Abstract:
A mattress restoration assembly and method of use for filling in impressions formed into the mattress to be restored, providing additional support and improving user comfort. The mattress restoration assembly includes a mattress abutting cover member positionable on the mattress to be restored, at least one support member operationally coupled to the mattress abutting cover member; a top cover member positioned over the mattress abutting cover member and the support member; and a securing means for selectively securing the mattress restoration assembly to the mattress.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to mattresses and mattress pads and more particularly pertains to a new Mattress Restoration Assembly and Method of Use for filling in body impressions formed in a mattress over time, to provide additional support, and to provide additional user comfort for worn mattresses. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     The use of mattress pads and mattress repair systems is known in the prior art. More specifically, mattress repair systems heretofore devised and utilized are known to consist basically of familiar, expected and obvious structural configurations, notwithstanding the myriad of designs encompassed by the crowded prior art which have been developed for the fulfillment of countless objectives and requirements. 
     One such illustrative example is United States Patent Application Publication 2006/0117486, which requires a user to open up a mattress to be repaired, terminating any warranty, and to insert one or more inflatable bladders to provide additional support. 
     In these respects, the Mattress Restoration Assembly according to the present invention substantially departs from the conventional concepts and designs of the prior art, and in so doing provides an apparatus primarily developed for the purpose of providing additional support, filling in impressions caused by collapsed foam, padding or other support means. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known types of mattress repair systems now present in the prior art, the present invention provides a new Mattress Restoration System and Method of Use wherein the same can be utilized for filling in impressions formed in the mattress, provide additional support, and improve user comfort. 
     To attain this, the present invention generally comprises a mattress abutting cover member positionable on the mattress to be restored, at least one support member operationally coupled to the mattress abutting cover member; a top cover member positioned over the mattress abutting cover member and the support member; and a securing means for selectively securing the mattress restoration assembly to the mattress. 
     There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto. 
     In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. 
     As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention. 
     One significant advantage of the present invention is the ability to fill in impressions formed in the mattress over time with a new support member, such as a poly foam rather than trying to push a collapsed or failed foam support into position with an air bladder. 
     Another significant advantage of the present invention is the ability to fill in the impressions formed into the mattress and to provide additional support without voiding the warranty of the mattress. 
     Further advantages of the invention, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the invention, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and the specific objects attained by its uses, reference should be made to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there are illustrated preferred embodiments of the invention. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The invention will be better understood and objects of the invention will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a schematic conceptual side view of a new mattress restoration assembly according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a schematic conceptual side view of a further embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 3  is a schematic conceptual top view of the present invention. 
         FIG. 4  is a schematic conceptual bottom view of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to  FIGS. 1 through 4  thereof, a new mattress restoration assembly embodying the principles and concepts of the present invention and generally designated by the reference numeral  10  will be described. 
     The mattress restoration assembly at its most basic includes at least one impression filling member  20 , which is positioned in an impression formed in a mattress to be restored and a mattress topper assembly  40  which may be positioned on top of the mattress to be restored and the impression filling member  20 . 
     In at least one preferred embodiment, the mattress restoration assembly  10  includes a first impression filling member  20  and a second impression filling member  26 . The first impression filling member  20  may be trimmed by a user to substantially fit within and at least partially fill the impression to be filled. Preferably, the first impression filling member  20  has a thickness between 0.25 and 2 inches and more preferably is approximately 1 inch. The second impression filling member  26  may also be trimmed by a user to substantially fit within and at least partially fill the impression to be filled. Preferably, the second impression filling member  26  has a thickness between 0.25 and 2 inches and more preferably is 0.5 inches in thickness. The user may use both the first impression filling member  20  and the second impression filling member  26  to substantially fill in an impression in the mattress. Further, the user may use the first impression filling member  20  or the second impression filling member  26  individually, repetitively, or in combination as desired to fill the impressions in the mattress. 
     The use may affix either the first  20  or second impression filling member  26  to the mattress or to the mattress topper assembly  40  or to each other. From the perspective of maintaining warranty coverage for the mattress, it is preferable that the impression filling members  20 ,  26  be affixed to the mattress topper assembly  40 . Typically, the impression filling members  20 ,  26  are affixed using an adhesive. 
     The present invention also contemplates the instance where a user prefers to have the impression filling members  20 ,  26  cut to size and affixed to the mattress topper assembly  40  by the factory, rather than performing these operations themselves. In such a case, the impression geometry needs to be determined, communicated, and utilized to produce a custom restoration assembly. 
     Generally, the impression filling members  20 ,  26  are made from poly foam, gel foam, memory foam, latex, synthetic latex, fabric pad, or thermal pad. The first  20  and second impression filling members  26  may be made from different materials or the same materials. 
     Similarly, the mattress topper assembly  40  may consist of one or more layers, each of which may be made from poly foam, gel foam, memory foam, latex, synthetic latex, fabric pad, or thermal pad. 
