Abstract:
A Device for Correcting a Sagging Bed is disclosed. The device may be configured to be placed under the center region of a sagging or new mattress, after which the device is inflated to correct the sagging portion, or to provide additional support. The device may further be divided up into two or more chambers in order to prove additional control and adjustment. The device further may include between two and four lobes extending outwardly at ninety degrees from one another.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     This invention relates generally to beds, mattresses and box springs and, more specifically, to a Device for Correcting a Sagging Bed 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     It is known that many people suffer from a variety of ailments of the back and shoulders, frequently requiring the services of a trained professional, such as a chiropracter, to obtain relief. Many times these back problems are actually caused by poor support and/or posture while sleeping. In view of the fact that the average person will spend 6 to 8 hours per day, every day, sleeping and/or laying in bed, it is no surprise that a faulty bed could cause distress. While purchasing a new mattress may be the quickest way to alleviate the problem, it seems that many people either refuse to part with their old mattress, or they don&#39;t budget the money for a mattress when a replacement is called for, or they simply don&#39;t seem to notice that the bed has begun to deteriorate. What is needed is a quick, inexpensive, and easy accessory that will correct the sag in an old mattress. Furthermore, a new mattress will begin to deteriorate from the first time that it is slept on, just as a new automobile will deteriorate the moment it is driven off of the car lot. Unlike an automobile, however, a mattress does not get serviced periodically. If the present invention is used from the start on a new mattress, it is believed that the aforementioned deterioration will be avoided, thereby increasing the longevity of the mattress by providing extra support. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In light of the aforementioned problems associated with the prior devices, it is an object of the present invention to provide a Device for Correcting a Sagging Bed. The device should be configured to be placed under the center region of a sagging or new mattress, after which the device is inflated to correct the sagging portion, or to provide additional support. The device may further be divided up into two or more chambers in order to prove additional control and adjustment. The device might further include between two and four lobes extending outwardly at ninety degrees from one another. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The objects and features of the present invention, which are believed to be novel, are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The present invention, both as to its organization and manner of operation, together with further objects and advantages, may best be understood by reference to the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, of which: 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a conventional bed; 
     FIGS. 2A and 2B are cutaway side views of a conventional bed; 
     FIGS. 3A and 3B are cutaway side views of the bed of FIGS. 2A and 2B, further depicting the operation of the present invention; 
     FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a conventional twin bed box spring and a dual lobe embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a conventional large bed box spring and a four lobe embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 6 is a cutaway top view of a dual chamber bladder embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 7 is a cutaway top view of a three chamber bladder embodiment of the present invention; and 
     FIG. 8 is a cutaway top view of a four chamber bladder embodiment of the present invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     The following description is provided to enable any person skilled in the art to make and use the invention and sets forth the best modes contemplated by the inventor of carrying out his invention. Various modifications, however, will remain readily apparent to those skilled in the art, since the generic principles of the present invention have been defined herein specifically to provide a Device for Correcting a Sagging Bed. 
     The present invention can best be understood by initial consideration of FIG.  1 . FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a conventional bed  10 , provided simply so that reference can be made to it later in this document. As shown, the convention bed  10  typically comprises a bed frame  12  for supporting the structure, as well as some sort of head board  14  for decorative or functional purposes. Resting on the bed frame  12  is a box spring  16 , which essentially consists of a wood or metal frame, a matrix of springs and padding, and a sheath of cloth. The purpose of the box spring  16  is to permit the mattress  18  to conform to the person&#39;s body while also providing a cushioned support. The mattress  18  may be constructed in a variety of ways, ranging from a basic stuffing to a sophisticated spring system. In any design, there can be a tendency for the mattress  18  and/or box spring  16  to become permanently compressed from continuous use. When the mattress  18  and/or box spring  16  fails to return to its original shape, it results in a “sagging” portion in the sleeping surface. In particular, the center region  20  of the mattress will tend to sag first, since it is where the greatest portion of the sleepers&#39; weight is located. As such, the present invention seeks to correct this mattress sag in the center region  20  of the sleeping surface. Prior to discussing the specifies of the present invention, we shall first review the sagging of the bed as discussed in FIGS. 2A and 2B. 
     FIGS. 2A and 2B are cutaway side views of a conventional bed  10 , such as the one discussed above, in connection with FIG.  1 . As shown in FIG. 2A, the center region  20  of the bed  10  is central between the head and foot of the bed  10 , as well as from side to side (see FIG.  1 ). If we look at FIG. 2B, we can see that as the bed  10  becomes more and more worn, the center region  20  of mattress  18 , and possibly even the box spring  16  will begin to sag downwardly, thereby creating a dip in the mattress  18 , which can lead the user to experience discomfort. If we now turn to FIGS. 3A and 3B, we can see how the present invention cures this problem. 
