         [0028]    Prior art bed systems typically use a mattress having some type of foam or other foam and cotton batting materials which may not provide adequate support for the user.  FIG. 1C  illustrates a foam or foam and cotton batting mattress that does not provide adequate support. The heaviest areas of the user compresses the foam more that the lighter areas. As illustrated in  FIG. 1C , the user&#39;s spine is out of alignment placing pressure the user&#39;s shoulder, neck and lower back. In contrast, a mattress that is too stiff provides inadequate support of the contours of the user&#39;s body and places pressure on the user&#39;s shoulder, hip, knee and ankle as illustrated in  FIG. 1B . The best possible posture for sleep is shown in  FIG. 1C . The user&#39;s spine is in natural alignment and the mattress evenly supports the user&#39;s body 
         [0029]    Turning to  FIG. 2 , one embodiment of sleep system  10  utilizes a visco-elastic foam mattress  12  and a powered foundation  14 . In one embodiment, mattress  12  is composed of a mattress body  13  and mattress topper  15 . Foam mattress body  13  contains slits  16  that appear like a thin cut in the foam mattress body  13 .  FIG. 3  illustrates the slits  16  that originate from the underside of mattress body  13  and mates with apparatus (not shown) contained in power foundation  14 . Returning to  FIG. 2 , restraining member  17  is utilized to maintain a nearly flat surface on the top of mattress  12 . Restraining member  17  may be composed of various cording material such nylon, wire, plastic, cotton or similar materials having rigidity. Mattress jacket (not shown) covers mattress  12  and encases mattress body  13  and mattress topper  15 . An alignment guides in the form of pins  18  are used to ensure that mattress  12  is aligned with powered foundation  14  and is received in a corresponding hole in powered foundation  14 . 
         [0030]    Illustrated in  FIG. 3  is a cutaway view along plane A-A of  FIG. 2  of mattress  12  illustrating the slits  16  that transverse the thickness of foam mattress body  13  from the bottom of foam mattress body  13 . Slit  16  opens when the massaging apparatus  21  (not shown) travels vertically from powered foundation  14  through slit  16  to mattress topper  15 . Silt  16  is substantially closed at all times and is made by cutting a slit in foam mattress  12 . In contrast, a slot, where foam is removed from the cut, cannot close and leave an interrupted surface. When force is applied to mattress topper  15  with a slotted submattress, that area of the mattress containing a cut, topper  15  sags in the areas above the slots. Therefore, slit  16  is a preferred method of cutting foam mattress  12 . Also shown is restraining member  17 . Multiple slits  16  may be used along foam mattress  12  to obtain the desired massaging travel pathways or similar function. 
         [0031]    The bottom of foam mattress  12  is illustrated in  FIG. 4 . The opening of slits  16  are shown and various numbers of slits  16  may be used. Also seen in  FIG. 4  are loop and hook fasteners  19 , such as Velcro®. These provide an additional attachment point along with pins  18  to secure mattress  12  to powered foundation  14 . However, various fastener systems may be used to secure mattress  12  to powered foundation  14 . Slits  16  may be are lined with material containing polytetrafluoroethylene (Teflon®), silicon, tungsten disulfide or other low friction coating to allow the massaging members (not shown) to travel upward through slits  16  to mattress topper  15 . 
         [0032]    An alternative sleep system  10  is shown in  FIG. 5 . Mattress  12  sits on top of power foundation  14  as illustrated. Massage actuators  24  are received in mattress slits  16  (shown in  FIG. 4 ) of foam mattress  12 . Massager  26  is also received in slit  16  of foam mattress  12  and provides compressive massage as they move along mattress  12  in slits  16 . As stated above, slits  16  may be are lined with a fabric containing a low friction coating or fabric impregnated with a low friction material. Foam mattress  12  is composed of open-cell, visco-elastic memory foam and may be composed of multiple layers such as 3 pound density foam submattress (the portion of mattress  12  containing slits  16 ) and a denser foam, 4 or 5 pound density, for mattress topper  15 . As massaging apparatus  21  travels upward from powered foundation  14 , massaging apparatus  21  splits open slit  16 . Slits  16  are substantially closed when massaging apparatus  21  is retracted in powered foundation  14  or is passed by and foam mattress  12  appears to be a solid mattress. Furthermore, when fully retracted, the resistive compressive properties the slitted submattress of foam mattress  12  remains virtually identical to that of a non-slitted foam mattress of identical foam type and density. Vibrating motors  29  provides vibrating action to massager  26 . Likewise, y-axis motor  27  provides massager actuator  24  with up and down massaging action. Mattress topper  15  is an uninterrupted surface and has sufficient foam above massager  26  to provide comfort to the user. Mattress topper  15  may also contain a low friction material or coating where slits  16  stop at mattress topper  15  to reduction wear of mattress topper  16  and reduce frictional heat. 
         [0033]      FIG. 7  illustrates massaging apparatus  21  and a cross-sectional view of massage actuator  24 . Massage actuator  24  has an aerodynamic cross-sectional shape as such as those shown in  FIG. 7 , view A-A and B-B. These shapes help assist in the opening of slits  16  as the massage actuator  24  travels to massage locations and close slit  16  behind it. Section B-B is shaped such that the leading and trailing edges are curved to open slit  16  and separates as the foam as it travels pasts the side of massage actuator  24  to progressively close. Low friction coatings may be added to massage actuator  24  to reduce friction and abrasion. Various designs of massage actuator  24  may be utilized. The section shown in B-B separates the slit with low friction and the side shapes, the angled and flat surfaces to minimize the high-pressure regions and therefore reduce the fatigue ear to slits  16 . Slits  16  must remain substantially closed to keep the uniformity of foam mattress  12 . If slits  16  are allowed to stay open, foam mattress  12  collapses. 
         [0034]    In an embodiment shown in  FIG. 6 , motor  22  and cam  28  can be used to provide actuation power to drive shaft  28  which provides longitudinal positioning for massage actuators  24  and massager  26 . Additional motors (not shown) perform other functions such driving massager  26  inboard or outboard or providing vibration. Motor (not shown) may be used to drive an elastic cable system (not shown) to drive mechanical actuator  24  and massager  26 , drive shaft  28  and associated motor  22  to hoist this assembly vertically upward to mattress topper  15  and user and provide various compressive forces (massage). Alternative, this elastic cable system (not shown) may be used to lower the massaging assembly away from user, to reduce either gradually or abruptly reduce the massaging pressure. This elastic cable system allows the massaging assembly to follow the counter the user&#39;s body. Alternative, air controlled actuators may be alternatively utilized in place of mechanical actuator  24 . Likewise, various massaging contacts may be utilized in lieu of massager  26 . 
         [0035]    One embodiment of an actively adjustable firmness sleep system is shown in  FIG. 6  that illustrates powered foundation  14  with support members  20 . A motor  22  actuates support members  20  via a camshaft  28 . To adjust the firmness of foam mattress  12 , a support member  20  is raised which locally compresses mattress body  13 . A variety of support members  20  can be utilized along the length of foam mattress  12 . Multiple motor  22  and cam systems may be utilized to provide support or softness along the foam mattress  12 . Support members  20  may be composed of various materials such as wood, plastic, metal, fiberglass, carbon epoxy and other materials. 
         [0036]    While the invention has been described with respect to specific examples including presently preferred modes of carrying out the invention, those skilled in the art will appreciate that there are numerous variations and permutations of the above described systems and techniques that fall within the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.