     In at least one embodiment, the mattress topper assembly  40  includes a main support member  42  and a main covering member  50 . The main support member  42  is designed cover the top surface of the mattress to be restored. The main covering member  50  covers the top surface and a perimeter edge surface of said main support member  42 . 
     In a further embodiment, the mattress topper assembly  40  includes multiple support members  44 . Support members  44  may be oriented in longitudinally, or laterally, and may cover substantially all of the top surface of the mattress or a portion of the top surface of the mattress. 
     In still a further embodiment, the mattress topper assembly  40  includes a plurality of spring assemblies  60  positioned in a spaced array along a length of the assembly  40  and either along approximately one half of the width of the assembly  40  or along substantially the whole width of the assembly  40 . Generally the plurality of spring assemblies  60  is positioned underneath the main support member. 
     In yet a further embodiment, the mattress topper assembly  40  also includes a lumbar support member  46 , which generally runs laterally along a central third of the mattress topper assembly  40 . 
     In still a further embodiment, the mattress topper assembly  40  includes a hip support member  48 , which generally runs laterally along a central third of the mattress topper  40 . The hip support member  48  is generally positioned substantially above the main support member  42 . 
     The mattress topper assembly  40  may also include a lower cover member  52  designed to abut the top surface of the mattress and operationally coupled to the main covering member  50 . 
     The mattress restoration assembly  10  may also described in terms of filling support zones defined in the mattress without diverging from the present invention. One such embodiment, described in terms of support zones may be described as follows. Such an embodiment may include a plurality of longitudinal support members  43 . Each one of the longitudinal support members  43  is uniquely associated with a longitudinal support zone of the mattress where additional support is desired. Each one of said plurality of longitudinal support members  43  comprises a material selected from the group of materials consisting of poly foam, gel foam, memory foam, latex, synthetic latex, fabric pad, and thermal pad. Each one of the plurality of longitudinal support members  46  comprises a material with an indentation load deflection coefficient corresponding to an amount of support and firmness desired for the associated longitudinal support zone. Such an embodiment may also include at least one lateral support member  45 . Each lateral support member  45  is uniquely associated with a lateral support zone of the mattress where additional support is desired. 
     An illustrative example of a lateral support member  45  is a support member  44  designed to provide lumbar support and is positioned substantially at a center third of the mattress. 
     Another illustrative example of a lateral support member  45  is designed to provide hip support and is positioned substantially at a center third of the mattress and provides an increase in height of the mattress restoration assembly. 
     The lateral support zones and longitudinal support zones may overlap and lateral support members  45  and longitudinal support members  43  may overlap each other. 
     In at least one embodiment, the mattress restoration assembly  10  also includes a securing means  70  selected from the group of restoration securing means consisting of a drawstring extending around a lower perimeter of the restoration assembly, at least one elastic member extending around the lower perimeter of the restoration assembly, a plurality of strap members  74  extending outwardly from the restoration assembly and positionable under the mattress, and at least one portion of hook and loop fastener  75 .  FIG. 1  indicates the securing means ( 70 ) along with implementations of either the elastic member or drawstring as shown by reference number  72 , a strap member as shown by reference number  74  and a portion of hook and loop fastener as shown by reference item  75 . Each of these securing means may be used individually. 
     With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention. 
     Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention. 
     INDEX OF ELEMENTS FOR MATTRESS RESTORATION ASSEMBLY 
     
         
         
           
               10 . MATTRESS RESTORATION ASSEMBLY 
               11 . 
               12 . 
               13 . 
               14 . 
               15 . 
               16 . 
               17 . 
               18 . 
               19 . 
               20 . First Impression Filling Member 
               21 . 
               22 . 
               23 . 
               24 . 
               25 . 
               26 . Second Impression Filling Member 
               27 . 
               28 . 
               29 . 
               30 . 
               31 . 
               32 . 
               33 . 
               34 . 
               35 . 
               36 . 
               37 . 
               38 . 
               39 . 
               40 . Topper Assembly 
               41 . 
               42 . Main Support Member 
               43 . Longitudinal Support Member 
               44 . Support Members 
               45 . Lateral Support Member 
               46 . Lumbar Support Member 
               47 . 
               48 . Hip Support Member 
               49 . 
               50 . Main Covering Member 
               51 . 
               52 . Lower Cover Member 
               53 . 
               54 . 
               55 . 
               56 . 
               57 . 
               58 . 
               59 . 
               60 . Spring Assemblies 
               61 . 
               62 . 
               63 . 
               64 . 
               65 . 
               66 . 
               67 . 
               68 . 
               69 . 
               70 . Securing Means 
               71 . 
               72 . 
               73 . 
               74 . 
               75 . 
               76 . 
               77 . 
               78 . 
               79 .