     FIGS. 3A and 3B are cutaway side views of the bed  10  of FIGS. 2A and 2B, further depicting the operation of the present invention. The invention, hereafter referred to as the bed corrector  22 , comprises a bladder  24  and a means for inflating the bladder  24 . In this embodiment, the inflation means comprises an inflation hose  26 , which leads to an air pump  28 . In other versions, the bladder might simply have valves disbursed on its surface for filling the bladder  24  with air (and also deflating the bladder  24 ). 
     As shown in FIG. 3A, the bladder  24  is first inserted into the center region  20 , between the mattress  18  and box spring  16 . Next, and as shown in FIG. 3B, the bladder  24  is inflated until the dip or sagging portion in the center region  20  of the mattress  16  essentially disappears. It can be seen that the sag in the box spring  16  has also been cured by the bed corrector  22 . While we have discussed only the conventional mattress-and-box spring type bed, it should be understood that the bed corrector  22  will function superbly with other configurations, to include futons, hard topped or solid base beds, as well as other bed designs. If we now turn to FIG. 4, we can begin to examine the novel designs of the bladder  24 . 
     FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a conventional twin bed box spring  16  and a dual lobe embodiment  24 A of the present invention  22 A. As shown here, the bladder  24 A in this example, for use on a narrower bed, has a pair of opposing lobes  30 A and  30 B. Prior to inflation, the bladder  24 A is first placed in the center region  20  of the box spring (or course, the mattress (not shown) will then be placed atop the bladder  24 A. As will be discussed further below, the lobes  30  may be independently inflatable (i.e. one may be inflated to a different pressure than the other) to correct side-to-side variation in the sag of the mattress (not shown). In such a design, the inflation hose  26  would be connected to both lobes  30  (or at least connectable) for independent inflation of each. The example of the corrector  22  for a larger-sized bed is first shown in FIG.  5 . 
     FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a conventional large bed box spring  16  and a four lobe embodiment  24 B of the present invention  22 B. As shown, the four lobe bed corrector embodiment  22 B includes a four lobe bladder  24 B. While this design might be used on smaller beds, it is of particular usefulness on a double, queen or king bed, since the center regions  20  of these larger beds is typically caused to sag by more than one person. We can see that in its preferred form, the four lobe bladder  24 B has a first lobe  30 A, a second lobe  30 B at a ninety degree angle from the first lobe  30 A, a third lobe  30 C at a ninety degree angle from the second lobe  30 B (and opposite the first lobe  30 A), and a fourth lobe  30 D at a ninety degree angle from the third lobe  30 C and first lobe  30 A. As is discussed more fully below, the bladder  24 B is compartmented to provide great flexibility and utility in the inflation and support options, such that the bed corrector  22 B can compensate for a wide range of variety of sagging center regions  20 . 
     FIG. 6 is a cutaway top view of a dual chamber bladder embodiment  24 C of the present invention. This bladder  24 C is divided into two equal chambers  32 A and  32 B by a chamber wall  34 , which bisects the first and third lobes (see FIG.  5 ). We can also see that the edges  36  of the two air tight sheets of material forming the bladder  24 C are bonded to one another to form the two chambers  32 . As discussed above, the air pressure within the chambers  32  will be individually adjustable in order to provide tailored sag-compensation for each side of the center region (see FIG. 5) of the mattress. Now turning to FIG. 7, we can examine another embodiment of the four lobe bladder. 
     FIG. 7 is a cutaway top view of a three chamber bladder embodiment  24 D of the present invention. As shown here, the first and second side chambers  32 C and  32 D, respectively, are confined to the length of the fourth and second lobes (see FIG.  5 ). A third, center chamber  40  has been created though the existence of the two chamber walls  34 A and  34 B. As with the previous embodiment, the three chambers  32 C,  32 D, and  40  are individually inflatable to provide not only side-to-side compensation for sage, but also increased center compensation for the overall center region (see FIG.  5 ). If we now turn to FIG. 8, we can discuss the most adjustable version of the bladder of the present invention. 
     FIG. 8 is a cutaway top view of a four chamber bladder embodiment  24 E of the present invention. This version  24 E essentially combines the two-chamber and three-chamber designs previously discussed. Here, the center chamber is bisected by the chamber wall  34 C to form two center chamber halves  40 A and  40 B, respectively. Furthermore, the first and second side chambers  32 C and  32 D are created by the chamber walls  34 A and  34 B. This embodiment  24 E, then, provides maximum side-to-side sag compensation, while also providing substantial sag compensation and correction for the very center of the mattress. 
     Those skilled in the art will appreciate that various adaptations and modifications of the just-described preferred embodiment can be configured without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. Therefore, it is to be understood that, within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced other than as specifically described herein.